• Closed • On Shaky Wings

[Nightshade Eld]

Night nodded grabbing the kettle, she was careful when handing it to Alex. She didn't want to to spill or anything. She watched with curiosity as the clay was moved around the chest and arm of the man. She sighed a breath of relief considering the situation had gone from a absolutely horrible to she might live as long as nothing else goes wrong. She nodded along quietly while Alex told her what needed to be done. Night didn't seem bothered by the blood on her own talons, at least not at the moment. Maybe she didn't even realize it was there yet? Possibly.

Night was about to pen her mouth to reply. She was strong but no strong enough to carry a man this wounded without doing more damage. They would need to get a cart to bring him to the doctor. Her mind though this in the small span of trills before the colorful creature came screeching out of the bush. "Oh for the love of everything good!" Night screamed grabbing Alex's arm and with a strong beat of her wings pulling them both out of the way before a 10 foot bird with green, red, and florescent pink feathers rammed into them. The Carowa came to a halt, smashing into a small nearby tree and quiet effectively toppling it. The bird turned tilting its head from side to side as its breast feathers fluffed outwards. The creature arched its neck standing at the fullest length of its legs. It tilted its head a couple more time making a clicking noise in the back of its throat.

"Chrien if screwing with me, Chrien has literally made my life her personal game," Night muttered dropping Alex as gently as possible. She dropped to the ground herself pulling out the first weapon she could. Good old trust Red Brand. Apparently Chrien really did want to have fun with the life of the half breed because the bird didn't even see the man laid close to the tree, no it was far enough away and focused enough on its new prey not to see him. But it was at the same time still focused on its new prey. Which just so happened to be Nightshade and Alex. She wasn't confident in her ability to take down one of these things alone and she had no clue what Alex's fighting style was like. Which of course meant Alex could either be a big help in saving their skins or be the biggest detriment. The second thought left Night understandably worried.

"Okay, I'm gonna go ahead that you can use poison and you have some on you. The biggest reason the Zelroux can kill these things is because they have numbers, are pretty damn strong compared to something like us, and they have poison to deal with these hell birds. Poison is gonna be our best bet, so I really hope you have some," Night whispered quietly. Her body was tense and ready to pull herself and Alex out of the way again when the bird charged. Her eyes flitted about trying to look for some kind of opening.

[Vluharqih]

CREDIT

Alex didn't have time to react before her arm was nearly yanked from its socket. Dropped unceremoniously to the ground, her head spun as her eyes tried to make sense of what she saw. A massive bird-like creature stood in front of them, vibrantly coloured, shaking its head. She looked up at Night, the woman already standing with her weapon drawn.

She just saved my life, and didn't think anything of it.

The woman was quietly talking, and Alex forced herself to listen in. Poison...shit. I knew I should've brought some... No, nothing like that. Wait. What if.... I could use the Leechbane? We still have some of that left...

She was lucky she had brought her daggers, a permanent accessory since the Immortal's had come to Etzos in the beginning of the season. Though she was more or less forced into helping, the daggers were incredibly valuable and were far better than any she could afford, especially since her debt to the Cauldron had been paid off.

"Buy me a trill or two. I've got an idea that might work."

She hoped the woman would be of use, trusting her to keep the bird occupied.

From what I've seen of her, she'll let the damn bird eat her if that's what it takes to give me my time.

She shifted as quickly as she knew, leaping towards her bag of supplies. By the time she had landed, Valyeria was fully formed. She fell to a knee immediately, pulling out both daggers and smearing Leechbane berries across the blades. She filled a pocket with them, unsure of how much it would take.

She had never heard of anyone trying this- to poison by forcibly introducing Leechbane to the bloodstream, but she fervently hoped it would work. She turned back to the fight, her daggers out and ready to help.

[Nightshade Eld]

It was amazing how unfazed Night could be in a situation like this. In fact she seemed to be dealing with the massive death bird a lot easier than she had been the dying man. But that was to expected for someone like her. The battle ground was her home, she had raised herself to fight. She ignored the regrets tingling in the back of her mind. She didn't bring the deadly Nightshade plants she'd picked towards the start of the season and she didn't bring the much nicer sword she'd gotten when she offered to go with the immortals. The brave half avriel preferred the old friend that was her fathers blade, the weight was familiar and even if it was old the blade was still sharp from periodic visits to blacksmiths.

"No problem," she said with a smirk. This was a fight now. She didn't have to behave and act socially appropriate like when she was with the cartographers, and she didn't have to worry about someone else as long as she could keep the birds attention. Which meant she could fight with everything she had. She smirked at the bird, "Come and get me feather brain!" She taunted loudly. The bird charged at her with its head down, Nightshade was a trill faster than it and was in the air before it could catch her. It gazed up at her coldly, she was about to try and fly down to catch a quick slash at the things head but it started trying to jump at her. The creature fanned out its wings making an odd noise between a screech and a hiss as it crouched down and bunched up its muscles.

Night squawked slightly flinging herself higher into the air as her foot was almost taken off by a snapping beak. The bird crashed onto the ground with a thud actually causing a slight shaking as its massive feet hit the ground. It cried up at her, and she cried down at it. She wasn't sure how long she was trying to distract the thing, but as long as she could keep its attention on herself that meant an easier time Valyeria would have slashing at it. She zipped quickly landing on the ground by forcibly digging her claws into the earth. It left claw marks of a strange kind and she winced slightly at the sensation it caused. She charged the creature with a terrible screech ducking under it to stab upwards with her blade. She passed right between the legs effectively stabbing it in the stomach; she pulled out her blade and made a hasty retreat as the creature screamed loudly. Though it didn't seem very slowed down by the wound. If anything it just became more aggressive. Night made a mental note to never do that again.

The bird turned slowly its feathers fluffing out once more as it made a strange hiss like noise, its body lowered. This time she realized what the body language meant and she jumped out of the way right as the creature threw itself at her, the beast effectively getting a face full of tree. The creature became infuriated as its beak got stuck.

"Now is as good a time as any," Night said looking at the creature as it placed a foot against the tree moving to try with all of its might to get its beak out. "We aren't gonna got another chance," she cautioned as a viciously wild look surfaced in the eyes of the Carowa. The savage beast started to make a muffled clicking sound as its throat vibrated.

[Vluharqih]

CREDIT

She turned around at the thud, her eyes widening at the bird's beak stuck in the tree. Its eyes were wide, darting from Valyeria back to Night, and back again.

She rose from her crouch silently, sprinting towards the bird, slicing her tainted blade just above the leg. A warble escaped from its throat, and a leg swung up to slice at Valyeria.

She ducked under, slicing with her other blade at the exposed underbelly, and caught sight of a dark patch of blood on its feathers. Her blade cut through the skin, spreading the Leechbane into the Carowa.

A blur of feathers smashed into her body, knocking her flying head over heels. She hit the ground half a dozen feet away, rolling before coming to a stop. Another ear splitting cry forced Valyeria to look up just in time to see the massive bird pull itself free, fixing her with a baleful glare. It stopped its foot, raising its head to the sky to shriek once more.

"Whatever you do, don't cut it!" She yelled out, hoping Night wasn't the type to lose her head in a fight. If the bird lost too much blood it wouldn't matter how much Leechbane she gave it, and the two of them would die.

4

[Nightshade Eld]

"Got it," Nightshade yelled back. She flung her wings outwards once more taking to the skies. She sheathed how own blade, something she wasn't necessarily comfortable doing. Then made sure to keep the Carowa's attention on herself, since she had the advantage as long as it didn't knock her out of the sky. Valyeria on the other claw could have some problems with the beast if it turned its full attention on her. The problem now would be catch its attention. Then an idea came to mind as a smirk crossed her features.

"Eyes on me rainbow!" She screamed zipping past its head as fast as she possibly could. On her way past she scratched her talons across one of its eyes. The scratch wasn't deep or large, it wouldn't bleed to furiously. But it did do enough to leave the Carowa absolutely enraged. It turned on Night with ire in its remaining eye as it charged after her furiously. It jumped into the air repeatedly its beak snapping as it tried to get a hold on the half bred menace. But Night was in the air, meaning there was no chance this thing was catching her any time soon. She breezed past with ease on the wings of grace as the bird leaped about trying to get a bite. She laughed in a much easier tone than the situation should have warranted as it missed another jump.

She nearly got knocked out of the air quite a few times. The creature got a hold on her cloak with its beak and tried to yank her out of the air, luckily it pulled to hard and all that came down was the fabric in its mouth. The bird tore the fabric to shreds as a sign of anger and distaste. Night flew up a little higher but it jumped up smacking its head against her foot. The horns scraped against her leg and she gave a yelp. It wasn't a deep gash but a thin trail of blood started to seep downwards and she tried not to move the leg to much. "Die already," she muttered the Carowa seeming almost no worse for the wear.

The bird was starting to get infuriated by the half avriel, so it decided it wasn't going to keep fighting the half avriel. It lost interest in Nightshade figuring it could come back for her. Another piece of prey had caught its attention. It bird turned to Valyeria making the strange clicking hiss. It's one eye narrowed viciously as its beak parted slightly. It charged at her as fast as it could its beak spread wide open as if it was going to try to gobble her up in a single sweep. Nightshade was a little to far removed from the situation with her positioning, she wouldn't have any chance of getting there in time without having built up the speed beforehand. "Watch out!"

[Vluharqih]

CREDIT

The quick action by Night saved Valyeria's life, distracting the massive bird enough to allow her to clamber back to her feet. Valyeria rushed over to the injured man, dragging him carefully behind a tree as Night saved them. Night seemed to know what she was doing, and Valyeria was content to watch her work for now- she would just be in the way.

The woman fearlessly dove for the birds eyes, crying out loudly as she raked her claws across the birds face. A small trickle of blood was all that she drew but it looked like she blinded the bird, at least temporarily.

"Nice," Alex whispered.

Night dipped and darted around it's head, taunting it from safety, but it looked like the bird was realizing her plan. A lucky catch on the cloak nearly spelt the end, but the worn fabric parted under its beak.

A higher jump than usual led to a scrape across her leg, blood flowing down the foot. Shit. She can't do this alone. Valyeria left the safety of the brush, just in time to meet the enraged Carowa's beady eyes. A clicking hiss sounded in the clearing as the beast charged.

Valyeria dodged the first pass, barely missing the snapping beak. She swung with her dagger, the blade harmlessly glancing off the thick scales of its legs and nearly filleting herself. She spun around quickly, but the Carowa was quicker. It plowed into her, its beak driving into her leg as it closed.

A scream echoed, and it took Valyeria a moment to realize it came from her. A deep gash showed, blood leaking out with a hint of light flickering through. Shit

The bird lifted its head to the sky, lurching as it tried to swallow the chunk of Yludih. Alex's hand reached for her pouch, only to realize the beast had eaten the whole thing.

A choked laugh got the Carowa's attention.

"You've done it now you great dumb beast..." Alex chuckled until the pain halted it.

She beat her wings hard, pushing up with her legs as she managed to stand. The bird was tilting its head skyward, thrusting its jaw forward as it gulped down the mouthful. It finished and let out a cry, transfixing Valyeria with its gaze.

Bending her good leg, she leapt into the air, struggling to gain height as the Carowa charged yet again. Looking at the fast approaching monster, she realized she wasn't going to make it. Valyeria looked down, letting out a yell as she forced her wings to beat as fast as they could.

I...Will...Not...Die!

[Nightshade Eld]

"Not on my watch you insult to birds," Night roared. She'd been to slow to keep Valyeria from getting chomped into. But she'd still tried and she was closer to Valyeria and the bird now. She beat her wings as hard and as fast as the could go. For the second time that day she nearly dislocated the Yudlith's shoulder in an attempt to save her. She yanked with all of her might pulling Valyeria away from the bird and allow herself to be forced into its striking range. The stupid, stupid half breed forcing herself into the jaws danger to save someone else. Again. It was a mix of miracle and skill she hadn't gotten herself killed yet. The Carowa didn't seem to care as long as it ate one of them at the very least.

The Carowa was unsuspecting to Night's full intent. She hadn't charged into this with as much reckless abandon as one might have expected from how self jeopardizing her actions one. A small knife glinted in her hand. It was little more than a hunting knife, nothing that could do real damage. At least not without carefully thinking how it could cause damage. The Carowa opened its mouth and Night thrust the hand with the knife inside. She slammed the sharp blade into the tongue of the Carowa as fiercely as she could. The instinct of the Carowa was to bite down as hard as it could to try and take off her arm in response to the pain. But Night quickly pulled back as the Carowa forced the blade deeper into its own tongue, the edges of its beak scrapped against her arm as it tried to bear down on her, leaving a thin trail of blood all the way down.

The creature landed and gave a blood curling scream as Night pulled Valyeria closer and beat her wings to force them both higher into the sky and away from the bird, she tried to use her own wings to make an air current that would allow Valyeria to rise up easier. Half of the knife fell out, the hilt specifically. The blade however seemed to still be lodged into the creatures mouth. As it lifted up its head and screamed more Night could see it's tongue was pinned to the bottom of its beak by the blade that had managed to lodge itself deeply enough to stick. "How long do you think it'll take for it to keel over. Or should one of us try stabbing it in the head," she asked a slight spark of humor lighting her tone at the end.

[Vluharqih]

CREDIT

Valyeria let out a yelp as her arm was nearly torn from its socket yet again by the same woman.

That's twice in one day... I'm getting sloppy.

She spun in the air with the force of Night's throw, flapping frantically as she tried to regain her balance. Light and blood were streaming from her wound, and she didn't have long before she would pass out. She leveled out, spinning to face the fight just in time to see the bird's beak closed around Night's arm.

"No!"

She readied herself to fling back towards the bird, but before she could, Night pulled back and gained altitude, coming even with her. Night was somehow whole, a rather serious cut down the side of her arm.

The bird lifted its head back to cry out, and Valyeria caught a glimpse of metal in its beak. She looked over to the woman beside her, a smile across her face.

"I swear, you must be the luckiest person alive. Maybe it's all that good karma helping out." She joked, her voice slightly strained.

Alex opened her mouth to answer Night's question just as the Carowa staggered sideways, its cry halted for a moment. It lurched again, as if struck with an invisible fist. Legs shaking, the bird crumpled to a heap beneath them.

"I'd say about that long." Valyeria slowly dropped down, careful of the Carowa. The massive bird lay still, it's chest rising and falling rapidly as the blood thickened in its veins, and she was safe for the moment.

Valyeria landed, staggering over to the sack of supplies. Since she had told Mr.Gardener about the Claytona Monticola, the plant that held incredible healing properties for the Yludih, he had insisted on buying it, and she was rarely found without a small package of it.

Leaning her back against the rough tree, she watched as the great bird breathed its last, a great rattling sigh that seemed to go on forever.

"Good riddance." She mumbled under her breath, and quickly switched forms. The shifting had pulled open the scab that had been forming, but she was more comfortable healing herself as Alex. Wincing, she pulled open the sack as pain shot up from her hip.

She quickly smeared the sap across her wound, gasping as her nails caught on the raw skin. Alex looked down at it, deciding it was far too open to stitch and bound it with bandages.

"And I thought today was going to be a dull day." A mirthless chuckle escaped her lips as she looked back towards Night.

"Come over here. I'll stitch up that wound for you, but I'm afraid we might be needing a wagon for two." She nodded down at her hip, grimacing at the shattered mess of her illusion.

"At least I don't scar, right?" She was feeling light headed, but much better now that she wasn't moving.

She deftly stitched the gash on Night's arm shut, using one continuous line to reduce the tension on the skin. She bit the thread off, and nodded to Nightshade.

"You'll be fine. It didn't hit anything important, but give it a few trials before you use that arm for much. Now... about that wagon."

[Nightshade Eld]

The woman relaxed with a bitter sweet sigh beating her wings lazily to ease her fall. She landed against the earth with far less grace than when she had started out the day. "I swear I'm chopping the horns off that bird and keeping them as trophies for how much trouble it caused and there is very little that can stop me," she growled glaring at it bitterly. She reveled in its last breath. Though it was a bit more sadistic a thought than what matched her typical nature her mood had obviously soured.

"I knew today was gonna be trouble when I woke up," she muttered walking over. She limped slightly leaning heavily on the leg that wasn't given her troubles. She held out her arm for Alex. "Sorry about this. Kind of my fault, huh?" She said her own face having a grimace that she was trying to force into a smile. The look however just ended up sad.

"Yeah, don't scar," there was an obvious look of guilt on her face. She felt bad for having dragged Alex out here and by extension gotten her stuck in this situation. She glared at the corpse of the Carowa with a look of disgust. "You know, people have said this to me and about me my entire life so I don't really like the phrase. But I feel it's fitting here. Damn birds," she shook her head a bitter laugh gurgling up from the back of her throat. She looked at her sword arm while Alex finished up. "Great," she said her voice more tired than anything else. Like she'd even want to leave home for the next couple of trials! The only thing she could do was hope no one came looking for her.

"Wagon. Right, I'll try and fly back as fast as possible and find a wagon. You know what, before I forget I need to teach you how to fly better! Though today might not be the best day after that..." She said her eyes widening slightly at the memory of the thought.

[Pegasus]

Nightshade Eld

Points!:

Story: 5/5
Collaboration: 5/ 5
Structure: 5/ 5

Knowledge:

Persuasion: Use emotion to ensure that you are persuasive
Discipline: Worry can be a distraction
Discipline: Put aside memories, focus on the now
Discipline: Swallow your feelings, do the job
Fieldcraft: Setting a fire
Flying: Techniques for flight whilst carrying things
Flying: Using the heat of the air
Flying: Controlling the downward spiral
Flying: Controlling landing
Flying: Aerial combat
Blades: Slice across the stomach
Tactics: Use the environment to your best advantage
Endurance: Push yourself to make your body work harder
Strength: Bodily pulling another person
Combat: Unarmed: Eye strike
Alex: Second bird form
Carowa: Beautiful, colourful, deadly

Loot:

2 x Carowa horns

Fame:

+1 (going back to save your colleague), +2 (trying to save Alex x2)

Magic:

These points may NOT be used for arcana

Vluharqih / Alex

Points!:

Story: 5/5
Collaboration: 5/ 5
Structure: 5/ 5

Knowledge:

Detection: Check for other symptoms of blood less before assuming whose blood it is
Flying: It's cold up high
Flying: Semi-controlled landing
Navigation: Air: Orienting self with sun and land marks
Surgery: Listening to breathing to detect signs of fluid on the lungs
Surgery: Diagnosing a collapsed lung
Surgery: Treating a collapsed lung
Surgery: Making a cast for a limb
Medicine: Clam leaf as an analgesic
Medicine: Leechbane
Medicine: Cleaning and sealing a wound
Medicine: Night Scarf Cream to protect and promote healing
Poison: Leechbane
Blade: Breaking skin with a poisoned blade
Carowa: Beautiful, colourful, deadly

Loot:

NA - Injuries

Fame:

+1 (helping Night)

Magic:

These points may NOT be used for arcana

Overview:

General comments. I really enjoyed this thread, I enjoyed reading the two pcs and I really cared about how well they did. Clever little twists, good use of skills at an appropriate level. Very good! You will both require medical attention following this - quite serious, and will take time to heal.
Story All good - detailed, cohesive and a complete story.
Structure All good - no issues!

Please do PM me if you think I've missed anything or you have any questions!