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Wolves on the Hunt

Started by Wildfire, June 27, 2006, 08:25:11 PM

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Johan

Maccabeus drank greedily from the skin, though his head still swam a bit. The water was from the Ring, and was still very refreshing, although it was diminished compared to a draught directly from the source.

At length, he lowered the skin, and breathed more easily. "Thank you." He said as he sat up. "I'm ok. What happened?" He asked again, trying to better get his bearings. He took another small pull from the water skin.
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Wildfire

Kym cradled the Dale Gnome as though he were her child. His head was held in her arms and she stared a him relieved that he said something. Without words she slipped up his mask and went to pour silvery water down his throat. She was hoping this would revive him even a little. Wolf continued his licking. Maccabeus realized his throat was like rust.

Peering up, Maccabeus could see Kym's worried eyes amidst the dark sooty grime that covered her face. "Maccabeus? Mac...are you okay?" Kym held the waterskin away so that he could answer. Impatient for an answer Kym asked Ashe, "Ashe, will he be alright?"

Casually Ashe answered, "Who...Maccbeus? Oh yeah, he'll be fine. He's just a little smitten is all. He'll snap to-to in a little while." Maccabeus could see Ashe's shadowy form moving about the middle of the foul grove. Thirst blazed in his throat.

"Well, how long is a little while?" Kym asked letting the waterskin rest on her leg. Her tone had betrayed her annoyance at the answer.

"Well, as soon as you let the little man have some of that water he should be okay...quit teasing him..." Ashe said reminding Kym that Maccabeus was, no doubt, thirsty from breathing the darkened air.

Slightly flustered at her own disregard, Kym quickly uncorked the skin and brought it to Maccabeus's lips. "Here, drink this. Ashe says it'll make you feel better."
Wildfire

One should never underestimate the stimulation of eccentricity

Johan

Maccabeus blinked rapidly and tried to dust the cobwebs from his mind. "Whu hap'ned?" He slurred. His tongue was thick behind Kym's green mask. He gripped Wolf's furry cheek for reassurance and peered towards the dark silhouette, wondering if he was hallucinating, or whether Ashe truly was there now. He tried to reconcile Ashe's features to those of the hooded one in his vision.

Was that Ashe? He wondered of the hooded face in his vision. Is this man Ashe? How did he get there so quickly? He couldn't have, so how long was Maccabeus...gone? He looked questioningly at Kym then, hoping for answers to be found in her sharp, delicate eyes.
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Wildfire

Maccabeus's spirit reached to the depths of his reverence for all that was life to reach the majestic presence of the young but mighty Vallenwood. Though the great tree was still new to it's surroundings it's roots ran deep and it's wisdom wide. It carried part of the soul of all that had ever been and that would be. It was life defined.

Quickly Maccabeus felt as though roots were entering the bottom of his feet giving him a tingling sensation. He felt a soft heat on his chest and though his eyes were closed he saw only brilliance. The Vallenwood reached out to him as he reached to it. He was connected in a way that he couldn't even comprehend let alone explain. For those that would understand there was no explaination and for those that couldn't understand there was no explaination.

He wanted to save what he loved more than he wanted to destroy what he hated. It was that feeling that the Vallenwood embraced. It was that feeling that Maccabeus knew would bring Ashe here to him, to this scarred place. Maccabeus could feel it, he knew.

In a flash Maccabeus could see a tower of magnificent stature over a grand waterfall. Then the face of a man was looking at him from under a hood. He had the similar dashing looks that Ashe held even in his age. The man spoke in a timeless voice and simply said, "Soon."

Maccabeus woke up in the strong, caring arms of Kym and was being licked repeatedly in the face by Wolf. Through the gritty air Maccabeus could see the dark silhouette of Ashe in the middle of the grisly scene.
Wildfire

One should never underestimate the stimulation of eccentricity

Johan

The horrid scene leached the joy from Maccabeus. "A-ya." He said quietly behind his mask. "Agents of the nameless one, and a foul ritual besides."

He looked at Kym solemnly. "Ashe needs to see this today. Now." He scanned the scene again. Up, down, and around. "Still, I don't want to leave either."

He closed his eyes and quieted his heart. Seeking in the ground that presence of the Vallenwood...perhaps his young mentor could yet hear him, even this far away, and relay unto Ashe this dire need.
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Wildfire

Wolf looked back to Maccabeus and peered at him with the eye that was facing him. Maccabeus knew his Wolf brother well enough to know that come what may he would never voluntarily leave his side...even should it lead to death. Wolf stood tall and proud with his head and tail high in the air. He was indeed a noble creature. Many two leggeds would not harbor such loyalty to their friends.

Kym was worried for Alpha. She knew that he was nervous and she now understood why. She was relieved to see Wolf bolster his spirits with his pride and fearlessness. Alpha, although anxious, was now at greater ease.

Kym tread forward softly with her bow drawn and ready for anything. Despite her scouting ahead revealing and empty grove, she didn't allow herself to be lured into false security...she was too seasoned a hunter for that.

Wolf cautiously stepped forward delicately to remain silent. The grass beneath started to blend with dark ash and soot. It was as though a fire had swept through selectively burning the surrounding flora. The ending stems of the underbrush faded from brown to black to dust. As the troupe walked by, the delicate configurations fell away into the air in a hazy, grimy cloud.

Kym was fairly close ahead but the gritty dust obscured all but her silhouette to Maccabeus's eyes, which had started to tear up from the sting of the vile cloud.

Ahead Maccabeus could see that there was something up in a clearing. As he proceeded forward it became clear to him that it was people impaled up under the chest and left to dangle in whatever wind might come along. The poles were arranged in a circle with each of the impaled facing to the middle.

There were, at first glance about twenty such ornamented sharpened poles, but as Maccabeus got closer in he could see it was closer to double that.

All of the victims wore inky black cloaks and had the familiar defiled grove symbol carved into their foreheads. Their ashen skin was hard and wrinkled as though the blood has been sucked out of them. Areas of their flesh had fallen away to dust adding to the choking cloud that infested the grove. Their eyes were now empty pits and their lips were curled in an empty death scream. They had the appearance of mummies without the traditional wrappings.

Upon their hands Maccabeus could barely see that each had what looked like brands of an eye. In the middle of the circle of death was a common stone. Upon the stone was a pile of small blackend iron medallions with pentagrams. At each end of the pentagram was a similar eye to the hand brands. Carved into the stone was the symbol that Maccabeus had come to despise.
Wildfire

One should never underestimate the stimulation of eccentricity

Johan

Maccabeus hopped down from Wolf and accepted Kym's mask. "Thank ye." He said simply. Tying it about his face, he said, "This is what the Ring looked like when we arrived. This is the work of the agents of Zyxu...it has to be." He then turned to Wolf and asked, "Do you want to stay here, brother? The air is sweeter just a bit behind."
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Wildfire

As he followed, Maccabeus's eys became irritated by the grit. It was alot like the dust at the Ring before it was saved.

Alpha hesitated going forward at first but his bond with Kym was greater then his fear of this place. Approaching, Maccabeus could see that under Wolf's paws the underbrush was mixing with a dark, grey ash. The haze had him squinting to see anything beyond.

He then saw Kym silhouette emerge from the dusty curtain. Her features became clearer the more she pulled out of the gritty fog. She emerged with a thin film of sweat soaked ash on her face making her eyes gleam out. Though it was something that Maccabeus had experienced before somehow on her it looked almost endearing...a girl not afraid to get dirty.

She came up, shaking her head and quietly said, "Maccabeus...you've got...you've got to see this. The area is clear so we shouldn't have any problems."

Kym pulled out two green halfmasks and handed one to Maccabeus. She slipped one on her head and it covered the lower half of her face leaving her eyes exposed. "I usually use these for hunting so my face doesn't shine in the light. Hopefully they'll keep the dust from our inards."
Wildfire

One should never underestimate the stimulation of eccentricity

Johan

As Kym's form grew less distinct, Maccabeus gave Wolf a silent signal to follow the lass. Wolf crouched low, much as Kym herself had, and padded forward, following her slowly so that Kym never quite faded from view.

[color=green:30ebccbfe6]I don't have his modifiers here, but his base roll was a 14 for Move Silently.[/color]
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Wildfire

Kym nodded her understanding and crept forward crouched down and bow nocked and ready. Maccabeus didn't hear a single sound of her movements. She was a true huntress.

Kym plunged into the dusty forest and, true to his word, Maccabeus kept a watchful eye on her. He knew that Wolf and most likely Alpha would keep an alert ear out for any other activity. Maccabeus struggled to keep sight of Kym due to the dust and haze of the area and feared to blink for losing her.

At last, he could no longer see her silhouette admidst the dingy air. Alpha became even more restless but nevertheless maintained his vigil. Wolf, as a protector, stared about and was ready for anything.
Wildfire

One should never underestimate the stimulation of eccentricity

Johan

Stoically, wordlessly, Maccabeus pointed at Kym, and then forward, indicating that she should move ahead. Having witnessed her skulking about, he was prepared to submit that she was stealthier than he, even though he was upon the broad back of his brother.

He then jammed his thumb into his own chest, then placed his two longer fingers at his eyes, then pointed one of them to her; he would keep her in his eyesight.
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Wildfire

Kym skulked up to Maccabeus. She crouched down so that she was nearly at eye level. She glanced sidelong at him and pointed with her chin that they should move forward.

She drew her bow tight with the arrow and with Alpha at her side stepped cautiously forward.

There was an unusual dusty haze filling the still air that was highlighted by the beams of light penetrating the treetops. Maccabeus eyes began to itch from the fine airey grit. As they got closer Maccabeus could see ahead that the forest started to clear and thin. Not a word was spoken, not a sound was heard.

Kym crouched again, her bow still drawn. She leaned to Maccabeus's ears and barely whispered, "I can go scout ahead and check it out or we can go together. Either way is fine with me."
Wildfire

One should never underestimate the stimulation of eccentricity

Johan

Maccabeus concentrated on his breathing. He opened his mouth a bit so that the noise of his inhales and exhales wasn't as pronounced. He pulled his stout spear from his back, and gripped it tightly, ready to use it either as a spear or as a staff. Under his breath he uttered a brief prayer, seeking guidance from Istisha.

The silence of birds and insects spoke more loudly to Maccabeus than did Wolf's rumblings. He stroked Wolf's thick neck soothingly, but dared not utter comforting sounds.

He peered as a hunter in all directions [color=green:52744d8b92][Spot Check 25]  :D [/color] and listened intently for any sounds to betray the enemy. [color=green:52744d8b92][Listen Check 12]  :cry: [/color]
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Wildfire

"Aye." Kym said pulling her bow from her back. She slipped an arrow between her slender fingers and lightly held the shaft of it to the string.

The four of them continued on only Alpha didn't proceed at a hunting pace but rather a stalking one. The other five wolves stayed behind on wary alert just as they were told. Kym moved with the silence of a breeze and Wolf proceeded just as Alpha did. The only sounds to be heard were the occasional rustles of the trees. No birds were singing and no insects were annoyingly flying around anyone's head.

They walked along the cliff with severe caution waiting for anything to happen. Then Alpha stopped. He looked back to the others. Maccabeus could feel the low rumble of Wolf's chest as though he were building up a warning growl. They were very close.
Wildfire

One should never underestimate the stimulation of eccentricity

Johan

"Up here you can keep a fairly close watch on the comings and goings of things and people to and from the valley also." Maccabeus observed.

"These could be watchers, or they could be looking for a point from which they can try to destroy the valley...if that's possible. I suppose that it must be possible since Ashe says that it had happened once upon a time. I wonder if they're going to try to steal those relics again? Those that tried to subvert the Ring were agents of Zyxu."

It all seemed to Maccabeus to fit rather neatly. "Let's go see who's here, shall we?" He asked with a trace of predation infiltrating his voice and tone.
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