Darkness Devours All (Small Assorted Bonding)

The other fire lizard stumbled back, seemingly surprised by the other's sudden disappearance. It was at this same time that the lightbulb burst, sending the place into darkness, and the formerly inert mannequin began to move. It started forward, but just as Phiarlan made his reappearance, it reached out and seized him around the neck, squeezing tightly enough to leave marks and effectively choking him. But luckily Phiarlan wasn't alone - the brown twisted his flashlight so that it was right in the mannequin's...well, the mask that passed for its face, and the thing's grip slackened just enough for Phiarlan to get free. Keeping the flashlight trained on the mannequin, the brown moved closer and glanced briefly at the black mottle, eyes whirling with concern.

He didn't have anything that could possibly tend to the other's injury, but what was important was that they made for the gap on the other side, the one that the mannequin had been guarding. There was no way it would be able to fit through there, so they should theoretically be safe for the moment.

The brown motioned for the older fire lizard to move ahead while he kept the flashlight directed at the mannequin, slowly backing towards the gap himself. He didn't want to risk turning his head too soon because it was clear that, just like everything else he had faced up to this point, these mannequins had the ability to hurt and even kill. He didn't even want to imagine who or what had made them, but given his luck the two of them probably would...

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The little Lepicerin fixed him with a glare...well, as much as a rabbit could glare, anyway, before their eyes darted to the eye. You dummy? Eye catch if see, they practically hissed. No windows, can't fly. Die if move, eye too fast. There was also too much that could be knocked over and immediately draw its attention. Unless the big creature was somehow strong enough to break through the roof, and Scarf seriously doubted that he was, then there was no way out.

The eye turned its gaze towards them again, and Pip's wing would suddenly feel heavy. His feathers would begin to gray and solidify, rather quickly beginning to turn to stone and if he didn't retract his wing he might never be able to fly again. Scarf, easily figuring this out, made a frustrated sound before leaping at Pip with all of their might, though they wouldn't be able to do more beyond making him stumble back. Stupid move from big dummy. Want lose wing? they asked, more than a hint of sarcasm in their mindvoice. I not know better, say you want die. At least now they were out from behind the box, but now they were back to square one. How they were going to get out, they didn't know. At least Pip's wing was rapidly turning back to its normal colorful sheen now that it was no longer subjected to the stare of the eye, so that was something. You have plan? the little Lepicerin asked, though they didn't sound like they were too excited by the fact that they would have to rely on someone else.

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Well, it's certainly a good thing that Pip and Phiarlan are at least accompanied by those with a good grasp of how things work around here! Maybe it will make escaping easier?

Pip, round five - He's found who he was looking for, but now it would probably be in their best interests to get out. What's the game plan? Will they be retracing their steps, making an escape route of their own, trying to get around the eye's petrifying glare? You decide!

Moving through the dark hallways with only his fellow fire lizard's flashlight as a guide, Phiarlan would make the unfortunate discovery that there were even more mannequins than the one that had been guarding the gap between the door. His companion seemed anxious, spinning around to try and catch every single one of them in the flashlight's beam, but none of them seemed able or willing to move.

For now.

It might have been funny if the situation wasn't so dire, the way that the young brown kept trying to focus his flashlight on the unmoving mannequins, but the fear that whirled in his eyes made the situation all too real. If they were to survive long enough to make it out alive, his caution was more than warranted.

And then the pair came to a room absolutely filled with the things.

The younger fire lizard jerked his head towards the other side of the room as the mannequins began to converge upon them, moving at a speed faster than one might have thought possible. Their movements were jerky but quick and it was all that the brown could do to keep all of them in the beam though for every one that moved three more approached - they had to move quickly if they wanted to get out of here, though the young fire lizard seemed determined to guard Phiarlan's back.

Phiarlan was certain both in his element and out of his element at the same time. The shadows, the darkness, those were areas where he excelled.

Spooky mannequins that came to life and nearly strangled him? Yeah... no.

Thankfully his fellow flit seemed to have some better understanding of what was going on and had that handy flashlight, which was keeping further aggressions at bay for the moment. That might be the breathing room they'd need.

That was his thinking until they came to a room that was utterly full of the things.

The Black Mottle hissed in frustration as he crouched, studying the monsters' approach though there was no rhyme or reason to it he could see and for all his thinking he couldn't figure out a way to bring more light, though that was certainly what they needed. But he couldn't even breathe fire, lacking any recently-chewed firestone.

Well, when the going got tough, the tough...

-ran away as fast as they could!

Hoping to catch some of the mannequins off-guard Phiarlan thought an image of quick movement and the pair moving close on one another's tails, then shot off directly at one of the approaching mannequins, aiming first low to the ground, then as the flashlight flipped that direction as the younger flit hopefully turned to follow went up, looking to bound over that one's head and take to the air to look for a way out!

If the brown Firelizard squeaked in alarm, then it was a small sound compared to Phiarlan's sharp squawk-snarl as he was pounced and the pair tumbled beneath the bed. Granted, it was probably the safest place for their little back-and-forth. The ebony flit's eyes were whirling with both anger and surprise, for all that the images and impressions he received made sense he still felt his plan was reasonable.

But, he consoled himself as they untangled and prepared for another attempt, the brown one, while younger, had been here longer and had clearly learned things he had not known before their meeting, namely the flashlight trick to stop the mannequins from moving. Perhaps there was yet more that the black didn't know that had he in advance would've made him see that his actions would've been a bad idea. Time had been against them from the moment they'd met, so it made sense that there hadn't been a moment to spare or a safe enough place to risk a divided attention to clarify further.

Still, though, it only quieted his anger a bit, enough so that he didn't resist following the other's lead. AS he followed Phiarlan couldn't help but scowl; they really did need to find another flashlight, or something just as good. He followed though, hissing at ones that twitched wrong and keeping his eyes open for one that might be sneaking up on them unawares, chattering out a warning if they were getting too close.

Perhaps in the next room, if there was time, he'd ask for greater explanation, and offer to take control of the flashlight for a bit. Even to him it would be a heavy burden so it must be becoming wearying to the brown.

Phiarlan hissed softly when he realized the flashlight's batteries were going out. Just what they needed. He did hurry forward, chittering at the brown to follow close behind, then sent a flash of imagery that he saw a door and a potential way out!

Glancing back he realized however that his companion through all this was about to be in a very, very bad situation. It was time for a quick, decisive move and to take a risk.

The black shot forward on feathered wings for the door, fighting to get it open as quickly as he possibly could. Yes, there might be rainfall going on outside, but even so unless it was nighttime there would be some kind of light, and maybe even dim it would be enough to back those blasted mannequins up!

Phiarlan all but squawked in surprise, finding them not only safely away from the mannequins and outside but back where he started. The black rustled his feathered wings, giving a small snort in irritation. Well, at the very least it seemed like that trial was over.

Looking at the brown he nodded his head, indicating for the other to follow him. If nothing else Cobalt, whom he gave a mental image of, could help the brown find his way home.