PM to join [Bronze Woods] The Hunter Becomes the Hunted

[Ronin Invictus]

First of Winter, 515 AV

The evening sun was just beginning to set, casting a orange light among the trees when the rain started again, a light drizzle at first before it began pouring. Ronin groaned as it began raining, hugging himself with his arms to give himself at least some warmth. He had just dried off from the previous rainfall, and now he was already soaked again, and nightfall was soon approaching.

Ronin had no cloak, only a simple shirt and pair of pants to cover his body. His only possessions were the clothes he wore now, a pack on his back containing some basic necessities minus food, and 5 golden mizahs. Any slight breeze upon his soaked form would send chills running through his whole body, and he was soon shivering. He needed to find some shelter from the rain, or else he would most likely freeze to death.

I should have not left the road... he thought glumly. The main road had shelters maintained by the Syliran Knights at regular intervals for travelers to shelter themselves from the elements in times such as these. Ronin had been so hungry that he was forced to leave the main road, in hopes of find wilderness with more game to hunt. He had been quite successful in feeding himself by chasing down the rabbits that lived in these woods in his animal form, but he did not account for the weather, and now he was paying the price for it.

As dusk approached, and Ronin continued moving, desperately hoping to find any kind of shelter for the night, he heard some wolves howling in the distance. They seemed quite far away though so he continued on, trudging through the heavy rains and muddy ground, his boots soaked through now. His toes felt numb now.

It was almost completely dark by the time the rain stopped, and the clouds started to part, lighting the forest in a silver monochromatic light. Ronin was still soaked though as he huddled under a tree, his knees drawn up to his chest as he hugged his legs for warmth. He was entirely too cold to sleep now, and he shivered endlessly. He had taken off his boots and tried drying his feet somehow, but it didn't seem to help the numbness. At least he could still move his toes, that was a good sign at least.

Ronin heard the nearby rustling in the undergrowth before he saw what caused it. His eyesight was more adapted to hunting during the day, so his eyesight now was quite poor during the night. Nonetheless, he could clearly see the forms of two wolves appear into the clearing in which the tree he leaned against stood in. He could hear rustling from behind him too, a third wolf.

Fear, soon followed by adrenaline flooding his system then as the wolves drew closer, sniffing curiously for just a moment before the wolf to his left and front bared his teeth in a growl and was soon followed by the two other wolves. Ronin had no where to run, so his only choice was to fight, but he was already weak. He had not eaten in quite a while and the cold still stiffened his limbs.

The three wolves came upon him in unison, with the two in front attacking head on while the third circled around the tree. As the first wolf approached from the front-left, a rather large wolf with a pelt of whites and greys Ronin kicked his foot out, landing a hit right on the wolf's snout and sending the canine reeling back. The other wolf attacking from the front saw this and momentarily backed off for a moment. At this Ronin thought he would have a moments respite before they attacked again, but he was wrong.

He only had miliseconds to react when he heard the splash of a puddle to his immediate right, indicating the wolf that was behind the tree was circling around to attack him. Ronin reacted purely out of instinct, raising his right arm to protect his neck as the wolf snapped at him. Instead of the wolf sinking his teeth into Ronin's neck, he had grabbed a hold of Ronin's upper arm. Ronin's arm exploded into pain in that moment, even with the adrenaline in his body. He yelled in pain as wolf still held onto his arm, pulling him down to the ground and through the mud by his arm. Now vulnerable, Ronin knew it would only be a few moments before the other wolves were upon him.

[Victor Marivaldi]

The sun had set and the rain had finally let up. Victor had all of his possessions packed up on his gildling Charlotte who seemed to have a golden glow in the moonlight. A feint howl could be heard in the distance but Victor didn't seem to worried about it. He was more concerned with finding a safe place to camp for the night. Although he was soaked to the bone he was safe from the mud atop of Charlotte.

Letting out a yawn and stretching Victor considers setting up camp here. Just as the though crosses his mind a cry of pain shouts out from what seems to be nearby. Victor knew there were wolves in this part of the woods but he hadn't expected anyone else to be this far from the road. Perhaps it was nothing just the sounds of the woods playing tricks on him. But no he could hear growling and the sound of a struggle, it cant be coincidence. Someone's in trouble. He considers ignoring it. After all none of the locals would do the same for him if they saw him under attack. Perhaps this was his chance to gain favour with the locals of Syliras.

Deciding to investigate Victor rode of in the direction of the noise. The sound of the horses footsteps filled the air as he charged through the forest. In the dark of the night sky victor could see a small pack of wolves descending on what appeared to be a young and unarmed Human. One of the wolves already had a hold of his arm. If Victor didnt do something quickly he would surely be torn to pieces.

Victor charged forward on horseback gripping the bone hilt of his lash unravelling it. He had next to no experience in fighting atop horseback and nearly lost balance when he reached for his weapon. He knew he probably couldn't kill them his best option was to chase them off or to help the man escape. He closed upon the wolf clutching to the mans arm, that was now dragging him through the mud. Victor shouted a slur of vulgar words in Symenos while bearing his now extended fangs at the wolves in an attempt to intimidate and draw their attention away from the man. Bringing his hand above his head he quickly brings it down with a large cracking sound catching the wolf in the leg with his lash. Blood could be seen running down its leg where the lash had struck. In truth Victor had been aiming for its neck but he had yet learn how to control the accurate direction of the lash.

The wolf let out a high pitched squeal and released the mans arms from his jaws. Now fully focused on him Victor tried to be as loud and as threatening as he could in hopes of drawing the other wolves to him. Victor turns his attention to the man on the ground "Quick, you must get up, hurry!"

[Ronin Invictus]

Ronin's yells of pain quickly dwindled to moans, the wolf having let go of his arm for now. The pain still remained, and now he was covered in mud as well. All in all he felt like crap, laying in a pool of mud and blood. Clutching his arm now, he looked towards where he heard the horse and the crack of the whip that had given him a moments respite, a man was on top of the horse, a man unlike he had ever seen before, but nonetheless he had saved him, for now.

The two other wolves had now turned towards the other man and his horse, growling, but overall standoffish. They did not seem to want to charge at the much larger horse or it's rider who wielded the whip that stuck their packmate. Soon however, they would turn on Ronin again, who struggled to get up, weak as he was before and now wounded.

In fact, he had not even heard what the other man had said through the pain and adrenaline he only heard muffled sounds, and his head swam as he stumbled to his feet. His vision blurring, he stumbled his way over to where the horse stood, still holding his arm as he did so purely out of instinct.

With the help of the man on the horse, he would climb onto the horse whichever way he could so they could get away from the wolves. If not however, Ronin would do his best to stay out of the way while the man drove the wolves away, he was in no condition to fight right now.

[Ferrin Al'Mandrikan]

Ferrin

As the days passed, nights became longer, and days became shorter. Winter has been released upon us with the first waves of chilly winds and supplements with rain. Speaking of rain, a storm had just flew throughout Syliras as if it was a daily routine. "In and Out." Or a "Come and go" type of thing. Ferrin was glad that it had finally expended. Even though staying at his newly rented room at the Traveler's Row was exciting. He still had a job to do. And that job was, hunting. And to be a good listener to Joanna, whom she is a trainer for Ferrin. She humbly accepted him to train him not too long a go in fact. Training nearly started, close to the start of Fall. And Ferrin is glad that he had ran into someone like her. He hoped she understood that Ferrin still has to make a living. Even if it is killing animals. He still got decent pay for it. And now that it is Winter, the animals are starting to fall into the process of hibernation. Which mostly leaves the wolves. The wolves are vicious and vital-like, especially when they are roaming about in the woods. It didn't take Ferrin long to gather up his hunting gear. He rushed off and out of his room after locking the door behind him. But what Ferrin hadn't realized was that it was night. And night is usually when wolves are active. And as if on cue, a few wolf howls could be heard about in the distance. Ferrin understood what his risks of hunting at night were. He had had some misfortunes while out and about in the middle of the night roaming in the woods. Possibly the storm must have had lasted throughout the afternoon. Which basically had Ferrin cooped up inside all day, either sleeping or sharpening his sword. Which he has currently belted to his side. Ready for use. And his longbow and quiver strapped about on either shoulders.

He nodded out to the guards passing the Main Gates. Signifying that he will come back. Another wolf howl had came about and the young Ferrin reared towards the sound. This time it sounds like the wolves have had found something to prey on. Ferrin started into a run, following the howls. A few chimes later he had found himself crouching behind a underbrush. Covered by leaves and fallen twigs. Ferrin spotted a young man, who seemed to have been injured. He trudges slowly as he is trying to flee. And three wolves, one possibly dead is laying on the earthen flooring. Two circling about a man who is riding on a horseback. Ferrin wondered who they could be? And he also figured that he must help the two men. The young man who seemed injured was also unarmed. Which looked like an unfair battle to Ferrin. The young hunter instinctively pulled out an arrow, and knocked it into the his raised bow. Aiming for one of the wolves that were about ten-fifteen feet away. He took a deep breath and exhaled. In unison, he released the arrow by a pull. The arrow whistled throughout the darkness. Striking the target within the middle section of the beast. Basically the stomach. The wolf squealed in pain and agony. Before it fell lifeless onto the ground. The other wolf was confused and it quickly retreated off into the burrow, opposite where the arrow had shot. And after, Ferrin revealed himself from out of one of the underbrush's. Ferrin took his arrow out of the wolf that he had shot. And said "The names Ferrin, and we better hurry before the wolf comes back with more companions. It is too dangerous to be out in the woods." Ferrin wished that he could go out and hunt, but he should get to helping the two first. "We should head back to the city, though." Ferrin said, wiping off the blood on his arrow. He simply put the arrow back into the quiver, and hung the bow across his shoulder. Waiting for a reply from the two men.


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"Pavi" | "Common"
"Tukant"

[Victor Marivaldi]

The two wolves were closing in, Victor was starting to regret his decision to step in he knew he couldn't take them the best he could hope for is to lead them away. Just as he was taking a deep breath about to make his next move, an arrow flew out of a nearby bush striking one of the wolves in the stomach. It seems we have a new contender in the fight. A visible sigh of relief came over Victor as the remaining wolves fled. The stranger revealed himself coming out of the nearby under brush. By the look about him he seems to be a local hunter.

Victor hopped down off of his horse bringing him to level with the two strangers. It would be rude to introduce oneself without being on the same level as them and the man in the mud looked like he may need a hand. Victor had to make sure the wolf was dead he didn't want any surprises. Kneeling down beside the wolf victor placed his hands around the wolves neck and sank his claws deep into it. Blood oozed out staining his hands a deep red colour.

"The names Ferrin, and we better hurry before the wolf comes back with more companions. It is too dangerous to be out in the woods."

Standing up and addressing the stranger who came to his rescue, Victor offers him his hand. "Victor, Victor Marivaldi. Its a pleasure. We appreciate the assistance but this man needs medical help i came across him being mauled by the wolves." Victor turns and gesture to the injured man before offering him a hand up. "We should get him to a doctor"

[Ronin Invictus]

Ronin had collapsed on the floor again, he felt to dizzy when he stood up, and the spinning made him feel nauseous. The pain coupled with the renewed freezing cold due to being dragged through the mud and soaked again, took all the energy out of him, so he laid on the ground clutching his arm to at least stop some of the bleeding.

Despite this, the blood still seeped out of the many deep wounds left by the wolf's bite, staining his already mud-covered form in more blood.

"Aaghhuhaa,"

That was the only pitiful sound that came out of Ronin as he laid in the mud and his own blood, he couldn't even take his mind off the pain long enough to process what Victor was saying, and his eyes were closed, eyelids creased in pain. Ronin was clearly in agony, and it only got worse as the adrenaline wore off.

[Ferrin Al'Mandrikan]

Ferrin

Ferrin felt a tad bit scared. When he witnessed the man who introduced himself as vector. Victor, knelt down to suck, the rest of the life of the now dead wolf. The other man, was struggling to get up. And from the looks of the man. He was purely in bad shape. "I do not know of any healers of hand. But I'm pretty sure that the Knights can take a look at him and mend him up. And give him some decent hospitality." Ferrin replied slowly. Now he really wished he was out hunting. But it's hard to hunt in the dark, especially when it was raining.

"The question is, how do we bring the man to Syliras without it being to baleful for him?" Ferrin asked. It was more of a question to himself, but he meant it so that he can get some ideas. The man on the floor seemed like he couldn't understand what wither of them where saying. He is probably in an extreme stage of shock. And if they can't figure something out soon? Without having the blood drain out faster, then the man will surely die.

"I can try cleaning his wound, and wrap it with a piece of my spare shirt? It will at least prevent him from bleeding out." Ferrin suggested. Luckily he did bring his pack. He swiftlyput his hunting gear beside him on the earthen ground and quickly pulled out his pack that was strapped behind his back. Opening it, he pulled out a waterskinthat had little water left. Enough to rinse the wound from the mud.

He also had his shirt, that was torn. But he still cleaned it occasionally. He never worn it though, well after it was torn to pieces. "You would might want to hold him. To prevent his squirming. Can go please not try to sucj the life out of him?" Ferrin said cautiously. Ferrin ripped a big enough piece from his worn out shirt. He then opened the waterskin, and poured the water onto the already infected wound. The man screeched in agony. Ferrin wrapped the cloth tight enough on the arm. Not to tight though. He remembered that his mother had told him that he could possibly pop a vein due to the high amount of pressure. And he could bleed to death, not only externally, but internally.

Ferrin flinched as the man wailed in pain. He didn't want to make the wounded man feel more worse about his pain. But he also didn't want the man bleed to death either especially when the man is under Ferrins watch. Ferrin would have had never forgive himself. If he let the man die. But he isn't going to let the man die. The process took a little longer then expected. But now the previous question sprouted back to Ferrin.'How will they get this man without harming him any further?' Ferrin thought.

"Are you a good rider, Victor? You can ride him back to Syliras and I'll follow. But you would have to ride carefully, make sure that he doesn't fall off either. He isn't to heavy to lift up on the stallion. I can help you with that. Can you manage to do that?" Ferrin asked politely. He put away his things back into his pack and gathered his hunting gear that layed beside him. Feeling energetic enough to run a couple of miles even. If Ferrin can trust this Victor character well enough, he hoped that Victor can actually follow through with the plan.

"Pavi" | "Common"
"Tukant"

[Victor Marivaldi]

Victor assisted the man as he cleaned the wounds out and applied the bandages, holding him down to stop him squirming. Victor ignored the comment he made about sucking the life out of him. He had become quite use to these kind of remarks, most people didn't trust his kind. "Yes. I can ride well enough to get him back to Syliras without causing him too much pain. Follow behind us, I'm not exactly trusted in the city i may need your help explaining what happened" Victor helped him lift him up onto the horse and quickly saddled up after him. "Try to hold on. We're going to get you help" he said trying to get through to the man. Victor turned to Ferrin and gave him a nod "Thank you" Victor spurred his horse onwards and set in the direction of Syliras.

The night was dark now but Victor could still easily navigate through the forest thanks to his superior vision. His pupils were wide open now to let in as much light as possible. Riding was difficult while trying to keep the man from falling off, he couldn't seem to hold on very well so Victor had to keep one hand on him for the majority of the ride. It felt extremely awkward and had caused Victor to have to ride slower then he could under normal situations. Close to 30 minutes had passed and Victor could see the gates to Syliras approaching in the distance.

As Victor approached he called for the 2 knights to help him with the man. he brought his horse to a stop not too far away from the gate itself. Hopping off the horse he then turned to gently lower the injured man off of his horse as the knights approached. "You have to help i found him in the forest being attacked by a pack of wolves. He needs medicine. We already managed to clean the wound some and bandage it up with a rag." The knights called for someone and turned to Victor to reassure him. "Don't worry sir we can take it from here but you may need to stick around for some questioning"




OOC: Sorry for the late reply ive been really busy leading up to christmas

[Ronin Invictus]

The struggling and intense pain that Ronin went through to be bandaged left him even more exhausted than previously, and his vision blackened as he grew dangerously close to passing out. Every bump, every stride the horse took only sent more lances of pain through his arm and his head which had a pounding headache.

Ronin's growing nausea from being in shock from so much lost blood did not improve from the horse ride either, and he retched over the side of the horse at one point. Otherwise, Ronin seemed to be stabilized for now, as he was not bleeding nearly as badly as he was before with he wound now bandaged.

By the time they had reached Syliras Ronin was still no quite all there, and he could scarcely feel himself being taken off the horse and carried. All he could was grit his teeth and hope it would be over soon.

[Ferrin Al'Mandrikan]

Ferrin

Ferrin came rushing in. A few chimes behind the two beings. And of course the stallion. His feet begun to sweat and his fingers were a bit sore from shooting the wolf with tight tension. His bow and quiver slung across one of his shoulders. His sword belted to his waist. Swinging at his side as he ran, picking his way carefully through the thicket of the forest. He promised that he will follow behind Victor.

Victor was just to fast on his horse. And it was hard for Ferrin to catch up. He wasn't sure if he would make it in time before the guards find out who Victor is. They'll probably assume that Victor was the one who had injured the man, and probably figured that he came to Syliras to give the Knighthood a warning of some sort.

Ferrin hoped otherwise. Victor was a pretty nice guy, from what he had seen. Other Symenestrians would possibly kill that helpless man. Ferrin would've had had taken out his horse, but there were reasons why he hadn't wanted to. One, his horse would be exposed to the wolves. Two, the forest isn't an amazing place for a horse. Three, Ferrin isn't to good at riding. Especially when he had had raced Garland way back when. At the Windmount Stables. Oh, that was embarrassing.

Ferrin managed to get himself out of the thicket of trees in less then a few chimes. Now, what layed ahead of him was the Kabrin Road. Ferrin recognized this road. It was a pretty long one. Stretched out miles on end. Well until it had had reached another city of some sort. Or another Outpost. Ferrin didn't trail down the whole path to find out what is at either end of the road.

Just a few more ticks until he reached the Gates. And a couple of more strides. It wasn't hard till he had had reached the Gates. A guard stopped him. Dressed in gleaming metal armour. Torches were hung about on either side of the entrance. The entrance was a gate, that was still up. "State your business." The guard said simply. With a dark tone. He was no taller then Ferrin, but he had a helmet on to show his intimidation.

Well, this guard might've switched shifts with another one. Because this one certainly had an attitude with him. So Ferrin replied. The name is Ferrin Al'Mandrikan. I'm a local resident. I presume. Purchased a room at the Traveler's Row this season actually." The guard nodded."Have you seen a horse rider. Bringing in an injured man? He was recently attacked by a small herd of wolves. Is he safe?" The guard nodded and said "Yes we have had seen the two men. I had to switch shifts with that other squire. They are in the Castle. Being treated. Well the one who is nearly dead anyhow." The squire smirked. Ferrin ignores the starky comment and walked through the gates.

He figured that the Symenestrian will find him at the Rearing Stallion for a meal. He knew that the healers will take good care of that man. Well, better then Ferrin could. It was the best he could do. Oh he forgot to give the squire a message for the Symenestrian. Ferrin turned and said to the squire,"Do you think that you can send my pal Victor a message? Tell him to meet me at the Rearing Stallion. I can pay him a meal for tonight. And if you do, I'll give you a few Gold Mizas." Ferrin said with a smile. He took out two 5 Golden Mizas. And handed them to the squire. "Alright I'll tell him, you best stay in the city now." The squire said.

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"Pavi" | "Common"
"Tukant"