Ambush is all in the technique

[{J I S A}]

I’M STUCK HERE IN THE MIDDLE
AT WAR WITH GOOD AND EVIL

Exactly what Jisa had been avoiding had invariably occurred and she could have kicked herself for it, had that been less undignified and ridiculous. The edges of her vision were greying out with the onslaught of pain and despair and bitterness at her uselessness. The colour was bleeding out of the world just as the blood oozed from her wound, but she could still see clearly the blood sprouting from Ash’s injured leg. Ash staggered and Jisa felt her hands simultaneously give up the fight, relinquishing the grip on the gun just as the hunter decided that Ash was the bigger catch and got to her feet with renewed energy and vigor.

Jisa was pushed and laid on the ground her head lolling backwards as despair threatened to truly overwhelm her. She wanted to curl up and die, and would be quite happy to do so, but she couldn’t haul up the energy to even do that. All she could do was watch as the hunter lunged toward Ash, closing in for the kill.

Just like the annoying villain that kept coming back, Jisa groaned both mentally and physically and climbed to her feet, swaying but upright. Desperation coloured her words as she threw a hand forward, silently willing the hunter to stop as she yelled.

”Stop!” Her breathless voice was still strong enough to carry a nuance of authority and command, but not enough not to quiver. ”We’re… going to end up killing each other,” she yelled in frustration. ”This isn’t going to end well for any of us. Are you willing to die for this, hunter? Because I fully understand needing the next kill, but this is ridiculous.” When in doubt, call in the persuasion skills. Of course, Jisa’d never has to do that before, so maybe it wasn’t going to work. She could only hope to god that it would.

DON’T WANNA SPEND MY TIME AFRAID OF DYING
I WANT LOVE IF LOVE WANTS ME

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[RacingBelle]

Ashleigh

~This is my brand new day in the light, troubles rising up on the left and the right. I keep my eyes fixed on where I want to go; the rest will follow.~

Snap out of it Ash! That voice in my head was back. I shook my head, trying to get that voice out of my head. Instead I ended up shocking myself back into reality. With my turned head I could see not only my leg but also insane lady lunging towards me, trying to finish me off. The barrel of the gun was once again aimed towards me and it wouldn't turn to Jisa to fire this time. My focus was on Jane, Jisa forgotten for the moment. Instincts welled up in me, to fight, to flee, to beg, horse and human both. It confused me and I screamed in utter frustration.

I snapped. I lost my mind. Whatever you call it, I was turning and shifting, somersaulting, and springing up at Jane in mid-shift.

”Stop!” Jisa's voice held a quivering authority that I didn't dare defy, despite my urge to kill the hunter before I got killed myself. If I got dragged down to hell, I was taking company. I stood before Jane, inches away from the barrel of the gun. Inches away from plowing into insane lady as a full grown horse, as I had shifted again before Jisa had yelled the words to stop. I glared at insane lady, no longer listening to Jisa who I assumed was addressing Jane. My eyes burned with hatred and I turned them momentarily to Jisa, begging her to let me finish her---at least before she fired that blasted gun again to finish me. Then, at least, Jisa would still be alive. This was my mess, and I'd accept the full consequences of death.

~The old can be made new, the lost can be found, the lost will be found.~

(Inspired by Jisa! Lyrics from Superchick's Pure.)

[Deathy]

} JANE AZGUARD {

I'm waking up to ash and dust, I wipe my brow and I sweat my rust

Jane was moving, getting herself away from the weakened woman, moving herself between the threats, gun braced professionally against her stronger arm, ready to end life and limb and earn her damned pay check.

Behind the injured woman was also dragging herself up, defiantly a shifter thing. Defiance when it would be more sensible to lay down thy head and see it removed from thy shoulders.

And then Jane’s opportunity was gone, vanished, fled like the Peter Pan and fairy dust, flown back to Never Land. Rainbow-dash melted, the light in the black depth of the horses eyes returning to the suicidal violence that seemed to be her MO. Like a wave from the depth of sea, ready to crash down on Jane and drag her under. Jane staggered to a stop, she could feel her arm shaking, the adrenaline high wearing off, soon to leave Jane the wasted and bleeding human that she was.

STOP the voice came from behind, desperate and commanding at once.

Jane ignored it in favour of paying attention to the horse that was about to crush her mushy dead. That was about to run her down like a car is to a rabbit. Unlike a dog however, Jane wasn’t really one for staring down the headlights.

She could feel the fatigue beginning in the ends of her limbs, creeping into her muscles like ink into clear water. Now was do or die, and Jane was feeling like she might be the one that was about to die. She tensed waiting until she could feel the warm breath from the horse before she brought the gun up to fire.

Too late, she had left it too late, she had only seconds to decided and even if she shot the horse now it would probably just land on her, and crush her anyway. Jane threw herself to the side, the half arsed roll sending her sprawling, skidding away from the horse, she that she created the third point of a triangle.

”We’re… going to end up killing each other,” the voice was frustrated. “This isn’t going to end well for any of us. Are you willing to die for this, hunter? Because I fully understand needing the next kill, but this is ridiculous.”

Jane nearly didn’t even bother heaving herself off the ground, she much easier just to lay her and enjoy the sunshine, but a soldier’s work is never done.

She pulled herself into a defensive crouch, wearily eyeing Rainbow-dash. “Look sister, I’m not particularly willing to die for anything, especially that prancing lunatic over there” Jane gestured with the gun, ”I haven’t eaten anything bar a popper and half a sandwich in four days! Unless you happen to be carrying a burger and fries I am so not interested in anything you have to say”

That’s right, distract, make time, and get breathing room. She raised a hand to the wound and flinched it down, ok pressure later.

I'm breaking in, shaping up, then checking out on the prison bus.
This is it, the apocalypse, Whoa.

Lyrics from 'Radioactice' by Imagine Dragons

[{J I S A}]

I’M STUCK HERE IN THE MIDDLE
AT WAR WITH GOOD AND EVIL

The blurred images moved around Jisa with a sickening intensity, happening so quickly with Ash bursting into action and the hunter bracing herself for a sink or swim moment, that Jisa half-thought her yell wouldn't reach either of them. Not in the riled up, blood hungry state they were all in. Bullet wounds and bites and all. Beneath her, Jisa could feel the tremors in her legs. Once more, she held a hand to her wound, hopelessly trying to staunch the flow of blood at the source. Instead, her hand coated in blood and Jisa couldn't even drag up th energy to think that maybe she should get the hell out and find a towel or something. A hospital would be better.

A stand off had been established, with the hunter choosing life over Ash's raging wrath. Now evenly spaced out amongst each other, Jisa could feel the pressure fading. They weren't in such close proximity anymore, and so rage and blood thirst and whatever the hell it was had already waned, even if only slightly. Her shoulders were beginning to hunch, drained of the energy to even stay standing. But she couldn't swoon and pass out just in time for Ash and the hunter to kill each other anyway. There was still work to be done. There was always more freaking work to be done.

When she was done here, Jisa was going to march right up to HQ and kill the director himself for this mess. He'd made a deal and it had been broken. Jisa didn't take too lightly to being crossed.

"If all you want is a damn happy meal," Jisa rasped. "Then I would be happy to buy you a freaking McDonalds if we could all three of us walk out of here alive."

DON’T WANNA SPEND MY TIME AFRAID OF DYING
I WANT LOVE IF LOVE WANTS ME

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[RacingBelle]

Ashleigh

~Don't stand up, they'll shoot down the first one who tries.
Try to change the world, they'll think you're out of your mind.~

The EF cop threw herself aside, rolled, and pulled herself into a crouch. She eyed me warily and I snorted menacingly, baring my teeth. She replied back to Jisa and gestured with the gun. I almost took a step back, afraid of the thing going off again, but then realized that taking a step back would not stop another bullet from tearing through me.

Then it hit me as a bit of what Jisa had said to the hunter flashed through my mind. Jisa had said "Because I fully understand needing the next kill, but this is ridiculous.” I looked at her with wide eyes. Jisa? EF? No! No, that can't be! I stumbled back, away from the two. I was confused once more---and this time it wasn't from myself. That can't have been what I had heard. After all, I had mostly if not entirely, been ignoring Jisa addressing Jane.

My confusion caused a wave of tiredness and renewed, intensified pain over me. Rage and adrenaline began to fade away, ebbing to low tide. The sea of emotion was reclaiming it's waters from the land that was my mind. I could still feel the blood seeping out of me precious, life filled blood. It stained the ground just like Jisa's and insane lady's blood had. I huffed, tiredly the fight going out of me slowly, bit by bit. It was time to end this, and get Jisa out of here. I could see that the blood loss and pain---perhaps another 'breakdown' was starting to take its toll. We both needed medical attention...professional help. So did Jane. I could see that I had really torn a chunk out of her shoulder. This satisfied me quite a bit. Maybe enough to leave her and settle this score for next time. If there was a next time.

~Revolutions start when someone crosses the line.~

(Inspired by Jisa! Lyrics from Superchick's Cross The Line.)

[Deathy]

} JANE AZGUARD {

I'm waking up to ash and dust, I wipe my brow and I sweat my rust

Jane turned her head to face the rasping, tired voice. Tilting only her ear and the side of her face, a wary eye still directed at the now paused mountain of impending death and trampled doom.

“Make that two happy meals, or the cash for those beautiful babies and I will walk now” she paused, barrel of the gun tilted lazily toward the ground. “Or hobble, whatever, I don’t even care.”

The woman was vaguely trying to stanch the blood, arm restlessly trying what would by now only be achieved by a linen cupboard. Even from the cautions distance that Jane had placed herself at, she could she how weak the woman was becoming. Now would be the perfect time to strike, fast and sure while they were weakened. Her eyes flickered to Rainbow-dash, who seemed to be cooling off, Jane was sure that if she squinted, she would be able to see the steam rising.

But. But, the horse outweighed her, and in her current state of blood loss, hunger and no doubt soon to be impending shock, Jane could not guarantee that she would be able to out manoeuvre the beast, clipped leg or no. her eyes trailed down to the gun and the remaining bullets. Bullets that, given her current condition would become one of her most valuable assets in her up and coming recovery time. Jane did not live in what would traditionally be considered a friendly, or caring neighbourhood. It would kindly and lovingly smash her face in and steal her boots.

Jane took a deep breath, be mature now kiddo, no hasty words.

Jane stood, dragging herself to her feet, ignoring the little speaks of black and white that fuzzed before her eyes like a telly with real bad reception.

“If you call off your attack pony there, and swear on your honour,” Jane snigger, looking at the bleeding woman, Jane could be slow, but she wasn’t stupid, “and the honour of whatever you shifters consider important. Blah, blah, look, whatever, I don’t care. All I want is that you let me walk safe from here, and don’t follow” she moved her gun with those words, just slightly, the hint of the promise of violence.

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I'm breaking in, shaping up, then checking out on the prison bus.
This is it, the apocalypse, Whoa.

Lyrics from 'Radioactice' by Imagine Dragons

[{J I S A}]

I’M STUCK HERE IN THE MIDDLE
AT WAR WITH GOOD AND EVIL

It took all she had not to flinch when Ash’s eyes snapped toward her, dreaded questioning disbelief widening them in the way Jisa just knew they would. The ache of that betrayal would have to wait for later, because the weight of it just couldn’t fit on Jisa’s shoulders at the moment. She’d surely be crushed into the ground.

Jisa was bone tired and draining by the second. The wound couldn’t be that bad. If it had hit an artery, she’d have bled out within a minute. But the steady flow of blood and heady exhaustion said otherwise. Then again, she wasn’t in the best shape in the first place. Still, she managed a brittle smile at the hunter’s readiness to end it all for a cheeseburger and shrugged, despite the shortness of breath that was making the world spin and empty.

”Yeah, sure, just let me grab my purse.” She returned, lacking the bite behind the retort.

The hunter dragged herself to full height while Jisa fought to stay on her feet. Just a little longer. Everyone was in pain. No one was willing to go on with this. Thank the lord for small miracles. As long as they kept trundling down this street, rather than slaughterhouse avenue, everything would be okay. Or as okay as it had ever been able to be- but then that thought hurt. Nothing would be the same again now that Ash might know, denial or not. At the hunter’s request, Jisa sighed a shaky breath of relief.

She gave Ash a beseeching look before nodding. ”Fine, yes. No one will follow you, as long as we too are left alone.” She agreed. ”I don’t think I could make a step in your direction currently, so you can count me out of any kamikaze acts of rage.”

DON’T WANNA SPEND MY TIME AFRAID OF DYING
I WANT LOVE IF LOVE WANTS ME

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[RacingBelle]

Ashleigh

~Don't stand up, they'll shoot down the first one who tries.
Try to change the world, they'll think you're out of your mind.~

Jisa didn't show any emotion to my wide-eyed look, but that didn't mean a thing. I knew I was going to have to somehow confront her later. But right now there was the small matter of getting out of here alive.

Jane replied to Jisa's offer, doubling it, and Jisa snapped back a sarcastic retort. I snorted impatiently. I knew I should shift back and perhaps add to the conversation, but I didn't quite trust my mouth right now, or ability to stand, and this form obviously intimidated Jane a lot more than my human form would. Though I hate to admit it, I was afraid that if I shifted I would show my confusion and weakening state. This was one hell of a day. Welcome back to Clearstone, Ash. Wonderful reception party eh?

“If you call off your attack pony there, and swear on your honour,” Jane sniggered as if us shifters didn't have any honor to begin with and I squealed at being called an 'attack pony' and being treated like I was Jisa's guard dog or something, “and the honour of whatever you shifters consider important. Blah, blah, look, whatever, I don’t care. All I want is that you let me walk safe from here, and don’t follow.” Insane lady moved her gun, as if to say what would happen if we did follow. As if.

”Fine, yes. No one will follow you, as long as we too are left alone.” Jisa agreed. ”I don’t think I could make a step in your direction currently, so you can count me out of any kamikaze acts of rage.”

But I had taken a step in Jane's direction tossing my head, ears pinned. I stuck out a fore hoof in warning, glaring at her. I was just looking for an excuse to attack. Jisa may not be able to participate in 'kamikaze acts of rage' but I was pretty sure I could manage a couple more. I could definitely manage if Jane threatened Jisa. It was my turn to play 'bodyguard'.

~Revolutions start when someone crosses the line.~

(Inspired by Jisa! Lyrics from Superchick's Cross The Line.)

[Deathy]

} JANE AZGUARD {

I'm waking up to ash and dust, I wipe my brow and I sweat my rust

Jane kept the gun lowered toward the ground as the woman spoke, the quickest way to end the negotiation would be to move the weapon in a way that could resemble anything more than a threat, do that and it was all over. Rainbow-dash looked on the verge of throwing herself at Jane regardless of what the older the woman had in mind. No need to encourage lunacy.

Jane gave a humph of amusemnt at the woman’s comment, snark might not save your life, but at least it made the wait before you died less boring.
”Fine, yes. No one will follow you, as long as we too are left alone.” Came the woman’s agreement, ”I don’t think I could make a step in your direction currently, so you can count me out of any kamikaze acts of rage.”

“Don’t worry, I will be finding my own personal section of the park to bleed to death in and won’t be bothering you no further”

Rainbow-dash took a menacing in Jane’s direction, ears flat, a hoof placed out front. Jane took this as angry pony for ‘come any closer and I will introduce you to the lord our creator’. Jane mentally shrugged away the instant, instinctive reaction to lift the gun and empty it into the threat. Negotiation was all about posturing and letting the other side know that you were only letting them go because you had other more important places to be.

“Now, now, kiddo”, Jane tried for a condescending smile, “you heard the lady, Kamikaze action ain’t on the menu”

Keeping the smile on her face like a fresh coat of a paint on a run-down house, Jane slowly raised the gun, barrel pointed down at the torn grass. Using her spare hand, limb shaking, Jane pulled the filthy jacket aside so that the holster was clearly visible to her combatant’s.

“I’m putting the gun away ok? no take-backsies now” she layered her voice with warning, with a retribution she currently didn’t have the energy to fulfil.

Then deciding that if she died now because a teenage abomination couldn’t control her temper and trampled her to paste, it would at least make an interesting story to tell the non-existent gran kiddies, Jane calmly slid the gun back into its cacoon.

I'm breaking in, shaping up, then checking out on the prison bus.
This is it, the apocalypse, Whoa.

Lyrics from 'Radioactice' by Imagine Dragons

[{J I S A}]

I’M STUCK HERE IN THE MIDDLE
AT WAR WITH GOOD AND EVIL

Ash’s badly timed move toward the hunter made Jisa want to just melt into the ground and never reform again. Her energy was running low but her impatience was currently skyrocketing and that was starting to overshadow the exertion of standing. It didn’t help that Jisa’d never really had much control over her temper in the first place. Thankfully, the Hunter seemed to be in the right state of mind and kept to Jisa’s line of logic by keeping her gun lowered and not acting rashly in defense. Why was it taking so long to come to an agreement? Technically, they could all just willingly choose to walk away and be done with it, and Jisa would if she wasn’t so concerned about Ash and the hunter making bad choices and finishing what they’d started.

The hunter made a show of holstering her gun. In any other situation, Jisa would have watched suspiciously and closely, but she just couldn’t bring herself to care anymore. At the hunter’s insistence that they keep up their end of the bargain, Jisa eyed Ash and implored her to just back down. No matter how many times she thought it, the fact still remained. Jisa did not know how much more she could take of this before she actually just decided to let herself fall to the ground and die.

”Well, if it’s all the same to you,” she concluded, decidedly unhappy with how thready her voice sounded. ”I’m going to walk away now, preferably without a bullet in my back or more negotiations to hash out.” At this she looked at both the hunter and Ash meaningfully. ”Okay?”

Putting into practice her words, Jisa slowly took a couple steps backward before turning away and letting herself clench her teeth and grimace in pain while her face was hidden. Black dots danced in her vision. She should really re-evaluate her lifestyle choices.

DON’T WANNA SPEND MY TIME AFRAID OF DYING
I WANT LOVE IF LOVE WANTS ME

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[RacingBelle]

Ashleigh

~Don't stand up, they'll shoot down the first one who tries.
Try to change the world, they'll think you're out of your mind.~

I curled my lip in something of a smile at insane lady's comment of finding her own section of the park to bleed to death in. I hoped that she did. I hoped that Jisa and I didn't. From the looks of Jisa, it seemed that if this went on much longer she just might. But then again I was no doctor.

“Now, now, kiddo”, Jane scolded me for showing my aggression with this strange, annoying smile on her face, “you heard the lady, Kamikaze action ain’t on the menu”

That wasn't what Jisa said but Jisa herself glared at me to back down. I huffed and resisted the urge to paw the ground. I knew that would be seen as another threat.

When insane lady moved her gun, barrel still down, I couldn't help but throw my head up in alarm. Wincing, I watched with a weary eye as Jane holstered her gun. “I’m putting the gun away ok? no take-backsies now” Obviously none of us wanted to do that or else we'd all still be engaged in our little battle.

”Well, if it’s all the same to you,” Jisa said decidedly, her voice strained, ”I’m going to walk away now, preferably without a bullet in my back or more negotiations to hash out.” She gave both the hunter and me a meaningful look. ”Okay?”

I bobbed my head. With this Jisa backed up a few steps turned and started to walk away. I followed, and unlike Jisa I didn't bother to back up a few steps. I could only show insane lady so much hospitality.

I reached Jisa's side quickly, even at my limping slow pace. I lowered my head to where my neck was parallel to the ground and was close enough to where if Jisa wanted to lean on me, or grab my mane, she could. I wondered if I could take Jisa's weight if she were to ride me. I concluded that I could...if I gritted my teeth and she didn't mind the awkwardness of my gait...or the situation. I didn't look at Jisa, which might send her the wrong signal considering what she might be. Truthfully, I was just too ashamed of myself to look at her.

Letting out a low rumble that would get Jisa's attention, I started to angle myself back towards town. I am a doctor, so when you have your big battle, bring your dying to me. I might not be good at much but I can fix people. Words from the past drifted in my head. Well, doctor, I believe I'm going to have to take you up on that offer. Even if we aren't dying or didn't have that particular big battle. I hoped Jisa was following me.

~Revolutions start when someone crosses the line.~

(Inspired by Jisa! Lyrics from Superchick's Cross The Line.)