Rain Dance

"Yeah..." Voltaire replied. Some of his deeper cuts were still bleeding, but most had healed. Adair was currently holding his bleeding nose.

Ava let out a screech, and suddenly those fiery lines sprung out of her body like snakes. They whipped down on Talmara trying to piece through him and his barrier. When he didn't work, they began tightly wrapping around him instead.

Talmara laughed. "Your attempts are charming" He sneered. He was unphased by the whole ordeal

Kimi blew white flames on Voltaire's cuts.

Both Voltaire and Adair stared at Ava. They had never seen her like this before.

Ava snipped off the lines connected to Talmara. She flew over the cliff with the bound demon king and, somewhat unceremoniously, dropped him.

Talmara laughed maniacally, his voice echoing long after he was out of sight.

Kimi was still afraid. "We have to hurry, That won't stop him!"

The fiery lines disappeared as Ava glided over to them and landed. "We need to hurry then."

They quickly climbed aboard Ava, and the phoenix took off over the mountains.

Kimi continued to cling to Voltaire, long after they were a safe distance away.

(She's going to bring up the horns here soon.)

(I thought so. Not around the others though. Especially not Ava)

Voltaire did little more than hold her and nuzzle her hair. Talmara's manic words and laughter still haunted him as well. He wasn't able to do anything against him. Why couldn't he be strong when it counted?

(why not?)

Kimi shuddered and moved closer to him. "I was so scared." She whispered. "I thought he would kill you"

(Ava would not approve of any holes being ripped into anyone's chest, plus she would know it would make Voltaire sick. There is some other reason that's not quite clear yet. Adair might be okay with hearing about it, but not when it actually happens.)

"...Still here," Voltaire mumbled a little dryly. "Guy's a freaking psycho."

(Right. good point)

Kimi nodded, her grip on his shirt tightening. "I'm afraid to loose you."

Voltaire held her closer, placing kisses on top of her head. "I know, Angel, I know."

Kimi looked up at him tearfully.

The sight of her sadness almost broke Voltaire right there.

"Dammit," he hissed, leaning down and nuzzling her shoulder. "Why do I have to be so damn weak?"

"You're not weak..." Kimi whispered.

"I'm only weak when everyone's counting on me," murmured Voltaire into her shoulder. "It's what happens with the Gales and it's what happened here."

Kimi pulled Voltaire's face closer to hers so she could kiss him fiercely. "I never want to lose you" She whispered tearfully before burying her face in his shoulder.

Voltaire sat there in a bit of a daze from the sudden kiss. He bent down and kissed the side of Kimi's head.

"I don't want to lose you either," he whispered, nuzzling her shoulder. "That's what got me so damn spooked."

"He'd kill you sooner than me." Kimi stated. "Just to make me suffer."

(if he agrees to the horn exchange, she'll need help so it won't happen until after the tournament so I can bring in someone to help.)

(I see. Do they normally need help with the horns, or is it just Kimi?)

Voltaire didn't reply, staying where he was.

(When a demon shares their horns, they need help taking them out without killing themselves. They can't see what they're doing.)

"How much longer until we arrive at the tournament?" She asked

"Couple days," Voltaire mumbled back. "Let's sleep. Or try to."

Kimi nodded and settled down to sleep, still clinging to Voltaire.

Voltaire laid down as well, kissing Kimi's forehead. "Night angel."

(fast-forward to tournament whenever ready)

Kimi never though that she'd feel more comfortable in the crowded tournament area. But, ever since the run in with Talmara, she was unwilling to let go of Voltaire's shirt hem. Everywhere he went, she trailed after him with her head down.

Voltaire in return was feeling extra-protective, spitting fire at anyone who even vaguely irritated him. This included Adair, who tried to keep his distance. Since the Hunter wasn't feeling at all sociable, it was the Hero who was plagued with questions about the Dragons' state. The Dragons were at the tournament, but not participating. They were staying with the demon doctors to get their bones healed.

"We'll be fighting the Spiders later today," Voltaire informed her.