Torment was oblivious to Leech doing anything. Until he charged forward that was and clung to the others back. It did an excellent job of knocking him off balance and confusing him for sure, although probably not the most enjoyable ride for Bitz as he swung that arm around that was holding her.

Leech nearly fell off, but managed to get his claw foot and hand dug in to better support himself as he gnawed at the strap that held Torment's face plate on. It wasn't anything fancy so he got through it pretty easily and then it fell partially forward, because really it was a part of his face, just not connected by much. It put incredible strain on the few things it was stuck by though and he ended up tossing Bitz to grab it with both hands.

Leech let go, using Torment's back as a launch pad to bounce off of and land in a slight slide on his hands and feet.
--

The Miffs began their search, not pleased at all to be forced to do so, especially in a rapid manner. It was hard to search when people didn't want you in their places and stuff, but regardless the two were forcing their ways through. Preside himself didn't go in since he was kind of big and couldn't check all the small places.

Bitz let out a startled yelp as she was suddenly swung back and forth harshly, and then thrown aside, tumbling and instinctively tucking her limbs close to her body until she stopped moving. She sat up, wincing as she looked to the large zetraloid only to find him holding his face as though trying to keep it from falling off. N-No - it WAS falling off!

She choked up, but on some level remembered that terrible monster and that she needed to get away while she could, so she got to her feet and ran. Not knowing where to, she stumbled from side to side a few times before managing to stabilize herself and dash toward the city, toward the hideout they had found that was so unsafe yet so safe, feeling much safer than anything else she had seen recently.

She didn't even glance back to see if Leech would come along. She had no idea what he had planned to do, and her thoughts refused to focus on anything that could delay her escape - such as the unpredictable creature she had called her friend.

Torment was too preoccupied with his face to give way to any kind of chase. Only making strange noises on occasion that one could only assume were some form of pain. Really though it sounded like creaking gears and old equipment trying to start up again, but it actually was his voice, oddly enough. Regardless he was busy.

Lost the girl. Face falling off, Preside I lost the girl. He sent the message through transmitter in hopes Preside would get it and be forewarned.

Leech had taken off after Bitz, was quite quick himself, and suddenly seemed a whole lot better at dodging obstacles than he had earlier, gliding to the sides of things with ease and weaving in and out of the way of other things that may harm him. His pace was increasing quickly, running on his hands and feet nearly doubled his speed than if he were running on two. He didn't blame Bitz for ditching him really. I mean that's what HE had done, but he wanted to catch up to her. And that was when he slammed square into the back of a bench. Oh....oh....ow...oh gosh...road gone. It disoriented him for a moment before he got around it and set off at much the same pace.


--

Preside got Torment's message. It didn't make him happy though. He WAS the only zetraloid capable of keeping track of a stupid shifter. He dragged his hand down his face, growling in frustration.

One of the Miffs appeared from a building shrugging its shoulders before disappearing into another. They needed a new approach to this. They were practically back to square one, no shifters. He kept a short conversation going with Torment to get the details.
If you find Leech again, kill that idiot.

He ended the conversation before looking around. He doubted the Miffs were gonna find anything so he set off to see if he could locate Bitz again without tell them.

Bitz just kept moving, but as far as she had run she was too far away to reach her home before she collapsed, crumpling down into a heap in the middle of the road. She was still awake, struggling to remain conscious and aware, but she was far too tired to keep moving and her head was pounding fiercely, even her core aching in a protest to how little energy she had provided herself. Wearily she tried to sit up, looking around for something to eat; she was starving and had yet to stop hyperventilating.

Although there was no food in sight, someone must have taken note of her pathetic state, because the surrounding crowd had slowed and many people were looking at her. What was she to do? She didn't want all this attention, even less so if they realized what she was, and at this point she couldn't do anything to defend herself or escape even from a human. All she could try to do was shrink, hiding her eyes behind her goggles and sniffling as she desperately tried to be uninteresting enough to remove the gazes of the crowd.



Normally, the toy store's owner would have been overjoyed to rat out the strange little zetraloid that ate one of his toys and stuffed himself into a pile of bears, but he knew of the two Miffs from earlier and wasn't particularly fond of the way they had a tendency to behave. He just shook his head and said he hadn't seen anyone, that he had been busy with something else and wouldn't hear if any customers had entered more to cause the two hunters trouble than to protect the oddball.

The Bloody heck, I read part of the top then like skipped the majority somehow 0_o rereading now lol)

Leech had followed along, able to keep track of the shifter for many reasons. One it was his partial design purpose, not just finding shifters but items of interest in general. He may not have had eyes, but he had other means that made up for it. Whoever had created him had stated that his lack of eyes were merely so that he didn't get side tracked and could stay completely on task. Whether or not it was true, he didn't know, just that he could follow Bitz.

Streets? He hated streets! Why had she needed to go out there? There were so many moving objects and loud noises in such locations that it distorted his perception. He returned to standing on two feet, proceeding slower and very much resembling a prairie dog with his he held his arms in front of himself and positioned himself as he tried to locate her. He'd heard her brother call her something before...Bi...Blitz? No....Bitz! That's what it was. So he started to call her name, his tone tapering off into the strange wails he typically made.



The Miffs had no more reason to believe that the toy shop had Bier as opposed to any other place. Since Preside had left they weren't being nearly as thorough anyway, so the two merely shrugged and started walking along again, their tails dragging the ground in partial defeat and disinterest that they had lost the trail of their shifter.

Bitz didn't plan to move, not one step, closing her eyes to sleep without even realizing it. Something was intruding into her rest though, a wailing, and soon she noticed that there were actual words in it. Or rather, one word, her name. Her new name.

"He... here..." she murmured as she wearily tried to sit again, to her surprise aided by a civilian that pulled her to her feet and held large hands on her shoulders so she wouldn't just collapse again. She felt horrible... She answered the calls a few more times, her throat too dry to let her shout very loud, until she recalled what Leech had done. What if he turned on her again, and had brought along one of the others? But then again, what if he hadn't ...? She couldn't figure it out, especially not with the constant headache, and her balance was evidently so bad that whoever had helped her didn't wish to let go. She tried to rub her eyes, but there were goggles in the way and thus she just waited to see what would happen...

OH MY GOSH HOW DID I DO IT AGAIN. I SWEAR IT DUN FEEL THAT LONG WHEN I ABANDON IT D:

Leech walked perfectly normal on his hind legs as he followed her voice to help pinpoint her location. The fact she was a shifter and he was a hunter made that easier too. He was pretty sure he had her location relatively close. As usual he couldn't tell what he was looking at, or the humans around him other than by noise. He called her name again, to see if she'd respond from this distance. He didn't much care what others thought of him being there.

"Here." Bitz answered again. Leech was practically right in front of her; not answering would probably not gain her anything, and the civilians didn't seem to trust her enough to let her go alone anyway. She reached out at Leech, and the man who had helped her nudged the girl over so close that she could grab him. And as soon as she had managed to grab a hold of Leech's arm or chest or anything, he released her. Bitz almost fell at once, and had to put all her effort into clinging to Leech in order to keep stable.

"I'm here." she murmured. The other people didn't seem quite willing to stay around Leech, and thus backed off to allow him some leeway.

"You okay?" He asked, seeming to get that she wasn't too stable on her own. He reached over with his other arm to try and help her by grabbing ahold of whatever he could on her. Note he wasn't being extra rough or gentle. Just trying to help as well as a blind thing could.

"I'm tired..." Bitz murmured. "I'm so hungry... I'm really tired..."

She trailed off for a few seconds before the obvious hit her. "I'm gonna pass out." she said. "I... I used up all my... gonna pass out."

She tried to shake her head. "Need energy." she murmured, keeping herself as focused as she could on the sole task of staying awake. "Head hurts... I don't want to pass out..."

"Energy..." Leech repeated, yes he quite suddenly seemed a lot more intelligent than he had, and no that was no error on Mega10's part. It was intentional. Anyway he did seem a lot more intelligent. He tried remembering if she needed some kind of special something...or was it just anything? "Food?" He asked, he tried picking her up as he did so, figuring whatever form of energy she needed it'd most likely be up to him to find.

"Food." Bitz confirmed, hugging onto Leech as she was picked up. She leaned onto him and closed her eyes, breathing quietly. Any food was good enough for her, but she didn't have to walk now, maybe a nap could be okay ...? He'd wake her once they found something after all... Gradually she fell asleep, huddled up and clinging to Leech like the child she was.

Leech's tail swayed back and forth behind him for a moment. Okay, he could find food then, he had a great sense of smell after all. Taking a decent amount of care to make sure he wasn't dropping her or going to slam them into anything he began walking along head tilted more downward seeing as he used the thing on the back of his head to smell things. He was also walking backwards, using his tail as a third foot to keep him from being unbalanced and toppling over. He could smell different types of food lingering amongst different trails which made it hard to decide where to go. So he just went for the strongest of them all--coming from a small wheel around sandwich bus...van...thing.

The owner of the sandwich bus was having a good day, up until then. The sight of the dog-like zetraloid didn't exactly bring back happy memories. He watched Leech and the child in his arms, gaze lingering for a few seconds before he gathered the courage to speak up. "Yes?"


Elsewhere, Bier woke up with a yawn and climbed out of the pile of bears. He scratched a rounded helmetfin lightly as he looked around, conserving the delayed energy boost he had just been given by that toy train he ate earlier, and picked out a large puzzle. With a sigh of relief he noticed it even came with its own bag, opening it and eating a large handful.

"Hey!" the owner shouted. "Stop eating the damn merchandise!" Bier looked to him, simply staring for a few seconds as he chewed and swallowed.

"It's okay, I'll pay!" he answered, smiling as cheerfully as he could, but only got a distrusting glare in return. "I promise!"

"Eat them after you pay!" the owner growled, and Bier frowned. He didn't have any money, quite honestly, but he went up to the counter. He murmured, making a show out of feeling his hips for any hidden compartments with money, slowly turning to face the door...

"Oh, here we go!" he said with a smile. "It's right BYE!" And with those words he dashed out of the toy store, the owner screaming after him in rage as he ran.

"Food." Leech stated, quite bluntly. He pointed at where he'd heard the owner's voice emit from with his free hand. "I need food stuff." His tail lashed back and forth as he demanded this. It would be in the person's best interest to give him what he wanted because being a Hunter he really had no issue at all with tearing him apart.

*goes to see who I had around XDD*

Preside had only been a street or so over, checking those areas in case the shifter had ventured off without the Miffs noticing. But he could hear some commotion from the street over which perked his interest. Either the Miffs had irritated someone or perhaps the shifter had shown up. Well it could've been other things too but these seemed most likely. So without any further thought on the matter he headed off in that direction.

The sandwich stand man grimaced. "Yes, of... of course." he answered timidly. He surveyed his food supplies, trying to think through what to give the hunter, but soon decided not to take any chances with the zetraloid's sense of smell. He hastily cobbled together the very best sandwich he could muster, a quite large one, and held it out toward Leech. "Here you go."


And Preside would see a sort of Bier-like zetraloid, dolled up as a bear and puzzle-bag in his hand, rushing down the street and into the closest alley. Once he'd gotten away from the crowds Bier calmed, confident that a simple human couldn't catch up to him, and instead begun to walk back toward his hideout. After all, Bitz would be there and he had worried her quite enough.

... He idly pondered if he should keep the bear look. He liked to think it made him look soft and cushy.

Leech waited--whether or not patiently was anyone's speculation. He wasn't attacking anyone so it was controlled to some extent. His head was set to be what would seem staring straight forward. Considering he had no eyes, he wasn't looking at anything but it was the appearance it gave. Once he heard the man speak up again he tried shaking Bitz some, "Hey, wake up." he shook his head, "Food time." Without waiting to see if she'd respond he set her down and reached out with his pointy claw fingered hand to grab the sandwich.

Preside didn't pursue the other immediately. After all it wasn't the same appearance as--well that was utterly stupid to go by. They were Shapeshifters after all. Who was to say they'd look the same? Of course they'd try hiding. He grumbled low to himself before deciding to follow at a distance--far enough back to remain out of plain sight but easy enough to still follow.

Bitz didn't stir as she was spoken to, but once set on the ground she sluggishly opened her eyes a tiny bit, trying not to blink as though it'd make her fall back asleep. She looked up to see Leech snatch a large sandwich from the sandwich man, but having no qualms with theft whatsoever just held her hands out for the piece of food greedily, sobering up. Still tired, yes, after all she had barely gotten any rest - but hunger overtook any sleepiness and as soon as her fingers grasped the soft bread, she'd dig into it and eat it at such a speed it was a surprise she didn't choke.


Deciding to keep his bear outfit for now, but keeping his "normal" appearance in mind at all times so as not to forget it, Bier returned to his old hideout. "Bitz!" he called out, looking around as he begun to search the hideout. "Bitz, where are you? You're here, right?!"

As he begun to realize he got no answer, that his sister was still trapped out in the city somewhere, Bier grew gradually more distressed and quickly, panic overtook. "Bitz!!" he shouted, but still got no answer. The moment he fully realized what was going on, that his sister was GONE along with that damn dog Leech who couldn't be trusted and may have attacked or betrayed her, Bier turned and rushed to the hideout's exit, to get back into the city to search for her.

Leech offered it to Bitz, of course he couldn't see how open to taking it she was, nor exactly where her hands were at but he held it out in her general direction with a slight frown. He suspected it'd have been easier to hand over things like this if he'd had eyes to pinpoint what he was doing.

Preside kept his distance. Bitz, he was pretty sure was the other shifter they had found earlier although granted he hadn't really bothered to memorized their names, something he wished he had been more willing to do now. Never the less he was convinced enough to continue to try and follow. As long as the two remained apart they had a better change of capturing them as far as he was concerned.

Maybe he should call in Slime to help, although he had a hard time figuring out what the green goo heap would do other than cause people to look at him.

Bitz only had to see where the bread was to grab it - granted, this took her a moment, but once she saw it she took it and dug in, happily eating it. The sandwich man did nothing but watch, baffled as to Leech's apparent protegee. Not for long though, as Bitz sobered up and leaned onto his cart, looking up at him with wide eyes. "More!" she said. "And, something to drink too!"

He didn't exactly dare to deny, but looked around as though someone would help him as Bitz greedily took a large amount of food and a drink for herself. She even insisted that he'd give Leech some, so the man very carefully held out a thick piece of ham to the dog-like zetraloid.


Bier ran into the city, but as he looked around and searched it quickly became apparent that he had no idea where his sister could be. Or where he lost her, for that matter. And then he started asking people he'd already spoken to... He carried his bag of puzzle pieces with him - something he seemed very focused not to forget - and ate bits and pieces from it constantly, a sign of panic more than hunger.

(oops o_o )

Leech seemed content enough with the the help he had given her. When the ham was offered out, he sniffed at it, not that anyone could tell with his apparent lack of normal features and then content that it was indeed edible and something he wanted, attempted to claw at the ham. He wasn't really trying to injure the man too much--just make sure he got the meat before the guy changed his mind or something.

Preside decided it was time to take a more aggressive approach to things--or perhaps it was confrontational. Either way, anyone who was currently getting in his way was bumped aside, simply because he was bigger and stronger than most humans. Perhaps the Shapeshifter would be preoccupied trying to find the other to notice him being not particularly discrete.

The sandwich man yelped and pulled his hand back reflexively as he felt the claws against his skin, releasing the piece of ham in an instant. "Ow!"

Bitz just smiled to the dog-like zetraloid. "Thank you." she said a bit shyly. "For rescuing me..." She tried to think of how to follow the comment up, to explain how she didn't know how to survive on her own and that Leech was her only guide and her protector now that Bier wasn't around, but she didn't manage to form her feelings into words and just stayed right by Leech's side as a subconscious way to explain her thoughts.


Bier was indeed far too busy with his search to take any note of Preside. After all, in his own mind he had evaded his pursuers, what was important was finding his sister before anyone else got to her! He finally turned right to Preside, starting to ask the same thing he had asked everyone else. "Have you seen--"

He stopped, mouth a little open as he stared up at Preside. "Ah..." Oh. That's not good. He stared up at him for a second before his thoughts trailed onto: I should run...

He smiled widely and innocently as he tried to dash backward, suddenly feeling grateful that he hadn't messed with the shape and weight of his body too much when bearifying himself. Still speed-oriented. I can lose him like those other two...

Leech hurried to grab ahold of it, fumbling around a bit since he couldn't see it. He shoved the entire thing in his mouth, tail flopping back and forth in what could be presumed happiness. Once he had gulped it down he nodded in response to Bitz. "More food or good?" He asked her.


Preside had been around long enough to hear the question Bier had been asking over and over to everyone. So he knew what the rest of the question Bier had started with him would be. He thought he might be able to keep track of the Shifter if it decided to run, but it wouldn't be easy--not without stupid Leech.

"But I do know where your sister is." He stated rather loudly, hoping that would interest the Shapeshifter. Granted, yes they had lost her, but Bier obviously didn't know that.

Bitz smiled. "I'm good now." she said. "Do you want any more?"


Preside's words caught Bitz's attention alright, but maybe not in the way he had hoped. The shapeshifter grew horrified and angered in an instant, stopping but looking as though he'd ram the hunter instead.

"Where is she!?" he shouted, trying to keep himself from attacking just yet. "What did you do to her!?"

Leech shook his head. That might not be his same opinion a few minutes from now but for now he seemed to think he was full and fine.

"Thanks person." Leech stated to the man who had given them food. At least he hadn't growled at the guy or something. He dropped down on his hands and feet again, tilting his head in Bitz' direction to see if she wanted a ride again.

(I presume you mean Bier XD)

Preside simply seemed bemused, his smirk evident as always. A scrawny Shapeshifter really didn't intimidate him. "Oh? She's somewhere. Somewhere safe." He gave the other a toothy grin. "With Torment. If you were to say...attack me though, I don't think it would end all too well for her." Oh yes, he was a sly one, and either way he really didn't care if the Shapeshifter attacked him. He was quite confident he could overpower it.

"Um... no problem." the sandwich man murmured. Bitz started to walk away, apparently not wanting a ride, and instead looked around. She had no idea where they were, or how to get home.

"Leech...? Where are we?" she asked quietly.


(Whoops, I did~)

Bier froze. His sister was with Torment? That... THING? "He'd better not be hurting her!" he shouted, glancing around himself. Which way was the scrapyard? He had to get there and save her... He refused to think of how she could be feeling, or what Torment could be doing to her, or how they caught her. How terrified she must be...

He blocked the thought out, glaring at Preside. "I'm going to save her!" he announced angrily. "If you've hurt her I'm going to kill you!"

A formidable threat, in his own opinion. Somewhat laughable, coming from a small shifter trying to imitate a teddybear, but that part he was oblivious to. And after a moment he realized he didn't know which direction the scrapyard lay in, again shouting at Preside. "Which way is she?!"

Leech followed at her side, acting as if he were likewise looking around.

"City." He announced after awhile, but anything more than that he hadn't a clue.

--

This whole outburst did nothing short of make Preside laugh. "So angry." He commented with a shake of his head, "Aren't you supposed to be PEACEFUL or something?" He chuckled again, this was too much, in the sense of being humorous. "Oh I'm sure Torment is. It's what he does best you know." Trying to aggravate the little Shifter? Quite possibly. He ignored the question asked to him regarding her location, rather shrugging and turning the opposite way. "I suppose one Shifter is plenty, carry on with your day." Was he serious? No. He was just hoping Bier would decide to follow or speak up again regarding his sister.