The bovine and the Kitsune (Stella/Ikari)

Ah... The truth. Ikari did know the woman was hiding something, but to be hiding something of such magnitude? Truly, Ikari was glad to hear the truth but displeased to hear the reasons behind her truth. The Fox continued to walk with Stella, uncertain of why the woman wished to risk her life so. One could not become stronger if they were dead.

"Your life, huh...?"

Ikari walked for only a few paces longer before a blade seemed to suddenly appear in the woman's hand. With a speed greater than Stella's, Ikari pushed the blade against Stella's neck, sharp claws pricking the woman's skin upon her right arm. However, despite the speed and skill behind the attack, Ikari didn't push the letter; she didn't slit Stella's throat or cut her wrist. Simply, Ikari used her skill, and the threat of claw and blade, to attempt to halt Stella in her tracks. One look in Ikari's eyes showed that she was no ordinary woman.

"So, you would throw your life away for strength? You would kill yourself just to get stronger? Surprise sweetheart, strength doesn't help the dead. Even if you were lucky enough to not be eaten by a hollow, then what? Would you assume the same methods as a plus? As a Shinigami? Then you would die once again, and achieved what? Nothing. Do not throw away your life, especially in the pursuit of strength."

Ikari's blade vanished as swiftly as it appeared, leaving a small line on Stella's neck that dribbled blood. It may have become obvious to Stella that Ikari wasn't stronger than the woman, but Ikari was fierce and to hear one so young desire to throw away their life... It made the typically happy-go-lucky Kitsune rather angry. However, she did seem to regret her anger and approach a bit. With a gentle touch, she brushed the woman's neck, healing away her wound with ease. With that, Ikari whirled around and continued moving, unless Stella stopped her.

"Come, if you wish to be tested we need to delve further into the forest. Otherwise, everything here will avoid my scent. I may not be powerful, but even lame creatures like hollow understand how marked territories work."

Frankly speaking, Ikari was a little surprised at this woman's willingness to listen... Then agaaiin, it's hard not to listen with a katana at your throat... Regardless! Ikari did as she said and guided the woman further into the woods. Frankly speaking, Ikari's scent wasn't terribly strong at all, frankly speaking she had less energy than Stella likely did, perhaps not by much, but enough. However, Ikari lead Stella further into the woods, onto areas where there were only game trails or nothing at all. Eventually, Ikari stopped moving as her five tails flicked, and her pink ears perked straight up. Her ears swiveled and twitched here and there as a slight growl emitted from Ikari's throat involuntarily. It wasn't enough to properly deter the hollow she sensed, but enough to delay it to warn Stella.

"It comes... Don't die, got it? I can only do so much to save you, even in the best of circumstances. Just don't get injured fatally and we'll be fine."

Ikari carefully moved back to where she was standing just behind Stella, placing her hand upon the woman's upper back; a reassurance for both of them, truth be told. Within moments of Ikari moving back, the sound of breaking branches, snapping twigs, and creaking trunks emerged from the forest at a level more audible to Stella. Stella only had so much time to prepare before a hollow mask emerged from the darkness between a pair of trees, which were soon grasped by two large hands and pushed aside with a crack. The destruction of plant life did irritate Ikari a bit, but she understood it was simply par for the course with these monsters. The hollow stared at what it perceived as two lovely snacks, intelligent enough to be wary of the women before it. While it didn't move, Ikari whispered to Stella.

"If you get hurt bad, I'm dragging you away or I'm killing it myself. Understand? Good luck, and don't die. 'Kay?"

Without much preamble from the hollow, it charged towards Stella and Ikari, with Ikari ready to move out of the way, and potentially push Stella out of the way if she needed to. Either way, time to act or get trampled.

Once the hollow had charged forward, and Stella had effectively moved out of Ikari's sight, the woman shifted with a small 'poof' into a pink fox, with five tails, that was no bigger than a fennec fox. Ikari scrambled around and bounded up a tree so she could observe Stella's fight with relative safety. From there, she watched as the woman attempted to cleave the hollow's leg off. Instead of the leg being lopped free to leave but a stump, the hollow proved acrobatic enough to dodge the initial strike as it effectively careened past; swiping at Stella's side before it was out of range from it's reckless charge. It seemed the hollow was fast enough, but fresh prey appeared to dull its senses.

Without much preamble, the hollow dashed towards Stella again after it had tumbled through a tree. It's arms were outstretched to its sides to try and catch Stella if she attempted to dodge and, as it ran, its eerie roar echoed through the forest. Clearly, while swift, this particular hollow wasn't exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer. However, it's brute strength helped to compensate for that lack in intelligence. All it took was one good direct strike and Stella could be in some trouble. With the big beasty charging at Stella, leaving little option for escape, Ikari watched on, preparing Kitsunebi to distract the hollow the tiniest bit so Stella wouldn't get pounded into jelly. However... Ikari did have some faith in the Quincy. After all, she seemed to have a good heart... just needed a push in the right direction, perhaps.

The hollow roared as the arrows pierced it's hide, careening into the nearby trees. In those moments, Ikari continued her careful reconnaissance, keeping an eye on both the hollow and Stella; kitsunebi dancing around her five tails as she watched. Stella had the technical skills, no doubt about it. However, the Danava did have to wonder how well she would last.

A sound of breaking bark, branches, and trunks broke through the forest as the hollow made a reckless charge for Stella. It was blinded by anger, and any cunning it once had was thrown to the wind. Stella would have an easier time of it right in this moment than before. A beast was a beast once blinded by pain and anger, so all Stella need do was make the right strike, and she would be free of injury; at least for the most part.

The hollow fell just as Stella had designed, the oversized ape of a hollow crumpled to the ground all while dissolving into dust that was characteristic of hollow. However, as Stella looked for Ikari, she didn't find her, not directly. However, the woman would feel the weight of something land upon her shoulder. If she looked, she would see a small pink fox with five tails. Additionally, the fox had the exact same ears Ikari had; her voice came from the fox too.

"Excellently done, Stella~ I do wish we didn't have to kill it, but it was unavoidable."

Ikari leapt off Stella's shoulder and poofed from a fox into her human form midair. She spun after landing and gave Stella an appraising headpat as a "good job" before Ikari raised her hands in front of Stella. After a moment of focusing, Ikari's hands glowed green and Stella would feel her muscles ease up, and any scratches she got fighting the hollow would seal up; cuts too. Afterwards, Ikari hummed as she orbited around Stella and made certain she wasn't injured elswhere with a swift pat down.

"Alright! Let's get out of this forest before we attract more hollow. I don't want you to get injured beyond my abilities to heal."