Year 765 The Storm Crawler Charge

Rhea inhales in rhythm with the drums of the lava, swallowing the pain from her rib down, and point her hands towards the lava. With some time, it starts to just feel like an extension of her. Her dark skin glows with the heat that built within, and she moves her arms as if to push the lava back to the walls. She imagines taking the heat away from it, and the lava she manipulates cools rock hard and blocks the very hole they came out of.

The thrill from the new skill snuffs out due to her awareness that this will only hold the lava back just enough to get them out of here. She spins on her heels to run again, not realizing that she still glowed. Ignoring even the gawking face of her own husband, “Go! It will only hold it for so long!”

He did not try to argue back, continuing the escape. They can see the entrance with some recognizable faces waiting there. Azar and Jerilyn with her crazy strange pet coiled around her neck, both hiding from the down pouring rain that must have started while the two ran for their lives.

Jerilyn smiles with her emerald eyes, Azar however had more questions. Especially with the way Rhea now glows.

“Get out!” Connor hollers his warning, not hesitating to run out into the rain. Rhea did the same but when rain sizzles on her skin she had to keep her distance from the group.

No snide comments came from either of them, they listened for once while following them. The rain came down hard like an upcoming storm and Rhea expects they are not out of trouble. This is the monsoon season, and the rain will only get worse from here.

Soon the ground will mix with mud, and they will be swept away by a mudslide for sure.

“TO ME! HURRY!” Rhea bellows through the torrential downpour, another sharp pang in her chest kept her from saying more. She sprints towards one direction, slowing down only to keep them in ear shot. She memorized this path like it is to breathe.

The rain and wind blew worse as the time passes. The ground turn muddy with each step, the rain pelts hard on her skin. She no longer glows hot, so her burnt clothes are drench to the very skin, sticking to her uncomfortably which is a bittersweet feeling. Now she isn’t afraid to keep close to anyone.

All the same, she speculates what was more annoying. The mud I kicked up or the rain that washed it away?

She starts to recognize the break of this clearing, hiding along the tree line is a structure that stood on literal blackened stone stilts. It rose above the floor about two Connors high. Vines wrapped around the house to conceal it better from unwanted eyes, even lichen latched upon the rock outer walls. Below it swayed a flimsy rope ladder that leads to a hatch, the only real entrance to this place. Her heart aches, recognizing the structure as her old home, but there was no time for sentiment. Bounding towards the ladder, she peers at her group just to beckon them to go up. Jerilyn was the first to climb up it, her pet shivering underneath her neck looking rather miserable from the rain. Azar saunters next but he waits to go up just to shoot Rhea an expectant glare. ‘I will be needing answers, mutt’

He didn’t even need to say it out loud, Rhea knew she would be at his mercy once they are safe and away from the storm.

When she locks eyes with her captain, he too was eager for answers but unlike their aggressive companion he at least shown some concern. He motions for her to go first, to make sure she doesn't wander off. She didn't fight him on his wishes, climbing the ladder carefully to not agitate the irritation on her ribs. She slips through the hatch hole, only to be grabbed to the side by her cloak collar. Azar is the culprit; he held her by the collar snarling. "You best explain yourself."

There was no real malice in his approach, it was more like he wants to just bully answers out of her. Explains why she didn't just thrash out of his grip. But when Connor enters the room, he views it very differently. In an instant, Connor presses the pistol to Azar' head and with a voice laced with venom he demands. "Let…. her go."

Jerilyn minds her business throughout this time, lighting a fireplace with her matches. Her little animal friend quivers against her, she barely bats an eye at what is happening.

Is she drunk!? Rhea feverishly wonders but she would have to ignore the strange huntress. Azar only grew more irritable from the threat, rather than taking it seriously. "Or what, chew toy? Blow my brains?"

Rhea grits her teeth, agitated that they are even fighting in the first place. This is such a waste of time, her anger forces her cry out, "CUT IT OUT! Both of you"