CD: Hax and Willow RP - Chase in the Woods

<Derekari> A rifle bag hanging from his shoulder, Hax was roaming in the woods next to Circus Darkrai. The red eyes that were hidden behind a pair of sunglasses kept scanning the surroundings. Some might've deemed the sunglasses unnecessary in the shadows the woods casted- but the little sunlight dripping through the leaves was enough to glue the pair on Hax's beak. Besides, once he'd find an opening fitting for his needs, he'd be bathing in that darned light. Sure, sunny weather was ideal for target practice, but the Haxorus would've appreciated at least a few clouds on the sky.

<CreepinOn> As enjoyable as an afternoon out on the town was starting to become, Willow still found herself preferring the company of a good book to a crowd of strangers. The circus grounds were a nice place to wonder but offered little shade in spots she enjoyed sitting, so the woods were a perfect substitute. Having taken up an old quilt and a basket lunch, the Chandelure had gone out and found herself a cozy little spot in a clearing not too far from the grounds. Just enough shade and sun to be an ideal place to not only read, but maybe even nap and enjoy the good weather. So there she sat, resting back on one arm while the other held open the book in her lap, relaxed and at ease with herself.

<Derekari> It took some wandering around, but eventually Hax saw more light ahead, and surely enough, find an opening. He stopped at the edge of it, measuring it from side to side. Surely could've been a few dozen yards longer, but you couldn't have everything, could you? Ah, how he missed good shooting ranges. Good old days in general. When he had live targets to shoot instead of- wait a moment. Was that a flicker of flame he saw? Old instincts kicking in, the Haxorus flattened against the closest tree. Peering over his sunglasses, he could only make the judgement that someone had found his spot before him. On the second thought... it might actually make his day a bit better. A grin creeping on his face, he pulled himself completely behind the tree and silently lowered the rifle bag on the ground.

<CreepinOn> The woman perked her head up when she thought she heard footsteps off in the distance, they were quiet, but distinct. Willow gave her surroundings a quick once over, making sure that she was just imagining things, then returned to her book, shrugging it off. She was just stressed and a little excited, there was no one out here and even if there were they were probably just looking for the stream nearby to fish in. Easing her nerves once again, she turned a page in her book and read for a few more moments before reaching into her basket to pull out half a sandwich. Adjusting her seating, she laid the book on the quilt to read it there while the took a bite of the snack in her hand, letting her arm relax a little ways away as she looked down to read.

<Derekari> Little traces of old, almost forgotten thrill were lingering in the air, and they only made Hax's grin grow wider. With silence he had mastered years ago, he took his trusted sniper rifle from the bag and slid a 5-round clip in. One of the five was just as silently loaded in the chamber and Hax moved beside the tree again, still making sure it covered most of him - and making extra sure none of the sunrays from above shone from the rifle's muzzle. A look through the scope told him a bit more about his new target- seemed to be a Chandelure lady. Rather finely dressed. Having a nice little picnic. Enjoying a sandwich? Ohh, how about no.
A gentle pull of a trigger, and suddenly a loud bang roared through the opening. Through the scope, Hax watched his bullet eat away - well, tear apart - a wide chunk of the woman's sandwich. Sharing is caring, eh?

<CreepinOn> The bang had came from no where, just as the sudden and instantaneous pull of the food in her hand, making her pull away without so much as a sound until she was left supporting herself on her trembling arms. Willow stared blankly at the torn bread and contents as her mind tried to catch up with what had just happened: someone had shot at her. Not by accident, no, she had been around her father far too many times when he had been out in the back target practicing to know that that was just an accident. Slowly, the Chandelure turned her head towards the general area where the shot had fired from, trying to strain her wide, frightened eyes into seeing who had decided she was a good enough target. Unfortunately the slowly increasing trembling in her body was making it hard to focus, so she was a sitting duck.

<Derekari> There was no dulling down the wide - twistedly happy - grin on Hax's face. Now this was what the real fun was. This was what he had been dearly missing. Look at the shock on the poor woman's face! Even from the distance, Hax could see her trembling. Poor dear seemed to otherwise be frozen in the sudden terror. Maybe the Haxorus should be a gentleman and help out a bit? Oh yes indeed.
After a little shift in the aim, another bullet was sent roaring through the air- only this time is tore into the basket next to the Chandelure, the impact flying the poor item over and spilling its contents on the ground.

<CreepinOn> That time, when the bang rang out, Willow gave a sharp shout and scrambled away from the now busted open basket. Her breathing was rapid now as was the fear in her throat, perfectly clear now that she was not welcome in this particular spot so she will be taking her leave now, thank you. Not even bothering to yell or try and investigate who ever was mad enough to shoot at a live, innocent person, Willow pushed herself up and bolted into a run deeper into the woods. She wouldn't dare try bringing someone like that into the circus, she'd have Mr. Dark breathing down her neck for the next month if she did. She'd just needed to get out of there and lose the shooter, stay calm, control your breathing don't panic anymore!

<Derekari> Surely enough, Hax got the lady moving - and what more, got the sounds turned on, too! A little chuckle slipped from the Haxorus' mouth as he watched the woman scramble up on her feet. He could've left it there and let her run away- but why do that? He felt like an addict who had gotten a shot of his drug after a long, long pause. Maybe he was one. He didn't really care. So, he yanked the rifle bag from the ground and broke into a sprint too, setting after the escaped Chandelure. He didn't have a clear visual on her, but it was wasy to pick out the little flickers of her flames in the shadows of the woods. So, he had a direction - and it was enough a cue for a quick shot. Slowing down momentarily, he aimed heavily on the side from where the flames flickered, shot, and sped up again. Keep running, missy!

<CreepinOn> He was following her, oh dear lord he was FOLLOWING-- Willow let another shriek escape when a bullet hit dangerously close to home, making her pick up the pace as soon as she heard the bang. This was insane! Whoever was chasing her was crazy! Or just cruel, but either way this was not how she pictured a relaxing afternoon out! Willow turned a sharp left at a moss covered tree, nearly sliding on the uneven ground but managing to keep herself upright and keep going. She knew she had to lose him fast, she only had so much adrenaline to keep her going, before she would be out of breath and out of luck.

<Derekari> Another shriek, and another chuckle from Hax. He hadn't hit her, had he? Well, he'd find soon enough. He wasn't that used to precise target shooting while running, but you weren't never too old to learn new tricks, were you? So, he kept running, gaze locked on the Chandelure's flames. Who'd guess the little curse he had gotten from Mr. Dark would come handy in such a manner? Soon enough he got a visual on the woman, and raised the rifle up again- only right at that moment she decided to take a sharp turn. A disappointed hiss slipped in the air. To let rest of the frustration out, he flinged a shot at the tree that had blocked his vision and sped up again. He might've not been used for a chase, but it was damn sure that a woman in dress and higheels was not going to outrun him!

<CreepinOn> That next shot was farther back, but held no comfort for Willow. She was still being chased like a Sawsbuck in spring with hardly a sign of the hunter wanting to give it up just because she managed to evade one bullet. Or maybe he was still playing with her, seeing as he could have easily shot her twice before. Not wanting to stick around to find out, the woman kept running, trying her damnedest to keep from fumbling and falling in her heels. At least she wasn't wearing her usual heavy coat and circus wear, but the still flowy summer dress was bound to catch on something soon. Willow's eyes darted about the brown and green surroundings as they whipped by her, desperately looking for a way to evade any other possible bullets that might be coming her way and soon caught a rather large group of trees up ahead. That would do. Grabbing on a little more firmly to her dress, Willow used her last bit of sprint to run head long into the denser flora, turning a sharp right this time but, instead of continuing to run, she slumped down in a nook in the large trunk. She forced her flames to almost extinguish and tried to shallow her rapid breathing, even holding her breath, anything to keep the man off her trail...

<Derekari> Practically swinging himself around the mossy tree, Hax was glad about the talon-like claws on his feet. They gribbed securely even on the flimsy forest ground. He still had to drop some speed momentarily to properly scan the surroundings to find his dear, guiding lights again- and when he did, he pulled the rifle up again and fired at their direction. A little 'you're not losing me' message if you may, before he broke into a full sprint again. He wasn't really sure where the end would chase, or how - but at the moment he just focused on the thrill and excitement pumping through his veins. Just as he thought he was catching up on his target again, she did yet another sharp turn. Hissing again, Hax gripped his rifle tighter, diving under some low hanging branches. When he reached the spot where the Chandelure had dived somewhere, he almost needed to force himself to stop to look around the surroundings. Look for the flames. Only... they weren't anywhere to be seen.
Hissing again, he pulled the sunglasses off his beak and looked around again. It didn't help much- but she couldn't be far, could she? Hiding, maybe? Well, there was a solution for that. The rifle muzzle rose again towards the denser bushes where the woman had disappeared - but this time, when Hax's finger tightened on the trigger, only a faint click dropped in the air. The clip was empty. Of course. Five shots. How could he be so dumb? The earlier hiss evolved into a proper, frustrated growl as the Haxorus pulled out the empty clip and fished in the rifle bag for a new one, flattening himself against the closest tree. Maybe he forgot to count the shots - what an amateur mistake - but he wouldn't forget the rest.
 
<CreepinOn> Willow’s breath was stuck in her throat when heavy footsteps fell only a few feet away from where she was hiding, her eyes squeezing shut for those few slow seconds. He was going to know where she was, just, something would give her away and he’d know and he’d put the barrel of that gun to the back of her head..But it didn’t come. Not yet, at least. The click and frustrated growl told her that he had run out of ammo. This was her chance, her chance to run now and put distance between them, maybe enough to make it back to the circus without him knowing. Breathing out a shaky, low breath, the woman slowly began to shift forwards, crawling out from the bushes and around the trunk of the tree she had used for cover. ’Just a few feet..then get up and run, quickly!’ Willow held still when she had made it around the tree, shifting again to sprinting position and tensing when she thought something had caught. With a shake of her leg, she found it was just her imagination, then bolted, flames bursting back to life as she took off back the way she came. She dared not look back nor travel in a straight line, she wanted a tree between her and the man at all times.

<Derekari> Hax slipped the new, full 5-round clip in place and let out a huff. He felt almost like insulting himself for being so damn stupid. If he had been working instead of having fun, a slip-up like that could've costed him his head. Then again, if this lady had been on his job list, she'd be lying dead on that opening with a half-eaten sandwich in her hand. This had been just a little joyride. Only a- ... was that a little crack he head just now? Slowly, soundlessly, he turned around and listened. Had it been just his imagination, or-?
Just then he though the saw a bright flicker amidst the nearby trees. Running steps distancing themselves. Another flicker, a bit father away. There you are. Wearing a grin again, the Haxorus fired once in the air. Count that as the starting shot he had been unable to fire earlier. Worked for him, still - he set off as well, but took the exact same route he had used earlier. As nice as his tusks were, cutting through dense branches wasn't exactly an alluring - or fast - option. He could keep a little more distance - this was all extra time, now.

<CreepinOn> The Chandelure’s voice found the exit again when the sound of a bang went off near her previous hiding spot, this time as a frightened cry. At least she had distance, at least she had distance. She just needed to keep that distance and not look back, looking back never did any good. But her sudden sprint and lack of a reasonable rest time had taken a toll on her, she was already tired and slowing down. If she could just keep the pace she was at, she’d be at the circus in less than two minutes, she’d be safe-- “AH!” The sudden tug at the back of her dress sent Willow down to the grassy woodland ground below with a thud. Groaning, she shook her head and rubbed it, immediately snapping back to attention after the initial pain had come and gone. Her dress! Whipping around, she saw her dress had not only gotten snagged, but outright torn into by an old rose bush. The amount of thorns and branches that had their hold in it did not look like they were going to want to let go easily. But she didn’t care, she’d run back with the damn thing trailing behind her if it meant she’d live. Sitting up, she began to pull and tug, grunting and eventually whining as the footsteps got closer. “Please, please, please, let go!” She tugged and yanked and only managed to get the thorns and branches even deeper into the fabric, frustrating and further frenzying Willow’s terror stricken mind.

<Derekari> Ah, poor dearie. Her little hiding plan had worked out so fine so far and now she cried out. Tsk-tsk. Hax was not complaining, though. It only made his part easier. He hold onto his bullets for now, though - the little flickers of flame here and there between the trees didn't really offer a good target. In the end, the Haxorus was a sharpshooter, not a blindshooter. He preferred to have at least somewhat clear vision of the target's location. The way the flames appeared here and there between the trees, however, told the Chandelure's movements had turned from linear to less clear. She was probably trying to lose him. Too bad it didn't work out.
Then there was another shocked sound - but since he hadn't fired a shot, what could've caused it? Curious, Hax slowed down slightly, eyeing the surroundings. The glow of the flames was evident on one direction - but there was no movement anymore. Had she stopped? But why?
'Please, please, please, let go!'
Ah, well, that explained it. Guess the dress wasn't really made for running through the woods, after all. Now, how to regard this new situation? There was no need for a kill. Nobody was present to witness it, and without the chaos the fall caused there was very little charm to it. Hm. Oh, but... he could take another route. As silently as the rifle had been removed from its bag, the gun returned to its safe place. The bag, then, was placed underneath some bushes, securely out of view. Lastly, Hax straightened his clothes, wiped off most of the dust and whatnot. Then he broke into a sprint again, this time directly towards the soft glow of the flames.And when he got the Chandelure in his vision- "Dear Arceus, what happened to you?" was his voice shocked enough? Would it sell through? Nonetheless, he rushed next to the woman. "I heard your screams- are you okay, miss?"

<CreepinOn> It was useless, she’d need to be slower and work her way around the thorns in order to get herself free at this point. Or just burn the bush, but that would take too long, she needed out then and there. Willow was too scared to even hear the footsteps coming closer to her, too focused on trying to free herself to really pay attention until the concerned voice was right next to her. Needless to say, she shrieked and scrambled back immediately thinking that it was the hunter who had come. “Please! Please I didn’t do anything don’t shoot, please!” The Chandelure’s eyes were wide and frightened and the tall, bright flames of her tails and head reflected that. She pulled her knees up close and away from the man, keeping her eyes on him and all but hyperventilating from fear, the running and her own adrenaline.

<Derekari> "Whoa whoa whoa! Easy, easy!" Hax raised his hands in the air, palms toward the woman. Both were empty. "Shoot you? I don't even have a gun!" Well, technically, he still had it - only it wasn't in his hands at the moment. Shh. Nonetheless, he hold the posture for a moment, examining the shaken woman in front of her. To get such a close-up on the effects of his shots was a rare, rare treat. This lady had clearly taken the panic to the mask. "I'm not here to hurt you, miss" he added after a moment of silence, voice soft, almost velvety. Slowly, he lowered his hands. "I heard you scream-," he repeated, slower, calmer. "What happened, miss?" As if he didn't know, ha.

<CreepinOn> Willow’s breathing may have began to calm, but the trembles and shakes were still prominent as the man tried to explain that he wasn’t going to shoot her point blank. Slowly, she began to come down from her fear-induced frenzy, uncurling herself from her little ball one shaky movement at a time. By the time he had asked her what had happened, she was leaning back against the tree behind her, still trembling like a leaf and biting her lip to keep herself from crying. After a few shaky breaths and a hiccup, she managed to speak, “I-I was just i-in a clearing, w-when a man shot at me!” Her arms came up to cross over her chest in a sort of self hug, trembles getting worse, “I-I tried to run but he came after me! He chased me all the way into a group of trees b-before he ran out of bullets and I managed to escape!” Even if she had made it past that point, the memories came back instantly and it only sent her into a full body shutter, “He had been chasing me before I fell, s-so he’s still out there! Please, please you have to help me, my dress is stuck and he might be close by! I don’t want him shooting the both of us!” She shuffled forwards to try tugging at her dress again, eyes still wide with fear and looking up and around every other second to see if the hunter was drawing near.

<Derekari> It was becoming quite difficult for Hax to keep a grin off his face - but fortunately the Chandelure's frightened explanation allowed to hide it underneath a frown. "A man shot at you?" he repeated, taking a quick glance around. A reaction he had seen many people do after he had delivered a killing shot. Where had it come from? Who had it been? Where is he? Unsurprisingly, he saw nothing, so he returned his eyes on the lady. There was something really fascinating in the way the panic and terror worked themselves through her whole being. The shaking, the frightened looks, the frigid movements. it was almost like some kind of a show. And he had the VIP seat. "Ah, right! Sure!" he mimicked the haste in his voice and moved beside the rose bush that had taken the woman's dress hem as a prisoner. So that was what had stopped her, hm? Talk about bad luck. "Let me just-," he took a firm grip from the canvas and the bush, and one piece at a time began tearing them apart. The hem would look horrible afterwards, but it wasn't like he cared- and he was fairly sure that the lady didn't mind, either. "There we go!" he eventually exclaimed, ripping the last part free. Moving next to the Chandelure, he offered her his hand. "Up you go, miss!"

<CreepinOn> Moving back to let the man get at the bush that held her prisoner, Willow’s eyes frantically scanned the open area above the rose bush. The man was still out there, most likely waiting for them to come up just to have the both of them shot in one go. God forbid this man ever meet Mr. Dark, who knows what kind of twisted wish he’d make! And to have him in the circus? It was enough to make the woman tremble again and renew the urge to run in her system. Her eyes ceased their frantic scanning when the Haxorous gave the all clear to her, blinking her eyes in a moment of confusion at the hand she was offered, but took it graciously once it clicked in her head. “Thank you, thank you so very much, sir--” She stood on shaky legs, but stood none the less. Unfortunately, she was so terrified of every little snap of a twig, she jolted the moment she heard one off in the distance. She clung to the man’s arm like a frightened child, holding it tightly like it was a life-line and staring out into the distance like a deer in headlights.

<Derekari> Wonder if Hax had ever heard such sincere words of gratitude before. Probably not. Some people had thanked him for a job well done, but it had never hold such... ardor. Oh, how funny life was at times, don't you think? "Don't mention it, miss-" the Haxorus started to regard the woman's gratitude, but then she decided to clasp on his arm. Well, that he hadn't planned to happen. Instinctively, he pulled back slightly, but the grip was tight as a vice. Not good. Not good at all. Close-up was one thing, but this was getting a bit too close. He wanted his arm back. "Miss," he tried to squirm his hand free with no avail. "We need to move."

<CreepinOn> Snapping out of it once again, Willow looked back at the obviously uncomfortable man, wondering for a moment what he was talking about when the words sunk in a little deeper. She looked back down and released with a little flicker of her flames, “Oh! F-forgive me, I’m just..just a little shaken, that’s all..” The Chandelure was beginning to shake again, wanting to leave now more than ever. Glancing back at the man, she nodded to him, “Let’s go then.” Not wanting to dwandle any longer, she started ahead, assuming that he would be guarding the rear as she went on ahead to get out of trouble.

<Derekari> Thank Arceus the horrid grip from his arm was released. Hax felt like shaking his arm around a bit, but fought against the urge. "It's... understandable," he commented a bit breathlessly. Note to self: next time let the lady in distress get back up on her own. "I'll be right behind you," he assured the Chandelure. "I just need to grasp my... bag. I left it on the side when I heard you." There was no damn way he'd leave his trusted rifle lying in the woods unguarded. A few swift strides and he was at the bushes under which he had hidden his rifle bag. He pulled the bag back up and threw it over his shoulder, setting off to catch up with the woman. Would she recognize the bag? He deemed it unprobable, but you never knew. Could be an interesting reaction to see.

<CreepinOn> Willow had given the man a glance over her shoulder when he informed her he’d be going back for his bag. She really hadn’t been paying much attention by it anyway, she just knew he’d be later on behind her. It wasn’t exactly comforting but if anything, the man would be enough to ward off the hunter if he was still back there in hiding. As selfish as that sounded, the Chandelure was a little out of her right mind at the moment, and simply focused on getting back to the safety of the circus. She hadn’t gotten very far when the Haxorus caught up with her, but she did take note when he came up to join her. It was kind of him to follow, but it made her wonder why. If he had a bag, certainly that would mean he would have been doing something prior to coming to her rescue. But, he could just be making sure nothing happened to her, however. That was always the possibility. Still, something in the back of her mind told her..something wasn’t right. So, she chanced a glance at the dragon type, her eyes catching the shape of the bag slung over his shoulder, and immediately stopped dead in her tracks. She knew that shape. Her father had many a bag like it, maybe a little longer, but the same all in all. That was a bag made for carrying guns, particularly rifles. Willow’s eyes stayed fixed on the bag, and slowly inched their way back up to the man’s face, in horror she realized that her savior and pursuer were one in the same. “Y-you..” she whispered, more a question than a statement,”you shot at me..you chased me..but, saved me..why..?”

<Derekari> At first it seemed like the lady didn't recognize the bag hun over Hax's shoulder. Was it a good thing, or a bad thing- he couldn't really decide. Sure, the walk back to circus would go smoother this way, but there was no denying it was damn boring. He was an assassin - well, had been one - not a safeguard.
But then the lady froze in place. Hax, not really paying that much attention to her anymore, had time to take a few more steps before he noticed she wasn't next to him anymore. When he glanced backwards to see if she had fainted or something - it wouldn't really have surprised him - he found her staring at his rifle bag. Well, well. Did she recognize it, after all? Curious about the outcome, Hax let the Chandelure process the situation in undisturbed silence. How would she react? Maybe she'd lash out? Run away again? Scream? When she eventually posed her feeble question, it brought an amused, shameless grin on the Haxorus' face. Ah, of couse. The missy wanted to know why.
"Shooting a wounded animal isn't much of a sport," he commented, as if stating an everyday fact. To him, it almost was one. Almost, because he hadn't really faced that many similar situations before. Shame, really - the chase had been surprisingly fun.

<CreepinOn> That grin. That grin was strikingly similar to the one she had been given over 30 years ago when she realized she had sold her soul to a demon. It was wicked, but natural, amused and sadistic; and it stirred something within her that had been buried for years. Willow stood motionless after the Haxorus had given his blunt reason behind letting her go, unable to really think of how to react properly, if at all. She just started talking in the same dazed whisper as before, “So..you’re finished..?The game is over?” She knew she should probably try to run, but her legs wouldn’t work and neither would anything but her mouth, strange how fear could paralyze.

<Derekari> Hax could only chuckle at the short, shocked silence following his reply. It was funny how honesty was generally valued, but at times it seemed to work like that Skitty who got your tongue. For some reason it seemed to happen often when Hax was being honest. Go figure.
"Well, since you asked-," he began to reply to the Chandelure's question, taking a few steps closer. Oh, the game was far from over- in fact, it was still going on. Poor dear didn't seem to realize it. "I wouldn't mind a second round," Hax finished, voice a bit above a whisper. "I still have bullets left." In all honesty, Circus Darkrai's gates were a bit too close for safe shooting. Fun or not, getting on the dark ringmaster's bad side wasn't part of the game plan- but it wasn't something that the lady needed to know, was it?

<CreepinOn> She should have been taking steps back, she should have started running the moment he had began to get closer. But she didn’t. Her mind was too numb and her body too tired from its exertion to do much more than keep her upright and still. She barely moved even when he came to whisper that he wouldn’t mind a second round, in fact she just shifted to look up at him. In her daze and momentary relapse of survival, she considered letting this man kill her so that she could be free. No more nightmares, no more suffering, and she would only be feel selfish for a moment before everything would be at peace. He could be her ticket out of here without Mr. Dark even being aware of her escape until it was too late, along with everyone else. Including her friends. In that instant, Willow snapped back into the present, blinking rapidly to get her bearings and remember what was happening. The game was still on, and she wasn’t even out of the woods yet. Fear returning to her eyes, the Chandelure began to back up and away from the dragon type, eventually bumping into a tree and finding that she had no real place to run or hide without running the risk of being at least wounded. She needed a distraction, something to stall him so that she could escape again. She racked her head for an idea, and only one really came to her; she had one shot. She waited, she waited for when the other had gotten close enough to be in the right range, holding her breath and tensing like she was about to bolt..then burst into bright, flickering flames; Flame Body.

<Derekari> Staring right back at the woman's eyes, Hax keenly inspected the little shifts in the Chandelure's demeanor. For a passing moment, she didn't seem to be so scared anymore. More like... blank. Lights on, nobody home. Wonder what was going through her head? Before Hax could lay any guesses, the moment passed, and he was facing a terrified lady once more. When she began backing away, Hax simply followed him in an even pace. Step by step. He wasn's so sure where exactly he wanted to take this in the end, but maybe it'd dawn on him. For now, he'd just keep pushing buttons and see what happen-
Suddenly there were flames. Hissing aggressively, the Haxorus recoiled from the burning Chandelure, shielding his face with his arms. Maybe he should've been on the lookout for a possible stunt like that - but at the moment he was mostly focused on how damn similar the moment was to that explosion years ago. The marks of that explosion were still left on his body.

<CreepinOn> The flash of light only lasted a few seconds, but they were not wasted once they had dissipated. Willow was bolting as soon as the bulk of the flames had died down, sprinting off towards the circus gates still holding a few burning embers on her dress. She ran until she passed through the gates, only slowing to look back for a moment to see if he had caught up with her. Panic and fear were rising in her throat again, threatening to spill out in a scream if she caught sight of his red eyes approaching. She didn’t linger long. The Chandelure was running again, pushing through a tent and out into the Midway to cut across and find the game booths. She had only one person on her mind that she knew she’d be safe with, or at least feel safe with.

<Derekari> When the immidiate heatwave from the flames passed, Hax lowered his hands to find out the Chandelure had disappeared. Another hiss slipped in the air when the Haxorus quickly looked around to see wherever the woman had run off to. No flames admist the woods, so- ah, there she was. Running towards the circus gates. Safety from the company of others, hm? Sadly, it did work for the lady's favor. Hax wasn't up to chasing her through the circus' grounds - even without firing a single bullet, that'd cause unneeded havoc. Not to mention it'd pull unwanted attention on him. Sigh. It seemed his fun was cut short after all. Well, it had been entertaining as long as it had lasted.
Nonetheless, he did set off to the same direction - he had a game booth to return to, after all. Maybe he'd see her again later on. Get a chance to tell her a bit about fire safety.