Thread: Unlikely Saviors [-:Haru|Luana:-]

Kion relaxed his hand as his little gnome... his?! when did he start thinking like that? ... and he let her handle the negotiations. Not... engineers... just looking... for.... gnome... he managed to gasp out. About that time the ship shuddered and the sound of shrieking metal reverberated through the vessel before it listed to one side and then klaxon bells began to go off. The man struggled in Kion's grasp. Too late... he whispered. The ship, now canted to the starboard side, gave another violent shudder. Violent enough that it would throw Kion into a stagger, his grip on the man's throat lessening enough for the man to break free. We might all be dead. the man said, gasping out and clutching at his tender neck. The ship started a descent. Controlled and not at a horrible angle, but certainly not normal. The ship gave another shudder and it was then that Tika would recognize what that was. People trying to bring the stop the descent and bring the ship back upright. Yeah, got it...looking for gnome. Not all... he began but was cut short by the sudden shudder and screech of metal. If possible her skin went whiter as the bells went off. The Gnome was... Cut short again by another shudder. She felt Kion stagger behind her. Lower to the deck Tika only slid a little, suddenly leaning against Kion's right leg, the back of her head bumping into his hip. Tika's eyes widened at the third shudder. She understood. The biggin pilots were trying to right the ship. Let the tiny biggin go. Got a cousin I need words with. She cracked her knuckles and jammed her little knife back into her boot. With luck the other gnome wasn't much of a fighter. Need t'get t'the engines. Save us an airship, maybe get th bounty. Get this girl back flyin' negotiate for a bigger room. Tika grinned up at the lion. Quite the little opportunist. With the ship chanting and shuddering the going was difficult. Tika was actually enjoying herself. Sliding down p-ways and even down bulkheads where possible. As they got lower in decks the heat rose. If they were canted to the starboard side then it was those engines that had difficulty. The room was filled with steam. A thick, hazy cloud and boy was it noisy. Tika shoved her fingers into her ears as she lowered herself to the deck. Luckily steam rose so she had a clearer view. Also, it was white which would help hide Kion. She saw nothing but knew what would draw someone. Tika began to fix what she could. Broken pipes isolated and mended. Valves turned to full open closed to proper alignments. The steam was starting to clear. Oy! Came a squeaky shout. The pink haired gnome launched out of the steam at Tika but the red haired gnome had been ready. The two went down in what was likely the most adorable grappling match ever. The half-orc ran from the steam cloud with a massive axe in hand right at the white lion. Kion followed the little gnome along as well as he could, the human he'd almost killed shadowing along behind them as well. Kion actually felt a little bad and like he'd misunderstood the situation... but when confronted by a man with a blade you didn't hold back. It was kill or be killed. By the time they reached the engine rooms, the lion was panting a little, trying to keep cool. Like so many of his kind, he did not sweat, and required the intake of air to help keep him cool. The steam in the area also eradicated his sense of smell, and so the lion was operating in sub-par conditions. The little squeaking shout and the sudden appearance of the pink-haired gnome made the lion blink, and then both females were rolling around in a strangle cute ball of gnome. Kion had little time to react to it though, as the half-orc, perhaps about eight inches shorter than he was, charged from the mists with an axe at the ready. Kion only had his fangs and claws, but the axe would still give her some reach. He rushed her, hoping to gain the upper hand, and sure enough she was only able to strike one way with the axe - from overhead - and Kion anticipated the move and as the blade struck sparks off the metal floor, bouncing off the steel, he stepped on the handle with all his weight, breaking her grip and the axe now on the floor. Then the lion was one her, the green skinned half orc bellowing as they fell together. Her hands were fists, bludgeoning at his ribs and torso as his claws sought to slice her flesh. By this time the human finally caught up, and canted his head to the side at seeing the two females rolling around on the floor. It might have even been a little erotic were it not so important as to who won. Yet the roars and growls from the back of this engine room causeway was what attracted his attention the most, and with his dagger in hand he crouched low and headed toward the sounds. The cacophony of the two battles was strange indeed. On the one was the roaring and bellowing between the two giants. Claws against fists in a brutal fight of death. On the other were shrill squeaks and screeches as the gnomes grappled. An unwritten law of their people, no weapons against one of their own. They kicked and it and pulled hair as they wrestled for dominance. No one seemed aware of the human that had arrived as well. The half-orc fought with surprising strength. Perhaps not so surprising given her pedigree. Trying to break his ribs and damage organs was difficult while trying to keep claws and teeth off of her. Out of the corner of her eye she caught the glint of metal. With a roar she hooked a leg around Kion and rolled. She sprang off the lion and grabbed the broke haft of her axe. A pained screech distracted her just for a moment. Catty! The human lunged but the orc flipped him with ease. Right into the engines. One scream and some crunching then the human was gone and the orc vanished into the steam. Tika had the other gnome, Catty, pinned. Arms behind her back at an odd angle. Just as she gained her victory she found herself raised up into the air. Catty sprang to her feet rubbing her injured wrists. Tika flailed her arms and legs to little avail. Let us leave in peace lion or your little friend follows the human! The orc shouted. Kion hit the deck hard. Not hard enough to truly injure him, but delay him long enough. The human was reduced to a pulp in the gears of the engine, and then the half-orc was gone. He heard the scuffle of the gnome women stop and then heard the threat of the large half-orc. The axe on the deck didn't have much of a handle, but it was enough to grab with one hand, and Kion called out, How do I know that? If I let you go, how do I know you'll let her go? Our fight isn't with you, not until you tried to kill everyone on this ship. I might not give a shit about anyone but my little friend, but I care about our hides an awful lot. he called out. Like all his kind, stalking in silence and now with the cover of the steam, Kion slowly began to circle around, the acoustics of the metal filled engine room making it hard to pinpoint his location. He could only hope that Tika was ok. Were it not for him, she might not be in this position. Lowering himself to the ground he crawled along, making sure to keep the axe-head from hitting the floor as he moved toward where he had seen them last.