<span style="font-size: 26px"><span style="font-family: 'Allura', 'cursive'"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(32, 178, 170)"><u>Celeste</u></span></span></span><br/><br/>The power that flowed from her hands in that dark, sickly tar worked tirelessly to hold the beast to its place. Once it had surrounded the minotaur, Celeste's hands dropped, both shaking slightly at the energy it had taken to produce such a thing. She stumbled back as the energy washed from her like a wave and her back hit the gravel hard.<i>Lights out. </i><br/><br/><span style="font-size: 18px"><span style="font-family: 'Bad Script', 'cursive'"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(226, 80, 65)"><u>Minotaur</u></span></span></span><br/><br/>Frozen in place, the beast raised its head and a large bellow escaped it. The sound echoed through the shaken buildings and a flock of birds that had stuck out through the earthquake took off in a hurried fluster. Its chin moved in an arc as it cried out and as its eyes levelled, it searched for Rivers. It seemed solely focused on the man and when it couldn't find him, a snort of anger shot from its nostrils.<br/><br/>The black tar crawled its way higher and higher onto the beast and threatened to eat the beast whole. The minotaur fought against it and the strength of the animal had it freeing a hoof with a bit of struggle. The foot stomped against the ground angrily and for a moment, it looked as if it would break free once more. Just as it looked like it would break free, the long tails of the scourge tangled themselves around its free leg and brought it to the ground. The leg still trapped by the tar-like magic split like the cracking of wood, jutting bone exploding from the thick thigh as the beast roared.<br/><br/>Any eyes that watched the beast at this moment would see the electric current that pulsed through his body. Its chest convulsed with the volts that passed through it at each second, increasing as the bonds tightened further around him. Strangled cries now mixed with a choked gurgle as blood bubbled up in its lungs. Its eyes, wide from pain, widened further as it took in the woman that came up to him now. The woman that held a slightly bent and tarnished fender in her hand was the last thing the beast saw before its world went black forever.<br/><br/>The final gush of air that escaped through its mouth was followed by a quickly greying tongue....and then it was over.<br/><br/><span style="font-size: 26px"><span style="font-family: 'Allura', 'cursive'"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(32, 178, 170)"><u>Celeste</u></span></span></span><br/><br/>When Celeste woke up, she wasn't certain how long it had been but she knew two things: one, she was still in the middle of the street, and two...it was quiet. Blinking her eyes a bit, she stared up at the blue sky (clear now from the darkness that had brought about this disaster). She could sense the others around her, and while she couldn't yet see them, the shadows assured her that they were okay (well, at the very least, they were alive).<br/><br/>Slowly, she sat up. The energy had not yet returned to her and she quickly sought out Rhen to lean against. Magic like that had to come from somewhere and when there was nothing around her to take from...it had to come from her. It took time, and a lot of help from her wife to make it to her feet, but as soon as she was upright she studied her group for any serious injuries. The silence around her brought some peace and when her eyes fell on the beast, she frowned.<br/><br/>"Good job, guys..." She nodded weakly. There was a lot to digest after a battle like this. Her team was<i>not</i>prepared for this. This was a sign that more was coming. They needed to train better and faster.<br/><br/>This beast was after something...or<i>someone.</i><br/><br/>"Let's get home and cleaned up. I think we could all use a good sit in the hot tub and alcohol." She glanced at Rhen, almost pleadingly. "Lots of it."