Quest A Hunting We Will Go

[Riaris Dovukalis]

Riaris hadn't gone to sleep just yet, his mind still stuck on the events of the day. It didn't make sense, the clues, sighs and anything else didn't form together to make a full picture. Was it possible that they could have gotten it so wrong? A missing hunting party, scouts, Zith, Glass beaks? All together in the same area? It wasn't likely..No it was more like seemingly related events coming together to form a lie. One that they hadn't been able to see through.

Whatever the truth, he imagined that they would find it some how, if not it wasn't as important as the job they had started out to do. Finally, he allowed his mind to settle and calm his thoughts enough that he could attempt to sleep. But he would get no sleep on this fight. Razkar's call brought him into action as she quickly bolted up and burst out of the tent to see what was going on.

"Razkar..what is it?"

Then he heard it, a familiar squeaking, numbering big enough that it caused a slight echo in the area surrounding them. The noises he knew, a thought that brought him back to the 58th of the season. The same beast had attacked the city and now he found himself in their sights again.

Snarlwings..

The tiny beast weren't a real danger to adults, especially for warriors like he and Razkar. Death by snarlwings didn't concern him, but what did was the fact that they might scare off their horses, which would leave them stranded in the middle of nowhere and having to walk.

"Protect the horses!"

He yelled out as he raced towards the fire and pulled a branch-like stick free. He then moved into range of where the tiny beasts were the thickest and swung the blazing stick at them. The stick smacked nicely into the group and setting many on fire. He turned around, swinging his hips along as he brought the stick in a slanted arch back up and against the buzzing weasels a second time.

[Razkar]

Watching Riaris rage and swing against the swarm of chittering little beasts like some god of fire, Razkar couldn't help but be impressed. The Akalak did not freeze for a crucial second as he did, seeming to know these creatures well. But Razkar knew their like, at least.

They were like the army ants of Falyndar. One ant was nothing. Even a hundred ants were no more than an irritation. But you never just saw a hundred ants. Always they came in vast divisions, bringing ten for every one you suashed.

These flying weasels would be the same. The two of them were fierce, armed, tested warriors... but with enough numbers, they would end up like that horse.

The Myrian gritted his teeth and edged closer to the fire.

"Not today."

He ground out the words of defiance and roared over the screeching cloud that whirled around them, ax and gladius flashing in all directions like an aura of steel. Over and over they bit into flesh, cleaving monsters from the sky with squealing cries. Dead or wounded, he did not have time to check. The horses were rearing up and their eyes rolled back in their heads, terror-stricken.

After what seemed like bells but were more like moments, the two of them bad their back to their mounts... but were moving further away from the fire, and the Snarlwing swarm was emboldened.

"Hold them!" Razkar shouted over the cacophony, sheathing his ax quickly and gathering up both bridles in one hand. "I get to fire!"

Then he started pulling them, unwilling and whinnying, terrified, closer to the flames. He could hear their terror, feel their fear, but pretty soon the flying beasts would see the bipeds as too much of a challenge and move onto the larger, meatier horses instead. That could not happen.

Razkar kept hauling, slashing upward with one hand, heels digging into the fallen grass and frozen dirt, as Riaris lit up the sky above them with his swinging, flaming torch.

[Riaris Dovukalis]

What Riaris needed, what he could have used at that time, was a flame thrower and a net. The same tools that he and others from Riverfall had all used to combat the snarlwings that had attacked the city. But he didn't have those, and with the sudden attack there wasn't time to make any combinations of the sort. So instead he did what he could with the torch that he had made. He could see Razkar going at them as well, swatting them out of the air as they dove in to attack. Had the two of them both had the correct weapons the fight would likely be over with all ready.

"I'll back you up!"

Riaris called out to the Myrian as he took the horses and moved closer to the fire. The torch did it's job, but it wasn't as swift as a blade and handled like a club. Although the weasel-like creatures continued to fall to their better might, there were so many and seemingly coming out of nowhere. Riaris' arm was starting to get tired from swinging again and again, without once lowering his arm passed his shoulders.

But there was no other choice, he had to continue to fight and protect the horses. His swing was high and hard, flashes of crisp wood and sparks fell away from the torch as Riaris slammed it into snarlwings when ever they were close to enough to reach. He was sure to keep himself in between them and the horses, and hoped that Razkar had them held tightly enough.

He wanted a stake, or something else that would be useful in containing the horses while he and Razkar fought off the remaining swarm, but there wasn't time to look for one. The ground beneath his feet shook and squeaked with the many weasels that had fallen and he was more than willing to stump on each and every one of them.

[Razkar]

Razkar knew it was not a matter of skill of weaponry now; it was a battle of endurance. Whose will would break first: theirs, or the swarm's?

The Akalak's club whirled and blazed over them now, but the swings were coming slower, sheen of exhaustion shining across his huge body. One beefy hand gripped the reins to his horse, leaving Razkar to worry about his own mount, and giving him a free hand to hack and slash at the diving beasts around them.

The ground was rolling, twitching and screeching between them. The Myrian yelped as something bit into his ankle, stomped down hard on the injured Snarlwing and crushed its skull with the blow. More swooped and screamed around them, but feared the light and the flashing blades-

-so went for the horses instead.

Trikken reared up and screamed in pain, a ball of hateful, fanged fury latching onto her mane. Razkar saw it and clubbed at it with the pommel of his gladius, not risking his blade so near the horses throat. The Snarlwing turned on him with a screech, as if warning him-

-getting its face crushed into its head for its impudence with his next blow.

It dropped but Trikken was still rearing, still tryin to jump and escape, wanting to run from the flames and the monsters and the stupid bipeds that were holding it in this evil place. But Razkar kept hold, digging in his heels, knowing full well that if his gelding ran into the darkness, the swarm would fall on it in moments, and...

He had seen what they did to horses. It would not happen to his.

"Break, damn you!" He snarled in his own tongue, sending up another sweeping blow at the cloud of wings and fur surrounding them. "Lose your will and flee, you petching little bastards!"

Time would still tell if they would listen.

[Traverse]

Snarlwing Update: The creatures swarm and snarl. Despite the rapid amount of them that die, they remain fearless, and perhaps their resolve even hardens to see their comrades fall like moths to the flame. As Razkar and Riaris stave off their numbers a small coalition of the beasts find the saddle bags upon the ground at the corner of camp. Snarlwings might be primarily carrion feeders, but who doesn't like jerky? Slowly, slowly the two hearty warriors think they can see their numbers thinning, but is it only a trick of the eye? oocJust a little supplementary post as you guys duke it out with the Snarlwings. Also, I gave you the warhorses for a couple reasons, one of which was to help you guys in fights! These guys are born and bred for war, so feel free to have em cause a few casualties.

[Razkar]

The swarm raged and screeched around them and they were not breaking... at least not yet. The Myrian and the Akalak slashed and swung, but now they were not the only combatants in the fray. So busy with his own battles was Razkar that he hadn't noticed the raging mountains of flesh that were their mounts.

Nor the blood and gore gumming their mouths.

He glanced at Trikken and saw him slam his long head to the side, huge, flat teeth snapping out and crushing a Snarlwing that was drawn to the blood on his neck. He reared up and whinnied with unmistakable anger, eyes rolled back almost to the whites and iron-shod hooves striking out into the swarm.

Bloody lumps hit the ground where Snarlwings were hit by those rearing feet, and Riaris' mount was doing the same. Razkar was not so confident or insane as to try and mount either, though, knowing battle frenzy when he saw it.

"The food!"

A clutch of Snarlwings descended on the ration bags like a chattering crowd and Razkar lunged towards them instinctively. They'd have nothing to eat out here if they succeeded... although, he conceded wryly, even in the heat of battle, they probably wouldn't run out of Snarlwing rations for a good while.

With a curse from his own land Razkar bent low and swept his weapons horizontally, striking a layer of the screeching monsters from the pack. But the death of their comrades only enraged the creatures more, their kin and whatever mindless friendships that animals fostered with each other. The trio of survivors launched themselves at Razkar from point-blank range, and he fell back roaring and cursing and biting and clawing with the monsters, the four of them rolling across the ground, streaking it with blood from all.

[Riaris Dovukalis]

Riairs turned in circling, swinging the fiery stick as if it were a grand sword. The weasels swarmed them both, tiny teeth pecking and biting at their skins. Luckily Riaris was wearing a heavy coat and had thick skin. The fight continued, and as the mighty Akalak fought off the throngs of snarlwings, the torch he used flared up from the air around it. The fire blazed higher for a bit before slowly settling down to a simmer.

Thinking quickly, he shoved what was left of the stick back into the fire and pulled out his lakan. With the absence of the fire at his aid, the snarkwings dove at him viciously ready to make a meal of purple meat. Riaris doubled back, holding one arm up to cover his eyes while slashing at them with his lakn in the other hand.

"This is ridiculous how long can this last?!"

Not far from him, the horses were kicking up dusk and smashing the snarlwings that fell to the ground. They were brave horses and stood within the camp and fought along side them as warrior horses should. Then he heard Razkar's call and turned to see the beast attacking the food supplies. He saw the Myrian race in to defend their rations and followed suit. Riaris slipped passed the man, taking a few slashes at the winged weasels to get them off him and tried to help the man stand up.

"I'll draw them off!!"

Without waiting for a word from him, Riaris snatched up the supple bags and hustled back over to his horse. The mare was still in action kicking and stumping on snarlwings when he returned to mount her. It was a sloppy job however, and the big purple hunk almost ended up facing the wrong way. However he was able to right himself, and as he did he smacked the horses rear and raced off into the darkness with a hoard of snarlwings behind him.

[Traverse]

A strange confusion erupted within the ranks of snarlwings as the giant purple mass mounted one of the evil biting beasts and rode off. Their numbers had been depleted, but the snarlwings were just as hungry as ever. Razkar would get a moment's break as the creatures chittered and squawked, clearly confused as to what to do. A swarm followed the purple mass, movement and meat too much to resist, but some of the others seemed to be fed up with the whole ordeal. The group of flying mammals surrounding the Myrian swooped down to strike, but not at him, nor the horse, but to fetch the remains of their infirm fellows. At first it seemed like almost a romantic idea, the shining bodies diving down gracefully like dancers, until their razor teeth ripped into the flesh of their deceased comrades and took wing away from the camp. Well they got a meal one way or another. Razkar would be left with a few aggressive stragglers, but nothing more, leaving he and Trikken alone in the camp strewn with shimmering bodies, missing half his scouting party.

Riaris on the other hand, splitting the remaining creatures evenly between he and the camp, had quite an entourage on his tail. Patience's head and rump flicked and swished as she tried to slap the creatures away, but they constantly dove, taking small bits form her flesh before returning into the air. The warhorse set into a full out sprint, something that would be an entirely new and just as unpleasant experience for the green Akalak rider as she attempted to escape the horde of beasts.

If he managed to keep his seat with the supplies, Riaris would notice that every vicious swipe of his Lakan contributed to a very noticeable decline in the number of assailants that taxed him. Just as the creatures in their camp turned to feasting on their own in hunger and frustration, so too did every new dead snarlwing send a few from the swarm back to feast on its corpse. Soon a new problem was going to arise. Not the pester some creatures that had threatened their lives and supplies, but how to stop a rampaging warhorse as she bolted farther and farther from camp.

oocApologies for the the delay in posting!

[Razkar]

"Wait! No go two ways!"

Razkar shouted out as he saw the vast figure leap onto the spurring warhorse, and even with Riaris' size he barely managed to right himself. Then, with a final shouted warning, the two of them shot off into the darkness, a swarm of shadows pursuing them.

The Myrian snarled at the recklessness of his partner, but had no time to correct or aid. The swarm was breaking but as he ripped and pummeled at he shapes biting down on him, he could spare nothing. The first was crushed under his rolling form, spine or neck broken as it fell away, he did not know or care as long as it was away from him. The other was pulled away even as it ripped a chunk from his stomach-

-and he smashed it onto the ground, headfirst. No more problem.

The third screeched an inch away from his ear, and Razkar felt his eardrum tremble in agony, screamed to match it as he jerked his head away-

Too slow.

A chunk of his ear vanished inside the little beast's mouth as he ripped away, the Myrian's hand shooting up to grasp it around its oddly-smooth, furred body. He slammed it over and over again into the ground until smooth and shiny turned to glossy with blood, head vanished and wings shorn nearly off.

He looked around hurriedly, bloody and near-exhausted, fumbling for his kukri and dagger. Few of the monsters were left, and those that were were more interested in gathering their slain for... was it loyalty?

Razkar snorted at the very idea. No, they just knew the benefits of leaving nothing to waste. Not even your losses.

The cloud became a few buzzing stragglers and one stalked along the ground towards him, wounded, furious, determined-

-and punted into the bonfire by a desperate kick from Razkar. He watched it crackle and the flames envelop it, thrashing madly until its vocal chords were scorched to ash. He crawled close to the fire, his back to it, weapons in each hand and chest heaving...

They were leaving. The ground writhed and twitched with dead and dying bodies, but he was alive... and Riaris was far away.

A whinny in the darkness, answered by a screeching mass of monsters. Razkar got to his feet and found Trikken hoofing and snorting angrily, apparently more annoyed his targets had fled than the fact he was bleeding from a dozen patches. Razkar moved slowly to him, shushing him as best as he could, until he could place a tentative hand on his snout.

Another whinny. Screeching. And the deep, pained, bass roar of a battling Akalak...

"Petch it." Razkar snarled, as much to himself as the glowering warhorse, even though he doubted it's trainers had taught it Myrian. "We may have to go save the idiot..."

[Riaris Dovukalis]

Riaris road hard, the horse bucked and jumped as it tried to fight off the swarming beast. The Akalak swung his blade hard and fast, even wildly as he tried to keep a hold of their supplies. "I won't be bested by weasels! I refuse..." Clinging to the horse and holding the supplies under him so that the beast couldn't reach them, Riaris road on, fanning snarlwings the entire way. He wasn't sure of how far away from the camp that he was, or the condition of the Myrian, but at the moment the bulk of the tiny man eaters was upon his back.

For a moment the hoard seemed too much and Riaris started to swing the supply bag along with the lakan to knock back as many as he could. A renewed vigor rose inside of him once he noticed their numbers dropping off. He plan had actually worked...kinda. However upon returning the bag into his lap he noticed that two snarlwings were holding tightly with bugged eyes as they tried to dig out the food inside the bag.

"Get away from my food!!"

He growled and slashed at them in a crossed pattern that left blood and guts on his clothing. Finally it seemed that he was free of the beast and the Akalak was able to sit up...almost. The warhorse continued to rage on even though the snarlwings were all gone. He wasn't used to riding horses and at this rate he would never want to even try it again.

"Woow!! slow down...slow I said!" he commanded the steed loudly.

But the horse wouldn't listen and as it raced on at lightening speed, Riaris was forced to hug it's neck and tug in his head to just to stay on top. "This is inexcusable!! I swear I'll have his head!!" He raged on thinking back to the Akalak who had given him the horse to start with. After moments, it seemed that the horse had calmed down and it's pace wasn't as fast. Riaris decided then that he would take charge, sit up and retake control of the horse.

However..the moment he sat up, his pale eyes widen as they focused on a thick branch coming straight at him. There was no time to react and within a blink Riaris was knocked off the horse and sent tumbling backwards into the grass. He layed their with the world spinning above him for a few ticks before he slowly rose and stumbled forward while clutching his chest. In the short distance he could see the horse had stopped and was standing in the grassy area just beyond the tree that had smacked him.

"Never again..."