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Aislinn, for her part, laughed at Maiza's antics. The male medics backed slowly away at the threat of the Amazon's longsword and it finally took several female medics to keep her still long enough to take a needle and thread to her wounds. Ash saw-- but did not comment-- as one of the women craftily slipped a local anesthetic into Maiza's shoulder despite her adamant refusals.

Once she'd been patched up, the Amazon left quickly. Ash could only guess at her destination, but it didn't really concern her. The most important thing was that Maiza had received medical attention. Aislinn sought no such care. In fact, if she'd been alone, she would never have come here at all. Avoiding the medics eyes, she hopped down from the cot and made for the entrance. Guessing at her intent, several medics moved to intercept her escape route.

"Sit," One commanded her mildly. Someone took her uninjured arm and steered her towards an unoccupied cot. "We'll have someone by to look at that arm shortly. You may not leave until your wound is treated. It would make it easier for us all if you did not try to run,"

Aislinn had been eyeing the door for some time, planning how best to escape from these medics. Their passive aggression much more terrifying than anything an angry hollow could cook up. Luckily, a rather large group of trainees had just been shepherded into the healing room nursing burns of various severity. Probably some kido had gone wrong. Aislinn was briefly reminded of her own disastrous attempts at spoken kidos. She never could keep her focus.

Back to the problem at hand-- Ash was really starting to get nervous. The smell of antiseptic was burning in her nose, try as she might to breathe only through her mouth. She gripped the edges of the cot upon which she sat in agitation. Escape seemed the best option and with those injured trainees creating a diversion, Ash couldn't pass up the chance. Just as she was about to bolt, a familiar voice spoke her name. Her eyes registered alarm, but they quickly crinkled in delight. The tension drained out of her shoulders and she relaxed, now completely oblivious to the environment that had so frightened her.

"Ami, I wasn't doin' anythin'" She grinned innocently at her lover's playful tone. "... But y' should a' seen the other girl," She finished proudly, referring to Maiza, the woman with whom she'd been sparring.

Watching Ami tend to her wound, Aislinn couldn't help but admire her skill. Kidos were something she'd never really grasped at the Academy. Yes, she could perform unspoken kidos if the situation demanded it, but the chants always confused her. The spells themselves were cumbersome enough without all those words involved. Following Ami's ministrations, the heavy bruise vanished along with the pain. Ami really was quite talented. She was about to thank her for the healing when Ami rounded on a male medic nearby who stood agape at the pair of them together. Ash hadn't even noticed him, but she laughed as Ami gave him the what-for. She almost felt sorry for him as he went back to work, face red, gait stiff.

"Want to make 'em really stare?" Aislinn reached out with her previously-wounded arm and pulled Ami to her. The once-bruised muscle only twinged slightly, speaking to Ami's prowess as a healer. She tilted Ami's chin upwards with a gentle hand and planted a passionate kiss on the little healer's mouth. Ash's sharp ears picked up the noticeable drop in noise as more than half the healing room stopped what they were doing to stare. She grinned as she pulled back and lilted, "Thanks for the patch job, Ami,"

(I swear... I'm the only person who posts here. Anyway! Ready to go to Hueco Mundo?)

[Assuming this occurs days or even weeks later from the previous post]

An enormous silver wolf shouldered the door of the healing room open and padded across the main floor. In midstride, she, Ash, phased into her human form, looking about for Ami. Those medics who had stopped what they were doing to stare at the wolf quickly busied themselves with their various tasks. They recognized Aislinn from her numerous visits. If any of them were surprised by her shapeshifting ability, they made no comment of it. Still, some of the young men watched her with intense interest.

Too focused on her current task to really take note of the eyes upon her, Ash wended her way through the orderly rows of cots to where Ami sat at a desk going over a patient's chart. Any other day, Ash would have made some comment or another about Ami's apparently never-ending paperwork. But other days were normal and this one was not.

"Ami," Even her tone was off. Her posture, usually so relaxed and confident, looked tense, as though coiled to spring. She'd never been one to hide her emotions and she knew she couldn't have done so, now. Not when Kasen was in danger. Luckily, Ami's presence was calming her enough that she wasn't bolting for the door, but only barely.

Ami's hand on her shoulder anchored Ash somewhat. She could look at her lover with a clear enough head now to realize how her manner was upsetting her. She saw the alarm in Ami's eyes and she instantly chastised herself. It wasn't fair to plague Ami with concern for her when there were greater matters to attend to. Still, she couldn't feign indifference to the situation.

"There's been an abduction," She said carefully, choosing her words for their brevity. For every word she spoke, there were volumes she didn't say. I let him get kidnapped, Ami. It's my fault I couldn't protect him from that arrancar. She clenched her teeth, angry at herself all over again. "Kasen, a member of 10th, was taken by an arrancar a few hours ago. Evil-taicho is mounting a rescue attempt. They're waiting at the mouth of the Labyrinth but they need a healer in case--"

She choked on her words. "He's Pack, Ami," She said softly, trying to keep the desperation out of her tone. It wasn't working. Kasen was like her brother. They shared a bond rivaled only by her feelings for Ami herself. "I need t' save him,"

As Ami turned back to her, Aislinn phased into her wolf form, shaking out her glossy silver fur. Lean muscle flexed and rippled, belying her anxiety, but she waited as patiently as she could for Ami to signal that she was ready. It might have been a combination of Ami's presence and the wild, free feeling she got whenever she phased, but she felt slightly more confident about the mission.

At the same time, the power of her lupine body reminded her just how fragile the average human was. She wasn't about to insult Ami by considering her average, yet she couldn't help but reflect upon how breakable she seemed, especially considering that Ash's jaws alone could crush bone with ease.

And Ash wasn't even the enemy.

She had certainly vowed to rescue her Pack brother, but she added a new priority: namely to protect Ami from harm. At any cost, no matter how dear.

At Ami's last words, she padded towards the door, weaving around Ami and brushing against her side. Even the brief contact was bracing, given that wolves were a very physical species. Touch meant comfort and security. Ash wished it wasn't the case, but she needed both.

Let's go. With a soft growl, she bounded forwards, glad to be free of the blood-and-antiseptic smell of the healing center. Stretching her muscles, she fell into a steady lope. It wasn't the fastest she could travel, but she kept the pace for Ami's sake. It wasn't that she believed Ami couldn't match her speed, but she had a cumbersome bag of medical instruments that could hamper her. Not only that, but the pair of them would need to conserve their energy for what could prove to be a dangerous mission.

(Exit! I'll post in the Labyrinth in Las Noches tomorrow.)