Nhysa stared, utterly charmed. She asked the question but at first did not know if Li could truly see them; she saw plenty of things others did not, and nearly all of it oozed from the plane of shadows. They were beautiful, far more so than the sputtering sparks of fireworks, or even the fiery dragon that had singed the tops of the crowd. She felt her dark friend curl around her body and claim the crevice between shoulder and neck, sheltered by the inky fall of her hair. The dig of its needled claws were like the tickle of kisses.
Ijiraq. The new word permeated through her mind, inquisitive as a child discovering something new and unexpected at the bottom of a toy box, but only for that brief second before one of creatures slid lightening fast -- and straight into Li.
She was not much given to rash emotion; such things usually got you killed, and while Nhysa embraced the fleeting nature of life she did rather prefer to hang on to it for now. Particularly on the heels of such coy a promise as the one that had teased from Li’s lips moments before.
As he jerked backwards she twisted after him, sweet pain stabbing her wounded stomach with the movement. Shadow ignited from her like a dark flame, bringing new scope to her view of the world. The ijiraq fogged ethereal, and Li’s expression was monstrous to behold, but she did not linger on that rictus of agony. She would give a quick and vicious end.
Yet the whip that should have wrenched the creature savagely back like a garrotte instead whispered through its insubstantial neck.
She did not know how to fight this.
Nhysa hissed, her brows drawn low for the inconvenience. “Now would be helpful,” she spat to the coil of darkness still clung to her neck, but her sweet companion gave no indication it had heard her plea let alone would choose to direct her. The ijiraq felt like cool mist when she clawed through it, seeking some physical way through to disrupt its grip. What was it doing? It seemed to squirm away from her, phasing through Li’s entire body to leach instead from behind. Like it did not enjoy the rebuke of her touch.
And why him? The crowd thinned in terror, but the creature had honed in like Li was a beacon to its senses, ignoring those fleeing under its straight-arrow glide. Her hand braced his cheek like a promise, apparently inured to his silent scream but desiring to offer at least some comfort, and her dark attention flexed to their surroundings, seeking the ijiraq’s brothers -- and their victims specifically-- but bared her teeth when she realised it was too dark. Too many people were screaming to pinpoint anything useful.
She preferred evidence, but would rely on hastily assembled theory in a pinch.
“I’m sorry, dear one.” She frowned, though did not think he could hear her. Then she swept his feet and pulled him to the ground, swinging from behind to lock his neck in the hook of her arm. She gripped her own bicep, shoved a palm to the back of his head, and squeezed. Cold radiated to her very bones, the creature pulsing and swirling in an effort to keep its latch while apparently avoiding touching Nhysa. She growled. Once Li passed out she could only hold tight for seconds without risking damage. She assumed it would break his hold on the power, just as she assumed he must be holding it, not to mention the biggest one; that she assumed it was what had even drawn the creature -- a whole lot more assumption than she was comfortable with while strangling a man she was more than a little fond of. And fuck knew what she was going to do with the creature when it detached.
[[Hope the mode is okay. I don't know if we have established lore or not on whether an ijiraq can or cannot feed if the food loses consciousness? I'm presuming that despite the link once the person is knocked out their hold on the power is gone and therefore they detach, but I've left it open in case the general consensus is no. I'm also pulling my Mother Nyx card. The Ijiraq will think twice before crossing her if she joins the fighting (in that they will prefer not to touch her). Unless Li channels again straight away, it will flee and find another victim. Nhysa will obviously release the hold whether or not the Ijiraq flees. He will lose consciousness for 5-30 seconds from it, and she will keep her arms loosely around him to stop him getting up too quickly when he comes round.]]
Ijiraq. The new word permeated through her mind, inquisitive as a child discovering something new and unexpected at the bottom of a toy box, but only for that brief second before one of creatures slid lightening fast -- and straight into Li.
She was not much given to rash emotion; such things usually got you killed, and while Nhysa embraced the fleeting nature of life she did rather prefer to hang on to it for now. Particularly on the heels of such coy a promise as the one that had teased from Li’s lips moments before.
As he jerked backwards she twisted after him, sweet pain stabbing her wounded stomach with the movement. Shadow ignited from her like a dark flame, bringing new scope to her view of the world. The ijiraq fogged ethereal, and Li’s expression was monstrous to behold, but she did not linger on that rictus of agony. She would give a quick and vicious end.
Yet the whip that should have wrenched the creature savagely back like a garrotte instead whispered through its insubstantial neck.
She did not know how to fight this.
Nhysa hissed, her brows drawn low for the inconvenience. “Now would be helpful,” she spat to the coil of darkness still clung to her neck, but her sweet companion gave no indication it had heard her plea let alone would choose to direct her. The ijiraq felt like cool mist when she clawed through it, seeking some physical way through to disrupt its grip. What was it doing? It seemed to squirm away from her, phasing through Li’s entire body to leach instead from behind. Like it did not enjoy the rebuke of her touch.
And why him? The crowd thinned in terror, but the creature had honed in like Li was a beacon to its senses, ignoring those fleeing under its straight-arrow glide. Her hand braced his cheek like a promise, apparently inured to his silent scream but desiring to offer at least some comfort, and her dark attention flexed to their surroundings, seeking the ijiraq’s brothers -- and their victims specifically-- but bared her teeth when she realised it was too dark. Too many people were screaming to pinpoint anything useful.
She preferred evidence, but would rely on hastily assembled theory in a pinch.
“I’m sorry, dear one.” She frowned, though did not think he could hear her. Then she swept his feet and pulled him to the ground, swinging from behind to lock his neck in the hook of her arm. She gripped her own bicep, shoved a palm to the back of his head, and squeezed. Cold radiated to her very bones, the creature pulsing and swirling in an effort to keep its latch while apparently avoiding touching Nhysa. She growled. Once Li passed out she could only hold tight for seconds without risking damage. She assumed it would break his hold on the power, just as she assumed he must be holding it, not to mention the biggest one; that she assumed it was what had even drawn the creature -- a whole lot more assumption than she was comfortable with while strangling a man she was more than a little fond of. And fuck knew what she was going to do with the creature when it detached.
[[Hope the mode is okay. I don't know if we have established lore or not on whether an ijiraq can or cannot feed if the food loses consciousness? I'm presuming that despite the link once the person is knocked out their hold on the power is gone and therefore they detach, but I've left it open in case the general consensus is no. I'm also pulling my Mother Nyx card. The Ijiraq will think twice before crossing her if she joins the fighting (in that they will prefer not to touch her). Unless Li channels again straight away, it will flee and find another victim. Nhysa will obviously release the hold whether or not the Ijiraq flees. He will lose consciousness for 5-30 seconds from it, and she will keep her arms loosely around him to stop him getting up too quickly when he comes round.]]