Vesara simply looked on in confusion, watching as people began to try and right the wagon. What was going on? She had heard of the capture and trade of humans within the culture, she believed it to be an act known to the humans as slavery. Was this what that was? People ripped from their lives for some other purpose? Such an act was condemnable, but it did not differ from acts her clan had been known for; lone adventurers tempted off the paths by visages of fair women, woven of vine and leaf, never to be seen by those in civilisation again. In truth, the tempted adventurers came ultimately from their own will, allowing themselves to be taken and included within their tribe. But was it much different? Vesara did not know why such humans were being traded, but this act was different to her tribe. Wasn't it?
She did not register Faora, the bird protector's exclamation, still studying the carriage as the girl left, heading towards it for some purpose of her own. There must be some other explanation, mustn't there? Maybe the inhabitants of the wooden transport were ill? That would explain the pained wailing from it, the sounds piercing through the crowd. But it did not explain what happened next; the frantic swaying of the box as pained screams returned, those trying to right its structure being flung away. She could tell that this was not normal, the guard exclaiming that they had gotten worse, as Vesara walked within earshot. What had gotten worse? For maybe the first time, true curiosity had overtaken her, mainly due to the concern she had for all, both inside and outside of the box.
As her feet began to approach the rear of the carriage, taking her towards what was apparent to be where the entrance to the innards lay, a piercingly loud sound made her stop. It sounded alien, metallic, a sound she had never heard before. She was thankful for that, it coursed through her body like a cancer, screaming against the natural magics of the world. Whatever created the noise, it was not of nature, it was not of magic or purity. She stopped in her tracks, trying to process what had created such a monstrous roar, until her eyes came across the damage it had caused. The lock to the carriage now lay broken, twisted metal strewn across the floor at the box's base, the door left clear for opening.
"What the hell did you DO? Those people were locked up for a good reason, now you just set them free!" Vesara heard the yell of a girl, dressed in knightly garb. She must know what she was on about, she appeared to be a higher within the ranks of the humans, evident by the differential in her attire compared to the common folk, so Vesara would do well to listen to her if she wanted to be accepted into the society. With a brief moment, Vesara stood in front of the door, palms outstretched as the faint glow of energy surrounded her.
The vines of her arms began to twist, recovered from their previous endeavour in creating the fruits of the shopkeepers labour, that had been destroyed by a rogue pyromancer. Where once two slender arms had rested, now stood a large wall of writing vines, holding tight against the door of the carriage. Any sign of the door was covered, a complete wall of living, moving plant life covering the rear of the carriage. The screams continued, only heightened now that she had blocked them from any slivers of light they may have been receiving. The thought to drop the guard crossed her mind, looking at those around her in the crowd. The vast array of emotions confused her, she did not understand how people could feel different to one another in the same situation, her tribe was always unanimous in any decisions made.
She was about to drop it, noticing the disapproval in some of the faces, glaring at her with questionable intent. But that was when she felt the first strike. Her head whipped back in pain, feeling the heavy strike of something on the inside of her vined cover, teeth, or nails, or something digging into the plants that compromised her flesh. Now she was resolute, whatever was in there had ill intent; another stabbing pain, a cursed expletive cut off as she muttered it, focusing on keeping whatever frenzied being was inside of there, inside of there. But with each strike, she felt herself weakening. Soon she would have to submit, and whatever wanted its release so badly would get it, unless someone could help, quickly.
A witty retort played at the edge of Liberty's lips, threatening to spill from the confines of her thought into the reality of the air around them, and the posh girl's ears. She noticed the twitching of the girl, the clear agitation in her tone and stance as her hand twitched towards the sword. Now, that was not good. Her thing was words, she was a charmer, a sweet-talker. Sure, she was more than capable of handling herself in a fight, but she was here for answers, not to be kicked out because some pompous princess attacked her.
Luckily, her release came in the form of a large, burly man. She glanced at him, taking in the features of the person stood beside them both. Well, person was an incorrect term, she noticed, as there was something off about him. A tail… So, he was an other? It wasn't everyday she saw those, especially not in Lida. Their presence in her home was naught but extinct, they had fled long ago as the metal machinations of man formed from the wastes they were built on. Before coming here, she had never seen an Other, and now one was talking down to her. But it wouldn't bother her, she was very, very used to being talked down to, intentionally or not.
A new retort was forming on her lips, ready to be spoken. But she found herself silenced, the wailing, horrific screeching of something entering the hall. Pale eyes glanced over, searching through the crowd until she found the source of such distress. A small, wooden carriage, not unlike the prison carts in her home city, ones that Lib had found herself well acquainted with during her time. But this, this sounded of pain, torture almost. It brought back memories of Elias, of how he would string up their enemies, torturing them until information was released; or of the wanton screams that chorused from his room most nights. She wasn't sure how she felt about those memories, a mixture of bliss, guilt and hatred flooding her system as the screams fell silent.
A crack of wood. A burst of metal. Screaming.
People poured from the contraption, taking off into the crowd at a fast pace. It took a moment for realisation to sweep across the hall, but once it did, the screaming began anew. They were under attack, she was under attack. Her pale eyes darted across the room; she saw one woman thrown across the great hall, body toppling a herd of civilians as frenzied monsters swept over them. She didn't know what was going on, and as her eyes fell back to the two near her, she saw the posh lass pinned.
Fuck. She needed to move, she needed to do something. Shaky hands grabbed a pistol from her waist, rolling across the floor as a being barreled by her, too quick to make out what it may be. She had thought these things people, but that was clearly wrong. The faint sound of the being crashing into the desk caught her, its form having missed her in its sprint. But she focused back, cold eyes on the girl that had previously been preparing to attack her. Violently being shook by this creature, Liberty took a moment to look.
There was red, everywhere. Protruding from the creature, juting red material emerging from its flesh, piercing red eyes, even from its face. She processed what it screamed, ramblings about someone named Maria as it shook the girl violently. That needed to stop, soon. If anyone was teaching that brat a lesson, it was her.
"Watch out!" She called, lifting the pistol in her hand as the sights crossed the being.
Wait for it… It's head kept shaking, she couldn't get a clear shot.
Wait for it… She kept telling herself, always watching.
Wait for it…
Now! With the faint flick of a finger, the explosion within the barrel echoed throughout the room, even shadowing over the screams for a moment. It struck the head, the concussive blast distracting the creature, sending it reeling off of Este. Again. The second pistol was out, this hand much more firm as the second shot struck it in the chest. It was off balance, enough for Liberty to run. She jumped, over Este as she shouldered into the creature. It was enough to cause it to topple, still stunned from her shots.
That was a moment's respite, amidst the chaos that had swept over the room. She was quick on her feet, swerving back around to look for the exit. She needed to get out of here, she had no clue what was going on, and no clue as to how long that thing would stay down.
A pale hand outstretched, her eyes trailing back to Este on the floor as her hand went to offer the girl a hand to her feet. So far, she had actually found the girl quite amusing, livening up the situation of the queue…
Well, there was no way she was getting her information now. Hopefully she could find someone afterwards, if they survived. But right now, she herself needed to survive, or else any information would be useless.
"C'mon cutie, can't be laying down during the appocalypse, can we?" She chuckled as her hand remained outstretched.
"At least the queues are going quick, it's killer." She joked. Okay, maybe jokes weren't the best right now, but at least they helped distract her from the possible death that faced her in this moment.
