He stands there panting, clasping the material he dons as a hood close against his chest. He had hoped he could have avoided any conflict altogether as his weapon is malfunctioning once again, probably a result of the thick smog that rolled in not too long after he left the safe walls of what they call a village.
A sharp ear-piercing howl causes his head to quickly pivot towards the source; it has become second nature for him to be able to locate a sound's origin even through the thick undergrowth. The creature stumbles amongst the leaves, dry twigs snapping underneath its paws, teeth gnashed together in suffering.
The cloaked boy quickly leaps from his hiding place and darts towards the creature, hoping to take it by surprise, but to his dismay the creature does the same. He spins on his heel in response to the canid's preemptive move, the beast now ready to pounce at him from behind. His fingers fumble among the device's controls, attempting to power it up before he meets his demise.
A light on its display gently flickers to life, informing him that there s still some power within that he could use. He points the device at the creature and squeezes the trigger just as it launches itself at him.
Nothing.
Just a loud click, that's all the device does - make a loud clicking sound.
This would be his end.
A eardrum-shattering clamour resounds as the creature is cast from midair and into the thick trunk of a tree, entrails painting the immediate boy's head quickly snaps to attention as he is greeted by a tall blond boy wielding a mechanical device, still slightly glowing after delivering the deadly force upon the unexpecting beast.
"You looked like you needed a spot of help," shrugs the monolithic warrior, sheathing the weapon onto his back whilst giving the still scared survivor a glance and a grin in an attempt to placate him.
He glares at his saviour. The comedy element isn't helping him calm down, but it is at least a bit distracting. "I really hate this weather; it's interfering with my toys," he murmurs while grabbing the blond's proffered arm and pulling himself to his feet.
The warrior chuckles as he says, "You know, Jessi, if you just asked for some help now and then things would be a lot easier."
Jessi sighs as he replies. "You know I can't ask you for help constantly Figit; I tinker with these things so I get the scars if they don't work, not you." As he spoke he continues fiddling with the buttons on the device he is attempting to wield.
Figit reaches out and pulls the angered boy's hood off of his face. "You won't be able to continue getting scars if you die to one of those things. You're only hindering yourself by hiding those," he says and flicks Jessi's left ear for good measure, much to his annoyance. "It's not going to do you any favours."
Jessi turns away and cradles his right arm, attempting to hide any obvious wounds he had obtained whilst fighting the creatures, the ears set atop his head now twitching from the traumatic cacophony they'd recently experienced. "You're just lucky that your feature is easier to hide," he grumbles, pointing towards Figit's long golden tail that emerges from between his legs.
Figit chuckles but ignores Jessi. "We don't have time for this. You have some more tinkering to do, I assume, and maybe Manz will have something for me to do besides babysitting you, so let's head back already," he jibes whilst making his way through the surrounding bushes and heading back towards the safe haven that he misses.
By the time they reach the gates of the village the thick smog has settled down, returning visibility through the thick trees to normal. As the two of them enter the settlement they are greeted by a symphony of music and voices chattering away meaninglessly. Those within the village didn't know the reality of life and death outside of the walls, having to endure a world of 'kill or be killed' just so everyone could eat. The two of them head toward the centre of the village, toward what Jessi calls a home, even if it is mostly obscured by a multitude of coloured cables and technology from eras long past, some of it usable and some broken beyond repair.
As they enter his abode Jessi's feline ears twitch - someone else was in there, and he could guess only too well who it was. He closes his eyes to refocus his attention to listening, before quickly turning to the side and pushing Figit roughly to the ground, a dart piercing the air where the hunter's neck used to be. Jessi's reopened eyes snap to the source of the dart, where a light voice emanates. "You always seem to know where I am. It ruins the fun."