Gail
Miller Dale, the lovely canal town.

Velir Silivasti had little knowledge of this pretty little city still. He walked along the cobblestones, his walking-stick clicking with each step. As he strode along the riverside, humming to himself, the tiny fragrances of the town's flower gardens permeated the air.

Lir examined each building he passed, not entirely aware of where his feet landed. He listened to the water running around him. He made his way towards Palladium Park, curious as to what spices it sold.

Lir stopped in the middle of Palladium Park and drew his map out from the inside of his coat-pocket. He gripped his walking-stick tightly as he studied the piece of paper he had acquired from the little breadmonger. 

Palladium Park appeared to be riddled with shops. Lir twirled his walking-stick about for a few moments.

Then he glanced up to study the creatures milling around him. Important information to gather.
Carmen
Leo was slightly disoriented still having been dropped into this dimension a little suddenly. However, it wasn't unexpected.

Not having much else to do Leo turned into his cat form and started wandering around the... Park? He wasn't quite sure. It looked a lot like a park so until further information could be gathered he will work off the assumption that it is, indeed, a park. 

So wandering around the park he finds himself in he begins piecing together two very important facts about where he currently finds himself. 1) He won't be burned at the stake for using magic. 2) He most likely won't be discriminated against... Most likely... He hadn't quite figured it out but he was sure he would at a very near moment in the future.

For now he decided to follow someone. This person with a stick seemed like just as good as any to follow so why not? This is how Leo finds himself seated in cat form in front of Lir as he looks around at all the difference creatures. Leo didn't know this was what Lir was doing but even if he had known Leo would've discarded the information for not being useful for his current goal. Learning the actions and mannerisms of one person in this reality wasn't important. Mainly because Leo already intrinsically knows what they are. Or at the very least, he knows that he won't be banished from the park for a minor slip up in mannerisms. 

"Meow." Leo says, sort of quizzically. Or as quizzically a cat can manage a meow. Leo is able to talk normally, but he wasn't sure if talking cats were a norm here and if that would lead to a burning at the closest most convenient pile of wood.
Ivan
Palladium Park's street shop was full of different kinds of shop. Normal shops like clothing and groceries where there but some uncommon stores also existed next to these. For example, a potion store, sitting next to the grocery market. A "Best Potion Makers of 2021" Sticker stamped right on the front glass where you could see people browsing, all different creatures each with their own reason. Insomnia, pain relief; to improve memory, stamina, etc. 

But from all of these slightly crowded stores only one was completely empty apart from the worker/owner. A dainty antique store, that had books, jewelry, furniture, decorations. Everything you could ask for, as long as it was old. The front sign said "THE IVY" And there were hangers full of different flowers all over the front, a door in the middle of these. The old lady working in the store was whistling a soft tune, dusting an apparel full of antique jars, thinking about throwing more wood in the fireplace to help the cold in her writhed bones. This woman had gentle blue eyes, white hair styled in a ponytail with a blue ribbon. An amber stone necklace adorning her neck that matched with the amber earrings. She wore a long dark blue dress that reached the floor. Simple but nice, just like her store.
Matthew
"Quaint I suppose," Lumen muttered under his breath, as he eyed the picturesque community of Miller Dale. He'd seen bigger and more grandeur places in his travels but this was a nice change of pace. The troupe Lumen had been part of, had travelled through many a village over the years but Lumen himself had grown weary of dancing for the entertainment of others. Much like a court jester, he had been made to dance for hours and hours on end. From dusk 'til dawn most nights. Lumen's skill with the chakrams were unmatched. The blades added a sense of danger to his acts and onlookers loved the thrill. 
Lumen pinched the bridge of his nose in irritation, *Even the thought of going back to the troupe was stressful*. With a light step, he made his way into Miller Dale, eyeing the various shops along the canals. The streets seemed to be filled with folk from all walks of life, going about their various activities, and somehow even here Lumen still managed to stand apart from the crowd. With his tall and rather slender stature, one would think he was an elf but he had one very distinctive feature that gave him away every time. 
*Twitch*
*Sigh*
Tossing his messily braided hair to one side, Lumen stroked his hair absent-mindedly. His white locks and tall ears had always been a sense of pride for Lumen but since making his way to Miller Dale, he'd realized it only made him stand out among most crowds. Causing people to recognize him unnecessarily as he set out away from his troupe. Even now he could sense multiple sets of eyes upon his person. 
*Not that he minded the attention*, a corner of Lumen's mouth perked up despite himself. Clearing his throat slightly, he eyed the various stalls and shops once more, stopping at a young lad selling trinkets and maps. Tossing a few coins to the boy as he nabbed himself a map of the area, Lumen lazily made his way to the nearest park on the map, still looking at shops of books and jewelry as he walked by. 
Lumen wandered until he happ

Ened upon a cute shop sign that caught his interest. **THE IVY** *Cute* He thought to himself as he creeped toward the store display. He perused the flowers and jewelry near the window, noting an older woman in the store. Her blue dress wasn't what caught his attention, more like the bright amber necklace and earrings that seemed to be calling his name. For a woman of seemingly simple tastes, Lumen couldn't quite figure out how she would come by such exquisite jewelry. Unable to stop himself, Lumen strode to the entrance and made his way inside.
Gail
It was safe to say that Lir was... Unprepared for the peoples he was encountering in Miller Dale.

After a few moments of studying the crowds in Palladium Park, having stopped in front of a nearly-empty antique shop, Lir glanced down at his map again. 

He found himself looking at a black cat meowing at him in what seemed a frighteningly intelligent way.

Lir lowered his map and stared at the little cat, his brows furrowing in confusion. With his employer having... Rather a marked distaste for felines, Lir had little experience with the animals.

He was reasonably sure, however, that cats didn't normally wander about during the day, nor stop people in their tracks and meow quizzically as if they might be asking for directions.

From the corner of his eye, Lir caught the movement of a man entering the Ivy. Lir looked up, pointing at the cat sitting on the cobblestones in front of him.

"Pardon me, good sir, but is this..." Lir's voice failed him, trailing off as he saw the young man's long white lapine ears.

"...Normal?" Lir squeaked. He glanced back down at the cat, then back into the Ivy. He saw the old woman tending the shop, but at this point, Lir suspected that she too likely had something...*Interesting* About her. He was beginning to feel very much a fish out of water. Of course, he was rather far from home now.

Back to the cat that seemed to be asking him something. Perhaps he was impeding the cat's entry into the antique shop? Though Lir had no idea where a cat might keep its purse, nor what it might purchase in an antique shop.

Still, he stepped aside for the black cat, and gestured towards the Ivy's open door with his walking-stick.

"Erm... After you?" He tried.
Matthew
Lumen was halfway through the doorway when he realized that someone had nearly asked him a question. His ears reflexively twitched at the voice but as he glanced at the man talking aloud, Lumen couldn't be quite sure if the man was even speaking to him, as a rather feline creature was beside the peculiar looking man. The man was seemingly missing a few digits but held onto a rather fun looking stick at his side. From the eye patch, one could only assume he was missing a headlight as well.

Giving the man a quick nod and smile, Lumen headed into the shop. Still unsure if he should've responded. As big as his ears were, Lumen had a tendency to tune out most noise. 

Seeing the man gesture for the cat to come inside, Lumen assumed the man and the cat had a... *Special* Bond? Having never understood the need for a "Pet", Lumen couldn't bring himself to understand pet owners. Nonetheless, Lumen held the door open with his foot for the pair of oddities, a sheepish smile on his face as he rubbed the back of his neck, and glanced about the shop.
Carmen
Leo having already caused a bit of chaos in his first few hours of being here is... A rather normal thing for Leo. Having a door opened for him politely he wagered it'd be rude if he didn't enter, and so, he did. 

Wanting to sew a bit of chaos into the situation, as Leo passes through the door he looks up to Lir and says, "Thank you kind sir." He then proceeds to jump up onto the nearest counter with enough room for him to cozily saddle himself in there.

He then proceeds to stare at Lumen. "So how common are cats around here? Do I need to worry about... I don't know. Being a prize for an esteemed pet collector? Not as if they'd be able to keep their hand on my slippery paws for long..." He raises one of his paws and flexes out one of his claws in a, what would be intimidating gesture, were it not coming from an animal that most would consider 'punt-able'. 

Not to mention his physical traits aren't really the ones you need to be worried about. Rather, his magic causes a lot more grief in a lot less time than anything he'd be able to manage with his claws and teeth.
Thomas
The old lady finished dusting the jar apparel and noticed potential costumers so she approached the doorstep with a kind smile. "Hello there, if you need any help. I'll be here by the fireplace." She told them, pointing at the two chairs in front of the fireplace where the fire danced in flames. Linda proceed to walk that spot to sit down with a big sigh. Then she said over her shoulder. "The only people a cat should be worried about is the witches. I've heard they love talking cats." She said to Leo, looking into the fire. Recalling all the stories from her lifetime about cats and witches. Cats being kidnapped to be given to them as gifts in exchange for a magical favor. Witches sacrificing their cat familiars when the spell had a "One sacrifice of someone or something you truly love." As an ingredient. The woman chuckled and held the amber necklace between her fingers, caressing it. Just enjoying the warmth of the fire.
Gail
The cat thanked Lir politely, because of course it did, and Lir stared at it.

"Hell's bells, it talks," Lir sighed. Then the cat walked into the shop, because of course it did that, too.

Lir's back twinged as the cat passed him. He grimaced but followed the cat into the antique shop, because why not at this point. He nodded to the rabbit-eared gentleman holding the door open.

"Thank you, young man." Lir smiled at him, but his voice was tight and nervous as a bowstring.

And now the cat was inquiring about the possibility of being kidnapped, and the proprietor responded to the cat just as she would to any other customer, *Because of course she did*.

So yes, this was normal, a cat talking to the shopkeeper of an antique store about being kidnapped was perfectly normal, and a young man with rabbit ears was an everyday sight, ***Because of course he was***, and Lir wondered at this point if he hadn't managed to somehow ingest some of his lord's more potent medicine.

Lir's head spun and his back began hurting quite a lot more, and he wandered over to the old woman by the fireplace and sat down in the second chair. 

Normally, he would have asked before sitting uninvited next to an elder, but what was today about if not challenging your reality, and Lir's reality right now was that his back was bothering him dreadfully and everything was becoming a tad too much for him.

"I hope you don't mind, madam," Lir said feebly to the shopkeeper as he sat. "Back's a bit sore. It's the, ah, weather. Cooling air and all that." *Or perhaps all the excitement*, he thought. 

None of this, however, seemed terribly exciting to anyone else present.

Merely a normal day of having the door to an antique store held open for him by a polite young man with rabbit ears, and following a talking cat into said shop where the cat and the shopkeeper had a disturbingly flippant conversation about being abducted by witches.

At least, though, the situation couldn't get any... Well, not *Worse*, because it wasn't bad, per se, simply... Bewildering.
Horace
Lumen nodded at the man as he made his way into the store with his feline friend. Raising his brow slightly at the sight of a cat having a somewhat decent conversation with the shop keep. 
*Interesting*
His eyes followed the human fellow as he sat beside the woman near the fireplace. Once again, the jewel around her neck catching his eye. Surely if she could afford such fine amber, there must be some decent antiquities among the rabble of items on her shelves.

Glancing about the store, it seemed there were indeed some noteworthy items. He wandered the store aimlessly, stroking the back of various books as he walked by, the sounds of the shop keep and the 2 oddities shifting into murmurs as he found himself meandering into a dark corner toward the back end of the shop. 

His curiosity always getting the better him, he continued deeper in. Maybe he could find something interesting in here yet.
Carmen
Leo stares at Lir as he complains about his back. Acting on a hunch Leo decides to focus in his sight on Lir to try and see the weave of magic around him.

He fails in rather expected fashion, accidentally blinding himself temporarily. Not being able to filter out any of the many magical energy sources that exist in the natural world he effectively did the equivalent of staring directly into a light bulb after standing in a dark room.

Vocalising his surprise while covering his eyes with his paws he cries out, "Agh! What in fiery depths!?" He seems rather confused at this result before seemingly remembering something very important. A look of remorse and understanding passes over Leo's face quickly. "Oh... Right. Nevermind!" Leo forgot he was starting from scratch again. Even if noticing the basic weave of magic isn't considered an advanced skill, he's still a baby in terms of magical prowess. Still learning to keep his head up straight.

He takes his paws away from his eyes and starts squinting around to regain his bearings. Realising the implications of being a baby again (magically speaking) he realises that the first person he's encountered probably got hit by his bad luck. Leo likes to think his own bad luck is what caused him to try and stare at the weave before he was ready, but he knows deep down that that was on him.

For now he will just try to rectify the current situation. Now recovered from his misadventure he opens his eyes fully again, still straining slightly from the light, and looks at Lir. He raises one of his front paws and points at Lir trying to recall the bad luck. 

However, a saying comes to mind here. Something about 'When a cat's out of a bag, hard to put it back in.' What transpired was rather imperceptible to anyone without basic magical training. Would Leo attempted to do was recall his magic. What actually happened was it passed right by him and struck Lumen.

Leo was non the wiser.
Thomas
Linda looked up to the man when he approached her set of chairs. A smile spreading across her lips as she waved her hand. "Of course not, feel free. If your friends are fan of antiques you might be here for a while so might as well, take a seat." She giggled, giving him a stare that meant 'I know what's going on' before getting up and reaching for the poker, using it to move the logs for more fire. She didn't notice the other young man disappearing down the hall towards the darker apparels. "Are you looking for anything in particular? A jewel, a ring, decorations." She was making friendly conversation but then turned back to the cat when he cried out. "Are you okay, kitty?" She asked him, tilting her head. Her eyes sparkling in joy as she got up excitedly. "Would you like to eat? Do you like tuna or.. Anything? Some water?" She offered to Lir, turning to him with a grin. Her amber necklace emitted a faint glow that she stopped to look at, her eyes moving towards Leo before she turned around and kept walking to the back room.
Gail
The fire's warmth relaxed the seizing muscles of Lir's back... Or so it seemed to him.

"Thank you very much, good lady," Lir said to the old woman, spinning his walking-stick in his hands nervously. "I have just met them today, but I suppose I could wait for–-"

The cat's cry of consternation interrupted Lir. He gawked as the cat covered its eyes with its paws–-he wasn't aware cats could do that–-and then...

It pointed at him. 

*The cat pointed at him.*

 Lir remained blind to the cat's magic winking around the shop and following the rabbit-eared man as he looked through the ancient-smelling bric-a-brac surrounding them. The glint of the old woman's amber necklace, combined with the twinkle in her eye, though, alarmed Lir a touch.

Hadn't she said that witches got excited about talking cats?

Wasn't she an old woman who had at least surrounded herself with enchanted items, if her glowing pendant was anything to go by?

Perhaps...*Perhaps this shopkeeper was the very sort of witch she had warned the cat against?*

Lir's face had already been betraying confusion and anxiety, so these new thoughts flitting through his mind didn't show in his expression.

But, Lir reprimanded himself, he might simply be overly suspicious.

Mayhaps the old woman was a witch, but still kindly and genuinely concerned for the cat's well-being, with said cat being her customer.

Yet there was that look that the woman had given him, that knowing sort of glance Lir knew well.

"Oh, nothing for me, madam, thank you kindly," Lir smiled at the old woman as she offered him refreshment. He stood up to stretch his aching back. "The heat quite helps. I think I would like a look around."

Lir realised, belatedly, that revealing he wasn't an acquaintance of the talking cat or the rabbit-eared man might have put them in danger. After all, snatching those with few connections is easier than snatching those with many.

Or Lir was, again, being overly wary.

Lir walked over to the counter where the cat sat. "Are you... All right?" He asked the cat. He knew he probably ought to enquire as to the reason for the cat's pointing at him, but his suspicions focused more on the old woman right now.

And he wanted to be close enough to the cat to grab it and run out of the shop, if he had to.

A distraction, though, might be in order. The door to the shop was open, after all, and many passers-by were out during the day. Pulling off something nefarious would be difficult, especially if the woman had a customer to satisfy.

As the woman walked towards the back of her shop, Lir asked, "Actually, madam, I do have a request. Have you got any harps? My employer had to leave his behind when we left, and he's been rather unwell. Having one to play again might lift his spirits." No word of lie in any of those words, either. 

*Come along, Lir, not everything is dangerous*, Lir chastised himself. *We're just having a browse in an antique shop. With a cat that can speak. And a man with rabbit ears. In a shop that might well be owned by a witch...*

*Everything is perfectly fine. It isn't as though there are demons about...*
Horace
Whether by design or happenstance, the area of the shop Lumen found himself was full of odd statues, decorations, and trinkets. The plants that had been at the front displays couldn't be found back here, the only light to be seen was emanating from the fireplace at his back. The flames cast shadowy figures across the walls, dancing here and there.

Lumen couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. His ears twitched with every noise as he eyed the wares in the far corner. A small statue capturing his attention. There were other statues among the dust and clutter but this particular stone statue sent a tingle down his spine as he walked closer for a better look. The statue itself was fairly small, maybe just big enough to fit within his palm. It resembled a snake in appearance but something about the figure didn't sit right with Lumen. Well, snakes in general were a fear of Lumen's from when he was young. Everyone had their own fears and snakes were his. Sneaky, slithery, and most of all, venomous. 

Eying the statue warily, Lumen reached out a tentative hand. His instincts said *Don't touch that thing* But his body moved on its own. Every hair on his body standing on end, Lumen managed to tap the statue. The shop seemed to grow quiet. *Odd*. But the world hadn't ended so with his mind still in a fog, he cautiously grabbed the statue and brought it closer for inspection. It was just a statue, a figurine really, what was he so scared of? 

With a light chuckle, Lumen's tension eased up a bit. Turning the figurine over, he examined the bottom half of the item, maybe the sculptor had left their name imprinted on the bottom? As he scanned the bottom, he felt a slight change in the air. His ears perked up and he looked about the room, distracted. The next thing he knew, the figurine had fallen from his grasp and Lumen watched as it hit the ground and shattered to small pieces.

*Oops.*
Ivan
The old woman moved to another room which seem to be a small kitchen, whistling a tune. She picked up a tray from one of the cabinets and placed it on the table, filled a glass jar with water, opened a tuna can and spooned it on top of a small plate that she could present to the cat. All of that went on top of the tray along with some peanuts on another dish. After picking the tray up and slowly carrying it back to the main room, she gave them another soft smile when she came through the doorway. "I know you said you didn't want any but I still brought it, just in case. There's also some peanuts, in case you're hungry." Linda said, looking down to look at the tray. "Oh no, I'm missing the glass. I am so silly." She giggled and looked at them apologetically. Trying to not let them notice that she knew that the human was uneasy at her and in shock to everything that was going on. 

After she had fetched 2 glasses and placed them down, she remembered he had mentioned harps. "Oh yeah, I don't think we have any harp, those instruments are way too big to be in this little store." She told him with a small shrug. "But we do have some decorations that look like harps. Tiny harps." She mentioned, her fingers once more grabbing onto the necklace as she made her way to one of the apparels. When she neared the wooden structure and looked for said trinket, the smooth silence was broken by the shattering of something in the back. Her brows furrowed and she blinked, turning around to look at the origin of the sound. 

People outside were gasping and running away from a sudden storm, rain raging on the sidewalk and on the buildings. The lights of the store flickered, once, twice before a few of them exploded and the rest died. The light was out. "No.. No.." The old woman mumbled, looking around before grabbing a lamp she fueled with fire. Currently, the only light source in the store apart from the fireplace. "Hello...?" She called, walking towards where Lumen was. ↓

When she reached him, she looked down at the mess and immediately recognised the broken statue. She then stared at him with horror. "What have you done, child?" She whispered, her face paling in concern. *He has doomed us all.* Linda thought, gulping and looking behind her where the man and the cat were. As she said this, mist started emanating from the broken pieces of the statue, the black eyes of the broken snake glinting in the darkness. "Get out of here.." She told him, slowly walking backwards as the mist moved like it had life of its own. Her breathing sped up and her heart bumped erratically when freezing breathing came form her lips and nose and Lumen's. The growing shape of black mist that formed between her and the hybrid, who's back faced the back of the store, took a humanoid shape, the same glinting eyes of the broken statue. "You .. Freed her!.." Linda stammered before turning around and running as fast as her old bones allowed it, towards the front of the store. 

She dropped the lamp on the floor, which was still warm with fire and by accident bumped against the table with the jar and glasses. These tipped and shattered on the floor, making her wince and look around. "She is here.. She is free." Linda squeaked, looking at the man and the cat. "Your friend has brought the spirit back to us.." She told him, the amber in her necklace now glowing strongly due the flow of magic invading the store. "She will rampage all over you!" She said loudly, pointing her finger at them before she walked off and disappeared into the backroom. Followed by the sound of a lock clicking in place.
Carmen
As a rule of thumb it was best to leave an area that had just suddenly been cast into darkness. Especially if that darkness was preceded by someone doomsaying about 'The ancient evil is released.' and 'None may save you now.' 

However, Leo realising that he may be partly to blame for this raises both of his front paws again from the direction of ancient evil and pours whatever little magical knowledge he has into making this newly awoken ancient evil suffer from bad luck for the first hour of it's existence. Maybe it'd let something that can be called a hero an edge in a fight against it. Or maybe it'll let him escape with all 9 of his lives intact. No more time to dillydally. He would start to prepare his escape plan. First problem that needs to be solved, how to open the door.
Gail
As the old woman brought out the tray, Lir shot her a smile, one of his winning ones. One of those bright lovely smiles that many people, no matter their age, appeared to appreciate.

"Thank you so much for your forethought, my lady," He told the shopkeeper as she brought the two missing glasses.

"Oh. He plays lap-harps as well," Lir informed the woman when she told him of her shop's lack of orchestral harps. "Perhaps if you could recommend a luthier...?"

Lir watched the rabbit-eared man inspect the baubles he found on the shelves. He too noted the quiet that saturated the shop when the man picked up the snake figurine and examined it.

Even the figurine dropping to the floor and shattering didn't initially bother Lir–-after all, such things happened frequently. People dropped items, and those items broke. It happened, even in shops, and was rarely something to worry about.

What did not ordinarily happen upon dropping such an item was a sudden squall outside. And darkness invading the shop, with only the weak flames of the hearth suddenly supplying the sole light source. Then dark mist leaking everywhere, everywhere.

Despite the sudden darkness, Lir still saw the old woman rush towards the rabbit-eared man who had let the statue slip from his grasp.

Then that dark mist began creeping towards them. A mist Lir had seen, and heard about, and even smelt. A dark haze to avoid.

A mist this old woman must have also known, for she then fled it and left her customers to fend for themselves.

Now the cat on the counter was raising its little black paws, as if it could do something against that darkness seeping out of the broken figure. 

Lir allowed his walking-stick to clatter to the floor (it was mostly just a fashion-dictated affectation at any rate) and leaned down to scoop the cat into one arm. With the other, he stepped towards the rabbit-eared man, seized his arm, and dragged the both of them out of the shop at the fastest run he could manage.

Into the squall pounding down into Palladium Park, as other people ran for cover from the sudden downpour. Water hurtled earthwards, soaking everything not under a roof.

"That... That is a bloody demon," Lir gasped as he clutched the cat to his chest and gripped the young man's arm in his other hand. Lir glanced around, then darted after a flock of people ducking into a little theatre on the edge of the square.
Carmen
Problem 1, the door, has been solved. Thanks to the mild altruism of Lir, Leo currently has an easy getaway from the end of all our days, the doom that will befall us all, the sky of fire that rains down.

For now he'll just hang on for the ride to see how far away they get before the demon catches up. Leo has already done mostly everything he can to slow it down so now every individual differs. Will they stand to fight? Or will they run away? Leo doesn't care. He just showed up to the party he has no idea what's happening in this world yet. He's hoping to gleam some clues by spending an exorbitant amount of time at a library to learn about history and magic.

Those plans are currently on hold. For now he just looks back at the... Impending doom. And hopes that the impending doom isn't as doomy for those higher up in the magical echelon. Leo's dealt with plenty of demons before, in fact Leo used to be called a demon! How bad can it really be?
Horace
Everything after the shatter of the figurine was a blur. Quite literally. The smoke that stemmed from the serpent statue seemed to swallow everything and from the darkness Lumen could almost distinguish.. A figure? 

Before he could even focus, the human man along with his feline companion had him by the arm and swept him out of the shop. *Had he gotten swept off his feet?* Lumen almost chuckled to himself before realizing that as the man veered them away from the shop, the whole park had been thrown into chaos at his little mishap. His face was frozen in confusion. What had even come over him to touch that serpentine thing? 

Having gotten lost in his own thoughts, Lumen finally came to when he noticed the man had taken him to a nearby theatre. His hand still had a strong hold on Lumens arm and he could practically feel the adrenaline coursing through the guy. Lumens heart was pounding out of his chest. His clothes were soaked from the sudden torrential downpour of rain that occurred outside. 

"What in the seven hells even just—" Lumen could hear the man say something about a demon and could feel his hair go on end once again. Ears twitching and grasping at his non existent pearls, he still felt as though he was being chased by what they had seemingly left behind on the shop.
Ivan
The misty figure floated in the same spots for a few seconds, witnessing every soul in the room escape and disappear in the pouring rain outside. A long hiss filled the room as it began to move forward, very unsteadily. It crashed against several apparels while trying to manoeuvre in the hall of items, at some point getting frustrated and crashing them down with two arms that slid out of the blackness. "Fear..." It hissed out, able to scent the emotions of the creatures that just were in here. With a small pleased grunt, it darted forward following the trail of fear. 

People running from the rain would notice the dark shape moving down the street towards the theatre, some of them would scream and run the contrary way. A few unlucky ones that landed in it's path released the delicious smell of fear it was chasing. The same arms that pushed the furniture out the way, coming out to grasp the individual and pull it closer enough for their eyes to be leveled. A man, met the glinting eyes of the mist and yelled out in horror, a dark blue flow or energy coming out of his mouth towards the misty figure. He struggled, kicked, punched, tried grasping the mist, to escape the skinny slim hands that held him but it was no help to the strength it held. At some point, the man went still and lost consciousness out of exhaustion, his body dropping on the wet pavement with a *Thud* And the mist continued forward through the storm, slowly solidifying the more energy it collected. 

*More..*

That's what it wanted, to fill the emptiness inside of it's cold body. To end the starvation that made it's soul hurt and beg for sustain.

The more energy it stole from different people, the more smart and conscious it became. The predatory instinct mixing with the mischief that slowly developed thanks to the thought of a chase with such delicious reward. Oh, how much it missed the taste of the fear and the anger. 

And anger is what it felt when the memories slowly swept in. Those cocky egocentric beings that locked it away in a trinket as she was just another creature in this world. It was Ardat Lili, the devourer of hearts, as they knew it. It'd drain the love of her enemies so they could never meet happiness, punishment for wronging her own happiness.

The figure stared at the theatre from the outside, just standing there, watching people run by but not moving to catch any. It's mind was stuck in a different scent, a delicious old fear that never faded and still existed in the mind of a soul.

 *"I want it..."*

It hissed out loud, a noticeable sharp grin pulsating through the mist, directed towards the watchers inside the theatre. 

She was coming and to stop her, only someone with enough power could bend over a hungry demon.
Carmen
Leo currently being carried like a sack of potatoes (or pretty princess based on interpretation) is letting himself being taken by the flow. 

The rush out of the store, the panic in the streets. It was all just mildly frightening. 

Then again everything becomes terrifying when you get front row seats to dying. This whole towns become a theatre for death. And right now, Leo was in the splash zone. 

Arriving at a safe enough location for the time being, Leo takes this opportunity to turn back into his more... Practical form.

Jumping out of Lir's arm and walking a small distance away Leo prepares to transform. It was not that dramatic of an ordeal although it looked a little goofy due to his current level of magical prowess. What occurs is the effect of a very brief smoke bomb before Leo appears in his human form in the blink of an eye. 

There was other ways of doing it, but making himself not look like a demon was a bit of priority for the current circumstances.

He finally addresses Lir's comment. "Yes it is. And we should get the heck outta here before that demon decides we should have front row seats to our own demise! Quick as a... Bunny... Now..." He looks at Lumen. "Sorry. Poor turn of phrase right now." After briefly looking like Leo has regretted very deeply what he had just said he seems to snap out of it due to the pressing issue of death on the horizon. "Either way! I'm pretty sure I was able to inflict the demon with mild misfortune so that'll buy us... Around 5 seconds if I had to guess. Maybe less."
Gail
Lir had manoeuvered them into the theatre's lobby, along with a few other soaked and frightened souls.

"You appear to have released a demon," Lir informed the young man he had dragged into the theatre.

As the cat slipped out of his arm, Lir wondered if his seizing of the animal might not have endangered it. After all, surely a cat could run faster than a human?

But Lir couldn't have left the cat and the rabbit-eared man to fend for themselves in the face of a demon, not when Lir knew very well what to do if a demon appeared.

Which, of course, was run.

Preferably to a church, or to some other holy place. So of course Lir had dragged them into a theatre, which was more likely than not to be a den of unholy iniquity. He knew nothing of holy houses in this land, or what they looked like.

*And then the cat changed.*

 It changed into a young man in a puff of smoke and mist. Lir released the rabbit-eared man and pointed at the young man who had previously been a talking cat.

"I... Suppose that explains the talking," Lir said as a drenched young woman near them wept and reached out to the rabbit-eared man for comfort.

"All right. Yes, we ought to leave. So. Since we have got, perhaps, five seconds, is there a safe way to the nearest church?" Lir asked. "Best way to stay safe from a demon."

This might, however, be a moot point as the demon drew closer to them and blocked any chance of escape. Lir watched the dark mist curling towards them from under the door.

Lir stepped towards the door as the mists crept towards them. He slipped out a dagger which, he knew, would do nothing against a demon.

"Excuse me," Lir shouted at the bleak black mist. "What do you want?"

And if it is what the demon wants, fear leaks from Lir. New fears from seeing this demon, and old fears having nothing to do with this demonic presence.
Horace
In a daze, Lumen consoled the woman who had taken shelter in the theatre alongside the now three men minus a cat. Well, I mean was the cat still there if he was now a human? Lumen shook his head quickly, dismissing the thought, bigger problems were happening here. 

His heart was close to bursting from his chest but Lumen was pleasantly surprised to find it still contained within his frame. The woman had made her way into his arms and seemed to be weeping uncontrollably as the mist crept beneath the door and into the theatre. He tried to calm the woman down, hesitantly patting her back. 

Lumen noticed the man draw a dagger out as he yelled to the thing outside the door. Reaching for his own chakrams, Lumen shifted the woman behind his back, shielding her for a worst case scenario. Clearing his throat, Lumen yelled toward the man and previously feline man who'd hauled him here in the first place. 

"N-Next time you have a chance to run, take this woman with you, not me!" He gestured at the woman clutching his back. 

Fear was practically oozing from his pores but Lumen kept it together for the men beside him and the woman behind his back, his eyes locked on the door as the room was engulfed with the mist.
Ivan
The demon had slowly advanced until reaching the door of the theatre, walking through like it was invisible. It's mist slipping through the hinges and the perimeter of the door before regrouping into it's original shape inside. It could feel every single cowering soul and their emotions, the delicious quantity of fear that their bodies' emanated. A hiss escaped from the obsidian mist as it took a step towards the original prey. 

*"I see your fear.."* 

A voice whispered through, feminine, a slight demonic grunt attached to it. 

*"I can take it away from you.."* 

The demon said, more gently, an obsidian arm and hand coming out of the mist towards them until it was aimed at the white eared humanoid. It was holding out a hand like the hybrid had fallen and the mist was offering to help them back up.

*"You either give it up or I'll come take it."*

The voice said, sounding more human and human with every word it said out loud. Impatiently moving a few centimetres towards them. 

*Almost full, need ..* ***More***

The mist thought, a small growl escaping from it as the woman behind them, who was clutching the rabbit, started wailing and crying in fear. The mist breathed in the smell of her terror, growing more agitated and angry the longer they took to reply. No matter how scared that woman was, his fear had a more delicious scent, older, nightmare oriented. One that didn't fade with time. The older man also had a similar fear, different, but potent, that made the glinting eyes of the mist scan him and hum in interest as well. It didn't have greediness for both but it would easily take any of them willingly. 

The surrender of emotions was the most fulfilling act you could do towards a demon and this one was no different. 

*"Tick.. Tock.."* The mist chuckled, seemingly amused as it took another step closer. *"I have spent enough centuries in a trinket to be patient."* The demon said loudly, chuckling even more when the woman behind them shrieked as it moved closer.
Carmen
Ah yes, the bystander effect. Except it's less a bystander effect here and more a, 'I will die if I intervene here' effect. Silently Leo starts backing away slowly from the ancient evil that had been awoken just a few minutes ago.

He hasn't been here long enough to even know how to do a last second power up so his best bet was to just... No longer be here.
Gail
Lir turned as the young man who had recently been a cat backed away. He produced a second dagger, handing it hilt-first to the man. He then drew forth a third... The last weapon he had on his person.

"Won't do much, but it's better than nothing," Lir told him. This man seemed to have no means of defense (other than turning into a cat), and the rabbit-eared man at least had the chakrams, though he also had a weeping woman clinging to him to deal with. But this man ought to have some means of protecting himself.

"Try to get the pointy end into the demon, if you need to," Lir told the man who had previously been a cat. "And run if you can. No one will fault you for that."

Now that dark demonic vapor was focusing on the rabbit-eared man. It hissed its wants... Fear. The rabbit-eared man's fear.

Fear seeped from Lir as well, and he gripped the daggers in each hand. Centuries in a trinket... This was likely to be a very grumpy demon.

Lir's mind whirled. He hoped he would not have to resort to... Something else that was very much a last desperate attempt at salvation, if he could even manage it. Perhaps he could hurl a dagger at the demon... But he doubted that would hurt it. And he had only the two daggers now. Best to keep them on himself.

Lir inhaled deeply. As the demon approached the rabbit-eared man, Lir stepped between them.



They hadn't even introduced themselves...