A rainy day in the city of angels (Shifter)

Artemis hissed again as John escaped her grasp again. The boy was now hiding behind the new guy. Artemis flicked her tongue and turned around and started to slither towards John again. But before she could reach him continuous explosions happened above her. She could feel it but it was honestly more of a nuisance then anything else. Artemis looked up to face the origins of the bombs and it seemed to be that new boy again. She would have to deal with him too? Fine, but he was currently out of reach, while John was still in her grasps. She turned her attention back to john and began to slither towards him once more.

John had expected Spellstone's spell to somehow incapacitate Artemis, but he had no such luck. The snake turned towards him again, and slithered in to attack. The hero gawked in disbelief.

"Are you kidding me?! You're STILL mad at me?" John backed up as the snake approached him, rolling his eyes. "Listen, ma'am, I'm sorry! I'm not trying to take away your kid! She was like, what, sixteen anyway!" Shift held his hands up defensively. "Killing me isn't going to help anything! Just calm down, and turn back into a proper human so we can talk this out."

John occasionally glanced up at Spellstone, tilting his head rapidly. If you're gonna do something, feel free. Just...gently. Spellstone clearly didn't want to mortally harm the snake. All John could do is hope that he had a non-lethal, knock-out spell up his sleeves.

"I know you can hear me!!! From the start, I was just trying to help you! If this is how you thank everyone who tries to lend you a hand, you'll never get anywhere in life, you know." Shift held his arms up defensively.

Artemis continued to slither towards John. But her form changed slowly as she did. She now stood over John as a towering wolf, a low growl coming from the back of her throat. The wind blew her copper-colored fur and she bared her teeth, getting ready to end it. However before she did she felt changes in temperature. She could feel the conflicted extremes of hot and cold and it interested her enough to cause her to turn around. Her eyes widened as she saw frozen spikes and a whip made of flame heading her way. With very little time to react she spirit shifted, and dodged out of the way of the ice. However she couldn't clear the fire completely in time. She let out a yelp of pain as the flames licked down her side. It could of been worse but it still hurt. Artemis looked back at john and let out a fierce bark as if to say that even if he ran, she would hunt him down. She turned her attention back to the two creatures the fire and ice came from. They looked humanoid but where obviously not. They kind of reminder her of Fera when she first met the spirit. It was weird meeting the source of her powers, especially when she was powerless. But now they where one of the same. Although Artemis wasn't fully a spirit yet. Part of her wondered if these strange creatures could recognize she was a spirit. But they where also not animal so her dominion over them didn't matter.

She looked over the creatures from a distance, they seemed to be covered in what they could control. If that was the case Artemis would need to be careful. If the fire hurt a bit then biting down on them would too. But one was cold and the other was hot. And if Artemis remembered correctly the two didn't mix well together. So with that Artemis ran in a zig-zag patterned towards the one made of ice. Putting her plan into action. If she could get the to closer together, it might work out for her. Even though it was currently 4 against 1, she would not go down with out a fight.

New Grid:

Shift watched carefully, as the massive wolf turned its attention of Spellstone's magic. He had no intention on abandoning the situation. After all, he ass partially responsible for the hassle. He watched the massive magical beings of fire and ice, worried. One thing was certain: Artemis had many varied transformations, but she had tipped her hand even the first time she transformed. There had to be one transformation that was purely for locomotion, or for defense. Now that he didn't need to worry about fire, he was confident that he could land a sneak attack. He just needed to wait for a chance.

But first, he needed to know whether Spellstone had this situation in hand. If not, he could interrupt him and put them both in a bad situation. For now, John waited, watching the fight.

Artemis slide into the wall of ice and was soon flanked by a wall of fire. Strangely enough the two seemed to know how to work together. It honestly made no sense to her. Two opposing forces of nature working together. It made no sense. Artemis got back up, getting used to the footing on the cold ground. She could feel it get to her so it would be best to get off of it as fast as possible. The two extreme heats did have a strange feeling to it. But Artemis would try and get out of it. She took off again. This time she ran a feint. She pretended to head towards the fire beast. Running in a zig-zag pattern to try and avoid attacks. But right before she made an attack she quickly fell back. Hopefully the other demons got close enough together where Artemis could get behind the ice demon and kick her to the fire one.

Watching the battle unfold, John couldn't help but ponder the worst case scenario. What if this was Spellstone's best effort, and that jumping into the fray afterwords simply resulted in his death? Was it alright to bail on this petty conflict? He simply wasn't prepared to die over this disagreement.

But then, there would be a vengeful shapeshifting goddess hunting for him for the rest of his life. Whether or not he wanted this conflict, he did have to stay and see it through, which meant no running away this time. He rubbed the burn wound on his shoulder, and ran behind Spellstone, who was above him. "What's the plan? What IS that? It looks magic as hell. It won't kill her, will it?"

Artemis huffed out of annoyance, so far her only plan had failed. So much for natural forces, Artemis' only plan had gone to hell. Either way Artemis would have to think of something fast. The creatures where back on their feet and already counter attacking. Artemis felt like she was on the ropes at this point, she was doing fine until this new guy showed up. But at this point she didn't really have a choice, she was quickly being cornered. Artemis made a rash decision and on a turn of the dime jumped through the wall of fire. She landed on the ground with a thud and rolled around to put out any fire on her fur. She forced herself back up. It could of been worse but it still hurt like hell. She let out a low growl. She wasn't going to take any of these two down with out taking some damage, but she wasn't going to go down with out of fight.

However, not to far away on a roof top sat a small black fox, who was watching the unfolding battle below. It was a strange sight, a fox in the city but anyone who was still crazy enough to be near the fight. No one knew who the fox was yet, however she knew one of them. The shapeshifter known as Artemis. How did she know Artemis but Artemis not know her? Well that answer was simple, Fera. The spirit that once inhabited Artemis' body was her mistress. And now that Fera was no more and Artemis was now a spirit her loyalties had moved to her. Although not willing at first but it seemed she decided to rejoin her mistress at a good time.

She made her way down the building, not in any particular rush. She knew how the ritual works, her mistress currently isn't a full spirit and in this time is meant to get as strong as possible before she dies. So even if she died here and now it wouldn't be to bad, it would just put her back a bit in terms of strength, not a big deal really. Nika had gotten to the ground level just in time to she Artemis jump through the flames. Nika had actually forgotten how impulsive Artemis was. Either way it was time to make herself known.

"Call off your demons before your crimes against nature continue any farther. " said Nika telepathically. Anyone that would be in hearing distance would hear her, so everyone here would. Artemis even looked around to see who was speaking, but was confused when all she saw was a fox.

"My Mistress is a spirit of nature and this continued attack will not go unpunished." stated Nika. She then darted towards one of the demons, the one that creates ice. She jumped up in the air and turned, shifting her human form. As she landed on the ground she skidded a few feet and shot an eerie blue flame at the demon, who instead of melting like a normal creature made of ice would, began to freeze and let out an agonizing scream. Nika began to backpedal farther away from the demon. Killing one of them, even temporarily, was never with out some sort of consequence. Nika turned her attention to Artemis.

"Mistress please keep for distance for a few moments." stated Nika. She was only greeted by a confused look from Artemis.

"Ah, so you cannot speak in your animal form, don't worry, we can work on that later." said Nika, she held out both her hands and two orbs of fox fire appeared in her hands.

"Now stop your attack."

The telepathic voice in his mind confused and startled Shifter, who was preparing to enter the fray. He watched the newcomer approach, and launch an initial attack. Uh oh. She's telepathic, shoots fire, and shapeshifts. Maybe as well as the other one can...

But, having listened to the strange newcomer's entrance spiel, he smiled and lifted a hand to Spellstone. This was exactly what he was hoping for. He didn't know how exactly this strange new person was related to Atermis (He also knew fuckall about Artemis, except that she was volatile, had children, and was grieving one), but he did know that this woman had Artemis's best interests at heart, and was reasonable enough to SPEAK to them.

"Stone! This is our best chance to resolve this situation peacefully." He gave Spellstone an imploring look. "I didn't even want to start a fight with the first shapeshifter lady. Fighting two would be twice as dangerous and JUST as inane."

Shift carefully ran over to the newcomer, avoiding the ice and flames on the ground as he approached, his arms folded as he looked at Nika with an optimistic smile. "We aren't looking for any trouble, but your...friend has caused serious damage to the city. If you can calm her down, and we can discuss this rationally, we'll have no intention of harming her, or even bringing her to justice for the damage caused. It was...it was kinda just as much my fault as it was hers." Scratching the back of his neck, he approached Nika, extending his hand to shake hers. Please don't burn me please don't burn me. As John stood near her, his hand out to shake, he silently prayed he wouldn't get his hand singed off.

"No human prison would be able to hold her." said Nika, even though the thought was mostly irrelevant. "And if you know so much about us you would know mortal laws do not bind us. Whatever my Mistress did was for a reason. I have watched her for awhile, she does not attack unless provoked." Usually was meant to be tacked onto the end of the sentence. But Nika could taste something off about this encounter. "Either way, attacking an elder spirit is a huge crime against nature, as well as the summoning of demons. You cannot trust those abominations." stated Nika. At this point Artemis got closer to Nika and sniffed her, still not recognizing her scent. She shifted back into a human.

"Who are you?" asked Artemis with a confused look on her face. She couldn't pin it but the girl seemed familiar.

"My name is Nika, I was... assistant to My Mistresses predecessor. But after her death my responsibilities and loyalties have passed to you Mistress. I apologize for not arriving sooner."

"You knew Fera?"

"Yes Mistress, but now is not the time. I will explain more later." said Nika turning her attention back to the two boys.

Spellstone sighed, very. Very. Very loudly, before he grabbed onto the sides of his cloak with both of his celestial looking hands. "You know what? Fine. I'm done." with that, he turned around and strode forward, before his body violently warped into green light - teleporting from the scene.


[soz for breaking posting order, im just leaving this thread ]