Faith in luck or fate had been beaten out of Ryan by life's simple and harsh reality. Good things didn't happen because they were meant to, only if you made sure they happened, and even then it didn't always work. In human's life, everything was result of his actions - or those of others. But in that moment figure with wave of golden hair appeared on wall, he felt like just a bit of fortune might have smiled on him, even though the man realized it was probably nothing else than human's greed that had led her back here.

He had managed to kick off the first guard to attack him - the man had landed in sand below and laid still - and get back on his feet, when another guard had tackled him. Fortunately, Ryan had kept his balance and the brawl was short - with one powerful shove with his left arm, offender was pushed back and into another guardsman. Collision was strong enough for them both to fall in a rather miserable pile. And at that point, blonde escape artist came into game, taking care of the two men approaching from behind.

Without questioning the decision even for a moment, he followed Sophie. His backpack was half flung off his shoulder due to fighting, he pressed it to his chest and with other hand pulled zipper open and dug into it. Thankfully, there weren't too many items there and his fingers clutched around the desired item. Meanwhile, Sophie had managed to open a portal and man glanced behind them. His eyes widened and then he threw himself forward, right into smaller woman, pushing her down and through the portal as spear flew over them, narrowly missing him.

Moments later, they crashed into ground, Ryan's body covering and probably crushing her, his hand still in backpack that was now between them. Shit! Hopefully that thing hadn't broken. He sat up and glanced behind - the portal had closed, so they were safe from that direction. But the danger was far from over. Sweat already trickled down his face from heat, crackling and breaking sounds surrounding them. They were in middle of forest fire that was closing in.

He let the collar fall back into depths of backpack, there were bigger concerns than getting young woman's powers under control. In truth, she looked so exhausted albino man doubted she'd manage to open another portal right now. Hurriedly, he zipped his backpack up and flung it on his shoulder, yanking Sophie up harshly. "Come on, we gotta get out of here..." his pale eyes lingered on his bracelet. There, to the left! But as he looked in that direction, he saw only smoke.

"Cover your mouth and nose," he ordered her if she hadn't done so, in a tone that didn't allow any back-talk. He followed his own instructions and began dragging them to left. Hopefully, the spot where he could open portal was not far. If Sophie was too tired to walk, after a short moment of irritated pulling he'd simply pick her up, carrying through the anguished forest that endangered them more with each moment.

Cough ripped through him as he strained his watering eyes to see ahead. He step-sided in last moment before falling tree crushed him, falling with its dying wail. Heat was becoming worse with each moment. Ryan looked at his bracelet. It was near. He rushed ahead, not letting Sophie linger behind if she was still on her own two feet. As they stopped on edge of a narrow, but deep stream that rushed by, his gadget blinked and he knew - it was here that their 'doors' could be found.

If he was carrying her, he struggled to press the buttons, but didn't put her down nevertheless and few moments later, when the fire was already licking grass just a feet or two behind them, bright circle appeared in air, spreading bigger and ripping the reality itself to allow passage. He half rushed, half tumbled through it, making sure Sophie followed, ducking his head and as flames reached - and through - portal, it closed itself.

Wherever they were, it was no welcoming place. Dark, steep walls around them and unlit street leading straight. Either carrying her or pulling along, Ryan managed to find doors leading inside what seemed abandoned house. They were slightly open, nearly welcoming, and he had his doubts, but if it was a trap, he'd deal with it when it was sprung. Thankfully, nothing of the sort happened as he set his foot inside in the building. Some light seeped through boarded up windows that faced another street and from what could be seen, it was empty except for trash and broken furniture. This would have to be their refuge for now. He was far too tired to look for someplace else.