Oded & Open near the Face painting and Concession stands
The first sense he had that something was not right came as Oded was just beginning to change for his performance. He'd taken off his shirt, but pulled it back on again at the sound of gunfire. The loud bursts were coming from different directions, and some were all too close to the performance areas. The assistants were panicking and he ushered them as quickly and quietly as he could into the solid performer rooms, telling them not to open the doors unless they heard familiar voices. Two of the older women begged Oded to remain with them, but he assured them that they would be safe as long as they stayed where they were. Calling forth a touch of his power, he gave the smallest push of firmness to his voice and it calmed their fears.
Oded's scimitar was back in his trailer, but that did not stop him. Summoning a weapon of fire, long and curved with flames lapping at the air, he strode from the Hanged Man tent. Two Hunters were shooting at the smaller fun booths and concession stands and Oded pulled his power around him, teleporting between them in a billow of brimstone. He whirled, cutting one in half cleanly at the middle, and taking a leg from the other who scrambled back screaming in pain. Oded reached out his hand and curled his fingers back, the injured Hunter on the ground clawed at his throat, gasping to take a breath, writhing in pain as the air was pulled from his lungs. In seconds, the second Hunter lay dead.
He knew Esme worked in this area. Oded was less fearful for his little wolf, knowing she was capable of taking care of herself, but there were innocent circus goers here as well. He strode forward, going from one small booth to the next, looking for injured Cirque members and ushering the innocents into any solid building around them. The humans gasped and fell back from him, frightened by the fire scimitar, but Oded used his power to impose his will upon them, for their own safety.