Deep Dark Freeze

[Vio]

“Helping the people’s something my family’s always done, y’know?” Bryony replied, rubbing the back of her head as Kite showed gratitude for her aid on behalf of Drum’s people. It was just as well that he refuted the idea of asking the reasoning behind her presence; the last she wished to do was reveal her purpose to a complete stranger, unknowing of his true motivation. “Besides! If you help the people, then they’ll come to your aid in your time of need, y’know?”

^{What’s he staring at…? Bryony questioned:
Is there something out in the woods…?}

Sure enough, her curiosity was soon answered by the man himself, when he growled those fateful words: ‘It lives’. One could have been forgiven for thinking he was referring to some sort of monstrosity - a fierce goliath that he had fought in the past, such was the drama in her oration. But, that might have been Miss Whitaker’s eyes seeing more than there actually was.

^{“I don’t see anything,” she said, peering:
“Are you sure it’s still there?”}

Try as she might, whatever it was that Kite was seeing eluded her own hazel-green hues. Nonetheless, Mister Kalisto asked the question all the same and, while she was uncertain, something about this man proposed trust. Quick on the draw, it was he who had been first into the fray to rescue the folks trapped behind frigid blockades of snow and ice - what could he have to hide? Surely, that was somewhat naive of her, but Bryony knew that she could defend herself in ways surprising should things take a more sinister turn.

At present, her greatest curiosity was Aspen.

“Well, I guess we’re kinda trapped on Drum, y’know?” she replied, knowing full well that she had little to do. She could have checked on the others, but it only took a passing gaze towards the coast to reveal that Aspen’s little flurry had taken its toll on the shores. Not to mention, gathering supplies for their next voyage had likely been delayed in lieu of such an event. Instead, not wishing to sit idly by and twiddle her thumbs, the bubbly brunette turned to Kite: “Sure! Let’s go!”

[Phantasma]

    "Heh," Kite flashed a slip of a smile showcasing the small of his bright white teeth, eyes momentarily gaining a crease in their corners by virtue of the genuine pleasant smile.

    Unlike before he seemed to relax some after chortling and smirking. While not an entirely uncommon sentiment recalling very quickly his journey up until now often hardly had him encountering true charity. There was always some quid pro quo leaving most interactions with a taste of business-like formality. Bryony was refreshing in that way, almost like letting air into a room after its been closed for a time.

    "Charity for charities sake huh? Well. You got the right of it, that's for sure," Nodding his head with a tilt of his chin fixating back to Logan and then Loree.

    A sharp intake of freezing vapor inflated his chest and chilled his quickening heart. Although the cold was prevented from seeping into his bones it was moments like this where he was given opportunity to still himself that brought lucidity. Looking very briefly to the mountains, going over his right shoulder to do so an inquisitive crinkle forced his brow down. Frowning as he recalled just what had been said about the Ishi academy as well as taking apart what Logan said.

    'Just what kind of doctor puts others in danger...? Or does things with the weather? Is he some sort of crazed inventor?' Musing it over once or twice he turned about face again shaking his head a bit and compartmentalized the thought.

    Missing pieces like this there was no point in trying to stitch together an M.O. , if the guy was really unhinged enough to endanger others over the sake of a grudge... No. If he was willing to endanger the lives of others haphazardly period something like logic couldn't be used predicatively. Spending the next few moments in silence Kite planned just what he would do if they ran across him vowing that he'd try not to lose his cool even if the most absurd were to occur. Far out of fear of his temper but the amount of danger this task would be accompanied with. The voices of the crowd and their eventual dispersal was deaf to the youthful hunter for a brief time but when he did start moving a clarity propelled him. Some kind of sharpness-- nay an acumen to his eye. Serene painted in red.

---

"That we are. I suspect that storm was just a taste of what we have in store... those people seemed shocked but not nearly as much as we were. Almost like they'd seen worse. I'd like to think I was imagining that however," Perhaps paying close to a dismiss-able detail Kite clicked his tongue at the thought shaking his head a bit in clear dismay.

    While it might not have been readily apparent if someone wasn't peering directly at the faces of the townsfolk it was in how they moved. Not so much sluggish as it was knowing, like going through routine. It was doubtless that avalanches were uncommon but freak storms were another thing entirely and all things said it had been in stride-- Kite and Bryony had provided a bulk of the help but it was with a mechanical nature the others pitched in. Far from hopelessness as one could see from the jogging and lively tones of the folks even those perched on the steps of stores sipping hot drinks and huddled together warming up hands to mouths.

    Confidence was what allowed the party to leave as early as they did. Knowing that Loree, Logan and the others would be okay. To be sure however the sap of a warrior made a show of waving both hands as he walked backwards towards the drum rockies having conferred with the elderly woman and burlier man as to the best path towards the back of the island. A map tucked safely into his coat was going to be insurance they wouldn't be lost however as the taller of the group whirled around on his heels and trekked through the snow he seemed temporarily lost in thought. Bracing his chin with his right hand stroking what was surely a section of his face lacking in hair.

    "Shame we couldn't get a carriage or sleigh... but it's no surprise that storm scared the animals off," Recalling the surprised shouts and curses that flew out nearly seconds before their departure that resulted in this little hike around the mountain range.

    "What do you think about that warning though? Snow monsters... Lapahns? Hiking bears? Well, maybe not that last one. Still, ferocious man-eating packs of bunnies that stalk people out in the wilds?" Far from disbelief his tone wasn't carried far in the quiet groan of the snow wafting off the canopy of the mountains looming just overhead.

    The town was still visible and the two of them had only just started climbing up the steep incline that fed into the snow drifts and taiga. Had it not been the site of a storm the little village tucked into the hugging embrace of a land of snow and trees would look quaint. Cute, even, if you were into that home-y feel.

    "Guess it's good I've got someone to watch my back hm?" Glancing at the chipper gal he wore an expression free of frown lines and a relaxed brow.

    Turned like he was it was all too likely Bryony would be the one to notice that dastardly lizard fink swinging up ahead. Previously obscured thanks to the brief gusts of snow as well as incline the pair was climbing. Just like Kite had mentioned it was making an effort to stick close to the town and yet it seemed to be climbing in the same direction they were heading. If the town was what it was going to hang close to why would it be ascending alongside them as well?

[Vio]

“It’s nothing to worry about! They’re just bunnies, y’know?” Miss Whitaker replied, amused by Kite’s fear - perhaps caution was the better word. Surely, there was no island in all the Grand Line that did not possess some peculiar threat, and she had certainly heard mention of the name ‘Lapahn’ during her voyage to this winterscape. It wasn’t that she didn’t believe such a creature existed, but she firmly believed that she was more than capable of defending herself against such ferocities should they approach, and she was quick to let her company know it: “Besides, I can look after myself, and it looks like you can, too, y’know?”

It was then that movement caught her eyes.

Green? And then white again… Is that…? Eyes first widening, then narrowing as she tried to keep her focus on the colour-changing blur, Bryony pondered. A lizard, tail a-curl and with a long tongue, with little alien karate chop hands (for lack of a better description) with which it gripped and grappled branch and bough. How it hadn’t frozen to death was beyond her understanding, though it seemed to take a moment to painfully pull its tongue free from frozen bark before realising it was being watched.

^{“Hey! Look!” Bryony shouted:
“In the trees! It’s that lizard thing!”}

Finger pointing in the target’s direction, no sooner had she yelled than the reptile had realised its folley. Caught unawares, it panicked and shifted, colours blending into the environment as it scurried out of sight. Fear of being spotted? Or fear of something else.

^Thump!

^{“Huh?” Her ears pricked:
“Wh- What was that sound…?”}

Thump! Crack! Crunch! Th- Thump! The thumping of hefty footsteps, crunching of snow and crackling of branches were all telltale signs of something approaching. But the sound came not from a single compass point, but from all around, growing closer, louder. Bryony tensed. For not too long had they been walking, but already something honed in upon them, and something big at that…

[Phantasma]

    "Ah, you probably think I'm some coward. I used to have a lax attitude too around creatures this far from the blue."

    "I think that's why the creature difficulty rating system exists," Turning eyes upward and closing his eyes a light hum of an oddly fond sigh exited his tightened lips.

    "Better careful than dead right?" Bringing up both hands palm up to his shoulders bending them at the elbow he supplied his question with similar body language.

    Eyes suddenly inching a bit wider he realized his mistake and quickly shot his hands forward in placation brows pressing together. Sharpened eyes adopting a soft shine to them while his voice was a touch gentler.

    "Not that any of us are going to die! Ah I always have a habit of saying the wrong kind of things. Just... I keep different company and I'm used to being brutally honest when I need to be. Hardly the sort of thing to motivate folks. We'll do fine, you'll do fine. We'll save everyone," A sharp nod and hands to his hip offering his best super hero pose as they walked along.

    Talking up a storm like he did it was almost like air was let out of a balloon when Bryony eventually spoke up. Deflation was quickly replaced with wariness and reluctance, tightened fists and a wide sweeping gaze that made sure to consider every cranny of the approaching tree line. For once being in the dark a kind of creeping suspicion wormed into the soft flesh of Kites heart, motivating him to keep up his guard and ensure that flying menace didn't try to go for a lunge on either of them. The thunderous stomping and trumpeting thump of yet unseen foes got him to jump into a guard stance instantly unholstering his blades and pressing them into their fused sword state. Thanks to the lack of direct sunlight it was hardly a flashy process but nonetheless if the revolutionary paid attention she would see solid metal pressed and molded by a free left hands palm into a 4 foot rod of steel. Sharpened to a needle like edge the weapon was a fusion of the gothic cross hilt and a wicked double sided silver edge. Tightening formation he whirled around on his heels and turned in a lazy half circle inching closer to Bryony before he completed his rotation.

    "Remember what I said earlier? Guess they were serious about ambushes happening... Drat... Well if they're anything like your typical bunny," Cut off by a rather grizzly, primal roar that bathed the area in a flurry of flung snow.

    Calming in less than a second a whole pack of bipedal, fluffy, white, hulking vaguely rabbit beasts lumbered a few meters away. Having stacked bodies closer to what you'd consider undeniably primate mixed with the rounded tummy of a snowman. Ears high like radars swirling around and flopping about, whiskers glimmering in the fading snow blind, sharp claws dragging behind them anchored to sloth-like arms. The vaguely egg shaped predators were completed with gleaming red eyes, a menacing shade unlike Kites that just seemed to get brighter the closer they inched towards the group.

    At a loss for what he was looking at the hunter glanced over his shoulder before taking a foot forward and spreading his stance to shoulder length. Both hands on his sword he slowly lowered it so that fists were at even with his chest, the blade skyward like some kind of rallying flag.

    "I'd like to think myself an animal person but... These beasts look perturbed. The storm might've driven them lower down the mountain and agitated the bunch," Posturing like he was, a challenge to the Lapahns it was inevitable that a few collars got ruffled and fangs were barred combined with a sudden lurching run toward the prone adventurers.

    "Guess diplomacy was never a choice,"

    A total of 12 Lapahns, 6 running while the others hung back leaning low to the ground preparing to explosively fling themselves into the air. Knowing this and acknowledging the inability to retreat Kite whistled over shoulder at Bryony letting her know he was willing and able to put up a fight. Hardly the one to mince words at a time like this he wasn't expecting a duet of a brawl. The rate at which he closed in toward the monsters was a testament to how willing he was, breaking into a sprint while raising his sword over his shoulder through bent arms. Wide-eyed Lapahns not expecting as much seemed to scatter and brandish their claws to try and dive in bellow the raised weapon.

    Multiple blade strikes merged in tandem weaved together to a cutting wave. From over the shoulder, the head, down near the hip even straight ahead each swish of steel was aimed to begin just when one had ended. Sparks flew and the clang of forged materials against natural resounded in a clamorous melody.

    He was holding back.

    Threatened as he was, something in him didn't want to kill these creatures.

    Did Kite pity them? Was he hurt?

    'They had no choice. Just like the villagers. I'm not going to feed into the destruction Aspen caused. Even if that means sparring dangerous creatures,' Baring his teeth he vowed as much silently having to jump over a particularly low swinging Lapahn.

    3 Lapahns had been converged on by Kite while the others were still in a sprint although given the aggressive nature of the assault Kite was going to drag them in if left to his own devices. The back up Lapahns also seemed to be gunning for an opportunity and were as likely to jump as they were sprint.

[Vio]

“Perturbed? Yeah, I guess I can see what you mean,” Whitaker Bryony replied, noting the ruddy beads that were the eyes of the Lapahns. It was a real shame; though they carried a reputation for ferocity, she could not help but perceive them as what they really were - oversized rabbits. Still, there was no time to dawdle and appreciate the fluffy behemoths’ twitching noses and thick, plush coats. These were angry, predatory creatures barrelling towards the duo.

Kite’s blade was prepared, and already was his steel meeting toughened claw.

I guess I don’t have much of a choice! If I don’t transform, I’m not going to be much use here! Steeling her nerves against the onslaught of overbites, Bryony acted as fast as the frigid woods would allow her. Body melding, little of what was going on could be seen beneath the padded layers she wore, but one thing was very much certain. Her body had grown in size, now a solid two metres rather than an approximate one-and-a-half. Her complexion waxen, her fingers laced with fine protruding white hairs, yet no other real features were discernible save for the subtle hint of something green poking out from her hood.

^{Vox Delirium… Miss Whitaker inhaled, exhaled:
Oscitor Pacificae!}

“Haah… HAAAAAAHN~!” What started as a somewhat panicked expression quickly shifted to a tired yawn, almost as if the now unnaturally tall girl was waking at dawn from a deep slumber despite the trilogy of callous coneys. But it wasn’t the act itself that was extraordinary, but what succeeded such an anomalously loud yawn. Soothing waves of lavender and lilac carried forwards from Miss Whitaker’s lips agape. One Lapahn dodged instinctively, at least aware on some level that what was rushing towards it was bad, but the other two were not so lucky.

The two beastly bunnies were caught in the waves, their light bathing them as their ears twitch. For a moment, nothing. And then, they reciprocated the yawns. Their bristling hairs softened and their rabid expressions dulled to something more tame, but that did not entirely fend them off, just make them reconsider their aggression as they backed away. The other, unaffected by the waves, remained on the offensive, leaping into the air.

Bryony did not move. Rather, she drove her fingers into the snow, wincing slightly at the cold…

[Phantasma]

    "Really should reconsider," Kite let out a puff of instantly visible air which whirled around his snarl of an expression matching inch for inch the faces the Lapahns currently wore.

    "lashing out at folks just for the catharsis!" Swinging his sword to the side the long steel tool let loose a low whistling slicing clean through air and warding off a jab aimed at Kites backside.

    Clearly not content to just poke and prod at his defenses the wildlife got wise and exchanged looks before running around in circles. Much like a shark or pod of killer whales they coordinated their assault attacking in tandem and sending out four or more swipes with each halt in their dash, at a second or to in they had already worked a groove into the snow and the swordsman could scarcely track them all before getting dizzy. A mite irritated and fed up with the flimsy strategy he switched gears swapping out swapping around himself with a big stick to breaking out his own signature attacks.

    'Ensemble,' He focused himself, taking a free hand to swipe across the broad edge of the sword.

    The halt in the attack was a perfect prompt for the animals to lunge and go in for a tackle. Smothering and swiping what they perceived to be just an ordinary armed threat.

    "Forte," Kite spat out just as the shadows of the brutish fauna darkened his vision.

    Singing in a very dull lull like that of a tuning fork an unseen force gripped the blade and charged it. Other than causing a maddened twitch and adjustment of ears from the incoming assault force as well as the few closer to Kalisto that elected to hold off on a full attack somewhat aware of what clumsiness would ensue if close to one another. Not a few inches from racking claw to suit were the bunnies forced to the ground gripping their claws and letting out a pained yowl not too dissimilar from big game animals like bears or oddly enough canines. Grouped together like they were it took effort for the hunter to move out of the center tiptoeing over the groaning and rocking animals nearest to his feet. Far too engrossed with cradling what appeared to be wild shaking in their retractable claws which only worsened once they drew the natural weapons inward.

    Perhaps too fast to see the truth of what had happened was entirely evident from the damage alone. Lapahns blocking most of the view all it took was a tap from that singing blade in a line to at least one or both paws of the attacking monsters to send them on the ground in pain. Rather than a show of brute force it was an act of arguable mercy and as vexed as the man was for being halted on his journey he wasn't about to partake in animal cruelty.

    Moving himself towards the now tensed and ready to charge Lapahns kite planted his sword in the snow and placed his palms on it. Much like a cane he leaned forward and surveyed the line. Conflicted, looking to each other and flexing their claws almost to mimic the twitching of a man just as he's about to pull a gun to fire. Wasting no more than a brief second to look over his right shoulder he noted the situation Bryony was facing clearly none the wiser as to what she had just done. Going so far as to raise a brow at her elevated, elongated form and now sedentary state. Now wearing a quizzical look he turned back to the uneasy line before him that had since moved an inch or three.

    "I wouldn't," He warned, taking the sword in his right hand hefting it awkwardly into a sheath on the hip of the same side.

    Flicking it out the instant its tip sunk in that same humming started to sound off again. Only this time rather than Kite running at the enemy he hefted the sword over his right shoulder trying to ignore the chattering of teeth within his skull. Commanding unseen forces out the far end directed nearest to Bryony Kite fired.

    'Amateur Coda,' He announced in his head wincing at the minor amounts of hearing damage he suffered having the thing aimed over his shoulder like that.

    Unlike the mandrake woman's waves this was a more unseen technique. Air rippled, snow flakes trembled and swirled out of the way as a column of noise tore straight towards the flying Lapahn. Rather than notice his comrade might've been sitting their for a reason he took the initiative the moment his questioning gaze spotted the assault mid progress.

    Holding the line like he was only as a distraction to ensure whatever his partner was up to wasn't interrupted. That much however was built off of assumption, animals or not he wasn't about to announce someone was prone. 

    In slow motion the energy impacted into sensitive organs and pelted an otherwise impervious thick white, luxurious but ruffled coat. Gripping its ears close to its skull with now clawless paws the Lapahn hurdled through the air whining and yowling eyes screwed shut as tightly as its ears were gripped. Beyond what was present physically the effect of what it was personally experiencing was excruciating, on a level not too dissimilar from a stun gun the nauseating painful ringing bouncing off sensitive sensory organs in electric pain was dissolving whatever will the creature had to fight for the time being.

    Lowering his blade and preparing for what was surely to be a retaliation strike Kite tensed. The forces in front of him only had to take one look at the result of the impact before deciding that rules of engagement had changed, a swarm tactic was in order for creatures that hunting patterns couldn't take down. Lunging up and then forward claws barred they made their move with no particular target in mind, like a net troweling along 3 more Lapahns descended on Kite while three more navigated towards Bryony. If able going so far as to rile up the two pacified bunnies into rejoining the assault. Most of them were in the air but the one or two that weren't chose to hop around zig zagging.

    "I guess you all would."

[Vio]

Amidst the snow plumes and fur, Whitaker Bryony could at least discern one peculiarity. The low, somewhat audible drone of Kite’s blade - an oddity which she had yet to recognise the source of - was the only thing that seemed to ensure her planned offensive wasn’t quickly interrupted. A flying Lapahn had its eye upon her, her ingrained state rendering her a considerably more viable target, she was lucky that her travelling companion was so quick on the draw.

^{What’s that noise…? She questioned mentally:
I guess I’ll have to ask afterwards…}

Threatened on all sides by the encroaching horde, both human participants in this wintry rumble had become the targets of a half-dozen hairy beasts all making their attacks in unison. Apparently their singular strikes had been disadvantageous, but the rabid rabbits weren’t fully aware of what was happening unseen. Bryony’s teeth chattered, her body feeling the chill soak into her as waxy fingertips ploughed their way out from beneath her. Now was the time.

“Sorry, bunnies,” she muttered apologetically as they all crossed a threshold invisible to all save the rooted Revolutionary. She tensed visibly, back arching as she made her final push: “But I’m gonna have to ground you all, y’know? Germinatio…!!”

^{Poff! P- Poff! Poff! P- P- Poff!}

Breaching crisp snow were not one or two, but an entire decuplet of pale and slender stalks erupted from various points around Bryony and Kite. Tendrils raced towards the sky, forming an inescapable network of flailing coils that ensnared Lapahn limbs - one or two each. What had been airborne adversaries quickly found themselves being yanked back down to earth or knocked off course, while those already on the floor were tripped or snagged upon the curious binds.

^{“G- Got ‘em all,” Brie announced with confidence:
“Hey! I c- can’t hold them l- like this f- forever, y’know?”}

Thwump! Not quite. Hazel-green hues looked at first ahead into purest white, then up into the glaring eyes of one enormous entity that had managed to elude both her grasp and her senses. Claws brandished, it was about to make for a swipe to surely uproot her, but its ears twitched noticeably. Swivelling about, what could only be described as puzzled look upon the Lapahn’s visage soon became one of terror. Bestial senses had given it an advanced warning, and soon Bryony could hear it too.

The sound of something rumbling towards them at speed, cracking bracken and ice on its way, fast approached…

[Phantasma]

    Grip starting to slip Kite found himself with a new strain of difficulty. Continually batting away claws and supercharging them with the force of Winding was taking its tole. Shooting off that many blasts in such a short amount of time, in high variety, caused him aches and pains deep set into his bones and forced a grunt or two of labor aside from those forced by exertion. The Lapahns didn't seem to catch on and in between pained yowls and growls they were also growing increasingly fatigued from the high speed combat. Unable to jump and likely impossible to launch a surprise slash from this distance they were stuck weaving alongside brilliant flashes of metallic silver in the howling cold. If it weren't for there eyes Kite might even be in trouble with the furry snow blind threatening to swallow him up.

    The roots came.

    Towering, intimidating tendrils of a indiscernible earthen shade sprouted forth from the ground to entangle and subdue their foes. Not particularly thick as a tree would be but possessing enough strength of form to rip the animals right from the ground or push them into the snow. Amid a jumbled noise of confusion and cacophony of frenzied bites and scratches Kite turned around to Bryony his eyes growing a bit wide while a dumbfounded frown sat on his face. Unable to phrase his question properly-- having never even seen people capable of such feats all he could really do is point and tilt his head to the side.

    "What... How... why?" Vacantly chanted like a mantra.

    Made aware once more by a war whoop from one of the higher Lapahns the hunter straightened his back and started charging up his sword once more. Running his hand along the blade and muttering out the appropriate attack name, positioning himself to the nearest grapple stalk he hefted the blade high over his shoulders and twirled it to a flatter edge.

    "Ensemble... Forte!" Sword flying over his shoulder the expression on his currently hidden face was a stern one.

    Bonk!

    Flat edge impacting with an exposed bunny head resulting in a dull twitch rising up from the Lapahns tail racing along its back in a whirl of fur until the creature went slack. Fully knocked out as it was the poor thing just kind of rocked back and forth in the root entirely helpless. Hardly wasting any time Kite made to Race around repeating previous procedure being almost blind to the one Lapahn that had evaded the round up.

    "Forte!" A clean hit.

    "Forte!" A cleaner hit.

    "Forte!" A large welt appeared on that particular Lapahn.

    Now almost entirely circled around the field it was a fear the gripped the hunter. Seeing the wild animal haunch up as it was and brandish those gleaming claws, sharp ripping tools that could've easily hurt the now exposed and clearly exhausted Bryony. Curses flying out under his breath he ignored his previous wordless promise to dispatch the vermin non lethally and went flying forward with a galloping stride, lurching his sword to his right side and glaring at the beast.

    "I got this! Sorry about the pause had to catch my breath!" He yelled out preparing for the inevitable impact nearly being caught off guard when the creature jumped to the side.

    "Huh?" Looking past as he briefly hovered and catapulted forward wide eyes and a dopey kind of slack jawed expression to his mouth.

    Trying to free its friends in vein the creature just hoped along flailing its arms high in the air as it ran for higher ground. A worried grimace stained onto his face as he looked at Bryony and no sooner had he been forced to impact with the projectile heading their way. A wet crunch and ice cold chill surrounded his body as his world went dark and it became noticeably harder to breathe. Disorientated senses told him he was being jostled around, pressure and pain told him at times he was hitting rocks and being forced under some kind of heavy boulder. Helpless as he was inside of the growing bulk of whatever he had just splatted into!

    Bryony, anchored and in possession of at least 5 knocked out Lapahns would've had a front row seat for the hunter smashing into what looked like a massive snowball. At a height of at least 3 meters the not-so-little shape was quickly growing as it picked up yet more snow and debris. Even the wind seemed to die down around the dull crunching roar of the massive snow-dozer! But most unsettling of all was that atop this wintery weapon was that very same chameleon who upon seeing Bryony and glancing down at its ball with a creepy flick of its right eye smiling. A nasty kind of smile, the sort you'd see on the face of a plotter.

    Deceptively weak two pronged feet sped themselves up and the jogging speed ball kicked itself into third gear clearing at least a couple feet in less than a second or two. Barreling on top of Bryony like this she'd either have to get out of the way, use those roots or find some way to shelter herself fast!

    Curiously a couple times some weird silver thorn emerged from where the Chameleon was standing forcing it to hop up and down letting out terrified screeches as it dodged the assault. The source of which was a newly irritated and chilled Kite who was trying to dig his way out. A boiling anger replacing fatigue and muscle pain, but surely not enough to sustain this activity. Presently it might even be possible if Bryony told him where she was that he could blast the whole structure and make it wobble out of a direct shot. The unknown and inability to time such a thing was likely his reasoning as to why he hadn't done so yet.

[Vio]

What had at first been a precarious situation in the face of a Lapahn had suddenly turned into something decidedly more comical, but also painful to watch. Kite’s to-the-rescue actions had ended up with him being subjected to the torment that was a large boulder of compacted snow, guided by the small but familiar form of the conniving critter, but what made it worse was that it currently barrelled towards the anchored angel herself.

^{“Uh-oh! I’m gonna get buried alive?!” Bryony shrieked:
“Wait… Buried…”}

At that moment it dawned on her; the one facet of her ability that truly gave her an advantage in this situation. By the time she could withdraw her roots, the snowball would have been upon her, but there was one thing this chaotic chameleon would be unprepared for. As the shadow of the boulder loomed over her, Miss Whitaker allowed her form to shift again as the powder consumed her.

The world went dark.

“!” In that split second, the grin on the reptile’s face turned to shock, pure and unadulterated, as its feet suddenly found themselves flailing in mid air. The creature’s unorthodox vehicle was now stationary, locked in place by the superhuman strength of the girl now locked inside it, roots still deeply ingrained now both within the frozen tomb and the snow-laden earth itself. What wasn’t on immediate display was the fact that Brie herself was shrunken down, buried with nought but a plume of green ovate leaves protruding from the boulder, and her eyes watering from the combined physical strain of her fingers being yanked at through bitter cold terrain…

[Phantasma]

    Advantage was a highly subjective point of view, a harsh truth Bryony was about to become privy to. Caught in a mesh of nature, coiled in roots of a particular thickness the Chameleon went through a variety of expressions. One of which was a smirk, scaly lips peeled back and revealed opalescent chompers that gleamed with a particular malevolence. Heat, a warmth radiated from the multitude of candy-corn like horns that sprouted from the things back. In a hurry these colors spread all over the creature going from meek green to menacing red all the while transferring heat straight into the near-chilled earthen tendrils. Going from the strength of bath water to a roaring fire, with its source leering down at the foolish creature who sought to capture it!

    Forgetting about its current victim the little pest crossed its front legs and held what chin it had high. Pompously believing in its itty bitty head that it had had victory and soon it was about to be freed! If it sensed weakness in the hold it would thrash and if further strangled the chameleon was prepared to keep the heat coming even at risk to its own stamina.

    Thonk!

    A sword, a familiar weapon, pierced the grave of compounded frozen liquid and extended high up to the creatures perch. Broadsided in its smack the sword came down upon the back of the creature attempting to fling it free from Bryony and hopefully forcing it to a deep crevice underneath the snow. Hardly the one to wait to see his efforts through blind eyes Kite extracted himself from a staked snowball blooming out in a flurry of flakes and solid powder. Hoping down from his little exit out of the top and wadding through the snow towards the fatigued and ingrained lady. Dusting himself off and sticking his sword close by prepared to offer what assistance he could.

    "Unprofessional and highly," he started before sneezing hiking his head back and following in a downward arc aimed over his shoulder away from the power user.

    "highly embarrassing..." He finished shaking his head a bit trying to jar clean the temporary sneeze spell.

    Wasting no time and still on the guard if his little hit to the critter didn't work Kite took off his overcoat and draped it over her shoulders. The material was warm, surprisingly insulated and despite being momentarily sealed in snow was surprisingly dry attesting to the quality of the materials that made it. Additionally close to it clung a very floral-like scent something you'd associate with clean linens and not a battle hardened swordsman, speaking of which after offering his garment of winter-shielded clothing Kite was on his guard. Taking up his blade and looking to either side of the frankly scattered battlefield. Lapahns gone and a trail from that snowball leading all the way up a higher incline on the hill. Seeing opportunity he made note of that for later when retreat was an option, a cleared path was always welcome.

    Spinning his blade lazily so the warrior walked at a pace back and forth trying to get the creature to come out into the open or at the least guard if it had evaded the attack. Since as far as Kite could tell he either hit it or stopped whatever it was trying to do-- a point of which he was still unsure how he knew about. He just instinctively jammed his blade out to try and free himself... wildly swinging his blade in just the right place at the right time.

    "Come on... come out...." He goaded the creature making sure to look around to prevent a surprise attack.

    A little burrow became evident and got the red eyed overwatch to respond by pointing his blade ground ward. Currently the chameleon was tunneling through the snow with no rhyme or reason having tendrils of raised snow spiral around the edge of the battlefield but at this point had gone so far as to start charging forward at the group head on with Kite. Underneath the snow this rampant speed was thanks to melted ground and oddly active muscles, tiny feet going into overdrive as the creature heated itself to the likes of a incendiary round. Those same spikes rose above the surface of the snow like the dorsal fin of a shark, sinister in their curved nature and slightly exotic thanks to their bright pulsating red hue. Gritting its teeth and readying its tongue the surprisingly tenacious foe leapt from its tunnels spiraling forward in the sky tightening its roll so it was more like a ball. Fully in spin dash it soared on high towards the ground and the group currently standing on it.

    Turning back to Bryony and making sure the later was okay for whatever was about to happen Kite raised his sword another quiet hum forcing it to wobble in his pained hands. Gritting his teeth he spoke aloud, over his shoulder.

    "Up for slapping that thing over the horizon? I might need you to swat it after i hit it... Don't think i have enough of a steady hand to get the right angle after a consecutive firing." Hands forcing an even tighter grip to the sword at the mention of such doubt. 

    Funny how a lizard could be so threatening. Approaching quickly the spinning red ball sparked flames off its surface wafting and eating away at the cold on the wind. Orange and red flailed about as small contained spurts of heat became a miniature inferno masking scales in thermal energy.

[Vio]

“Ow! Ow! Ow! Hot! Hot! Hot!” Bryony screeched, though her voice was heavily muffled by her currently buried state. The clash of bitter cold and peculiar heat only served to make the critter’s unique defensive technique even more effective, rapidly melting the flakes of snow that clung to the miniscule hairs of the mandragora’s roots and sooner scalding flesh. She had no choice but to loosen her grip, retracting overheated extremities.

Huh…? Oh, he got out! Light soon stabbed Miss Whitaker’s eyes, for Kite had managed to free himself, in turn partially unburrowing the minute madam in her fully transformed state. Overcoming what she could only describe as an innate, instinctual urge to scream at the top of her lungs, she instead raised her lower half from the powder and earth, showing her full and impressive height of barely over a metre. Childish proportions, a pale and waxy complexion; and, in place of a chestnut mop, a rosette of jade that added another metre in and of itself.

The chameleon was not done.

^{“It’s too hot to touch, y’know?” Brie replied:
“But I can definitely give it my all!”}

Pumping her fists now that her roots were withdrawn, she cast her hazel-green hues towards what was now a rolling ball of fiery radiance hurtling through the air at speed. The fact that such a small creature was capable of such a thing answered the question of how it had survived so easily in the wintry climes - the ability to unleash heat of such intensity was highly impressive.

“Alright,” she nodded. Casting an arm to one side, all of her extremities on that hand extended simultaneously, weaving themselves together into a lengthy, braided whip which would soon be cast in such a fashion. One way or another, they were dispatching the little devil.

[Phantasma]

    Like skin from a metamorphosing insect Kites jacket fell limply to pure white below. The depths of this mysterious, fantastic power became immediately obvious in one massive swell of form. Bryony was... well, human but parts of her were undeniably changed. Hair, impressive stature, the origin of those roots. Brows high and eyes wide the young man couldn't help but afford a stupefied expression complete with a tongue that was absolutely uncompliant in forcing out words to the lady-plants reply. His sword bobbled and lowered itself ever so slightly in a show of evaporated focus that immediately returned after a firm shake of the head and gulp.

    "Mm... well here it comes!" Snapping his head back to attention the swordsman readied his blade in sore palms eyes narrowing, bending forward against the wind.

    Hurtling down more like a meteor than animal the Chameleon singed away the consistent snowfall. Eyes that could more independent of one another were paired with the opposing fighters whilst a sinister pea brain devised just the perfect spot to land. Narrowing window of time forced it forward while a fake opening between the two fighters proved too irresistible. Speeding up in its rotation the red ball of flame descended upon them sending out waves of heat that just barely kissed both fighters. A meter or so to go!

    "Amateur," Kite breathed out taking his blade and slipping it around his left flank holding either hand to the hilt as he inverted the grip sliding it into an ill fitted sheath.

    "CODA!" He roared flinging the blade out brandishing the entire weapon back to its former position, a flick of polished metal and flawless maneuvering of limbs.

    The soft little chorus of echoing energy on the blade reached a particular crescendo and in a parted sea of falling snow it shot dead ahead at the Chameleon. The opening closed from last second foot work and thanks to as much the effect was much like before, taking it head on like that the animal couldn't dodge or roll in mid air enough to avoid the worst of it. Wobbling and breaking form the pest lurched to either side limbs folding out and covering its head while the tail thrashed about. Flames wobbled and self extinguished under a harsh, screaming sound track that echoed off the nearby hills. The sound itself was powerful, calamitous and generally just stung when it reached the ears. Kite seemed to be under just as much pressure as its target however as both arms seemed to shake whilst his mouth contorted into a teeth barred frown. Eyes screwed shut he yelled over his shoulder, the fading noise giving him the opportunity to speak.

    "Now Bryony! Hit him now!"

    Sword lowered and sound ceasing the Chameleon was still disorientated scratching at its little head as the sonic damage continued to work its havoc. Overstimulating the ear drums it would continually inflict effects much like vertigo and for smaller critters it was strong enough to force them to the ground or force them to fly back, hardly an air cushion all this last effort could afford was robbing the flying projectile its senses. Whatever malice was directed at Bryony was thrust upon the pale-haired foreigner and his freaky magic sword.

    Clean hit or not at the conclusion of the fight Kite found himself forcing his sword apart. Gripping either handle and pulling metal apart the odd weapons seem to shrink with each yank turning back to their former dagger-like state in seconds and wasting no time their owner stowed them in proper sheaths. Holding his hands clasped Kite took in some deep breaths closing his eyes and trying to dull whatever sensation limited overusing that move-- whatever it was caused him to shake a bit and the barest of twitches manifested in his hands. Despite as much he made his way over to Bryony giving the warrior enough space to revert her form and additionally have a moment to breath. His eyes didn't stay downcast for long and judging from how he often opened his mouth only to snap it shut he was trying to say something-- nerves preventing a proper vocalization.

    "I..."

    "Well. If you're okay can you tell me what... that was? Did the Chameleon do it? Was it some kind of weapon? Gadget?"

    Eyes lighting up a second thought popped into his head. Racing around the plucky fighter, slightly crispy no doubt Kite extracted his coat from fresh snow and jogged back to his former position dusting the article off. Smoothing it over in his arms before putting it back around his shoulders working around his arms until it was of a satisfactory fit around his limbs. A sigh escaped his lips as a pleasant kind of heat welled up in the company of the snow-treated gear.

    "I've never seen or heard of anyone fighting like you did out of fairy tails. It's just... well like that lizard for instance-- Fascinating! If you'll excuse my making you a spectacle," Inclining his head a bit and doing his best to calm a now excitedly beating heart as well as swirling thoughts.

    Feeling like the whole world around him was turning on his head it was hard to keep his senses. Let alone treat whatever he had seen was normal. As far as he was aware a normal person, human or otherwise, couldn't nearly double in size or sprout parts like a plant would.

    "You did hit that thing hard right? Not that I'd want complete death but walking would be easier if it was incapacitated... since we got some time before we make it around the other side. Haaah... if only we had a carriage."

    "Going to be well into the midnight hours if we continue to move at our current pace. Would hate to see what kind of chill would creep to us in the dark. Not to mention what kind of animals would sooner find us hunting around in the dark."

    Folding his arms the somewhat chatty lad awaited a response or an invitation to continue their journey. 

[Vio]

Oof! That’s so loud! Whatever Kite had just done, it resonated with a certain ferocity that impacted both the chameleon and himself, but further still echoed about. Comparable to nails on a chalkboard, such was the way it resonated, it was fortunate for Whitaker Bryony that she was not in the firing line. Still, opportunity now presented itself, the call crisp and clear. Whipping her arm forth, she made her move.

^{“Radix… Flagello!”}

The near sonic crack of a whip an accompaniment to her cry, the Mandrake Human’s plaited roots split the air with their ferocity, crashing hard into the reeling reptile’s form. She could have sworn there were tears of pain in the burning beast’s bulbous yet beady eyes as her extremities made their collision. However, there was only the briefest of moments to analyse her effect, for the whole critter soon went sailing high and far over the snow-laden canopies.

Huh… I keep forgetting how strong I am, Brie thought to herself, retracting her roots as she watched a tiny speck vanish into the snowblind skies. In a way, she felt rather sorry for the lizard, but she had at least fought in self-defence against what had proven itself to be a malevolent force. Such a thing numbed any internal conflict to a thought quickly dismissed. Her body shifted again, resuming her standard proportions, skin tanning itself again as a glorious green rosette wilted and split into chestnut fibres, and that in turn seemed to provoke wonderment from her companion.

^{“I’m… To be honest,” Miss Whitaker replied:
“I’m not completely sure, y’know…?”}

She scratched the back of her head as an awkward chuckle escaped her.

“Well, no, that’s not completely true… I’m told it’s a Devil Fruit, y’know?” Her own knowledge on what she was limited, it didn’t help that not a single other soul was truly aware of what she was. She recalled a conversation about her being unusual amongst what were referred to as Zoans, but Bryony had even less knowledge on the matter than most. But how best could she explain what she was? “I’m kind of like some sort of animal that’s also a plant, if that even makes any sense. And I know what I can do, but, that’s really all I know, y’know…? But, what about you? You made a real noise with that sword of yours, y’know?”

^…

“Oh! I’m pretty sure I sent it flying,” Brie bubbled, pulling up her hood and donning gloves once more. The chill had soaked into her somewhat; in that sense she was a little thankful that the chameleonic caper had produced some heat, and that hot cocoa from earlier seemed to have had lingering effects. Or maybe that was psychological?

“Well, if we can’t make it by sunset, then maybe we should set up camp somewhere! Uh… Not that we have anything to really make camp with, y’know…?” Now the worries were starting to set it, as both she and Mister Kalisto had made point of an all too plausible reality. With the aggression of the Lapahns and the lingering possibility of other, more threatening beasts lingering in the snowscape, their options were becoming more and more limited. Chipper as she was, however, Brie wasn’t about to let such things bring them down: “Well! Let’s keep going then! No use fretting over what might happen, y’know?”

[Phantasma]

    "I'll resist the urge to ask questions then. Devil Fruits... huh, going to have to remember that," Taking a hand to scratch his chin a bit Kite pondered the word itself. 

    'Could a fruit be devilish' or 'Could a devil be inside of a fruit' formed out of name alone, the abilities Bryony displayed certainly seemed otherworldly but to call them Devil Fruit powers... Plural meant a lot of things. Shaking his head a bit to come back to reality doing so just in time to catch the other side of the conversation. Lowering his hand and fishing out his right sides dagger he flipped it around with the same hand. In low light like this it couldn't shimmer too well but from appearances alone it looked like a master-craft weapon. Nothing exceedingly rare but the way the pommel and handle were shaped like a cross, the odd way snow couldn't even properly land on the thing out in the air like this, it had the 'feel' of something extraordinary. 

    "In the same boat as you. I don't think whatever I'm doing is the same, however. The noise alongside a few other techniques were something I only just recently discovered I could do. The fact I broke a couple swords in the process makes me think It's something to do with how I use swords, versus the weapons alone. Almost feels like a heartbeat, something that flows out when willed. I haven't given it much thought beyond that-- so long as it works when I need it to I'm fine with being mostly ignorant of how it works on an intimate level," Rolling the blade around a bit one last time the swordsman tucked the tool away. 

    That was only a partial lie. Kite didn't want to admit to the stranger that he'd been unable to truly muse how it worked. Many times he'd spend a sleepless night trying to figure out how his skill worked, whether it was an extension of his will or something in his swordsmanship. 

    Hearing a confirmation the icky, gnarly little green gremlin was alive Kite couldn't help but escape his stupor and look at Bryony. A complex series of emotions flashed on his face before finally landing on something of a content expression, simply nodding in the form of confirmation or even slight approval he awaited the eventual response to his offer to continue going at risk of his warning or finding some place to camp through the night. 

    Something about this journey implied that even a simple stroll through the under wood at night would be difficult. 

    'A night for curses, then.'

    ...

    "The great thing about this island is there's at the least materials to make a fire. I'm tempted to say we could even make a temporary shelter, a bit harder to predict if we'd even be given the time to do as much," Taking it as a sign to stop worrying Bryony Kite glossed over that last bit and marched right alongside her through the inclined path. 

    Compared to their last fight the climb was relatively quiet. A few rustling trees here and there and a distant roar or two but past that very little came to bother the pair. Offering an opportunity to look at the Winter Islands snow-kissed landscape. At this altitude it was possible to see the distant shadows of towns in clusters while the greenery of the forest ominously loomed just over hiding all manner of things within its dusted canopy. Eerie or not the silence was a bit calming and in light of it the hunter chose to still himself and to not interrupt it with talking or humming. The crunch of snow under heel and the sound of breathing was all he offered. 

    Time was a fickle thing and while it was hard to tell just how long the two had been walking and climbing by the time towns started to get more scarce of a sight the horizon started to darken and the light began to fade. A coldness unlike before began to creep around the pair, a shiver that bled right into the bones that got even Kite to get goosebumps and shiver some. What's worse the scant path ahead began to get confusing, multiple routes and seemingly battered, torn signs made it far more difficult to navigate. 

    "Well... that's unexpected. Seems monsters aren't the only thing to be wary of, doubt an animal would attack this," Departing from the brunettes side Kite walked over to the toppled, splintered sign tracing a hand over the biggest piece feeling the rough debris through his glove. 

    Destroyed as it was, ruined, it was impossible to read it. Even fitting the remains together key pieces were missing and rendered the result an unreadable mess. 

    Rising to his feet and circling around it was hard to get a read on just what was working in his mind whilst he paced. He entertained many things in that brief gap of time before halting his rut creation and rejoining Bryony having something else entirely to share from the out-of-the-blue wide eyed stare. 

    "How?" He muttered, jerking his chin in a direction the pair hadn't been looking in prior. 

    Off to the side of the path, behind them, through the cover of trees was the unmistakable outline of a cabin. Unlike the houses before it was a contemporary, universal shape of log walls and a two sided rectangular roof with a little chimney perched atop. Nothing more than a darkened blotch in fading light the appearance of it was likely to inspire a bit more hope. For Kite he seemed to be thinking it was something of an illusion giving a few solid blinks before turning to his travel buddy in silent question.

[Vio]

“That sounds pretty cool! You’ve just gotta keep trying, y’know?” Whitaker Bryony responded; Kite’s own explanation of his sonic abilities was interesting, but it brought to light that he lacked an understanding of it all. It made her reminisce about her first time using her gift. Aside from that, their journey was rather quiet and, as night began to fall and the sky began to darken, the chill in the air became more prevalent.

“Oh! A cabin in the woods?” Much as her company had missed it, so too had Brie. Hazel-green hues had failed to spot the darkened silhouette of a log building within the trees, even with her gift of sharpened sight in the darkness, such was the level of natural camouflage such a building possessed. “Huh! Sounds like some sort of bad theatrical production, y’know?”

She looked at the cabin.

“Well, come on! Whoever lives there might offer us shelter for the night, y’know?” With little hesitation and a certain spring in her step, Bryony made her way towards the cabin. A quaint establishment, it wasn’t anything particular grand, but it was hardly what one would call small either. A perfectly smooth layer of snow a couple of inches thick covered the roof, while the snow on the wooden bannisters flanking the steps onto the porch showed something distinct. Broken handprints within the powdered coating confirmed that someone had been through recently, but had they been coming or going? The displacement of the snow showed no signs of footprints save for her own and those which were being left in Kite’s wake.

^{Knock! Knock!}

^{“Hello…?” She announced:
“Is there anyone home?”}

No answer was a stern reply.

“We were travelling across the island, but got waylaid by some bunnies,” the Mandragora maiden continued with honest intonation and slightly raised voice, uncertain of whether the homestead’s residents had heard her the first time. “It’s getting dark now, so we were wondering if we could shelter here for the night?” For the briefest moment she caught a glimpse of something moving; a reflection in the cabin’s window. And then the sound of creaking timbers from within as footsteps approached the door…

---

Whitaker Bryony (ace1af)