Joshua Ustrina
Josh instantly flinched as he realized how inappropriate his awkward greeting had been, and under other circumstances would probably have left the room, shortly after stumbling over his own feet. But this time, he pushed his instant regret aside and glanced around, warily searching for those that might also be searching for them. For a moment, it seemed that all was well, until the lantern light approached. He froze for a moment, and almost reached automatically for the flames that he knew would protect him and Lotus, before quickly freezing. He couldn't risk using those powers so close to the witch. That was when he felt her take a grip of is hand as she pulled him, and he realized that he'd stood idle for too long. He gripped her hand, and after a moment of confused hesitation, stepped up beside her. He'd never been the most athletic of people, but adrenaline and fear pumped desperation into his muscles and he soon sprang forwards. His long legs carried him beside Lotus, and after a few moments of running, he was sprinting right alongside her.
Everything suddenly seemed a blur. The trees were little more than a mess of darkness and leafy shadow while the lights of the lanterns seemed divided as if shone through a prism. It was an uncomfortable sensation, and it only made Joshua even more aware of the need to escape. He had no warning when one of their pursuers burst from the foliage to their left, making Josh stumble and almost trip in surprise. He tugged his hand free of Lotus' as he heard a victorious chuckle from the man who now had a hard, cruel grip on his companions' ankle, forcing Joshua to react on instinct. He stepped back and forced fire at the man, who screamed in horror and agony as his skin began to peel from his body.
"Shit, move!" Josh yelled over the dying screams of what had once been a man. He threw himself at Lotus, momentarily bearing them both to the ground in an attempt to push her away from the flames which, though a blessed reassurance to him, would kill her in moments. Lights again swung their way, and Joshua cursed again, before pulling himself up to his feet, and dragging Lotus with him. He paused just a moment to grab a hold of her, and gasp out, "Are you okay?". In that moment, he paused and genuine concern filled his face before the shouts of the guards reached them again. He swore, and then froze as a sound came to his sensitive ears. It was a gentle babbling, trickling, dripping, and unmistakeable. In anticipation of what he knew was to come, he felt himself go pale with dread. The guards were getting closer, but Joshua stopped once more to clasp Lotus' hands.
"That way," He said quickly, nodding behind him and grimacing, "And you gotta trust me, okay?"
Time was up. They were almost upon them, and Josh hesitated no more. He turned and put Lotus in front of him in the direction of the stream. He could hear it, and in hearing it, the details of the water reached him. It wasn't particularly deep, perhaps waist height on himself, but it was cold, and required a small leap from the bank. On the other side, he had no idea what they would find, but Joshua knew that it was there only chance.
"Run!" He shouted and pushed Lotus ahead, not even thinking as they raced the short distance towards their hopeful salvation. At the bank, he stop. He pushed Lotus, hard, and turned his back to the stream before he even heard the splash that heralded her arrival in the water. Joshua turned, just in time to find himself face to face with the panting faces of the guards. He glanced behind him once, trying not to think about the icy water that was calling to him, and turned back, oblivious to their taunts and soothing words.
In a single movement, Joshua flung his hands up, and a wall of flames appeared between him and them, stretching tall and then running along the banks of the stream. It was hot, reassuringly hot, and was fuelled by his intense need. They roared high, bright scarlet and fearless, and he was rewarded with the sounds of surprise and pain from those that he was now safe from. Reluctantly, Josh turned, and bidding the flames stay as they were, leaped into the stream with a heavy splash.
Immediately, the cold hit him. Before even feeling wet, the instant the frigid temperature struck his hot skin the breath was kicked out of him. It felt like hundreds of knives being pressed between his ribs at once, and even though he could feel the pebbled bottom or the stream beneath his feet, Joshua still struck out at the water as though it was an assailant that he could fight off. He coughed and spluttered, and dragged himself towards the other side.
"Lotus? Damn it...Lotus!" He called out through shuddering teeth as he felt his powers fade.
Everything suddenly seemed a blur. The trees were little more than a mess of darkness and leafy shadow while the lights of the lanterns seemed divided as if shone through a prism. It was an uncomfortable sensation, and it only made Joshua even more aware of the need to escape. He had no warning when one of their pursuers burst from the foliage to their left, making Josh stumble and almost trip in surprise. He tugged his hand free of Lotus' as he heard a victorious chuckle from the man who now had a hard, cruel grip on his companions' ankle, forcing Joshua to react on instinct. He stepped back and forced fire at the man, who screamed in horror and agony as his skin began to peel from his body.
"Shit, move!" Josh yelled over the dying screams of what had once been a man. He threw himself at Lotus, momentarily bearing them both to the ground in an attempt to push her away from the flames which, though a blessed reassurance to him, would kill her in moments. Lights again swung their way, and Joshua cursed again, before pulling himself up to his feet, and dragging Lotus with him. He paused just a moment to grab a hold of her, and gasp out, "Are you okay?". In that moment, he paused and genuine concern filled his face before the shouts of the guards reached them again. He swore, and then froze as a sound came to his sensitive ears. It was a gentle babbling, trickling, dripping, and unmistakeable. In anticipation of what he knew was to come, he felt himself go pale with dread. The guards were getting closer, but Joshua stopped once more to clasp Lotus' hands.
"That way," He said quickly, nodding behind him and grimacing, "And you gotta trust me, okay?"
Time was up. They were almost upon them, and Josh hesitated no more. He turned and put Lotus in front of him in the direction of the stream. He could hear it, and in hearing it, the details of the water reached him. It wasn't particularly deep, perhaps waist height on himself, but it was cold, and required a small leap from the bank. On the other side, he had no idea what they would find, but Joshua knew that it was there only chance.
"Run!" He shouted and pushed Lotus ahead, not even thinking as they raced the short distance towards their hopeful salvation. At the bank, he stop. He pushed Lotus, hard, and turned his back to the stream before he even heard the splash that heralded her arrival in the water. Joshua turned, just in time to find himself face to face with the panting faces of the guards. He glanced behind him once, trying not to think about the icy water that was calling to him, and turned back, oblivious to their taunts and soothing words.
In a single movement, Joshua flung his hands up, and a wall of flames appeared between him and them, stretching tall and then running along the banks of the stream. It was hot, reassuringly hot, and was fuelled by his intense need. They roared high, bright scarlet and fearless, and he was rewarded with the sounds of surprise and pain from those that he was now safe from. Reluctantly, Josh turned, and bidding the flames stay as they were, leaped into the stream with a heavy splash.
Immediately, the cold hit him. Before even feeling wet, the instant the frigid temperature struck his hot skin the breath was kicked out of him. It felt like hundreds of knives being pressed between his ribs at once, and even though he could feel the pebbled bottom or the stream beneath his feet, Joshua still struck out at the water as though it was an assailant that he could fight off. He coughed and spluttered, and dragged himself towards the other side.
"Lotus? Damn it...Lotus!" He called out through shuddering teeth as he felt his powers fade.