Scene #5753: Den Mother

Owner	Pose
Carna	==Escher== Some barrier has cut off Emblem City from outside intrusions. Or at least from the two entry points forced open by the rescuers. Work is underway to make the 'front gate' accessible, but that involved purifying tons of primordial Corruption from the door. And that is slow in progressing. Enark, of the Blue Scholars, is testing something at the moment, and has asked Nozomi Houken to come by in case it works. There will be only a small window of opportunity to get in, track down Tamamo, and try to bring her back. This one-at-at-time rescue is inefficient, and risky, but less likely to draw attention, and thus less likely to result in hostile interruptions. As long as stealth is maintained at least... So now, standing outside a study in an infinite library tower, the mage has set up various wards around the door, and is prepared to try to establish a second line of them just inside. If that works, he can repeat the process, over and over, until he has forged the hideous black reality-warping sludge back into the doorway it came through... But for now, just gaining access to the local equivalent of a 'bonfire' or 'natural warp gate' will be enough to make a brief incursion to save the last of the missing. After that, all that will be left is Carna and Crow. Enark is kneeling as he examines the chalk marks on the floor. Various glyphs and sigils vaguely Greek in design, with a very fluid feel to their scrawl. Getting here wasn't easy withou using the Shrines of Light to just teleport, but with Kushiko's gate-making, snapping open a portal from the subway tunnels beneath Lumiere, where reality is weaker, to any other place, is relatively painless. Even if Enark isn't sure about the consequences yet of punching holes in an already-unstable space-time region. Sigh. Something to worry about later. For now... Enark looks up at the closed doors before him, filth and pollution of the soul trying to slip out of the cracks. For now, he has to make sure Nozomi can get Caster's anchor to her, so that they both can come home. As soon as Nozomi is here and ready, Enark says, "It's time to begin." Then he opens the doors, and faces the wall of corrosive ooze that he is going to have to 'tunnel through' with healing rain to create a path for just one person.
Carna	==Emblem City== Much has changed about Emblem City in a very short time frame, compared to the eternity it has existed for. First invaders that corrupted and abducted noble souls, and then the refitting and adjustments to Emblem City conducted by Coeus, one of the gods of this realm, replacing the paradise-city with an endless monolithic expanse of blocky late-20th century buildings, and then the sun losing its blue hue, and now, it seems... The sun going out completely. In the sky, night has fallen for the first time in any soul's memory. Usually they are in their homes and awaiting 'reset' when all is dark. The sky is full of stars, and there's even a Moon. Stars and Moon, here in the afterlife? One of the more pleasant changes compared to everything else. While the Temple of Phoebe is the largest religious structure, there are various other establishments in Little Arcadia, the district that was once there to entertain the souls of the dead in any way they could imagine. That includes worship of their deities that do not match with the three gods of Emblem, Phoebe, Coeus, and Prometheus. And yet it was one of those damge gods, Coeus, that had all the souls that would not be fighting the invaders gather here, away from the battle to come, and asked Maej Cits, a beloved figure to whom they looked for comfort, guidance, courage, and hope, to look after them until everything was settled. Coeus was absolutely adamant that he didn't want to lose anyone else, and that he was trusting Maej to keep everyone safe. So now, all the many, many souls of the dead, removed from the battle ground that Emblem has become, are gathered in a newly-established underground shelter that was added by Coeus during the re-making of the city. Men and women, young and old, and especially all the orphaned children who, when they died, did not have families to reunite with. Here they sit, in minimal lighting, most of the power being gathered to protect them. The PRAYER System, a soul-modification system that grants the dead super powers and the ability to change their appearance to look like whatever they wish it to, has had its functions suspended except for a handful of people. Maej is one of those who received a drop of Coeus' divine blood upon her brow, and is so is exempted from said restriction. She is the only one among them with special powers right now, and so great ability has been bestowed upon her. It's up to her to keep them safe as others go off to fight. One child, a little, looks around for Maej until she finds her, and then runs up to ask, "Is everything going to be okay, Miss Maej?" She is one of the orphans whom Maej has protected for all these... Years? Decades? Longer? She looks to the holy protector as more than just a caretaker, but as if Maej were her own mother. And she is not the only one.
Nozomi Houken	Poor Nozomi is looking more mousy than ever; her habitual wariness of the Concord and focus on her own world's issues has resulted in 'complete and utter bewilderment at who all these people are'. The fact that none of her usual 'safe people' are around has just made it all the worse. It's frankly a miracle that she's shown up at all... or, perhaps not so much, to those who know her; the health and wellbeing of someone she cares about is on the line, and Nozomi Houken has displayed a marked tendency to cast aside any and all concern about her own safety for people she counts as a friend. So there Nozomi is, approaching with Taiga at her side, hands folded demurely in front of herself. The magical sigils are a complete mystery to her; Taiga can probably analyze them, determine their function, but she has no clue. When Enark calls them to begin, she can only nod faintly. The robotiger at her side, however, speaks. "Once we are inside, I will take Nozomi on my back. I can move quickly, even bearing her. I am also extensively familiar with Servant Caster's magical signature; even if the world is awash with magic, I believe I will be able to locate her."
Tamamo no Mae	Maej's ears twitch, those fox-like fluffs upon her head twitching around, scanning the area as if to try and hear everything and nothing at once. It was her job, her duty... her divine commandment to protect those who could not be protected, who could not fight... as such, she's taken on this form of a tailed 'beastman' type woman, something to bring comfort to those who are looking for her protection... or even just her words of encouragement and care. So many orphans she had to take care of as others fought for their protection... and those who've gotten taken. When one child runs up to her, the robed woman looks down, giving a light smile to her. She kneels down, pulling the little girl into her embrace, "Oh my dear child, everything will be just fine. We're protected here under the Temple." her voice is soft, soothing, filled with a god-like calm... at least, she thinks it is... She rubs the child's hair gently, leaning in to give a soft little peck on the forehead. "I promise, I've looked after everyone here for so long, I will make sure that we all will be protected and taken care of." Maej moves to stand up, a smile upon her face. "Now young one, go play, give the other children the same comfort I bestow upon you." a smile is given once more as she moves to usher the child to the rest of the group. "Mmm, I wonder how long we'll be down here." she mutters to herself. Her tail twitches... "When they come back, I'll give them the care they need."
Carna	==Escher== Enark grits out, "I recommend avoiding any engagements if at all possible." Water has begun to appear in the air and flow inwards like tendrils try to pierce and pull apart the barrier of Corruption. He has to push hard, to repeatedly recast his Murmurs as the water become warped and polluted. He's going to be burning through the magic energy he has and then some just to make an entrance. From there... He'll just have to hope the wards hold after they're placed. He isn't going to have anything left otherwise. The Corruption is thick. It bends space-time, warps reality. The tunnel that is gradually forming as Enark pushes his way through into the entry way, and a small shrine in the center of the circlar entry area that glows with a faded, distorted light, feels terribly Wrong and unnatural. Not the tunnel itself, but everything that borders it. Everything that ha been tainted by Corruption's touch. Faces form in the gibbering, whispering walls, but the mage does nost stop his efforts until he has opened up enough of a tunnel to take a step beyond his wards. And then another. And another, until he is fully within his study's entry way. He stomps one foot down twice, and the glyphs he scribed previously are reflected in a sheet of water that then flows forwards, and sinks into the ground just ahead of him. Second line established. He collapses to the floor, sitting and resting for the moment as he wipes blood from his nose and mouth. "From here, I will have to try to use the Shrine. I can not make it to the door on my own energy supply." The study ahead is so flooded, detached faces forming and melting in the wall of black, that is is unlikely anyone would want to try to push through that if they have an alternate path. "One moment, and I will try to replicate what Sir Staren did with the Warp Gate to get us inside last time." He begins inscribing more runes, using his blood this time instead of chalk, in a circle around the Shrine. When he is done, he looks to Nozomi and Taiga. "When you go through, you are likely to find yourself in an enormous city. I have no map of it, and it appears prone to reconfiguration, so I do not know that it would be useful regardless. There are beings with superhuman abilities who can manifest energy weapons as well. It is better to retreat and try again than to fight them. If you are fighting them, it means you were discovered, and extracting Lady Tamamo no Mae would be exponentially more difficult with them on your trail." "When you are ready, just touch the Shrine. I will keep a watch on the Corruption." He glances at the hideous faces and then away. "Figuratively speaking."
Carna	The girl smiles, soothed at Maej's reassurances. "Okay. I believe in you! You've never abandoned us or lied to us after all! Not like those other adults from before." 'From before' referring to 'when she was alive'. A boy with dark skin and white hair comes over when Maej suggests the girl go play. "Lacey, come on. We have to be brave for the others. Let Miss Maej do her duty!" He has his hands propped on his hips. "The Gargoyle Knights will take care of any trouble that crops up, Miss Maej. Don't worry!" The girl, Lacey, with a similar appearance to the boy, puffs out her cheeks. "This isn't the time to play knights, Rasiel. There's scary stuff going on!" Rasiel waves it off. "All the more reason to be brave! Besides, I'm not playing! But if you don't want to be a member of the Gargoyle Knights, then I guess you're out!" Then he starts to go running off. Lacey, in a panic, runs after him. "Rasiel wait--!" The ground heaves violently, causing Lacey to slam face-first into it, forcefully. If she were not already dead, that kind of impact might have seriously injured her or even killed her. As it is, she is simply too surprised and scared to do anything immediately other than lie there. Others who were on their feet, Rasiel as well, find themselves hurled through the air or to the ground. It's like a huge pair of hands just gripped all of Emblem and then shook it -- but only once. Panicked cries start to fill the huge cavernous space. The flat, hard floor, the undecorated walls, the small balls of light hovering near the ceiling, the lack of the majesty of Emblem City that has been present all this time, adds an almost tomb-like impression, that is further impressed upon those hiding here as further tremors, the sound of distant explosions, and rumbling overhead, all vibrate through the walls. The light balls flicker off and on, as even the small amount of energy put into powering them is strained. The cataclysmic noises go on for many long minutes. When the lights go out completely, a minute in darknedd probably feels like an hour. Eventually, however, everything ceases. The lights don't come back on, but there's no more sound from outside. Is it all over? Until they receive word from Coeus... They can't be sure. But maybe all they can do for now... Is to wait for rescue. Either way, they won't see the sun dying. The walls that have erupted up to block off Emblem City from the outside. The destruction left in the city from a minotaur of some kind charging through. The night sky, the stars, the moon... And the pin point of light that will fracture the air in moments, and allow more intruders from the outside to arrive.
Nozomi Houken	Just watching that first push is painful for Nozomi; she huddles closer to Taiga even before the faces begin showing themselves. Something about all that just feels, sounds, /looks/ wrong. "Nozomi," the TIGER unit rumbles softly. "On my back. And stay as close as you can." She nods faintly, sliding onto what's become a very familiar seat for her, and hunkering down. She very nearly dismounts again, though, when she sees Enark's blood. "A-ah, you're... that's... are you alright?!" Her traditional shyness melts away in light of her concern, and she sits up- only to have her mount's deep voice still her. "Nozomi. We do not have much time. Enark knows what he is doing." There's a last glance of worry, but then she nods. "...alright. Let's... let's go, then." Forward the TIGER walks, and Nozomi reaches out past his nose towards the shrine. As her fingers move towards it, though, she murmurs something, quietly, intended only for her companion's ears. "...we don't... try not to be found, but... if they do find us... I'm not letting anything stop me. We're bringing her back." In other words, nothing is off the table. Even their final trump card.
Tamamo no Mae	"That's right, I haven't abandoned you or lied. Maej will be here to protect you all, always." Maej gives another smile as Rasiel calls out for Lacey. "Ah, youth." she whispers, "Now now, don't tease her, Rasiel. Your bravery is infectious, we need more like you." she comments, only to kick off as Lacey falls... and the ground heaves, sending the fox-like person into the air, "Everyone! Stay calm!" she shouts as her world gets flipped around. All the cries filling the area, the rumbling and explosions... the noises she wish didn't happen... They finally subside with a darkened room. Pitch black in the room... there's silence. Eerie... silence. "Everyone? Are you all alright? Maej is still here for you, let me know if you're injured, I will take care of you." there's a small pause... then a soft little whisper from the 'fox' before a pair of small balls, firey in nature, show up to light the room. It's a dim light, but any light is better than none. With even a moments light restored, Maej looks around, something didn't feel right, but it wasn't her place to go out. "There hasn't been any word from Coeus. Let's all wait here, if they show up.. they'll let us know it's safe to go out. Maybe they've finally repelled the intruders."
Carna	"I use the element of Water. I will recover, and in the meanwhile, my blood will enhance my magic. Thank you for your concern, but as Sir Taiga says, your first concern right now must be getting Lady Tamamo back." He doesn't know what trump cards or methods that Nozomi may have available. Their interactions were sparse in the Union, so he knows little of the capabilities of either or her companion. But he has little choice but to trust that they know what they're doing. When the two of them touch the Shrine, an image floats to mind, among many others. Like a picture-in-picture view, various destinations are magically presented. But the one that stands out vividly from the others, surrounded by blood-red glyphs, is the one they want. And going there is as simple as willing it. The transition is jarring, if painless, and deposits them both on a platform overlooking a huge area like every amusement park and carnival and shopping mall and ancient arena and resort and so on all jammed together in one place. Nothing is lit or active, and the only light comes from the stars and moon overhead. Off behind them is a broad street lined on either side by identical blocky buildings, continuing on into forever. But it is from ahead, somewhere down there among all the amusements and entertainments for the dead, that Tamamo can be felt.
Carna	People respond affirmatively all around that they are okay. At least physically. It's pretty hard to actually hurt a soul, even without the enhancements of the PRAYER System that everyone is used to. Rasiel gathers together all the kids he can in the light that Tamamo provides, and then looks around at everyone. He seems to realize that Tamamo is responsible for soothing everyone, and says, "I can take some of my Knights and go above to see what's going on. We can look out the church windows, so that way no one spots us outside." Lacey hisses at him, "Rasiel, no! We have to stay put!" While the children bicker, that feeling of something being off may strengthen upon the arrival of the intruders. There's a sort of... Pull. A tugging upon her. Almost magnetic, but felt in her soul. Like there's something trying to draw her away from those she was entrusted to protect. Is this that corrupting influence that claimed other souls? That turned one of Phoebe's followers, a little girl named Soupi who always had a smile and a tasty dish for people, into some sort of cybernetic horror? Even for those who didn't see it first hand, the rumors had spread after the fact. A fact made evident by the exchange between the kids. "Lacey, liste to Rasiel. We can't just stay here and do nothin'!" another boy says, a bit taller and older than the others. "I'm not 'bout to be trapped down here like rats!" Lacey puffs out her cheeks more, reddened with frustration. "Come on, Lacey. Aren't you supposed to be Lasyra, the mighty? MIss Maej is busy taking care of people. We have to do our part--" Lacey starts bawling suddenly. The crying is shocking to the boys who awkwardly fret, unsure what to do. "I... I don't want you to... hic To get taken like my friend Souuuupiiiii!" she cries.
Nozomi Houken	Even if Nozomi doesn't quite understand what's happening, she doesn't really need to. Instinct is more than enough. That's where she wants to go. That's where she needs to be. And willing it makes it so. When both of them arrive, Taiga immediately lowers into a crouch. Utterly silent, even the various yellow circles of light along his body dim. When he 'speaks' at all, it is a very low-power, soft transmission directly to Nozomi's personal radio. "I don't know why the lights are out. But it is favorable. Hold on tightly." With Nozomi on his back, the robotic predator can't exactly make his top speed. His leaps have to be shorter, lower, more cautious, if he wants his landings to be silent. Stealth is paramount. But even with those restrictions, going from roof to roof - from the top of one tent to the next, from the roof of a funhouse to the roof of a mall - will allow him to make pretty good time through the darkness. And his sensors have already picked up a very familiar signature. As they go, Nozomi silently draws one hand up to her coat. To a side pocket. Where she can feel a very familiar little ring through the jacket's fabric.
Tamamo no Mae	"No, Rasiel. I appreicate what you do but I can't have you go topside." there's a pause from Maej. She looks at all the kids and adults around... there's a frown. "I'm responsible for you all, I would hate myself forever and a day if something was to happen to you. Please, trust me on this. When you're older, you can take my place to protect, for now, let me protect you all." she gives a confident smile, even if deep down something's tugging at her soul... something strange. She looks between everyone, listening to the fustration, the anguish from the kids, "Enough!" she commands, "We're not going to be trapped by rats, and no other kid is going to be taken by the evil that is coming to us!" she moves to give Lacey a few shoulder pats... "Be brave, Lacey. One day, you'll be protecting everyone too." There's that tug upon her soul again... and her ears perk. "Lacey, Rasiel. I'm going to entrust a very important job to you two. Stay here, watch them, I'll keep these light orbs here for you all to warm yourselves and keep it lit." There's a pause, "Rasiel had a good idea though, I'm going to go take a peek, see what's going on. Stay here, do not come up." she gives a brief smile, giving Rasiel and Lacey a pat upon the head, "I will come back, I promise. No meanies will take the mighty Maej Cits! I promise this on my fluffy tail!" With this, she picks herself up and approaches the stairs going up. Just a peek... a brief motion to look out the church windows, to see what's going on, then provide an update to the children and those she's sworn to protect... and to see what is tugging upon her soul, guiding her up there...
Carna	The adults take a little bit of charge after this display from the children. If kids can be brave, so can they. And it's their actual role as adults to protect them. Nice of them to decide this now after necessitating a number of these kids having to be place in Maej's care due to not enough families to take them in. But better late than never. Maej's long ascent through a winding stairwell that leads up and up and up to the church that serves as one of the entrances to the undeground shelter is accompanied by the increasing sensation of that thing that pulls at her coming closer and closer. The large church, with all its religious iconography, seems as though it could easily accomodate several thousand people in its main worship area alone. It is more a huge cathedral than a church, by living-world standards. But things must be big to accommodate the many dead souls that linger here in Emblem City, enjoying their time while waiting for a chance to be reborn. So there are also many marvelous artistic displays in and around the windows, on all the various floors of the buildings. But up close, the designs fall apart into individual panes of colored glass, and looking out through them becomes far more manageable. Something is coming... But what? Meanwhile, overhead, a deep-blue-colored figure, roughly humanoid but not human, watches Nozomi's progress with empty black sockets, a pair of points on its head like horns or ears giving it a devilish or animalistic look. It just smiles a big, empty-mouthed smile. If Taiga detects its presence, it is already gone by the time anyone actually looks at it. No attack yet... But they're not alone.
Nozomi Houken	Taiga's movements never falter. He does not slow, he does not move to cover, he does not react at all. But only because reacting would betray awareness. And the only element of surprise he may have left is 'it doesn't know I know it's there'. But as they dart and move, the magitech predator transmits another brief message to Nozomi. "I believe something is aware of our presence. Be prepared for combat at any moment." The girl doesn't make any movements to acknowledge; speaking is something she'd rather not do at the moment, and Taiga wouldn't be able to see her nod. But she doesn't really have to. He knows her well enough to know she heard, and that she's ready. Which is good. It can't be too much further now. He's not going to jump down onto the street until they're right at their destination, but that moment is approaching.
Tamamo no Mae	Maej clutches at her chest a bit, the pull... that sensation tight and summoning... She shakes her head a bit, this is for the children, for the adults, for the families yet to be and current. She is Maej Cits, the protector of this church and those who live in here currently. She admires the church decorations some... nodding, how they put her at ease, but the pull is still there. "Mmm, now let's see." she whispers to only the dust inside the room. She moves towards the windows, taking a peek outside through any holes or clear panes of the glass. She had to see what's going on, for the children, for the adults... for the City...
Carna	From mall to gladiatorial arena to hot springs to brothel to sports stadium to carousel to ice cream parlour. Taiga carried Nozomi across the sprawling incongruous mass of structures and establishments, anything that humans from any era could long for from their living existences, and things that couldn't possibly exist too. And now they are here, in front of a huge church. It's non-specific in what religion it is for, though from the outside the images in the windows might be a little bit ominous despite their beauty. A towering armored figure with the sun upon his brow pinning a much smaller humanoid figure to a rock with chains. A mountain with some sort of giant sleeping inside of it. A giant stone wheel flanked by the sun and moon surrounding a blood-stained boulder. Sure, there's lots of imagery in religion that, if looked at closely, is kind of messed up. But to take the time to use such artistic beauty to depict such gruesome scenes? Odd. And it's this building that Tamamo's presence comes from. And it is from her current window that Maej Cits is going to be able to see Nozomi and Taiga when they appear, and feel the spiritual gravity of what they carry. And behind, Maej, someone small is sneaking up the stairs after her. Lacey heard the reassurances, but has been abandoned by people who said they would be right back before. She needs to see for herself that everything is okay. Just to be sure.
Nozomi Houken	It takes a moment for the girl and the tiger to actually appear. Mostly because Taiga is cautious. He is, after all, an ambush predator at his heart. Certainly, he is capable of a straight fight against a modestly powerful opponent, but he is by far more effective when he's, well. Fighting like a tiger. So for a short while, the duo linger on the roof, with the TIGER hunkered down and Nozomi on his back. His ears flick this way and that, while her eyes track down the front of the building, spotting the image in each window with increasing worry. The images of the sun in particular worry her - she doesn't know if they refer to Tamamo specifically, but she knows Tamamo is strongly tied to the sun. But, finally, Nozomi's radio receives a quiet, "Nozomi. She is in there." Taiga's voice is soft, but urging. "...alright. Let's go." A moment later, the black mechatiger is landing on the street with a dull thud. And now, Nozomi herself finally slides off, standing up on her own two feet, to head for the door. Her steps are slow, but for once in her life, not hesitant.
Tamamo no Mae	Maej frowns a bit, the pull is getting closer and closer and it doesn't feel good. "Okay, everything looks a bit calmer. Time to go back down." she mutters, turning around, making her steps towards the down staircase... at least, she would if she didn't see someone in the staircase. "Lacey! What are you doing? I said stay there!" there's a flare of nine tails now, a serious look upon her face, "Come on, we need to go back down stairs. It seems to have calmed down so I'm sure everyone would love the reassurance!" Maej smiles a bit as the extra tails soon meld back into her main tail, "It's nice that you came up to check on me though, but you really should heed the words that I speak, there's a fine line between bravery and not." Maej perks... her ears hear the sound of something dropping... that thud... "Go. Run. Something's here. Get downstairs, lock the door. It doesn't feel good." she turns her back to Lacey, "Maej needs to protect you and everyone now... I promise I will be down there and I'll make your favorite food, your favorite drink and tell you your favorite story~!" a pause, "And tell Rasiel to make sure no one goes up." Maej steps forward, a frown upon her face, hidden from Lacey... Maej was going to protect everyone here... /everyone/.
Carna	Lacey flinches a bit when she's detected and called out to. She thought she was being quiet! But Miss Maej is pretty sharp. She comes out of the shadows when called out to. "I-I was just worried..." Her hands clench at her dress's skirts. "The last time that I hid..." Images flash through her mind. Her mom telling her and Rasiel to hide out under some scrap metal and wood in a shack. Staying there, trying to hold their short, frightened breaths until their lungs felt like they'd explode. The sound of gunfire. Of the tanks rolling through. And then later... After they finally got up the nerve to check when it quieted down... She takes in a shuddering breath and backs down the stairs as Maej cautions her to go back down there. The promises of food and such are less important to her than the promise of coming back. It's the same tone in Maej's voice. The same as her mother the last time she saw her. She shakes her head as she tries to back down the stairs, her lakes quivering. There's someone here. She was told to run, but she had to grope her way up the stairs in the dark to begin with. That strange light coming through the windows... Is that moonlight? There's no way she'll make it back downstairs on her own. Then Rasiel hisses out a whisper to her suddenly. "This way!" Lacey squeaks out a short shriek before her hands clap over her mouth. Then Rasiel leads her to an alcove near the stairs. There's no more time to get back down there without being seen. They'd be stumbling in the blackness, and the moment the door opens they'll be fully exposed in the moonlight. The only choice now is to hide. Again. And hope they don't hear any sounds they wish they could forget. The doors of the church are ornate, like the rest of it, but it seems they are easy enough to open once Nozomi tries. They are not locked or barred. This is supposed to be a paradise for the dead. Who needs locks and barricades in paradise? They will open smoothly despite their size, with only a faint noise as they disturb the air. But the sound of a high-pitched squeak-shriek from the other side might have been heard regardless. Was that Tamamo? Or someone else?
Nozomi Houken	Step, step, step. Forward walk the girl and the tiger, the latter moving as gracefully as always, the former growing more and more jittery the closer she gets to the door. Is Tamamo being held captive in there? Is she about to walk into a trap? What are they about to run into? She's sure Taiga would alert her if there were any major threats, or at least those of a magical nature, but none of that is forthcoming. So she reaches out- -and then startles back a good foot. Was that a shriek? Did someone just scream? Nozomi goes stock-still. She listens for a few seconds. That wasn't any kind of ambusher. That almost sounded like a child. It's that thought which finally leads her to carefully reach out to open the door to the church, tilting her head slightly to look inside. "Ah... hello...?" A fearsome, intimidating voice is not. She almost sounds like she could be one of Maej's war orphans.
Tamamo no Mae	"I understand you were worried but please, disobeying my protection will..." she listens a bit, her ears picking up those breaths and she frowns. She understands everything, hearing another whisper, this time of Rasiel. "Nnngh... Hide my children, do not make a noise." she orders, turning back towards the doors as they slowly open. The squeak-shriek is heard and she looks in the direction... only to use what magic she can to re-dress herself into that of a nun's habit. She slowly moves forward, "My child..." she doesn't see Taiga just yet, "Did you escape from the anger outside, the noise and destruction?" her voice is calm, but there's a tug... she shakes her head, "Come, we need to get you down there so I can protect you. Until Coeus comes to say it's okay." she gives a small smile, her tail twitching behind her as she slowly approaches, "Tell me, child, what is your name? I'm Maej Cits, the protector of the children and the weak."
Nozomi Houken	"...eh?" It's a soft, confused squeak. That's a face she knows well. A face that she's seen almost every day for a good long while now. Someone close enough to call her 'husband'. And now those eyes are looking at her like they've never met. That familiar voice is talking in a tone she doesn't recognize, giving a name she's never heard. It's shocking enough to Nozomi that for a second she just can't process it. She stands, dumbstruck, until the 'nun' takes a step forward. On sheer reflex, the mouse takes a step back before the fox. "N-no... no that's..." Nozomi shakes her head. "Th-that's not right. You're... your name is... Caster. Tamamo. Y-you... what is all this? No, you... w-we're..." Her voice trembles. She's bad at this - so easily overtaken by her own emotion. It's more or less no surprise she can't properly string the words together, facing something so horrifying to a girl with abandonment issues. But that's why she brought a certain trinket, isn't it? One hand goes into her pocket. Her left hand, in fact. When it comes back out, there's a ring on her finger. She can't get the words out, but she can show the Millennium Queen her Regalia... and, with the same gesture, show Servant Caster the Command Seal on her Master's hand. "Does this... do you even remember this...?"
Tamamo no Mae	Eh? The word causes a bit of confusion within Maej, tilting her head at Nozomi curiously, "That's what?" she questions, taking another step forwad as Nozomi steps back, the dumbstruck look upon her face has the fox frowning. "My dear girl, I won't hurt you, I promise. I am the protector of these people here, appointed by Coeus. Please don't be afraid of me, I promise to protect you from those outside... from those trying to steal everyone away... and the troubles that the outside world have." Maej stops in her tracks... Caster? Tamamo? Something about those names feel eerily familiar to her... "No, my name is Maej. Maej Cits. And we're what? Are... are you one of those?" she pulls her hand forward, it glows lightly, as if ready to defend those around. "I... if you are, I will not hesitate to defeat you in this holy place." she takes a deep breath, a frown coming to her face, "Please, just turn around and go. We don't want trouble. She turns her head back, just enough time to look in Lacey's and Rasiel's direction, "Please, do not make me attack you... I do not want these people to experience more ... death you know." she turns back around and her eyes immediately focus upon the Regalia, the Command Seals... and Master as a whole. Wait... Master? She holds her head a bit, dropping down to her knees. "N... no I'm Maej..." she whispers, her ears perking... and her outfit changing from her nun's habit to her Caster clothes. "Nngh? Ma...st...er?" Her eyes blink, lifting herself up. "I... I remember that." a pause, she blinks again, "I'm... I'm Tamamo no Mae... your Caster... your Wife." Everything drops... and she rushes her Master, pulling her close into her bosom. "Oh Master, Maaaaster!" then there's a pause... and she turns. "I remember... a lot." another pause, "Lacey, Rasiel... come out. She won't hurt you... she's my Husband!"
Nozomi Houken	Attack her? Nozomi's eyes widen in alarm, near panic. "...n-no, I..." If there were anything to just about break her, that would be it... but in the next breath, the fox-woman is dropping to her knees. And murmuring words that sound much more familiar. The schoolgirl dares a look at the Servant again and sees... blue. Familiar, rich blue fabric. And then sees nothing at all, because she does not have the ability to see through cleavage. "Aah-!" It's a startled squeak, but there is no panic to it. In fact, after a few seconds, her arms wrap tightly around Tamamo's waist, and the girl just outright /clings/. "D-don't... you scared me... i-idiot..." Even for someone who normally can't throw venom around, there's no real 'teeth' behind that insult at all. It's affectionate. Relieved. Seeing that look in Caster's eyes was frightening. Taiga rumbles softly. "I do not mean to interrupt a splendid moment, but I do not think we should linger here. Our presence was noticed on the way in. I doubt we have long to get out."
Carna	Lacey and Rasiel emerge slowly after a long delay. They don't understand anything that just happened. They're clearly confused, and frightened by the transformation that Maej has undergone. Calling Nozomi 'husband' is just the bewilderment icing on the cake. And... Is that a tiger back there!? "I... I don't understand. Miss Maej, what's going on? Who is this?" Lacey asks. Rasiel grabs Lacey by the elbow to stop the girl from going any closer. "I don't think that's Miss Maej anymore." he says simply. He is wearing a fierce expression but has a haunted look in his eyes. Lacey looks at him in confusion, then back to the fox formerly known as Maej Cits. "Wh-what? I don't--" "Come on. We have to warn the others. We have to get out of here." he pulls more firmly, trying to bring Lacey with him down the stairs. Her stumbling steps halt after a few seconds, however, as she pulls her arm away. "NO! I don't want to be left behind again!" she rushes to Tamamo and clings to her, hugging her tight, regardless of the stranger on the other side. Rasiel grits his teeth and then backs down the stairs, hostility in his eyes as he looks at all of them. "She's not your real mother, Lacey! But fine! Have it your way! I'll come back for you no matter where you go!" He then runs down the stairs, using the moonlight spilling through the doors to navigate as far as he can by before going around a corner and out of sight. Lacey quivers, crying with mixed emotions. Then she looks up at Tamamo teary-eyed, and Nozomi, and Taiga too. "H-hey... Wherever you're going... Take me with you. Please?" A wave of dark blue descends upon them all. A curtain of raw menace. Yes. Getting out of here now seems like a very good idea.
Tamamo no Mae	Tamamo smiles, brushing down her Master's hair as she clings to her. "I'm sorry, Master. I really am. Tamamo didn't mean to scare you so much, I... it was a really... long story." she moves to place soft kisses into her loving husband's head... but her ears perk up as she listens to Lacey's question. "I'm sorry, Lacey... I.. I'm not really Maej Cits... I'm Tamamo.. Something happened to me and well.." she pauses, "Tamamo really... really enjoyed our time together." With Rasiel's grab and tug, she gives him a nod, "Good boy, I knew you would be protective, do what I could not as Maej, my dear Rasiel." she watches him drag Lacey off, but Lacey's stumbling and halting.. and then suddenly a new clinging person to her. There really is only one thing to do. "No, I'm not your real mother, but..." she turns to Rasiel, with a frown upon her face, "Rasiel, you're being unreasonable!" a pouting face, "Oh, he was always this stubborn." She moves to pull her Master and Lacey close. "Tamamo will take really good care of you, Lacey." she pulls her up and onto her back, giving a piggy back ride. "Hold on tight, okay?" a nod is given to Taiga, "Taiga... run. You won't be hampered if I do this." She gives a soft kiss to her ring... and sucks in her Master... "Hold on, Lacey." she leans down... then kicks off, "High Speed Tamamo!"
Nozomi Houken	Nozomi comes out of that hug much more reassured... but, at the same time, there's that hostility from Rasiel. She quails just a bit, but the pleading from that girl... oh, that just sounds far too familiar. It's enough to bolster her... until that utterly fierce entity descending from above. Nozomi is seconds from calling for Taiga when she finds herself suddenly pulled into the ring - little more than a confused squeak. Things are happening quickly enough that in her current emotional state, she's utterly lost. This is probably for the best. Taiga, on the other hand, is decisive as always. His shoulder cannons click and shift slightly. "Agreed. I will lead the way to our exit. Run as quickly as you are able." He will, of course, keep one eye (or rather, one sensor) on the fox and her passengers so that he won't outpace them, but his main focus is on leading the way back as expediently as possible.