It was an odd feeling to know how much the world continues spinning without a person. Perhaps it should be comforting, one person can't stop the world. Yet, as Rene stared at the passing scenery, she wished it did. The world didn't care. Her pain was insignificant, a mere passing twinge of darkness in the history of humans. A dark blink, nothing more, soon to be washed away. In a way that made it worse. The fact her pain didn't matter.

Michael's arms clutched her tightly and while she was tempted to rip them off, she didn't. He was afraid. It was obvious from the slight quake with every dip and turn to the ghostly white of his knuckles. It was nice to know at least her pain wasn't the only insignificant emotion happening right now.

Rene ran her fingers over Kai, feeling the emitted heat and sharp scales. He really was beautiful. The two of them were being secured by Rene's vines, minus the thorns. The group had discovered it was the easiest, cheapest, and most secure way to stay on the dragons, though it did give an uncomfortable rash around her legs at times.

Picking at the vines, Rene reached out to Kai.

I'm...I'm sorry I shut you two out.

Half the day had been spent trying to dig them out from the cobwebs of her mind where she flung them. It had been terrible, the process dredging up the dark parts where she hid everything to die. Worst of all, she had to face them by herself. It was more terrifying than being in the barrel...more dark than the Asylum. She couldn't be alone again.

Rene leaned forward, causing Michael to let out a small yelp, until she could lay her cheek against Kai. His large heart pumping behind his skin, each beat a bass that rumbled her chest. She closed her eyes to hide the watering, which was not just from the wind. Neither of them had spoken to her since she had unburied. It was a shock in particular not to hear Kai's gentle reassurances. It was hard to tell if they were giving her the silent treatment or somehow their communication line had been severed. Still Kai had pulled himself off her arm and offered his back for the ride, big golden eyes watching her, tearing through her soul with their all knowing gaze.

The wind whipped past them, ripping at her mass of hair which was basically dreadlocks at this point. It was rushing so fast. Normally she'd have found the experience exhilarating. There was nothing quite like the feeling of flying, the push and pull of being surrounded by something one couldn't see. Now it felt almost suffocating. The wind threatening to push her over the edge while also crushing her into Kai. She couldn't breath...

A large inhale stretched Rene's arms and legs apart, the muscles twinging against the unnatural extension. A beat later, it all retracted. A steady and exaggerated, in and out.

It was a reminder to breath.

Air hissed between her teeth as she focused all her effort on the action. In and out. In and out. Slowly her body relaxed into the motion, her jaw unclenching and allowing for an actual deep breath. Rene squeezed tight, acknowledging the silent encouragement from the dragon of order, before sitting back up.

Michael adjusted his grip on her, obvious tremors coming from his hands. He was certainly an odd one. All the tough guy talk, the jumping into the line of fire, the ridiculous bravo, and yet he was petrified of heights. Life was funny sometimes...for Rene, probably not for Michael. Okay that was mean, it was just sometimes nice to know one is not the only person scared.

Suddenly the world was tilting sideways. Clouds fell by her, their random shapes of unicorns, chickens, and blobs making no effort to save her. It took a moment before the shock allowed her scream to rip through. She was suspended upside down. The only thing holding her on were the vines. Michael was half hanging off Kai. His muscles taunt as he tried to pull himself back up. That jerk had let go of her when she fell! Probably not on purpose, but still...he was going to get hell once she was right side up.

What had caused it? She had felt the jerking movement between her legs as Kai's powerful body made the abrupt shake that had caused her current predicament. It still didn't answer why. With her hair outta the way, she summoned more vines from her neck. They shot out like little snakes, seeking to trestle her to the giant. Michael's mouth opened and shut as he shouted at her, the words whisked away by the wind. They were picking up speed.

Blood rushed to her head, as her face flushed and dizziness crept at her edges. She was going to pass out if she couldn't get upright. He was reaching for her, but couldn't make it, especially given the rigidity he had in his posture, afraid to fall once more. Michael's face was incredibly pale and a sheen of sweat was visible even from her awkward angle. He might just pass out before she did. That'd be a bit rude, stealing her move.

The vines burned her skin, each jerk and tug by Kai leaving bright angry friction marks. She flipped her head back and forth, trying to see what was causing his frantic movements with her limited ones. There didn't appear to be anything, but she knew he wouldn't be whipping her about like a rag doll without a good reason...she hoped, unless this was punishment for the whole banishment thing...she shook her head, making it hurt. The pressure in it was getting worse with each passing minute though. She wasn't strong enough to pull herself back up to the top, not with the continued movement throwing her back continuously. Rene screamed, her voice practically nothing within the wind, as she attempted once more to get on top of Kai. Her hand touched Michael's before slipping out. Dang it!

Black spots flooded her vision. Her heart pounded in her head, threatening to burst through her skull. Something flew past her, barely missing her arm as the vines psychically pulled her away. Rene gasped, her eyes trying to track where the projectile had come from or what it was. A bullet seemed logical, but then again when was her life ever logical? Alright, now she really had to get up.

Rene focused on releasing as many vines as she could make, letting the thorns grow sharp and long to grab at the edges of the scales. Wrapping them a couple times around her hands, she let them bite deep, and began climbing up while the vines tugged until she was upright, to which she almost fell again. Michael caught her, the sudden change having messed with her head.

"I think I'm going to throw up." Rene groaned.

She was swallowing her acidic bile when Michael leaned over and beat her to it. His vomit flying back and down in the wind, right into the person tailing them. A large fighter jet came level with them, it's front now painted with his lunch. Well that was just gross.

The sound of the guns prepping for another volley pulled her from the moment. She blinked, mind whirling as it tried to pull together the obvious and what could she actually do about it. Given Michael was currently as good as a broken sprinkler that sputtered liquid randomly, she had little hope for his abilities to help fight.

A lurch by Kai, dragged them down, spiraling towards the Earth. The jet followed closely behind, both like dancers in the sky. One was just trying to kill the other, then again she remembered dance being  a pretty harsh and competitive environment while growing up. Rene clung to the vines, her hands a mess of blood and thorns. It was all she could do not to just give up. It definitely seemed less painful at this point to just fall. Death by hitting the ground was fast, right?

Righting himself, Kai weaved forward, just skimming the treetops. Their chaser hadn't been able to pull such a tight maneuver and was know at least 10 meters above them. Parallel flight paths as they continued the game of tag. 

"Rene..." Michael moaned, his face a pasty reflection of the normal vibrato of the pyro.

She sighed. "Must I do everything?"

Well, time for a little crazy she supposed, because almost falling off a dragon once today was not nearly enough thrill. Rene grabbed the vines holding her and concentrated. Within her pale fingers, they lost form and began seeping through the gaps, nothing but ink. Her hands soon were stained with the goopy black, oily substance dripping down onto Kai and the forest below. Time for stupidity.

Rene pulled her shoes and socks off, letting them fall below. Pulling her feet in, she crouched hesitantly on Kai's scales and did her best to grip the grooves with her toes.

"What the hell?" Michael screamed, trying to grab at her.

She swatted him away.

"Don't touch me. This isn't an emergency."

"I'm pretty sure it is!"

Standing up carefully, she found her balance only reaching out for Michael once or twice. Completely up, she turned to him.

"Now don't move pyro. This is hard enough as it is."

Getting her idea, he froze, his eyes wide and terrified. Rene attempted to make her way around him. It was awkward and much harder than she expected. She kept losing her balance and most certainly would have fallen if not for Michael and him being strapped down.

Kai, please.

Kai's muscles shifted beneath her, pulling a part of him closer to her on the other side of Michael. Just a brief window of time, then it re-elongated. Crap.

Once more.

This time Rene jumped. Landing in a crouch, her feet found purchase on the scales, scrapping a bit, but worth it to still be on Kai. Standing up with her hands out, she grinned feeling like a gymnast landing a jump. Okay, now for the plane.

Tiny shuffling steps brought her farther from Michael and towards their pursuers. It seemed content to watch from a safe distance for now. Satisfied, and too scared to move more, Rene summoned vines to strap her feet down lightly by the calves. It gave her some steadiness while still allowing for shifts and micro-muscle movements of her body for balance.

Weapon, weapon, weapon. What could she use to take down a jet? The axe was better for close quarters combat while the guns were range, but definitely didn't pack the punch she wanted. She said a quick prayer asking for a rocket launcher as her next tattoo, but unsurprisingly it didn't miraculously appear. Hm, she wondered if fairy godmothers delivered rocket launchers.

Decisions...well she couldn't blow them up, but maybe she could slow them down. Rene ran her hand up her arm to her bicep, breathing deeply. She fingers danced until they caught what they wanted. Ripping like a lawn mower cord, the heavy  duty chain was freed from her body. It was something else and a menacing sight to see. Maybe 10 meters long, it was light and maneuverable within her hands despite it's strength and size.  It had a inner light that appeared in cracks through the metal and on both ends were longs spikes. Karo had called it the chain of souls the first time she had gotten it off. She had no idea what that meant because he had refused to explain it to her, calling her a foolish mortal in over her head. Standing on the back on a dragon his brother, while trying to take on a plane with a chain tattoo...she could see his perspective.

Her muscles straining slightly, Rene whipped the chain in a circle beside her, careful to avoid Kai. Well, her went nothing. She let it loose. The chain sailing through the air, it almost seemed to have a mind of it's own as it made it's way toward the side of the plane. She'd be lying if she didn't say she wouldn't be surprised if it did somehow think. Her vines did without brains.

The loud sound of metal tearing shrieked through the air as the spike embedded within the jet. Rene gasped in pain as the chain tugged at her with the new weight. Her shoulders screamed, threatening to be ripped from their sockets.

"Let go you idiot!" Michael shouted.

Dropping her end, Rene watched the chain fall, bouncing off some trees, and tumble to the ground. She didn't think it'd reach, heck she was surprise it had caught the jet, yet it continued down until the spike dug into the ground, an effective anchor for their new friend. Woo for magic she supposed.

The jet was yanked back as it had attempted to rip the spike from the ground. The plane continued to try and free itself. An animal on a chain, it lashed about. The metal shell of it tearing apart more and more with its movements. Rene stared in amazement. Talk about sheer dumb luck. Guess that means they were home free. A surge of speed, knocked her over so that she was hugging to Kai laying on her stomach, watching his tail twitch back and forth. This was going to be a fun rest of the ride to the others.

No the world would not stop for her, be it she was laying face down clinging to a dragon for dear life or plummeting to the Earth. Supposed she'd prefer the former then, if it wouldn't stop for her then she wouldn't stop for it either.