Unchained [M] [SanctifiedSavage]

[Lowen Thorn]

Before the hatch closed them into the darkness, Amaya caught more than a healthy glimpse of Inaya's lower curves. Yeah. He liked what he saw, but he would keep that to himself. Plus, thinking about something like that, at a time like this? Made him feel like a dirty old man.

..And then she called him a loud mouth, and he was reminded who he was dealing with. "You're quite the woman you know that?" he asked as he progressed further down the rabbit hole. "And here I thought me and you were becoming great friends."

Upon getting to the bottom, his boot was submerged in what was at least a foot of water.

How annoying it was that she was right.

They were in a sewer.

[SanctifiedSavage]

Eimee didn't hesitate to drop into the water. Sure, it was awful, but it was still stars above what she'd been doing when they found her.

Inaya? She lingered on the ladder. She heard the splash. She knew what it meant. Her heart sank. Of all the times to be right... She didn't even have the heart to respond, right away, anyway. Holding onto the ladder, putting off the inevitable as long as she could, she glared in the dark in his direction. "You'd be half as lucky if someone like me was your friend."

She was quite the woman.

Eventually, she joined the pair in the stank with a long suffering sigh. Great. They were in the dark, in the filth. "What's the plan now, oh glorious leader?" she asked, then gagging on the humid, oppressive air.

She was going to need a bath. A long, hot, scrubbing bath where she peeled off a layer of her skin.

[Lowen Thorn]

As they had progressed down the ladder, his eyes began to focus and become more accustomed to the dark. When they were ankle deep in shit water, he could see Inaya, thought barely, and her obvious distaste for everything that was happening.

"Oh, I thought we'd set up camp here for a while," he said, folding his arms over his chest and smirking. "I'd love to get to know you better."

He didn't wait for a response before turning on his heel and walking toward what he hoped was the path out of there.

[SanctifiedSavage]

He likely couldn't see her eyes narrow in the dark of the sewer when he made mention of getting to know her better. Surely he didn't mean... No. Likely not. Amaya hadn't shown any sort of interest in her like that and he had even offered her his shirt so she could cover up.

Inaya chose not to rise to that particular bait.

Eimee waited for Inaya, who continued to shudder and cringe as she picked her way through the water after Amaya. She couldn't see near as well as he likely could and relied more so on the sound of him close by – which meant she was almost walking on top of him.

The sewers were likely an escape route. Or at least she really hoped that's what they were. Why else would there be a hatch to them?

[Lowen Thorn]

Oh for fuck's sake.

These sewers smelt like shit, his skin was becoming itchy, the water around the ankle almost seemed to grow with each step, and Inaya was just a hair away from stealing his innocence. "You're breathing on the back of my neck," he groaned as he took one step forward. "At least let me buy you dinner first."

[SanctifiedSavage]

Inaya scowled into the smelly darkness and reflexively lashed out, shoving at what she really hoped was his shoulder. "I can't see down here and the sound bounces off of the walls. I don't want to get lost..." The last was said with her voice picking up just a little. The idea of getting lost in the shitty tunnels was likely her worst nightmare, thus far. "So just... the sooner we're out of here..."

As though getting lost hadn't even occurred to Eimee before now, the girl clung all the tighter to Inaya's hand.

[Lowen Thorn]

"W-whoa! Hey!"

Amaya almost took a dive, face-first into ankle-deep party gravy. He managed to balance himself out, collect himself, and hiss in return. He had the right mind to whip around and push her over, but decided against it. You're not a child, Amaya.

And then, light. Thank gods.

"I think I see the exit," he said all too excitedly, and began to wade a little quicker through the muck of the sewers to the source of the light.

[SanctifiedSavage]

A very sick, twisted part of her hoped he would fall. Not really, but sort of. She did smile some to hear him stumble. Inaya wasn't as weak or soft as she seemed. He should remember that.

The light though. That was a godsend! She damn near pushed past him to get to it – but instead remained just as close behind him. If there was a fight to be had, he was still the only one capable of going head to head. Inaya would need something to level the playing field.

Please let it be the way out and not a hidden place... she desperately hoped. Surely that's what this tunnel led to, right?

A courtyard, with horses. And guards. And a way out. And the Nicholas guy that Amaya was looking for.

The sewer spilled out into a pool a step down, which eventually trickled out of a grated cause way off to the left side. The only way out, then, was through the courtyard and the gate across from them. They were just as surprised to see them as Inaya was disappointed to see they'd gone this route and found people at the end of it.

[Lowen Thorn]

Glory! Glory! Oh Gods Glory!

Amaya was more than a little excited to stumble upon these rag-tag team of morons. Guards, sure, but not enough of them. Horses, for some odd reason. And Nicholas.

"Hey fellas!" he called, parading into their parameter in such a way that would take any of their attention off of the girls, and onto him. "We took a wrong turn! Know a good place where a guy can have a good time?"

While barking loudly at Nicholas and the guards, his fingertips pulsated with amber and coal, summoning up what little magic he knew. As the guards charged forward, he threw his hand out as if tossing an invisible object, and the ground rippled underneath their feet, an explosive igniting and sending them all flying in different directions.

[SanctifiedSavage]

Of all the things and all the surprises, Inaya would've never guessed the loud mouth knew magic. Well. Wasn't he just full of surprises. She helped Eimee down, into knee deep filth, before telling the girl quickly to stay out of the way. The guards and Amaya's target were obviously trying to make good on a clean get away – with some style, since horses were involved. Horses that did not appreciate the magic use. Two reared up, unseating their guards and the one Nicholas was on pranced in place.

Orders were shouted, the gate was thrown open, and Nicholas with an escort was off. Charging down a worn dirt path between high, old stone walls.

Leaving Amaya and Inaya with a handful of angry men standing up from their tumble.

It wasn't that she doubted Amaya, but she wasn't about to leave her fate in someone else's hands. Not when she was so close to getting away. She climbed out of the sop so she'd have even footing and tore off the longer veils, tossing them aside. They'd been clinging to, and wrapping around, her legs. It left her in naught but panties, but she'd deal. Inaya wanted movement. A sword that'd been displaced from a guard's hand was her target.

He realized that at the same time she dove for it.

[Lowen Thorn]

"Fuck!

They there were, and there they went. For fuck's sake. Amaya could have hissed at the situation, eyes narrowed angrily as his target put more distance between the bounty hunter and the leftover guards now closing in on them.

Fuck it. Guess they had to fight there way out of there first. He would have to worry about Nicholas later. He raised his fist, his infamous position for a brawl-to-be-had, and was soon to strike when he noticed something out of the corner of his eye.

Inaya was after a sword on the ground, but the guard was going to beat her to it, or at least overpower her in that little amount of time.

She's going to get herself killed!

Basically leaping, he was in the middle of them in a matter of seconds, kneeing the guard in the face as he was hunched over to collect his weapon.

He shot her a look, but it soon formed into intrigue as he looked the now pant-less woman up and down. How did that happen?

[SanctifiedSavage]

Inaya was fast, the guard was closer. Her hand wrapped around the hilt and he loomed over. All she could think was shit. Inaya was entirely prepared to fight him for the weapon, but when it came to tests of strength, she'd lose every time.

Right up until the guard got his face smashed in by a well placed knee.

Inaya darted back with her prize, sliding to a more combative stance. She had to two hand a primarily one-handed sword, but given her small hands, she managed.

Great. Now she owed him one. She was about to voice her thanks until she noticed his confused look. At her legs. "Oh, stop it," she hissed, darting past him and deflecting a blade meant for the back of his legs. She couldn't stop such a swing, but she could use the attack's momentum to send it skirting off target. "Stop looking at me and get back into the fight."

No matter how flattering, she didn't need him getting stabbed over it.

[Lowen Thorn]

I mean, was it going to hurt that much to look a little longer? Neither of them were guaranteed to make it out of this alive, so at least he could get some happiness before meeting his untimely demise. No. Don't be stupid, Amaya. You will live to see another day.

The clinging of swords brought him back into reality, as reluctant as he was to do so, and he saw the soldier she had just fended off. "Right," he groaned. As the guard reclaimed his grim on the hilt of his blade, Amaya gave him a quick uppercut to the jaw.

His weapon scattered on the ground, and the bounty hunter was quick to wrap the man in a choke hold much like he had done earlier that day.

Arms tight around the man's neck, Amaya found her legs again.

"But why?" he asked, holding his position still as the man in his grasp flung his arms about and struggled for air. "Why are you.. Where are you.. How long do you plan on being that way?"

Hopefully forever.

[SanctifiedSavage]

He was so infuriating. Inaya scowled at him and darted forward, skewering the man he held in place so he'd stop flailing about. Amaya might be hesitant to kill someone, but Inaya wasn't. She had not forgotten hands on her she did not want. As far as she was concerned, everyone in the place could burn.

The blade was hefty, but she could still drive the point where she wanted it.

She spun back when the other guard, deciding the half naked woman with the blade was more dangerous, swung at her. She evaded a handful of times, deflected another blow, before sliding under his guard and burying the blade in his ribs, just below his armpit. It was a killing blow, a victory! Right up until the quite dead guard fell over on top of her.

"What do you possibly mean like that? Saving your sorry ass?" she shouted from beneath the hunk of meat. The stinking, heavy pile of meat that was now oozy what she really hoped was blood on her.

[Lowen Thorn]

She was so infuriating. He was very well capable of handling the guard before she had to go and do something like that. Sure, he understood the reason why she could kill these bastards so easily, but he had enough bloodshed on his hands to where he'd rather avoid that if at all possible.

One guard left, and he was swinging at Amaya. The bounty hunter skirted away from the point of the blade with ease, and then again, and then again, before throwing a right hook so fast and with such force that you could physically hear the man's jaw break under Amaya's balled up fist. He collapsed to the ground, unconscious, and Amaya immediately whipped around to see Inaya struggle under the weight of the other dead guard.

"No, I mean without pants," he said, letting amusement get the better of him as he watched her. "It's a good look for you. Hey, what are you doing over there? Need some help?"

[SanctifiedSavage]

She had been about to ask for help. Really she was, but then that mocking tone of his shut her up. Instead, she struggled and squirmed, huffing and hissing all manner of curses under her breath. Eimee did move to help, for all the waif of a girl could do. Minutes pass, and Inaya wiggled free. Bloodied, sweaty, his shirt torn down the front of it, her hair a mess, but she was free. Without his damn help.

She sat, panting a little, and glared at him. In no rush to stand or move.

Inaya needed a moment.

Then, she said, "I hadn't been wearing pants before. Just some skirts. And I can't really fight in them, can I?" Inaya waved a hand at him dismissively. "Stop gawking. Didn't your mark dash off down the road?" It was obvious she wouldn't be moving for a minute and Eimee wasn't about to leave her side.

[Lowen Thorn]

Amaya groaned. "Right. Nicholas. Almost forgot."

He sighed, ran a hand through his hair, and snapped his finger. "We best hurry then."

Without warning, or hesitation, he stepped over to where Inaya was sitting, scooped her up from under her legs with one arm and her lower back with the other, slung her over his shoulder like a rag doll, and carried her to the the only horse that hadn't been spooked by the earlier explosion. He assumed the other girl would follow.

[SanctifiedSavage]

We? We?

Inaya had fully expected him to dash off after his mark. This was a perfectly acceptable time for them to part ways. She could figure out her way down a path, after all. Even if... well, their deal was for him to help her get out and this wasn't exactly out. She just hadn't expected anything more out of him.

Her eyes narrowed as he approached. Words utterly failed her as he scooped her up and slung her over his shoulder. Inaya's face couldn't get any redder with outrage and embarrassment while she punched at his lower back. Her ass was just... up in the air! "Are you kidding me?! Put me the fuck down!"

Of course Eimee followed. She tried very hard not to smile.

[Lowen Thorn]

"Sure," he replied quickly. He was more than happy to oblige, given the woman was throwing an absolute fit over his shoulder. He dropped her onto the back of the horse - she did want to be put down - and then he helped Eimee onto the horse as well, but much more gently than he did Inaya.

"Anyone know how to drive this thing?" he asked as he climbed onto the horse, placing himself in front of the two women. "I sure don't."

He gave the horse a little kick and it raced out of the courtyard.

[SanctifiedSavage]

Inaya didn't like riding horses on the best of days. Before she could further protest, though, she was draped over one and... then it was moving. Her outrage turned to fear that she'd fall off the damned thing. She reached out and grabbed ahold of Eimee, who in turn clung to Amaya while he had the horse racing off in the direction his mark had gone.

"Are you crazy! There's no way we're going to catch up to them!"