@TheWielder @BladeAgainstTheDark "She doesn't have any kind of long-ranged weapon..." Holly nods to him, then scrambles onto her feet and bolts back the way they'd come, beside the church and toward the path to the river through the woods.

"Run, Sanam!" she yells, going as fast as her legs will carry her.

@SimpleDevourer @TheWielder When the figure gets up and sprints away, she follows suit, quickly sliding her weapon back into the scabbard and rushing after the figure.

@BladeAgainstTheDark @SimpleDevourer Sanam ran with Holly, running as fast as he could while barefoot. Good thing she was tall too, so he didn't have to worry about her falling behind.

He wondered for a brief moment what he looked like, sprinting shirtless and barefoot through the woods. He probably looked insane.

@TheWielder @BladeAgainstTheDark Well then he's mostly in good company.

Holly prepares to toss herself at the river, then pauses. "Wait. Why don't I just make the portal here?"

With the same movement of her arm, the portal forms in front of them and she gestures to it. "There we are! Hop through, I don't know if I have to be the last one through or not and I don't want to leave you here."

@SimpleDevourer @TheWielder There's two of them! She doubles down on her speed and bolts after them, running for all she's worth. They're the only living people she's seen in months.
@BladeAgainstTheDark @SimpleDevourer As much as it seemed stupid, Sanam hesitated. "... I emptied my pockets before we got in the river... My keysβ€”" he couldn't do anything without that stuff. His phone, his walletβ€”which held his ID and moneyβ€”the keys to his apartment...
@TheWielder @BladeAgainstTheDark Panic briefly flares within, but she dismisses the portal and then dives into the river to swim as fast as she can across it. "Let's get it then!" she shouts back to him. She'd forgotten how shallow the water was, so it was more like, she flopped onto the water, shouted, and then sheepishly got back onto her feet and waded to the opposite shore.
@SimpleDevourer @TheWielder Charging on past the church, her relentless strides have her rapidly gaining on the two strangers.

@BladeAgainstTheDark @SimpleDevourer Sanam ran in after Holly, splashing as he tried to get across quickly.

"Sorry," he apologized. He *really* hoped they didn't die because of him needing to get his keys.

@TheWielder @BladeAgainstTheDark "If we die and we go to heaven," she pants, "and heaven has a diner, I'll pay for the food, because I got us into this mess!"

She flops out of the water and rushes up the embankment, her feet sliding into the mud and her arms windmill for a moment while she tries to regain her balance.

@SimpleDevourer @TheWielder Arissa reaches the hill and clutches a stitch in her side, the river directly ahead of her. She runs her hand through her hair and then swears under her breath before she continues her pursuit.

Wading through water would clear her armor of some debris, and maybe relieve her of some of the sweat. She strides to the rushing tide purposefully, holding her sword above her head. Any chance to minimize rust is one she had to take.

@BladeAgainstTheDark @SimpleDevourer Once they crossed the river, Sanam quickly grabbed his things off the rocks, fumbling and heading towards the portal.
@TheWielder @BladeAgainstTheDark Having regained her balance, she waits for Sanam at the edge of the portal and waves frantically for him to approach. "Are you sure that's everything?" she asks him, her eyes flicking to the approaching armored figure behind him.

@SimpleDevourer @TheWielder The sandy embankment gives way underneath her fine leather boots, and she sheathes her sword in the scabbard before walking up the hill toward the two figures.

"I am not going to hurt you," is what she says in her native tongue, but they wouldn't be able to understand it.

@BladeAgainstTheDark @SimpleDevourer "Yes, yes," he confirms, scurrying through. "Go go go go go goβ€”" he disappeared through the portal, passing her as he went.
@TheWielder @BladeAgainstTheDark Holly dives through into the alleyway on the other side!

@SimpleDevourer @TheWielder As the portal begins to close, the blade of her sword pierces through it. One of the glyphs emblazoned on the blade lights up with a fiery purple, and she steps through the portal to point the sword at the black-haired woman.

"Who? Are? You?" she asks. The language sounds somewhat like portugese.

@BladeAgainstTheDark @SimpleDevourer Sanam stands there in the alleyway, shirtless, barefoot, soaking wet, and holding his belongings as he stares at the woman in horror. "Oh shit." That was certainly not good.
@TheWielder @BladeAgainstTheDark "AHH!" Holly screams. Her eyes focus on the undoubtedly very real sword the woman wields. "AHHHHH!!!!"

@SimpleDevourer @TheWielder Grumbling under her breath, she holds the sword so the tip touches the ground beneath them... it's not cobblestone. Curious. Nor is it brickwork. Her attention shifts back to the hilt of her sword and the translation rune on the pommel. She presses it to activate it, and the other rune deactivates. The teal rune on the pommel glows with a soft light and she tosses her silver hair behind her head.

"Who are you?" she asks, in English, although her mouth does *not* β€”

@SimpleDevourer @TheWielder β€” seem to be forming those words.

@BladeAgainstTheDark @SimpleDevourer Sanam's dark eyes followed her sword as she drew the rune. Once he heard English, he looked back up at the woman and blinked.

"Huh... that's a neat trick... uhh, I'm Sanam."

His heart was still heating hard in his chest, though he was apparently much calmer than Holly seemed to be.

@TheWielder @BladeAgainstTheDark "Whaβ€”how can you talk!? I mean, English!? Just a moment ago you were shouting at us in gibberish and charging at us with that sword!"

@SimpleDevourer @TheWielder "Well I'm not going to *harm* you," she sheathes then sword, although the rune remains glowing. "I'm merely a traveler. I got onto that place through a strange-looking doorway. My name is Arissa."

Arissa leans toward Sanam and offers him her gauntleted hand. "My deepest apologies for scaring you. I didn't consider whether you would be able to understand me or not."

@BladeAgainstTheDark @SimpleDevourer Sanam looked towards Holly. "You can open a portal to other worlds and *this* shocks you?" Not that he *wasn't*, but he had seen some strange things tonight.

He reached out and shook the woman's hand. "Where we're from, people who charge you with weapons usually mean to harm you." He chuckled.

@TheWielder @BladeAgainstTheDark Holly gives him a reproachful look before she stands up and looks down at his shirt. "I'm soaked and now we have this person to look after... we should get out of here."
@SimpleDevourer @TheWielder "There are many things different about your world." Her eyes scan over the walls of the alleyway, and she breathes out, noting how it felt like the air was thicker here. "Are we close to the ocean?"

@BladeAgainstTheDark @SimpleDevourer "Yeah, I guess so." He'd forgotten Gotham was so close to the water.

He fumbled with his things and pulled out his phone, opening Maps to get a good idea of where they'd ended up.

@TheWielder @BladeAgainstTheDark They're in the East End as he'd shortly find out. Holly rubs her hands against her head. "I'm just overwhelmed. I found out that I could do this thing, but, I don't know. I didn't expect this to happen. I never could have dreamed this would happen."

@SimpleDevourer @TheWielder "That makes two of us... what kind of garb do you wear? What are you, peasants? You're certainly no Knights. I would expect Knights to at least be armed with some manner of weaponry and you both look like you..."

She's at a loss for words. The only people that wore clothing similar to this were monks at a far-off monastery. And that was on HER world, not on that strange thing they had been on.

@BladeAgainstTheDark @SimpleDevourer Sanam realized at that moment that he had forgotten his shoes in his rush. All well. At least he had his wallet. He could buy more shoes.

"Uhh..." he tried to think of how to answer her question. "... Well... mostly people wear *more* than this... we were going swimming, so we took some off... and I guess we're..." he looked at Holly, then back. "... the equivalent of peasants? Though no one calls people that here..."

@TheWielder @BladeAgainstTheDark "My self-esteem doesn't really need for me to be called a peasant, truth be told," she stretches out before she looks toward the alleyway mouth. "I'm... trying to think of what to do next and honestly, I'm pretty out of ideas. We can't take you to the police. Well, we could, but I have no idea how they might react to you. I'm so hungry... it's hard to think straight."

@SimpleDevourer @TheWielder "I had assumed that peasants here still ate food." Arissa walks toward the alleyway entrance and then steps onto the sidewalk.

"You do not know what to do with me, so I will tell you in plain terms, that I will survive here on my own. I do not need your assistance. I have made it in worse cities. Farewell."

And she waves a gauntleted hand toward them, her gaze turning toward the sidewalk ahead of her.

@BladeAgainstTheDark @SimpleDevourer "Oh that will *not* go well," he said, mostly to himself, and called after the woman: "wait! I don't think that's a good idea!"

People would probably call the police on her if they saw she had a sword. Or they'd think she was playing dress up, which may provoke her, and *then* they'd call the police...

@TheWielder @BladeAgainstTheDark "Stop calling me a peasant!" she scrambles after the armored woman. "Wait! You shouldn't be out there alone!"
@SimpleDevourer @TheWielder "What in Gorlock's left nipple is THAT!?" she points at a parked car just out of the alleyway's line of sight.

@BladeAgainstTheDark @SimpleDevourer Sanam jogged after them, pocketing his belongings. They'd get damp, but it was better than carrying them in hand when you were in this part of town.

"Yeah, see, this world is probably *extremely* different from the ones you're used to... I wouldn't walk around alone here... I can bring you back to my place if you'd like?" He offered. "Though I'm still moving in, so there are boxes everywhere."

@TheWielder @BladeAgainstTheDark A pang of guilt shoots through her. It isn't fair to Sanam to suddenly host a new person from a far-off land. But she couldn't do it either.

"Arissa, listen to us! This world is strange and so much scarier than you'd think. Please don't run off and get yourself hurt."

@SimpleDevourer @TheWielder Arissa stands there for a moment before dramatically turning around, her hand resting on the pommel of her sword. Her eyes study both of them closely before she responds.

"That would be... is that normal here? To stay with another person in such a manner?"

@BladeAgainstTheDark @SimpleDevourer "I mean... I guess it depends on the situation... people in this world aren't very kind to people that are different, usually. I don't know exactly how they'd react to you..."

@TheWielder @BladeAgainstTheDark Sanam probably knew from first-hand experience. Holly's teeth briefly clench.

β€œHe's right. This world is full of people who are afraid. Who want to take out their prejudices on others. Not everyone is like that, but enough are that you should be afraid.”

@SimpleDevourer @TheWielder β€œFear has clenched my heart too many times for my liking. I refuse to allow myself to succumb to the fear of people attacking me. Besides,” she taps the pommel of her sword.

β€œI am well armed and I have experience.”

@BladeAgainstTheDark @SimpleDevourer "I don't think you understand... people have weapons here that... Um..." he reached up and ran his fingers through his hair, trying to figure out how to describe it. "Your sword and shield would be too slow to protect you. They're too fast, too strong... faster than humanly possible."

He wasn't sure if he was describing guns or vehicles well enough for her to understand. And there were more things: tear gas, mace, tasers... she didn't stand a chance.

@TheWielder @SimpleDevourer β€œWhat...”

Her eyebrows furrow slightly. β€œYou speak of magic. The magic of the Red Band. They killed many people. They carried strange metal objects that shot tiny metal darts with such force they ripped people apart, in ways an arrow may wish it could. Is this what you speak of?”

@BladeAgainstTheDark @TheWielder β€œYes!” Holly nods enthusiastically. β€œThey're called guns. People here carry them often. They're extremely dangerous. And not something that you can deflect with a mere sword.”

Her eyes slide to the sheath at the woman's side.

@SimpleDevourer @BladeAgainstTheDark "They aren't magic, but it seems like it," he confirmed. "Now you understand my concern... and those aren't the only weapons they have."

@TheWielder @SimpleDevourer "Why do you use such instruments here? What monstrosities do you face that merited creating such a weapon in the first place?"

Her voice is full of incredulity.

@BladeAgainstTheDark @TheWielder "I... mostly, other humans. Listen. Just take our word for it; this world is extremely dangerous. Can you please just go with Sanam and he can give you the lay of the land? Some of us have things to do and get to. And sleep to get."

She still felt bad that Sanam had to wind up with the weird sword girl, but she really didn't have anywhere for the girl to stay that wasn't horribly reeking of mothballs.

@SimpleDevourer @BladeAgainstTheDark Sanam pressed his lips into a thin line. Humans: they were capable of great things, but equally as capable of being horrid.

"Tomorrow we can sort out what to do... I can help you to where you need to go, if you'd like," he offered.

@TheWielder @SimpleDevourer β€œI do not need the help of either of you. I appreciate your concern but I have braved worse things than what this world has to offer.”

Arissa turned in the face of a gust of wind and began walking once more.

@BladeAgainstTheDark @TheWielder β€œDo you think a Taser would work on all that armor?” she asked Sanam, mostly jokingly. Mostly.

@SimpleDevourer @BladeAgainstTheDark Sanam sighed. He wasn't about to force this woman where she didn't want to go, but he didn't feel she fully grasped what the pair were trying to explain to her, and he worried she'd end up in some kind of trouble. He couldn't help but feel responsible.

"... Maybe we should just let her go. I'm not sure what else we can do." He looked at the other woman, shivering now. He was still wet from running through the water, and it was freezing out.