Any Means Necessary

Tom was the first too wake from his slumber, he looked around and jolted to his feet when he realized Kieren wasn't with their group. He took a calming breath and shook Zen awake, Kieren usually told Zen if he was headed out. Zen responded in kind upon noticing their leaders absence, they agreed not to wake the rest until they confirmed he wasn't under any of the other outcrops.

They split up, a couple of seconds later Tom called out to Zen, he was standing a couple of feet away a look of utter shock on his face. Zen approached quickly and froze at the sight in front of him.

Kieren was asleep, a blanket wrapped around him, looking completely relaxed. That wasn't the issue, (well, the relaxed part was...) the mind blowing aspect of his sleep was directly correlated to the fact that he was sleeping on Violet. He had his head on her lap and both arms wrapped around her leg. Violet on the other hand was awake, a book in her hands, she seemed absorbed, but In a instant her eyes flicked towards them. Zed and Tom approached, "umm?" Zen didn't even know where to begin, his legs were going to give out on him.

Violet replied with a shrug, "He asked me to stay put, originally on my shoulder but he knocked out and I didn't have the heart to move him, plus he's actually gripping onto my leg quite tightly. I think I'd have to fight him off."

Tom laughed, but his face still showcased surprise, "He must have been really tired." In an attempt to change the subject, and wake Kieren, who was an eternally light sleeper he continued, "You brought a book in your go-bag? You're told we're being shipped off by the biggest sadist we've met to date and your first thought is to pack a book?"

Violet hummed in acknowledgment, "Better to die with a book in my hand than something idiotic like my zodiac symbol in gold." Her tone was laced with sarcasm and in unison they turned toward the farthest outcrop where Mera and three other girls were prostrated before a large gold Ox one of them had dragged along in their bag. "The only thing they worship more earnestly is Kieren, they've been shooting me death glares for the past hour. I'm certain I heard one of them as the Ox for my oh-so-earned early demise." As if on cue a chant rang through the air. "Oh mighty Zodiac Ox, punish the starving slut who dares tempt our pure king."

Viole rolled her eyes and flipped them off, which only succeeded in escalating their chants towards the mighty, all powerful, benevolent Ox.

Zen rubbed his eyes, Kieren was still fast asleep, if not for the steady rise and fall of his chest they might have assumed something was wrong. "Would you like us to wake him..?" Tom began in a small voice that made it very obvious there was nothing he'd despise more than to wake the man slumbering so earnestly on Violet's lap. Violet smirked, intelligent eyes not missing the flicker of fear in both men's eyes. "I have no preference, although, something tells me we should just let him be."

Zen and Ted nodded, they quickly returned to their outcrop.

Kieren received another two hours of sleep before a large explosion sent him up into his feet murder in his eyes. "Who the fuck wants to die?" His remark earned a look of intense trepidation from everybody near by -with the exception of Violet who was still sitting, calm, eyes on Kieren's back. A second explosion shattered the Ox praising outcrop and screams rang into the air, Henbane was attacking. They couldn't have picked a worse time to do it, Kieren was livid. It was quite a sight, Violet mused to herself, a normally icy and composed human, the rage made him appear larger. Shit, a couple hundred times better looking too, eyes burning, muscles taunt. He disappeared, headed in the attackers direction and before long the screams were from fleeing bodies. A third explosion rang through the air, this time from the opposite direction. It was followed by several smaller scaled explosions and a storm of wind, dust, and rocks that lingered unnaturally in the air. Foxgloves members burst into action, yanking packs on, as they clashed with Henbane. Violet moved slowly into a crouch, blending into the shadows. A soft handkerchief appeared, she moved if into place covering her mouth from the floating debris. The screams, grunts, and wails of 'war' faded from her perspective as she watched objectively. The acting leader of Henbane, Shou, came from a military background, Violet knew he wouldn't have launched an attack without a detailed plan.

Several bodies slinked past her headed towards the buried Mera and friends, Violet intervened. A well timed punch, placed in between surprised eyes dropped the first member. Violet followed the next unlucky guest delivering several jabs into ribs, satisfaction ringing into the air with a large crack. She wrapped herself onto the male with a vicious chokehold, frantic arms came up attempting to ward her off, legs wrapped around his midline as more pressure was added to his neck. Spit flying, eyes bulging, he folded into the ground, Violet held fast until his face turned a blotchy purple and he fainted in earnest. She moved forward understanding dawning in her eyes, what could be easier than placing a transponder on an unconscious body? Easy, placing it on an unconscious body then proceeding to kill them. If members could not interchange the transponder, a dead body carrying the transponder would be the ultimate form of defeat. Shou was leaning over Mera's comatose body, he pulled the transponder from his pack, slid it into Mera's and pulled out a gun, ready to finish the job. Violet picked up a large rock and fired it in his direction, he avoided it narrowly, eyes searching for his attacker, a shadow of surprise and a foot collided into the left of his face throwing him off balance and away from Mera. Wiping blood from a cut on his jaw he connected gazes with Violet triumph gleaming in his eyes, if taking out the packs healer was all that stood between him and victory if was clearly over. He holstered the gun and took a defined Vovinam stance. Violet smiled softly, "Vietnamese martial arts huh? Here I was, pegging you for more of a karate kind of loser." Surprise manifested on his face as Violet leaned down, picked up two smaller jagged rocks. "Where I'm from, we just call these 'putasos'"

They charged in unison, blows being exchanged in earnest, Violet blocked a jab to the jaw and retaliated by sliding one of the rocks onto her forefoot then slamming it into his knee. He hissed and threw himself at her intent on taking her to the floor, his un-injured knee coming dangerously close to her chest. Violet slid into the splits and rotated flipping herself into a safer position, fuck, not quickly enough. A knife came flying directed toward her chest, she flipped her hand in coverage and the knife dug into her forearm. She paused, -moves definite- pulled the knife out, eyes coy, licking the wound invitingly as it closed. Shou seemed stunned by her actions, eyes slightly unfocused, he reoriented himself. "For a healer you're quick on your feet, I would by lying if I said I wasn't hesitant to harm such a pretty face. It would however appear that I have gravely underestimated you."

Violet's only reply was that enchanting smile Shou seemed to have a hard time ignoring. She had, days ago noticed his glances.

Shou tensed himself attempting to find the correct way to remove Violet from the situation.

The sky suddenly roared in earnest and Violet laughed, murderous clouds appearing and multiplying rapidly. "Kieren was napping," Violet leaned against a large rock, fight gone from her posture "he was not happy." Fear danced in Shou's eyes, they had hoped Kieren would stay out of it, as he always seemed to do.

Several bolts of lightening descended striking just past their field of vision, torturous screams ripped through the air. "He'll kill them, that's not...." Shou whispered frozen in place. Violet giggled, she moved faster than before, Shou jolted as she whispered by his face. "You'd better ring in the retreat, he's just getting started." She moved back before he could react and took a seat in front of Mera.

A scowl appeared on his face but he headed her warning, "I will not make the mistake of underestimating you again Ms. Zaraa, you're just as dangerous." Violet smiled and waved goodbye.

He took a flare from his side, shot red into the air and left in the direction of his now fleeing team members.

Violet sighed unhappily, Henbane had still succeeded in one of their objectives. Foxglove now had the transponder.