Bad guy go away!

"Bad guy go away!" Nukka roared, charging forward with nothing held back. Raz stared as if he were caught dead, this bear was running at him at the speed of a well-charged arrow! Regaining control, his hands became a flurry of signals and movements as he planted his feet firmly, his eyes locked on to the bear. With hardly enough time, Nukka felt the splashing of her paws against the soaked grounds suddenly engulf her sides in a wet hold as her weight inverted into that of a feather blowing in the wind. She was launched from below, picked up and using the momentum she had built against her as she now found herself flying above the young man, her fur grazing his hair by just the tip.

"Owie!" Nukka whined as she made impact upside-down against a tree, lifting its roots up from one side as it groaned and fell back against its neighbor tree. Several Nekomata girls scattered and flung themselves out of the way, some curling up and weeping helplessly. One such cat girl fell beside Syri, raising her head to meet him. His dark eyes seemed cold and cruel, devoid of empathy and reasoning in contrast to her large, ocean blue eyes. Trembling and breatheless, the gray cat girl pressed her forehead against the puddle spread around them, shivering uncontrollably.

One look into her eyes and Raz could sense the feeling of fear and dread in her. Those eyes, he shared them once before a long time ago. For a moment he saw himself sobbing helplessly, unable to speak, unable to think as his dad fell to his knees and screamed to the sky with tears streaming down his face.

So many scared girls surrounded him, the Grizzly Bear dazed and struggling to wiggle out from her little crater as an older, familiar Nekomata hurried to help her get free. They're scared of him, frightened and-

"P-Please don't... p-p-please..." He turned around, looking back at the sobbing girl named Syri succumbing to her capture as she turned away, closing her eyes and shaking her head. Had she just begged him for her life? Or for the lives of those close to her? The gray cat girl held her now, slowly moving to sit in front of her, opposing him.

"You're protecting her?" He whispered to himself, puzzled and surprised.

When he heard the market woman gasp and jump back, when he heard the frantic splashing of feet rushing closer, he failed to look in time as Felix came face fo face with him, thrusting his sword.

"Get away from them!" He pressed forward, eyes locked as Raz maintained a focused hand signal before him. Felix struggled to step closer, feeling his feet being pulled down impeded his motion, while the rising gush of water between them took the thrust of his sword and resisted against the hilt, keeping the weapon from digging through.

Raz glanced down, noticing the few inches of blade penetrate his leather armor and sink into his stomach enough to force a drop or two of blood down the silver edge. He looked back up to Felix with wide eyes as his hand began to tremble suddenly. Felix hadn't given up and continued pressing forward, utilizing his body strength as much as he could. Raz mustered enough mental focus to have his water barrier push the weapon back just enough until it escaped his chest before pulling the liquid back into his calabash bag on his back.

Relieved, Raz wasted no time as Felix stabbed the blade forward only for Raz to evade in time, catched his wrist and flinging his elbow to meet Felix's face, knocking him back a few steps as he was disarmed. With a sweep, Raz kicked the ground splashing Felix on his face and chest before forming a symbol in his hand, soldifying the contents, keeping Felix from swinging his arms as his body was encased in ice. Moving in, Raz pressed his hand against Felix's face, pushing him down as he crashed along the ground, breaking the ice.

Fyoo!

Raz flinched as something stung his foot, quickly falling to his knee and forming the symbol as the puddle around them was summoned to his direction, levitating and forming a spherical barrier spinning rapidly in white waves. Having borrowed some time, Raz glanced down to notice the arrow sticking out from his ankle, shooting a sudden wave of pain the moment he tried to rotate his foot.

Alma rushed over to Felix's aid, helping him up as he checked himself for any damage. "Did he break me?"

"No." The elf replied with a quick glance. "You're fine, thankfully."

"A little help here?" Syri called out as Dimyri and the gray cat girl struggled to pull her paws free from the ice. Felix hurried to get on his feet as he bumped against Alma, running over with her dagger in his hand. Kneeling down, he requested they keep distance as he began to chip along the ice the way he saw Spi'Reto do it.

"Eep! Careful, I don't want any cuts!" Syri whined as her sister hugged her and kept her from watching him swing the dagger down repeatedly. Raz watched them, wondering his next move when a large shadow fell over him as he looked up to find a pair of paws swinging down.

SPLASH!

Raz groaned under his breath, feeling his foot burn inside as he left his shield and exposed himself back outside. Laying on his back, he saw Nukka look up before rushing to his position for another swing. His ankle throbbed with pain and it seemed the movement forced the arrow to lodge itself deeper in, refusing to cooperate with movement. Pressed back, Raz thrusted his palms forward as his gourd bursted behind him through several waves of teal blue water rushing along his arms as they shot forth, pushing the Grizzly and forcing her into the air once more.

Alma ducked out of the way as Nukka fell over, sliding along her side as she shot another arrow. Raz looked up and caught it with his hand in time, heart racing as a drop of blood ran down the arrowhead and dripping on his nose. With a clap of his hands, the teal-colored liquid snaked along the mud before enveloping the mother elf, tearing her bow and arrows to spinters and shavings.

By now, Felix had freed two of Syri's paws before he and Dimyri pulled her off the rest of the way,

"Ay!! Cover yer ears!!!" Nyitzcha's voice echoed loudly through the forest as a spherical black bomb slid along the waters to meet Raz. Thrown back, he quickly managed to encase the bomb in water, clasping his hands together as suddenly the water jumped up and burried the bomb several feet when-

BOOM!

There was a flying mess of mud and filthy water raining down.