[.]

.

[Moth]

As the flashbang flies into the air, Prism glances over - neither orange or red, they're okay for now. However, the rain of feathers pouring down on her teammates is a different story, especially from the -

The tremble in the small woman's muscles is more noticable, and she's trying to clench them to prevent the subtle shake to her frame, but it's failing miserably. Her breathing is noticeably heavier as well, and she's trying to hold her breath to prevent hyperventilating - with, well, failed results. At the sight of the feathers raining down on where her teammates would be, the wind kicks up around Prism automatically, and the rises above the treeline to catch her on breeze on autopilot - just in time for the Griffons to divebomb her.

There's nothing that they'll meet but more bullets. A new yellow-colored cartridge is popped in, and she turns over to fly backwards through the air, managing to down two before aiming at the third. The leader of team CASA is unaware she's yelling, more focused on keeping the feelings of panic contained - "Come on, you feathered fucktards! Let's see if you taste like chicken or horse!" To her credit, she knows what chicken tastes like - she only knows about the latter from the horse faunus she dated that one time.

Aura: 73% (-7%)

Well, there's no doubt that Prism is within shouting distance now, at least.

[Walter]

Well, that entire plan sort of... Flopped. Completely. The grimm were clearly more interested in something else - or, rahter, someone else. Prism, who he could hear yelling somewhere in the near distance. He'd have ran in to find her if he wasn't worried about Jocelyn - and with good reason, apparently.

As the Nevermore prepared its attack, Cream didn't hesitate, not for a moment. He jumped in front of their medic, stabbing OTN into the ground in front of himself. He gritted his teeth as the feathers rained over him, one or two dinging against his blade while many more sliced into him. There was no way, however, that Jocelyn wasn't low on aura by now. Keeping her safe was more important.

Coconut moaned quietly before straightening out his back and pushing his glasses up, his thumb and index finger on either side of the rim. "A-any ideas on h-how we can take that thing down?"

Coco's Battle Stats:
  Stamina: [███████---] 70%
  Aura: [█████-----] 65%

[MonsterManic]

Ferus nodded, unslinging his gunlance from his back and letting it unfold to its full length. He let Amane, then the two scouts walk a fair distance from him, before following suit, having put enough distance between them to activate his Semblance. While he walked, he sent up the red flare, to alert the remainder of the team that they had achieved their objective and were returning.

Before the group had gotten far, both Amane and Ferus would be alerted to multiple Grimm heading their way from their Aura detection. As the scouts had reported, it was a swarm led by one huge Grimm, though they had no way of knowing if it truly was the Queen Lancer and her swarm. Knowing Amane would be prepared, Ferus turned to face the source of the threat, loading an Electric Dust crystal into Grimm Repetoire, before bringing his Semblance to life, the field springing up around him.

Alerted by Ferus's actions, the two scouts also prepared for combat, instinctively staying out of the circle. The scout with the tube set it on the floor and unfolded a set of metal supports, revealing its true purpose as a mortar, while the other stabbed his spear into the ground, where the thick metal pole unfolded like a umbrella, revealing multiple blades hidden within the shaft. Uncannily like a true Huntsman's weapon...

Squeezing her eyes shut and bracing for the impact, Jocelyn waited for her Aura to be further depleted. When the damage never came, she opened her eyes and gasped at the sight of Coco acting as a human shield for her. Just like her brother...

Without hesitation, she ejected the now empty clip from Hyacinth, watching it gradually glow purple in her hand, before tenderly placing it on Coco's chest and directly transferring her Aura into his body. But at this distance, there was no way to hide the resulting pain, and even turning away Coco would easily notice the distress she was in. Still kneeling on the ground, she forced out "I might be able to get you up to that Nevermore, Coco...but to do so I need Prism's winds..."

Jocelyn's Combat Log:
  ● Aura: [███------] 30% CRITICAL (17% to Coco)
  ● Empty mag
The Nevermore hovered, seemingly waiting for its prey to make its next move. When it didn't, its attention was attracted by the loud outburst of shouting from Prism, along with the rest of the flock. The Griffon that had finished its strafing run was coming around for another pass, with the remainder of the flock noticing the noise.

Ferus's red flare, however, had the unintended effect of drawing the attention of two of the Griffons, so there would be less of them attacking the team. Despite this, there was still a few, with the Nevermore leaving Prism behind and entering a steep glide, heading toward Coco and Prism.
TARGETS:
 ● Giant Nevermore x 1
 ● Griffons x 7 5 (2 shot by Prism) (2 peeling off toward the flare)

Battle Log:
 ● Dive Bomb (7% on Prism)

[Moth]

Prism can see it diving in the distance. She was useless the first time around. Despite the shake to her form, there's a certain set to Prism's face - she isn't losing anybody else to one of those beasts.

Prism pulls a lever, and Hawk's eye transforms into it's secondary for the second time in the battle. A red cylinder, obviously fiilld with dust, is pulled out her pocket before inserting it into the back of the blade of the glaive. Wincing as she narrowly avoids the Griffon's second divebomb, albeit taking damage, the rest of the lighting rounds left in her rifle are used trying to get rid of the beast chasing her. It's with the final burst of wind she throws herself ahead of the creature - and for the first time since she disappeared, bursts through the treeline so her teammates could finally see her.

There's a click as Prism twists something near the head of her glaive, before the entirety of the blade lights on fire. Swiping it through the air several times, three crescent-shaped waves of flames roll off it - and buoyed by her winds, continuing to grow in size as they fly through the air towards the Nevermore. It won't be enough to kill it by far, but it'll hopefully be enough to deter it from it's dive, giving Prism just enough time to yell  - "Scramble! Both of you take cover in the treeline, now!"

That's about the last coherent thing Prism manages to get out, before her wings promptly give out - she hits the ground hard, just managing a few shaky steps into the treeline. She's leaning against a tree, using the staff of Hawk's Eye to keep her up - but it's not enough, and she hits the ground on her knees as her entire body begins to quake. She's hyperventilating as her hands fist in the grass, and there's tears streaming down her face - the panic attack has officially hit.

Any Grimm in the area would notice the little bundle of panic and terror grouped beneath the treeline.

Aura: 66% (-7%)

[.]

.

[Walter]

Coco blushed, his eyes widening quite a bit as Jocelyn placed the clip onto his chest. The reinvigoration felt nice, but he immediately felt guilty as Jocelyn was clearly in pain. He frowned.

"Jocelyn, you can't exert yourself like that. My aura is doin' just fine, thanks to you - don't heal me for the rest of the fight. Don't want you getting hurt." He said, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck. He then nodded at her plan. "Sounds like an idea, we just have to find -"

At this point, Prism launched out from the forest and into their sights. She seemed to be in bad shape all around. "Whu- You heard her, Jocelyn!" He called out. Coconut saw the girl collapse on her knees in the treeline - she must have overexerted herself. Crap.

Cream ran over to their team leader, trying to help her get deeper into the treeline so that she wouldn't be a prime target for the Nevermore, OTN in one hand in case the griffons think to dive at them. At this point, he notices Prism's tears. "P-prism? What happened?"

Coco's Battle Stats:
  Stamina: [███████---] 70%
  Aura: [████████--] 82%

[MonsterManic]

Before the group could do so, the sound of beating wings could be heard--not from one but two directions, one beating much faster than the other. Seconds later, the unknown Grimm weaved through the trees--it was indeed the Lancers the scouts were talking about, but there was no sight of the Queen. Simultaneously the two Griffons attracted by Ferus's flare landed amidst the group in a cloud of disturbed leaves, in between Amane and the scouts.

Before the Lancers could fire their stingers, Ferus lifted his gunlance and activated the secondary firing chamber, electricity arcing and crackling at the nearest Lancers, some of which fell to the floor due to paralysis while others just exploded. At the same time, the distinct thump of the mortar could be heard as a projectile sailed past Ferus and exploded in the crowd of Grimm, ice shards flying everywhere and impaling a few. The remainder pulled up and fired their stingers at Ferus, which he evaded with the kinetic boost from his armor. Meanwhile, the other scout pulled twin swords from the spear/stand and turned to face the two Griffons, one of the birds lunging at Amane.

Ferus's Combat Log:
   ● Aura: [██████████] 100%
       ● Tube 2: 80/100 Electric Dust
   ● 9/10 Kinetic bursts in Armor
TARGETS:
 ● Lancers x 20 14 (3 immobile on floor)
 ● Griffons x 2

Battle Log:
 ● Lunge (4%) on Amane
Jocelyn's head jerked up at the sound of Prism's voice, automatically following orders and expending the remainder of her jumppack's Dust to get herself into the treeline. Not a second too late as a three literal arcs of fire fly straight toward the Nevermore, striking it directly and causing it to emit a horrible screech. Only then did she notice their team leader's distress, her emotions a sinking wreck. She recognised the symptoms of a panic attack from the hyperventilation, tears and spiking heartbeat instantly, and it took her a few seconds to identify the source of the panic--it wasn't the Griffons because she was able to say their name, which left only one source. It must have been a strong one too, to cause her Semblance to go haywire.

The most important thing now was to stop the panic attack and get Prism in shape, or at least on her feet. For that, Jocelyn had crafted an idea based on previous reactions and current resources. "Coco, I have a plan to help her--please try and keep the Nevermore as well as the Griffons away from Prism for as long as you can!"

Jocelyn's wings unfold, though not to fly--a cloud of steam starts to form, wrapping around both her and Prism in a smoky ball and blocking all outside sight from the interior, as well as vice versa. Next, she reached into her pack and retrieved two small Ice Dust crystals that fit easily in her palm. After all that, she mentally prepares herself and gathers Prism up in a motherly embrace, tender and soft as a marshmallow, resting Prism's head on her chest and letting the tears from her eyes soak into her clothing. At the same time, she pulses her Semblance and channels it through the Ice Dust in her palms, intending on bolstering the reinvigorating sensations with a cooling, soothing wave as an attempt to get Prism to notice that she has help. This she directed into Prism's back in rubbing motions, being careful not to make contact with Prism's wings.

Even with the slow application, the now excruciatingly low Aura reserves lash back harder and harder, forcing Jocelyn to hold back her own tears--not of fear but of pain--in order to heal both Prism's mental and physical state. Soon enough, though, her body is pushed to its physical limit, and she slowly topples to one side, her Aura all but drained and her mind nearly unconscious from the drain. The steam cloud slowly starts to rise--whatever Jocelyn has done will be for naught if their cover fully vanishes.

Jocelyn's Combat Log:
  ● Aura: [█---------] 5% CRITICAL (25% to Prism)
  ● Jumppack: Dust expended
  ● Mental State: Near unconsious
 
The massive surge of emotions coming from one focal point attracts the Griffons like bees to nectar, and they dive straight for Coco in an attempt to reach this delectable feast. The Nevermore, however, is deterred by the flames and does not pursue, instead opting to land on the top of the hill and pluck at the feathers that have caught fire.

TARGETS:
 ● Giant Nevermore x 1
 ● Griffons x 3

Battle Log:
 ● Dive (4% x 3) on Coco

[Walter]

"You got it!" Coconut called out in response to Jocelyn, readying his blade for combat with both of his hands. With the corner of his eye, the boy spotted the steam enveloping the two. He looked up and watched the griffons circling one last time before swooping down at him.

The beasts were all coming at him at once, and they were fast. Coconut only had time for one swing, and he had to make it count. The boy counted down the seconds as the grimm drew closer to him, before swinging in a wide arc intended to meet the beasts with equal force - he was hoping to decapitate at least two. However, waiting until the last second left him a bit vulnerable, forcing him back as two of the beasts did in fact crash into him.

Coco's Battle Stats:
  Stamina: [██████----] 60%
  Aura: [███████---] 74%

[Moth]

Blood. Scattered feathers. The sound of wind howling through the trees and a steel box clutched so tightly against her form it left bruises that would last until the following week. Prism's so physically caught-up in the replay of her memories that she doesn't even notice Jocelyn's actions until the steam cloud as enveloped them both, and Jocelyn's wrapped her arms around her.

"Wha- J-j-jocelyn, I..." is all she manages to stutter out, before the dam breaks - and her arms wrap around the woman in turn, the silent tears streaming down her face being pressed into Jocelyn's blouse as the medic holds her. She stays there for a moment silently hiccuping, before the first wave of calm literally washes over her - enough to startle her so she stops crying. Her face stays pressed into Jocelyn's shoulder as she murmurs silent thanks as the waves of calm continue, literally feeling crystal-clear clarity break down the rapid-fire memories - at least until Jocelyn begins to topple to one side.

"Wait, J-jocelyn? Josie? Ah, fuck -" Prism manages to support her wait as she flops to the side, bracing her she doesn't hit the ground with a harsh thump and more lays herself across Prism's lap. The leader stares in worry for a moment, a hand tracing the woman's neck until she finds her pulse point - okay, she's alive, just completely down for the count. Hearing the sounds of battle outside their little shroud of steam, Prism glances back before untying the jacket around her waist and bundling it up to place under Jocelyn's head, reaching for her glaive with the other. "Sorry." Is all she murmurs, before Prism stands up.

There's a click as the blade of the glaive is lit on fire again, using what little fire dust is contained in the cylinder to set it alight. With a rapid turn, and a burst of her wings, Prism leaps from the steamcloud - bringing the blade of the weapon down across two Griffons in a wide slash, hoping to help deter them off Coco.

"Coconut, Jocelyn's down for the count! Priority now is to get her shelter, we're going to need to fight our way back up the hill. Understand me?" Prism's tone is steely determination, any traces of panic completely gone - there's nothing left for the Grimm to be attracted to.

Aura: 91% (+25%)

[.]

.

[MonsterManic]

The combined AoE of all the damage sent in the Lancers direction obliterated the swarm in one fell swoop, while Amane's quick action dispatched the two Griffons before the scout could take action. Obediently following her instructions the two scouts packed up their weapons with remarkable efficiency and continued on their way while Ferus stayed stationary, his field dropping but his Aura pulsing even further than before. It would be a good half minute before he started walking again.

Within another minute of uninterrupted movement, the group would see the edge of the forest and hear, faintly, the sounds of battle. The group would emerge about 100 meters of where the team was, which was close enough to both see the fight and the giant Nevermore perched on the hill like it was its nest, still grooming itself. Upon seeing the newcomers, the Nevermore would take flight, easily reaching heights higher than what Prism could achieve.

Meanwhile, even with the damage Coco had taken, his sword swing killed two Griffons in one clean stroke, while Prism's blazing blade dealt with the remainder. All that remained was to reclaim their hill from the Nevermore and protect Jocelyn at the same time, who was now completely unconscious. It would be at this time that Prism and Coco could see the other group return with the two scouts.

TARGETS:
   ● Giant Nevermore x 1

[Walter]

"Understood!" the boy responded just as the other group came into sight. "Oh, hey, looks like we're all here now! Just in time, too!"

Cream then looked towards the beast currently soaring through the skies. He frowned. As a melee combatant, he was entirely useless against flying creatures like this - but with it circling around the hill and Jocelyn as hurt as she is, there was no way to guarantee their safety if they tried to run past it towards the hill. If only there was some way for him to get to the thing. Prism could only ever carry him so high...

He glanced towards Amane, a foolhardy plan forming in his caveman brain. "Hey, Amane, do you have any explosives which you'd say could feasibly launch someone? Not sure how high it'd have to be..." He said, almost muttering the last part just to himself.

Coco's Battle Stats:
  Stamina: [██████----] 60%
  Aura: [███████---] 74%

[Moth]

The arrival of the Professor, Amane, and the two newcomers gains a nod of acknowledgement from Prism as she moves to back to the prone form of Jocelyn, kneeling down next to her to start to drag her into a sitting position against a tree. "Professor, Amane - it's good to see you guys got back safe, alongside the strike team. You unfortunately missed some things, as Jocelyn's completely down and out for what I'm assuming is the remainder of the mission via overexertion. She's at-" There's a beat as Prism checks her scroll. "5% aura, so it's a priority to assure she's not hit or injured. We're going to need to retreat back up the hill, but there's a slight problem in the form of, well..." The faunus gestures upwards.

"Let me politely request we refer to the thing above as 'it' or 'the feathered fuck', as it's actual name is something of a hurricane-inducing problem for me. As much as I hate to say I'm practically useless against that thing, so we're going to need another plan of action if we don't want to be divebombed and risk endangering Jocelyn. I have a somewhat-doable plan and a very stupid plan based on what we want to do - though it'll all depend on what you two are packing, that is." She gestures to the two scouts, hopefully prompting them to introduce themselves.

[.]

.