Gabriel led them right to where they needed to go, the screams and shrieks behind them growing louder. He looked over his shoulder and saw exactly what he hated to see the most; multiple heads, bobbing along in a furious run to catch their next meal, and they were the ones about to be put on a spit. He sat Jane down next to the manhole and reached across his chest to the other end of his jacket, retrieving the K-BAR he had strapped there, slipping the knife into the slot usually reserved for a crowbar, and pressed down. The extremely heavy manhole lifted from it's spot, and Gabriel slipped some fingers underneath, giving a rather loud grunt as he slid it off to the side with enough room for each one of them to get through.
He began to motion repeatedly to the hole, which was dark, but that really wasn't the issue right now; either get over your fear of the dark, or get eaten. Pick on, "Quick, get in! I'll take care of the girl," he said, of course talking about Jane. He reached up and over his shoulder, plucking the shotgun from it's holster and holding it at his side. At this point he was out of breath and sweating feverishly, dripping from his nose and beard. He was not used to carrying another person's weight anymore, especially when he was running. He'd reach to his belt and toss a flashlight to Ryan. He was now the leader, for the time being.
(I apologize as well, guys. My work has been working me like a dog.)
He began to motion repeatedly to the hole, which was dark, but that really wasn't the issue right now; either get over your fear of the dark, or get eaten. Pick on, "Quick, get in! I'll take care of the girl," he said, of course talking about Jane. He reached up and over his shoulder, plucking the shotgun from it's holster and holding it at his side. At this point he was out of breath and sweating feverishly, dripping from his nose and beard. He was not used to carrying another person's weight anymore, especially when he was running. He'd reach to his belt and toss a flashlight to Ryan. He was now the leader, for the time being.
(I apologize as well, guys. My work has been working me like a dog.)
Jason wasn't expecting a flashlight to be thrown to him so suddenly, so there was a moment where he was a spaztastic fumbling mess. Trying not to drop his shotgun and the flashlight and run at the same time- that was more coordination than the poor soul could handle. It took a lot of effort but he managed to get himself to a state where he could manage everything at once without dying or dropping anything.
The flashlight was flicked on and held between his teeth; both hands still clamped on the shotgun; glasses shoved up his nose to a point where he'd be lucky if he could get them off again. Taking care not to slip and break his neck on the ladder, he lowered himself down the manhole until his feet were on stable ground. He took a few cautious steps, then stopped to wait for the others before continuing down the tunnel. He was currently the only one with a flashlight right now, after all, so he'd be no use if he just ran off and left everyone.
That would be what a lot of people he had previously known would do, but Jason wasn't that kind of guy. It'd probably be his downfall one day, but at this point he didn't care all that much.
His head was turned so that the flashlight beam was on the ladder, so Brinly and Gabriel could see what they were doing. He was hoping that there weren't any nasty creepy crawlies behind him that would kill him while he was preoccupied, or that they would warn him if anything was sneaking up on him. He was paranoid about these things.
He would be rather put out if he happened to die now.
The flashlight was flicked on and held between his teeth; both hands still clamped on the shotgun; glasses shoved up his nose to a point where he'd be lucky if he could get them off again. Taking care not to slip and break his neck on the ladder, he lowered himself down the manhole until his feet were on stable ground. He took a few cautious steps, then stopped to wait for the others before continuing down the tunnel. He was currently the only one with a flashlight right now, after all, so he'd be no use if he just ran off and left everyone.
That would be what a lot of people he had previously known would do, but Jason wasn't that kind of guy. It'd probably be his downfall one day, but at this point he didn't care all that much.
His head was turned so that the flashlight beam was on the ladder, so Brinly and Gabriel could see what they were doing. He was hoping that there weren't any nasty creepy crawlies behind him that would kill him while he was preoccupied, or that they would warn him if anything was sneaking up on him. He was paranoid about these things.
He would be rather put out if he happened to die now.
Jane's face was contorted into a wince. For now, she couldn't make any noise, but she groaned anyway. The claw marks across her abdomen hurt like hell; Not to mention her broken wing.
She felt useless and helpless. She also felt quite angry.
Damned dogs. Of all the things to get me, a freaking dog would be the last thing I wanted.
At the moment, she was set down next to a manhole cover, which the strange man who had been carrying her prior to this moment now began to lift up. The other, skinnier man was nearby, and was tossed a flashlight.
Stupid life. Was Jane's last thought before she passed out.
(No worries about posting. Also, feel free to post without me until I have her wake up.
)
She felt useless and helpless. She also felt quite angry.
Damned dogs. Of all the things to get me, a freaking dog would be the last thing I wanted.
At the moment, she was set down next to a manhole cover, which the strange man who had been carrying her prior to this moment now began to lift up. The other, skinnier man was nearby, and was tossed a flashlight.
Stupid life. Was Jane's last thought before she passed out.
(No worries about posting. Also, feel free to post without me until I have her wake up.
)
Brinly waited until after Jason began to descend. Once she was signaled inside, she scurried down the ladder, slipping a few feet from the ground. She fell, hitting her ass on the dirty platform beneath them. There wasn't much time to really think of that before she forced herself to her feet and scurried up to Jason, touching his arm lightly. "I can't see well in low light, I'm sorry...," she mumbled.
Even with the assistance of the flashlight pointed toward her feet as she descended the ladder, she had a hard time seeing. Her fingers went up to her glasses, where she'd pull them off, clean them, and promptly place them back on her nose. "Thanks for waiting."
Her head tilted back, eyes looking up toward the open manhole. "Are you alright?!" she called, her voice barely carrying up to the duo. Her voice was slight and soft and it was clear, based on how much effort she put in that hard-to-hear call, if she were to scream it wouldn't be too loud.
Even the one she let out when attacked by the dogs wasn't too loud. Thankfully they were close enough to hear her, and thinking on this, she reminded herself to say thank you when everyone was settled somewhere safe.
Even with the assistance of the flashlight pointed toward her feet as she descended the ladder, she had a hard time seeing. Her fingers went up to her glasses, where she'd pull them off, clean them, and promptly place them back on her nose. "Thanks for waiting."
Her head tilted back, eyes looking up toward the open manhole. "Are you alright?!" she called, her voice barely carrying up to the duo. Her voice was slight and soft and it was clear, based on how much effort she put in that hard-to-hear call, if she were to scream it wouldn't be too loud.
Even the one she let out when attacked by the dogs wasn't too loud. Thankfully they were close enough to hear her, and thinking on this, she reminded herself to say thank you when everyone was settled somewhere safe.
Gabriel had this route secured long ago; it was a direct, one-way stretch of sewer leading directly back to his home base, all connecting tunnels sealed off by steel grating. It was about as secure as you could get. Gabriel watched the shriekers (as he had dubbed them) getting closer, each one wailing loudly as if to let the others know that dinner was almost ready. Gabriel turned to Jane, speaking as he did, "Hey, can yo-" and he stopped. She was out. She had lost a lot of blood.
He muttered some incoherent curses under his breath, his head throbbing with the regrets of having decided to 'partner' with these folk, and the likelihood that it would be the death of him. He hated himself at this point, but he had made his decision; they were his responsibility now, and he knew it. Gabriel threw his shotgun over his shoulder once more, and hoisted Jane onto a shoulder, lowering onto the ladder and descending a few steps. It grew louder. He knew he didn't have time to really let her down gently, so he did the next best thing; he reached up and grabbed her wrist, using his other hand to support himself on the grip of the ladder, and let her down as much as he could; unless the others had the presence of mind to help him, he'd just drop her the two or so feet onto the ground below, with a resounding thud, before reaching up and noisily dragging the manhole cover into place.
They had reached it at that moment, arms clawing through the opening at him; he didn't care. He shut that cover, right onto one of the arms of the creatures. They didn't care, either; the one that was trapped pulled away, it's now severed forearm falling to the ground below him with a sickening crunching sound, flipping and flopping and grasping at the air around it. He could hear them running off into the distance, likely trying to find a way around.
He dropped the last few feet onto the ground below, whether there was light or not; he knew this tunnel like the back of his hand.
"Come on," he said, gasping for air, the putrid smell of the sewer making it extremely difficult to adjust, "It's not that far. A few blocks," he assured, reaching out to take the flashlight from Ryan, if he'd allow it. If not, it would probably end up being taken from him forcefully.
He muttered some incoherent curses under his breath, his head throbbing with the regrets of having decided to 'partner' with these folk, and the likelihood that it would be the death of him. He hated himself at this point, but he had made his decision; they were his responsibility now, and he knew it. Gabriel threw his shotgun over his shoulder once more, and hoisted Jane onto a shoulder, lowering onto the ladder and descending a few steps. It grew louder. He knew he didn't have time to really let her down gently, so he did the next best thing; he reached up and grabbed her wrist, using his other hand to support himself on the grip of the ladder, and let her down as much as he could; unless the others had the presence of mind to help him, he'd just drop her the two or so feet onto the ground below, with a resounding thud, before reaching up and noisily dragging the manhole cover into place.
They had reached it at that moment, arms clawing through the opening at him; he didn't care. He shut that cover, right onto one of the arms of the creatures. They didn't care, either; the one that was trapped pulled away, it's now severed forearm falling to the ground below him with a sickening crunching sound, flipping and flopping and grasping at the air around it. He could hear them running off into the distance, likely trying to find a way around.
He dropped the last few feet onto the ground below, whether there was light or not; he knew this tunnel like the back of his hand.
"Come on," he said, gasping for air, the putrid smell of the sewer making it extremely difficult to adjust, "It's not that far. A few blocks," he assured, reaching out to take the flashlight from Ryan, if he'd allow it. If not, it would probably end up being taken from him forcefully.
"Mmmeeehh," Jason started to get up in reply to Brinly, stopping himself when he realized he couldn't exactly talk with a flashlight in his mouth. Rolling his eyes at his own stupidity, he held up a finger to ask her to give him a minute and he'd be with her shortly.
When Gabriel held out his hand, he took the flashlight, wiped it on his shirt, and gave it back to him, almost glad to be done with the thing. Now he could have his hands on his shotgun and not have to worry about a flashlight or anything. "There- sorry. And you're welcome," he added quietly to Brinly, his shoulders hunching slightly as he backed away instinctively from the arm. That- that was just- ew.
He shook his head, his mop of brown hair flying everywhere for a moment as he got his senses back and adjusted his glasses. He was more than happy to be a follower at this point; being a leader freaked him out. Gabriel seemed the more leaderly type, after all. Stronger, faster, probably smarter. Jason was expendable in his own humble opinion, not that he cared. All he needed was a red shirt.
Following was his forte, not leading. He didn't fuss when the flashlight was given back. It wouldn't be his fault now if they walked into a nest of wasps. Maybe that was his problem, he didn't like being blamed for stuff- oh well. He didn't think about it much.
When Gabriel held out his hand, he took the flashlight, wiped it on his shirt, and gave it back to him, almost glad to be done with the thing. Now he could have his hands on his shotgun and not have to worry about a flashlight or anything. "There- sorry. And you're welcome," he added quietly to Brinly, his shoulders hunching slightly as he backed away instinctively from the arm. That- that was just- ew.
He shook his head, his mop of brown hair flying everywhere for a moment as he got his senses back and adjusted his glasses. He was more than happy to be a follower at this point; being a leader freaked him out. Gabriel seemed the more leaderly type, after all. Stronger, faster, probably smarter. Jason was expendable in his own humble opinion, not that he cared. All he needed was a red shirt.
Following was his forte, not leading. He didn't fuss when the flashlight was given back. It wouldn't be his fault now if they walked into a nest of wasps. Maybe that was his problem, he didn't like being blamed for stuff- oh well. He didn't think about it much.
((I hope I read Gabe's post right. Still waking up horf.))
Brinly expected Gabe would have difficulty getting both himself and the unconscious winged lady down the manhole. She waited at the base, shifting from foot to foot uneasily. He didn't answer her question, so it made her worry.
When he began to lower her down, she'd reach for her and attempt to keep her from falling too hard when he'd let go. It was just a couple feet, yeah, but she was injured as it was. Brinly normally wasn't a strong individual, but perhaps with the help of an adrenaline rush, she was able to somehow struggle just enough not to drop the woman when she was released. At least when Gabe came down he'd take her from her. She probably didn't hold her the best way, either - one hand snatching the woman's upper arm near the pit, while her free arm would quickly wrap around Jane's other arm, looping around it from the front. At least she didn't squeeze the woman's ribs! However, Jane's torso did press against hers for the moment it took Gabe to get down here, which might have aggravated the wounds and no doubt stained Brinly's shirt.
When the woman was taken away by someone much stronger, she looked up at the manhole where all the noise was coming from. Stepping away, she found herself closer to the others and not at all eager to change that fact. She was breathing through her mouth, praying to the Universe that she wouldn't get sick because of the smell.
Brinly expected Gabe would have difficulty getting both himself and the unconscious winged lady down the manhole. She waited at the base, shifting from foot to foot uneasily. He didn't answer her question, so it made her worry.
When he began to lower her down, she'd reach for her and attempt to keep her from falling too hard when he'd let go. It was just a couple feet, yeah, but she was injured as it was. Brinly normally wasn't a strong individual, but perhaps with the help of an adrenaline rush, she was able to somehow struggle just enough not to drop the woman when she was released. At least when Gabe came down he'd take her from her. She probably didn't hold her the best way, either - one hand snatching the woman's upper arm near the pit, while her free arm would quickly wrap around Jane's other arm, looping around it from the front. At least she didn't squeeze the woman's ribs! However, Jane's torso did press against hers for the moment it took Gabe to get down here, which might have aggravated the wounds and no doubt stained Brinly's shirt.
When the woman was taken away by someone much stronger, she looked up at the manhole where all the noise was coming from. Stepping away, she found herself closer to the others and not at all eager to change that fact. She was breathing through her mouth, praying to the Universe that she wouldn't get sick because of the smell.
(I think I'll reply for the RP's sake.)
Jane was jolted awake as she fell from the ladder into the other woman's arms.
She forgot that she was supposed to be shy, and instead just said, "Oh, well hello there. Where is the nearest library?"
She felt very tired. "Why am I even still awake? Don't shoot me." Blood loss had caused her to go into hysterics.
She would pass out again soon. She needed first aid. Until then, she continued to bleed all over a poor Brinly Gray.
Her 9 foot long wings dragged along the ground, and she winced as her broken one experienced pain.
"Don't tell me I can't be a bloody bird anymore... That would just break my heart..."
Jane was jolted awake as she fell from the ladder into the other woman's arms.
She forgot that she was supposed to be shy, and instead just said, "Oh, well hello there. Where is the nearest library?"
She felt very tired. "Why am I even still awake? Don't shoot me." Blood loss had caused her to go into hysterics.
She would pass out again soon. She needed first aid. Until then, she continued to bleed all over a poor Brinly Gray.
Her 9 foot long wings dragged along the ground, and she winced as her broken one experienced pain.
"Don't tell me I can't be a bloody bird anymore... That would just break my heart..."
[I'll respond when I get home from work today, guys! Sorry!]