Ara's heart drops the moment her name escapes the soldier's lips. She'd been so preoccupied lately, that she'd forgotten she's a wanted criminal. Surely this is when Matsuko and Nina strike to break the tension? There are a lot of guards around though, killing these ones will draw far more attention than they would like. The street is filled with shoppers and guards posted along the storefronts.

The drunk soldier raises his weapon to Ara, prompting her to raise her hands as the other grabs her by the cloak.

"You're under arrest," He announces.

Ara stumbles backwards, trying to evade the guard's pull. "I'm no-"

"Lilith," Akheela interrupts her, sternly and without hesitation as she stares into the sober guard's eyes.

"What?" He asks.

"That is your daughter's name, no?" She asks.

"Akheela," Ara tries mumbling under her breath to get Akheela to cool it before this gets any worse. Instead, she passes the thought directly.

"How do you-" The soldier stutters.

"If you harm A'ra, I will see to it that your daughter's life is taken by my hand," Akheela interrupts with her voice of fury. She isn't loud, but a strength exudes off of her that has the soldier buckle his confidence.

"Quiet, girl!" The drunk guard yells across Ara's face as he wiggles his gun at Akheela.

She says nothing, raising her hand and wafting it away from her- The soldier's gun flings out of his hand, crashing to the ground far out of his reach. Without a moment's notice, Nina and Matsuko both strike. Matsuko swiftly draws her Katana, slashing at the sober man's neck as Nina draws an arrow and throws it with immense speed into the drunk soldier's chest before stepping closer to him, using an open palm to punch the arrow deeper.

Both soldiers fall to their knees, their bodies thudding against the ground as the echo rattles through the area. They've caught the attention of other guards, who are looking over at the sudden panic of civilians nearby.

Nina whips to Akheela, passing a menacing look that Ara's glad she isn't the recipient of.

"We need to move," Matsuko orders.

Nina says nothing but shakes her head and curls her lip in annoyance before turning to dart through the scrambling crowd alongside Matsuko.

"Are you okay?" Akheela inquiries into Ara's mind.

Ara nods, slowly, still rattled by the encounter before they both follow behind Nina and Matsuko.

They all push through the wave of citizens as guards pass by, making their way to the scene of the crime without awareness of the perpetrators. They take a few turns to find the unconcerned regions of the streets, opting to path on the outskirts of the city, they reduce their pace to blend in. Ara glances over the railings of the outer street, to the river flowing below thinking she heard something when the abrupt patter of boots catches her attention. She turns to see five guards shoving through the civilians behind them. Ara reaches to her waist, drawing her only throwing dagger in preparation.

But the guards stop in place, raising their weapons in her direction. Shit! Her mind panics, catching Akheela's attention as she turns to see the situation.

One of the soldiers yells out, "Fire!" and before any bullets release, the blade in Ara's hand soars into one of the guard's foreheads, barely missing the civilians it hurdled passed.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Before Ara knows it, the eruption of gunfire and screaming blasts through the streets as the guard's fire amongst the civilians. She can't believe her eyes as the sound of bullets ricocheting past her.

She's frozen. Taken back by their lack of hesitation. Droplets of blood patter against her face as she witnesses bodies fall to the floor amongst the chaos. Her cheek suddenly winces in pain as a zipping of a bullet grazes past her face. Carving a small gash on her cheek.

A hand grips her shoulder and firmly yanks her to her knees as her body turns to face Nina, her blue eyes looking deeply at Ara before she pushes Ara ahead of her. Ara glances over her shoulder to see Akheela with three arrows floating around her like the daggers she had in the forest as she screams a tempered howl.

Ara can feel Akheela's rage. Her disdain for these uncaring soldiers who could take innocent lives with such ease. Her hatred pours through the street and Ara finally notices Nina's voice amongst the panic- Exposed, and nervous.

She's worried. Ara notices- Sensing the relation of a memory within Nina to Akheela's current fit of anger. Despite Nina's internal disarray, it does not reduce her resolve. Her clear-headed motions are evidence of this as she shuffles both herself and Ara through all of the panic.

The three arrows release from beside Akheela simultaneously, cutting through the air with a high-pitched whizz before the sound of gunfire completely halts. Ara looks over her shoulder to see two of the guards have fallen to the floor, and the last one remains standing with an arrow in his arm.

Akheela steps forwards, raising her arm with an open palm towards the remaining soldier. With another scream a gust of her aura ejects from the palm of her hand, swiftly crashing into the soldier's chest and vaulting him through the railings of the city's edge, into the river below.

Ahead of them, Matsuko has just taken out a soldier that was savvy of their attempts at blending in. She did it so swiftly, it didn't even seem as though it was her. The soldier's body suddenly drops to the floor without notice as she continues clearing a path for them.

Matsuko guides them all back to the centre pathway of the city. Many soldiers run straight past them as they pace among the nerve-struck crowd. The bridge to leave the town is within view now, the whole town is in uproar as soldiers dash towards where the perpetrators were last seen.

There are few guards at the bridge, most having left their posts to evaluate the ruckus. Ara counts two posted at either side of the street and a third one heading in their direction, but looking past them- Ignorantly running towards the centre of town.

Nina readies a bow as Matsuko reaches for her hidden blade. The two guards step forwards, raising a hand for them to halt their approach to the bridge but it is much too late. Matsuko draws her blade and in the same motion, cuts off the soldier's extended hand, before he can scream the tip of the blade pierces through his throat. Ara didn't notice Nina throwing an arrow this time- being notified by the second guard clutching at an arrow in his chest. Matsuko's blade then slashes the side of the second soldier's neck, dropping him to the floor.

She sheathes her sword effortlessly and darts across the bridge as Nina, Ara and Akheela all follow behind. It's not long until they notice they left this way. The bodies of soldiers will guide the soldiers straight to the bridge.

As their feet clatter against the rocky banks of the river, they dart for the tree line. The rough bushes and branches scratch against her arms as they pass through the shrubbery to see Chaung, Kimi and Yasuke standing waiting.

"You just have taken the scenic route," Chaung chuckles before his expression turns to shock as Ninas aggressively charges towards Akheela

"You do not touch my arrows!" Nina yells at Akheela.

"I should let them slaughter innocent people then?" Akheela grits her teeth, stepping at Nina. "We should have freed this town!"

"We are meant to follow the plan!" Nina responds, "We have orders,"

"They'll be coming after us," Ara tells Chaung, barely overcoming the dry itch in her throat.

"She's right, we need to keep moving," Matsuko adds.

"I don't take orders from you," Akheela clenches her fist. Both of them hold their stares at one another, she can feel them both still heated. Primed and ready for another fight.

"Alright, we keep moving," Chaung orders, still confused by the chaos. "The both of you are to remain silent until you're less tempered, is that clear?"

Neither of them says a word as they both scoff at one another.

"Good," Chaung confirms. Nodding his head at a concerned Yasuke, who starts charging a path ahead of them.

Ara feels the frustration surging through Akheela as she walks beside her. Her arms are crossed tightly against her body as she stares at the ground, mumbling to herself. "What's her problem?" She asks Ara without a sound.

"The colours of Luná are the same as those we find within ourselves." - Prophet Mi'chel