To Fell the Fel [Great]

[Kakashi Hatake]

The copy ninja swore loudly, tearing off through the dense foliage after the raging kaldorei, companions in tow. Dashing at top speed, Kakashi was having difficulty keeping pace with Larea who was clearly more at home within the canopy than he. As the silver-haired shinobi heard the crashing of branches and stamping of the feet of his comrades behind him begin to fade, he knew he would have to make a decision.

The sharingan wielder's mind spun quickly through his mental catalogue of jutsu, attempting to find one that would give him an edge. None came to mind that would not create sizable damage to his comrade or the environment. He had only one option; he would have to only use it for a few seconds, lest he drain himself dry before the mission was even complete. He closed his eyes, bringing his right hand before his chest, forming the half-ram sign. His brow furrowed in concentration as his legs continued to churn rhythmically beneath him, finding footing without need of vision. Kakashi mentally slowed his heartbeat, allowing his chakra network to work at a faster rate. With a final push, he allowed the full strength of his energy to flow forward.

“I must reach him,” Larea spoke aloud, rage and worry mixing equally in her blood. As a child of the moon, she felt an emotional link between herself and her loved ones, strongest of all her lover Davian Riversong. If she knew the druid at all, the rage that burned in her was likely his influence. She would need to reach him fast, before he got himself killed. Before she could make to increase her speed, a pair of strong hands gripped her shoulders.

“Larea!” Kakashi urged, pulling the night elf to a stop.

The violet-skinned woman turned to face her captor, pulling against his strong grip. His fingers held like stone, digging painfully into her bony shoulders. “What?! You’re hurting me!”

The scarecrow consciously stalled his chakra flow, allowing the Kaimon to close and his chakra to return to its normal flow. “Sorry,” the Anbu replied. “It was the only way to get you to slow down. We really need to give this some thought before we barge in there.”

“There’s no time! Did you not hear the screams? My people are dying!” The elf’s silver eyes pleaded with the masked shinobi.

“If we run in now, we can add our lives to the count,” the captain replied bluntly.

“He’s right,” Dack replied. “These things are monsters. We’ll need all of the advantages we can get.”

Larea glared at the team for a moment, mentally weighing her options. “Fine,” she said, finally. “What is our plan?”

“Orcs are basically walls of muscle and anger,” Sofia offered. “So I think we should distract them and try to outrun them. Fighting them head-on is suicide.”

Kakashi nodded. “Good idea. Larea, I think when we get to the edge of the clearing it would be a good idea to distract them with a few of your arrows. Draw them away from the survivors if possible.”

The elf shuddered at the mention of ‘survivors’. “Okay,” she responded. “I may even be able to pick some of them off. I am a fair shot.”

“Good to hear. While you’re drawing them away, Dack and Sofia can head in and free your friends.”

The violet-skinned woman shot a sideways glance at her shinobi partner. “Where will you be?”

“I’m going to find Tagar,” the copy ninja said, casting his gaze in the direction of the camp.

“I do not have to tell you that that is a horrible idea, do I?”

“I’m well aware,” Hatake responded, nodding. “But if something isn’t done, Mokugakure could be destroyed before morning."

Larea nodded, concern etched in her soft features. “I understand. Let’s get moving.”