((haha, ask if you want to start it up, then I wander off again...))

Kej nodded, looking impressed by the grit that Lyra showed. He touched her arm lightly before stepping ahead. The male glanced at the guardian, trying to ignore how battle worn he was. Every step Sephiroth took looked like it took ten times the effort it should. Kej's white eyes flickered over his companions, finally settling on Nakeit. He reached out as he passed the creature, scruffing it's fur. This little thing was quite the companion....

"Years ago, I was with a scouting party," Kej stopped breathing through his nose, trying to ignore the scent of blood and matted fur. "There is an exit down this tunnel. It leads to an easy path to the surface." Silently, he prayed that the earthquake hadn't closed it off. If that was the case, they could very well have to travel through the tunnels and through the city once again. While it might have been safer, it would also take many hours. Who knew how long Sepiroth had until his energy reserves caved? Not even three of them could carry the guardian out of the caves safely. It wasn't going to happen.

Kej stepped ahead of everyone, scouting ahead a bit and returning to them every few minutes. As long as they stayed out of trouble, they would be fine.
-

Sephiroth's eyes lingered on Esshy. He seemed feral toward her, which was reasonable. She was a surface elf, not one of his kind. He hated her just as much as he hated every one of them.

The guardian favored his leg even more now, and as his adrenaline began to wear off after a few minutes, he realized just how much damage the Owlkin had done. His chest had been raked open by claws, and was still bleeding (though everyone politely tried to ignore it). He'd been tossed around a bit, and everything was sore and aching. Sephiroth reached up to wipe blood from his temple. The elf had literally received a beating that would have killed anyone else, including Kej.

As they traveled, Sephiroth stubbornly refused to call a rest. It was Kej who was forced to do so after the guardian nearly collapsed for a second time since they'd started.

"We keep moving," Sephiroth growled, looking frustrated.

Kej shook his head, motioning for the others to stop. "We need our strength, guardian. The rest of us need the rest." He wisely avoided mentioning Sephiroth's condition, and moved the blame onto everyone else's shoulders. "Lyra can't carry someone this long without a rest."

Sephiroth fell silent, finally reaching for the wall and leaning against it. He said nothing, but it was the closest thing they would receive to an agreement. They would have their rest. There was no other option, really. Sephiroth seemed too exhausted to continue, though he stubbornly continued on. He was reaching the very last thread of his endurance, and it was steadily becoming more obvious.

Kej reached for Lyra, helping her lower Kiyoshi to the ground. "How are you doing?" he asked quietly, regarding Kiyoshi's dark hair for a moment before looking back up to Lyra.