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 Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2016 5:43 am
Her fingers touched skin - his.Good. He was within reach. Not armed, but there. The curl of his fingers around her arm was a reassuring contact - Dyakida would not have wanted to face this alone. Next time,, she promised herself, I will endeavor to not be alone. It was best to gather in groups, it protected one from hunting parties or raids or bandits or muddy paths. Next time, she would conscript sisters to help her. If there is a next time.She nodded at Lerin's advice - she trusted him to judge the radaku more than she trusted herself. Don't be frightened, though... How could she not be? Fear was a reasonable emotion to have when confronted with a pack of radaku, was it not? "All right." she said, keeping her voice calm, "How do you propose we escape?" Was there, perhaps, a break in their ranks? A way out?
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Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2016 11:58 am
It wasn't as if he had a plan, by any means. In fact, Lerin could almost go so far as to say that he didn't have any idea how they should proceed. Not dying seemed like a good idea, but also a far fetched one. And he didn't rightly imagine he could expect help from Dyakida. A warrior she may be, but she was also blind, and he could practically feel the reassurance just his contact gave her.
"I think..." He gave a gentle tug on Dyakida's arm as he took a slow step back. "If we proceed away-" Another step. "-from the pack leaders in a nonthreatening manner-"A third. "-we may convince them that-"
It was this moment that the central radaku chose to ignore all of Lerin's insight and lunged for them. With its claws out and fangs bared, the Shifter prepared for the worst. He let out a piteous squeak as he staggered backward, dragging on Dyakida as he did. By some miracle, he stayed on his feet, and when he had the chance to glance back at the oncoming danger, there was his kinfa. Tandoori had never looked so fierce. She was not small any longer, but he'd never pegged her as a match for a predator. She'd flung herself at its head and was clawing ferociously at its eyes. The radaku bucked and twisted and clawed at the air, to no avail.
It was probably best he didn't waste time staring. "Nevermind it," he muttered. Against his better judgement and the practical thing to do, he grabbed Dyakida's hand and ran.
((1997/1200))
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Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2016 6:26 am
Dyakida would not describe her actions as 'obedient', not generally. But this time, she listened and obeyed, following Lerin's lead. Her heart raced, feeling like too-loud thunder in her chest as she strained to listen for the predators, for allies, for anything. She moved back, step by step, just out of synch with Lerin when... a snarlHer heart dropped. That did not sound like escaping. It sounded like being attacked. Peyla shrieked, charging forward with her little thorn. Even she knew it was ridiculous, but she was her Alkidike's only hope, and that filled her with pride... and the little beast was nothing if not prideful. When the Kinfa joined her, though, she had a lot more hope. Shrieking and clanging like a discordant bell, Peyla darted in, stabbing into the Radaku where the kinfa's claws had not yet reached, drawing blood. Dyakida, for her part, when her hand was pulled forward, did the sensible thing. She trusted that the hand was Lerin, and that he would guide her. She ran. Hurtling through the trees, without her staff or her sprite or anything to guide her save her feet on the mud and a hand in hers, was exhilerating in a not-very-good way. Branches snapped at her face, and she protected it with her other arm, after managing to sheathe her knife - it was more dangerous now out than in. The branches stung. Some might have even drawn blood. Better them than a tree she thought wildly, Please, Mother, don't let me run into a tree...
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Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2016 12:06 pm
First and foremost, Lerin was not of a mind to be able to leave his kinfa behind. Tandoori dove straight into the fray to defend and protect him, and it would be shameful to repay that by abandoning her now. Even if it felt distinctly like this was what he'd done. But, had he a choice? Not really. So even if he ran, he thought of the young, feathered creature. What would her escape route be? She could not run or fly and a pack of radaku would surely outmatch her in terms of ferocity. He didn't get far before he dragged them to a halt, stilling Dyakida with him. Everything around them was quiet.
They weren't being chased, at least, not by barking, snarling beasts. And as long as that was the case, there was no harm in lingering. He looked to the Alkidike with him. They'd needed to get out of there if the opportunity presented itself, no matter the cost.
Lerin sighed softly. "I'm sorry I'm not much use out here like this... You must be accustomed to your traveling partners being able to hold their own a little better." He tried to be discrete as he gave her a once-over. "Are you injured...?"
((2204/1200))
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Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2016 6:38 am
Dyakida was grateful to be stopped - she needed to catch her breath - but all the while she was listening to the sounds around them, straining for any hint of pursuit. Her heart pulsed in fear, her throat was dry, she half expected fangs and claws to rake into her from any angle, at any second. But, as her companion lingered, and as he spoke, she began to relax. She could sense nothing moving nearby with her antennae, and she could hear nothing but the whispering sounds of wind and water and leaf. She didn't say anything about his capabilities, though it was certainly true - normally, her escorts were strong enough to protect her. She had been foolish to leave home without them. Or, more likely, prideful. Her pride mandated that she prove herself capable on her own. Clearly, that was something she needed to excise from herself like a knot in carving wood. "I don't think so." she said after a moment. She didn't feel any too-warm, life-draining injuries. Just a few scratches on her arm, a few pricks from thorns, and since these did not carry with them the numbness or pain of poison, she figured she was all right. Now, though, she was listening for other sounds - a victorious chime, or a kinfa's beaked cry. "What of Peyla and Tandoori? Do you see them?"
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Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2016 10:21 am
Lerin listened, gray eyes wide and body tense as he peered back in the direction they'd come. His vision was not as reliable in the darkness of the forest floor, but it was better than nothing, and due to the lack of approaching snarls and snapping twigs, he eased back. Now out of the fray, he tried to be more rational.
Tandoori was not fully grown, but she was heavy and intelligent and familiar with this area of the forest. She was not trained to fight, but as far as creatures went, she was brave, noble, and extremely temperamental. A pack of wild radaku would not outsmart her. And sprites were so small that the beasts probably wouldn't have felt especially pressed to target Peyla at all, hopefully. Lerin heaved a sigh, raising his fingers to rub lightly at the dried petals of his hairpin.
"No," he admitted slowly, "I don't see them."
He paused, and then remembered that he ought to sound a touch more hopeful. "But don't worry. My kinfa knows these woods and she has places she can hide. I'm sure Peyla would've followed her. They wouldn't have gone far, and I'm sure they're safe." He laced his fingers with the Alkidike woman's and began to tug her gently (though still adamantly) toward a favorite nesting spot of Doori's. "We will go to them."
Sure enough, the familiars were waiting for them not far off from the battle site. Doori herself looked a little worse for wear, with her plush orange feathers disheveled, her green eyes wide and, spotty patches of blood smearing through her down. This was enough incentive for Lerin to return home for today and probably the next several to come. With a hasty apology for involving Dyakida and Peyla in this mess, he scooped up his kinfa and headed home.
((2511/1200))
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