Open Bone-Dog Saints

[Xalet]

50th day of Winter, 512AV It had only been two days since the massive snowfall hit. The Bluevein had been frozen over for sometime, but the constant and endless barrage of snow caused a problem for the entirety of the Kabrin road. It certainly brought enough work for the Knights, whom were often out hooking up additional horses on hand to caravans and carriages in order to provide enough power to pull them free of the powder. The area around and leading up to the Outpost had to be cleared as well, it seemed on quite a regular basis. Xalet had been tasked with moving snow away from the pathway leading down toward the road, while his Squire was requested to utilize her horse form to move equipment about. It turned out having an enormous Kelvic horse in the Knighthood was quite a boon. Things seemed to be going slow and steady, until one of the Knights which had been inside of the city gathering supplies for the evening came galloping up, shouting to any whom were left on the premises, "Creatures in the walls! Grab your weapons! No formation enter at will!" his words were almost drowned out by the hoof beats as the Knight raced on by, looking to catch up to the Wing which had headed north out of the Outpost down the road. A bulk of the Knights were out taking care of tasks and problems created by the snow, that left Xalet, Septimus, and only a handful of other Knights and Squires to respond from the Outpost. "Squire? Squire!?" Xalet called out, his voice abnormally loud, but quite appropriate given the circumstances. Even as he spoke he ran to meet her half way, even passing by the towering equine as he looked to grab the most basic necessities for his gear. A Knight was never without his armor, but his weapons and shield were still within the main lodging area. "Get ready, we'll be heading across the Blue vein...straight across. It's frozen over." he spoke matter of factly, leaving no time for questions as he raced inside, seemingly gone for only a handful of moments before he emerged with his things, trying to strap his sheaths upon his body as he moved with minor success, his large boots leaving equally large footprints in the snow. There was some luck that Septimus had most of her tack already prepared due to lugging around wagons and equipment, that would allow the Akalak to be able to mount the War Horse and head out toward the city gates almost immediately. From there the duo would hopefully be able to meet up with a small Wing of Knights, or perhaps some of the Akalak guard that were responsible for the security of the city. With the snow, the disease, and the other environmental oddities, any cities resources would have been somewhat burdened by now. "Something odd has happened inside of the city Proper. We must get inside as quickly as possible, from there we will learn more. Use your speed, Squire Septimus!" the tall purple-skinned Knight finally affixed his shield across his back and wrapped a hand around the horn of his saddle, yanking his over-sized frame upward and into his seat. Adjusting the pack on his back, his heels squeezed into the warhorses sides while his weight adjusted forward, the signal to go forth at her fastest pace. Secret : Alrighty, well everyone can enter however they want I imagine, this is just how I envision a couple of Sylirans getting into the mix, see ya'll inside!

[Kavala]

The Healer was tired. There was no doubt about that. There was just something about the Akalaks that had their women birthing in late winter at higher rates than most would expect. She'd been called into town early, not to tend to a human woman but instead to tend to a kelvic woman as was her duty within the city. Sometimes the Akalak would drop the women off at The Sanctuary to wait out the last of their gestational days, but too often due to storms or other more animalistic factors children came early to the hybrid creatures and Kavala was called in late at night to assist. And assist she had, birthing twin boys just after dawn after fighting a kelvic deer almost fourteen bells to keep both mother and children in the world.

Then of course, after all three were safe, there was the family to contend with. After the children and mother were tucked safely in, attended by other kelvics, close relatives, and basically a sea of Konti that tended to infuse Riverfall, the family had started the rejoicing. It wasn't a matter of sneaking away. There was just no getting past being fed, plied with drink, and having to sip to a hundred toasts when twins were born in Riverfall. While the women rallied around the mother and made great fusses over the newborn brothers, the men gathered and smoked cigars and boasted of their prowess and congratulated themselves on an instant boost in rank for several generations.

That had taken more bells. So after a late late night of no sleep and a morning of smiling and congratulating menfolk and Konti too old to need to ogle baby Akalaks, Kavala had slipped away.

She was on her way home, straight to bed in fact, though she was sorry she hadn't brought her pony cart. The Akalak that had been sent to fetch her took her by horseback but in their merriment no one offered her a ride home. That was fine with Kavala, she could walk, but it was just at a tired pace.

She was fully wearing her leathers, as was her right as a citizen. And naturally she was armed, not for the confines of the city but because old habits died hard and there was a span that was not patrolled by the Kuvay'Nas outside the walls on her way home. Kavala yawned, sleepy, when the explosion hit. It was like nothing she'd ever seen. Startled, she looked around as creatures unlike anything she'd ever seen came boiling out of a distant building, bursting through windows and dragging what looked like a man - a human man - out into the street while attempting to rend him limb from limb.

The creatures were big, fully as large as a deerstalker and immediately Kavala was grateful her Watchers were at home and not with her. They would fight. of course, but by no means would they win against the brutes that were tearing into the man in the middle of the street.

Kavala came instantly alert. Her senses sharpeend and she forgot about the ordeal of the night. She drew her crossbow off her back, loaded it, and without hesitation began firing into the crowd of crystalline creatures. She had no delusions that she'd make a dent in them, not at first, but it did clear a path for her to find higher ground off the immediate danger of the street. Three bolts flew true, her practice at loading rapid fire helping tremendously as she made it to a house alongside the road, hopped up onto a giant urn of flowers, and slung the crossbow over her back. She climbed then, well within few of the building issuing forth the creatures and got herself up on a small overhanging roof that made up a porch entrance. Kavala couldn't have told anyone if it was a business or private residence that sheltered her. All she knew is that she was a whole lot safer up on the overhang than she was at ground level, even if it was seemingly cowardly.

Then she re slung her Crossbow, cocked it, and began firing once more.

[Riaris Dovukalis]

It was a normal day for those in the Kuvay'Nas. The Akalak were moving about the lodge, some just coming in and others heading out for their patrol duties. There was a small group assembled in the main quarters, Akalak sat around the table, and others stood against the walls. There was a bit of commotion brewing within the great hall, an Akalak of 39 years was celebrating the contraction of his first Nakivak. A good reason for such joy, and would lead to an even greater celebration if she bore him a child. Riaris stood close by, his arm propped up on the stone railing positioned over the fire place. His head was lowered, eyes of pale sapphire stared intensely into the flames below.

His mind was elsewhere, but he could still hear them cheering and making suggestive jokes about the Nakivak, and the women in general. It was an interesting conversation that he overheard, and as much as the Nakivak meant to his people, Riaris didn't see himself as needing to contract one. He was the son of Morgar Dovukalis, and among the best of their race. He was confident enough in his abilities that he didn't see the need to make such arrangements. Of course this was only his idea, and if the time came he might find himself doing just that, however recent events had proven his theory correct, which only harden his resolve.

Riaris pushed off from his position against the wall and moved towards the door where he collected his heavy coat and put it on. Enough time had been wasted and he was ready to get on with his day. Opening the doors to the outside, he was quickly met with the icy touch of winter. Luckily for the Akalak, he wasn't as bothered by the weather as many others were and felt just fine with only a coat to warm his back. He stepped out side then, suddenly turning to his right to see a young Akalak racing towards him and yelling loudly.

"Come quickly! Quickly! They are everywhere and attacking people!!"

Riaris narrowed his eyes and snatched the boy up by his shirt, even smacking him across his face before shaking him profusely. "Calm yourself boy, what are you screaming about?"
The boy calmed down, surprised by the much bigger Akalak's violent movement. He stared up at Riaris through widen eyes and rubbed his bruised cheek. "There are creatures in the city. huge dog-like beast! They are everywhere!"

Shock rang into Riaris' face, and he quickly glanced back inside to where the other members of the Kuvay'Nas had started to get up and come towards the door. Turning his gaze back to the frightened boy, Riaris released his grip on his clothing and instead lightly tapped his shoulders. "Get inside and do not come out until I tell you to." The Boy nodded silently and slipped into the lodge without another word. Without looking back, Riaris slipped his lakan from inside his coat and raced off.

"Let's move!" he shouted to his Kuvay'Nas brothers, who quickly rushed off behind him. The group raced through the city with Riaris at the head. For a short time, the Akalak had wondered if he would fine it, and if he should have asked for directions from the boy before they all raced off in a hurry. But then he saw the building, likely the source of the problem being that beasts were pouring out of the windows. It was a bizarre sight and something that no one would have wanted to see. A few members of the group froze in place as they watched the unreal event unfolding in front of them. Even the bold Akalak found it hard to believe, even as the men pushed on.

[Septimus]

The snow was cold to most but luckily Septimus' winter coat had already showed up. She appeared to be more shaggy than usual as her coat was more thicker. Not only did it act as a natural coat against the freezing elements but also as extra padding against the loads of equipment that she had been asked to carry from time to time. Sometimes her back was full of equipment and other times she would be just left with the tack as she went to get another load. Nevertheless, it must have been beneficial to have a horse that could follow orders on its own.

Luckily, Septimus had just dropped off one of her deliveries when she heard the hoof beats pounding the ground. Her slightly lowered head instantly jerked up as her ears picked up on the man's words. Her oblique neck was arched and held high as she got a quick glance of the man shouting. Needless to say, most of them had more important matters to attend to with the snow while Septimus and a few others began moving quickly, including her well familiar Knight now calling for her. Septimus rushed quickly at the Akalak, and he quickly retrieved most of his equipment. She responded with a slight nod that she could only do in this form to signal she understood.

Septimus was already geared up and had just about everything ready by now. As Xalet ran inside for more, Septimus managed to position herself in front of the entrance of their docking place. Septimus sighed and with that a large cloud of fine mist formed from her breath as the vapor hit the freezing air. So the Bluevein is frozen, and I'm running across it carrying a giant man along with his equipment. This is just splendid. Nevertheless, Septimus had never been quite the jumper so it was this way or no way. She would be going this way.

What seemed to be only a few seconds later, Xalet was rushing out again with most of his gear. Septimus' head went up once more and her ears were perked as her sapphire equine eyes looked at his rushing large frame. He quickly explained things as he fixed his shield which allowed Septimus to quickly run things through her head in the short mean time. Riverfall appears to be an attraction for trouble. Of course, there was humor to that followed with a short mental chuckle. However, it was short lived when Xalet finished and grabbed the saddle that had been strapped to her body by a large girth.

The Kelvic's ears flickered back slightly as he shifted his weight onto her back; a slight load to the well built horse's frame. Then she began to wonder exactly what kind of oddity was exactly in the city. However, almost instantly once Xalet's heels were squeezing to her side and she felt the weight shove forward, Septimus charged. Her hooves were now conducting their own rhythm of thundering sound as their large dinner plate sized selves came into a brief yet hard contact with the snow below. With this, there was a large trail of large hoof shaped nicks behind them with large spaces in between as her strides grew larger and faster as to cover more distance swifter. Hopefully, there would be no falling off this time for the sake of them both.

[Namorin Xalvratos]

It was early in the morning and Namorin had just walked into his masters store to see what duties he was needed. He arrived to find a package sitting on the counter neatly wrapped. His golden eyes looked back out at the cold and then back at the package. He knew that a package on the counter when he walked in was a delivery and usually a fairly important one if his master had felt the need to work on it into the night. He picked up the package not bothering to remove his coat and hood against the cold. The city could be beautiful in the summer and cold in the winter, but this year seemed determined to be the worst in memory. His master poked his head into the room and nodded. “I need you to get that to Varkalis.” He said and vanished back to his work in the shop. Namorin sighed and went to look up the address.

He stepped out into the snow again and slipped the package into his pocket and walked towards the designated location. The akalak was dressed in the leathers that were common to his race and over that was furs to keep the cold away. The city was fairly quiet this morning but that was really the way it had been all winter, with the river frozen that spoke of how cold it was currently. Lastly he was also armed with his grandfathers lakan more out of habit then out of any fear here in Riverfall.

Namorin paused as he saw someone going running down another street yelling about some dogs. The fact that the youth was running down the street yelling something about dogs that made Namorin turned his attention away from his own inner thoughts. Golden eyes narrowing his pulled out his lakan and moved in the direction that the boy had come.

It appeared he wasn’t alone and others were coming to join the fray. He paused as he came to the street where dogs were being to fill the streets. They appeared to be some type of bone structure, and where a creature that Namorin had never seen before. He prepared for the fight that was most likely coming.

[Descant Shepard]

Descant was returning from a long journey to nowhere in particular. Deciding that he hadn't found what he was looking for, returning to Riverfall, to Santuary, was the best option. It was the only choice to make. He'd gone off to be alone as he believed that he needed to be, that he deserved to be. But instead he found that his heart ached to be away from the kindness that had been bestowed upon him by those such as Kavala. He had abandoned the only place that had ever accepted him and he intended on redemption.

Now, back in Riverfall, he stalked the familiar streets, thinking on the small bit of time he spent here before he left before. He remembered that Kavala had bought him from Slavers that intended to sell him into the mines. He'd have had to work until his death, which wasn't too far off based on the injury he sustained at the hands of a Kelvic bear. She had taken him back to Sanctuary, bathed and fed him, provided a place to sleep even took him out to the markets to obtain clothing. The Konti also showed him that killing for a purpose that benefits others is acceptable. That he didn't have to feel any grief for hunting, as was in his nature. He had learned much from Kavala. And he was ashamed to have left her side.

His ears quirked at the sound of shouting and panic. The footsteps that pounds the ground startled him a bit but he remained calm as people darted past him, bringing a small breeze along with them. They screamed at him to run with th, away from whatever caused the trouble. Naturally, he bolted in the direction that they came from. He needed to know what had occurred, what could have been scaring off all those Citizens. His mind raced at all the possibilities as the winds passed through his hair just as quickly. He ran against the crowds as they pushed past, just trying to get clear off all the commotion. They shot Descant looks as if he were insane to be heading the way they came.

"Are you mad, boy?!" A man yelled as he grabbed Descant by the arm, trying to pull him along with the crowd.

Descant pulled away and shook his head. "No sir, what exactly is going on?" He demanded.

"They've breached the walls, man! The monsters! They're tearing everything apart!!" The man shouted as he began running away again.

Monsters. Descant continue to run toward the scene, coming upon the sight of several Akalaks traveling in the same direction as he was. He took in th sight of the Crystalln creatures, ripping into a man in the center of the square, and the panic surround the scene.

"Shit..."

[Cephei]

Cephei was out during the day, wondering the streets of Riverfall as usual, taking in the beauty of place, pondering deep thoughts as she continued her winding through the city streets. She was lost in her own thoughts and barely heard the shouts of men and the strange sounds of what could be canines, lots of canines. She pulled herself out of her mind and examined the scene set before her. The street was colored with the mystical hues of the bodies of Akalak men running into the fray of terrible creatures pouring out of a house further ahead. These beasts were large, having the look of a canine, but something more. Cephei’s heart started to pound against her chest in fright at the sight laid out before her. She instantly sought out her Djed, finding the inner peace with in herself, exhaling a large breath when she finally delved into the peace that laid with in herself. Her breath came out in a fog, as the Djed wrapped around her small frame. She was only a novice at shielding, so the shield was not very thick and had weaknesses in it. It would do for awhile, provide some protection from the blood filling the air, but not from physical damage, she needed to find higher ground.

Cephei wavered in her steps, wondering if she would be much help to the men fighting, or only a hindrance. She did not get to make a decision, as one of the best charged her from the fray; she wrapped the shield around her body tighter, and reacted instantly to the threat. She charged the best, pulling her Tulwar sword out; screaming an intimidating screech as she swiftly dodged the open mouth of the canine, coming down with her sword behind her back with all her strength, beheading the petching monster. Since the decision was made for her, she ran towards the chaotic fray of multiple colored bodies, and the bone chilling snarls of monsters, keeping a touch on her Djed and shielding her body from the spray of blood. There was a man in the center, that looked to be almost dead, it seemed that it was possibly too late to help him. Instead she weaved through the sea of bodies, hacking with her sword as she went unseen, at least she hoped she was unseen, moving like a calm mist in the chaotic blood filled air. Trying to avoid any attacks from the monstrous canines, while looking for safer ground.

She saw a tree in the distance, and ran as fast as she could away from the sea of people, blood, and canines. She did not make it to the tree though, because one of the weird monsters had tackled her to the ground, she slung her Tulwar blade up,to deflect the snapping mouth above her small body, its breath smelled putrid, as thick globs of drool hit her in the face. She put as much strength as she could against the canine, but the canine was strong, and she was at a disadvantage, it would be only moments before the other canines saw her weakness, and she would be out numbered, unless she did something, and fast.

She dug deep with in herself, to find the strength she needed for the task ahead, she put one hand on the metal of the blade, palm flat, and the other at the hilt of the Tulwar and shoved at the canine with all her might. It threw the canine off of her, but it was only a few feet away. Not wasting any precious time, she jumped to her feet and ran on the frozen ground, trying not to slip and slid to her doom, she made it to the tree, but it was right behind her. She could feel the hot breath of the large dog against her bare neck, or at least that was what her imagination was telling her. She jumped up grasping a low hanging limb, placing one foot on the tree trunk she lifted her body a few feet off the ground, but it was not high enough to get away from the multiple dogs that were now below the tree, jumping up trying to get her. She tried to scramble to the next limb, but with the snow and ice she kept slipping. She was in trouble now, but she wasn't going to call for help, everyone was too busy trying to save citizens of the city.

Cephei kicked at the snouts of the dogs, while swinging with her sword with her left hand, holding on to the limb above her head with her right hand, all the while trying not to fall to her death. Was she going to make it, or would she plummet to her sure death?

[Vanator]

Vanator tugged the chainmail shirt over his head, sliding it over the heavy padded vest. With a shift of his broad shoulders, the metal link armor settled in place. The Drykas examined the new repairs, running a calloused finger over the mail, the patches discernible by the slightly shinier links used to seal up the rents left by lion claws. His trips into the grasslands during the Fall had numbered an unprecedented three separate lion attacks, which took their toll on the horseman's armor, and his flesh.

The Denusk's armor had been forged by Loriim, the armorsmith of The Arma'Drex Smithy, and the Akalak had turned the repair job around in a couple days, mending the mesh well.

"Nicely done, thanks for fixing it up for me so quickly." Vanator nodded to the armorer, the shorter Akalak almost at eye level. "My pleasure Drykas, always glad to help." The Riverian clapped Van on the arm roughly and gave him a toothy grin. Vanator had become a valued customer after he had purchased a large quantity of arms and armor for the Sanctuary last season. The Drykas donned his cloak, pulling out a handful of mizas from a pouch and counting them into the smith's large blue hand before the armorsmith disappeared down the tunnel to the forges. The fitting had been completed in the armor antechamber of the shop, and Vanator made his way towards the shop's front door.

When he pulled the portal open, what confronted Vanator was chaos. Screams of terror and grunts of conflict, unearthly growls and howls shred the cold winter air. Several citizens were fleeing, mostly humans and a konti, while he glimpsed several Akalaks making hasty stands of defense. A chill ran along Vanator's spine as he tried to identify the attackers. Creatures not of this world, he surmised in his brief assessment. Roughly canine in shape, their substance was translucent, the structure of their skeletal frames visible as daylight passed through them. They were ravaging, swarming, killing.

One spotted the man peering out of the doorway and lunged at him. Vanator slammed the door shut in time to hear the beast crash against the heavy wood. Quickly, the Drykas ran into the weapon chamber. He carried a hand ax thrust through his belt, something unassuming for the trip to town, but underweight to take on such things. Knocking over a rack of spears, Van seized a battle ax. The Smithy had no missile weapons, but the Drykas snatched up a fallen javelin and returned to the door.

"Loriim, we are under attack!!" He yelled, hoping the Akalak heard him. Van opened the door a crack, his boot thrust in the opening. Then, trying to clutch the ax and javelin in his strong left hand, Vanator took a moment and centered himself, drawing a pool of greenish res into his upturned palm. Just as he had practiced, he formed a core of res, and a second coating around it. He could not hold it for long and he ignited the outside of the grapefruit sized sphere, he kicked the door open, the cacophony of mayhem still filling the street.

The things still roamed the street, some clawing at doors, some trying to reach up walls where people had sought shelter, others still raced down the street in an endless flood. Vanator immediately flung the burning globe at a nearby clump of beasts, igniting the core as it left his hand, the firebolt was small, but impacted the street between the monsters, the explosion sending them scattering, a few scorched, clearing some room around the Drykas. Another spotted him from across the street, and lunged his way. Van took the javelin awkwardly in his right hand and threw it at the thing at point blank range. Its momentum carried it into the Drykas, who stumbled back against the door, but the shaft of the spear had pierced it through the chest, and the grotesque creature slumped against him.

Many of the others began to fight over a carcass of something, or someone. With a quick glance across the street to the stables, Vanator assured himself it had been secured, Sirocco safely inside. Taking the opportunity to dart across the street, Van shirked off the dead thing and made his way behind the Blue Bull, keeping out of the main street until he worked his way around the arena to the Kuvay'Nas lodge, hoping to join a larger force. Emerging again on the main street, Vanator spotted a group of the large warriors moving hastily down the street, and he moved after them. His attention was garnered by the sight of a woman. She was a Konti from appearance, a petite form wielding a large curved sword. She too was heading after the Akalaks, and he wove his way towards her, taking a swing at a charging bone-dog as he ran, cleaving it through the shoulder.

[Rosela]

After a very long, tiring day at the shop, Rosela was more than happy to trot on up to the front door and put out the Closed sign. If she had to put together another sweater, she was going to just die. As much as she knew she should stay late and work on her inventory, her mind was dead and she didn't trust her hands to make decent work. It was cold as ever outside, and as Rosela plodded through the shoveled street, she tried to remember what summer felt like. It seemed like forever since she’d been in a dress and sandals, though realistically it had only been half a season. How could she possibly survive like this until Spring? Granted, she still looked fabulous in winter wear, in much different ways than she did in a nice skirt, but- The explosion made her start violently, and she stumbled on a loose cobblestone. Far ahead, over the domed roofs of a few buildings, she saw stone and dust fly into the air, and the distant sound of…barking? Her heart thudded loudly in her chest and she shook off a small tremble in a couple of her right hands. She could just leave it alone and go home, but then everyone else in town would be in the know tomorrow, and she’d be stuck getting her news second hand. Just a peek, then she’d go straight home. She’d only gone a few houses up before she saw the first one. Ugly, snarling, and obviously canine, there was half a second between their attentions meeting hers and then she took off in an immediate sprint in the opposite direction. She threw herself down down alleyways and streets, jumping walls, throwing gates closed behind her, trying to lose the pack, but she knew they were gaining. Heaving breath, she looked around as much as she could, looking for a face in a window, or a helping hand in a doorway. There were none, and the chase, which likely lasted a bare chime, seemed to stretch on into aching infinity. A final turn revealed Akalaks further down the street, and a figure on a rooftop. Rosela barely noticed the figure until she had almost passed, and a snap very close to her heels sent her immediately, without even thinking, up into a tree. Her fingers cried in protest as she dug them into the snowy branches, finally lifting her legs from the ground. She yelped in panic as something closed around her ankle, but it immediately slipped down to clench into the fur lining of her pants. Dangling from four hands, she grabbed the waistband of her pants with the other two, and kicked down violently with her other foot. When the heel made a crunching connect with the creature’s face, it let go of her pants with a keening cry of pain. Rosela finally swung her legs onto the branch, tangled awkwardly in her cloak. The other dog creatures danced and jumped around the base of the tree, barking madly and hopping up to snap at her. An awkward twist and she was finally on top of the branch, staring down at them, fewer than she thought there had been. Sniffling, she looked down at her pant leg, where the fur was torn and matted from the bite. Tears welling up, she screamed every Arumenic curse she knew down at the dogs, which only seemed to drive them madder. The anger didn’t last her, and she slid back on the branch until she hugged the trunk, one hand swiping at her nose and her bottom lip stuck out and trembling. She looked around, trying to ignore her shivers and the ache already starting in her legs. Akalaks passed in and out of sight between houses, and she thought she saw one charging around on a massive horse further down towards the Bluevein. The person she had passed on the rooftop was still there, and sniffling once more, Rosela called out, hoping to be heard above the barking of the dogs. ”Hey! Hey!! Do you know what’s going on?!” One of the dogs jumped a little too high for comfort, and Rosela clung tighter to the trunk, belatedly remembering the stiletto in her belt, and yanking it out for what small protection it could provide. OOCKavala, that’s you she sees

[Eosi]

Dawn’s light had just ghosted through the heavy cumulus above, a relief to the young redhead. Her morning run was always uncomfortable due to the lack of sunshine. Syna’s gift has seen to that. In combination with the chill, Winter was not what she’d name her favorite season. Still, the Inarta was wholly dedicated to her training. With her shortbow slung over one shoulder and a quiver belted to the other, she strode toward the edge of town humming somewhat tunelessly.

With a languid, half-hearted sort of thought, Eosi activated her Invalti. The mark upon her top vertebrae sang with relief and her consciousness rubber-banded outward. Immediately, something was wrong. Beasts were boiling into the street just blocks away, huge and alarmingly quick. They seemed to be attacking from what she could infer as citizens screamed for the lives in retreat. It had been kismet to be armed, as most often she was not. Eosi ran toward the source of the chaos, hoping to be of some assistance in the fray.

As she rounded a corner, there was a little girl. She was frozen in the sights of one particularly large fiend who separated from the group. The girl could be not more than six, frail limbs trembling as she looked into the face of death. Eosi slid and arrow from the quiver and slowly drew, attempting to morph into a blank slate. The beast took slow, padding steps. It was tasting the girl’s fear. Her mark told her she had precious little time before the pack arrived, as the creatures broke into a run. It was a free meal ticket. This snarling wretch was so focused on the child that he paid no regard to Eosi. That was her chance. The arrow was trained at the center of its face – wherever it struck, it’d at least give the girl an extra second. Eosi took a ragged breath and released, the taut bowstring bounding forward.

It was hard to tell where the projectile struck, but the beast howled in rage. Somewhere sensitive, she hoped. ”C’mon!” she shouted, grabbing the little girl up by the arm. She’d frozen in panic. It wouldn’t do to run from the attackers, as there wasn’t anywhere to run. They were both smack in the middle of the chaos. The pack of them rounded the corner and the tawny-haired child screeched. Their ears perked and Eosi cursed in a fit of pique. ”Petch!” She spat, hoisting the kid into her arms. This was putting them both at a disadvantage but she had little choice. The mark showed a woman, mostly obscured from the ground level. She sat atop a porch. The sunlight revealed her as Kavala, someone only seen in passing. It was a perfect vantage point.

Eosi make a split decision. It was run into the fray and get up there or risk getting them both eaten in the retreat. Death was in the equation either way. Her tactics kicked in. If she could distract the beasts, the little girl could get to the Konti. From there, she’d figure it out. A regiment of Akalak were on their way and Knights were passing back into the city gates. There was hope. The beasts stalked forward before beginning the charge. ”Listen to me.” She urged, taking sharp steps back. ”When I say go, you are going to scramble up that flower pot on onto the porch. There’s a nice lady up there.” Her heart was hammering.

”GO!” Eosi darted to one side in the mad hope they’d follow the more obvious target. For good measure she loosed another arrow. It struck a leg, temporarily redirecting the focus. Each dog turned and began to encircle. The little girl had darted away obediently, much to the Inarta's relief. She clambered up to temporary safety where the crossbow wielding Konti sat. That was lucky. Meanwhile it seemed another individual had been treed nearby, shouting over to the crossbow-wielding matron. Was that... Rosela? The impulse to call to her stuck in her throat.

Eosi was now in a great deal of danger. Her martial training wouldn't save her at short range with no melee weapon. "Damn.." She whispered sharply.