HAUNTED GARDEN: East Gate {5/5}

[UEEEHHH MINTY HOW YOU MAKE THE HP FORMATTING IT LOOKS SO COOL--]

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He didn't like where that gun was pointing in the least. Letting out a guttural sound that was more animal than man, Joakim took two more stubborn steps forwards before the pain escalated to a new high and Joakim felt blood fill his mouth.

His head spun when he coughed, blood accompanying the action and the world seeming to double as he finally fell to one knee. A wounded snarl left him while he mentally hurled abuse every which way.

Fuck the damned human for putting him in this position.

Fuck the fucking shotgun that made him bleed this much.

Fuck his own lack of preparedness, his lack of strength, his STUPIDITY for being unable to do a fucking thing when things were dire.

He wanted to gut the man so badly. Joakim knew he saw surprise in those eyes, a sliver of fear earlier on. He swore he'd permanently plaster that look on the doctor's face later, with or without Skadi(his threadcutter).

As it were, his body refused to move. His breathing grew more ragged, though he could still remain conscious. The Hunter only needed one of them...?

Without breaking eye contact, Joakim moved his head slightly in Esther's general direction, "Let 'er go, then. You said you only needed one of us. I can't fight if I wanted." He'll sure as all hell die trying, though, "You have me under your thumb so long as you let the girl go."

Joakim had no plan. Maybe one or two, but they were more wishful thinking than anything, since it completely hinged on the Hunter agreeing to his terms.

If the Hunter agreed, then he'd have to keep Joakim alive. Joakim didn't have anything that'll stem the bleeding outside of putting pressure on his wounds, so he was banking more on his ability to heal from flesh wounds for them to stop being a problem.

If the Hunter agreed, then Esther could leave. If she went to get help, great. If she went back and decided to not get help, fine. He could roll with that. He knew what it's like to be small and without fighting experience. So long as she gets back fine, he'd have done his job.

That's what Guardians do, after all.

If the Hunter decided to pull his own set of cards...

Joakim would have to let his instincts do the thinking for him.

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[Joakim has no healing items and did not do much to assist his healing]

HP: 8 - 1 = 7HP remaining

The deeper into the forest the pair went, the more Winona regretted the decision to come. Not only had she managed to trip multiple times—scuffing up some very nice shoes in the process—but she honestly doubted that anyone in their group would end up talking to any ascended individuals. She’d wasted her time, energy, her clothes, and her phone battery. Hmph, at least she was enjoying the night air.


Once they’d arrived at the waterfall, she actually felt that the trip might not have been a waste. The sound of the water was rather soothing, and had it not been so chilly out, she probably would have taken a dip. It was all so very charming—until she saw the panther. What the everliving hell?! How the heck did a futzing panther end up in a garden in New York?! Had she not been terrified, she’d probably chide herself for teasing Lincoln at the start of this trip.


But no, she was terrified. Petrified, staring at that beastly creature. Heng’s voice broke her out her trance, as she looked at the fella pull out his weapon—a large one at that. She brought her eyes back to the large cat, and ever so slowly backed away, hoping that the soldier would be able to fight that thing long enough to open a portal back to HQ. She’d come back.

Once she was a distance away, she pulled a chrysanthemum from her pocket and began furiously ripping at the petals as if her life depended on it. She cursed under her breath as she pulled, loathing how many petals these godforsaken plants had. She was close to the last few petals, when—


BANG.


Gunshot. The sound made her skin crawl. She clutched her sides, her breathing becoming erratic. Where—why—who—what—where did the shot come from?! She wanted out, she wanted out NOW. Chrysanthemum.

--Where was the damned chrysanthemum!?


She crouched on the ground, feeling around for the accursed flower that she happened to drop. She could barely tell the difference between a twig and a stem in the dim light, and her phone had died ages ago. Why, why, why?!

Maybe Heng had his still. She’d have to go back. Gripping the scissors from her garter, she ran back to the spot where she’d left him, hoping that he’d dealt with the panther already.

With a growl, Heng swung his halberd around towards the panther that just dashed past. The panther was still within range, but was faster than Heng had initially thought it'd be (to be fair, he's never fought a panther before).

"Oh no cat, you're staying here with me," he snarled, running forward after it. Twigs snapped under their feet, dirt sprayed as they pushed past on the damp soil. The sounds of the forest have since returned, but the panting of the panther was loudest. 

And what was Miss Winona doing? Was she searching for something? Didn't he tell her to run? Did she trip? Where was the panther going? Why her?

"Miss Winona!" he yelled, gritting his teeth. This was not working out the way he hoped it would.

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<sub>Roll for DEX (but im not sure if it should be for STR so if it happens to be that way I'll edit this haha)

ccvRNLen+4 = 23</sub>
 

"Hands where I can see them."

All right... so stabbing him was out of the question. Perhaps it was for the better. At least now he was letting Esther go back to HQ, where she could go and get reinforcements.

... It couldn't be that simple. That couldn't possibly be his plan, unless whatever he intended to execute went ridiculously quickly. Esther stowed her scissors away in her pocket, raising both hands up --

"Stand up and step into the water."

Disbelief flickered over Esther's face -- what kind of condition was this? The man didn't actually expect her to go and step into the water, did he? But there was no use questioning his plan aloud -- the gun pointed at her really narrowed her options down. No use risking her wellbeing over this any more than she already had.

I shouldn't have come here in the first place. Filled with many, many misgivings, she began her begrudging walk back towards the water. She didn't take her eyes off the gunman, save for the occasional look backwards to make sure she didn't trip. Shouldn't have risked my life over something that was so obviously a trap. Should have brought more people. Or any people. Should have gone with Heng and Winona -- but no. They might be in a situation equally ridiculous or worse, now. Stupid, stupid, stupid --

Her boots filled with water as they were submerged. These were nice boots. I liked these boots. I can't believe this.

The girl was still chained to the island. Esther looked out at the jagged rock, inhaled slowly, and waded further in. Up to her waist in the murky lake, she turned back towards the man and Joakim, steeling herself for the man's conclusion. Whatever it was.

"I'm in the water," she said, gesturing towards it with a tilt of her head. Her hand wavered around her pocket -- or, more specifically, the chrysanthemum in it, which could be utilized in just a moment. Just a moment....

LINCOLN
Aaron turned to glance at Lincoln for a moment before quickly turning back to stare at the ground. He loosen his grip on the tree and wiped a sleeve across his eyes with one hand.

"I need to find my dad and sis. You would really like Jenny, Lincoln. She is so cute, she has these really chubby cheeks. But she cries so easily, she cries at everything." The boy's breath caught and tripped over some of his words as if he was about to start crying himself. "She's scared of the dark. I need to find her to make sure she is ok." The boy said those words, not looking at Lincoln, as if he was saying them to just reassure himself of his own thoughts.

"And my dad. He's so smart. He use to work here in the gardens. But he's been so sad since mom died. I just want to find them so we can be happy again like before." He whispered, sniffled and wiped his nose with his hand before turning around. He ran over to Lincoln like an uneasy doe, all wobbly and awkward, and threw his arms around the man's shoulder in a hug.

Aaron was sobbing softly and catching his breath. But while normally, one might feel heat from the boy's embrace, Lincoln would only be able to feel as if he was being hugged by heavy cold winds. Something not quite solid but not completely non-existence either.
The boy's arms fell right through Lincoln as he took a few steps back and rubbed his face with his shirt.

"They been hiding so well, I can't find them, I can't find them." He said softly. "Please help me find them, Lincoln. Then we can all just go home."

HENG, WINONA
The panther hissed at Heng and seemed to try to ignore the man, snapping at him with warnings every time he came too near.
As it sensed that Heng was not going to simply let it go, the black panther leaped to try to outmaneuver, zagging through the forest path
[roll]+6=???

JOAKIM, ESTHER
The man watched as Esther walked into the water. His gun is still aimed at her but for a moment, his eyes flickered back to Joakim.
“Apprentice, are you familiar with the term ‘invasive species’? It's a species, sometimes an animal, sometimes a plant, that is induced in a foreign environment. However, insteading of dying in a strange place, they thrive. ” He started to Joakim as his eyes glanced back at Esther. His voice was softer, lower, only Joakim would be able to hear him.

“They are quite a nuisance to us as scientists. They end up destroying the native species. I seen things dumped into lakes from catfishes to piranhas. “

He smirked and then raised his voice to call to Esther. “Now you stay in the water, pull out that flower of yours and get out of here. Personal recommendation, you should do it quickly.”

At that word, something rushed past Esther’s leg in the water.

The girl on the rock island stared at Esther with wide, frightened green eyes when she walked into the water. Her and was clasped over her mouth, keeping in words unsaid while tears were streaming down her face.

Joakim's HP
6/18

((Sorry guys, I'm on mobile so no formating! ;v;))

So that was why he stuck around. Lincoln could emphasize, putting a hesitant hand on the boy's back as he 'hugged' him. Some worries never go away.

"Okay," Lincoln replied to Aaron's pleading, mustering a small smile. He straightened up and held his hand out for the boy to take. The area around them was dark, a trampled patch of undergrowth indicating where they had come from. That would lead back to the greenhouse...Lincoln turned instead to the direction Aaron was heading, and pulled his phone out again to use its screen as a flashlight. 

it could lead to the gunman, or wherever the gunshot was, he was certain of it. It could also just lead to wherever Aaron and his sister last remembered being together, the place Aaron clung to. Irregardless, Lincoln lifted his phone to illuminate the path ahead and walked with Aaron to wherever they were headed. He attempted some small talk to alleviate the dim mood they were in, flashing his light here and there. It was a good thing that his phone had been charging all afternoon, he could let it shine till the sun came back at dawn. Occasionally, he'd wander, but the boy would direct him back to where they should go. There were no sounds anywhere apart from that of the nightlife. How big could these gardens be? Lincoln wondered as they trudged past tree upon tree. "What does your dad look like, Aaron?" he asked.

Maybe if he knew his height, he could try looking for silhouttes or a more probable place where the guy would hang out. Maybe Jenny would be with him, as how kids kept to their parents. As Lincoln wondered, waiting for an answer, the trees around them thinned and his light began to shine on clearer ground.

vRHZOjWI_{+6 = 9}

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"You stay here!" Heng growled, taking advantage of the second the Panther wasted leaping to change directions to catch up to it. He swung his weapon around, aiming to bring the panther down as quickly and painlessly as possible. 

For the neck, for the neck. He slid his foot along the ground, widening and lowering his stance, Ji gliding through the air, an extension of the length of his arm as he spun it towards the Panther, the blade leveled with its neck. 

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[Do I roll for STR then? ahahah if I'm doing this wrong plz tell me and I can edit this ahahhhaahah]
+5 = 8 [The ground was wet and he slid a bit further than he thought he would. The blade isn't really going where he thought it'd go either. This was fantastic.]</sub>

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