[OPEN] I can't trust anyone or anything these days

[earthy]

Who: Terra (earthy), OPEN
What: Knightryder knightryding. Rogue shaman hunting, chimera transport, etc. Now with bonus wyvern steed 'assistance'.
When: Late February through the first half of March
Where: Wyver
Warning(s): Violence

I. FIRE & BLOOD & DARKNESS
[The last few weeks have been impossibly long and difficult. Terra knew the attack by Cree's group wouldn't be the last of the trouble they'd all face here in El Nysa, but he never imagined Wyver would turn on itself. Everything just boils over, from fervor to absolute madness. Fires burning, blood being drank and painted onto walls, everyone yelling, everyone fighting.

Part of him wants to run from it. Run deep into the jungle, drag the two boys with him and anyone else who wants to go, find somewhere, anywhere else to be. But he can never bring himself to turn his back on Wyver, on the people here. They are more than this. (They have to be.)

So, he spends his days and then his nights fighting back.

The dragon's blood helps.

His first drink is just to appease the locals, the shamans, the other Knightryders. His loyalty doesn't lie with Olympia, he hopes it tells them when he swallows the blood down and grits his teeth through the coppery taste and the terrible, terrible burning. But the second drink is something else. Someone hands over a cup as he passes by and he drains it after only a moment's hesitation. It relights the fire. He feels so right, so powerful. He doesn't need to sleep (or suffer those pesky nightmares), he can push on for another couple days and confront and battle that many more troublemakers. They're all so foolish, so wrong.

'You're all acting like children-- like hatchlings!' He snarls and shouts until his voice is hoarse, 'Olympia could attack right now, start killing and enslaving and branding good Wyver people all over again, and you'd be too busy fighting each other to notice!'

He seeks out his third drink when the second wears off.

Their King finally addresses them some number of days later and decries all the senseless chaos. Terra knew that'd be the King's opinion of all this... but it still lifts his spirits some to hear the words. Master Heryn commands the Knightryders to track down the miserable, no-good shamans responsible for stirring up so much violence and Terra sets off immediately to do as he's bidden. Oh, he'll find them all right.

He doesn't get far before he hits a snag, though. A snag in the form of incredible exhaustion and a nagging thought that he needs more strength, the strength of a dragon, if he's going to get through this. And he has to get through this, for the King and the Wyver people.

He'll just deal with this snag by... marching right up to someone.]

Have you seen anyone still trying to get people to drink that dragon's blood?

[When he says it like that, it just sounds like he's investigating, right?]


II. SHADY OLD MEN (WHY IS IT ALWAYS SHADY OLD MEN) ―

― II-a. Detected
[Terra's not a regular at any of the local taverns. When he stops by one, following a suggestion he might find some leads there on the whereabouts of the missing shamans, he sticks out like a sore thumb. He takes a seat at a table along one wall, his back ramrod straight and his eyes roving from one tavern patron to another.

It doesn't take him long to notice two men in one corner of the tavern, bent over their own table and speaking in hushed, urgent tones.

It doesn't take long for the two men to notice a young guy wearing one of those unique Knightryder headpieces openly staring at them, either.

Sharing a wary (and frankly faintly annoyed) look between them, one passes a slip of paper to the other and then both stand and make their way to the door, avoiding all eye contact as they go.]

They know something. [Terra decides. And also says out loud. A+ social stealth skills all around. He glances sharply to whoever happens to be sitting closest to him.] Hey... Are you busy right now?

[How do you feel about tailing missions, sir or madam who may or may not also be in this tavern looking for information??]


― II-b. End of the Line
[Almost a week's worth of interrogating and tailing and otherwise eavesdropping on suspicious Wyver citizens has led Terra to a decrepit two-story house at the edge of the Old City. Here, one of the rogue shamans is supposed to be holed up. Supposed to be being the key words. When Terra first arrives at the location, he has to wonder if the information he's gotten is any good: the building he and his new wyvern steed stand before looks completely abandoned, its doorways and windows covered in thick cobwebs and other debris.

Terra jumps down from his wyvern's back and starts forward to circle around the location. Maybe they're using a side or back door? He ends up stopping short just a few steps later, though, his eyes drawn to the cobwebs again. An odd glimmer passes over them and then there's an orange flicker of firelight in one of the windows.

Okay, probably the right place after all.]

I know you're in there, Eranerel!

[Terra's hoarse shout is punctuated by a loud, trumpeting roar from the wyvern behind him. (Which is probably less the wyvern feeling as strongly about justice as Terra does and more the wyvern going, 'My rider's yelling! I can yell, too! Listen to me yell! Ahhhh, I can yell so much louder than my rider!' or something.) Terra winces through the roar but carries on with his message just as soon as Mr. Wyvern is finished hollering.]

Just come out already, you're--

[He's interrupted by the window slowly pushing open... and a fireball being lobbed straight at him. He gets the Keyblade up in time to block the shot, but then he's left staring up at another flame gathering between gloved palms. Oh. Maybe he should have brought back-up. Then again, maybe all the commotion will bring back-up to him.]


III. TASTES LIKE CHICKEN... AND PORK AND FISH AND...
[Right, he's getting real fed up with these problem shamans now. Sure, he understood the whole reason he had to help escort the strange and aggressive 'chimera' creatures to Thali was to keep any troublemakers from breaking them out of their cages and setting them loose on people again, but he hadn't honestly thought anyone would actually try a stunt like that.

Or, you know, succeed at pulling off a stunt like that.

Following the chimera convoy from the back of his airborne wyvern, Terra's attention snaps down to the cages when one suddenly bursts open with a brittle cracking of wood. A robed man sprints away, knocking people over as he goes. Where did he come from?! Where is he going?! Gosh, he's awfully spry for an old guy.

Fortunately, Terra's wyvern flies into action, diving out of the sky to intercept the chimera, keeping the bristling beast from getting far.

Unfortunately, Terra's wyvern now has a hissing, writhing monster with far too many legs and wings and tails -- and are those tentacles? ew -- hanging out of its mouth.]

Don't eat it! No!

[Terra scrambles right down and, after a second of panicked staring, sets to grappling with his wyvern's head and prying at his jaws.]

Drop it! Drop it! That thing could be poisonous! Or it could get stuck in your throat! And I don't think Thali would be very happy if you made it lunch! Drop it!

[The most majestic Knightryder and wyvern team of them all.]


+ WILDCARD
[Also open to other Wyver prompts! Following III, Terra + wyvern can be found hanging around the city, helping with cleaning and hunting.]

Comments

i.

[planetary_bonds]

[Yusei himself has been going about town. He'd like to track down the bastards who incited this himself, having been one of the people kidnapped and all that, but...everyone here also needs help getting their town back together. And he can't just turn his back on that either, not when right and left are people asking for help. His bike's a useful asset, what with all the stuff he can carry in the chassis he'd attached.

So when Terra just marches up to him, Yusei's actually in the middle of working - his bike is full of...cleaning supplies? Seems like he's part of a group of volunteers who're scrubbing the blood murals off the walls. In fact, he chooses to ignore Terra at first in favor of getting rid of a particularly stubborn stain, so it's a few moments before Yusei turns around to answer.]

No.

[That's helpful. Thanks, Yusei.]

[earthy]

[Terra just stands there, watching the stranger and waiting patiently for an answer. The guy does seem to be rather busy right now... Terra tilts his head to the side for a second to check out the bike and cleaning supplies and the stain the guy's working hard to remove. Right, a lot of effort's going into getting the city cleaned up again...

Ah, but here he is finally turning around and addressing him.

'No,' Yusei says.

Terra goes on staring, his expression calm and expectant (and possibly a little dumb). 'No'... what? Surely, this guy must have something else to say and it's only polite to let him finish his thoughts.



...

Oh.]

No?

[No? Really? Just 'no'? Not 'no, but...' or anything? But that's... that's not even a little bit helpful, Yusei...]

[planetary_bonds]

No.

[Yeah. Yusei can kinda be unhelpful like that sometimes.]

They'd be pretty foolish to come up to the people trying to actively clean up blood, you see.

[Better.]

[earthy]

[Mild disappointment flickers across Terra's face, but he gets over that feeling quickly enough.]

I guess so.

[He shifts where he stands, glancing off to one side like maybe he's just going to walk away now. Got his question answered, no leads here, better get to searching.

But then he doesn't move so much as a step.]

I need to find those men, with the dragon's blood. [A pause and he remembers to add-] And any of the others.

[He actually fixes Yusei with a sort of insistent look. Guess who's been chosen to help.]

[planetary_bonds]

[Oh joy. Yusei keeps scrubbing at the wall, but at least he'll keep talking.]

I have a score to settle with them myself. Those festivities took a toll on many of us.

[yyyeeeeaaaahhhhhh he's got beef with them. a lotta beef. especially the shamans.]

The dragon's blood, maybe I can excuse as a local tradition. But that got taken advantage of by too many. And the shamans...

[That harrowing time in the labyrinth...he can't imagine how he'd managed to survive that, actually.]

They need to be found. [So maybe...he'll help you. He just can't leave this job first.]

[earthy]

[Realizing Yusei is fully committed to getting those blood stains off that wall, Terra stifles a sigh and reluctantly nods in agreement to what he's saying.]

Not just so we can see them answer for their crimes, but to keep them from starting more trouble, too. I don't know exactly what they were trying to do, whipping everyone up and attacking people, but I doubt they're just going to give up and go live peaceful lives outside Wyver after all that.

[Restless, he turns to pace back and forth nearby, but he ends up slowing to a stop, his eyes catching on the cleaning supplies in Yusei's bike again.]

Have an extra rag or anything?

[The cleaning job should go that much faster if he helps out, right?]

[planetary_bonds]

[Yusei doesn't like leaving a job half done. It's bad form.]

If it'll make this place safer for everyone, I'm all for it. I don't think they'll go quietly into the night, after all this.

[And for that, you finally get a small smile.]

Take a look for yourself.

[Which means: yes. It's there. And a sponge, and an extra bucket, and some more soap. Thanks for the help.]

[earthy]

[Terra ducks his head in another nod and shuffles over to the bike to sift through and gather up some of those extra supplies. Hmmm, rag or sponge... He'll try the rag first. Sponge might not hold up so well if a lot of serious scrubbing is required.

He heads to a spot a short ways down the wall with rag and bucket and soap in hand.]

Did they attack you? Or friends of yours?

[Wait. Forgetting something important here.]

The name's Terra, by the way.

[planetary_bonds]

Yusei.

[Well, if he's giving his name he can't be too distant, right?]

They were going after innocents, as far as I could tell. People who thought things were going too far. I couldn't stand by and do nothing, so they ended up catching me, too.

[earthy]

Yeah, I think first it was anyone they thought might secretly be an Olympian.

[Scrub scrub. Whose bright idea was it to use blood for paint, anyway?]

Then they started ambushing and ganging up on people standing up to them, too. Maybe for the same reason. Only an Olympian could be against senseless violence... or something like that.

[He shakes his head lightly. At least that's over with, even if the shamans are still at large.]

Did they try to throw you into a fire or take you to that Altar?

[planetary_bonds]

Hnf. The way Olympians act, they'd probably be all for this sort of ritualistic nonsense.

[Just more refined.]

The Altar.

[Pause.]

It wasn't pleasant.

[earthy]

Maybe so.

[Terra's not sure what he thinks of the Olympians. On one hand, with a couple exceptions, they didn't seem so bad to him while he was living among them.

On the other hand... They do apparently have a history of being enthusiastic about enslaving and branding people and taking over places. There's no way he can get behind all that. And if they start that business again, he's not about to just sit idly by.]

I'm sorry. I wasn't aware of what was going on at the Altar until toward the end of... all that. If I'd known, I'd have tried to help out somehow.

[planetary_bonds]

[Branding people...it's too much like home. He can't stomach that kind of thing.]

I don't think anyone would hold it against you. It's not like the shamans wanted people to find out and ruin their plans.

[earthy]

[Terra just shakes his head again and scrubs at the wall a little harder.]

I should've noticed something else was going on.

A couple of them tried to grab me at one point, but I figured they were just... hoping to feed me to one of their fires...

[He trails off and glances over.]

You're okay, though, aren't you? Not hurt?

[planetary_bonds]

[Yusei smiles wryly.]

I'm here, aren't I?

[Rude.]

But really, I was lucky. I ran into some others that were trapped in the maze...working together, we were able to get out without too much trouble.

[earthy]

[Terra looks faintly puzzled by that answer at first, but then one corner of his mouth quirks up in a small smirk.]

That's good.

[He turns his attention back to his work.]

Did you have to fight the shamans to get out?

[planetary_bonds]

Yeah.

[The smile is gone at those words.]

Managed to steal a knife off of one of them when I ran into him inside the maze, so that helped.

III

[circulets]

[ Luckily (?) Mikleo steps in right when that Wyvern has that... strange looking... food (??) in its mouth. He stops, stepping forward quikly to help Terra, if possible. He'd also like to prevent the creature from hurting itself. After all, he completely agrees that that doesn't... exactly look safe to eat.

He could use his artes to stop it, but... he doesn't want to hurt it, either. ]

It's still trying to eat it?!

[earthy]

Yes!

[Terra calls back as he goes on wrestling with his wyvern's head.]

Or... I think so? He's still got it in his mouth!

[Although, given the playful glint in the wyvern's eyes and the tippy tapping of his big feet on the ground, this might just be evolving into a game of keep away or tug-of-war.]

Be careful! He's not... mean or anything, he's just big and... not behaving himself right now!

[Where's a How to Train Your Wyvern manual when you need one?]

[circulets]

[ He believes him, but... getting it out of his mouth might be tricky -- and they could potentially both get hurt if they're not careful. It's just fortunate that Mikleo has healing magic. ]

If you can manage to pry its mouth open - I'll get it out!

[earthy]

Right... Right, I'm trying...!

[And he is but darned if his wyvern doesn't have a really impressive bite force.

Terra also has healing magic, but there are some things his Cure spells can't fix and bitten off hands make that list, so... exercising extra caution...]

Maybe if I... [He runs through all the spells he knows in his mind. Something that would distract or startle his wyvern without hurting it... Ah, he's got an idea!]

Okay, you ready to handle the chimera once it's free?

[He can't imagine the monster's going to be very grateful for their help.]

[circulets]

[ Handle the chimera? Sure, but Mikleo's strength lies more in his water-based abilities than anything else. ]

I have an idea. Do you mind if I use my water artes on him? I could freeze his legs until you're able to get it out of its mouth.

[earthy]

[For a brief moment, Terra goes from struggling against his wyvern to wrapping a protective arm over his muzzle.]

I... don't think he likes cold very much... And I don't want to do anything to upset him. [For more than one reason. The most pressing of those reasons right now is probably-]

He can breathe fire.

[They might all end up extra crispy if the wyvern takes offense.]

Just let me try something... [He reaches his right hand out behind him and summons his Keyblade. It's a little tricky getting the long weapon aimed at the small gap between the wyvern's teeth, behind the squalling chimera, but he manages it.]

If this works, maybe you can use your water... ice... magic to slow or stop the chimera! We can't let it run off and attack people!

[circulets]

[ Well, that goes for that plan... Mikleo doesn't want to put this stranger or himself in danger - muchless agitate the chimera further.

However, when Terra makes another suggestion, Mikleo nods his head. ]

Just say the word, and I'll use my artes.

[earthy]

[With a quick nod, Terra turns his full attention back to his wyvern and channels an Aero spell through his Keyblade.]

Wind!

[It's weak magic, just a little swirling burst of air, but it works just as Terra'd hoped it would, tickling the inside of the wyvern's mouth and causing him to release his hold on his prey/toy out of sheer surprise.

... Except then the wind spell blows the freed chimera straight out at Mikleo. Whoops, uh, think fast?]

Watch out!

[circulets]

Rising Geiser!

[ Mikleo acts fast - quickly casting his own artes in order to protect himself. Water appears from the sky suddenly then - drenching the chimera and stopping it in its path.

The chimera might not like it, but-- well -- that was the fastest ability he had. He wouldn't have been able to move out of the way in time. ]

Now's the perfect time to help it!

[earthy]

[Terra can't help but stare for a second. Nice move with the water there!

His wyvern seems a bit shocked, too, albeit for different reasons. He scuttles awkwardly backward several steps to put some distance between himself and the spot where a pillar of water just appeared. First gusting wind in his mouth and now splashing water near his face! And his meal/plaything is getting away, too. What a bad day.]

... I'm coming!

[Terra shouts as he drops to the ground and, perhaps unwisely, dismisses his Keyblade. He takes one last look back at the wyvern to make sure he's not considering lunging for the chimera again before diving for it himself and grabbing it by its back legs. Hopefully it's still too discombobulated from everything it's just been through to attack-- nope, there's a tentacle stretching up to slap Terra in the face.]

The cage behind you! Can you move it over here some?

[circulets]

[ He's leaned to move fast on his feet in dangerous situations - and he's been in ones that are much dangerous than this one.

For a moment, Mikleo is perplexed by the weapon that Terra seems to carry. He's never seen anyone like that - but, that isn't important right now. He readies himself to move when he sees that tentacle move, only to hear him speak again. ]

I've got it! [ He's doing as asked, moving behind the cage and pushing it forward for Terra. ]

[earthy]

[Terra wastes no time manhandling the chimera into that cage. He all but slams the door shut behind it once he's got it and its many appendages behind the bars.

He stumbles back a few steps and props his hands up on his hips while he catches his breath.]

Thanks... for the help.

[Whew. Nothing in this world is easy, is it?]

[circulets]

[ Mikleo finally relaxes then, crossing his arms as he observes the chimera - quietly catching his breath before shaking his head. ]

There's no need to think me. ... It was rather stubborn, wasn't it? But, it's good that we were both able to help it in time.

iii.

[punshots]

[ This is...quite the sight.

From the first sounds of trouble, Prompto is springing into action, his newly acquired chocobo making the trip that much quicker. His reasons for assisting Thali with the chimeras are...several, and complicated, and truth be told, he's not exactly having the time of his life hanging out with these creatures out here.

But having a grand old time isn't why he is doing it. These creatures never asked to be made like this, twisted into amalgams to serve a dark purpose, and dangerous as they may be, he has to believe there can be a better end to their story than being put out of their misery. He hopes Thali can do it. The beasts have already been through enough.

That's why he acts so quickly when the disturbance reaches his ears, though the sight he finds upon reaching the source of it is definitely not what he was expecting. A chimera loose from its cage, sure, but it's also in the mouth of a wyvern?? A wyvern that is being wrestled by a somewhat familiar face. Hey, he remembers this guy! From the...bunny incident of last summer. Good to see he's...embracing animals in a different way now?

In spite of the seriousness of the situation in general, Prompto can't help a peal of laughter at the sight, guffawing relentlessly as he hops down off his bird. ]

N-need a - ha - a hand there, dude?

[ He's not even sure where to start helping out with this. ]

[earthy]

[Terra's definitely embracing animals a little differently these days. Like right this second he's employing a nice, strong bear hug to cling to his wyvern's snout and try to keep him from pulling his head up out of reach.]

What's gotten into you?! There's no way you can really be hungry again, you just ate a couple hours a-- huh?

[Terra shoots a quick glance over his shoulder at the sound of someone... laughing? Oh, hey, that's a large bird there. And the person climbing down from the large bird... is That Guy. The song and dance guy. The... guy who witnessed his accident with the rabbit...

Also, Alisaie's suitor.

What's his name again? Terra's heard it a couple times now, he should be able to remember it... Prompt-something... Prompt...y? Yeah, that sounds right.]

Uh... maybe? If you can lend a hand without... you know, risking a hand!

[He'd really rather not find out how Alisaie would react to hearing his wyvern hurt her sweetheart.]

[punshots]

[ "Prompty" is close enough, and better than some names he's been called, though Terra is right to worry about Alisaie's wrath, because Prompto's sense of self-preservation leaves something to be be desired. But this wyvern doesn't seem to be a (completely) wild creature, and besides, it already has something in its mouth. So, uh, he's probably safe, right? Just as long as the Wyvern doesn't decide he or his chocobo look like a better snack.

In any case, he trots closer, his laughter petering out, his grin still wide. ]

Maybe if we find somethin' for your scaly pal to munch on that's not one of the chimeras?

[ Got any dragon treats in your pocket, Terra? ]

[earthy]

[Hey, there's an idea! Except...]

Like what?

[No dragon treats in the pockets of these big pants. Terra gets a better grip on his thrashing wyvern's head and hastily scans their surroundings.]

There's nothing else here except people and other chimeras! [Not a single stray wild critter big enough to entice a wyvern with. No convenient pools of water to maybe pull a fish out of, either.

Terra's attention snaps back to 'Prompty'... and then his eyes slowly shift to some spot behind the blond.

Ah.]

How fast is your bird?

[About the chocobo being regarded as a better snack...]

[punshots]

[ Oh, being given the opportunity to squawk about his bird is one of Prompto's greatest joys in life, even if he's only had said bird for maybe a week or so. He grins wide, relaxing back with his arms crossed as he turns to look at the chocobo. ]

The better question is, how fast isn't my bird! [ That made literally no sense, but just roll with it. ] She's one of the fastest I've ever been on, those Natha really went -

[ ...Wait.

He pauses, smile vanishing, as he plays back that question in the context of the situation at hand. Why...would Terra be asking him that??? ]

- Hang on, are you suggestin' what I think you're suggestin'?

[earthy]

[Terra can only wince when that smile suddenly disappears.]

If you could just... run her back and forth in front of him a couple times...?

[His wyvern rumbles and tosses his head, almost flinging his rider off. Terra latches back on with determination, but there's a touch more desperation in his voice when he speaks up again.]

If she's that fast, it should be no problem, right?

[Right???]

[punshots]

[ Well...WELL...

Now he's talked himself into a corner by bragging about his bird!! It's true, though. She's as fast as any chocobo he's ever ridden. So she can...probably outrun a Wyvern, at least for a little bit, right? And if she can't, surely Terra has enough control over his mount to get it to stop chasing them.

He thinks, glancing back at the chimera still struggling in the Wyvern's mouth.

He's gotta help a brother out... ]

Yyyyeah, sure thing! I'll just, uh -

[ With a quiet groan, he hops back onto the chocobo, glancing back at Terra. ]

I really hope this...urgh. R-ready when you are!

[earthy]

Ready here! [Terra calls right back, the frantic edge to his words lingering.] I'll owe you one, Prompty!

[Seriously, can they just get this out of his wyvern's mouth and into a cage and then get back to the escort job already. This is getting ridiculous. Why did he pick a wyvern mount again? A horse or a bear wouldn't be causing this much trouble! He didn't even need a mount, he's got his Glider, what was he thinking... (He was thinking riding a dragon would be cool, was what he was thinking.)

But hey, the wyvern's already showing some interest in the chocobo, turning his head and focusing one gold eye on the big bird. Maybe this will all be over soon.

One way or another.

Run, bird, run.]

[punshots]

[ Riding a dragon is cool, and if Prompto didn't have his heart set on a chocobo he might've been right there with Tera. But no, he made his choice and now they get to be the bait for the dragon instead. Perfect...

But anyway, Prompto recognizes that look in the wyvern's eye for what it is and kicks his heels into the bird's sides. Time to move!! ]

Mrs. F! Go, go, go, go! Serpentine! Serpentine!

[ The bird breaks off into a quick trot, Prompto leading the bird by its reigns to distract the wyvern. Every moment they go uneaten is a victory, so...so far so good! ]

[earthy]

[For a moment, the wyvern just stands there, tilting his head to the side and chomping lightly and contemplatively on the chimera he's caught. Possibly debating if he really wants mystery meat for dinner or if it's worth making the effort for giant bird drumsticks. But then the chocobo's quick movements trigger something inside him. His pupils dilate and he rights his head, fixing the speedy bird with a more intent stare.

Giant bird drumsticks it is.

With a screech, he drops the chimera in a slobbery heap and lunges forward to give chase.

Yes, Mrs. F, serpentine, serpentine for your life.

Spotting the chimera getting to its many feet, Terra's forced to make a quick decision. He lets himself fall off and away from his wyvern, rolls out of the landing, and takes off to catch the chimera. He tries to corral it as swiftly as he can, summoning his Keyblade and casting a Zero Graviga spell to sweep the creature up into the air and temporarily trap it in a little zero gravity bubble. Then it's just a matter of pushing the cage over and around it and slamming the door shut.

That task complete, he spins back around and runs after his wyvern running after the chocobo.

As it turns out, Terra's wyvern isn't especially fast or agile on the ground. He's just scrambling along awkwardly on his two legs and two wing thumbs. Try as he might, he can't seem to catch the nimble chocobo.

Frustrated, he gives his head another shake and opens his jaws wide. The bright orange glow building at the back of his throat is probably not a good thing.]

No! Bad wyvern!

[Terra shouts not-super-helpfully from where he's caught up to the end of his wyvern's tail.]

[punshots]

[ Agile or not, Prompto is sweating bullets by the time Terra gets the chimera back into its cage. Thank the Six that's over. Because...it's over, right? Except that the wyvern is still chasing them, and no matter how nimble his chocobo is, Prompto doubts that speed will allow them to outrun friggin' fire breath. If being eaten wasn't bad enough, they might get fried to a crisp instead. Cool. Why did he volunteer to do this again?

Then comes Terra's harsh rebuke from the wyvern's tail. Right.

Pulling hard on the chocobo's reins, Prompto makes a gamble. The bird is fast - but fire travels quickly, and instead of lay out a clear path for the attack to come, he turns the bird in a quick drift so she is running in the exact opposite direction she was a moment before. Directly at the wyvern. ]

Don't breathe, don't breathe, don't breathe, don't breathe -

[ That fire could come at any moment, but Prompto is hoping their speedy approach will confuse the beast for long enough for them to hook around its side and behind its back. When they're close enough, he guides the chocobo to the left, and she sprints right past Terra where he's haplessly wound up with the wyvern's tail. ]

wildcard

[logpose]

[ She's a little relieved that the havoc she had seen in the city before hadn't actually been something sanctioned by the Wyvern king. If that were true, she might really have to consider a movie, since she would only be in danger here and doesn't actually have many things tying her to the city. The people, now free from the spell that the dragon's blood had put them under, do seem to be apologetic for their actions at least, but what's done is also done. A large part of the city is in ruins now, burned down by zealous Wyvern nationals, and there are strange creatures that need to be transported to Thali quickly.

Having dealt with the chimeras with Polnareff before, she's a little apprehensive about them, but she's now learned that they're nothing more than ... animals who met with a sad fate. They won't actually harm her if she doesn't trigger their fight instincts.

It's a little hard not to feel unnerved by the chimera with the head of a duldrum and the body of a man, though, right down to its arms and legs and ... certain other parts. ]

Can't believe I actually have to do this -- it's so creepy. [ But she can't let this thing run around, either. She has to get it back to Thali. Digging through her bag, she starts to pull out some food to lure it closer to her. Before she can get her bait out, the chimera turns and darts in the other direction, right toward Terra instead. Maybe the guy has some food on him that it likes, or it really wants to make friends with a wyvern. ]

Hold it! Where are you going?! [ To Terra: ] Catch it for me, will you?!

[earthy]

[El Nysa is a world of so much mystery and surprise, Terra's long since given up trying to predict how his day will go when he gets up in the morning. That said, if he were still guessing, he never, ever, like not even in a million billion trillion years ever would have guessed he'd be assisting in the capture of a chimera that is 1/8th birdthing and 7/8ths super naked man.

Why, shamans, why? Seriously, who created this thing and what was the thinking behind it and would it have killed them to at least give their creation a pair of pants or a loincloth or something?

It looks like the young woman's got things handled on the 'catching the chimera' front, so Terra just averts his eyes and considers going and finding a blanket to cover the animalmanthing with after they've got it safely in a cage. Except then his thoughts are interrupted by shouting...

Oh, no, the chimera's turned around. It's turned around and... yep, it's just as naked in front as in back.

And it's running straight at him now.

Terra doesn't have much time to be shocked and horrified. His wyvern underneath him bobbles in place as they're charged... and then throws up his scaley head and scuttles backward. Nope nopenope nopenopenopenope noooope. Terra's pretty okay with the retreating, right up until his wyvern ducks one shoulder and spins around, dumping his rider in the chimera's path and fleeing into the sky.

Their bond is so strong already.]

What?! [Terra yells, maybe in response to Nami's request, maybe in response to his wyvern ditching him, or maybe this is just one of those situations that calls for a good what.

He scrambles back onto his feet and summons his Keyblade, but the chimera's almost reached him and what's he supposed to do?!]

How am I supposed to catch it?!

[Does anyone have a net handy?! Or maybe one of those animal catch poles?!]

[logpose]

[ Nami kind of joins Terra in his disappointment at seeing that Wyvern book it, staring up into the skies at it. ]

Darn, you had that dragon so I thought you were reliable ... [ She doesn't have to be mean about it, but she will be. Deal with it. She was sort of hoping that wyvern could overpower the chimera somehow, or at least catch up to it in speed, but there's little hope of that now. They have to deal with the problem themselves. ]

I am going to blow it toward you, please grab it before it gets away! [ Yes. She is going to blow the large naked lizard-man with the Adonis-like body toward you in hopes that you will catch it. In Nami's defense, her crewmates could probably manage this somehow. Pulling out her climatact, she points it at the chimera. ]

Gust sword! [ A large gust of wind rushes out, blowing the chimera forward and right toward Terra. ]

[earthy]

[Terra takes a second out of his panicking about the nude bird-dude rushing him to be vaguely offended.]

I've only had him for a week! We're still getting to know each other!

[And it does seem the wyvern hasn't completely forsaken him, having landed on a rocky ledge in the distance. Maybe he just wants to see what fate befalls his rider before he flies off to do his own wyverny thing, though.

Now, what's Nami saying? She's going to blow the chimera... toward him?!]

Wait!

[Too late. Nami produces some sort of staff-ish weapon and there's the whirling blast of air. Reflexively, and following Nami's lead, he points his Keyblade up and casts one of his own wind spells.]

Wind!

[Just inches from really unpleasant collision, the chimera's swept up in the temporary vortex that is Aeroga, spun around a couple times, and dumped back off between them. When it gets back up, it's obviously dizzy, staggering this way and that.]

I'm not grabbing that thing! There's gotta be another way to restrain it!