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 Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 8:49 pm
They are two to one now, him and First against this particular thug, and that will help even their odds somewhat. Patrek's kick lands solidly and there is a horrible thwok noise that likely means he has either broken or dislocated something. Down the thug goes, and though he tries to take First down with him, if Patrek interferes -- giving the man a push or another kick -- First will be able to break himself free.
Across the way, Careo's interference takes the thugs by surprise: there is a great satisfying OOUF, and though the thug makes a clumsy grab for the fawn, Careo's flailing limbs knock his hands away. This causes curses and a burst of cruel laughter from the third man, who launches himself after Careo while the fawn is still high on his success. There will be some trouble, though, as Last has managed by then to get the knife free, and has rolled to his side that he can stab the man in the leg as he goes hurrying by.
Although this will prevent the thug from snatching the Guardian up, it may yet cause trouble for little Careo, for the thug will then measure his length along the ground, and Careo had better be quick to avoid being caught underneath him.
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Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2013 8:01 am
The least he could do was help First out. Satisfaction went through him as the thug went down, though apparently not fast enough for Patrek, who swung his leg again to land a swift kick anywhere on the offending man. It didn't matter at this point, and with one thug dispatched, he could turn his attention to the others.
He turned just in time to see the fawn dance away from Number Two, and this time it was Patrek's vision that saved Careo. Panic shocked through him at the sight of the third man launching after his guardian, narrowly relieved by Last's interference and then returning just as swiftly as he realized that the fawn was not quite out of danger yet.
"Careo, run!" This time, it was not mental. There was no time to send word out telepathically and simply hope the fawn received it. Many times, he did, but many times he didn't. That mental link had not yet strengthened enough to be flawless, and now was not the moment to test it out.
The fawn reacted as if he had been shot, taking a massive leap without so much as looking back to see why he ought to run. It was all instinct now, and he took three gigantic bounds to clear the perimeter of chaos before turning back to observe again, sides heaving with shallow breaths.
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Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 8:44 pm
So now they have one man with a dislocated knee, one man with a stab wound in his leg (who has measured his length on the ground) and then a third, still on his feet, who with a swear seems to realize that the odds are slowly turning against him and his companions. With Careo out of the way, this third man takes advantage of Last's relative closeness to swing a heavy punch at the boy's shoulder just as Last manages to get to his feet. This will give him time -- or so he apparently hopes -- to haul his friend to his feet, his eyes flashing with anger.
"Ya ain't hurd th' last've this, me merry little lads, oh no ya ain't!" The man's words are a snarl; if Patrek means to delay their departure (the latter two ready to help the one he put down), he will have to do it himself. First gave a strangled cry when his brother was punched, as if he was the one that took the blow, and bolted to his twin's side. He is already looking poorly thanks to the gash on his forehead; the side of his face is wet with blood, and his shirt-front starting to stain.
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 11:21 am
The thugs were dispersing, and Patrek had not the will or energy to stop them. Just let them go, let the night return to normal again. His hands were bruised from hitting, his neck was stiffer than old bones and he was sure his lip was cut and swollen from some attack somewhere down the line. But he had still fared much better than the twins, who were now huddled together were Last had fallen.
As the attacks disappeared back into the dark of night, Patrek waved his fawn over, checking him for cuts and scrapes. The guardian was somewhat shaken but not overly stirred by the encounter, and when Patrek reached out to him, he felt much of the calm that usually came from the fawn.
"Good work, lad," he breathed, gently patting the young deer. "Good work."
Then he rose and made his way over to the twins, peering at them in the dark. Long forgotten was the bag of stolen trinkets. "You two had better get yourselves to a doctor"
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 6:53 pm
"Yessir," manages Last, as his brother helps pull him to his feet. Neither of them look like they give a damn about the bag of trinkets -- they're far, far too worried about each other, and about getting out of sight before the thugs come back. The four of them may have chased away their attackers, but the Freds hold no illusions about being able to do so without Patrek's help.
" .. thank you, sir," manages First, and if he sounds a little groggy, well, that's why they're headed to the doctor's, isn't it? "And .. for what it's worth .. we're sorry."
Last is less generous, though for the most part he just looks to be in pain; he does give Patrek and his little witch-deer a second look, with a slight frown across his face. " .. and maybe watch yourself, okay?" He doesn't want to come right out and say that those men, the men that he does not want to name, will be looking for Patrek now and wanting to get revenge, but the guardsman may read that in his expression.
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 11:22 pm
He would wake up in the morning feeling the beating through and through, but at least he didn't have a huge gash across his forehead that would no doubt require stitching. Patrek shrugged at First's apology, and never one to be sentimental, simply said, "It's alright. You got the worse end of the deal anyway." But he managed a wry smile that he wasn't sure First would see or remember.
He turned to nod at Last, now beginning to be able to tell the two apart, if for no other reason than that Last reacted more strongly to Careo than his twin did. "I'll be alright," he promised, calling the pale fawn to him. "Take care of yourselves, lads."
He might have added for them to stay out of trouble, but it seemed too late for that already. With one last look at the twins, he turned and went back into the night with Careo trotting behind.
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 7:15 am
"Yessir!" They both sing it out, and it is peculiar to hear their young voices in concert -- so alike that for a moment it seems only one of them has spoken, with just a bit of an echo. But they are already turning away supporting one another, moving quickly so as to be gone should any of their tormentors return. And as they have already gone around the corner by the time they find their satchel of stolen goods, there is no one to see that they take it up again, and no one to see what they do with it after.
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