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 Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2014 7:41 pm
Gabriel couldn't help smirking. "See? Even Tess won't let you fall behind. Now, shush." He also couldn't help aiming a thoroughly appreciative look at his wife, followed by a short nod. She was some kind of amazing... His focus returned to climbing, making each step count.
Wyatt felt his lips curve into a small smile. This was what it meant to be family. ...If it had been the other way around, and he'd been carrying Gabriel, he wouldn't think for even a moment of leaving his brother behind. Even Quintessa would be on his back rather than on the ground if she were the one hurt. The effort of holding tight was making his energy drain, so he let his head drop back down to keep still.
Freezing with a paw in the air, Gabriel braced against a scraggly tree to hold his balance at the sudden stop. His nose wrinkled when he saw the dilemma, but he nodded for Pirimus to go ahead as Milly encouraged. He waited for Pirimus to get closer to the other side of the opening before he made his way up, moving slower due to the extra weight of his brother.
A loud thud made him pause again, head snapping around to look down toward the town. From this higher view, he could see that the naga were gathered in front of the home they'd just been in. That must have been the front door breaking in... He grit his teeth and resumed the climb, more than glad to see the bastards too focused on the house to bother looking over when his legs slipped on a bit of loose dirt, making a few small stones fall. He caught himself though, and kept on moving, listening for Tessa coming up behind him.
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Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2014 8:01 pm
Once Pirimus was safely tucked away on the other side, he found a safe place to wait with Milly. With her eyes on the Naga below, he watched as Gabriel made the cross, ready to help if needed. He heard the young girl gasp, and when he looked down the Naga that had swarmed Franklin's home had begun to set it on fire. The heat was fueled by magic strong enough to cause the hand forged glass windows to shatter. Franklin's father had built the home himself so many odd years ago, and in a matter of moments decades of memories would be nothing more than ash.
Quintessa's heart stilled at the thud. Her eyes immediately went to Gabriel, then to Wyatt, and Pirimus. If not them then...? Those damn nagas. She spat on the ground, curling her lip at the sight. The longer she stood the more fury built up inside of her. She had seen those same taur when she had come to this village in search of her mark. They were good, honest folk! Tessa's hand constricted until her fisted claws dug into her palm. Her eyes began to glow a piercing electric blue. One strike...just one strike and she could kill at least six of them...
From this angle Pirimus couldn't see Tessa and so when Gabriel came close he whispered, "Where is she?"
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Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2014 8:15 pm
When he finally reached the other side, he let out a short gasp of air of relief. Wyatt's grip was still so weak, and his own body was still worn from yesterday and not enough rest. It was amazing to him that they hadn't been seen or heard.
Pirimus' question made Gabriel's shoulders instantly sag, and he glanced back with dread. "Tessa!" he hissed out in a low whisper. She definitely hadn't fallen, so she'd either stopped, or was about to do something impulsive. "Tess!" he hissed again, backing up to try seeing what was keeping her. One hand went to the sweater holding Wyatt to his back. He was ready to go back if he had to...
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Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2014 8:32 pm
The first time Gabriel had called her name Tessa barely heard it. She was already sliding down through the leaves towards the town. Her spear vibrated with the electricity that she channeled through it, but before she got far she heard him clearer this time. Looking up through the trees, she saw her husband and brother-in-law. One side of her knew she had to go back, but the bigger part wanted blood.
Growling in frustration, Tessa climbed back up to the trail. After making sure her passage was clear she made the voyage herself. Every loose stone was a new cause to be anxious, but she made it to the other side unharmed. "I'm here. Just keep going."
Pirimus frowned at the tightness in the females speech. The way she kept looking back made her dilemma known, but he didn't vocalize his concerns.
Following Milly's instructions, Pirimus was led out onto a larger plain with hardly any incline at all. He could see flames jetting up from where the town had once stood. The harsh corals fought with the natural warmth of the once darkened blue sky. Pirimus' soul was more weary at that moment than his body.
The healer pressed forward though, walking along the same path that Hunters had taken several times before, to a softened stream just barely covered in frost. There was a hunter's lodge beside of it; worn with a rusted door and a thatched roof, but unoccupied so much as he knew. "Do we stay, or press on?"
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Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2014 8:50 pm
Gabriel stood stiff as a board as Quintessa climbed back up, his hand slowly removing itself from the tied sweater, though not fully until she was right in front of him. Thankfully, the worst of the trek up was over, and he reached out to take Tessa's hand to comfort the both of them.
His ears perked as they came up on the lodge, though his brow knit with concern. He didn't feel like he was nearly far enough away from the town to be stopping comfortably. Yet, they'd already been through a lot. "A short break, at least. Wait for evening to come and give us a little more cover. Good?"
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Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2014 9:10 pm
"I say it's good!" Milly untangled herself from around the good doctor, and flopped down onto the ground. She seemed very adamanet about staying, and fidgeted from side to side. Pirimus placed it as a stress reaction to the violence. Softly, he reached out to pet her hair with a soft smile. It calmed her, and when she looked up she even smile. "They won't know the trail, and we weren't spotted so we can stay for a little while, right?"
"Right." Pirimus nodded. "Why don't you go inside and clear out a spot for Mr. Wyatt."
Quintessa squeezed her husbands hand and walked by his side with nary a word. Just having him close at hand was enough to quell the storm inside of her. She had wanted to attack them so badly...but it would have meant risking her families safety and that she couldn't do. "Can you perform another healing session, Pirimus? If we can get Wyatt at least mobile we'll stand a better chance at putting distance between us and those beasts."
Pirimus bit his lip in contemplation, and nodded. He was worn, and in sore need of a rest himself, but he saw the logic in her words. "I'll try my best. If you can use your magic to keep him warm then I can focus on healing his wounds. Get him inside now, quick quick, before we're spotted."
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Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2014 9:36 pm
Gabriel gave Milly a warm smile. Poor kid... She'd mentioned her mother, right? What had happened-? No. Now wasn't the time to think about that.
He held tight to Tessa's hand, taking what strength he could, and unconsciously confirming that she was there, and not back in town attacking the naga like she wanted to be doing. Her request made his ears perk curiously, eyes shifting toward the white feline. Was Pirimus really up to another session? ....Could they afford to let this break pass by without trying to get Wyatt more mobile?
He headed inside promptly when told, and headed for the little spot Milly was clearing. The place was filthy, but he suddenly smirked. "Remind you of some memories, too?" he asked playfully, looking over at Quintessa. Back when her mission had been to kill him, and then helping to prove his innocence, they had stayed in an abandoned house that had the same dirty and empty feel as this had.
"I don't want to.. know why this place.. would bring back memories.. for you two," Wyatt murmured with a huff of amusement as he was laid back down. Rubbing a hand across his eyes, his golden gaze slid over to Pirimus. "Are you sure you're.. up to it?" he asked. The healer had to be exhausted! "You should rest.."
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Posted: Tue Dec 23, 2014 7:11 pm
Quintessa snorted and gave a bark of laughter. "Ha!" She took off her cloak and spread it onto placed that Milly had cleared. It wasn't much, but it would be warmer for Wyatt than laying on the cold, packed earth floor. "I remember you ripping off my corset. It was quite a sight, and right in front of Sydney too!"
Milly gasped and covered her mouth. Her cheeks were flushed a deep crimson, and not from the cold! Still, she looked between the two, secretly eager to see if any more information would slip out.
Pirimus pulled his hair over his shoulder and braided the strands as best he could. Once he had the errant strands out of his face he sat next to Wyatt. "Only if you are." He met Wyatt's golden gaze with his own, minus the fact that his one crimson eye almost glowed ominously. "I will rest when we're safe." Placing his hand on Wyatt's shoulder, Pirimus smiled softly. "You should be more worried about yourself. I'll be fine...but thank you for your thoughts."
Through the contact he had already started to infuse Wyatt with healing magic. He felt the touch of another magic, and looked up to see that Quintessa had joined him. Whereas her touch warmed the patient, his sought out what damage was left and began to mend it. He only wished he had enough strength to do something about the pain.
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Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2014 5:37 pm
Gabriel blushed a little, but laughed more. "Hey, it's easy to feel like he's not even there! You know, when he's not letting criminals loose~" With no directions for himself, he strolled over to where Milly was and settled down near her to watch this bit of work on Wyatt. "You know, you're really brave, kid. Milly, right?"
"Worrying about myself.. won't help any," Wyatt said with a small half smile before lying back to be treated. He was tired of being an inconvenience... but who knew that speed healing was painful?! His jaw clamped tight as the magic began to flow into him, hissing sharply as the damaged tissues began to knit and heal. The warmth from Tessa's magic was a comfort, but was overwhelmed by the needle-like sparks in his shoulder. Soon enough, he was sweating and trembling slightly, but he could feel the difference between the old damage pain and the newer healing pains.
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Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 7:34 pm
Quintessa snorted. She shifted so that she could look at her mate over the healing process, and it was as if the magic's light gave him an otherworldly glow. The sight captured her for longer than she wished, and when she looked back to Wyatt and Pirimus her cheeks were flushed.
The young naga, meanwhile, shifted on her own, but more towards the warmth of the magic. Winter was hard on her kind, and the lack of Pirimus' body heat was beginning to take it's toll. Gabriel's attention spooked her, but quick enough she had toothy smile. "Momma says it's not brave when you do the right thing. She says it's good, and that more of us should do it, so I try." She nodded. "Millicent is my name, but Milly is easier to say."
Around his healing Pirimus gave a one side smile. Even with all of his focus and attention going into the healing, he still found Wyatt to be a mystery. How someone could be so selfless was beyond him. "Hold. I'm almost finished." When Wyatt's muscles tightened, his magic went to the areas on reflex to loosen them, but found Tessa's warmth already doing the job. It allowed him to focus on the poisoned shoulder. He worked to rid the body of the last ounces of toxin, and fix the torn flesh.
Unfortunately Pirimus didn't last.
It felt as if a great wave of energy sliced into his very veins and drug them down into the ground with chains. He lurched forward on a great gasp when his energy left him. Pirimus' eyes rolled back, much like his body, and he fell over unconscious.
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Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 5:47 pm
Gabriel smiled at the little naga. "Your mom sounds like a smart lady. Actions can be good and brave at the same time though. They often work together." He held an arm out to the girl, offering his warmer side to her. She did look a little chilly, and they owed her so much. He could snuggle with a naga this once, right~?
Wyatt tried to keep still, his eyes watching Pirimus' strained expression when he could focus on it. His own mind was thinking the same thing... how this feline could work so hard to save him when so many others would have kept running for their lives was amazing. He dared to glance at his shoulder, seeing the punctures nearly closed, when the energy suddenly shocked to a halt. Gritting his teeth as his energized nerves tingled and stung, he still reached out in an attempt to catch the unconscious male, though he was still moving slowly himself.
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Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2015 5:51 pm
Milly saddled up next to Gabriel readily, offering a little contented sigh when she felt his body heat. "Thanks a lot mister. You're being pretty brave coming all the way out here, ya know?" She smiled. "You and your family seem like pretty weird people."
Quintessa felt the shift in magical flow before she saw Pirimus' fall. While Wyatt prevented him from completely hitting the floor, Tess leaned over Wyatt, placing one forepaw across him to steady the healer. She moved to cross her brother-in-law completely, and gently shifted the white feline down next to Gabriel. "He's still breathing," She moved her head to his chest and listened. "...and his heart sounds good. Probably just exhausted."
Tessa leaned back, and wiped her forehead off with the back of her hand. "Not much we can do about it, then," The assasin looked around her ragtag little group, "We stay here for now." Looking around, Tessa moved to take up her spear and looked to Gabriel. Milly looked so content beside him. It was touching to watch. "I'm going to go patrol for a while and set traps. I'll be back soon."
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Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 12:14 pm
Gabriel's ears perked when he was complimented in return, and he laughed lightly. "Well, believe it or not, brave and weird tend to work together as well." He paused, brow knitting suspiciously. "Hey.. what makes me weird?"
Gabriel looked over in surprise when Pirimus fell, calming when the situation seemed over. He squinted to see Wyatt's shoulder, but he was at the wrong angle. "I'm not surprised. Healing on its own is a lot of work. Healing that injury is probably draining." He looked up to Quintessa and nodded. "You and I can take shifts keeping guard while we're here."
Wyatt frowned, reaching over to push a strand of Pirimus' hair back from his unconscious face. With a small groan, nerves sparking painfully from being left in the lurch of healing. Still, it wasn't nearly as bad as it had been. Just a little more time, and he would be fine. "Don't be long, sis," he murmured thickly, letting himself drop onto his back again with his eyes closed. He felt like he could sleep more...
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Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 6:43 pm
Milly stuck her tongue out at Gabriel and giggled. "Can't tell." She yawned, and closed her eyes.
Tessa grimaced. "Get some rest while you can, sweetheart. Tomorrow you may not have the luxury." She turned to look at Wyatt, and saluted him. "Sleep well, bro." Leaving her family behind, the assassin made her way around the perimeter. After pricking her finger at the first stop, every subsequent stop after was left with droplets of blood on enough fauna to trigger bursts of electrified current when touched. It wasn't much, but hopefully the screaming would give them enough of a warning.
When she made her way to the area closest town Quintessa moved further out. She wasn't a tracker, though she didn't have to be to see there were no toppled brush this way. No naga had slithered here. She moved to a new area, pressing the skin below the pinprick to unleash more droplets. It was closer to a main road here, so she used less than the others so innocents wouldn't get caught up.
Tessa knew she had made a mistake the moment moonlight illuminated tracks in the dirt road.
She had barely held her spear up when it blocked a long sword's blade. How had they-?! Quintessa snarled as she leapt back. The warrior was persistent, and in close quarters her spear wasn't able to keep up. With distance between them she made to run him through and was hit with a magic bolt on her back. The sheer force of the attack caused her to lose her breath. She stumbled and turned to the new foe. Tessa's heart dropped into her gut. The entire regiment was materializing through the trees, converging from all areas to one spot; her.
The assasin fought for as long as she was able. The magic from the armless and the sheer force of their defenders caused her to tire quickly. When her spear was knocked from her hands Tessa dived for it, aware that if she didn't have a weapon she was done for, but she never made it. The hilt of a blade slammed into the back of her skull and the world went black.
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Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 8:40 pm
"You, too," Gabriel reminded as his wife headed out. He looked over the two unconscious adults, and then at the child. What a mess this was... Sighing, he closed his eyes and let his head drop.
It was Wyatt who woke first, blinking with a groan against the light that leaked into the little shack. He sat up and groaned again, a hand pressing to his shoulder. It still hurt... He looked around, ears perking. Gabriel was right where he'd seen him when he'd fallen asleep... and the scent of Quintessa was old. "G.. Gabriel." Coughing from a dry throat, he sat up straighter. "Gabriel. Where's Quintessa?"
Hearing his brother's voice, Gabriel looked up with a yawn. A hand had started to rise to rub at a sleepy eye, but it froze when he saw the growing light. "Tess?" His head snapped around, instantly alert. "Damn it, woman!" Where was she?! Letting go of Milly, he jumped up and hurried to the door, shoving it open to to look around.
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