Death and Tide

[Mirach]

"Good enough for now," Death murmured. "Let's get to the sea."

[VisAnastasis]

Tide didn't speak anymore. He wasn't in his element, as he was so focused on the looming danger. The night was cold and windy, and it was hard to notice anything if there were pursuers or not - so he took off his mask, and with his piercing gaze, he tried his best to observe too, so they would have higher chance to notice the enemy, should they come.

[Mirach]

"They are farther now," Death whispered, looking pale, but not complaining about anything. "It's always been either demons or them who kill me, in all the future lines I've been trying to balance and avoid... it seems I finally slipped into one..."

[VisAnastasis]

The demon looked at him at last with those words. He shook his head tho.
" If we don't kill or overpower them first, you mean... " Tide corrected him. " Don't look into future lines. You'll just get depressed... Why not focus on the positive? You've noticed them on time and we escaped for now. " he seemed to have only then noticed Spirit's paleness and realized how long they had flown. " How about we make a short break and eat to celebrate? Maybe we should find some shelter, it's going to rain... "

[Mirach]

Death nodded. "I think we can afford a short break, and think about our options. It's better than fleeing blindly..."

[VisAnastasis]

" I think I feel a little lake nearby. " Tide replied simply, as he seemed sensitive to the presence of water. " I can bend it and make a dome of air around us, so we can dine on the bottom of it, maybe. Once you dry and warm it up a bit, it's actually quite nice.  I... often used to use that trick. It is not an expected place of hiding. "

[Mirach]

"A good hiding place," Death agreed. "We can do that."

[VisAnastasis]

Tide guided Xia to the lake, and she landed upon the surface of the water. He used his power them to make *stairs*, that felt solid but were made out of the water, and using it Xia hopped down trustfully to the bottom. When they reached it, Tide made a bubble of air around them, closing the lake above them so that it appeared as if they were not even there - probably having done it many times before. It was rather dark, though, so demon asked if they should risk it and make a little fire.

[Mirach]

"If you can shield it so that it won't be visible from the surface," Death said tiredly.

[VisAnastasis]

" It's not easy, but it's doable - I can make a very thick layer of ice around us and position water to reflect light. It'll just take couple of minutes - let me do this first. " demon said, and he slipped down from Xia's back and knelt and laid his healthy palm on the wet soggy ground, feeling it up in the dark, and using his powers, he dried it up and made it really warm - so they could sit down safely, without getting wet.

[Mirach]

Death sat down with a weary sigh, inviting Xia to join him. He caressed her fur lightly for comfort and watched Tide working with the water.

[VisAnastasis]

Xia lied down beside him, leaning against him trustfully and snuggling against him, trying to warm him, although she wasn't ready to purr yet.
Tide on another hand couldn't pay attention to him right now, as he wanted to secure their little shelter as soon and as well as he could. He first used the water to stir a couple of logs and branches from the lake toward him, feeling them in the dark and placing them on the pile in the middle of their bubble. After he made sure they have a good supply of logs, he slowly created a firm icy instead of flowing water barrier, making it thick and snowlike, so it appeared more like an underwater igloo than something icy, as he compressed the water into snow.
It was now complete darkness, though, the darkness that protected them, but also limited them, one in which only they could only hear its other's breathing. Tide felt his way through the darkness and laid his palms upon the pile of wood, as one who has done this countless time - and soon, there was the familiar sound of fire crackling, and the little flame upon the wood between Tide's hands that formed in that moment gradually began to grow bigger.

[Mirach]

Death watched him and caressed Xia, but he was paying attention to something in the distance. He took his sword and bared it, laying it across his knees. "They lost our track and split," he whispered. "One is heading towards us."

[VisAnastasis]

Tide tensed and staggered back when Death drew his sword out without warning, as if in some instinctive fearful response, raising his hands up a little. After Death explained himself, though, he seemed to suddenly feel a little ashamed for response he couldn't control, a little at a loss, so news that would usually worry him deeply couldn't overpower embarrassment right away.
" Um, so, um, does he feel our presence yet, or is he just checking?" He stuttered, trying to figure out what to do. He suddenly asked as it dawned on him. " Would... Would it be bad for you, if you were found out to be hiding with two demons?"

[Mirach]

"I am hiding a demon no matter if you are with me or not," Death said. "A powerful one... They wouldn't believe if I tried to explain myself. From their point of view, my soul has been weakened during the solstice, and the demon has overpowered it when I enveloped him in it. They would regret killing me, but they believe it has to be done..."

[VisAnastasis]

" I was just thinking how bad it might look... That you are found with whom later they find out is a Demon King. It would really look like... Like I corrupted you for my evil purposes. I am thinking, is it good or bad thing to aim for? It could look like you switched sides. So either I look like a kidnapper, or you look a traitor." Tide bit his lip." I think... Traitor option is worse... For world, I mean..."

[Mirach]

Death shook his head. "I look like someone not being himself and you look like someone using an opportunity. To them, it's Ben Temalion who corrupted me, and they will try to save me and cut his soul out of mine, even if it would kill me."

[VisAnastasis]

" We have little choice then. I guess the kidnapper it is, if we get caught... If we can't help it." He seemed to be trying to think his way out of it, before he looked a little thoughtful all of a sudden." Speaking as a concept... though... What if they don't find you?" He asked suddenly, but he appeared little unsure." My cloak and my mask... It can conceal your presence with mine. When it was important for my Spirit friend to not have his identity revealed, I'd borrow it to him. I don't know if it would help, but.... You're known to be tricky with illussions. It could maybe look better if it seems like you lead them on wrong path to buy yourself more time.... That it appears like there are three demons, not two demons and you. It's better if they hunt three demons and maybe separate searching for where you could possibly be. You did say they lost our trail, after all... It may seem like we are a different group, unconnected to Death who his who knows where. It'd mean they would remember me for future reference, though... "

[Mirach]

"That could work as long as we are able to stay ahead of them," Death said. "We can't face all at once, the more they split, the better. But we will have to face them. And kill them. Holding their bare soul in mine, that's the only way I can convince them I am not posessed by a demon..."

[VisAnastasis]

" I've never seen hunters band up like that... It's risky, but it could work. It could even seem planned by you - that you planned for three demons to kill them so that you can then explain them everything after they die. " the demon replied thoughtfully, adding slowly. " There's a thing, though... Your sword. It could give away it's you, even if my essence masks you. I don't know what we can do about it. If we leave it, they might take it, if you wear it, they could put two and two together. But if you have no sword, you're the one that's disadvantaged. Unless you can use some illusion or something, I don't know how we can keep it. " he paused, glancing around for danger before he brought himself to add slowly. " You only regained your sword recently, though, and there were numerous attacks on your life from demons before. May... May I ask how do you defend yourself, without weapons? It's not like I'm questioning you for future reference, but we have to figure out how to fight, and... we need to carry more weight because... " he glanced at Xia, before adding to him meaningfully. " I won't... I don't want to make her kill anew, okay? She's had a lot of bad thoughts about killing those bears in that cave day she was born. We are adults, we should... not force her to carry such big load as killing a person... "

[Mirach]

"I've mostly defended myself by having demon hunters around... mostly those that are following us now," Death said wryly. "Last time I fought myself... was the first time, too. I'm not a fighter. I'm afrad it's all rumours... But I don't want Xia to fight anyone, or be involved in this, if it can be helped..."

[VisAnastasis]

" We need to come up with a plan. It won't work if I'm fighting alone. If I get killed, I love Xia dearly, but she just has no experience to protect you from *them*. We must figure it out quickly if he or she finds us. If we go into this blindly, we could all get hurt or killed instead of win. " Tide added urgently, trying to recollect anything of his previous fights. " I have rarely fought alone... My best friend was always my partner, and luckily, since he can't fight anymore, in the last 300 years, we haven't been attacked. So, I am a little rusty, but... " he admitted, and tried to gather his thoughts, realizing he's the only one that has had any experience in this. " But I'm usually the one that does the blunt part of fighting. Either with water or bare hands, it depends on the opponent. I'd usually take the blunt part and be a distraction, while he would use his power to sneak up and deal the final blow. Then we'd hide until I heal up. Without the sword, you can barely fight, but what about the illusions? Your family line is famous for them, just like you. That can not be a false rumour. They exhaust you, but in case of a fight, can I count on any assistance? " he asked quietly. " Maybe we could do the opposite of what I usually do. If you could distract them with your illusions, while Xia protects you, I could use the chance to kill unexpectedly. I can bend blood, but I just... it's an intimate act for me. " he bit his lip. " I never could force myself to kill someone that way. It's less stressful to break a neck quickly than to have someone's body break itself apart while they are still aware of it all... It's easier on conscience to just slap someone hard, even if you end stabbed in the process. I could take on my conscience to get a bit stabbed here and there, more than use blood bending to harm... "

[Mirach]

"Well, at least I can guarantee you that you or Xia won't get killed for long in this fight as long as I live," Death said. "But I would need a while for you to be reborn if that happens, so it's not an ideal scenario. I can create illusions of demons, so they won't know which one is real, and heal you during the fight, if you get hurt. But it would be best to fight them one by one, if we can. Should we try to ambush the one coming towards us?"

[VisAnastasis]

" I hate that I have to agree, but I do. We are at the lake, and there's a lot of water around us, so it might be our best bet to try it out. We may not have this good chance next time, to have one walk straight to us. " demon bit his lip. " That's what I am saying, though, about risk... Even if you can't bring us back from the dead soon in technicality, it means nothing if you die minutes after us... If you're not a fighter, you can't last too long. That's precisely why I should take the blunt part... your body is fragile, while mine is not. I can take bigger damage without passing out, and since you are a healer, I could take even more damage if needed, and if you can help me with it later, I hope. But, now would be a good thing to eat quickly first... We haven't eaten for few hours while we flew, so please, do take a couple of bites, at least of jam or something very sugary, please.  " he pleaded little nervously. " I don't know how exhausting it is, but you can't help me if you pass out, and if you can't help me, I can't help you... "

[Mirach]

"I will eat and then look at your hand," Death said. "We should use the time we have now..."