*Flame doesn't know how long he's been running, the woods are a great place to get lost — and a great place to lose someone. He can't stop though, he can't stop running, Alex and HR are right behind him. Even if he can't see him or hear him he knows he's behind him somehow. They can feel it. So they just need to keep running*
*Someone who can help will turn up eventually, maybe once it can stop it can look for Rainbow or it's brothers... that is if it would even want them to know. They already know he's in trouble, the anons told them that, but does he want them to know what happened? Telling Jarry more about Alex sounds like a surefire way to get him on the news again one way or another and does he even want to tell Oliver about what happened with PT?? He knows he hates them already and that definitely won't help*
*On the thought of PT, does he even still trust them? Does he care if Oliver hates them? No, of course he does. They got hurt too, it's not their fault. But... is it? How can it be sure they weren't helping too? That they didn't get bored like Bill said? No. Now he was being ridiculous, believing Bill like that. Not like they were gonna do something like that, what'd he think they were gonna trick him and pretend they never knew him? He just needs to get over it, it'll all be fine once he gets over it*
*Just as he started to get lost in the repetitive manner of thought he pushes on himself in times like these, He runs directly into his brother. And... Rainbow's brother? ( @snowcloudd-anon my silly ) He stops just short of them and says nothing. Just staring. Jarry, who to Flame seems almost as frightened as them for some reason, quickly moves away from Snowcloud to reach out for them*
Flame!! Are you- what happened??
Wait! Not yet—!
*Snowcloud shoots out a hand after him, quickly tugging Jarry back by his shirt. As Jarry staggers back, Snowcloud takes a few steps forward, warily staring back at 🔥 with narrowed eyes. His gaze was piercing, surveying every twitch and movement. And just as he was about to take something out of his parka, there was a noticeable breeze that comes along to greet him, leaves twirling its dress across the winds as he pauses briefly to hear its Song.*
*Snowcloud, who seemed to be relieved by Its presence, lets out a sigh of relief. He was only able to hold 🔥's gaze for a beat longer, before nodding his head upon his appraisal. *
The Spirits deem you untainted. Forgive me, my friend. One must take precautions for such matters— we have heard that you have faced great peril.
*Flame looks confused, maybe even angry for a second as Snowcloud pulls Jarry back, but he doesn't really say anything. Is he gonna trust these two right now? What if it's a trick? Jarry looks between the two of them then quickly steps forward again, mumbling an apology in Spanish. something About it being 'better safe than sorry'. He reaches out for Flame but this time they take a step away*
Flame..? I'm sorry, it's just- we heard you were fighting demons? Which I thought was improbable but at this point I'm willing to believe it even though technically at this point I've yet to see it-
*Okay. Yeah that's Jarry. It reaches a hand out and Jarry, who immediately stops his ramble and pulls Flame into a hug. He had clearly been so worried. Flame, although, says nothing, instead focusing on the sound of leaves rustling nearby*
Are you okay?? What happened— is anybody following you?
*Moving like something is stalking the group, the leaves crunch in what seems to be a circle despite nothing currently being in sight. Snowcloud may notice the air become hostile or maybe even the presence of something not quite normal. Jarry doesn't notice the leaves, instead looking to snowcloud for any kind of help he may be able to offer*
*There was something sharp pricking the ends of his clouds when another draft of wind blows past- a certain weight it carried Snowcloud found himself shuddering at, despite being so attuned to the cold.* *He takes a few steps closer to where they both were, scrutinizing the empty space around them with something eerily close to contempt. The air around them swirls, swathing their bodies into a near-suffocating dense fog. Then, before either of them could get a word in, a surge of ice pierces through the fog where a leaf was last crunched. * You must wear this. Do it now! *He all but practically shoves two amulets into Jarry's hands-- strange bone shards all tied together by a frayed, thin piece of rope. On the side, his free hand slowly inches towards his side, pulling out... something out of his pant leg.* Whatever you do, do not let it break.
*Jarry pays no attention to what Snowcloud is doing, he brought him for help afterall and he's sure he's helping, instead focusing on trying to get his brother's attention. This is all so much for him, is Flame looking around for Alex? Why won't he respond? As Jarry looks to Snowcloud, maybe for advice, he notices the hardened expression just in time to see the air start to fog*
*Where the Ice spike penetrates the leaves and fog he hears a yelp, not unlike a human's but still far closer to an animal. It's unclear if the yelp was pain or fear, but the leaves rustle a bit more, a bit like a struggling trapped animal, before it all goes silent. there's no more crunching or rustling but the feeling in the air remains. Both brothers had jumped at the spike being shot, Flame moreso than Jarry. Jarry seems confused only for a moment as Snowcloud all but demands he put the amulets on, he gathers they must be protective pretty quickly*
Wh-? oh- alright yes, I can do that.
... What the fuck was that-
Flame! Dios mío, Finally you're talking- okay let's get out of here, okay??
*Jarry grabs Flame's hand and tries to pull him. Flame pulls his hand away and steps back from his brother. Jarry furrows his brows*
If we get out of here we can regather our thoughts and come up with a better means of helping you,
No, we can't-
Of course you'll need to fill us in a bit, but that's alright we can work quickly with that part if you want,
Jarry-
We need to leave though, Flame, the middle of the words is no place to think about-
Jarry he's watching us, he's gonna follow us. The second either of you leave- We just can't, please, he needs to get lost first. please.
If it is that demon you speak of, then you will only be in greater peril by staying put!
*Not once did Snowcloud's eyes shift from the empty space in front of him, his jaw firmly clenched in concentration as he gauges for any sign of movement beyond. He lets the silence simmer, the tension bubbling beneath its thin coat.*
*A second spike emerges from the earth as soon as he feels something shift, before a hitch of a breath or some other that prompts another— wasting no time to forcefully drag itself someplace west with a shift of his foot in an effort to block its path.*
I sense two. The other spectates, *Snowcloud murmurs under his breath.* Jarry, have him wear the amulet! It will not harm you so long as it is on your person.
*As if on cue, a haphazardly made straw-doll is pulled from his coat. Strung from his mouth are a soundless string of words, weaving its incomprehensible thread to tie wisps of the fog onto where he held the straw figure. The whispering grows louder, the voices surrounding them, joined with Snowcloud's mouth as the fog around his hand coagulates, hardening by the frost, twisting into shapes.*
No, he's not a- the demon, he's a guy. He's just gonna follow us if we leave and- I don't- I'm not gonna like leave one of you alone with him-
*Jarry sighs and mumbles something to himself about not being shot again. As Flame explains Jarry tries his best to get him to put the amulet on. Flame, however, keeps avoiding it*
Flame just-
No! No, you guys aren't getting it. Just like- kill him or something then we can leave before he comes back and I don't have to put your stupid necklace thing- wait did you say two? Is his freaky shadow boyfriend still with him??
His what??
*In the bushes, there's the sound of an inhuman growl. it circles, oddly fast for a person but slow for an animal. Just then a voice is heard, It seems unamused*
You know I'm not leaving until what's mine is coming back with me, right?
*Suddenly, Alex stands up nearby with his hands up in a faux defeat. He smiles at the three of them, Flame takes a step back. Alex puts his arms out to the side and focuses on speaking to Snowcloud specifically, trying clearl to distract him from the straw doll*
See? No demon here! Only lil ol basically human me!
Alexander-
Ah ah ah! Am I talking to you, second place? I don't think so.
*For a split second, the scowl on his face wavers when Alex reveals himself, just a flicker of uncertainty pitching its way back in. But forces himself to wear it taut on his skin, already wasting no time in twisting his arm just so, until trails of frost rapidly began shooting towards Alex. A thick, layer of ice grabs at Alex's ankles, quickly clambering its way to his thigh.*
Is your pride really what you are so concerned about?! Now, of all things?! *Snowcloud yells back to Flame hearing his protest, forcing another shot of spikes towards Alex's direction. The wind around him howls wildly in all directions, as if trying to filter out what went against it, searching for something. If he could just lure the other one close enough...*