Survival Of The Fittest

Iliya lay face up on the ground, the cold draining all colour from her face, a light dusting of snow covering her whole body, eyes staring out beneath lashes brushed with flakes.

Her throat was ripped open, the snow, her clothes, her skin all splattered with blood. Rusty on the clothing, vividly red across the surroundings, and just, just there on her body.

Piper straightened up, breath pluming out in shuddering gasps. No idea how long ago this happened. Couldn't string three thoughts together, let alone an investigation. Killer could be around the closest tree, or half the island away.

Christ, could she even start to protect someone from something like this?

Another shaking breath. She felt sick, nausea but adrenaline but fear but anger. This was such bullshit, this was terrifying, she had to act, she couldn't look.

Had it got colder? She couldn't tell. Maybe that was her blood running through with ice. Piper had thought the smattering of red at the listening station was bad. That didn't even get anywhere close.

The night was frigid. She'd have traded her parka, bag and boots for a bokken.

((Janice Cresner continued from Casting The Runes))

It was a dark and frosty night...

Janice walked down the Old Road, knives out in her shaking hand. The other hand gripped her turned on flashlight that was shining onto the ground, which made it easier for her to see where she stepped.

If she'd learned something about the encounter with Manic Pixie Gun Girl it was that she'd need something better than a knife, if she doesn't want to die. She also needed better meat shields who wouldn't run away at the first sight of danger. She was frustrated about her current situation, but that didn't mean she couldn't change it if she'd work hard enough for it.

Janice stopped once she realized that there were two figures ahead of her on the road, one lying and one standing.

That was that. She was heading back. Piper couldn't handle any more of this.

She turned around, and saw a light not far away. Son of a bitch.

"Who's there!? Who the fuck is there!?"

Seconds ticked by. The only sound was her breathing.

Figured.

Piper clenched her fists.

Whoever was behind her was between her and safety. Either they'd killed Iliya, or they had bad intentions regardless.

Her pounding heart calmed and slowed. That made it easy.

She pushed back her sleeves and marched on the small pool of light.

The only thing that could be found on the ground of the old road was an activated flashlight and footprints leading off-road.

It'd looked low to the ground, she hadn't expected the light source to be on the ground. Couldn't possibly be an abandoned flashlight, and whoever it belonged to had kept the beam from hitting Piper in the back. Though, with how she'd been just before, maybe Piper wouldn't have noticed.

Piper cast about, but saw nothing out in the gloom, no thanks to the bright spots now burning into her eyes. Dammit. Her night vision was fucked.

Back down on the ground, there were heavy impressions in the snow. Someone had moved off, probably after seeing her, but before Piper turned.

Couldn't let this slide. If they started following Piper, it was all kinds of bad news.

Piper stepped off the road.

Hidden in the dark, two brown eyes were preparing to strike.

Piper stepped closer to the tree in which behind Janice hid. Janice counted down in her head.

3, 2, 1

Then, she stepped out and wildly swung her ulu knife in the air, not really daring to step closer and not ready to actually hurt Piper in any way.

Her heart raced, she stepped closer and attempted her first hit at Piper by slashing in the direction of her arm.

Movement.

First swing was more a brandish, a threat.

Second swing was right at Piper.

She stepped back and the knife flashed past her arm. Fuck.

Could she fend off a blade with no weapon? Couldn't set her footwork right in the snow and wearing boots.

Piper couldn't tell who it was. Didn't matter. She threw out a leg kick, struggling to torque properly with the uneven ground. Keep distance for now, wait for a chance.

Janice didn't expect to get hit back, let alone kicked back. It connected with her shin, it was painful due to the power of the kick. She felt like she could stumble with the uneven ground and the kick against her leg, but Janice worked against that trying to keep her balance, barely managing to do so. Having in mind that she had a knife in hand, and attempting to not point it at her own body, made the balancing even more awkward.

To largen the distance between her own torso and the knife, she attempted another swing - this time in the direction of Piper's face.

They came forward again.

Piper jerked back, too slow. The knife struck across her forehead, gashing open her brow.

She swore as hot blood instantly ran into her eye.

Had to get the weapon away.

This time she stepped in, reached for the wrist. If she caught hold, she'd throw them, if she didn't, she was dead.

Felt like a hit. Felt like something grabbed her wrist.

Janice tried moving her arm to get out of the grip, but couldn't successfully get out.

"Let go!"

Piper popped her hip into the other girl and then bodily flipped her over herself.

Janice could feel getting thrown. She landed on the uneven ground, with a painful impact in her rib cage area. Out of shock she dropped the ulu knife.

Janice still trying to digest what happened, slowly tried to get up.

Piper soccer kicked her in the ribs.

Twice.

The black winter boots of Piper's collided with Janice's rib cage. She yelped in pain, and after the second kick, she decided to roll on her side, to prevent her lungs to be impacted any more. She eyes the ulu knife lying next to her on the ground and reached for it with her right hand.

"The fuck you do."

Piper stomped on the outstretched arm.

Couldn't see at all out of her left eye now. Even when she swiped at it and left a smear on her arm, the cut just filled it right back up.

The cold stung at the wound. Didn't know how deep it was. Hurt like hell.

She kicked the girl again, drew her foot back. Stopped.

Keep going and she'd kill her. Either right here and now, or beating her too bad to get up and get to shelter before she froze.

Was that what Piper wanted?

Dammit, she knew it wasn't. She protected herself, that was all. Any further was too far.

Whatever. Piper could get the knife away from someone who'd shown they were willing to use it, then head on back to the listening station.

Piper stooped for the weapon.