(Elvira's POV)
At the end of the first day, just as I near Death City, the rain stops, giving way to the dry sands of the desert outside of the city.
"Well, then," I dismount and quickly unsaddle Titan, taking his rain jacket off and putting it in the saddle bags. "Let's get moving, shall we?" I place his saddle back on his back and mount up, wanting to get a good start through this desert before the light completely fails us.
(Kid's POV)
"Hey, Kid!" Black*Star waves me over to him and Tsubaki from across the courtyard. "Have you heard the rumors?"
I raise a brow at him. "No, what rumors?"
"You mean you haven't heard?" Soul makes his way over, Maka following. "There's supposed to be a new witch floating around. They say she wears a cloak and goes around stealing the souls of the innocent to feed to her black two horned horse."
"Oh, those rumors." I roll my eyes, flicking my hand dismissively. "Those rumors have to be the most preposterous rumors I've ever heard. I mean, really, a witch out in the open? A two horned horse? And stealing the souls of the innocent to feed to said horse? Honestly, she doesn't sound like a witch to me!"
"Well, how do you explain the trail of death that follows this witch wherever she goes?" Black*Star smirks, challenging me.
"Really, Black*Star?" Maka crosses her arms over her chest. "You literally just made that up, cause what witch would make her presence that obvious?"
"Yeah," Liz looks up from filing her nails. "The main goal of a witch is to do her own thing without attracting the attention of anyone else."
"Hey, guys?" Patty's gaze is fixed somewhere off in Death City.
"Not now, Patty." Liz goes back to filing her nails. "Couldn'
t you just focus on the actual conversation for once?"
"But, guys," Patty tugs Liz to face the opposite direction and points to a distant figure. "Who is that?"
All of us look to where Patty is pointing. A cloaked spectre, mounted on a horse-like creature, is making slow progress toward the DWMA.
Patty looks around at all of us. "What did you guys say that new witch looked like?"
"She wears a cloak." Tsubaki moves closer to Black*Star.*
"Cloak, check." Liz and Patty both step closer to me.
"Her mount is black." Maka takes hold of Soul's hand.
"And black it is." Black*Star glares at the still distant stranger.
"Her mount is horse-like," The seven of us make our way over to the steps. "And has two horns." We watch in tense silence as the spectre makes it to the steps.
Her two horned, horse-like mount doesn't even stop, instead climbing up the steps like a mountain goat. The witch doesn't even acknowledge us as she and her horse continue across the courtyard.
"Hey!" At a cue from his rider, the horse stops, ears pricked in front of his horns. The cloaked stranger turns in her saddle to look at Soul from within her hood. "What do you want?"
"I've come to see Lord Death." She turns back around, shifting her grip on the reins. "He's been expecting me."
"Hold on." She pauses, slightly turning her head to show she's listening. "What do you want with my father?"
"'Father?'" She turns her horse around to face us. "So, you're his kid? Well, then," She swings her right leg over the saddle and dismounts, taking hold of her equine's reins. "I guess since you're here, and it seems like you mean business, I'm gonna have to pass an inspection or test or something?" Her voice is amused and slightly smug.
"Hell, yeah, you are!" Black*Star retorts, glaring at the witch. "There's no way a big star like me is gonna let Lord Death get taken down by some lame ass witch! Now take off your hood before I do it for you."
The stranger's posture immediately tenses. "So the rumors have reached here as well. Shit." She shakes her head. "Fine. As a show of good faith," She slowly reaches up with her free hand and pulls her hood down enough to reveal her face. "There, my hood is down." She turns her mount around and begins leading him to the doors. "Now I'm going to see Lord Death."
"Now wait just a damn minute!" Black*Star darts ahead of her and blocks her path. "Didn't you hear me? I said I'm not letting you go in there. There's no way you're gonna get past me."
"Yeah," Soul narrows his eyes at her. "And the rest of us are right there with him."
The witch shakes her head. "You don't get it, do you?" She turns around and looks at us, dropping her mount's reins. "The rumors you've heard are nothing more than that. Rumors. I'm not here for a fight. I come in peace."
"Yeah, right, witch." Black*Star spits the words, crossing his arms over his chest. "Like we'd believe you."
"I'm not asking you to believe me." She shakes her head. "I'm asking you to trust I'm not who you think I am and that I'm not here to harm Lord Death."
"We don't trust strangers." I nudge Patty and Liz, and in an instant, the two are in weapon form, both held securely in each hand. "Now either leave willingly or we'll make you leave."
"So that's how it is, huh?" She looks at each of us in turn as our partners transform. "Alright, then, as much as I hate this, if it's a fight you want," The witch shifts into a defensive position. "It's a fight you'll get."
* Voice Order: Tsubaki, Liz, Maka, Black*Star, Kid