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DraconicFeline rolled 5 100-sided dice:
31, 79, 30, 41, 25
Total: 206 (5-500)
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 Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 6:36 pm
Stage || Swordsman
Battling || Radaku x5
Battle Stat || 25
Defense || 14
Roll Needed || 60-100
Rolled || 31, 79, 30, 41, 25
Outcome ||Win x 1, Lose x 4
Experience earned ||
98
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Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 8:22 pm
With his injured thigh, Ruelash found it slow going. He had managed to limp to the edge of the meadow, where the roots of a great tree began, coiling down to the den. Suddenly, he stopped as the hairs on the back of his neck started to prickle and his hands start to sweat. He had thought he was all out of adrenaline, but it suddenly coursed through him once again, making him exquisitely sensitive to every sound and small movement around him. He tensed, not sure what had set him off. He drew his blades, the blood not yet dry on their hilts, his heart pounding in the stillness.
The stillness. There hadn't been stillness since he'd come to this chaotic and noisy place. This place was truly the inverse of the tundra, all heat and noise and sound and life. And it was still. He grinned, his teeth shining white in his dark and stained face. Stillness in this place meant something was wrong, and something wrong meant that he likely had another fight on his hands. The thought was thrilling to him and he crouched, moving forward slowly, willing whatever it was to come out, or at least show itself so that he could attack and kill it and have his fun.
His breath came hot and sticky and full of anticipation. "C'mon." he growled softly, his sharp yellow eyes scanning the dark vegetation around him. It was always dark here, too, as if the heat stole the light, and it was difficult for him to get used to, but that made it all the more interesting. Direk whickered behind him, and he gave her a glance as she trotted to catch up to him. She knew more than he did. Herbivores, especially prey animals like Aldabuk, seemed to have an uncanny ability to know when a predator was out, about, and hunting them. They just knew. Ruelash had been working with Direk for some time, and knew that her prey instincts were telling her that something was out there, something big and bad.
Perfect.
He motioned her to move back and to the side, so that whatever was hunting them could be flanked by either one. He moved back himself, giving himself a good view of the trees ringing the meadow. Since he didn't know the land so well, he couldn't figure out how to sneak up on whatever was hunting him and ambush it. He was just going to let it attack and let the chips fall where they may.
"Tch." he hissed to Direk, getting her in position. She pawed at the ground, and Ruelash knew she was fighting her own instincts to run - she had been trained well.
He heard a low 'woofing' and the sound of thick leaves being moved aside and he could taste the bitterness of adrenaline in his mouth. Eyes gleamed breifly from the shadows, and he knew that whatever it was was there. He gripped his swords, feeling charged. "C'mon, whatever you are. Come an' get me." he growled. He was ready.
And they did.
Suddenly the trees around him exploded into fury. Radaku spilled from the trees as if cast forth in a spell. One came for him head on, and four flanked their sides. Direk kicked out, knocking one back as she dodged the other's pounce, her eyes white-edged and wild, but enraged. Ruelash kicked at the one barrelling at him from the front and slashed at the other two, driving them back as he turned to assist his familiar. The Radaku barked and yipped as they bled from his blades, reforming into the more cautious approach of surround and feint. Ruelash hissed in anger. He couldn't beat them like this. If he or Direk charged after one, the others would bite at them, and he couldn't attempt to cut them all down. A nasty, thick dread built in him, mixed with rage as he realized that he could lose. The Radaku began to close ranks, and one broke from the rest of the pack. Ruelash and Direk fended the four off, slashing off a horn and slicing a few paws and noses - Ruelash lost track.
And then he noticed where the Radaku was headed. It stalked towards the baby Radaku, who called for it, wiggling with renewed strength against its bonds as it's new child master watched, transfixed.
"S***." snarled Ruelash, blocking another blow from the Radaku. There was no moment of hesitation or indecision, no wondering or thinking or grumbling or growling. He just moved, before he even realized it. He rushed at one of the Radaku, shoving it aside as he ran, then leapt at the stalking radaku, his leap, powered by adrenaline that made up for his injured thigh, sailed over the radaku's back. He sliced at it, causing the radaku to recoil in pain as he landed, ungracefully, on its head and bounced to the ground. He could feel the pain in his leg as a dull reminder, and he was still for a brief moment as it recovered from the strain. He sheathed one of his blades quickly and, without a single thought crossing his mind, he scooped up the child and the wailing Radaku pup into his arm.
And then he ran.
Direk saw him run and, with a scared and somehow irritated flick of her tail, she leapt over the heads of the Radaku and did what her kind did best and what her instincts had told her to do all along. She too ran, and was soon bounding ahead of Ruelash, aiming for anywhere but there.
Ruelash managed to keep running, his leg bleeding from the exertion, the girl - mercifully - still in his arms. He could hear the bellowing of the Radaku in pursuit. He didn't know if there was somewhere to run, but with the child in danger this was his only action. He didn't know why he had saved the child. The little brat deserved to die, maybe. But he had grabbed her anyway, and he wasn't regretting it too much.
He ran on and on - he had no idea how far - before he stumbled. He felt cold and lightheaded, his heart beating too fast in his chest. He was losing so much blood, and he was too beat up. He needed to rest. He leaned against a tree, waiting for the world to stop spinning around him as he listened for the sounds of pursuit. All was quiet and he closed his eyes briefly before checking on the child. She gripped his clothing and was quiet, but looked unharmed. Between her arms and his chest was the little bundle that had caused the whole mess, whimpering under Ruelash's gaze. Direk had moved on ahead, but had come back, her eyes showing white, but her movements brave. She sniffed at his leg and gave him a questioning look. Are you coming? she seemed to ask. Ruelash patted her. "I'll be movin' again, soon enough." he said, and she seemed reassured by his voice.
Ruelash heard a rustle in the trees and growled, his voice ragged, feral, and predatory. Direk's ears perked up and she stood, alert, looking at the brush. Out stepped a Radaku, haggard from its run and marked from the fight of before, but with an energetic glint in its eyes. It stalked towards Ruelash, panting, and Ruelash brandished his sword. "F*** off." he snarled. He could feel weakness starting to spread through his limbs, but anger was still there, anger and bitterness, ever present and blazing hot as ever. The Radaku could smell his blood, and Ruelash knew it.
It attacked, all teeth and claws and Ruelash struck, his blade slashing through the air. It felt like it was slicing through water, or thick syrup, and his muscles groaned with the effort. He was losing it, and it was frustrating him, but he felt his blade slice through flesh, and followed through with a second backslash, his screaming muscles falling back on their training to carry them through. He didn't wait to see if he'd succeeded; he dived forward, stabbing with the blade until there was nowhere left to stab. He slumped to the ground, gasping as his legs just decided to take a break on their own. The girl slipped from his limp arm onto shaky feet, and he sat there, over the twitching body of the Radaku. He needed a breather. Bergchi, he needed a breather. He heard the barking of the pack, not too far off. "S***..." he murmured, his eyes barely focusing. He'd lost a lot of blood. He lost too much blood. He could see the child out of the corner of his eye and he knew, just for a moment, that he wasn't going to make it.
And he was pissed.
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