eleventh shot ⊗ closed ⊗ noctstace plot

[flamekthunder]

Who: Eustace, Tifa, Beatrix, Oriphi, Trahearne, Phantom, Aerith, Beat, Susato
Which: Closed log (forward dated to post-event, end of August)
Where: The old Cliffside
What: After the tragic events from their outing, Eustace has turned full noctaere and group has been assembled to deal with him and save Tifa. Bonus BGM music.
Warnings: Violence, trauma, blood, etc.

[It all happens so fast, this unfortunate turn of events. It was supposed to be a fun excursion with Eustace and a few of the corgis, a search for the flowers in the woods. They spent the early parts of the day climbing through the cliffsides and the forest, taking the winding paths up through the trees until they reached the kirin's pool. They sat and enjoyed berries, watched as the dogs splashed around, and talked briefly about starting a garden. She would go home and ask about ways to grow snowberries just for him, and they were going to try to create something where he could have that little taste of home. Tifa had it all planned out in her head by the time they packed up.

It was a perfect day in so, so many ways. She was filled with happiness as they shared a kiss, and then parted ways, promising one another that they would be safe. That she wouldn't wander too far.

And then, just like that, this perfect day transformed into a nightmare.

The last thing that Tifa remembers seeing before she's here was... darkness. Nightmares? Arcs of lightning that pierced the skies, roars of thunder and the beasts, a shattered cry, shadows that rippled across the ground, a biting cold that enveloped her... A tender kiss, icy blue eyes that drop hot tears on her cheeks before they turn dark and laced with fire, and then...

Nothing. Cold, cold nothing.

Tifa doesn't know if she's alive, dreaming, or dead. At first, she feels herself floating, weightless, through black, and there are voices in her head. Familiar voices—Aerith, Red, Barret, Jessie, Biggs, Wedge... Cloud. Unfamiliar ones that she can't quite place, and then those of the people she's met here. Ori, Beatrix, Susato, Phantom, Trahearne... She can't make out what they're saying beneath the bubbling noises and the sharp ringing that grows louder in her head, so loud that she presses her hands to her ears and tries to shout to make it all go away.

And then, the spinning stops, and Tifa seizes up and opens her eyes. She's still surrounded by black and it's so dark that she can't see her hands or the blood on them in front of her as she drops them from her head. She sits up and looks around. How long has it been since she fell here? Time feels like it's stretched on forever, and then not at all…]

Wh, where am I? What's happening? I...

[Tifa struggles to her feet, and for a moment, she's surprised at how she can so easily after everything that's happened.]

Eustace? Eustace... where is he?

[Her head snaps back over her shoulder when she senses a presence, and she twirls around to face it.]

Huh... what? Who...?

[That's when she sees them. Someone. Anyone. And she begins to run towards them. Her legs are moving as if her life depends on it, and her feet are hitting the ground at record speed, but it feels like she isn't moving at all.]

... Help! Please!

[Whoever it is, she needs to reach them, needs to get help. This must be a dream, because she can see the outline of someone familiar... even if the name escapes her right now. She can't even hear their voice, even if they are speaking back to her.]

Help! [Keep running, Tifa. Keep running. She trips over her feet and stumbles but catches herself before she falls, and she goes on, crying out regardless of whether or not she's being heard.] Eustace, he's... I don't know what happened to him, but...! At the cliffs...

[Those who have stumbled within will hear that loud ringing as well, and Tifa falls to her knees again with a loud cry, her hands folding over her head as she crouches low where blood pools beneath her again. The air snaps cold like a winter storm has been swept in, and Tifa can see her breath forming into puffs of fog as she tries to breathe, and struggles to maintain this void.]

Help us… Make it stop.

[And then... as quickly as it had started, the dream will abruptly end, snapping anyone who had been inside to witness it awake while Tifa falls back into that cold, lonely embrace.]

* * *

[Somewhere in the residential district in the late, late night as the sun is setting and the town is falling into its usual quiet slumber, Oriphi will hear a desperate scratching and whining at her front door, followed by loud, sharp barks. The voice of a dog is calling her name for help, begging for her to open up, and whenever she finally does, she'll find the youngest of the corgis, Idris, leaping up at her knees.

Mom and dad...! Mom and dad are in trouble! Bri and Caerwyn too! They need help!

He's speaking to her so fast that his barks come one after another in rapid succession, echoing off the treetops through the entire district, and the words themselves that she'll hear are beginning to blend together as he refuses to take a breath.

The cliffsides! A nightmare, and dad, he... he... Come, let's go! Before something bad happens.

Idris won't even wait for her to respond or decipher what's going on and will take her pant leg between his teeth and will pull, urging her to follow him.]

Comments

{ mingling }

[flamekthunder]

[Who has decided to join this ragtag team of hopeful heroes to defeat their friend turned foe?]

[judicialassistant]

[ Despite a "full house," it's harder and harder for Susato to stay home these past couple weeks. It's no different tonight. She finds herself waking with a start from her room at the Harvest--or rather, Kazuma's house, her second home. It doesn't take long for her to get her bearings. For the most part, she is not one to act rashly, but Tifa's cries for help, and the biting cold of the darkness that she could feel, even through the dream...

...as well as the image of Tifa, dead, from Eustace's dream, just a few weeks prior...

Before she knows it, she finds herself up and alert. On edge, like something must be done. Something went wrong.

So many things happen at once, but it's a comfort to know she's not the only one. Before she knows it, she has met up with a group of familiar faces, and they're all following Idris. She may not have her father anymore, but she still has family--so at some point, she might be seen pulling out her journal and scribbling, however hurriedly.

By the time they reach the cave, she's a little out of breath, but no less determined. There's a bracelet of blue, glowing flowers around her wrist, and a relatively large messenger bag around her shoulders. ]

Wait. Before we go, I...

[ She takes a deep breath and her hand tugs at the flap on her bag. It's not immediately obvious, but the same blue glow can be seen coming from inside. ]

[pactmarshal]

[ Trahearne is just as on edge as Susato is, but for different, more selfish reasons.

He stands towards the edge of the group, staring into the caverns, torch in hand offering a soft glow and more of a light to the area than his own bioluminescence. His lips are drawn tight, his brows furrowed in thought.

If only... Then maybe...

But that destructive thought process, circular what-ifs are interrupted when Susato speaks up. Ah, it's the Mikotoba girl. Briefly, he recalls Yujin's unfortunate disappearance from this realm, and wonders if he should have reached out to her, even though they were essentially strangers.

He turns, offering the torch light in her direction as she opens her bag. ]

[judicialassistant]

[ There's a distant look that can be caught in her eyes, but it doesn't take long before she pulls out a medium-sized jar, filled with that blue glow. Closer inspection will reveal that the glow is made up of smaller flower petals within, appearing in various states. Some are crushed completely or withered (or both); others closer to the top look healthier.

And around the lid of the jar, there is a ring made up of the very same flowers.

She gives Trahearne a reassuring smile, sensing how tense he is, and tugs the ring off the lid to offer it to him. ]

I stopped by my house before I rushed over. I...

Well, I don't know for sure, but if it's true that he's turned... I thought these could help.

[hearthwarming]

[ Nobody here is having a good time, but despite her worrying nature, and how awkward or frantic she can be, Ori is slowly settling into a sense of calm. It's moments like these that her quiet strength comes to the fore, the very same that her friends relied on whenever they found themselves in truly dire straits over the course of their adventures. She hopes that her new friends here know that they can depend on her, too.

Oriphi places a gentle, steadying hand on Susato's shoulder as the younger woman catches her breath, and the tiefling's lips part as if to ask if Susato is alright or if she needs help carrying her bag when Susato starts to rummage around in her bag. ]

Are you alri— oh. What's this...?

[stillarhino]

[Of all the people that had gathered, Beat was most glad to see that Susato was among them. Having crossed paths a number of times since he got here, there was a familiarity between them that he didn't exactly have with the others who had found themselves at the mouth of the cave.

Beat's focuses his attention towards her upon hearing her trying to catch her breath.]

Yo, don't push it if you don't gotta, aight?

[His tone is reassuring, genuine worry on his face as he looks at her. It's only then that he notices the flowers around her wrist, it being the second glowing thing he's seen tonight after Trehearne. He's never seen anything like it, but before he's able to ask her about it, she speaks and opens the bag to reveal more of the same glow. He assumes that it's the same thing as what she has on, if not something similar.]

Looks like you got a lot a' that on ya. What it supposed to be for?

[hearthwarming]

[ Oriphi had arrived around the same time as most everyone else - only that she hadn’t arrived as herself, but rather as a giant owl covered in flowers, bearing on her back the distressed Idris (who is strapped securely with vines, okay). She had landed gently away from the group, bowing to allow the corgi to disembark safely before she turned back into her tiefling form.

Then, while everyone is gathering themselves and Susato is handing out the dawn flowers, she stands a bit to the side in contemplation. She knows that this will not be an easy endeavor by any means. And despite the fact that she’s a healer… She knows she might be better suited to helping keep Eustace busy and protecting the others who would be fighting alongside her. ]

Um… I’m Ori, if we haven’t met yet, and I’ve…

I’ve only dealt a little bit with nightmare energy before, but I can help with taking Eustace on and keep him busy so others can find Tifa and maybe we’ll figure out how to save Eustace, too… Everyone, please be careful.

[stillarhino]

[It was strange being able to still feel the frigid coolness from that dream that he had sprung awake from. The briskness clung in the air was unlike anything he had felt before, and even that alone was enough to put him on edge.

He could hear the voice calling out to him, the cliffs, she said. Hearing that sent a shiver up Beat's spine having been there only a couple of weeks prior with Ema. They had gotten into a few scrapes with the wildlife out there but nothing to the extent of what he saw in his dream. The darkness gnawing at the edges of his periphery, the ringing that came from nowhere and everywhere all at once, and the blood on the floor the only thing visible in the darkness.

Just what the hell did Eustace get himself into?

It wasn't long until he found himself bounding out of bed, only to find a few others making their own way out of their homes and off into the night. He runs to catch up to them, immediately falling into step with the small crowd. He sees a few familiar faces among them and a few others that he had yet to meet. If only it could've been in better circumstances.]

Kinda glad to see that I ain't the only one who felt that.

I dunno what the hell is happenin' but if it's got something to do with Wolfie. [Yes, you heard him right.] Jus' tell me where I gotta be, aight?

[pactmarshal]

[ Trahearne didn't have to wait very long after awakening from the startling dream for Phantom to come collect him. Which only confirmed to him that it wasn't merely a dream. That something was indeed terribly wrong with Tifa and Eustace, and that Trahearne needs to be there now.

He grabs his scepter, and reaches for his focus, but...no. This is the middle of the night. Scepter and torch it is.

His run to the cliffs is not as lonely as he expects it to be, as an unfamiliar voice breaks the silence and draws his attention. Trahearne glances at the newcomer, no break in his stride. ]

If by Wolfie, you mean Eustace, then you're already in the right place.

[ He has never seen this individual before. ]

{ fighting eustace }

[flamekthunder]

[As the group nears the cliffs, the ominous storm clouds and frigid air will be the first telltale signs that they're near. Upon landing, a white, female wolf approaches from the shadows as if waiting for them. Idris will recognize her and Oriphi will hear him bark out her name: Eria!! The wolf will stare at them before her mouth opens into a low growl and her voice can be heard in their minds, smooth yet commanding.]

...He's changed, consumed by the nightmares of this world. He needs to be stopped, but I will not let you kill him. Not unless…

[Her strong demeanor falters before her eyes narrow.]

If you understand then follow me—and do not listen to the whispers, as they are only to lure you into false sense of security.

[Without another word or parting glance, Eria spins on her heels and dashes into the cliff opening. There are numerous paths and tunnels that branch off, the darkness only broken by whatever light they manage, but the wolf is able to pick out the exact path. A path that becomes more obvious as the further they go, the more ice becomes apparent, the sound of thin frost crunching beneath their feet as their breaths become more visible. Deeper in they go, and eventually the whispers start. There's no discernable voice, just words of peace, quiet, safety.

Do not fear the ice, the voice gently whispers, almost soothing. Beckoning. It won't hurt you, only save you. Protect you.

For anyone who pauses even for a moment, ice will immediately creep towards them and latch onto their foot, a strange tingling warmth that is almost numbing. Should anyone get caught completely, it won't take long for the ice to encase them and need to be broken free.

Eventually the sounds of barking and yelps can be heard until at least they reach a wide open cavern, the walls covered in ice and glowing a soft blue. It's enough to reveal three small dogs encased in ice near the entrance while the remaining one—Cadoc—continues to run and bark at the giant black wolf that almost fills the height of the entire cave. Rather than "fighting," it's as if the dog is arguing, the wolf remaining still and silent as it stares down at the dog.

Seeing this, Idris rushes in to try and help in some way, but the giant wolf pays no mind. Instead it slowly raises its head and stares at the group that invaded the little frozen sanctuary. There's a crackling sound as the ice thickens around them, the voice a low growl that rolls through the air like quiet thunder.]

Leave.

[It's distorted, but it's Eustace's voice, and in the next moment a wave of ice suddenly blasts towards them, light flashing over the ice on the walls as if containing lightning.

He won't let them pass any further.]

team sonic-bloom!

[hearthwarming]

[ Oriphi has nothing but solemn reassurances to offer Eria: We will stop him, and we will get him back, as they are led into the cliff opening, following cold, dark pathways. Trahearne, Phantom, Oriphi, and Beat have agreed to take on the duty of fighting Eustace in hopes of weakening him. At least enough for the others to find and save Tifa - that’s the number one priority. And maybe, just maybe, they’ll find a way to turn him back from this Noctaere form…

Bodiless voices fill the air around the ice, seeking to lull them and spurn them as they venture deeper into the tunnels; Ori’s fingers curl around an omamori hanging at her hip, a lucky charm, an anchor to keep her own fears and worries from taking a hold on her. It will protect her, she knows it.

Once they eventually reach the cavernous expanse in which Eustace stands, it’s as if the chill of the ice that covers every inch of the place wraps around her heart, the tightening feeling in her chest inescapable at the sight before them. ]

This… This isn’t right.

[ She says it under her breath, looking on as Idris darts forward in desperation. Then she looks over at her companions, silently nodding at them. Good luck. Stay safe. is the sentiment carried by the wordless act. Shortly after, the tension is broken by the booming, distorted, yet familiar voice of Eustace telling them to leave, followed by a flash of frost sent in their direction.

Ori reaches out with an arm towards Beat in a protective gesture, as she raises her other arm to guard against the blast with a warm, radiant and almost flamelike shield of dreamotion. She looks back at the young man beside her and, despite the fact that Beat towers well over her, she fully intends on trying to protect him.

Before anything else, though, she tries to call out to Eustace - not the wolf in front of them, but the erune man that she knows and holds dearly as a friend. ]

Eustace… Please, listen to us. Your friends. We’re not here to hurt you or Tifa or anyone in your family. We just want to help…!

[stillarhino]

[The coolness that surrounds them is similar to what he had felt in the dream, if not even colder, to the point that Beat even finds himself pulling his hood up over his head. For a while, nothing but the sound of their labored breathing and the crunching of frost beneath their feet fill the air, but it isn't long before the whispers begin to creep in. It's invasive, prying into Beat's mind as much as it is able and he shakes his head, trying to keep them at bay. Eventually, he turns up the volume of his headphones, adjusting them on his head so they fit snuggly over his ears. They help with the whispers, but just barely.

When they finally reach the end of the labyrinth, he looks up at the dark wolf that towers over them, and dwarfs them all in size. He's never seen anything like it in his short time here but he can't help but recall the Taboo and Plague Noise that he's had to fight before. If Eustace had really been consumed by this, it was just like how Sho had been when he and his friends had fought him as well. And that fight wasn't easy.

Eustace's distorted voice greets them, echoing through the cavern and sending another gust of frigid air blasting past them. Beat puts up an arm in front of him as if to protect him from the momentary blast. When he opens his eyes he finds Ori standing in front of him, her own arm extended as a protective glow forms in front of her. As much as he appreciate the sentiment, he wasn't going to just sit back throughout this fight.]

I dunno if you gonna get through him, yo. Sounds to me like he's long gone.

[He begins to walk just past the barrier, shaking his hand at his side as he tries to get his dreamotion to work. He had been practicing, probably not enough for this fight, but there was a feeling gnawing at the back of his mind that told him that he will need to tap into everything he's got for this.

He looks up at the towering shadow wolf above him, his teeth gritting together, his brow furrowed. Compared to Ori's empathic approach, Beat shouts aggressively towards Eustace.]

Cut the shit out, Wolfie! If you ain't comin' quietly, we's gonna take you out if we gotta!

team ﾉｯﾄ･ﾃﾞｨｽ･ｼｯﾄ･ｱｹﾞｲﾝ

[pactmarshal]

[ As the younger duo go on ahead, Phantom and Trahearne take up the rear.

This may be the first time for Phantom, but this is a second time for Trahearne: helping a friend who has succumbed to nightmare. Though he may not be as quick about it as Ori and Beat, there is still confidence, determination in his stride. He will help bring Eustace down, whatever it takes.

Even if it means enduring whispers.

Eria speaking to them was an unwelcome surprise, but necessary. Trahearne understands this. But he is rather dismayed when he starts to hear the voices, coaxing him to give in. To relax.

In a way, it's not unlike Mordremoth. More...persuasive.

Trahearne does not break his stride. He grits his teeth and glances over at Phantom. The warm glow of the torch in Trahearne's hand illuminates them, a stark contrast to the crisp air and dark, cold, unwelcoming environment. ]

I suppose you don't need me to tell you to ignore the voice.

so true

[removal]

[ Being nocturnal, Phantom became aware of the icy storm earlier than the others. There's quite a lot of dramatic irony here, he thinks; to once again act out a play of loss and return, but this time with the actors in different roles. Of course, Eustace is his friend, and he would come to the other man's aid even without the need for a debt repaid.

Even the voices are similar. He can't help but wonder if Trahearne and Eustace heard the voice of the Wine God in the castle. ]

You hear it too.

[ He says this calmly, lightly, as if merely stating a trivial fact. His eyes and ears are focused upon the road ahead, alert for any movement or sound that might give away threats lying in wait. ]

We are no strangers to remaining ourselves. Mine only worry is for the others, who may fall prey to it without prior experience.

{ saving tifa }

[starshower]

[As the fight begins, Eria doesn't stick around for long, entrusting those who have chosen to stand up against him to do so—to weaken his resolve and break through the thick walls of ice that he's placed around himself with the hope that she can find a way to pull him free from the grips of his nightmare. She turns on her heel again, leaving to return to the others who had promised to reach Tifa.

It's just outside the cave that she finds the three women, and when she approaches, it's with that same strong disposition she had met them with, and they'll hear her voice, calm as ever, but with a sense of urgency lying beneath her soothing voice.]

Follow me. There is an entrance at the back of the cave where you should be able to reach her through.

[Her paws pad against the ice as she begins to lead them around, pausing only briefly to turn her head back to them, her blue eyes sharp with caution.]

But be careful and be at the ready. Eustace will not have left it unguarded.

[He is a thorough man, after all. When he sets himself on a plan, he makes sure to have all his bases covered, and this is no different. If anything, he will have worked harder for this, to protect his loved ones, she thinks.

The outer walls covered in the black ice crackle in warning, spreading and thickening with each step across the thin icy floor they take. It's dark, but it gets darker, the shadows creating a frigid fog—one so stifling that they will feel it try to suck the air out of their lungs—that spreads outward from around them. And as they come around the back, Eria will halt, and her ears turn forward to listen.

It's just as she thought.

Ahead, there are two wolves, their black forms barely visible in the dark of night as they pace back and forth, their long claws scraping against the ice, their teeth bared, and their bright red eyes scanning the area when they sense the presence of others. Another word doesn't need to be said—they will need to pass these wolves to reach the entrance of the cave that's been blanketed and closed off with ice...]

[everblooms]

[ There's no question about where Aerith chooses to go. When she had made her deal with Tseng and Tifa, Cloud and Barret heard that she was with Shinra, in Hojo's lab, they made the decision to come for her. Whether it was to repay her for finding Marlene or not meant nothing to Aerith. They came for her— she'll always come for them now. They all forged a bond back then, born under a haze of confusion and determination, and that bond would always hold. The die was cast the moment Tifa asked for help in that dream; she knew where to go.

So the cave that Eria leads them to is scary, yes, but it is an obstacle she will overcome. ]

We'll be prepared. Don't worry.

[ Eria's voice exudes confidence, a calm steady sort of tone that she'd liken to the breeze whistling through branches of an old, stable tree. Aerith takes her words to heart, and wonders if she knows how sincere she is. It likely doesn't matter much— casting a glance over to her companions, she smiles encouraging. ] We've got this. For Tifa.

[ And Eustace, she supposes— something has been wedged inside of him for a long time if this is the repercussion they find. Momentarily, she thinks back to the beach, after he'd shown her how to cut something in half with dreamotion. Maybe when she asked how Tifa was, she should have asked how he was, too. It's a useless thought, though, he wouldn't have opened up to her even if she'd needled him. Shaking it aside, she follows closely behind Eria, her scepter held to her chest. It's cold in her tightening grip. With her knuckles going white, Aerith considers all the possibilities that Eustace will throw at them.

In hindsight, she's not sure why she expected anything else but wolves. ]

... [ Her graze roves between the duo of black wolves, lands on Eria, and Aerith holds her scepter still in both hands, raising them— ]

Tonight's menu doesn't include us! We're not tasty, not at all. I promise! We're just... going through!

[ Surely that will work. ]

[roseofmay]

[Through most of this, as she has approached other avenues of her life, Beatrix has been characteristically quiet and stoic. It had not taken long for her to piece two and two together, and there are few, she thinks in this world, that would so willingly request her assistance. Truth be told, there's little about her disposition that advertises she would provide such. There is a difference betwixt instating a guard for Reverein proper and issuing escort from person to person.

Although she supposes there are exceptions. The Princess Zelda comes to mind. When it comes down to people like Tifa, the decision is an easy one to make. Were their roles reversed, she does not doubt that Tifa would assist. That was how they'd met, after all. Discoveries abound from one to the other, and at the end of it all, it had simply been a mutual understanding. And now...

Well. Tifa is privy to at least one secret of hers, if she can even continue to call it such. Yes. She owes this journey to her. A woman she would not so openly call a friend, though she is nothing less and Beatrix's feelings for her run a similar depth to others she would consider close.

She could ask about the others that she has been paired with, but she doesn't. It's none of her business. In the end, they're all here for the same reason. In the quiet of her thoughts, the unpleasant foreboding of the air about them, the weight of reality in a world that feels anything but real, Beatrix has left her hand where it is most comfortable—upon the sword in its sheath.

And good thing she does, for the sight of wolves, the sound of their steps, the warning that comes with the situation, what they must needs face to find Tifa, it all seems quite... obvious, when taking Eustace into consideration. From his prior dream. The realisation of the intensity of his relationship with Tifa and its evolution. All of it comes together and seems transparent as glass.

Aerith—

Well. Beatrix issues a sigh that dies about as quickly as it's arrived.]

I doubt very much beasts react to diplomacy. I am more inclined toward force in this situation.

[Although truth be told, the world would be a far kinder place if one could simply solve things with cunning wordage.]

{ finding the necklace }

[starshower]

[Outside of the cliffs a fair distance away from where Eustace's "lair" is the charred and frozen remains of the fallen lindworms. One continues to hang against the cliff walls; one lies sprawled out on the ground, its body pierced through; and another is scattered in pieces. Black ice covers them all, the nightmare energy emanating over the entire area. The air is cold, almost suffocating, and electricity occasionally crackles in the air as lightning flashes above, tingling the skin. It's so dark that not even the twin moons can penetrate through the clouds, making visibility difficult.

But in the distance by some trees there is an odd clicking sound, like some kind of trigger being constantly pulled back and released. The sound of loud, crackling electricity follows with a distinct whirr. It's the sound of his discarded gun, Flamek, and it's all it can do to try and alert anyone of its presence. Just a foot away from it lies Eustace's necklace, the star charm glowing darkly in the shadows.

And speaking of shadows… There are occasional shifts and movements until eventually the forms of black shadow wolves appear, all created from the leftover nightmare energy.]

[removal]

[ Loath as he is to leave his friends, Phantom has steeled himself to do it in order to break through to Eustace. Mentioning Tifa had snapped him out of his nightmare-induced hallucinations back in the moonscape, and Phantom has no reason to believe different this time.

Of course, he's not alone in this - he knows very well the benefit of going in pairs, even though it would mean depriving their friends of another ally in their battle against Eustace. The only thing he can do is make their trip as fast as possible.

While accompanying Beat, he's careful to reduce the strength of his shadow shroud. He needs it to only be as strong as the nightmare energy surrounding them, so he keeps it to a minimum as to not overwhelm his companion. He isn't one to talk much, though - keeping his focus on navigating the tunnel until they get out into the open. ]

[stillarhino]

[Beat was quick to catch up after Phantom once they left the cave, one of Eustace's dogs somehow keeping pace with the both of them. While there seemed to be a faint light emanating throughout the tunnels, the outside was a different story.

Being by Trehearne earlier on their trek up, Beat didn't realize just how dark it had been out there. Clouds loomed overhead with only the light crackle of thunder and lightning rolling through every so often.]

It's gonna be a bitch lookin' for the necklace like this, yo.

[He holds open his hand, summoning a small mote of flame with dreamotion to help light the path. It wasn't much, but it was better than trying to blindly cut through the darkness like this, looking for some sign of the necklace. He turns to his companion and the dog at their feet.]

Aight, any idea where we gotta start?

{ final battle phase }

[flamekthunder]

[The longer he remains restrained, the more that little flame tries to burn through the ice locking down his heart and soul. It's enough to keep him preoccupied to pay little heed to their "conversation," exchanged looks and whispers unnoticed. Slowly he just shakes his head, his body shuddering.

Home... Home... His family... His loved ones...

After losing everything when he was just a child, he had vowed on their memories to not only take vengeance but to also ensure that he never would suffer such a tragedy again. He had succeeded with the first, so all that was left was to continue protecting the backs of others, whether on his own or within sight. And he had been doing well, honing his skills, gaining strength, and even opening up his heart again.

Having been tested over and over again in this world and seeing everything he had worked towards, everything he loved being ripped apart from him again—it gouged a wound so deep that drove him to this madness. So deep that although the group's efforts are making some headway, it's still not enough. Just thinking about Tifa still encased in her icy tomb, barely kept alive by his magic and the charm, terrifies him to the point that he still can't fully trust and listen to their pleas. Whatever warmth and light that manages to sink in is swallowed by the darkness of the nightmares still ravaging his mind, a relentless grip that refuses to let go.

Tifa... He just wanted a happy life with her... Wanted to—]

—!

[Just when there might have been a chance, he senses that connection between him and the ice holding Tifa and the dogs disappear, and his head suddenly snaps up to look at the frozen wall that obscures the secret entrance where they were hidden.]

No...

[Lightning suddenly drops around them, the air that started to warm just a little instantly freezing again as he growls through clenched teeth, eyes flashing a deep crimson red.]

You...

[His voice is a deep, low rumbling growl that reverberates over the ice, electricity crackling around him. With a roar he pushes his against the vine restraints, the frozen vines shattering.]

DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH HER!!

[There's an explosion of ice, electricity, and nightmare energy as he releases all his pent up rage at once. In the next moment he's charging at the seemingly solid wall, slamming his shoulder against it as it instantly breaks and shatters. The pieces fly mostly into the chamber, but some fly back into the cave he was in.

And so the group who had just been with Tifa are now facing Eustace still in his noctaere wolf form, nightmare energy pouring out as his eyes lock onto the women holding onto Tifa and the dogs no longer frozen. In the one second he stares at them, all his eyes really see are the tears staining Tifa's distraught face, the blood trickling down from her reopened wounds. It's enough to seize his heart, that pain and anguish now mixing in with the volatile emotions from before as he only has one thought as he lunges forward with a snarling growl.

To get to her. To get rid of everyone here and return them to their frozen isolation.]

[starshower]

[Tifa barely has time to register the warning before ice and rubble and dust are rushing at them, the sound of the wall across the lake breaking into a thousand pieces deafening. Tifa arches her body over the dogs, cradling and protecting them with her own in case there are any stray pieces that tear further into the cave, and she can feel Bri stiffen against her chest with a whine as she trembles in fear, but it's Caerwyn and Eria's growls that force both of them to look up again.

And the moment that she sees it, her heart sinks and it feels as though she's been punched several times in her chest. The world around them seems to stop, everything and everyone but the two of them frozen in a pocket of time as her gaze connects with his. Those glowing red eyes of his were the last thing she had seen before she succumbed to the grips of death, but everything else...

It's so much worse than she had been afraid of. The tall, imposing figure of a black wolf, those wisps of nightmare energy that rise up around him, the large, bared fangs. The sound of his growls that shake the whole cave around them. The anger and hatred that fill those flecks of red in his eyes...

But what hurts the most to see is the helplessness that resides behind them. The truth of it all. She may not have the time to fully process what's going on, or how long he's been like this, or what he hoped to achieve with it, but she knows that behind those red eyes is simply a man filled with fear, who felt helpless that he couldn't protect the person he wanted to protect the most.

She knows what that's like. She feels for him, because Tifa continues to struggle with those same sentiments too. And she feels her heart shattering, tumbling into a hundred pieces in the flowers, along with her tears.]

Eustace...?

[It had only been a second or two for everyone else, but for Tifa, those seconds felt like an eternity. She only snaps out of it when Eria places herself between the two of them, growling and barking and baring her fangs back at Eustace.

But then he's lunging at them, and Tifa screams louder than she's ever screamed in her life, and shelters Bri again.]

STOP—!

[everblooms]

[ To Beatrix, Aerith nods, and motions to help her take Tifa in arm, to carry her back with them. The snakes got word out, and now the rest of their concern is taking care of her, as far as Aerith is concerned. There's no way that the rest won't get Eustace back home for her, and Susato's making quick work of the dogs, too. It's the home stretch, and if they're quick, they might even be out of here before they run into the man of the hour. His voice is loud in Aerith's mind, a conversation from only a short time ago.

"You really do love her, don't you?"
"I do."

With the dogs free now, everything is proceeding well, and Aerith's balancing herself with her scepter, readying herself to bring up the rear. Tifa's thanks is so soft it doesn't even echo off the lonely, cold walls of the cave, and only moments later does it all start up again, harkened by Eria's warning. The whole thing groans with energy, like a ship giving way to the elements, and there's a sharp, crunching noise as the wall splinters ice every which way. Icicles fall, chaos roars and over it— ]

Oh...

[ — echoes Eustace's voice, the carnage he's already laid to the land and the situation becoming far clear as Aerith looks up, and sees him, and stares at him. Instinctively, her arm raises to cover the rest of them. ]

Shit.

[ He lunges, fast and hard. Instinct propels her forward, and the scepter in her grip twirls, spins, and it leaves a streak of warm light in his wake. Petals, golden and not quite there, all dance around the group of them before snapping into place to form the ghostly image of a giant, orange and yellow flower in full bloom. It's the same shield she used with the wolves earlier; if time was on her side, she hopes it'll hit Eustace in his face and slap some sense into him. ]

Keep your hands to yourself!

let's go home.

[hearthwarming]

[ One by one, they are all brought back one way or another. For many of them, they are brought back from the brink of uncertain doom, wrought upon them by nightmarish ice and lightning.

For the two whose love has been repeatedly torn and then forged anew by different worlds and different dreams… They are brought back together into each other’s arms, where they belong.

Slowly but surely, they gather around the two. Ori moves her hands to hold Aerith’s as the other woman awakens with a bit of a start, and she gives them a reassuring squeeze before she lets go and slowly guides her back onto her feet. Then, she watches as the others make their way with the various canine and serpentine companions in tow. ]

…It’s time that we all go home, isn’t it?

[ Staff in one hand, she starts reciting an incantation quietly and uses her other hand to trace druidic sigils into the air, where they hang momentarily before spreading out, forming a circle on the ice to surround the group. A warmth emanates from the teleportation circle as motes of light begin to float up from the runes, enveloping them all in the feeling of returning, of going home.

(People seem to have taken to holding hands with one another in the circle, which… Certainly isn’t required, but she’s not about to interrupt and point that out in the middle of spellcasting.)

Back in the realm from which she came, casting this spell would simply mean that Ori would be returning to the last place where she rested. Most of the time, it would be an inn. Other times, a clearing in the forest where she and her friends had camped. Occasionally, it brings her back to a more interesting place, like a friend’s familial palace or floating libraries.

But here, in this realm of dreams, the spell simply brings her home.

Light floods all around them, and when it and the Teleportation Circle fade, they are in the middle of the living room within Ori’s home. It’s just about what one might expect of a house belonging, at least partly, to Oriphi - there are plants everywhere, and there’s an immediate sense of comfort and coziness and warmth, even in the dead of night.

Now, with all of them finally out of the nightmare and out of those caves, Ori sighs and leans on her staff. She looks around at everyone, frowning as she finds everyone in various states of Not Okay, whether physically or emotionally - Eustace and Tifa most of all. And though her voice is quiet and tired, she still manages to call out, ]

Okay… Nobody is leaving my house without getting healed first.

[judicialassistant]

[ Susato had closed her eyes, partly from exhaustion but also in response to the spell's light. She doesn't even register whose hands she might be holding on either side, but one of them is probably Beat's. She holds her breath as well, though she's certain that's not required either, and when she exhales, she can already tell she is in a different place.

Warmth and comfort replace the cold, stale air of the cave. The room she finds herself in is so cozy and well-lived in, she feels almost immediately out of place.

Susato is definitely not going to sit down and ruin any of the cushy furniture with her wet self. She... doesn't really know what to do, so as Ori calls for healing, she finds herself trying to stay isolated in a corner of the room. The bookcase grown into the trunk of three itself seems to catch her attention, and she will definitely try to read any of the titles Ori has on display, though the books only make her think of her journal, which she has all but ignored for the night.

With guilt, she slowly opens the flap of her messenger bag, wondering what she would even begin to say to Kazuma's numerous messages.

Ziggy, Ruby, and Ryusei, meanwhile--having hitched a ride on Susato--poke their little snake heads out of her kimono. They seem to be eying the plants in what looks like a greenhouse area nearby; all sleepy and cold, but curious. ]