Esperia first looked at Arisa, then bowed formally. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Arisa," she said with a smile on her face, and then she looked at Shadow when she was fully bent over.

"... Will he be alright?" Esperia asked with a concerned look and voice.

Zalia stared up at Beelzenef, wearing a pink binki. "You love me?" She asked him, still sitting on the ground.

******

Arisa nodded her head. "Shadow's just angry. He'll be fine when we get moving again." She replied, as she gently stroked Shadow's forehead.

Esperia nodded, saying, "So I see. I'm glad that you two don't seem to be hurt... Why were ninjas attacking you?"

Beelzenef dropped the dagger he had taken from the goblin escorts and turned to Zalia. He walked over to her and helped her stand before saying "Yes, me love Zalia." As he held her close

*****

Steve walked around Shadow and said "We kinda got sucked into helping some dorks recover a sword buried inside a mountain. The ninjas who were attacking us were from some other group trying stop them. Long story short we got roped into one crazy battle." as he walked over to Arisa and Esperia

Zalia blushed, as Beelzenef held her close. "I..I love you too, Beelzenef." She said, her face turning more red, as she spoke.

******

Arisa looked at Steve, then folded her arms. "That's the short version." She said to him. "We'll skip the awkward parts." She glared at Vizard and Gizzard once again.

"So I see," Esperia said as she saw the others, taking a suspicious look at Vizard and Gizzard.

"It seems you still have injured people. Do you need help?" Esperia asked in a concerned tone again, as she saw the wounds of others.

Though she was surprised that Beelzenef picked her up, and kissed her, she allowed herself to be swept off in the moment. She wrapped her arms around Beelzenef, and kissed him back..her face still red.

Esperia chuckled a bit at the friendly banter despite the atmosphere. "It's good to see some are still cheery around here."

Esperia turned to the others and bowed formally again. "Hello to you all, my name is Esperia," she finished and stood straight back up again. Then she gave a warm smile to everyone and said, "If it's alright with you, may I travel with you for a while? I can do my best to support you all with my magic, I specialize in barrier & healing magic, however I can also have a little offensive prowess myself," she exclaimed as she showed off her halberd and stuck the end into the ground. The cloth tied just under the blade was waving in the wind, as if to exemplify her confidence in her skills.

Zalia smiled gently, as Beelzenef carried her to the creek, then blushed as he commented on her bikini. "I'm glad you think so." She said in a soft tone. "Um...thank you." She said to him. "I really did not expect for that to happen." She looked at the water. "I thought that when you confessed your love for me, that it would be more romantic." She slowly moved her eyes back to Beelzenef.

"You got shot while you were fighting."
Tyrcestus looked into her eyes for a split second too long, looked at her chest which made things worse, and eventually settled for checking her body to see if he missed any injuries.
"Sean got the poison out, we're at the bottom of the mountain and now I'm carrying you. Also, you kinda morphed back which is quite obvious, so I... er... covered you up."
I think that's the most dignified way I've ever admitted to being in my underwear.
"Anyways, I healed you up as well, so that's good. Don't want my girl to -"
His eyes went completely wide and he clamped his mouth shut.
I think i'm going to just curl up and die now. Yep. Sounds good to me, yes sir.

As Vizard got up from Shadow's kick, complaining "But it's no fun with pants, lady!" Gizzard was examining Esperia's assets. Then he examined her "ass"-ets.
"Well, you're certainly qualified for our little harem deal we have going. And barrier magic sounds sweet. But you'll have to take it up with our fearless leader. He's the one holding the girl in his underwear."
Clun rolled his eyes.
"Always funs..."
Tyrcestus managed to snap out of his mortified state to calmly address Esperia with the correct dignity.
"Most pleasant to meet you. Forgive my indecency. I'm afraid you caught me at a bad time. I'm sure you would be most welcome if you travelled with us. Just don't annoy Hexy and don't tease the boys," he said, indicating Vizard and Gizzard who both had their innocent-little-angel faces on.
"Who, us?"
"We don't know what you're talking about!"
"Riiight..."

Hexy blushed crimson, but before she could reply she noticed Sean looking funny, and grabbed him to keep him steady.
"D-d-don't fall over! Y-you'd get all dirty, and -"
It was at that point Zerron's comment registered in her head, and a second later the flame ninja was being solidly beaten around the head with a broom-stick.
"I AM NOT SEAN'S GIRL! I AM A LADY AND YOU WILL ADDRESS ME AS SUCH! I AM SEAN'S LADY!"
At which point she realized what she'd said and for a second, both her and Tyrcestus's faces looked exactly the same.
Vizard and Gizzard guffawed.
"And you say we're bad...."
"SHUT UP!!" Tyrcestus and Hexy both yelled.

Esperia was being flustered at all of the activity that was going on... She didn't take too kindly to Vizard "observing" her and was sure to give him the classic glare any woman gives when they detest a man doing something.

She then was pointed to the "Leader"... Who was in his underwear carrying someone. "W... What happened to your clothes?!" She asked in a slightly high voice while trying not to look down from his face. She was clearly flustered. "What happened to her? The girl in your arms?" She then asked to try not to appear embarrassed.

She then remembered he was the one to talk to about traveling with them and asked, "... You're the "leader" of everyone here, right? Would it be acceptable of me to travel with everyone here? I currently do not have a home, and traveling in a group is safer than alone," She said formally, although with a nervous tone.

Zalia smiled gently, as Beelzenef held her in the water. "So they thought they could get to you through me?" She asked, as she tilted her head slightly. "I'm just glad you were there to stop them." She looked down. "For some reason I can't transform when I'm under stress."

Tyrcestus nodded assent to Esperia.
"Sure. Feel free to come with. The more the merrier. And as for my and her attire... kinda complicated."
He looked down at Trinity, and goosebumps rippled over his skin that had nothing to do with the cold.
"Nah, you kinda look cute in my clothes -"
He instantly blushed again and clammed up.
"I-I mean, let's go."
He started walking, still carrying Trinity. The others followed.
Hexy followed after Tyrcestus, not looking at Sean.
"I need a drink..." she mumbled.

"Well take care of baddie Danzo I will. No worry now, just nice time relax." Beelzenef said calmly as he leaned back, letting the water flow over the two. After some time of relaxing in each others arms, the two got out of the water and dried themselves off. Beelzenef looked over and asked "Want me carry Zalia back, or will change to tiny fox?"

*****

Steve walked up to Tyrcestus and said "So where is this battle gonna take place?"

Zalia smiled softly. "I'll transform." She replied, as she closed her eyes, concentrating on the same form she had transformed into when they were in the cave. When she opened her eyes, she was sitting in between the top of her bikini, and the bottoms of her bikini. She looked up at Beelzenef, and her ears twitched.

******

Arisa held Shadow's reins, as she walked next to him, allowing him more rest from carrying her. Shadow looked at Arisa and grunted. Arisa looked at Shadow. "You need to rest more." She said to the black horse.

Hexy gave Sean a look that was a cross between a smile that could light up the darkest room and a glare that would frighten the dead.
Fweep gave Zerron one last whack, before reluctantly floating back to Hexy's side.
"Good Fweep."
She petted it.
"And Sean?" she said sweetly. "I may like you a lot. But if you think about teasing me or making me out to be silly I will reduce you to a talking head I can carry around on my belt and make out with."

Tyrcestus, at the head of the group, shivered a little at these words. Then he thought about making out with Trinity, and shivered for a very different reason.
Upon hearing Arisa, Clun promptly gave Shadow a piggy back ride.
"Not fair on the horsey to do all the work," he said promptly.