001. ( accidental voice )

[wolfgirl]

No! I don't want anything to do with any of you! Leave me alone! [ A scuffle can be heard in the background, along with a few almost feral growls from the girl herself. ] What did you do with that damned iron woman? I almost had her! Let go!

[ Someone, presumably a greeter, can be heard in the background trying to explain to her what's happening. Shortly after, their protests, and the swish of a blade through the air. ] Get away!

[ There's a clatter, very loud, as she's restrained and the crystal falls to the ground. The feed fizzles out. ]

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[cursedarrows]

[This is not the conversation that he wanted to have by NV.]

They would have killed you. Even if you had killed Eboshi. Your clan would be avenged, but it wouldn't stop the ironworkers of Tatara Ba.

[wolfgirl]

I could have taken away their leader! They would be directionless! My death would not have been in vain!

[cursedarrows]

[A tiny thread of anger riles up in him before he can stop it. Does she really mean it? Does she really value her own life so little?]

And then who saves your forest when they want revenge? Who protects it and your family when their number is one fewer?

[Damn it. He's on the field now, wrenching open the door to the dugout, prepared for whatever comes on the other side.]

Video Threadjack Private

[that_is_asecret]

Oh my, trouble with your friend there, Mr. Ashitaka?

[Oh hi, little human]

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[cursedarrows]

[Oh, hey, Xelloss. Forgive Ashitaka -- he's a little preoccupied at the moment with ANGRY CHARGING GIRL WITH A KNIFE. He will get back to you as soon as he can. . . . Meanwhile, you may get some lovely emotional-ness out of all of this.]

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[that_is_asecret]

[Its cool, he may be perched somewhere nearby because of it]

[wolfgirl]

My mother and my brothers will find a way! They'll stop them! The Forest Spirit won't let this happen! [ She's so angry now it's like her blood is boiling. Fire.

The sound of a door, a foreign sound to her, gives her cause to whip her head around to find its source. He'll find some greeters, but mostly he'll find her. Knife in hand. And running at him with a loud, feral roar. ]

[cursedarrows]

[This is not far from where they left off. Perhaps because of that, his reaction time is a good deal stronger; within a moment his sword is out -- not to attack, but at least to block as the stone of her knife rings against iron. He grunts softly with the force of it, feet bracing against the ground. She's quick, though; he knows that, and he'll have to be ready at any moment for her next move.]

Mononoke-hime! [He wishes he had another name to call her -- anything that would help break through her almost animalistic rage.]

I'm not your enemy! If you'd just give me a chance to explain . . . !

[From the corners of his eyes he sees the Voids rising from the other dugout, prepared to deal with the small, violent girl.] No! Back -- stay back!

[San is his responsibility; he'll let no one else touch her if he can help it.]

[wolfgirl]

[ She growls and draws back, then lashes forward again, trying to get past his defenses. She doesn't want to listen to him. She wants to get revenge on him for coming between she and Lady Eboshi. ]

No! I won't listen to you! You're just speaking for them! [ But her eyes catch the Voids, as well, and she freezes. Afraid. Fight or flight kicks in, and she tries to assess who is the more dangerous of her foes - these, or the boy from the forest, gone to Tatara Ba. ]

What are they?!

[cursedarrows]

[Probably he should have done it then -- slipped through her defenses as he did in Tatara Ba, driven his elbow into her gut, knocked her unconscious, and taken her away.]

[But that had been a moment when she had been facing him. If he did it to her now, he would be no better than the ones coming towards them both. If he did it to her now, his chances of her forgiving him were next to nothing.]

[Instead he takes the moment of her indecision and plies it for her own good.]

They are soldiers. Those who come here angry are subdued. [His eyes flick back towards her.]

I know you have no reason to trust me. But if you come with me now, I will not let any harm come to you, I swear it.

[The Voids are nearer now. Ashitaka draws an arrow from his quiver, setting it to the string. With the Voids dampening his curse, it will not have the same power, but he is a strong shot, and he does not want to kill them -- just warn. He realizes that by taking this move, he will be leaving himself open to San's blade.]

Please. Come with me.

[wolfgirl]

[ Subdued. Her eyes grow wider, and her instinct to fight becomes instinct for flight instead. They want to attack her. They want to subdue her. She has to choose between whatever these things - these demons - are, and a man she loathes, who helped a woman she loathes even more. Her gaze snaps back and forth, from the Voids to Ashitaka.

He draws his bow and prepares for a shot. For her. He's trying to defend her. ]

Don't waste time, then! Let's go! [ She's terrified now, of whatever these things are, of what they'll do to her. ]

[cursedarrows]

[Relief flickers through his eyes, visible, though he barely glances from his bow. She'll come. Maybe, at long last, they can talk.]

That door I came from . . . Go towards it. I'll follow you.

[The door to the dugout is still slightly ajar. Beyond it, another door left open, leading into the wider world.]

[Softly, just before she goes,] Thank you.

[wolfgirl]

[ She doesn't return his speech; she doesn't even begin to try. She doesn't know how. So she just gives him a knowing look, something more understanding than she's given anyone so far in this place, and she runs.

San is fast. She's seen him, too. He's fast. Probably faster with his elk, though. She wonders what's become of the poor enslaved creature. But her mind doesn't linger on this thought, and her feet pound the earth beneath them as she runs wildly toward the door. Whatever those things are, she has to get away from them. She ducks into the doorway, and immediately feels uncomfortably confined. But her eyes watch for the boy from Tatara Ba. He'll come for her. Right behind her. ]