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At least, it'll stop <span class="mu-i">just</span> you.
You gulped down your pride and ran over to Erna, forcing aside the rat's tail to free your partner- and receiving a lashing to the back in the process.
Lord, that HURT. All of a sudden it felt like blades made of air were rushing down your back, splitting your skin open- despite the fact that you weren't bleeding. "Erna, we have to go! Leave Dennis, we can't fight this!"
The Buneary looked back at you, baffled. "Whu- Indie, he's screamin'! He can't get out of this alone!"
And you nodded right back. "Yes, exactly! And neither can we! Let's go back to town and get some help!"
You yanked Erna up and pulled her after you, heading back to the stairs. As you started running up the steps, the rat let out an enraged squeal and tried to run after you. You could hear Dennis beginning to cry again as you ran, though that could wait- you knew you had to do something about this, and you were just getting weaker as time went on.
The Buneary you were bringing along began to protest as well. "Indie, we haven't got many battlers!! Only pa might be able t' help, and I don't-"
She looked back and gasped, before you yanked her up to the second floor.
-
Irritated squeaks and chitters came from the stairs, and you could hear scratches and skitters as the rat tried to climb up after you. Dennis' occasional "ouch"ing made you think he wasn't being spared as the monster tried to pursue you two.
Regardless, you kept on running. Until-
"Indie!!"
Erna dug her paws into the ground and skidded to a halt, yanking you backwards and freeing her paw from your hand. "I'm not goin' with you!"
That made you stop and turn back. "What? Erna- you'll be hurt even more! You saw how just one attack from that thing left you on the ground and vulnerable!"
Skitter skitter, scratch scratch.
"Have you <span class="mu-i">seen</span> how much Dennis's hurting? Look at him! He's been cryin' since we got there! Even before that- he tried to toughen up when we were there, didn't you see?"
Erna hardly stood still as she talked, her arms illustrating every word. Now, both her paws were coming together over her chest. "I'm beggin' you, we've got t' go back. I-"
She looked away for a moment, then lowered her voice. "I feel bad for teasin' him when I was younger. I don't know how Dennis feels right now, but I wanna make up for makin' him feel like trash when I was little."
More scratches. They were getting worryingly close. You were ready to run if needed. Erna's speech was starting to get on your nerves- there was a <span class="mu-i">monster</span> behind you two, god damn it, and she was sitting here telling you about her feelings??
"L-listen- you go back 'n get help. I'll stay here and fight off that big dummy! I can d-"
