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Weakened, Red could only suffer beneath the onslaught of hunter attacks. It wasn't good -- even if she stood and struck out, another would fill its place. She could already feel herself growing weaker, fading. But she could still hear Moira's cry. Defenders, huh? A smile crept across Red's features. She liked the ring of that; Defenders of Amityville. Wasn't she protecting something, once?

There was a feeling of certainty that followed that thought, one that forced her to rise to her feet and turn, snatching the vial Shun threw at her out of the air. The catch was followed through, one hand reaching out to grab hold of Leon (No shirt? Oh my~) before she smashed the vial straight into his face.

Her hand was smoking as she pulled it away.



Red stiffened as she was assaulted by a certain witch, one who clawed and snapped and screamed at her. With an effort Red attempted to shove Belladonna away, away from the attacks of the hunters that swiftly found their marks. "Shut up!" Red snapped at her, "There's no time! Do you want to join him?!"

It looked as if she was about to add more before another onslaught of both hunter and halloween attacks cut her off, the gym leader going so far as to cry out in pain as she was struck.



In fact. Tenya was enough to knock her down, off of her feet. Red rose to her feet, nearly toppling again. Her face was pale, her limbs were shaking -- was this really the gym teacher? The thing before them was nothing more than a pale, weak imitation of her.

She shuddered, an object forming in her hands. With a quick throw something was launched through the air towards Otto. The small object didn't strike the hunter: it hit his weapon instead.

CRACK!

A loud shriek could be heard by all weapons as the Fear was forcibly trained out of Tenya. The crystal Red threw grew brighter and brighter until a hand formed around it. In a matter of moments Mort reformed, his hand on a stone tablet held by Otto.

With luck, the zombioil would know to move. Fast.

The smoke in her hand wasn't stopping. Red held it tightly in her hands and scrambled back, retreating from Caelius. She could see him -- who couldn't? There was something about him that made both hunters and halloween clear a path for him. He wasn't rushing; he was taking his time, as if this was just another ordinary day in the life of a hunter.

She didn't want to go. Not yet. Not now. Not like this. Her legs shook with effort as she struggled to stand. No matter what she kept her chin up, shoulders squared despite her ragged breathing.

Hands reached out from behind and grabbed her, pulling her back with little effort as bright cloaks stepped between her and Caelius. They darted in and out of the death leader's way: a distraction. Boogeymen were buying her time, trying to keep the students back while occupying both Death Lead and hunter's attention.

Red couldn't resist. Limp, exhausted, she felt someone holding her up as a hand thrust itself in front of her with a pumpkin pill resting in their palm. Red snatched it, crumbling it in her smoking palm. At last her limb ceased to shake, and yet she did not stir from the arms of the boogeyman holding her up. "It's not enough."

The owner of the hand, a boogeyman in a bright yellow cloak did not hesitate as they reached out and took hold of Red's hand. "Take me, then."

"Asha! We don't even know --"

The werewolf's hands were dropped as Asha reached out to deliver a quick slap across Red's cheeks. "Stop that! You're not the only one! I wouldn't have offered if I didn't mean it. Take it!"

Red bowed her head, murmuring something too soft for anyone to catch. Asha nodded, reaching out to squeeze Red's hand before --

SNAP.

The boogeyman holding her up soon found his arms empty as Red stepped forward on her own two feet, her legs no longer shaking with effort to keep them up. The teacher was less pale, and yet as she raised her hand up it still continued to give off a steady stream of smoke. She shook her head, fingers curling into a fist around it. "It's not enough. I need more. I --" The words came to a sudden halt as Red became aware of those around her.

She shook her head. "I'm not going to ask. I have no right to ask. But I'm not going to run. I am going to fight."

A hand reached out towards the fog, summoning and pulling it into the hand that smoked. Those nearby would catch the gleam of something white set amongst something dark red before it was covered as something black formed in her hands.

In moments Red was holding a dark gray bow with decorative black-rubies complete and wings. It was reminiscent of a certain weapon belonging to a certain hunter. Already the werewolf had drawn it back, notched with a black arrow. Those who attacked her from a distance would discover an arrow being fired towards them.

And those that came close would find that the bow would shift into a particular sword belonging to someone familiar, the blade glowing with soft gray runes. They would be slashed and hacked with until another ranged attack hit her, at which point the sword would change back into a bow. The action would repeat itself.

And yet no matter what, those of Halloween were not attacked. They would find that on approach Red would give them a quick look, one filled with pride and conflict. She didn't ask, and yet the question was sent in a glance: will you help me?