It's the piercing crack of a gunshot through the night air that drags Encke out of his reverie and back into the present, with his cramping legs and splinter-dotted hands. The rounds sounded as if they were coming from behind him and to his left, and definitely not too far away. He whirled around, seemingly without thought, and began slipping down branch by branch, as quickly and quietly as his bare feet would allow. His mind, on the other hand, was racing, and not entirely with fear. He wasn't sure with how to deal with the villains, but with a shooter? With someone who was almost definitely connected with whatever was going on? That he could most definitely manage.
Encke's finally reached the last bough of the tree, and he couldn't help his lips twitching into a smile as he dropped straight into an ankle-deep puddle on the ground with a small splash. It had rained recently, and the ground was littered with small pools that glittered brightly in the moonlight. He could feel each and every one, simply there and present in his mind. It would have been quite peaceful, if not for the screaming girl stuck in the tree. Encke glanced back in the direction of her voice, considering for half a second to go help her, but deciding that his abilities served a better purpose in tracking the gunman.
He peered around the thick trunk of the tree he was crouched behind, looking for the silvery glint of a barrel in the darkness. Discerning nothing, he carried himself with silent footsteps to a tree a little further back, hoping to maybe get a better view from behind whoever had fired the shots. It briefly crossed his mind that anyone from the little reconnaissance party who found him would have a hard time judging him friend or enemy, but he pushed the thought out of his head and hunkered down behind the new tree, which was a great deal skinnier than the last. He would deal with them if the time came.
Encke's finally reached the last bough of the tree, and he couldn't help his lips twitching into a smile as he dropped straight into an ankle-deep puddle on the ground with a small splash. It had rained recently, and the ground was littered with small pools that glittered brightly in the moonlight. He could feel each and every one, simply there and present in his mind. It would have been quite peaceful, if not for the screaming girl stuck in the tree. Encke glanced back in the direction of her voice, considering for half a second to go help her, but deciding that his abilities served a better purpose in tracking the gunman.
He peered around the thick trunk of the tree he was crouched behind, looking for the silvery glint of a barrel in the darkness. Discerning nothing, he carried himself with silent footsteps to a tree a little further back, hoping to maybe get a better view from behind whoever had fired the shots. It briefly crossed his mind that anyone from the little reconnaissance party who found him would have a hard time judging him friend or enemy, but he pushed the thought out of his head and hunkered down behind the new tree, which was a great deal skinnier than the last. He would deal with them if the time came.