Out of the Frying Pan (Open)
Aug 2, 2017 15:40:00 GMT -6
Post by Victoria on Aug 2, 2017 15:40:00 GMT -6
Although Tori hesitated to cross that metaphorical line in the sand, she'd already done the deed. Evidence of her magic was plain, both in the scent of scorched flesh - hers and her attacker's - and in the latter's unmoving body. Rigor had already begun to set in while she deliberated, glassy eyes staring her down all the while, wasting what would no doubt become precious time in short order. Tori avoided the dead man's face as she breathed into her burned palms, each breath coming in shuddering bits, the damp only soothing her injuries enough to tease at the concept.
But at this point, she had to do something. Just because the wildlife would take care of the body didn't mean the problem was wholly solved. The brigand had been but one of many, and when he failed to report, with or without her, someone would come looking for him.
The slight blonde closed her eyes with a sigh before finally dropping her hands, collecting what had been taken from her earlier as well as the waterskin slung over his shoulder. It felt about half full when she squeezed the leather, and it was better than nothing. A small voice in the back of her mind reasoned that it wasn't quite looting, that it had been self defense ... but also that she had erred. Tori ignored that voice to the best of her ability as she tossed her satchel and the waterskin a few feet behind her, and drew a deliberate, collected breath before passing her shiny palms over the corpse.
Her lips moved in a near soundless incantation, this time taking care not to botch it. One accident had hurt, probably would hurt for a few days. A second might cause permanent damage. Transient energies coalesced at her murmured bidding, and fire proved once again easier to control than electricity when embers caught. Tori shielded her nose from the stench of curdling meat as she stood, for a moment faltering from the toll of her back-to-back spells, but took cover in the trees to supervise the destruction of their evidence. With dusk setting in, the fire bore its own risks of drawing attention, but no more did it guarantee a human's interest over a beast's.
Blistered hands or not, Tori pulled herself off the ground and - hopefully - out of sight, out of mind for whoever it would concern.
But at this point, she had to do something. Just because the wildlife would take care of the body didn't mean the problem was wholly solved. The brigand had been but one of many, and when he failed to report, with or without her, someone would come looking for him.
The slight blonde closed her eyes with a sigh before finally dropping her hands, collecting what had been taken from her earlier as well as the waterskin slung over his shoulder. It felt about half full when she squeezed the leather, and it was better than nothing. A small voice in the back of her mind reasoned that it wasn't quite looting, that it had been self defense ... but also that she had erred. Tori ignored that voice to the best of her ability as she tossed her satchel and the waterskin a few feet behind her, and drew a deliberate, collected breath before passing her shiny palms over the corpse.
Her lips moved in a near soundless incantation, this time taking care not to botch it. One accident had hurt, probably would hurt for a few days. A second might cause permanent damage. Transient energies coalesced at her murmured bidding, and fire proved once again easier to control than electricity when embers caught. Tori shielded her nose from the stench of curdling meat as she stood, for a moment faltering from the toll of her back-to-back spells, but took cover in the trees to supervise the destruction of their evidence. With dusk setting in, the fire bore its own risks of drawing attention, but no more did it guarantee a human's interest over a beast's.
Blistered hands or not, Tori pulled herself off the ground and - hopefully - out of sight, out of mind for whoever it would concern.