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Vendeth

Vendeth had been following the trail for several nights after getting the tip from Southmarch. The Therian had been reluctant at first, but was easily manipulated under duress. It took every fibre of her being to hold back from tasting the beggarly mutt when she realised she would be days behind the tracks of her quarry. She finally caught up with her targets some half way through the Cold Moor, watching them from afar like a predator eagle watching its prey from a mile away. She spotted several carts, pulled by great beasts she had seen several of in Southmarch. Her elven eyes could see one among them leading, with several others also spreading around from time to time. A grin formed on her lips, curling at the edges as her red eyes narrowed with joy. Hours passed as she traversed the cold, dank moor behind them. She made sure to keep a great distance between them - assuming the therians wouldn't be able to see her from so far away, and she also made sure to stay away from any wind that might carry her scent towards them. Oh, it was like child's play, was it not? Her ancient eyes could see all from a mile away, her steps so light not even the most cunning wild animal would ever notice her coming. Even this morning she watched as the entire caravan came to a stop, with some kind of talking happening near the front before the smaller trio scattered. She assumed to defend the caravan from deadly attacks - she could have laughed so loud that they might hear her. Deadly like me she thought, licking her lips. She watched them for the rest of the day, hoping something exciting might happen, but instead found nothing to note. As the evening dragged on and night finally approached she could feel herself growing impatient with the stalking.

Vendeth wiped the bark and dirt from her sword with the fabric of her cape. Behind her were the corpses of two treant monstrosities that pounced on her not long after the waning moon pulled up into the sky. She was relieved to finally be done with the rustling in the bushes she was trying to ignore for several hours. It appeared those creatures had far more patience than she did. After sheathing her weapon, Vendeth peered out into the darkness, noting how the caravan hadn't moved for some time. She assumed they had now set up for the evening. A grin formed on her lips again, a flash of white appearing between her fine lips. Her tongue, plump and pink as her hair, glazed over her lips for moment as she savoured the thought of finally killing Team Sun. She wore black leather trousers and tunic, with white boots and cape decorated with gold. The underside of her cape was a blood-red, and a gold chest-piece guarded her torso. Her sword was of similar design, and her crown she had long, long abandoned. In fact she couldn't remember where she left it - not to matter. It was perhaps a thousand years old and the royal family was long gone, no one needed it anymore. Did she lose it during the Jewel War? No... was it during the pandemonium of the colossus war in the desert? She couldn't tell, it was sometimes difficult to remember specifics when you've lived such a long life such as hers.

Now she was waiting in the trees not far from their camp. Closing the distance between them wasn't difficult, and waiting in the greenery was quite boring. Nonetheless, it would be all the more worth it when she made her first kill. She wanted to lure the first one out, with orange hair and red, torn clothes. She rustled a branch beside her, then crunched on a branch to imitate a misstep. It worked just as she planned, and the girl approached, raising her hammer slightly in preparation. Vendeth smiled and let out a quiet, menacing sound of joy. Vendeth dashed, appearing from behind a tree in a blur of grey, white and red as her armour flashed in the twilight for the briefest of moments. She kicked Tsuna in the stomach, throwing her back against a tree to wind her so that she could grapple her and hold her mouth shut with her gloved hand. Red eyes, half-shut stared into hers lazily. Then, a grin formed, adding a new understanding to those analytical eyes. "Shh" she cooed, "don't squirm!" Vendeth tilted her head, pink braid falling over her shoulder. "I cannot fulfil my bounty if you keep doing that. Now, I will permit you to speak as long you as promise not to call Micha'el and that other girl over to their slow and agonising deaths, okay?" Vendeth waited for Tsuna to give an indication of agreement before smiling again, this time showing her pearly white teeth. "Do you have... the currency of Malika Roze? If so - tell me where?"

Her lazy elven eyes relaxed as yet another expression hung over her face. It almost appeared maternal for a moment as she blinked slowly. So, this one was going to play hard to get? Pretend to be strong and brave and smart? "Hmm" Vendeth purred, leaning her face in closer to Tsuna's, "I'll be sure to tell her the meal was extremely delicious." Vendeth tightened her grip on Tsuna's shoulder, only enough to show that if she really wanted to she could likely dislocate the girl's shoulder. Tsuna then went on to ask the elf her name, to which she relished a reply. "Vendeth" the name slipped from her tongue effortlessly. "But I'm not going to kill you. Not until I acquire Malika's wallet" Vendeth's eyes opened wider, paired again with a grin before altogether fading and turning to a scowl and clenched jaw. Vendeth dug the tips of her fingers into Tsuna's shoulder and pressed harder against the girl's chest with her other fist, holding Tsuna by the clothes at her chest. "Malika sends her regards" Vendeth began, "she doesn't even want the money - I'm here to send a message instead... and I want that money.

Vendeth's eyes narrowed as Tsuna began to transform, causing her grip on the girl's torso to let go as the fabric of her already tattered shirt fell apart. In that moment of confusion Vendeth tried to hold on tightly to Tsuna's growing shoulder muscles but failed to keep grip, leaving behind some nasty scatches before she was kicked backwards by canine legs. Vendeth staggered backwards, coming to an elegant stop. She was crouched down, smiling at the ground as Tsuna ran around her to retrieve her weapon. Vendeth, still on one knee, slowly clutched the handle of her sword at her waist with one hand. She listened to what Tsuna had to say and let out a chuckle as she slowly came to rise, standing tall and drawing her sword. It's clean edge reflected the moonlight as Vendeth finally raised her head to slowly blink at the child as she winked and jumped back to create some distance between them. "Accart?" A cheshire grin grew on her lips, stretching from cheekbone to cheekbone as she exposed the name she bet Tsuna didn't expect her to know. Vendeth licked her lips, "He's in a ditch."

Vendeth began her run, taking off with a grace step that only the elves of old could have. She moved quietly through the trees, skipping twigs and avoiding stones, weaving between the trunks like a sewing needle creating its masterpiece. She allowed Tsuna to have her game of cat and mouse before coming close enough to use her magic. She searched the dark for Tsuna, raised her arm and swiped it to the side. The blood on Tsuna's shoulder coalesced, feeling like a crawling bug as it moved and shot out towards the nearest tree like trailing dart, attaching Tsuna like a chained animal. The bond wasn't strong, and would break with a small amount of force. But Vendeth knew that it would hurt, like a stab from a knife.

She then dashed in front of Tsuna, kicking her once against in the gut to stagger her. She then stepped forwards, slashing down in an arc, again from the side and finally attempted to stab forwards with her blade. "Still want to court me?" Vendeth asked, commanding Tsuna's bloody shoulder to attach itself to another tree, "I'm all out of dignity - so you won't embarrass me one bit" she said in a tone as though she spoke to a baby. "Oh" she added, sounding stern once more, "but I do have taste."

Vendeth was comfortable believing that her victim was helpless and completely under her control. She teased Tsuna like a cat would play with its food, but didn't expect Tsuna to actually bite back. At Tsuna's comment of Vendeth being much older, centuries old even, she smiled slyly. Oh she was close - but if only she knew just how old. Then she watched as Tsuna prepared a cigarette - heating it with her weapon - something Vendeth eyed and memorised for later. As her eyes moved back to Tsuna's face during her last comment about taste, Vendeth hadn't considered Tsuna would then break free.

Tsuna blew a face-full of spoke into Vendeth's eyes, causing her to squint in anger and swipe forwards to try and catch Tsuna. Vendeth held up her blade, watching the world around her become hazed. She blinked, forcing her eyesight to adapt as it attempted to pierce the smoke. It worked, for a few moments, as Vendeth caught site of Tsuna and began to walk forwards, sword pointing low towards the ground beside her as she moved. "You won't escape me, little-" Vendeth stopped in her tracks, sensing something as off. Her skin crawled as she sensed subtle magic at work. "Illusions?" she said, looking around calmly. She hadn't seen anything yet, and assumed her natural affinity to resist them was working. But then as she took another step she felt her foot squelch into something thick and wet. Looking down she saw a pool of thickened, coagulating blood. She tilted her head, scowling as she took a calm step back. She believed it was an illusion, but she didn't sense it coming from Tsuna. She looked up again to pursue Tsuna, but in her place she saw a young elven woman with dark auburn hair. Vendeth's heart skipped a beat. No she thought, reminding herself that this was impossible. "Ameria" the elf said before blood bubbled up from her mouth, a blade erupting from her chest. Black figures surrounded her now, cutting the elf down. "Ameria, why didn't you save me?" she screamed. Vendeth charged forwards, cutting through the visions like they were paper as she shouted "ENOUGH. You know not what lies you weave!" Vendeth took in a deep breath, anger building within her as she tightened her grip on her sword. Her hand practically went numb under the amount of pressure she was forcing down on it. But then as she turned she saw it - a memory she had long since burried. She saw, in the emptiness, a coffin of stone surrounding in flowers and ivy the colour of the sunset. Blood was pooling out of it, falling over its edge like a waterfull rushing towards her. She looked away, but next she saw the elf again, staggering towards her with blood across her open chest. Vendeth instinctually moved to catch her. "Elor'riel" she muttered. But she squinted, shaking herself as she dropped the corpse. "No... no... no" Vendeth began to wearily step backwards, suddenly falling back into the bloody coffin. "You let me die, Ameria" Elor'riel said. Vendeth jumped up as she screamed "NO!" Her voice cracked, pain tearing through it like knives in her throat. She gritted her teeth, anger in her eyes as she clenched her jaw. A tear fell down her cheek as she said "I will make you suffer, and I will make your friends watch for a long, long time, before I end them right in front of you." She held up her hand, attempting to feel the space around her for Tsuna's blood. She knew the wound was still bleeding, and so tightened her fist to command the blood to splutter and attach to whatever was nearby. But as she did another image also appeared before her. A mass of congealed blood and sinew, dark and old, half dry and rotten raised up in front of her. She felt her chest implode as all sanity within her vanished. Another elf appeared beside it, tall and slender, with long white hair and dark armour. He held up a runed sword and stabbed the bloody golem through the centre, ending its miserable life. He stared Vendeth in the eyes as she recalled these events as she had come to twist it - for her own sake. "Zylvanness" she muttered quietly, falling to her knees with an empty expression on her face. He looked down upon her as he said "she is dead again because of you." This memory, a fabricated story Vendeth had put together in her eternity of looking for an answer to her sorrow, finally broke her. She fell forwards onto her hands, staring at the ground as a smile grew on her lips, eyes dilating as the taste of blood filled her mouth. She had bitten her cheeks, forcing the addictive taste of iron to bring her to her senses. The illusion began to fade as she began to laugh hysterically into the grass beneath her. A mixture of anger and laughter fighting for control over her body as she breathed in heavily - as if a panic attack was also tearing through her body at the same time. Now the illusion was gone, she had noticed some cuts on her body from where Tsuna had taken her chances and landed some cheap shots on Vendeth during her confusion. No matter though - she couldn't feel it. She couldn't feel the grass beneath her bare hands, nor the cold air passing through her lungs, or the emotions in her heart... or anything for that matter - except for pain, denial, and hatred.

"Little... mutt" she said with a seething hatred, then a chuckle, as she stood up. She hung her head to one side as her eyes immediately locked in on Tsuna not so far away. "I want you blood" she said, "give me... I want it, I want to taste it." She no longer had her sword, nor did she care to find it. Instead she darted from her position at terrifying speed as she slammed into Tsuna, sending her flying as her open wound began to sputter out and send out several streams of blood. Each one attaching and breaking, attaching and breaking over and over until she finally came to a stop. Vendeth stood still where she ahd struck Tsuna, now holding her bloody hand up to her mouth as she relished in the taste of Tsuna's fresh blood. Ecstasy rushed through her as she smiled, "don't stop, don't stop" she said, "one more bite" she continued, out of breath as she smeared it over her mouth and down her neck, clutching tightly as she said "it's not enough". This time pain began to show i the tone of her voice as her eyes looking over towards Tsuna, "it's not enough."

Vendeth paused as Tsuna began to offer out her palm, freshly cut from her axe and now dripping with blood. Vendeth smiled wide as she watched the girl approach, axe dragging beside her. Then the moment she mentioned Alor'riel and Zylvanness her smile subsided as anger took over again. Her brows narrowed in a scowl and she bared her teeth. Tears continued to stream down her cheeks, mixing with the blood at her mouth and neck. Blabbers of a cry escaped her as she regained her breath. "Blood" she said, "your blood - unique!" she said, now clenching her fists at her side, lick lipping her lips to savour the taste. She could read it like it was a book, she could decipher its code and though she didn't understand it completely, she knew it was different. She allowed Tsuna to approach, extending her arm to magically command the blood to congeal in Tsuna's hand and stream towards her own. Then, in a moment as quick as a flash Tsuna took her opportunity to strike.

Vendeth almost didn't notice it. She was distracted almost completely by Tsuna's offering of unknown blood. Thoughts of the possibilities that could be achieved using such blood danced around in her mind. Could this be it, could this blood be the key to bringing back her love? Could this give her the power to do it? She wasn't strong enough before, but maybe now?! Then, a glimmer of twilight gave away Tsuna's true intent. It was by a stroke of pure luck that she noticed it and moved even faster to deflected it with her armoured wrist. The axe's blade struck and slipped, causing sparks to fly as it instead swung down and into her side. Vendeth screamed and immediately clung onto Tsuna's axe by the long handle beneath the blade. She gritted her teeth, blood dripping down her as she cursed, leaning into Tsuna. "I don't... need saving." She opened her spare hand, commanding the blood she was taking from Tsuna's hand to form into several large thorny rings floating around Tsuna's body. "I need blood." Vendeth tightened her fist, rings of blood constricting around them to constrict Tsuna. Thorns rushed past Vendeth's skin, raking through her on their way to Tsuna as she relished in her moment of success. It was short-lived, however, as a green light flashed and sent Vendeth flying backwards, breaking the bloody conjuration on Tsuna before it could tighten on her body. "TSUNA" Lottie yelled from the edge of the woods, running down over the hilltop. Horakhty was at her side - avoiding the onslaught of glaives rising up and over him to arc down towards Vendeth's location as Lottie shouted slurs at the assassin. Micha'el was also running down through the trees, already conjuring a wall of light between Vendeth and Tsuna.

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Horakhty stirred, watching the waning moon pierce through some thin clouds in the sky. Kafele grunted, looking over its shoulder towards the nearby woods. Immediately Horakhty moved to take a closer look, clasping his blade as he peered around a trip atop the hill to peer down. There among the darkness, his daywalker eyes could clearly see Tsuna being held up against a tree by a woman in white. Horakhty choked, how he thought, how did a woman in all white manage to sneak up on them? Suddenly, a wave of dread rushed over him. As quietly as he could he dashed away towards the cart that Team Sun used for resting. Once there, he pulled open the cloth doorway "Micha'el! Charlotte!" he commanded, tearing away the blankets from their bedrolls. "Who's full-naming me?!" Lottie croaked, Micha'el didn't speak, he caught Horakhty's eyes and understood immediately something was wrong. The daywalker said "grab your weapons - your teammate is about to die." The moment he spoke, a blood-curdling scream could be heard. Micha'el's heart sank into his stomach, a wave of heat rushing up through his body before adrenaline replaced his nausea. Lottie scarpered to her feet, gabbing her weapon and jumping out of the wagon in moments. Micha'el asked "where?".
"South woods" Horakhty stated. Micha'el jumped up, flying up through the hole in the cloth above where wings of white light appeared to allow him to hover. In that moment he looked around and located the wood, sending out a small sprite of white light to arc down towards Lottie and guide her to it's location. In it's trail she was faster, lighter, and began running as quickly as her feet would take her.

When Lottie arrived at the edge of the wood the wisp of light guiding her vanished. She jumped ahead and as the trunk of a tree passed her she saw bloody magic around Tsuna, which shrunk down and exploded into green light. Lottie thought then, that was it, this was the moment when she would see her friend die. "TSUNA!" she screamed. Micha'el saw the light, then Tsuna drop down to the floor, then Lottie rushing down to fight, glaives soaring through the air overhead coming down in a line towards their intended victim. Anger rushed through him, how dare someone kill Tsuna? He rushed down the hill, jumped high and far to come to a skidding stop beside Tsuna as white light cut through the ground nearby to divide them from her assailant. "Tsuna!" he shouted, "Tsuna!" his voice breaking as he picked her up, noting the wound on her hand and shoulder. He placed his hand on her chest and a rush of cold ran over him as he sensed her life force. The air escaped his lungs as he realised she was alive. "Tsuna, listen to me. It's Micha'el. We're here, you're going to be alright. I'll protect you!" he began to work his magic on Tsuna, white light pouring from his fingertips like white smoke as it danced over her wounds. It began to knit her skin back together, leaving behind smooth, glistening scars in the shape of a light-kissed line on her palm, and kaleidoscope star on her shoulder. He couldn't replace the blood-loss, but he could stop the wounds from bleeding any further. He could protect her, he had to protect her, he had to make her safe! His eyes flashed blue as he shouted her name again, commanding her to wake up as the ground around her shook once and star-like light danced off her skin, like dust from a freshly disturbed object.

Lottie ran at the assailant who had seemingly dashed away at the last moment, crashing backwards into some bushes. Not for a moment did she realise that Vendeth was thrown backwards against her own will. When Lottie got there, her blades all came down like needles into the bush. Vendeth jumped up high, avoiding the attack as she landed not far from Lottie, holding her bleeding side. "I'll make you pay for what you have done! Murderer!" Lottie shouted, believing Tsuna dead. She swung her glaive once, then twice, then again. Each time Vendeth lazily moved out of the way, dashing slightly further back each time as her palm caressed her open wound. Blood began to stitch her wound back together until Lottie commanded her spectral glaives to circle Vendeth and come down. Vendeth took the blood from her bleeding mouth, cleaning it all off in one clean gesture. It magically turned into a glob that divided into a dozen smaller orbs that perfectly stopped each spectral glaive in their tracks. "Little brat" Vendeth muttered, "i'll kill all of you."

Micha'el watched as Tsuna woke up, as if his command worked. Instinctually he hugged her so tight it probably hurt. "We have to get you out of here" he said, coming to stand as he helped her up. Then the sound of magic breaking could be heard as his white barrier shattered and Lottie came flying through. With one hand he caught Lottie in his magic, bringing her to a steady stop. With his other he snapped his fingers. A wave of sound and light exploded, forcing Vendeth back again. Lottie stood, gasping as she noticed Tsuna alive. Micha'el then dashed forwards, allowing Horakhty to take hold of Tsuna and act as her pillar of support. Micha'el magic may have stopped the wounds externally, but any damage done, any exhaustion, would still be there. Yet somehow, he commanded her consciousness to remain awake. Micha'el summoned a giant kite shield of light and bashed into Vendeth. Her cape fluttered backwards as she blocked the blow with her arm, grunting like an animal. Micha'el then blinded her with light, causing her to jump backwards, retrieving her sword as she prepared again.

"Time for you to make a decision" Horakhty said, looking towards Vendeth, and Lottie knew exactly what he was asking. "I already decided" she said maturely, holding her glaive at her chest. "Willow Morta - let me fight like those before me. Summon up thy ancestors - let them fight through me." Her glaive glowed grey and the shape of her eyes changed minutely. The innocent roundness of her gaze was gone, and instead came a focused and wise glare. She twirled her weapon and held it low behind her, a stance she hadn't used before, as she suddenly adapted to a knew fighting technique. A ghostly essence dripped from her blade like the smoke from dry ice. As her foot moved, it too left behind the same ethereal essence. "A weakness, Tsuna. Does she have it?" Lottie asked sternly, staring ahead.

Lottie waited patiently for her question to be answered, not taking her eye off of Vendeth for a single moment. Then with the information she needed she said "no compassion was planed" and dashed off to join the fray leaping past Micha'el. Upon landing near Vendeth she swept her weapon up, cutting through the dirt as Vendeth leaned to one side. Lottie swiped again to the side, then twirled on her foot, crouching low to bring up yet another upward swing which cut Vendeth on the cheek. Micha'el dashed in to support with a glowing sword and shield, exchanging blows with Vendeth as Lottie would dip in and out of combat to deliver hard, heavy strikes often focused on coming from a low angle. After some more blows, Vendeth leaned back on one foot and kicked Micha'el forwards whilst deflected a blow from behind with her sword, staggering Lottie as she leaned forwards to kick back, throwing Lottie back.

Horakhty held onto Tsuna, which wasn't hard considering she was much smaller than he was. Tsuna asked him for advise, admitting to lying to him about their mission. He scowled, visible clenching his jaw as he glanced over towards the battle, then back at Tsuna. "Just because a blade is blunt - does not make it useless... If you are to be their leader - then I suggest you help by leading them, or by using whatever you have at your disposable which doesn't include exhausting your body." He then looked around and took a few steps with Tsuna to prop her against the tree, "I can deliver a devastating blow - but you must prepare your team."

"Elor'riel and Zylvanness!" Lottie shouted, now beside Micha'el who had quickly come to realise Lottie had allowed Willow Morta to take over her body. Vendeth visible jerked. "DO NOT SPEAK SUCH POISON TO ME!" she screamed, lurching forwards to strike again, stabbing the air between the pair of them as a blade of blood materialised in her left hand. Shen then swept outwards with both blades. Lottie deflected the strike against her but Micha'el didn't anticipate the bloody sword, taking a strike across his gut as he fell back onto his back. Lottie eyed him for a moment, eyes almost faltering before returning to Vendeth, "did you kill them?!" she asked as she swung her blade once more. Vendeth blocked it with her armoured wrist before erupting with bloody spikes from her body. She slumped afterwards, chuckling to herself as Micha'el got to his feet, calling out to Lottie. "Lottie no! Don't! Please!" He watched as Lottie brought her blade to her chest, muttering something in secret to it as her eyes shifted again and her stance evolved. Now she held her weapon up high with one arm, aimed towards Vendeth like a viper waiting to strike.

Horakhty meanwhile had stepped closer towards the fight, no weapon in hand, as he began to draw a symbol in the air. As he did, purple lines hovered before him that seemingly caused the darkness around them to shift. It was in the shape of a holy cross and an Egyptian ankh layered on top of each other - the mark of Declasia. He then brought back his fist as the shadows behind him came together to create a gigantic fist of shadowmagic that mimicked his next attack. With a grunt he punched forwards, sending the fist flying towards Vendeth - striking her true, and sending her flying backwards, skidding and rolling across the ground until she finally come to a horrendous stop at the base of a tree, splintering it's bark. Horakhty fell to one knee, looking to Tsuna as he said "NOW!".

Micha'el and Lottie watched in awe as Vendeth vanished from sight, being launched backwards from a mysterious attack from nowhere. Their eyes both looked towards the source, seeing only Horakhty on his knee. They followed his gaze towards Tsuna and suddenly all of Team Sun were aware this was their moment - and they awaited the command of their leader.