hot_mes | PSL: fullcowl

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PSL: fullcowl

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(continuing from this)

[Even though he still has a long way to go to restore his strength, Law manages to last out the rest of the night without dropping off again. It helps that once or twice something a little too large passed a little too close to their hollowed-out tree, but whatever it was either didn't like fire or wasn't into humans and kept going on past. His haki alerted him in time, but he sat tense until it passed rather than wake Deku. Kid needs his rest, after all.

The gap in the tree must face east, because Law eventually can see a gray line in the distance as light starts to come up behind the hills, and then the approaching dawn getting brighter and brighter. The fire fizzles out about then, and he stretches out a heel to scratch some dirt over it lest the smoke attract attention. With dawn coming, he won't be able to sleep anyway, so he just lets Izuku sleep for as long as he needs. Besides, he's nice and warm.]

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[his eyes rake the scars, taking in the possibilities]

There is a significant difference between five and one hundred. Yet, training is a good idea no matter what. I'll see to that. Remember. [he looks directly at Izuku, trying to catch his eyes] I'm a doctor. I know the human body well.

[he tosses the empty stick into the fire to burn away and grabs more meat. He knows that they need to pace themselves, but if they can finish this, they should have enough energy to make it through the rest of the day. He listens to Deku's absent rambling, following his train of thought, letting it inspire his own brainstorming.]

Mes is a technique I don't usually use to kill. It's more useful to me to remove someone's heart and use it to control them.

[just putting that out there...]

[When Law talks to him, he's distracted from him mumbling.

A pirate doctor. Well... you don't run into one of those every day.]

That explains a lot.

[Mes was the one he used to kill the boar though. Normally he'd be against torture, but considering their options they'll need to use anything they can to gain an advantage. He's not blind to that possibility.]

That'll be useful if we can run into soldiers one at a time...

Like a scalpel, it should be used for precision, not large cuts.

[choose the right soldier, take his heart, and get the information or utility out of him. The rest can just be knocked down and left behind.]

When the time comes for such an operation, it will be best to know every possible thing each of us and any allies we pick up can do. It won't be a time for surprises.

[so, by the time they have all the other resources for a raid, Law will make sure he's shown all of his moves, barring any he makes up on the spot.]

Especially since you've said using it is draining.

[A powerful but draining ability. They've just got make whatever they use it on count.]

Right. I'd rather work with fully known quantities than have to work partially blind when it comes to our own allies.

[he really would not like to put himself into the same situation as the fight he was in before being pulled to this hellhole. That definitely shortened his lifespan, he overused it too much.]

It means we'll have to choose allies carefully. If they're from worlds neither of us understand, we have to know we can trust them.

[he tosses his last stick in the fire, watching the green wood curl up slowly. What a lovely metaphor for two people who can't over-use their powers without hurting themselves, fresh living wood that slowly warps in the fire rather than being consumed in a split second.]

It's amazing how a little food will refresh the spirit as much as the body. [he feels so much better now.]

[He'd personally like to not destroy his arms- but if it gets them out of something terrible well...]

I don't know if anybody from my world is even around here. But you're right, I'm just not sure how to make sure our trust isn't misplaced.

[He doesn't think he was ever this suspicious at home, but he didn't have reasons to be. Out here, in the middle of a war, this is the time for caution.]

Yeah. Food's amazing like that.

We'll keep an eye out. If anyone from my world appears, it's more likely than not they're also a Devil Fruit user. Such powers are exactly what the warlord wants in his army.

[meaning, more likely than not it's another pirate, many of whom Law would not be on good terms with, or a Marine, which...ditto. Oops. But that's for a future someday, it's not a concern at the moment.

Law uses the knife-blade to push some of the sticks of their little cooking fire further apart, the preface to stomping it out and making sure it's good and doused before the leave. Also cauterizes the knife nicely.]

We shouldn't sit too long. Walking will help digestion.

[and miles to go before they sleep]

There are a lot of heroes back home... and a lot of aspiring heroes too.

[There's only one of those in particular that Izuku'll have a hard time working with- but still, he can work with them. And in these circumstances he'd probably see the necessity.

He watches Law stamp out the fire before getting up.]

You're right. Just keep heading towards the hill?

I think so. [once he's fully standing, he looks around, squints up at the sun, and then nods] It's still east of our original position, that's all we need. We're not looking for a small point, after all.

[anywhere east to the border will do. Off they go again!]

[Eastward they go.]

Is it three days before eating again?

[Then all they have to worry about is finding more water. It shouldn't be too much of a concern once they manage to pass over the border, but until then water will likely be difficult to come by again.

Which means they'll need to budget accordingly.]

No. I rationed it a bit, we should have enough for at least one more meal. But if we can't hunt or carry more, we'll have to ration it further.

[having full water bottles before leaving the stream means they're a step ahead, but yes, they'll have to ration that as well. At least, the further they go and the more they recover, the less critical it will be to go without a meal or a sip of water now and then.]

I don't know how likely it is to run into another animal like that.

Reasonably if there's one, there has to be others, but it's possible that they're territorial. In which case we might not come across one for another few days- there might be other animals too. I heard something owl like- but I don't think I can chase down a bird.

[there's something vaguely amusing about the mental image of Deku trying to chase a flying bird]

There are other animals, I've sensed them. Mostly small, probably rabbits and the like. Hunting takes time, both to try to catch something and then prepare it and cook it. If we can slip into another village, now that we don't have the control bands we might be able to talk someone into feeding us.

[of course, stumbling on another settlement requires the same luck and effort as stumbling on another monster, so really, whatever they find first, that's what they do to survive.]

[He's 80% sure the bird would win that race.]

Just depends on which we run into first, more wild animals or another village.

... I wonder how close we are to the border.

That, I don't know. [a little more seriously] Rumors among the army made it out to be a few days, but who's to say what 'a few' really means?

[not to mention, they're moving much more slowly than usual, while they're still weak.]

A few... It would have been better if they put it to kilometers. Days aren't very accurate, especially considering our pace is a lot slower than what they're probably used to using.

I'm aware. But there's a limit to the information people like me were able to access. I've only had my hands on a map once, and that was a lucky break in itself. [sigh. He really could have planned this escape better, gotten more information, but no. He had to take advantage of the opportunity presented, and not pass it by in the hopes he could somehow get back what he lost.]

It is an island, though, so as long as we keep going in one direction rather than aimlessly roaming in circles, we'll get where we need to be.

[He nods, they work with what they have at the time.

At least that's what he's used to doing, so that's not too much of a jump for him.]

Yeah... At least it isn't a huge continent.

[The small things.]

Really.

[Law is intent on walking as far as they can before nightfall, again. It may be like this for a couple of days - walking, then sleeping, then walking, interspersed with occasional attempts at food. As long as nothing larger than that boar jumps out of the bushes at them, it could almost be a boring stroll.

Almost. They're still in a strange world with limited resources, and though he heals fast, Law isn't at full power yet. He'll be much better when his arm doesn't protest every movement, and when he can summon a Room without asking himself whether he can afford to do so.]

[three days. It takes them three more days before they manage to get to the border. It's hard to tell, but the wilderness starts getting considerably nicer.]

We... We did it. We made it!

[Less monsters, more actual food to be gathered from the land? Yep, they're getting there. Even Law cracks a smile of relief to see how green the grass is, how much less threatening it feels. Normally he'd snap something about not letting down their guard or how even paradise can be dangerous, but he just does not have it in him to be a pessimist right now.

By now his welts and cuts have healed, and he's regained full use of his power and his haki. The peasant shirt he stole is a bit dingy, though, and flecked with blood from one of their hunts. He stops at the top of a ridge and takes a moment just to look down into the welcoming lands beyond.]

I see, now. They weren't kidding about the blight. It hasn't touched this place at all. [a wary smile for Deku] We should have no problem finding food and shelter here.

[And once again Izuku is crying. It's been so long with all the desolate trees and barely any greenery to speak of. Good fresh air, and a real taste of freedom. Goddamn, does he ever miss this while he was stuck in prison.

His power doesn't necessarily need him to regain his strength, but he looks so much better than he did when he was stuck in Wulgrimm prison.]

Ah... I-I'm so glad...

[Law gives him a good, sturdy hair-ruffle, letting him feel for the both of them. He's really grown to like this kid over the past week (more or less), so even if his first offer to join a nonexistent crew had been something of a tease and a pipe dream, it's absolutely written in stone now. The journey together doesn't end because they've reached the empress' side of the island.]

It's still some distance to the sea. At least now, we don't have to hurry to out of range of Wulgrimm's hunters. We can take it easy. Maybe even find a settlement where we can sleep in a real bed for once.

[Izuku can feel enough emotions for a good four people, probably. And at the hair ruffle, he positively beams.]

Right! ... Wow, it's been so long since I've slept in a real bed.

[He's been in beds, but not to sleep.]

[shit, Izuku, no. Don't tell him that, that's depressing.]

Let's go, Deku.

[from where they're standing he can see a few farms scattered around the landscape, so Law decides to make for one and knock on the door, see what comes of it.]

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