She was still freaking out, but the sound of sniffles beside her distracted her. With horror, she saw that Nocturnus’ eyes were filled with tears, and the sight of it alone made Andromeda’s heart crumple.

“Hey…” she said weakly, reaching an arm toward Nocturnus, pulling her closer. “Don’t cry. It’s going to be okay. I may not remember you now, but… we’ll fix this. I’m sure of it.” She didn’t know why, but she ached so badly inside upon seeing the young senshi crying. It was like even though her mind didn’t remember, her heart did.

Andromeda might be missing some huge chunks of information, but she knew two things for sure: 1) She couldn’t stand seeing Nocturnus cry, and 2) Nocturnus was close enough to her to want to hug her when she was in trouble.

So even though she had no idea who this child was, or why she felt the need to protect her, she encircled her arms around her and held her tightly, feeling like she herself wanted to cry even though she could not fathom the reason.

“It’s going to be okay,” she whispered. A reassurance not just for Nocturnus, but also herself.

"I'm... not crying," she insisted weakly, her strained voice barely a breath. The tears on her face told another story, but she clung fiercely to her claim. That didn't mean she fought the hug, however—no, she practically melted into the older girl's embrace. Nocturnus couldn't do that; even if everything was weird and crazy, and Andromeda didn't remember her, Nocturnus remembered. That was enough.

They'd have to figure this out. They needed to be together. They were here to save Enyalius. They had to save her. The shield didn't matter—the person mattered. They had to do it.

There was still so much going on in the water. The ferrywoman and the oar were down there with Sailor Sedna. Nocturnus still couldn't imagine what kind of horrible things could be happening to their other teammate. If Andromeda had forgotten things, and Callisto mentioned feeling something strange in the water, whatever was going on would definitely be happening to the other sailor soldier still below the surface.

Somewhat calmed and reassured by Sailor Andromeda, the sailor soldier-in-training understood that they couldn't get distracted now. She looked up at the young woman, her message of thanks and hope visible in her dark eyes, even though her face was still wet with tears.

< Sedna! The water is dangerous! Is she okay? > she asked, grateful that she didn't sound like a sniffling mess over the telepathic channel.

If only there was something she could do to help!

Bellatrix only half listened to the others as she continued to try and wake up Leviathan - she heard enough to understand what was going on, but as her arms were full, she had nothing to add at the moment. She would focus her attention onto Leviathan, while keeping alert enough to move with the others as they made their way through the forest.

"Leviathan you have to wake up," Bellatrix said to the unconscious girl. "How will you proposition people to join Team Leviathan if you sleep the whole time?"

Having the girl in her arms made Bellatrix feel more protective towards Leviathan. It didn't help that, if it were not for the small movements of breathing, Leviathan looked as good as dead.

What would it take to wake her from this forest's curse?

Frowning, Bellatrix shook the body in her arms more forcefully. "Wake up. Wake up."

Who said things couldn't get worse in an instant? Andromeda's sight was a reassurance for everyone, but when the young woman asked who the small senshi was, Oberon could feel everyone's reaction - which he could describe with a small sound of breaking glass and confusion. She forgot? He took in Nocturnus' sadness without a word, sorry for the small child that was losing the people she knew one by one.

At least Andromeda still seemed to care. A proof memories weren't just in one's mind. They also were in one's heart, one's body. Something the mind forgot wouldn't be so easily pushed aside by muscle memory.

His mind went to Sedna, feeling a small worry for the only senshi still underwater.

Achelois's heart pulled from relief to panic in only a few moments.  It seemed the water did have an effect.  Essentially some kind of memory loss.  As she listened to the exchange, it appeared that Adnromeda had forgotten about both Nocturnus and Enya.  How was she to explain that to her?  Before Achelois could reach forward to comfort Nocturnus, Andromeda had already done so.   It seemed some things wouldn't change.  She looked over, Sedna was in the water with the ferry woman and the oar.  She would bet they needed at least the oar to make it to the other side.  She sighed heavily, trying to ignore the deep fury that was still there, resting in her chest.

"Andromeda you remember me at least, you've lost your memories of Nocturnus and Enya it seems.  You and Nocturnus have been on several journeys together and I-" She hesitated but continued anyways, "I often ask you two to look after each other."  The next part would be harder, she swallowed the knot in her throat before speaking again.  "We're here because Chaos hurt and took someone very dear to me, she was also close to both you and Nocturnus.  Even though I had chosen to come here alone, you had chosen to follow me here to," She looked for the right word, finally deciding on one. "To avenge this person, Enya, and to stop Chaos."

Quote :

Sedna resurfaces!


The ferrywoman and oar resurface in a Typhoon!

She sent the typhoon up high, the water going up 6 feet from where it was connected into the water. Her eyes narrowed in disdain. Why was the woman not dead yet? Grabbing her dagger from where it was hidden in her bow, she slashed the air in front of her, sending Moon Light Kiss's energy beams hurtling towards the Ferrywoman. 

Mars tried to be quiet as she could as she picked through the bushes, keeping her eyes and senses open. An uncomfortable feeling mounted in her skin, and in a psychic flash she spotted them, just as Mercury's computer would have! Ofuda materialized in her hands and she threw them outwards, aiming for the four spiders clinging to the trees surrounding the path! Their bodies were large and disgusting, hairy in places, naked in others, brightly colored patterns throughout, all in red. 

As soon as she threw the sealing papers she ran forward, drawing the attention of the two she somehow missed, and turned back so that as soon as the others passed her she could set them ablaze.

Battle wrote:

13  Mars summons Ofuda and throws them at the four spider enemies!
Did it hit spider 1?
-6!
Spider 1 is bound.
Did it hit spider 2?
--2!
Spider two was missed!
Did it hit spider 3?
--6!
Spider 3 is bound!
Did it hit spider 4?
--2
Spider 4 was missed!

Battle Round One: 
13  Mars
12  Mercury
12 Shadow
12  Bellatrix
5 Spider 1 Shabon Spray: Did it hit? -1 Bound by Ofuda!
5 Spider 2 Shabon Spray: Did it hit? -1
5 Spider 3 Shabon Spray: Did it hit? -1 Bound by Ofuda!
5 Spider 4 Shabon Spray: Did it hit? -1
4  Leviathan

Forest Map

The Spider Maiden is beyond the path, out of Mars's sight! Mercury's computer picks it up!

Mercury's computer beeped again was Mars took the lead, and just as she was notified of the spiders' exact positions, Mars struck them with Ofuda.  Mercury took that as the cue to run after her, still scanning the woods. 

"Mars, the leader is further off the path, to your right and our left!" she warned. To further slow the spiders, she also attacked. 

"Shabon Spray Freezing!" She intensified the cold of her fog.

She wished so hard she understood what Nocturnus was feeling—this alien sensation of seeing her as a stranger just felt wrong. At least the girl seemed comforted by the gesture, and the promise would be able to keep her going.

She looked up at Achelois—another person she definitely remembered—and listened to her words. She mentioned another unfamiliar person; Enya. She felt another painful twinge as she thought about how she’d forgotten another important person. A person who was also close to Achelois and Nocturnus. So that must be the reason why Achelois was so upset. And if Andromeda had truly followed her here despite her not wanting the help… this person must be very important indeed. And she’s gone? She felt frustrated that such precious memories had been stolen from her just like that.

Chaos had taken too much, it seemed.

Enya. She didn’t know who it was, but she had once fought for her. Risked everything to come here because of her. She could not trust her own memories, but she would trust Achelois. And, it seemed, Nocturnus.

She turned back towards the fight, recharged and ready despite the confusion. They were wasting a lot of time here—the boat had stopped since they splashed into the river, and it seemed if they couldn’t convince the ferrywoman to guide them to the other side, they’d need at least the oar. However, the fight happening in the water was too close and there was a typhoon; it would be difficult to interfere.

As she saw the squid’s tentacles wrap around Sedna, she aimed Ripple Shard toward said tentacles, praying she hit the correct target so they would let her go.

Callisto felt like she was looking in on a private moment between Andromeda, Nocturnus, and Achelois, so she kept quiet and turned away to keep a look out for Sedna. She wasn't doing a very great job of protecting the group so far.

She should have been paying more attention instead of allowing herself to be knocked off the boat so easily. If she had, maybe Sailor Andromeda would still have her memories. 

The senshi emerged with a typhoon of water, pulling the boat woman and the oar up with her. Unfortunately, the monsters form below followed her up as well, and the giant squid wrapped its tentacles around Sedna, trapping her for the others to attack.

While Andromeda focused on getting her free, Callisto pulled her shield off her arm and used Callisto Disc on the Frilled Shark. 

When Mars pushed forward to assume the lead, Shadow could only wonder what had crawled up her skirt. If she was going to assume point, why did she bother waiting for him to attempt his hack-and-slash clearing of the unchecked growth? Why not tell him instead? Dealing with her was always a delicate matter, but he didn't expect her to blatantly co-opt his intentions.

Perhaps it was because Jasper didn't possess the right pair of chromosomes. Either way, the worst threat of the spider bunch was lurking off to the group's left, as forewarned by Mercury. After a quick decision, Shadow began to seek out the few precious contours of darkness that his own energy could reach. Once found, he could then hop between them with incredible celerity. That very speed would be enough to overwhelm the lesser arachnids, and he was also confident enough to leverage that same swiftness against their mistress if it was necessary.

OOC:

 

Shadow will use Dance of Shadows and then attack either Spider 2 or Spider 4 with his sword, depending on which of them are on the right side of the path, further away from the aforementioned Spider Maiden.

If both 2 and 4 are on the right or left side, Shadow will strike the one that is closest to him.

Round 6 wrote:

13  Andromeda uses Ripple Shard(4MP) on the Vampire Squid, hoping it would let Sedna go!
*The attack bounces off of the surface of the water ineffectively!

8 Callisto used Callisto Disc(5MP) and attempts to hit the Frilled Shark!
The Disc bounces off the surface of the water ineffectively! 


Battle Round Six:
13 Achelois
13 Andromeda Water Sphere 16 HP
10 Vampire Squid
10 Ferrywoman has oar; in water, encircled by Typhoon until end of round 6; Falling Star in effect
9 Nocturnus
9 Sedna in water; wrapped in Vampire Squid Tentacles!
8 Callisto Minor Guard
8 Oberon
8 Giant Eel
8 Frilled Shark

River Map

Battle wrote:

12  Mercury uses Shabon Spray Freezing (3MP) on the group of enemies!
Did it hit? +1 for allies
DEX -2 for enemies

12 Shadow uses Dance of Shadows (5MP+2MP - Bright)
Shadow's dexterity increases by 3 for 6 rounds!

(6)  Shadow attacks Spider 2!
Auto hit!
How much damage?
--5
--STR 10
Spider 2 has been defeated.

Battle Round One: 
13  Mars
12  Mercury
12 Shadow 15 dex until beginning of round 7
12  Bellatrix
5 Spider 1 Shabon Spray: Did it hit? -1 Bound by Ofuda! DEX 3
5 Spider 2 Shabon Spray: Did it hit? -1
5 Spider 3 Shabon Spray: Did it hit? -1 Bound by Ofuda! DEX 3
5 Spider 4 Shabon Spray: Did it hit? -1 DEX 3
4  Leviathan

Round 1 has Ended; Round 2 may begin:

Battle Round Two: 
12 Shadow 15 dex until beginning of round 7
13  Mars
12  Mercury
12  Bellatrix
4  Leviathan sleeping
5 Spider 1 Shabon Spray: Did it hit? -1 Bound by Ofuda! DEX 3
5 Spider 3 Shabon Spray: Did it hit? -1 Bound by Ofuda! DEX 3
5 Spider 4 Shabon Spray: Did it hit? -1 DEX 3

Forest Map

Mars threw her hands together, lacing her fingers, pointing index fingers towards the patch of forest to her right, scanning for any signs of the leader, who, apparently, was hiding among the foliage. Maybe with Mercury's attack it would be unable to act against them? "I'm not seeing it!" she announced to Mercury as she approached. "Do you want me to set it all on fire or trust it's frozen like these others?"

As the rest of the group initiated combat with the spiders, Bellatrix gave one last shake of the unmoving body still held in her arms, but her earnestness was dwindling. With her comrades flinging spells and speaking of battle, it was harder to focus herself on what appeared to be a futile task.

She would have to wait until they were not surrounded by enemies before she could put her full attention onto waking her charge. She couldn't help but to give Leviathan another willful shake before turning her attention onto the others.

With her arms full, Bellatrix couldn't contribute in any way, but she could make sure no harm came to Leviathan. Holding the girl close to her, Bellatrix moved forward, following Mars's footsteps, keeping an eye out for any possible attacks.

"... We should set it on fire anyway!" Mercury answered her, watching as Shadow dispatched one of the still mobile spiders. "We shouldn't take any chances!" They didn't have time for another ambush if they let them get away.

Unconsciously sensing danger and with Sailor Bellatrix's help, Sailor Leviathan attempts to wake.


In the dream, the bar began to shake as though there was some kind of earthquake. Outside of its walls, Sailor Bellatrix's voice could be heard, but her words were muffled. They sounded more like wind than anything from a person.


Still, it was enough.


"Aw, f*ck," Sailor Leviathan said, finally able to move within her own world. "I'm sleeping. It's amazing how you only realize how stupid dreams are until you wake up. I knew my contract with Sailor Galaxia ended when she died. Butt out of my dream. You don't control me anymore, Galaxia."


 "That's right," said the person seated next to her, where the golden clad armor had sat before. "She doesn't control you now. But that doesn't mean you won't make the same mistakes again."


It was Enoch, or rather Azazel Knight. His skin was a dark blue-gray and his bright eyes were glassed over and cold. He was dripping wet. Blood from a fatal wound on the back of his head leaked and mixed with the water on the floor. A deep, purple mark of a hand was embedded in his throat.


As he reached out for her, Leviathan fell back and held in a scream.

Quote :

4  Leviathan attempts to wake up!
Did it work?
--5


Leviathan stirs!

It was beginning to feel almost desperate - setting fire to a forest would have that effect, she supposed. The idea of being surrounded by flames in a thick forest wasn't exactly a pleasant one, but it did seem like an effective course of action.

In all of the action and talk going on, Bellatrix almost didn't notice the small change of movement coming from the girl in her arms. If she hadn't been holding Leviathan so close, she might not have noticed at all. It wasn't the best time to be dividing her attention again, but Bellatrix lessened her hold on Leviathan enough to look down at the girl's face, though she still held her safely in her arms.

"Leviathan?"

Was Leviathan really waking up, or had it been her imagination?

The search for pockets of darkness within the bright forest had been difficult, but Shadow's efforts had paid off surprisingly well. His body flickered as if it were waves of light hovering above a hot roadway, rippling and roiling with unseen energy. In this state, he was able to traverse dimly lit spaces without hinderance.

One such dark spot had existed near one of the large, red-patterened spiders that Mars had previously attacked (and missed) with her sealing wards. Guided by his hands, Schwarzpferd passed through that creature's disgusting body as easily as he had passed through the forest space.

When Mercury reaffirmed Mars's suggestion to unleash a blistering inferno, Shadow warped forward again to take up a defensive posture near the grouped senshi. His eyes darted to Bellatrix and Leviathan momentarily, then back to the glade.

Until they could see the spider maiden for themselves, none of them were safe.

"Keep going!" she directed, not knowing how fast the fire would spread when it caught. The moment they were all behind her, she threw out her energy, throwing the words from her mouth with vindiction, "Burning Mandala!" As the hoops of fire burst from her fingers, she directed them in a small arc before her, stretching from the known spiders on one side of the path to the section of forest where their leader hid, pausing there for the greatest effect.

The forest caught easily and burned quickly, emitting dark, acrid smoke into the air!

Battle wrote:

13  Mars uses Burning Mandala (3 MP) on multiple targets!
How much damage?
--3
--CTRL 9
--MP 2
----Total of 14 points of (direct) damage!
Auto hit for spiders!
Did it hit hidden Spider Maiden?
DEX check - Mars 13, Spider Maiden 8-2(S.S.Freezing)=6; Auto-hit!
It hit!
How much damage per creature?
--11/4
--2 per spider, 3 for Maiden!

The forest catches fire! Additional points of damage will be dealt per turn for the spiders! 

Battle Round Two: 
12 Shadow 15 dex until beginning of round 7; defensive position 
13  Mars
12  Mercury
12  Bellatrix
8 Spider Maiden (Hidden): Did it hit? -1; DEX 6; aflame
4  Leviathan sleeping
5 Spider 1 Shabon Spray: Did it hit? -1 Bound by Ofuda! DEX 3 aflame
5 Spider 3 Shabon Spray: Did it hit? -1 Bound by Ofuda! DEX 3 aflame
5 Spider 4 Shabon Spray: Did it hit? -1 DEX 3 aflame

Forest Map

She nearly panicked when something unexpectedly wrapped around her, Sedna's attention having been so focused on the ferry-woman that she had lost track of her surroundings. Looking down, she saw tentacles that looked as if they belonged to an aquatic animal. Taking her chances that she would be able to communicate with it, she closed her eyes in concentration, seeking out the one that had a hold of her with her mind. 

Please, I am not your enemy, her earlier anger towards the ferry-woman beginning to fade. She loved Marine animals, and for her, this was familiar. Let go of me, I do not wish to harm you. 

Much to likely Sailor Bellatrix's relief, Sailor Leviathan's eyes jolted open. She gasped and clutched onto Bellatrix, not initially remembering where she was or knowing what they were doing now.

"I heard your voice," she said with muted surprise. "T-thank you. Don't sleep. I think this forest does something to you. Gives you nightmares or something, even if you're super strong like me. At least I think that's what it does..."

Before, Bellatrix was some fun of the mill sailor soldier to the soldier of illusions. Now, Leviathan took her more seriously. Sure, the others ignored her and left her friend to die but here was a girl who went out of her way to help her under duress.

Could Bellatrix become someone she could trust?

Leviathan stumbled to her feet and began to run with the others.

"W-w-what's the plan, guys? If you need an illusion, I've got illusions!"

A checker patterned hat appeared on her head for a brief second to show her devotion to the cause of getting out of the terrible situation.

Spoiler:

 

OOC: The illusion is not a combat action but a flair for story purposes.

"Our plan is to stay out of the fire," Shadow commented to the awakened Leviathan as he watched the smouldering forest for the elusive spider mistress. While it was good that she could run under her own power again, it seemed unlikely that her assistance would be necessary. The arachnid leader was at a major disadvantage; if she attacked now, she would be exposing herself to a harsh reprisal.  But when were the schemes of Chaos and its children ever easily predicted?

Though his body was roiling with energy, Shadow's voice was flat and disassociated from the spectacle of the burning grove. If the largest spider chose to flee, then they were finished with the group and would be free to move onward.

"Mars seems to have things under control."

Leviathan's awakening was a welcomed surprise. Bellatrix had almost given up hope that the girl would wake up anytime soon, leaving their group one person down and without access to Leviathan's information and useful illusions. A small part of her had begun to wonder if Leviathan would even wake up at all.

Bellatrix was thankful that it hadn't come to that dark conclusion.

As Leviathan thanked her, Bellatrix felt a blush come to her cheeks, but she smiled. "No more sleeping," she agreed.

Once Leviathan was settled on her feet once more, Bellatrix summoned her spear. The warm metal felt good in her hands, tingling through her gloved fingers.

Taking care of Leviathan had been a strangely pleasant task - it wasn't often Bellatrix got to help someone, as she was more of the pure attacking type - but she was grateful to have the full use of both her hands.

The sudden appearance of a checkered hat atop Leviathan's head was somehow not surprising. Bellatrix grinned - Leviathan certainly was strange, and Bellatrix didn't know if she'd ever be able to keep up with her antics, but she didn't think the girl was as uncaring as it had seemed at their arrival.

At Shadow's effective, though somewhat flat, summary of their group's current plan, Bellatrix glanced at him, curious at his tone of voice, but she turned her attention back onto the battle soon after.

"Let's keep moving!" Bellatrix called out, keeping her steps quick and light. They had to stay ahead of the flames - who knew how quickly they would spread?

Thank you, she directed her thoughts once more towards the squid when it released her. Deciding that it was safer to be in the boat, she swam as quickly as she could towards it, intending to pull herself aboard when she reached the boats edge. 

OOC:

 

Kyra said on Skype that the squid had released Sedna so I'm going with that  

Sailor Mercury

Mercury passed Mars and slowed down enough to watch as she released her Burning Mandala on the woods behind them. Just as she had hoped, the trees and shrubs burnt like they logically should have, engulfing the spiders as well. If that didn't outright stop them, it would certainly be crippling.

And as they all ran away from the flames, Sailor Leviathan was starting to wake up again. She had veen worried that the forest was forcing her to sleep harder than usual, but Bellatrix was able to rouse her.

"We're getting close to the other side, we just need to keep going forward!" Mercury said. She kept part of her attention on her computer visor for any more surprises, but she was confident that they could deal with them.

Sailor Callisto

She watched as her buckler reflected off the water's surface like it was a solid object, and she caught it on the rebound with a frown. Well this made things difficult... Andromeda's attack also missed it's mark, but not long after, the squid tentacles let Sedna go anyway. Was it scared off?

What mattered was that Sedna was free, so Callisto let the mystery slide.

"Are you feeling normal?" Callisto asked her, reattaching her shield. She dropped her Minor Guard , knelt by the boat's side, and held a hand out for her to grab.

She frowned in frustration as her attack bounced off of the water. As Sedna climbed back onto the boat, she eyed the ferrywoman still trapped in the typhoon. "Now how are we going to get the oar to move the boat?"

"Could always take it from her once she dies," Senda said nonchalantly. Honestly, why should she care if the woman died?