Spotting orange in the field of snow, the four of us launched into pursuit again.
The Volnnic, running East, towards the streets of the District, was already over twenty meters away.
"Don't let it reach the streets! Leo, help me guide it towards the neighbouring fence." Lavinia said. Composed despite this hectic task.
"Got it." The son responded.
The small Beast, unable to run at full speed due to the thickness of the snow, was jumping up and down like a shining orange wave in this sea of white.
Capable of matching its speed, but not catching up, the son and Lavinia released a volley of attacks in front of the Beast. Directing it closer to us and the neighbouring fence across the field.
Leo's sound wraiths scared the Beast from running to the street while Lavinia shot beams of light. Blowing up and melting the snow into twinkling jewels.
"I thought we were supposed to be discreet?" I said.
"Do you want it to get away?" Lavinia shot back.
Running parallel with the Volnnic, we reached the fence at the same time.
This fence was more of a metal sheet, but the Volnnic's claws had no issue penetrating into it. Using the same method as before, to leap up.
Waiting to ensure the Beast would actually jump into the yard, the four of us jumped up a little after it left our sight.
Without waiting to let it get away, we hopped the fence.
Leo jumped the highest, clearing the fence in one giant leap. Lavinia mantled over it, while the Substitute and I landed on it before jumping down.
Falling forward, Leo caught me by the collar just before I lost balance. My head mere centimetres away from crashing into a marble statue.
Stepping to my feet, I looked down the length of the yard. Shocked to find it full of art pieces, including marble statues, ice sculptures and snowmen. They were littered everywhere, providing no lane wide enough to run through.
"Just our luck." The Substitute bickered.
The Volnnic was running through the field of art to the fence on the other end. It wasn't even ten meters away now, but capable of running between the sculptures with ease. Better than I could, at least.
"You three go around," The son said, pointing down the length of the estate's yard. "I'll slow it down by chasing it directly."
With no time to argue, the three of us — Lavinia, the Substitute, and I — ran down the length of the fence before turning left, around the art field.
Leo chased the Beast head-on, slowing it down with concentrated cracks of sound and vibrations. Blasting small patches of snow and dirt into the air. Aiming precisely enough not to destroy any of the art. Although never really getting any closer to the Beast.
'Why does every marble statue have to be of a naked person? Is it a kink?' The son relayed.
'Are you really making jokes right now?' Lavinia replied.
'What? I'm just curious.' A distinct laugh rang from the centre of the field of statues.
'They probably just appreciate art.'
'Riiight. Yeah, it's definitely just the art that they appreciate.'
Reaching the opposite fence before Leo or the Volnnic, we headed back up the length of the yard. Hoping to catch the Beast before it could jump the fence.
Only the Volnnic never reached the fence. Instead, timing its jump with the repetitive blasts from Leo, it springs toward him at full speed, baring its claws. Leo, mid-cap, readjusts his aim for the attacking Volnnic.
In a wave of vibrations, his cap hits the Beast. Without enough power to kill it, he sends it flying into the air. Using wind to reorient itself and provide more speed, it soars through the sky and over the fence to the field on the other side.
Not waiting for Leo, the three of us hop over the fence.
Even as the Volnnic continued its glide, gasps of shock and dismay were shared. Not from the soaring Beast, but from what was ahead of us.
A whirlwind of snow. A wall of white like a coming blizzard.
'Is that a storm?' The Substitute asks. Still using the array.
'Not necessarily.' Lavinia responds. 'Someone must be clearing their yard of snow. Creating that small blizzard in the surrounding land.'
Leo, jumping silently from the fence, landed right beside me.
Distracted, I jumped at his sudden appearance. Tilting his head, he shoots me a cocky smirk.
"The Volnnic, why is it moving towards the blizzard?" The Substitute says out loud.
"It's trying to lose us in the storm. Damn!" I responded.
"Leo, run ahead and follow it. We need to know where it heads once it exits the storm!" The angel calls out. The three of us already in pursuit after the Volnnic.
"Don't gotta tell me twice." In a blast of visible waves, the son dashes forward at full speed. Enhancing his legs with essence, and boosting himself with his Will, he crosses the hundred-meter field between estates in a few short seconds. Leaving the rest of us blinded by the kicked-up snow.
When it clears, we spot the son jumping the fence.
'Where's it headed, Leo?' I relay.
'Leo?'
'Leo…?'
"W-what's wrong?" Lavinia stammers.
"Damn. He must be out of range."
"Seriously!?" She scoffs.
Running as a group, we hop the fence into the blizzard.
Blinded by the pelting snow and my ears assaulted by the gusting winds, I lost track of all directions. Grounded only by the array to make a sense of directions.
'Leo, can you hear me?!' Lavinia relays.
His voice comes distant, like he's yelling into the wind, hard to hear. '… Front… o… t… esta…'
"Did anyone understand him!?" The Substitute yells, loud enough to hear him over the winds.
"Front of the Estate!" Lavinia directs.
"Which way is that!?"
"Follow me!" I called out.
I may not be able to perfectly understand the son from the array, but I can still faintly sense his mind.
"You can tell where he is!?" Lavinia asks.
"Of course. We have an array set up after all." I said with a big smile on my face. Happy that the love of my life is talking to me.
"So why didn't you say that!?" Her arms shook vigorously in anger, still blocking the pelting snow from her gorgeous face. Yelling much louder than the bombarding wind.
Hurt and damaged by her words, I reluctantly guided us to the front of the estate.
Running as fast as we could through the blizzard, we made it to the front of the estate, and out of the clearing snow.
Patting ourselves down as we ran, we passed a middle-aged man to our right using his Wind Will to clear the snow.
He spots the three of us, head bending in confusion, contemplating as to why three kids are on his lawn.
"Good morning, Mister Fritz!" Lavinia calls out as we run past and up the side of his estate.
He instinctively waves at our passing.
'Leo, slow it down, we need to catch up!' The Substitute relays.
'No need, it's making a mess in the market.' The son replies.
Oh, we're so dead.