Welcome to Gaia! ::

Ellicott stretched and did her best to work out the kinks she felt in her shoulders. The last several days had been pretty jam packed with homework and studying so things were a little tight from all the sitting hunched over a book she was doing. It was this, more than any altruistic feeling, that had her jumping at the chance to work with another senshi on their fighting skills. It also didn’t help that it was a chibi senshi she had met before. A little raccoon clad young man who, at least in her opinion, could really use a fighting mentor. Not her of course, she had too much going on, but a sensei or something… definitely. Ellicott really hoped the kid’s mom had signed him up for some civilian class like karate. Really anything was better than nothing.

Especially in this crazy city.

Because of this, there she was, standing on a rooftop, gazing up at the few distant buildings that were taller than her current perch, and trying to work the general ache out of her shoulders. Dark eyes absently took in the shadows that were flying around one of the closer buildings. A wonder about bats drifted through her mind but before she could really latch onto the idea she felt the distinct aura of an approaching order fighter.

“Good evening Totoro,” Ellicott greeted the chibi as he made his way onto the rooftop. She waved at him and when he cheerily informed her about his karate class she happily congratulated him. “That's great, soon you will be a master at it. We just need to work on your other skills then I guess.” The young boy taking fighting classes really was the best thing for him, especially as he was a fighter in this little magical war of theirs.

When the child asked about the shapes in the distance Ellicott hesitated before declaring them ‘bats’. “Nothing to worry about really. Now, come over here and show me what you have learned so far.” Oh how she was wrong. Honestly the shadows had been too big for the distance they were to be anything but natural… Add in the fact that it was Destiny City and magical s**t happened here all the time… She should have known better. She should have avoided the area. She should have told the kid to go home as soon as she spotted the flying shapes.

She should have, but she didn’t.

Nor did she notice the shadowy shapes gradually getting larger as they got closer and closer.

“They are just bats. More scared of us than us of them,” Ellicott dismissed the shadows, not looking up to notice them coming closer. Disturbingly close. “Alright, here I come.” She punched out at him in a picture perfect stance, well aware that the young man had really just started to learn. As such she put next to no force behind the strike, nor any speed. No point in reminding the kid that he still had a long way to go.

Sadly, or lucky depending on how you looked at it, any further training was about to be thrown out of the window. Ellicott really had no idea what had her looking up but that's all it took for her to shout ‘Look out!’ before shoving Totoro out of the way and diving to the rooftop herself. One of the shadows that she had been contemplating earlier swooped down, raking claws at them. Its stony coloring and grimacing face really was the only clue that it was one of those statues that lurked at the edges of buildings come to life. “What in the bloody hell?” She cursed as she glanced upwards from her prone position on the asphalt roof tiles. Several of the creatures circled around them, agitated and flying erratically, like some of those monkeys from the Wizard of Oz.

Ellicott eyed the creatures and after a moment she started to get up only to hit the dirt once more as another one swooped down at her. Making a face she looked over at Totoro, her mind racing. He was just a young boy. He needed to be protected. He was here because of her and if she had only listened to him they might not have been in this predicament. She also didn’t know if she could take on the stone monsters by herself… but the kid, he was there because of her.

And she was going to fix it.

“I’ll direct their attention. You run.” She smiled at Totoro, “I’ve got this. It's what all the training is for after all.”

“No!” She practically yelled while the chibi jumped to his feet and did something. He had used his magical attack, but since the stone gargoyle didn’t explode in a pile of dust Ellicott had no clue if it had actually done anything. And he didn’t have time to do much to protect himself from the swooping creature. Moving quickly she sprang to her feet and slid between the two, unleashing a high kick she had perfected years ago.

The gargoyle screeched in pain before cracks appeared, and soon started to crumble. The few others that were farther away also cried out, either in fear or anger Ellicott didn’t know. Nor did she care. Instead she spun around, a move her dance teacher would have applauded, and practically dumped Totoro over her shoulder. With the young man in hand, literally, the super senshi booked it as fast as she could off the roof.

Her kick hadn’t been that strong, there was not enough time and just a little too much distance. It had been a strike yes but more of a graze then a full on ‘knock your socks off’ kick. Maybe Totoro’s magic helped, she didn’t know. All Ellicott knew was she didn’t want to stick around to see if the other stone creatures would retaliate against them.

Ellicott shook her head even as she tightened her hold on the younger child. She wasn’t going to put him down. At least not yet.

Soon enough though she let him down, sitting down herself, and breathing deeply. “No. Those things were made of stone. It's not great to leave them there but without others with stronger powers then either of us have it would be a fool's errand.” Removing her shoe she could already see the tell tale signs of bruising, a silent prayer was made in the hope she had just strained something and not broken anything.

The super senshi eased her slipper-like shoe back on and eyed the young man, the one who seemed both excited and anxious. “I can only assume so. They are stone afterall and I didn’t kick it that hard. So you really did help, thank you and good job.” Ellicott stood up, testing her foot as she went, and ruffled the hood on the kid’s head. “I would say our night is well and truly over. I should make sure I don't break anything and no senshi’s magic is unlimited.” She eyed him, well aware he was still raring to go. He would learn soon enough that no one person was infallible. “So off to home. I’ll send out a notice about our stoney friends but in the meantime get some rest, ok?”

Ellicott sighed and shrugged, “Maybe and yeah, switching out the shoes isn’t a bad idea. It can be done but it's a pain, just like adding a jacket in the winter months. And when you're in a rush it just slows you down.” She remembered when she didn’t have shoes at all so her little slippers were a step up… literally. But it did make kicking harder objects like stone much more dangerous. Thats why she normally went for the heel or her shin since they were harder bones. Her angle had just been off. At least she didn’t think she broke a toe, just sprained it. She could wiggle it so that was a good sign.

With a laugh the super senshi nodded, “Of course Totoro. Get home safe and next time you can pick the spot.” She liked the rooftops since she could see people coming but the kid did have a point. With those flying critters around it did make things harder that's for sure.

“I’ll teach you the trick next time,” Ellicott informed her companion, easily nodding when the kid happily bounced away. Once he was well and truly gone all the senshi could do was wince and wiggle her foot once again. She needed to get home as well. Ice and elevation would help and in the morning… if it looked broken she would deal with it then.

Following her young friend’s actions, Ellicott got moving on her own way home. Morning was going to come a lot sooner than she wanted that’s for sure.