[Cobalt Mountains] Frostbound [Klyph, Hrafn]

[Leviathan]

Klyphaestus fired two shots wildly at the boar, the first dug itself deep into the lightly frosted dirt several meters from the boar, the second was non closer, but on the other side. The arrow hit the very tree Jonathon had been hiding in only seconds before. As Klyphaestus started to move around the tree, the boar charged, and much like he did to Jonathon, pounded the tree with a furious rage that caused the whole plant to shudder. Klyphaestus was showered in decaying leaves and broken twigs as he held on for dear life. As before, to fall to the ground would be death. An unlucky attack by that beast would easily slay either man. Jonathon found himself, no longer holding the aggression of the boar what-so-ever, that he could easily pick up his bow and recover. Should he wish to climb a tree, he had plenty of time to do it. Should he with to run away and leave Klyphaestus abandoned to fight alone, he could do so. If he wished to charge the boar with tooth, nail, and whatever weapons at his disposal, might not be such a hot idea. The massive pig was much the Syliran knights, armored and deadly. Messing with one without planning will get you slain. However, even though Jonathon had plenty of time, Klyphaestus did not. With each drumming of the boar's mighty impenetrable skull against the tree, there was a sickening crack. Either the Boar was kill himself, or the tree Klypheastus had chosen might not have been as solid nor strong as they originally thought.

[Jonathon DuFraine]

Jonathon gave a wave, once, from behind his tree, praying to Caiyha with all his might. Jonathon peeked around the tree and saw how occupied the boar was, attacking Klyphaustus. Jonathon jumped out and accosted his bow, quickly checking it for damages, and but an arrow to it.

"No! Not a hot idea! That boar will tear you to pieces. Just hold on as hard as you can!" Jonathon pulled out three arrows and put them all on the floor in front of him. He kneeled, aiming his bow at the boar. He took a deep, deep breath. Then he picked up an arrow, putting it to his bow, and aimed it directly at the boar. He pulled it back to full power, and... Twang! Twang, twang! After the first shot, Jonathon rapidly fired the others.

After he fired all three, he felt a sudden claw of terror in his heart. This was the part in Jonathon's plan where Jonathon hauled ass out of there. He hoped it was enough to distract the boar from Klyph, while simultaneously hoping it hadn't. Jumping behind the nearest tree, he tried to hide himself behind it while he climbed it as quick as he could. Hopefully the boar didn't see him, or tried to charge him and had a hard time switching directions. Once in the tree, he secured his bow better this time and hung on for all he was worth.

[Klyphaestus]

It was as if the cracking sound of the tree was also cracking something prescious within Klyphaestus. He felt the world in front of him was leaning slowly to one side and, before he could realize what was happening, he was hurled down to the ground.

Fortunately he landed without serious injuries, but blood still came out from all those shallow cuts on his left thigh. Klyphaestus got up franticly, oblivious of Johnathon's shots. He dashed forward, trying to get as far away as he could from the boar with this foolish fantasy that he, a mere human, could outrun a huge boar.

His bow was already lost during the fall. Klyphaestus ran with two daggars in his hands and the small pain in his thigh bled.

[Leviathan]

Jonathon fired three shots, faster perhaps than he should have. Firing quicker meant less time to aim, and less time to aim meant it was less likely to hit his mark. He was fortunate, in fact, that two of the arrows hit, and the third missed Klyphaestus. The boar, though now stricken hard in the side with two fresh arrows, did not turn towards Jonathon, who was already making his way up a tree. The boar caught onto Klyphaestus trying to escape, and fueled by a rage that even an Akalak couldn't compare to, it charged the Drykas. Its short powerful legs carried him quickly across the ground, right up on Klyph's heels. Daggers in hand or not, Klyphaestus found himself no longer sprinting in the direction he originally thought, but in stead found himself picked up and thrown to the side like he was nothing more than a child. Klyphaestus was fortunate not to take a tusk to the back or chest, which could be fatal. Instead, it was only his thigh that was punctured. His mobility was just shot dead. There was literally no chance for him to outrun the boar now. In fact, if Jonathon didn't do something, anything, Klyph may not have time to stand before bashing skulls with the monster. The boar then slouched, its hind leg gave out for a moment, causing the pig to kneel in a strange looking motion. It sat there a moment, staring at Klyphaestus still, but the Drykas could now see that the boar was fading. The blood loss, particularly the arrow in the eye, was finally starting to wear the monster down. Sure, it could still run, trample Klyphaestus, rip out his chest with a single accurate thrust. It still had enough energy to soar across the ground and destory Jonathon if he dared to come back to the ground, but it wouldn't last much longer. The pig snorted as it regained strength to stand on his hind leg, though Klyphaestus could see that he looked out of balance.

[Jonathon DuFraine]

Jonathon opened the eyes he hadn't realized he had closed, sick with fear. The arrows hadn't pulled the boar. Hopefully Klyph will be all right... Crawling forward, he looked down at the ground, horrified by what he saw.

Klyphaustus had fallen from the tree, or either jumped despite Jonathon's warning. The boar was just knocking him aside as Jonathon looked out. That's it. He's a goner. Dead... I shouldn't have brought someone with so little training with me...

Jonathon watched as Klyphaustus struck the ground, but was amazed to see that Klyph hadn't been stabbed through the chest. That's what Jonathon would have done from the boar's perspective, and he didn't even have animal instincts. Jonathon's eyes moved on to the boar; it was injured, losing blood, and exhausted.

Jonathon immediately unsecured his bow, prepared it, and put an arrow to it. Jonathon aimed the arrow towards the boar's head; from this range Jonathon didn't like the odds of hitting the boar, much less the head, but a body shot wouldn't help Klyph. Only a headshot, from what Jonathon had seen of the boar so far, would distract the boar from it's victim. Also, Jonathon was unsure as to how tired and weak the boar was, as he hadn't seen or fought a boar ever and his mother only went lightly over those kinds of beasts. Jonathon drew back to full tension, and just as the boar began to get up, Jonathon breathed in... and fired an arrow. Jonathon put another to the string for a second shot.

[Klyphaestus]

Klyphaestus looked at the boar quietly. So all may end here.

The pain in his thigh was almost unbearable. It was more than any mortal pain he had ever felt before. The rim of his sight became slightly darkened by the pain and even the now brilliant sky was withering. Klyphaestus supported himself with one hand against the cold ground. One of his daggar was lost when he was picked up like a sandbag by the boar. Klyphaestus tightened his grip around the hilt of the left daggar, looking softly at the boar. The strength of his gaze was also ebbing, stolen bit by bit by the fear and hollow within him.

He knew very well that he could no longer walk, for the bloody hole in his right thigh had taken the controlling poaer over his leg. Though the boar was staggering, considering Klyphaestus' situation, the beast could still kill him easily with but on strike. Klyphaestus looked around and found that the nearst tree which could grant him momentary shelter was several steps away. There would be no time for him to crawl over and hide himself behind the tree if he decided to throw his daggar at the boar. Even if he could, the boar could go around the tree to charge. It was something anyone would do.

Klyphaestus looked at the boar again. Johnathon was not in sight. He suddenly smiled faintly. He should have known better.

He should have stayed in the castle, behinde the heavy walls, and lived his life as he had had for so many years. He had always dreamt of himself doing wonderful deeds which would let his name live through the following eras. Adventures, battling, scheming and more. He dreamt of all those things and crowned himself, in his various visions, the greatest swordsman, archer, poet, rider and singer. He had lived an idling life in the splendid castle and a glorious life in his dreams. He should not have taken his foam-like fantasy out into the wild to have it vanish onder the winter trees.

He did not even manage to once again see his homeland. It seemed that his journey of returning to his native land had died in the womb. What a joke. Klyphaestus the Drykas was killed in the woods near the castle during his first trip of hunting.

Shame and anger grew as Klyphaestus ran through all these thoughts. He clenched his teeth and stared now blamingly at the boar. He then threw his daggar out with all his might, thinking only about hurting the beast before he die. Klyphaestus shut his eyes right after the throwing, waiting for the punishment of his rackless act. But before anything fell upon his, Klyphaestus was surrounded by darkness, and he lost his conscious.

[Leviathan]

Jonathon produced the second most beautiful shot he had ever seen himself perform. Where the eye bursting in a bloody cloud was not topped, this next shot, despite the overwhelming range, struct true. The arrow did not his the Boar's head, like Jon aimed for, but rather the neck. Anyone and everyone knew the vital veins in the neck, and how lethal it was to have them severed. Such as this case. The boar dropped to the ground without so much as a squeal or grunt. It closed its eyes, as if to take nothing but a calming nap along side of Klyphaestus. The Drykas was hurt, but not nearly as bad as his paranoid mind led him to believe. And though his low pain tolerance made slipping into unconsciousness easy, his life was not at stake, unless of course he didn't get back to Syliras, get his wound cleansed at the bathhouse to avoid infection, and just stayed in the woods to let scavengers pick him apart. The Drykas slept, unaware that his knife was never even thrown from his hand, never had a chance to strike the boar, and unaware that they had won this battle. The boar, as massive as it was, finally bled to death. The breathing faded, the fight was stilled. All that was left was to eat him, which would take days for this duo, or take hi back to Syliras and sell him. Of course, he was so big, and they were so inadequately equipped to carry such weight, that they would have to do something. Leave part, or have a good supper and breakfast. Klyph wouldn't be able to carry much in his wounded state, but nevertheless, they survived. They showed the Wildlands that they weren't dead, not just yet. OOCI'm going to step out now, but I'll keep an eye on the thread. If you want to continue it or start another modded thread, or want me to mod the sequel, a return trip home, just post it in my office or PM me. When you guys are finished, let me know and I'll grade it. Hope I wasn't too brutal on you guys.

[Jonathon DuFraine]

Jonathon waited until he was sure the boar was dead, then let out a loud cheer. This went on for about half a minute, as Jonathon vented all his emotions in voice. Nothing coherent, though, and after a while Jonathon felt only success in his heart. He slipped off the branch, feeling light as air, landing easily on his feet. Then he walked over to the boar and Klyph.

First, Jonathon gave the boar a big stab in the neck with his knife, just to be sure. Then he took a look at Klyph. It looked like he had passed out; he had a largish tusk wound on the thigh. Jonathon was no doctor, but he was pretty sure that needed a good wash, or something. Maybe a bandage?

Jonathon shrugged and shook Klyphaustus, trying to wake him up. He checked the sky; mid-morning or so, although the fight seemed to have taken hours. He also inspected the boar; so huge and tasty-looking... and profitable. Jonathon set about the task of preparing the boar for eating and sale, which would probably take a while.

If Klyph awoke at any time during this, Jonathon would greet him, congratulate him, and ask him about his wound. If he's good enough to do anything, Jonathon would set him to making a fire. If not, Jonathon will make a fire after he had made enough meat to eat, and begin roasting some chunks of it for him and Klyph (Klyph would do this if he was awake.) Jonathon knew he couldn't carry away all of it, and they needed to hurry; the smell might attract predators.

[Klyphaestus]

Klyphaestus woke in the refreshing scent of roasted meat which, despite his dramatically dry lips, made this returning of conscious pleasant. He turned his head slightly and saw Johnathon sitting at a newly built fire, working busily with the meat. The sun was climbing high, granting the woods its welcomed warmth. Bewildered by the peaceful scene, Klyphaestus allowed his gaze to wonder and soon fell upon the boar. The giant beast which before had been so threatening was now lying on the ground. Part of its body had been cut off by Johnathon, leaving the rest to look like a pile of bloody flesh. The scent of heavy blood made Klyphaestus frowned for a moment.

The Drykas did not stay on the ground for long. He may be untried in many ways when it came to hunting, but it was common sense to know that the smell of blood would attract uninvited guests in the wilderness. Thinking of this, Klyphaestus got up as fast as he could, but groaned when pain and the sense of weakness rushed over him. His wound had been left untended and he had lost quite some blood.

'Blast it.' Klyphaestus muttered under his breath and, with shaking hands, tore a piece of cloth from his shirt and started to wind it around his thigh. After that, Klyphaestus panted for a few moments and then said with a sway of his head. 'Hey there, archer. A nice kill.'

[Jonathon DuFraine]

Jonathon slowly turned the spit, watching the meat cook. It smelled absolutely delicious; Jonathon was salivating as he slowly span it around. It was quite literally dripping with flavor. Jonathon was just as good as a cook as he was a doctor, but it looked almost done to him. Too bad he didn't have anything to flavor it with.

Jonathon heard Klyphaustus groan and turned to face him. Jonathon's face grew dark a moment. I probably should have bound that wound... But he hadn't any idea how. Another gap in his education as a hunter... hopefully Klyph would be fine.

Jonathon grinned at Klyph's compliment, watching him bind his wound. "Thanks, although you helped to. Sorry about the wound, I haven't a clue how to treat injuries." Jonathon turned to the meat; it looked fully cooked now. He pulled the meat off the stick and put it on top of a rock he had cleaned off earlier; large, with a flattish top.

Jonathon cut the chunk in half with his eating knife, offering the rest to Klyph. "The blood will soon be attracting predators, so we have to eat quick, get as much of the boar as we can, and doubletime back to Syliras. How's the leg?"