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Geralt's mind swarms with confusion for the supposed woman who was now sitting across from him and Jaskier. Something about her made him curious, more than he already was when it came to finding her. She was much calmer than Jaskier was, granted now he has the tiniest bit of alcohol running through his system, calming him down. His head even seemed to lool a bit to the side, must be strong stuff in the bottle.
The woman catches eyes with him once more, taking a sip from the bottle in her hand. "What's your plan? Sit here and drink till sunrise and ditch us here?" Geralt questions, watching the woman fall into her thoughts for a moment. The idea hung heavy in the air, making the bard worry from his spot against the tree.
She shakes her head, pulling the dagger from her waistband and holding it up enough for them to see. "I'm going to drink and when sunrise comes I'll cut you two free and we'll go our separate ways. I'm not a monster who'll leave two men to starve to death." She reasons, putting the knife back in the holder.
Geralt hums, sparing a glance to Jaskier, who narrows his eyes at the woman. "Well, I'm Jaskier." He says, instantly brightening up the mood that was brought on by Geralt thinking so lowly of the woman. The woman nods, staring off into the darkness of the surrounding woods. Something as wrong, Geralt could feel it and he was sure that she could as well.
Jaskier looks between the two, shifting uncomfortably in his spot. Geralt glances at him before looking to the woods as a loud howl fills the darkness, the woman stands up. "Change of plans little bard." She says, dropping the bottle by the fire. With quick steps, she makes her way to him. "You're free to go." Her voice was calm but the way that she moves is with a sense of urgency. From her side, she pulls a dagger and cuts the ropes that hold him to the tree. Jaskier rubs his wrists, watching her stride to the Witcher. Her eyes meet his as she crouches down. "Don't make me regret this Witcher." She growls, cutting the rope.
She was quick, gathering up her weapons and tossing Geralt's at his feet. "Geralt?" Jaskier questions, looking around quickly at the sound of movement in the darkness. "Wait what's going on?" Jaskier panics a bit as Geralt picks up his silver sword. Geralt holds up his free hand, getting Jasakier to stop his panicked movements.
A deep growl comes from the woods, sending shivers down the bard's back. "Jaskier." Geralt starts, taking a careful step towards him. "Move slowly to Roach." He instructs and Jaskier doesn't hesitate to do as told. The woman does a small turn, eyes tracing the woods before her senses spike up, Geralt's doing the same as out of the brush comes a large werewolf.
The pair move almost in sync, trying to cut down the wolf. Jaskier stands by the two horses, clutching his lute with one hand, watching them fight. Even their footwork was in sync, moving when necessary. The Phantom was as good as they say in the stories. Geralt takes a swing at the beast, almost cursing when it doges and knocks into the woman. She stumbles though her swing is strong, hitting the beast in the back with enough power to make it also stumble.
The wolf lets out a roar, standing tall on its legs. A figure dashes up and tackles the Witcher while he was distracted. Another wolf leans over Geralt, jaw snapping in an attempt to get at his throat for the kill. The woman manages to get away from the other wolf long enough to run over, kicking the wolf away. Quickly, Geralt's back on his feet and back to back with the woman, eyeing up the wolf in front of him.
Charging, he takes a powerful swing that takes the head off of the beast. He hasn't broken a sweat yet, attention falling on the woman after that. Jaskier's practically hiding behind Roach and the other horse, watching the killer pair. Once more, the pair are fighting the first werewolf until the beast crashes to the ground. When it does a twig snaps and both of them turn, swords to each other's throats. Blood drips from both blades, dripping on their necks.
Neither of them breaks the eye contact that they've found themselves locked in. It was a standstill, The Phantom herself, and The Witcher himself. The woman pants, catching her breath slowly but holding her sword firmly. Jaskier moves from his place, slowly as to not break up the intense standstill before him. Geralt's eyes flicker for a moment, taking in her face close up, the paint, the indent of a scar under her right eye.
Her eyes do the same, darting around his face. "Wanna test me, Witcher?" He narrows his eyes, unsure of how to move on from their position. "You lower your sword I'll lower mine." She offers him before slowly lowering her sword, Geralt doing the same. "Now what Witcher?" She steps back before her attention snaps to Jaskier. The bard looks at her in panic and before he could blink she was in front of him and still gripping her sword.
Jaskier yells when she pushes him to the side roughly, swinging her sword at the last wolf that was going to attack him. The monster collapses to the ground with a sickening cry that rose goosebumps on Jaskier's arms. Jaskier's eyes darted to Geralt, who was staring at the woman in shock, a tight grip on his sword. "How did you do that?" He questions, turning to the woman.
She doesn't say anything at first, wiping the blood from her sword on the fur part of the wolf's body. "I'm quick Witcher." She turns and looks to him. "Now you're free to go, do your Witchering and play to your heart's content little bard." She says, putting her sword with the other one.
Everything about her actions confused Geralt. This woman, The Phantom herself, was nothing like people described. She hasn't killed them for finding her, her skin wasn't as dark as night, only the paint on her face. While her eyes were white that seemed to be the only true thing about her, besides her skills at fighting. She was like a puzzle to him, something he wanted to figure out, he wanted to know her, to figure her out.
Geralt eyes her for a moment, a plan forming in his mind but Jaskier seemed to be way ahead of him. "Come with us." He says, getting both Geralt and the woman's attention. "Hunt monsters and all that stuff, we can watch your back and you can clearly watch ours." He gives a nervous laugh, stepping away from the body and more towards Geralt.
Geralt puts his sword in the holder. "You won't have to be looked at as the monster they say you are." He offers, watching her shake her head, a small laugh passing her lips. She looks at him, white eyes almost looking right through him.
Then she turns to look at Jaskier, weighing out everything that she's just been told and the offer. "You'll have to buy me a drink first little bard." There's almost amusement in her voice as she picks up her items and strides to her horse. "Nearest town is West, let's get a move on." With a glance at each other, Geralt and Jaskier follow.
