Jan 25 02:00:00 107 PA - Flu Season Finale
From Chronicles
The trip from the hospital has Tirzah in higher spirits. No longer stewing in her own literal juices as she waits they seem to fade into the background. Except for a steadily crescending sniffle that climaxes into a loud gurgling snort every ten minutes or so she seems fine. That and her near deadly sneezes if anyone is close to her head when one goes off.. From the hospital she's taken Sage east to search the more populated dregs areas. The alibi's locked doors taking it off the list she suggests the bazaar, leading them there to its run down shacks and shops where the poor peddle a new ware of late free of charge.
With Tirzah beginning to show signs of illness, Sage tacks on one more reason to find this creature quicker. Her stride is purposeful while her mind rolls over the senses she has available. Something has been niggling her like someone in the corner of her eye. Desperation at finding a better way to search makes her stroke the feeling until something activates within her. Outwardly, she simply reacts like she has smelled something bad. Tilting her head to one side before raising her head as if to sniff the air, Sage begins to move cautionly at first as if trying to get her bearings.
Vadania hangs back slightly to the side of the pair as she paces them. The gurgling snorts drawing her attention about every ten minutes as she gnaws at her lower lip in though. A single arrow knocked at the string of her bow. Her attention when not drawn to the gurgling one is out towards everywhere else as she's watching to keep Sage safe it would seem. Her expression showing more and more that she's more than willing to simply feather the beast when found as the search drags on into the second day.
As Sage opens her senses and takes the lead Tirzah falls in behind her partner to provide an intimidating presence to deter the locals from any bold ideas. Sage's senses lead them on faster than with out as she seems to key in on particular sources to seek them out and say yay or nay to them being the carrier. So far only nays of course. And not all those found are too keen to be found, but Tirzah is there to buy Sage time to move on of course.
Much like a blood hound, Sage moves along. There's a slight predatory stance to her movement. Yet it is a little like hunting a particular thing without necessarily knowing its exact sense. Losing interest in certain sources, Sage will stay only long enough to make sure that her companions will be able to move on before she presses on.
Vadania hmms softly as she continues her near silent watch over both her friend's back. One might almost expect her to whip out the war paints form her expression as she brings up teh rear on the small group. Her steps silent as she's the only one without the visible armor.
The search of the Bazaar takes several hours, the west side of the dregs closer to three quarters of a day. But their is a resilience in Tirzah despite her steadily worsening symptoms that now include a phlegm enhanced cough. Still she persisted, determined to see this through at Sage's side. SHe'd placed faith in her partner before but this was a rather new level of that. Silently she pledged to return the favor and stiffened her resolve.
There is the occasional glance, but Sage offers no words of comfort. She's already realized how pointless it seems with everything that's going on. Instead, she gives a low throat rumble as the symptoms seem to be getting worse. Then, she's off again with renewed determination.
Vadania moves a little closer to offer Tirzah a shoulder to lean against if needed. She's silent about the whole sickness growing bit. Her stone-face in play now as she tries not to distract Sage with her growing disgust at the sickness and the thing that's spreading it with such glee. The soft, almost songlike creak of her bow sounding every few steps now as seh tenses, then relaxes.
Before its done the hunt takes the trio to the north side, through the refugee area, back to the wastes skirting the hospital and finally back west. Almost a full day and a half since they left the hospital to where Sage senses and sees that which she saw in Erica much clearer in an old man with a slight limp.. By this time Tirzah is cealry near where Erica was before they first started, and her link exhausted in protecting Sage through the hunt. She still has a bundle of fireglobes though, and more than enough strength to throw them.
Stretching our her reserves as much as possible, Sage likely has depleted most of her own energies in the search. With her resolve being the only thing keeping her going, she pushed aside her normal niceties. Whether her nose wrinkles or not when she growls is hard to say, she extends the foreclaws on one hand and takes out a laser pistol with the other hand to point at the old man. "There." She says with a feral edge in her tone.
Vadania blinks at the growing and the claws as well. She's not wiped out as she's not really been casting much, just been a physical protection for the pair. The bow creaking as she draws it fully back and sights down on the limping man. "You are certain?" she asks. Then taking the growling as confirmation releases the arrow to let it sing down the winds towards the poor man. She really hopes it's actually the proper man after all.
Tirzah is in no mood to question Sage's judgement at this point. She may have pointed at a cute innocent puppy and Tirzah would be unaware until after her first globe is away..
Having levelled the laser pistol at the limping old man, Sage decides to try her luck with the pistol. They do seem to have a good mix of weaponry among them if the weapon happens to be ineffective, after all. She lets out the most powerful pulse her pistol is capable of...
An arrow whizzing past was the first clue. Blue flames coating the ground beside him was probably what spurred the old man into a hobbled run though. But he cant outrun a laser pistol, the show burning through his clothes and into his flesh. If he were a normal human there would be distinctly less of him.
Vadania curses softly in her native tongue as the winds were not in her favor. Another arrow coming to hand as she nocks and draws it back. She might shakes her head about the odd mix of weapontry in the group later. Right now she's a little busy with sighting better for this next shot. A soft snarl escaping as he starts running. "Hold still and die." she murmurs softly as she looses the second shot.
The carrier on the run Tirzah probably has only one more shot before he ducks behind some for of cover so she tries to make it count. Not that she really can with the softball sized globes.
Growling as the opponent begins to flee, Sage begins to walk towards her foe while being mindful of the other's line of fire. Not being sure of whether the laser had any effect, she simply decides to try once more before moving onto other options. Her finger squeezing another pulse off.
Sage's shot cuts through the burning fleeing man, bringing him down to crumple to the ground as he is burned to fine white ash by the fire of the globe. Already breathing easier as the sickness seems to melt away with the corpse Tirzah lets out a sigh of relief. The sigh is echoed throughout the region as everyone seems to recover in moments regardless of how far gone they were.
Vadania keeps and eye on the pile of ashes as she produces a third arrow. She glances over to Tirzah at the sigh. Then glances back to the ashes, trying to ignore what her miss did. That building should have dodged, right? Softly she asks, "Do you still feel it around? Or are you too wiped out?"
Seeing the man fall, Sage keeps walking towards the opponent until it becomes clear that the body is becoming consumed by flames. She stalks around a little like a predator denied its meal with a rumbling growl. Once the body becomes ash, she sinks down to knee as if the toll has come calling. "I don't feel it anymore..." She comments, "Might be too tired."
Taking off her helmet Tirzah smiles widely. "I'm not sick anymore if that's proof enough for you." She offers wearily before leaning in to give Sage and exhausted embrace. "About ready for a good long nap though.."
Vadania nods slightly as she puts the arrow away and then hangs the bow over her shoulder. "Do you both need a shoulder to lean on? I can at least be a good crutch if needed." she teases as she looks at how wiped they look. "Could tuck you both in, then see about some nice broth to spoon into you until you kick me out."
Sage's attention shifts to her partner, before tilting her head as if considering the comment. "I may need a little more proof..." She murmurs before accepting the embrace of the other woman. With her helmet still on, she isn't able to show any more affection that that. She speaks into her radio, "And Erica, you better still be with us or I'll... or else." She decides, before she glances towards Vadania. "That would be welcome." She replies, "Thank you." She moves to help her partner up first, despite her own tiredness.
Erica gives a little start as the radio wakes her up from her sleep. It takes her a moment before she can answer back. "Wow actually I'm feeling a lot better. I'm still a bit weak, but the cough and nasuea are all gone. I take it you found the carrier then?"
In no condition to decline Vadania's offer for support Tirzah accepts, and should said support go far enough will probably be asleep err long. This is the abominable Tirzah for you.
Vadania just shakes her head slightly as she catches Tirzah around the waist after drawing an arm across her shoulders to be the human crutch. Then offers a hand to Sage. "If we're lucky we can all stagger that way and not fall down." Her tone lightly teasing as she does offer. And will see them both home if nothing else.
