The Orb And The Onslaught {COMPLETE}

emiT nwoD

   She had to hope the answers would be waiting for her at the end of this quest- otherwise there would be hell to pay. She attempted to push her thoughts back to the task at hand, which was fortunate timing as they rounded the next corner and came face to face with a group of crazed men and women. They were busy fighting and cursing each other at first, but unlike the last group, this one noticed their presence and a number of them stopped.

    They glared at Florence and Skyrah like they'd personally insulted them. They were blocking the way and there was no getting around them. Florence raised the sword, her walking stick swinging from her arm like it was missing the action.

   "Take this, just in case," Florence handed her walking stick to Skyrah. 

She took it but she looked worried, "I don't think I can fight."

    "I don't expect you to attack them, but you need to be able to protect yourself in case one of these scoundrels gets by me." 

Shouts and curses went up at her words but none of them made much sense.

"Curse my mamma and I'll 'ave your guts."

"She might be ya wife but I love 'er more, I'll kill ya for her."

    Florence didn't want to know what the basis for those dark thoughts were. Instead she readied herself to fight as six figures converged on them. They had no weapons but they were savage in their demeanour and they attacked together. The cats took on the first two, jumping between them, scratching and biting wherever possible. Florence didn't have time to admire their skill, two men had decided to run at her and swing their arms as though they'd topple her in one swoop. Florence ducked their attack and slashed her sword at them. Unfortunately the sword met thin air, but Florence wasn't deterred. 

     She was keeping an eye on Skyrah who was behind her and brandishing the walking stick at any of the attackers that tried to get her. Florence snapped back to her own fight when another figure joined the men, a woman this time and she was spitting accusations left, right and centre. Florence knew she couldn't fight all three for very long, their savage state of mind made them stronger and less careful with their own bodies. After dodging a group attack and slicing the arm of one of the men- who didn't even flinch, she knew she needed a new plan. 

     She avoided a punch aimed at her face and watched it connect with the woman's shoulder. The woman screeched and bashed the man responsible with her own fist, hitting him squarely in the ribs. That started a separate fight between the two of them and gave Florence an idea in turn. Unfortunately she had been too distracted by the idea to move in time; a blow landed in the middle of her back pushing her to the ground with more force than she could stop. She winced at the excruciating pain that shot up her arm into her shoulder. 

    She tried to roll away from her attacker but she wasn't fast enough and she felt a foot kick her in her side. She collapsed to the ground with a groan of pain, the sword had clattered away out of sight when she'd fallen. She tried to twist to attack back but the pain in her side was blinding. She braced herself for another blow to follow the last but it didn't come. Instead a resounding scream sounded over her head and she managed to crane her neck just enough to see a man being brutally mauled by three furry blurs. 

    The cats were unstoppable and likely furious that they hadn't stopped the attack. The man was soon running away with his hands covering his face and blood pouring from various places.

The cats jumped down the moment he ran, Joey and Roxy stood guard around her, watching for further attacks while Nathan came to check on her.

    Knowing she had their protection, she eased herself up and sucked air through her teeth at the pain she felt. She knew just by looking that her arm was broken and by the feel of her side, she may have a few bruised ribs. She didn't have time to worry about her injuries though, Skyrah was still fighting off another attacker.