The Hunt Begins (Dark Data)

[Yu Kanda]

The pony was shouting commands as if she was running the show. It obviously rubbed Kanda the wrong way, especially since she was right. With no words spoken the exorcist executed the commands as shouted in her high voice. Taking orders from a pony, what's next, cooking class with a demon?


The group rushed inside the ancient structure. The large rooms and long passageways provided with enough space to move around quickly, in search for somewhere safe. The structure started to rumble as the monstrosity outside appeared to attack it once more.


within the confinements of the castle the rumbling stopped. Whether the creature gave simply gave up or the magic which controlled it wore off was unknown. For now, the party had a chance to catch their breath.


"Is everyone alright?" The out of breath pony checked with her allies. Kanda sat down, trying to catch his breath, "Fine."


Ash had one hand on his knee leaning forward, gasping for air, running was not his strong suit. Fighting monsters, demons and strange magical creatures from nebula was one thing, but running a freaking marathon just wasn't him. "I'm *pant* just peachy."


Revan leaned with his back against the grey stone wall, his head leaning against the cold bricks, "Yeah, no problem here." Chara, however, had seen better days. Her wounds were clearly showing and fatigue had struck. It was a brave young warrior but anyone could tell she was struggling, "Don’t worry about me. Just give me a minute."


Ash finally asked the question on everyone's mind, "What was that thing?"


The pony immediately had her reaction at the ready, she sure did love to talk, "It was like the earth itself was attacking us, somewhere there must be the source of all this. The place that has enough magic to conjure and control such a beast. We would've seen something this big if it was already here, so-.. "


Kanda couldn't listen to another second of it, "It's just another one of Nebula's forces alright? No need to have a freaking debate over it. It's here, its evil and we should kill it."


"Easier said than done." Revan decided to get in the mix of the conversation.


The exorcist immediately jumped into defense mode, "You think running is a better idea?"


The intensity of the debate started to rise quickly, and not for the better, "Well go ahead and kill it, I'll be here waiting for your return."


Kanda didn't care for his tone very much. Getting up and standing in front of Revan, chest forward, taking a stance, "I don't like your tone, perhaps I should deal with this first and then the beast."


"GUYS!" Ash's loud voice echoed throughout the hallways. " Seriously, stop. This is not the time nor the place for this bullshit. We are in this together. Kanda, we both know that thing would've crushed you, it's better to go after the source of it. Revan, don't poke the bear, you know he's moody."


The general made a noise that resembled a growl and turned his back, he knew Ash was right but was too proud to admit it.


The chainsaw warrior seemed pretty pleased with himself, for once he took the lead, and things didn't go bad. It was a feeling he wasn't allowed to enjoy for very long. From outside the keep a deep frightening roar was heard. Shaking everyone back to reality, they were not safe at all. The entire place started to shake, as if an earthquake was tearing the area in half.


"Everyone hold on!" someone shouted. Kanda was too busy keeping his balance to notice anything else. Then, suddenly over his head, stones started to fall down as the walls were being torn down by sheer force. The creature was still on the hunt, staring down at the group through the second hole it made to the structure.


"Ah shit, everybody run!"