Closed No Such Thing as Happenstance [Aello]

[Sybel]

Her friend gave a non-committal shrug. "Suit yourself," she murmured, tearing off another hunk of bread. Sybel eyed her blandly for a moment, before her gaze wandered elsewhere. The weariness went down to her marrow, bleak torpor setting in. Her mind was too active to seek rest, but her body was totally exhausted. It was a terrible balancing act. She wondered if perhaps there’d be a second wind somewhere down the line. The sun wouldn’t set for bells to come, so there was still time. Somnolent, she finished the wedge of cheese and moved on to some of the rations. Maybe the food would give her energy… She clung to that hopeful idea as she fixed her gaze on the cold, hard ground. Brittle leaves cracked and split as she shifted her weight, the sound blending artfully with the fire. Her long, narrow fingers tore into a loaf, separating it neatly in fourths and chewing each section in a slow, unbroken rhythm. "Traveling," Aello answered, breaking into the vast emptiness. ”Although, my companions and I have spent so much time in the woods of late you might as well say that we do live here.” She hadn’t expected such an honest reply. "And you must be doing much the same. Traveling that is." The huntress glanced over her once more, most like gauging the reaction. "You are not muddied enough to be a woman of the forest." With that, she turned away again to return to the merry fire. "So where is it that you are going Sybel?" She sounded interested. "With that horse of yours and the great amount of feed?" “Your observations do you credit, though I’d expect no less. I’m traveling.” She responded slowly. “North, past Nyka to port. I’m on toward Mura.” She resumed her grazing until something alarming occurred to her. “Companions?” She questioned, arching a brow. The suspicion that had gone into hibernation woke with a vengeance. Exuding ease was difficult, but she worked to project the calm exterior nonetheless. Sybel never stopped eating, only pausing to speak. The final fourth went down with some difficulty, until she helped it along with a draft from her waterskin. The liquid cooled her parched throat, unstuck the dissolving bread. It was helping the unease as well as the exhaustion. Before those thoughts might continue, the forest halted to an eerie silence. Sybel was no expert, but the sudden absence of wildlife was never a good sign. A single crow called, the sound loud and dissonant. Both her eyebrows were up now, her face a mixture of concern and apprehension. So much for exuding ease. Unspoken, she glanced up to her companion. The look of focus indicated that she too recognized the change. Very slowly Sybel rose from her seated position to stand at the other woman’s side, her stance defensive. “What is it?” She breathed gently, scarcely more than a whisper.

[Aello]

"Strange, you would have been better off leaving Zeltiva's port," Aello commented. "Much faster, considering they are likely to have replenished their fleet's numbers so long after the storm." With that, the huntress fell silent again, as her heart began to beat a little faster. Her ears straining to hear a sound that never came. As her heart hammered against her ribs, her chest rose and fell less evenly, although her facial features remained a blank slate, hiding her apprehension. For a time, her eyes developed a far off look, until she turned to face Sybel with the rise of words renewed. Definitely not a forest dweller, the huntress thought to herself, when every little thing puts her on edge, and brings coiled legs to stand and straighten. Inwardly Aello sighed as colored tendrils rose from the earth. A misty veil, which blanketed the ground as much as did the pine needles. With relative ease, they filtered through the holes in the carpet, illuminating all things within several yards of the woman's lithe form- trees, fallen branches, rocks, pine needles, burrowing rabbits, and sleeping squirrels, and some strange cat like creature. Too large to be a stray domestic, or a lynx. So she supposed it was a mountain lion, come down from the nearby heights to hunt, or perhaps mark its territory. "The forest has stirred," Aello whispered as she eyed the flickering red light surrounding the majestic feline. "A predator walks in the north. Stalking its prey," the huntress explained, although she said nothing else on the matter, despite her knowing more than she had let on. OOCShort post is short, sorry.

[Sybel]

"Strange, you would have been better off leaving Zeltiva's port," she remarked, never turning to face her. "Much faster, considering they are likely to have replenished their fleet's numbers so long after the storm." There was a potential embarrassment waiting to happen. Uneasily Sybel shifted her weight, eyes on the ground. “I prefer land travel, let’s say.” In other words, she couldn’t handle sea travel. Something about the constant bobbing motion set her lunch sprinting back the way it came. That wasn’t exactly a fact she was willing to reveal, but she was sure Aello would get the gist. The silence enveloped them again, more pervasive this time. Aello was obviously the love child of a man and a statue, she thought dryly. Her stillness reminded Sybel vaguely of an automaton. For Yahal’s sake, the girl scarcely breathed. She wished she could make such little noise. It would be such a useful skill. Her pride stood squarely in the way of that particular request, however. She couldn’t seem to figure out if this mysterious girl was laughing with her or at her. The latter was more likely, which was a depressing thought. "The forest has stirred," her companion responded cryptically. Oh joy. "A predator walks in the north. Stalking its prey," she stated, obviously giving nothing away. Ironically the Benshira wondered if Aello was speaking in reference to herself. Perhaps she liked to break bread with her victims before she shot an arrow in their throat. That would be a wonderful way to end a fantastically dismal career. Forcing herself to calm down, she lowered back to the log, busying herself with the remnants of their shared meal. Another piece of cheese, with the same methodical routine of mastication. Chew, chew, chew into eternity. Then swallow. Her optimistic blue eyes grew imperceptibly dark. There was really nothing to say, except that her last meal smelled vaguely of horsehair. She’d joke until the very end… Whenever that might be. OOCSame here!

[Aello]

Aello said nothing as she sat, her eyes fixated on a mixture of flame and colored tendrils of mist. Although, she still managed to watch the Benshira out of the corner of her eye, take note of the time in which she forced herself to sit back down on the log. If somewhat stiffly, and resume her consumption of their meal, although, she seemed less than enthused. As though she was too worried to enjoy the tastes that played against her tongue. As the forest remained unnaturally silent, yet noticeably tense, judging by the taste of the air and its rising density, the huntress remained still. Constantly watching the flickering light. Waiting. Her eyes never losing their far off look as she bent her arms at the elbows, and placed them upon her knees. The rest of her arm rising, so that her chin may rest upon her hands. As the wind stirred, tousling her dark brown mane, the auras seemed to sway. Their lights flickering, as though they were a true flame that the element had the strength to snuff out, as opposed to merely the will of her own mind. Slowly, as her pointer caressed her chin, Aello's pupils dilated, and the illumination began to shift. She listened to the rustling of the leaves as the wind drew closer. The feline too. "It comes," Aello whispered, her voice scarcely audible over the wind, the crackling of the fire. "Hold the hilt, keep your weapon close," she added after a time. Little good it will do her though. The cats are masters of close range. If she wishes to live, she would need to bring it down from afar, before it has the time to gather its wits and pounce. For a moment, her mind's words seemed to drown themselves out before they came anew. Or hope that it comes for me first, so that I may destroy it for her... For a long time, her thoughts trailed off as the fire spat. Sparks; the size of fireflies fluttering on heavy, waxen wings danced about the lower portions of the flame, before they were snuffed out. Transforming into transparent beads of smoke; mixing with the larger pillar. Lazily, almost half heartedly, Aello watched them. The cat, prowling in the distance. Its feet pressing against the ground lightly, silently. Inching its form closer and closer to where she and her companion rested. She supposed it could see the smoke; smell it. "Be ready," was all the huntress said, before she fell into another of her silent spells.

[Sybel]

She finished her half of the meal tentatively, eyes on the tree line. It was impossible not to be concerned having no information to work with on the supposed predator. Aello sat, eyes entangled in the fire. It was irrational she to feel that way she knew, as the huntress was immobile and unphased. The way the girl bore herself spoke volumes on her skill. Yet this person bore no love for her. That was the true origin of her fear. If the creature went for her, whatever it was, she would hard pressed to defend. The girl would let it eat her before she’d step in. That way she’d have a bit of food and a new horse, minus the guilt. Of course, where else would she go? Sybel was more likely to get eaten anywhere else in the blasted forest. So there she sat, completely at the mercy of this fragile-seeming, fierce little archer. And as if one cue right there, Aello spoke: "It comes.” This was not going to end well, she imagined. "Hold the hilt, keep your weapon close," she whispered. Following the command, her fingers curled around the end of her blade. It was silly for her to be anxious – once Sybel ran full tilt from a pack of frenzied Zith, their horrendous screeching echoing through her skull. So why the nerves? Perhaps it was the element of the unknown; it was the unnamed threat. Without knowing your enemy, there was no way to prepare. That alone could be the cause, she thought irritably. There was no helping it. Taking a long, deep breath she closed her eyes. Sybel held it in for a few moments before a quiet exhalation. When her eyes opened next, there was more focus. Less anticipation. It was time to resume the restless, unspoken quality she’d had when riding. It had been foolish to relax, become social. The turn around had been remarkable, but they (literally) were not out of the woods yet. The shift in attitude has been premature. No wonder the girl was enthralled with the flames. Unspoken, understated determination. It was a relatable element, she imagined. For Aello, that was. Sybel felt it too, the burning within. But they were from completely different hemispheres. Communication would be difficult, despite certain shared qualities. There was a coldness about her, near derision but not quite. Charisma would be no use in this situation. Sybel would have to earn her respect. Prove herself.

[Aello]

The cat's claws extended, slipping past a fur the shade of dried sand. It glistened lightly in the sunlight, near undulating with the rocking motions cast by the worked muscles just beneath the surface of the feline's skin. The rest of its body was cast in shadow, its grey nails digging into the terrain as it moved. Displacing dark brown grains as it slashed lines into the earth with its silent padding. Its toes extending as it touched down lightly before moving on, so that it never truly sank into the ground; causing it to leave partial prints in its wake. Its feet gliding over fallen needles, leaves, taking no care where it stepped to keep the dead from crackling. Shards of leathery skin fluttering in the howling wind, which blew the scent of a fire towards it. Smoke. Silently, Aello watched the creature's steady approach, the way it meandered through the trees. Weaving its way in and out of them with a deadly intent, although it would scarcely seem so, considering the circuitous path it had chosen as it wound its way down towards their camp, until it came to a rustling of the leaves several paces behind them. A crouching overgrown cat, waiting to spring. The huntress smiled weakly as she pulled her hands away from her skin, and allowed them to settle in her lap. She straightened her spine, unwinding the knobbed bones. She could hear them clicking lightly as the fire roared beside her, her eyes mirroring its grace. Its ferocity. "Would you put your trust in a stranger?" Aello asked, her voice hardly more than a whisper. "Would you stake your life on her word? Place it in her hands?" The huntress fell silent as the wind picked up, sweeping through the camp despite the blockade of trees that surrounded it. The fire swayed against it, falling towards the west. The edges of its flames licking the dirt as smoke spiraled against it until the breeze died down again, causing it to snap back with an angry hiss. A spit of sparks, which sputtered out as easily as a lone candle standing in the rain. "If you find that you can Sybel, I would suggest you listen carefully," Aello wore on, after a time, as she watched the flickering of the feline's aura. The silent drumming of its tail against the ground as it anticipated the strong metallic taste of fresh blood against its fangs. Buried in its fur, beneath its nails. She could sense its shoulder muscles bunching, as it eased itself even closer to the ground, preparing to spring. "You must do exactly as I say," Aello whispered, as the creature's backside began to swish, and then it pushed up against the ground with all of its strength. Running for them in silence, "throw your body down and away from mine in one... two... three!" The creature snarled, baring its white teeth, tinted yellow, glistening with saliva. Inwardly, the huntress knew if the Benshira had obeyed her, the cougar would likely have missed clawing her back and ripping her throat out within an easy heart's beat. But knowing little of the person Aello had grown up to be, she was unlikely to obey, leaving her to clean up Sybel's mess. Thus, a few ticks before the creature could reach them, Aello sprang up and to the side, away from the fire. As she did so, she stumbled awkwardly, narrowly avoiding a tree fall, as her feet scraped against the earth, drawing dredges as her hands fell behind the folds of fabric, to the wire hilts of her blades. As her fingers brushed, she dug with a force renewed, and soon, had each hilt entwined. As her appendages hardened as they wound about each, digging the wire into her palms until she had first etchings, she wrenched each free. Pulling them past the fabric and into the open with a hollowed ring. The metal of her blades flashed in the light, the dried blood sparkling ominously as she shouted, "now duck!" as she extended her leg and shoved her toes into the feline's hind leg, and quickly retracting as she settled into a crouch, waiting for the creature to come. Aello would stand her ground. OOCPlease don't hate me. And... mwahhahahahaahhaaha!

[Sybel]

Aello stretched languidly, and Sybel could hear the popping of her vertebrae. "Would you put your trust in a stranger?" She breathed, almost inaudible. "Would you stake your life on her word? Place it in her hands?" Sybel’s muscles coiled, like twine wrapping around a spool. So whatever it was, it was there. Upon them. Did Sybel have a choice in the matter? She nodded her head slowly, eyes hard. "If you find that you can Sybel, I would suggest you listen carefully," she continued, still as a stone. The mounting tension caused her heart to pump more furiously, the rhythm echoing in her ears. "You must do exactly as I say," the huntress stressed each syllable. There was a passing second of terse silence, then, "Throw your body down and away from mine in one... two... three!" Without hesitation, Sybel sprang low from her seat and rolled into a flat position, prone against the needle-strewn ground. It took a single moment for her realize what had just happened. Internally she spat curses, crawling to her knees in order to regain momentum. The snarling, tawny beast advanced on her with cruel eyes. Her hand went back to her sword hilt, though against a such a predator it would be useless. The pumping became a pounding as her face flushed, blood running wild through the veins in her face. Her hands trembled. She was unaware of Aello as she drew her blades. When the sound resonated, that smooth unsheathing sound, her eyes darted to the girl. Would she really fight to defend her? The last detail she recalled was the brown blood caked on the girl’s steel before the words flooded her brain. "Now duck!" Aello had cried, egging the angry beast on. Dropping back to the forest floor, she glanced up to watch the battle. Did she mean to fight it up close? The huntress was well equipped with a bow; odd that she chose against using it. But Sybel had put all her faith in this girl, and therefore she’d stand her ground. When it seemed she’d gotten the angry creature’s attention, she rolled as far away as possible before again springing to her feet. The natural instinct was to harass the flank with her longsword, but there was no way of coordinating the attack. Her sword slid out of its prison as she stalked cautiously a ring around the predator. If it chose to turn, she’d have to keep dodging. It was better than being a coward however. Sybel wouldn’t turn tail. She’d stand and fight. Her eyes bored into her companion's, looking to take her cue.

[Aello]

The cougar rounded on Aello, snarling as its lips rippled, exposing a marble wall of white teeth. It pushed up against the ground with its forepaws, leaving all of its weight on the two left behind. Its claws dug into the ground as its tail swished angrily behind its legs, batting its feet as its freed hands swung at the huntress. Claws unsheathed. Unwilling to take a single scratch during the course of battle, the huntress spun her blades between her fingers as she brought them from down low to meet the slashing swipe of the cougar's paws. Within a few ticks, the flat of the girl's blades met with the creature's pads. The metal scraped against the soft pink flesh, as the claws curled around the sides of the blades. The points drawing against the supple rise towards the center of the dagger's flats. The cougar snarled, its head darting forward as its mouth opened and shut repeatedly, snapping at the huntress as she jerked her head just out of reach, and did her best to balance her weight between each of her feet. Her heels digging into the earth as her arms trembled against the feline's strength. Struggling to remain upright; to hold their ground. The huntress grit her teeth as she watched their auras out of the corner of her eye. Her own dancing alongside the fire, coupling with the beast's. The flames seemed to lick each as the blood red mist veiled the lower half of their forms. Crawling over the earth as though it were the cougar stalking its prey all over again. Their eyes locked; the muddied ablaze whilst the golden orbs of the cat's glimmered with murderous intent. A mirror of the sun it would seem as each of their arms sank towards the ground with faltering strength. "Slash at its lower limbs," Aello growled. Why is she just standing there like a blind oaf? she wondered as her arms continued to shake, and her chest began to rise and fall less and less evenly. As brown grains slid against the terrain with the subtle scrape of her heels against it, her heart thundered in her chest. Pounding against the rounds of her ivory colored rib cage. Her ears began to ring as something prodded against her temples. Causing the flesh around them to tighten and bunch; jump as her legs pushed up against the ground, and she forced her weight into the beast. Struggling to stand as she waited on her companion. Oh for Dira's sake... she thought.

[Sybel]

Sybel watched Aello struggle with the beast, it’s razor claws hooked on the edge of her blade. It endeavored to bite at her face, but each time she dipped out of reach. ”Slash at it’s lower limbs,” she hissed, propelling herself up and into the creature in order to break free. With vindictive accuracy, Sybel danced in to the lion’s hindquarter and brought the edge of her blade across a hamstring, bloody red trailing behind it. The flesh opened at the kiss of her steel and gave way to a weeping gash. It howled at the contact. The huntress had gotten it off-balance, long enough for her to spin to the other side and slice at the alternate leg. If she could disable the hind legs, it would no longer hold the advantage. From there the two women could systematically take it down. Poised, she spun with the strike, the blade running across it’s other thigh. It roared in pain. There was a moment she estimated before it would wheel around, seeking revenge. With the final second she skipped out of reach, keeping her blade defensive and low. This wasn’t going to end well. She seemed to intently focus as she stalked fluidly to one side. As its body circled around desperately, the flat of her blade came down on its brow. The impact temporarily blinded the predator, causing it to recoil. It shook its head in fury. It would serve better to distract the beast than challenge the thing directly, she thought. Not much of a plan, but it would have to suffice. One fierce paw came down where she’d just stood, her dodge at the last possible minute. It’s low snarl emanated from under pink, quivering gums. The pace would be impossible to keep for any length of time; luck would be more useful to her than skill at that point. They were all playing a deadly game. The upside was that she’d completed the initial goal, taking its ability to spring. With the sheer mass to contend with, there’d be no feasible way she could save herself. The leaking ridges in its back limbs meant she stood some chance. Her steel came down again across its eyes, this time edge first. The lion screamed in agony, foaming spittle flying from exposed canines. It lunged in, desperate to take its pound of flesh. The retaliation was half-expected, and she dove into a roll across the ground. It was with only luck that seemed to bring her upright again, almost totally losing balance. Rolling around was not something she had a lot of experience with, but there wasn’t a lot of room given the fire. Something inside of her froze. The fire. They might use it to their advantage. Her gaze snapped over to her partner, who must have been dealing with things on the other side of their opponent. Looking, searching for Aello. Was she fighting too? Or did she take it upon herself to disengage from the battle? That would be the test to see where the two of them stood. In retrospect, this had been the last thing she would have guessed about her upcoming day. By no means would it be the last animal attack she’d experience and it was certainly not the first but… A strange encounter, terse dinner and then animal attack? She couldn’t help but feel the universe had curious timing. Perhaps she’d glean something from the whole affair. That was the best she could really hope for. Before allowing herself to get lost in the tangent, she kept moving out of reach. OOCHey, sorry if I commandeered your NPC beastie. Let me know if you’d like me to change it! ☺

[Aello]

As the blade swung in a wide arc, the metal flashed. Light refracting off of it as it moved through its path towards the cougar's prickling fur. There was a howl first it seemed, and then the scent of blood, strong and metallic, coupling with the thick smell of smoke. The sound of it pouring out of the creature's body, matting its flesh. Its claws scraping through the warm crimson moisture as it turned from the huntress to her companion. Baring its teeth and growling as it attacked her and she continued to strike. Its tail lashing back and forth angrily as the two women fought to contend with its superior strength. With teeth grit in frustration, and her eyes blazing, mirroring the ferocity of the fire, the huntress pulled her hands back, reeling her weapons in. They spun uneasily between her fingers as she watched the ensuing battle between Sybel and the mountain lion, waiting for an opening by which she could strike the creature down, and save the struggling girl. After a time, when the other woman was rolling, the moment seemed to present itself to Aello. Within a heartbeat, she had taken a half step back before beginning to dart forward, her feet pushing up against the ground as forcefully as she could muster. Her toes curling into the main portion of her foot as she lifted her arms on high, and then drove them back behind her body as she tucked her chin into her chest and coiled her form, rolling over the cougar, her blades lightly scraping its back, shedding two thin lines of blood, as she continued to bend her legs at the knees, folding them into her chest before she let them come back out as she moved out of the spin. Out of the roll. As she landed, a jarring sensation shot up the length of Aello's feet as she fell onto an uneven bed of terrain. The huntress straightened her neck out, and the rest of her body as she struggled to find her footing for a few ticks and the beast soon rounded on her. Slashing at her back. At a portion of exposed skin now that the folds of her simple attire had shifted with her acrobatics. The extended claws tore through her flesh. Splitting it at the seams. Shedding thin lines of blood. The huntress grimaced as she tumbled a few steps forward, and then turned abruptly on her heels to face the feline. As she did so, she swung her right hand around, bringing it from on low to level with a space just below her shoulders. It met with the snarling creature, jamming against its teeth, where it halted as the elongated wall of pearly white fell against it, keeping it place. The sound of teeth scraping against metal making an unpleasant noise as blood continued to seep from both of their bodies. Clotting against fur and fabric. OOCIt is quite alright, if for whatever reason I did not want control shared, I would have mentioned it.