Ari/Drake/Nate
It had been exactly the wrong day to venture down to the docks, as it turned out. Having been let out of rehearsal early - would wonders never cease - Ari had decided to take a quick jaunt down to catch up with an old family friend who had recently made port. She had not seen him for at least five years, if not longer, but the friends of her father always found time for her, and she tried to return the favor. Besides, they brought the most interesting souvenirs.
But she hadn't expected this, just as the sea came into view at the end of the alley she had taken as a shortcut - the sudden shouting and the rising of the waves and a swarm of monsters emerging from the water, heading her way at a veritable gallop.
The next ten minutes were chaos.
She found herself with daggers in hand, backed against a pile of crates, grappling with a giant toad - she had her mandolin, thank Faram for small mercies, but it was completely useless as a means of keeping the stampede off of her - and trying her best not to panic as more and more of the monsters bore down on her. What was happening? There was no one to help her, she thought frantically.
Inside her mind, Ifrit roared until her ears rang.
No one to help, except one. And no one to see.
He came with a rumble of shattered cobblestones and flowing magma - another crater in her name, but she couldn't worry about that now - and threw the toad out of her way. With a fireball, he cleared the immediate area in front of her, cutting a swath with claws and fire. She gasped for breath as he set her on her feet. There was no one in the immediate area - the shortcut she had taken was often deserted.
Was Aspel out in this? Was Drake? No time to check her communicator. Get me out of here, she commanded; if anyone could, he could. If she could get clear of the water's edge, she would manage on her own.
The daggers were sheathed, the instrument case unclasped. She began a song to Confuse the enemies, sending them running into each other - and leaving them as easy prey for Ifrit's claws and spells - as she attempted to find the quickest and easiest route away from the swarm.