[PRP] Borders of Fear { See Inside }

[mindsend]

His eyes darkened with an edge of anger and strength. He wasn't a sparring stallion, a gladiator, or a harem guard. He was an artist, and stallions weren't trained to fight unless they had specific interest in doing such.


However, he did have some experience. Sure, he had gotten out of the habit, with his last set of kids having passed the point of needing him to help them learn how to capture stallions, and his sister no longer had need to roughhouse with him, but he had more training than most of the non-warrior stallions, even if it wasn't formal.

Harpies were a group, and he knew that guards were not too far away from the location -- he had sounded the call, so any within earshot knew there was a skinwalker in their territory and would be on their way, especially knowing there were foals in danger.

But most importantly, the stallion also had his brains going for him -- he had been picked by Aylin the Oracle due to his observational skills and intelligence, knowing he'd produce them valuable members of the flock, And the skinwalker had given him time to think.


"One never show's their true strength to an enemy." He smiled wickedly, eyes flashing, "And a stallion's life is less valuable than that of a foal. I'd willingly give my life to protect this flock, should the spirits will it... However, I'm not the one you have to worry about -- All I am is a distraction while the warriors come. Can't you hear them coming?"

Not giving her a chance to think about what he said, he sprang into action -- he didn't know how skilled she was, so he had to use brute force and surprise in his favor if he was to drive her off or kill her. He was a dancer, and he used that skill to twirl and move quickly, kicking his claws and bringing up a spray of dirt, rocks, and leaf litter aimed for the walker's eyes, before charging in, aiming for one of her protective wings -- if he could get a hit on it, he could at the very least break it, if not tear the the wing clear off with his massive and powerful talons.





(OOC: I'm not sure what rolling thing to use to figure out if its a glancing blow or not. So I'm not gonna roll die until we can figure out a system for it, but as long as we keep this believable and the group talks behind the scenes about the fight we should do this fairly well. XD I swear, Part of Taarab is going "WHY AM I HERE DOING THIS OMG" but this does seem rather natural to him -- he's not dumb, but not only are flock children being threatened, but they're HIS children. He's not the best representative of the Flock's fighting capabilities, but now that panic's passed something else is settling in. XD

Also, I'm assuming there's no real set order as long as we don't get too too far ahead and leave Lolly behind.)  

[LOLTERNATIVE]

Vanmoriel nosed around in the flowers her father showed her, breathing in the wonderful perfumes. The colours were brilliant and she picked them all carefully and placed them in her bag. The medicinal meanings interested Vanmoriel. Perhaps, while she was collecting supplies for her art, she could also collect supplies for the healers. She may even one day like to know more.

As it was, right now she was young and curious and too distracted to learn such things to much detail other than the simple terms her father used. All she was interested in was what she could paint with them.

Vanmoriel's ears perked up, moments before she heard the call of her sisters. It was like instinct, like a bond. She had turned to run to them, only to be stopped by her father. Stay here? But how could she help from so far away. Her bravado faded as quickly as it came and her father's logic kicked in. How would she help so close? She would get stuck and it would take longer to get the three of them back.

Vanmoriel wanted to believe that they had only fallen, but there was something in Vaniania's cry that chilled her to the bones. She turned to her mother who was nearby looking at a bunch of wold roses. "Mama!" She called out as she ran to her, sticking to her side.  

[LOLTERNATIVE]

Vanya tried to keep eyes on all her daughters, but when it was two to three, the task was quite difficult. A few times her voice had risen and taken on a stern tone, but it was only for a second before their bright and smiling faces made her smile. Now, she was keeping an eye on Vanmoriel who seemed the most prone to wandering off, the colours of flowers distracting her more than the fact that they were so close to the borders.

She turned to her eldest and frowned lightly. "There are monsters out there, my dear. Things that wish to do harm to you for no reason other than you're there and it's in their blood." A chirrup from Vanmoriel, behind a tall bush brought her attention away for a split second.

The cry shattered Vanya and her head snapped around faster than light. Vanwyn? Where was she? The trail of rolling gravel and debris gave Vanya the answer she sought. If it had not, the sight of Vaniania tumbling down the hill to rescue her would have. Her muscles tensed as she prepared to jump to bring them home, but the sound of Vanmoriel's voice halted her and she turned to watch the girl as she clung to her side. And then Taarab was off; moving with leaps and bounds and her heart beat steadied, if only a little.

Moving forward, she looked down the hill, afraid of what she might see. But nothing she thought was as terrible as what she saw. A skinwalker? She let out a long, shrill cry. This many calls, surely the guards would be along any minute. Turning to Vanmoriel, her voice was strong and forceful. "I need you to stay here, do you understand? Do not move. You need to stay where it's safe." She nuzzled her daughter, heart beating as fast as it ever had in her life. She didn't want to leave her alone, but she didn't want to lose the others even more.

Turning, she looked down the ledge in time to see her daughters flee from the skin walker. She let out a sigh of relief; at least they couldn't be hurt in the crossfire. Vanya moved down the border some before launching herself down, powerful muscles from years of dancing propelling her through the air. She landed gracefully a ways away from the walker who was distracted by Taarab.

A quiet call came from her throat as she searched around. "Vanwyn? Vaniania?" Her eyes darted frantically and she wondered if they had run too far, if they had even stopped running. "Where are you?" Her voice was a little louder now, frantic and laced with panic. She had to calm herself, lest the skin walker turn on her and leave no one to rescue her daughters. Taking a deep breath, she moved silent, steps carefully placed and eyes moving in every which way for any sign. "Girls?"

 

[techabyte]

Vanwyn was terrified. Her ears pinned back. And when the walker came into view, her eyes widened. She may have been the eldest of the three, but this sight... it made her feel like she was the smallest, youngest of them all. It made her want to crawl back into the basket from whence she emerged not but a couple months ago. She took a half step back, but stopped soon after, when the female started to speak. Fear. That was what this feeling was called. Gulping thickly, her ears pinned back farther, and her head lowered a bit. She would hurt her family? Vanwyn didn't want that! Her Mama, Papa, and siblings couldn't be harmed, it wasn't fair! She let out a slight whimper of fear, before taking a step toward Neva, planning on giving herself up to save her family. Nobel, yes, but stupid. She was too scared though, so much so that she wasn't thinking straight.

But at the feel of a n** from her sister, Vanwyn's head snapped to the side. She glanced up for a split second, and saw their father, before turning quickly, and scrambled. She almost tripped, her claws slashing some at the ground. The mare's voice echoed in her head though. She was going to harm her father... But she had to believe that Taarab could take care of himself, that he could protect them. Taking a deep breath, she launched herself forward, following Vaniania quickly, her legs moving as fast as she possibly could, too scared not to move quickly.

Vanwyn moved as quickly as she could. And she didn't plan on stopping. On occassion she would nudge her sister's flank, silently begging her to go faster, to get as far away from the fued as possible. But, the poor girl was still not as graceful and swift as she should be. She still felt awkward moving quickly. And after a few more steps, she fell, tumbling some. Scrambling a bit, she tried to to get up quickly, and when she did, she was off again, her breath leaving her in pants, eyes wanting to squeeze shut and never open them again, never see that she-devil or her father fighting her off. She wanted to go back to the nest and curl up with her siblings, sleep, and never leave her mother's side again.

After a few moments, Vanwyn's ears perked up, and she dug her claws and heels into the ground, causing leaves and branches to fly up from how she was running. Her head snapped to look back into the trees behind her, breath still leaving in an audible way. She glanced back toward Vaniania, before shaking her head, and turned around fully, facing the way they had came from. That was her mother's voice! She knew it well, and the sound of it made her feel so much better. Gulping, she took a half step toward the noise, and hoped that Vaniania had heard it as well. The filly let out a few shrills and chirps, that beautiful voice unmistakable. She called out to her mother, but at the same time was hiding, in case it wasn't actually Vanya.

In case that mare could mimic voices.  

[pippi18848]

Neva couldn't help but laugh as she watched the male, and listened to him speak. Her sensitive ears could hear the other adult finally show up, but for the moment she had no interest in the mother. Right now, she wanted to cause someone to shed some blood, leave the image in the young foal's minds. Make them fear not only the night, but also the day. This was the type of skinwalker she was, for instead of tearing the flesh from the bone, she would rather tear the mind from it's safe sanctuary and drive it to insanity before she gets to tearing of the physical flesh.

She watched as the stallion started his movements, and while he was quick, she was able to pick up easily on many of the movements as those that she came from were considered "Skydancers", and the dances of the sky and of the earth were similar in many aspects. Because of her knowledge of dance she was able to react quickly. She moved just enough for him to not be able to tear off her wing, but it did cause her pain with the force at which he hit. So instead of being able to get in a proper counter-attack, she had to lash that wing out even with it now starting to bruise, and try to get him to back off enough.

"Bravo, for trying such a tactic. But you won't fool me because I once was part of a family that were skydancers. They don't exist anymore, which is a good thing. Dancers are useless and pathetic little creatures." she snarled, at him after she managed to back away from him for a moment, without even noticing if she even managed to scratch him with her wing or not. "Now, little ones, watch what happens when you don't listen to the demands of strangers like myself who have no issue with killing others. Neva called out as she quickly lashed out at the stallion, her front hooves kicking out, and her wings in the familiar attack position. She paid no attention to the other adult. Her current prey was the male, and after she finished with him then maybe the other adult would be next.  

[mindsend]

Vaniania however called out to her sister and mother, chirruping as she tried to call them back -- She didn't want either of them close to the walker, and she had found a place where the hill of the ravine near the river shallowed out and they could get back up with ease, "Vanwyn! Mamma!... Vanwyn?"

She looked around, circling, suddenly realizing she was alone, panting in exhaustion and panic, "Vanwyyyyyyn! Vanmoriel?! Mama?!!" She danced in place, unsure of where to go. She needed to make sure Vanmoriel was safe, but her mother and other sister were in possible danger, and alone she was an easy target for a predator. Even without knowing what was going on with her father and the hunter, no longer within earshot, she was suddenly very afraid, and very alone.


 

[LOLTERNATIVE]

Vanmoriel whimpered when her mother told her to stay, but nodded her head slowly in agreement. She didn't want to be alone, but she didn't want her sisters and papa to be hurt. She felt a spray of dirt kick at her legs and looked up in time to see her mother leap into the air, powerful and strong as ever. At that moment, despite all that was going on, she couldn't help but marvel at her mother's form soaring through the air against the light of the sun. It was mystical.

Vanmoriel turned around and ran to a bush, hunkering down in it until it was safe. Until someone came for her and sent the monster away. She shuddered. What kind of monster was that? They hadn't done anything to it; why was it hurting them? She began to sob silently, holding in the sounds for fear of another monster finding her. The bush shook with sobs that wracked her body and she let out a light whimper.

Vanmoriel felt helpless, useless. Vaniania had run off to save Vanwyn. Papa had run off to save them and here she was curled up in a ball in the bushes, hiding. She wasn't a fighter. She was too young. But she felt like she had to do something. The help should be here soon. Would they know where they are? Did they hear the calls? Wiggling out of the bush, Vanmoriel took a look at the battle below between her father and the monster. Sucking in a deep breath, she turned and ran towards the flock, calling out as loud as she could.

"Someone! Help! Help!"  

[LOLTERNATIVE]

A flash of white in the corner of her eye alerted her to the location of her eldest, Vanwyn. She moved towards her, carefully so as to not frighten her. "Vanwyn, my dear. Where is your sister?" She kept her voice calm, the same tone she used when she spoke to them the day they emerged from their baskets. "It's going to be okay; the guards are on their way and your father is protecting us," her breath hitched in her throat as her mind went to Taarab. He was not a true fighter and she feared for him. Would he come out of this alive?

Shaking her head, Vanya pressed on. "I need you to come to me, now. So we can find your sister and get somewhere safe." She looked around, eyes searching for Vaniania. She mustn't have gotten far, they were still so young. "Vaniania!" She called a little louder. Let the monster hear her and come; she didn't care as long as her children were safe.

Vanya's ears perked and her head snapped up, the sound of Vanmoriel's calls alerting her. They were getting further away? Was she hurt? Was someone chasing her. She began to breathe heavily, heart racing. She strained her ears, listening more carefully to the sound; she was calling for help, alerting every guard that patrolled the flock. Vanya smiled. "My brave little girl.."

Her attention went back to her two daughters before her. "Girls. Run to me!"
 

[mindsend]

As the wing jerked out of the way then the other lashed out, Taarab danced back, the claw catching a bit of his nostril and tearing a bloody chunk from his nose, before he went back in, slashing once more to try and tear at the other's chest, taking a glancing blow to chest in the process, too close for there to be a lethal blow to be built up, though it still hurt and had its impact.

However he did not listen to her prattling chatter and mind games, and instead pressed at her with quick swipes, dodging and doing his best to avoid the sharp blows of the wings. He simply heard the blood pounding in his ears as he defended his children with the ferocity of an enraged bear protecting his cubs.



(OOC: Short post is short, however in a fight I dont wanna get too far ahead with it so we can exchange blows and react faster to each other XD)  

[techabyte]

Vanwyn whimpered some, ducking down a bit more in the brush. Her bright eyes flickered, trying to see the form of her mother. If it wasn't her, she wouldn't move. But then she realized something. Vaniania was gone. Where was she?! Head swiveling some, she tried to find the flash of white, but failed to do so. How could she lose her sister? Biting her lip some, Vanwyn let out a distressed chirp, aimed at locating her sister, before her eyes flickered, and she finally saw the heavenly form of her mother. That lovely form that stood out against the darkness of the forest. She practically burst from the tree, letting out scared chirps and screeches, her eyes filled with tears.

But she stopped short. Vanwyn had glanced over her mother's form, and saw just as her father got slashed by that horrible beast. The blood that shed caused her eyes to widen, and she dug her legs into the ground, shaking her head frantically and practically fell backwards from the force. Unable to feel her body any more, Vanwyn panted, and whimpered, before bursting into tears, her eyes closing, body feeling smaller and smaller. She felt her legs trembling, and somehow found herself curled up on the ground, trembling and sobbing.

She had got her father hurt. It was her fault. If Vanwyn had just gone with the female, than her father would have been okay! Scared and feeling sick, the filly curled tighter. She hated the outside world; hated the monsters and the bad things that would hurt the Flock. She would never leave the boarders again, ever. Instead, she would stay inside and stay with her music that her mother said she would excel in. Her heart pounding hard in her chest, she tried to make herself even smaller, tried to make herself non existent to the world of blood and anger.  

[pippi18848]

The batwalker cared not that the male wasn't listening to her, for her mind games were for the young ones. The ones who have minds that are still innocent and naive. Though now her mind was more focused on the battle at hand, for this was a tougher opponent that she has ever encountered. Even though she considered him a weak and pathetic male for letting him be ruined so, she wasn't used at fighting against those with talons. So this was a learning experience for her because she couldn't quite use her wings to block off the blows or risk having them shredded to bits.

Her precious pelt was getting scratched up, and there was blood flowing freely from other wounds she was receiving. But she was lashing out just as quickly as the male was, while she didn't have the talons the male did, she did have her wings and her hooves, as well as her teeth if he ever got near her mouth. Though upon hearing the tears of one of the young ones, caused her to in a way re-energize and she fought even harder than she had been. This batwalker wasn't going to give up just yet, but also knew her time was limited before others arrived, and she was going to cut it as close as possible to cause as much mental trauma as she could to everyone in the area.  

[mindsend]

Vaniania focused her attention, hearing Vanmoriel's calls, and her mothers, before calling out to her mother, moving back towards where she could hear the two, "Momma! Vanwyn! Over here! I found a way up!"

Heading up the hill, she made her way back, staying on the edge so she could run deeper in should they be attacked, panting as she raced back to her family, her head drooping as she slowed, spotting her mother's head over the brushes, though she couldn't see Vanwyn, "Haa.. Haa.. Up.. Up here! If.. Haa. If you go back this way there's a way up for Vanwyn.."

 

[mindsend]

The fight was starting to take a toll on the master artisan.

Blood trickled from his brow down over a swollen left eye, forcing him to favor that side as he fought, and filled his mouth, one of his teeth having been jarred loose, tearing at the gums slightly. His entire body ached from the beating he was receiving, though he was holding his own as best as he could, landing enough blows to know he was making enough difference.

Taarab swatted at the skinwalker's face, hoping to tear that smug smile off of her face, if not her entire muzzle or her throat. And despite the pain, he pushed forwards, trying to get her further and further away from the foals, his teeth grit and face determined to get her to back down or at least give the for of the girls enough time to all get away.

 

[mindsend]

The first call had been in the distance when Kamunyak got it, causing her to pause on her rabbit lunch, the lagomorph's life force staining her muzzle and the tip of her masks beak. Her head lifted as she strained to hear, ears swiveling and crest lifting as the mares eyes tightened before widening slightly in realization.

The scrap of mutilated fur and meat fell from the branches she was resting in as she coiled herself up and took off for the boarder, sending out the call with loud, raucous shrieks and clattering cries "Skinwalker in the territory -- Foals are in danger! Southern River Border."

The last part clenched at the mares heart as she bounded tree to tree, claws digging into the tree trunks as she raced through the forest, calling out to insure every mare within distance could notice, sometimes yelling it in the common language so non-harpy mares could join into the battle, before going silent so she could be sure to hear where it was and find her way to it, not wanting the walker to get too much warning -- its lifeblood would drain away by her talons if she had anything to say about a Child hunter, if it so much has harmed ONE foal, flock or not....

She burst from the leaves to land behind Vanmoriel, looking around to insure the girl wasn't being followed, assessing the situation, hesitating slightly -- she had to make sure this girl was safe before abandoning her since she had no adults to defend her, "Vanmoriel... Where is the attacker?"

 

[Nyx Queen of Darkness]

Galla Sile was heading back to the nests after guard duty when the shrill cry caught in her ears. The distress call echoed in her ears as she turned, her claws gripping into the dirt as she sped toward her endangered sisters. The cry of skinwalkers caused her to dig deeper and push harder.

Kamunyak's calls reached her as she angled her way to the South border. She could hear others behind her taking to wing or hoof to help. Suddenly, the realization that there were foals out there sunk in--Vanya had been taking her foals out today.

Her neck stretched out long and flat as she accelerated, the cries becoming shriller and closer. She could feel the sheen of sweat breaking out on her back as got nearer. This was her first encounter with a skinwalker--she'd never seen on before.

She slowed down as she approached Vanya--"Are you okay?" She assessed them for damage, but they seemed to be physically fine.