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 Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2021 4:32 pm
The natural glow of Sauti had left its mark on Asa. He adored the time they spent carefully traversing the rocky crags and barren landscape, even the parts where he had to squeeze between thin rocks just to make sure the next area was passable for his companions. In instances like this being small wasn’t a sign of illness, but rather an unexpected advantage. Everytime he was able to return with valuable intel brought a fresh spike of confidence to the young scion’s heart. Each and everyday was better than the last, especially now that Ygraine had started teaching him more about ‘survival tactics’.
That knowledge was what had led him to being on his own just a half days walk from the closest settlement. Their camp was relatively close by and Asa didn’t give much thought originally to the distance placed between them. In hindsight he should have never strayed so far; especially after last night. He’d seen a familiar face on the public roadway, but had just assumed he hadn’t been spotted. The man was little more than a goon that his father regularly hired for ‘intimidation’ but if he was this far South then surely he was working for someone else? Either way Asa had dismissed the worry and focused on the positives of travel.
What a fool he was.
His only saving grace was that he wasn’t alone. Asa’s little ‘day trips’ into the wilderness were always accompanied by Sev who gave him both protection, company, and a back to ride on if he grew tired. That day, however, she proved to be so much more...
For the first time in his life Asa was sprinting. Every footfall made his already taxed lungs feel as if they were filled with stones. He didn’t dare look behind him, but everytime he heard sharp laughter and the heavy footfalls of armored demons Asa couldn’t help wanting to disappear. Those things they were riding...he’d never seen anything like them! Massive creatures with tails as thick as logs and fangs like swords. He’d just been minding his own business when he was sniffed out and as soon as Markyl laid eyes on him, the moment Asa saw that smirk, he knew it was over.
Asa clumsily leapt over a stone, and squawked when he found not solid ground on the other side but a steep hill. He tumbled over the side, eventually sliding on his side along the sharp stone. When he eventually came to a stop Asa rolled onto his back, looking up fearfully at the top of the hill where Markyl sat. As if his beast wasn’t intimidating enough the crossbow trained on Asa was enough to cause his heart to stop.
“Funny thing, seein’ a Sargsyan this far south, especially since yer supposed ta be dead. Bet I could get a hefty sum frawum that fathuurr ov yours if I showed up with his boy”.
Before he could make a move down the incline Sev was dropping in from above. The massive raptrix landed next to Asa and bared her fangs at the mounted duo. With her wings unfurled, fur on end and ears pinned back she looked every bit the natural predator she’d been born to be. The janarim didn’t take kindly to the growling and let out a roar of its own.
Sev dropped just enough for Asa to pull himself up and before he’d even settled himself she was taking off.
“After them!”
Think think think…. Asa looked at the figures chasing them from below and a fresh wave of panic consumed him. If they followed them to camp then Ygraine would be drawn into the fight….
Asa didn’t know many offensive spells but he knew a few. The young iceling held his hand out towards them, fingers fully extended and murmured a spell under his breath before an arch of lightning shot out of his palm and cracked through the sky.
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2021 1:04 pm
As time passed, Ygraine felt that Asa grew more and more confident as he proved himself competent and useful. He was still sickly, of course, but Ygraine liked to imagine that he coughed a bit less as they went further south... or maybe it was just that he seemed happier, and that was lending him a bit more energy day to day. The new romance they'd fallen into only seemed to improve his mood further - though he still fancied himself a gentleman, and anything beyond hand holding or sweet kisses apparently pushed him just a bit too far.
Once, Ygraine had made sure Asa stayed close to her, for his safety and protection, but once Sev had been given over to them for their safety, Asa had gained much more freedom. Ygraine was working at the camp, with the group of people they'd been traveling with (for safety, of course) - when a crack of lightning split through the serene landscape. Not from the sky, however, but - off in the distance...
The others at the caravan murmured uncomfortably, some making superstitious hand signs over their chests to fend off magic, but Ygraine rose to her feet, mind already focused on Asa - because it had come from the direction he'd gone this morning--
Morrigan, her own raptrix, was at her side, and Ygraine quickly mounted up, cursing the fact that she fought with her fists, and no longer had the bow from her childhood. They set off - with Morrigan following the scent of her fellow raptrix, nostrils flaring as she ran.
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2021 5:57 pm
The lightning strike had only bought them so much time. Even at a distance Asa could see Markyl's janarim bounding through the storm cloud and with the pace Sev was keeping it would catch up in no time. As wonderful a companion as she was Sev wasn't built for speed and his extra weight wasn't helping. She was trying her best, he couldn't fault her for that, but against a trained hunter...
And then came the arrows. From their altitude Asa couldn't tell which of his pursuers had managed to land a hit, but then when the arrow sank into Sev's wing the raptrix let out a pained howl. With little choice the great beast descended and nothing Asa did could stop the two of them from crashing into the ground. As soon as the raptrix made contact with the ground he was thrown from her back, landing in a heap some odd feet away. When Asa looked up it felt as if his heart were beating in his ears and the figures chasing them kept creeping closer and closer...
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2021 6:05 pm
[2/10] It took time - more time than Ygraine wanted to spare, but with Morrigan's familiarity with her pack mate's scent they were quickly able to hone in on where Asa and Sev were at. Unfortunately, just as Ygraine was able to pick out their shapes through the hilly landscape of Sauti, she saw - and heard - them go down. The massive raptrix fell - Asa's tiny frame flung from her back, and Ygraine all but felt her heart stop.
Constrained by the creature under her, Ygraine launched off Morrigan's back - using her height to her full advantage to belt across the landscape, deftly jumping and climbing over rocks and other debris - her gauntlets tugged onto her fists, from where they normally stayed at her belt.
Only just barely in time, and without properly taking in the Janarim bearing down on Asa, Ygraine came to a stop above Asa's fallen body, pretty face twisted into a snarl.
Morrigan caught up only paces later, wings tucked in close to her body, ear flicking towards Sev's pained whines.
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2021 6:20 pm
Three mounted riders fanned out around the downed pair, each with beasts that looked as ready to rend flesh as their masters. As the last rode into position he raised a spear, clearly ready to attack Ygraine when Markyl held up a hand. The addition of backup wasn't enough to take the smirk from his features, but it was enough to give the man pause.
"Not much of a lord if a mutt has to come to your aid."
For Asa timed seemed to move through a dreamlike hellscape. One moment things were unbearably slow and then all at once Ygraine was above him, stance broadened to block him. You shouldn't have come! They'll kill you! As utterly terrified as Asa was he was more worried about what the barbarians would do to her if they got their hands on her....
"Ygraine is no mutt!" Asa snarled and slammed his bare palms on the ground. "And I am no lord!" In an instant a shockwave barreled through the ground at Asa's touch. It ran like lightning towards the janarim, creating large jagged fissures in the grounds that might have swallowed the beasts hole if he'd had more strength. As it was they were only just big enough to pull them down, catching some of the beasts' legs and throwing at least one rider off his mount.
That rider being Markyl.
Once the iceling was able to physically recover he snapped, "Attack!"
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2021 6:32 pm
[3/10] ... Yeaah, okay, this... wasn't looking good. Ygraine was a proud woman - it was one of her biggest flaws, but even she was realistic about her own limitations. Her alkidike bloodline had given her a large enough size, but- it didn't afford her invulnerability by any means, and she wasn't as confident that she could dodge attacks from so many sharp ... things.
Be them spears, arrows, or janarim teeth. Escape seemed like the best option - but already, she knew there was absolutely no way Asa would agree to run.
Still, Ygraine heard herself scoff, tossing a curl of white out of her eyes as she leveled a look at the merc who appeared to be in charge. "Like I haven't heard that--" She started -
But Asa cut her off, his voice unrecognizable with the anger that tremored in it. And before she could marvel at the emotion in those snarled words, he had lashed out - with magic that made the hairs on her arms stand on end.
She wasted no time taking advantage of it. "Morrigan, to Asa!" She called, lunging forward to grab at the spear of the nearest attacker. Asa wouldn't run, but maybe he'd be willing to use her as a mount the way he would have Sev, if-- if Sev was-- gods, she hoped she was alright, Sol would kill her if Sev got hurt--
Heart in her throat, she jumped back as the janarim he was still barely riding lashed out at her with a swipe of its claws, then grappled against - the spear stinging a slash over her shoulder, one that thankfully was quite shallow.
Ygraine brought her gauntlet down, hard, on the shaft of the spear - snapping it in half, barely managing to grab the bladed end - which she immediately thrust into the man's legs. Then she danced backwards, gauntlets raised defensively. "Oh yeah, I'm gonna enjoy bathing in your earthling blood! Come on, I'm ready~!" She boomed, flashing the most wicked smile she could. Yep. She was playing the 'scary Alk' card.
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2021 6:44 pm
Using two large scale magical attacks back to back with such a weak frame was possibly Asa's biggest mistake of the day. Try as he may the iceling couldn't raise from his crouched position. His arms shook underneath him and his battered body was doing it's best to get air into his bruised lungs. Still, he couldn't find it in him to regret doing it. It was one thing to run out of fear, but to hear such things about Miss Ygraine...He'd heard enough of that in Zena and he wouldn't hear it now!
So, despite the overall wrecked state of his body, Asa's eyes shone with absolute hatred.
And just like that Ygraine was stepping into action. He could only sit back and marvel at her strength while his own slipped away. She was...absolutely marvelous to behold. It was only the presence of Morrigan that snapped him from his thoughts and with some difficult Asa pulled himself up onto the raptrix's back. But Sev...Where was Sev?! He turned his eyes, hoping to catch sight of the beast, when the fighting drew his attention. Fine or not, they aren't here for her. If you go to her you'll just draw their fire.
And once again, he was just staring at Ygraine. She looked absolutely unhinged out there and he didn't think she'd ever looked more attracti-
One of the men leapt from his janarim and attempted to charge her with two swords raised high over his head.
....Only to have Sev jump on him from behind.
The raptrix dug her claws into his back and bit the earthlings shoulder hard enough that Asa, even given his distance, could hear the bone snap. One wing was tucked at her side while the other hung at an odd angle, but that didn't seem to deter the raptrix at all.
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2021 7:01 pm
[4/10] " What a crazy b--" The first soldier yelled, clutching at his bleeding thigh - stifling a yell as he pulled the blade free. But his eyes widened in horror when he saw the treatment his friend received at the behest of the bird... dog-- thing. Ygraine, meanwhile, released the briefest of relieved sighs, seeing that Sev was okay - injured, but-- but she was fighting back! " That a' girl." She praised. That was two earthlings down, one to go-- Oh sh-- Ygraine yelped, stumbling backwards sharply as a janarim's tail, mace like, slammed into her. Thankfully the jagged scales, though blunt and painful enough to bruise, didn't cut or rend her like she might've expected from looking at the massive things. As she moved backwards though - she was relieved to note that the beasts didn't seem intent on chasing her, and instead stood post by their riders. Which- meant there was only one earthling left to focus on. " What's it going to be, hmm?" She advanced closer, keeping a careful eye on the leader's janarim - which had been spooked by Asa's magic and was pacing, snarling and dangerous looking, from yards away, beyond the broken, torn ground. " Is all this worth what I'm going to do with your skull when I'm done with you boys?"
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu May 06, 2021 7:11 pm
"Come on, girl," Asa tapped his heels against Morrigan's flank and urged the raptrix forward. Now that two had been taken out - one by Ygraine, the other by Sev - all that left was Markyl and he wasn't going down easy. Seeing his janarim strike out like that had nearly stopped Asa's heart, but he had to forcibly remind himself that Ygraine was made of much stronger stuff than he was.
He pulled Morrigan to a stop a few steps behind Ygraine. As Markyl looked up Asa leveled his glare at the older man, lightning snapping up his fingers like keldari.
"Fine, we'll go." Markyl snarled. The older iceling pulled himself up slowly, never once taking his eyes off Ygraine. "But make no mistake about it - we won't be the last. Your dogs can't protect you forever, Asa." He brought his fingers up to his lips and whistled twice, summoning the janarim closer. The creature only came close for the sole purpose of obtaining it's rider before turning tail and running. The other riders mounted as best they could - in the case of one when Sev decided to get off him - and followed Markyl into the wilderness.
Asa held his posture for as long as he could, but they weren't far away at all when the iceling visibly deflated.
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Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 12:23 am
5/10
Ygraine bristled at the threat, but turned her head to Asa, searching out a cue for what he wanted her to do. He knew these sorts of people better than she did - would killing them put an end to their worries, or make things worse?
She expecting him to be panting for breath, to look nervous. But instead she found - well, someone who looked every bit the lord he swore he wasn't. He looked powerful, astride Morrigan - dirty from where he'd fallen, a bit scraped and scuffed, but impossibly handsome and vibrantly alive, his fingers crackling with a power she had never quite understood.
It was Asa who'd torn the earth out from under the Janarim. As favorably as the fight had gone, it should have by all rights gone so much worse. Only Asa's magic had kept the janarim out of the fight, and - with that edge they'd been able to pull it off.
So she watched the men run, slowly dropping her raised arms, smiling brightly at Asa for a long moment, admiring him. Then he sagged a bit in relief, and she sighed out sympathetically, and a bit weakly.
Only then did she turn and hurry to Sev, cooing as the wounded creature finally lowered herself to the ground, injured wing still held out. There was blood on Sev's maw, that she distractedly licked at, and her sweet tail wagged tiredly as Ygraine drew closer.
"Sev you were fantastic! What a fierce beastie you are!" Ygraine cooed, scratching and rubbing at the raptrix' fluffy chest and face, peering at her wing with a concerned look.
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 6:46 am
Despite the magic receding into his core Asa's adrenaline was still quite high. He could feel it in the thrumming of his blood and the unfamiliar sensation caused a shiver to run up his spine. No doubt in a few hours the whole experience would leave the inexperienced magus terribly exhausted, but for now he felt....confident? He'd never been on the winning side of a fight before and despite their injuries Asa was proud.
More so when Ygraine turned to smile at him. Initially he was caught off guard; the brightness of the sun on her flushed skin was enough to cause his features to slack. How could....How was it possible for a woman so powerful to be so gentle? To be so determined in battle and have a smile that could melt snow?
"Down, Morrigan." He murmured, giving the raptrix an affectionate pat. She helped to lower him to the ground so that once Asa's legs had swung over her side it wasn't such a jarring motion for him to stand. Much as he'd done so many times before, Asa Sargsyan straightened his spine in the wake of exhaustion and strode across the land with a clip to his heel. It didn't take him long to reach Sev's side, but instead of adorning the brave beastie in all the affection she deserved he instead moved to her wing. When Asa initially touched it the raptrix jerked on reflex, letting out a surprised whine, and he gave her a sympathetic look. "You poor thing. I know it hurts, but I can't help if you won't let me."
Slowly, Asa picked through her feathers to find the culprit. In the main joint of the wing an arrow had buried itself into the flesh. A few others were scattered among the feathers, but since they hadn't latched they were little more than a nuisance. This one, however... "She won't be flying for a while, but the wound doesn't look horrible. I'll just need something to bandage it with once we get the arrow out." When he turned to look at Ygraine something he hadn't seen before caught his eye. "You're hurt."
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Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 9:14 am
[6/10] This was Asa's field of expertise, so Ygraine stayed silent as he looked over Sev's wing, holding her breath hopefully. When he gave his diagnosis, after tugging free arrows that had harmlessly tangled among her feathers, Ygraine sighed out and smiled. "That's a relief - there should be some at the camp." Even if she decided to rend her dress into bandages, she feared the cloth wouldn't be quite enough. It didn't seem to be bleeding too horribly, so- hopefully Sev could be coaxed into moving?
Asa turned towards her, and on instinct Ygraine smiled again, taking a good look at his handsome features, even if he was a bit dirty and sweaty from the fight. His hair was out of place, his cheeks purple from exertion-- and--
Oh? Was she? Ygraine blinked, patting at her stomach first, where the janarim's tail had hit her - but other than being a little tender, it seemed fine. Then she looked down at her shoulder - and it was actually the blood that had tinged her hair pink that alerted her to where it was. The adrenaline was still high enough she barely felt the sting of it.
She touched it carefully with her gloved fingertips, then hummed. "It must've been when I was fighting the spearman - but I'm quite fine, dear Asa, not a worry!"
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 9:34 am
Was she - was she hurt somewhere else, too? Why else would she have touched her stomac- "Ah, the janarim's tail!" What if she was bruised? Or her ribs could have been broken? Calm yourself; if she were truly that injured she wouldn't be moving around.
Inching away from Sev, Asa crouched closer to the hybrid and carefully touched her shoulder, just above the wound itself. While he was pleased to see it wasn't nearly as deep as he'd feared it might scar if not properly treated and he wouldn't stand for that. Instead, Asa took a deep breath and hovered his hand over the wound. A soft, murmur escaped his lips as he worked through the spell and soon enough the wound had stitched itself together. It was really a shame he couldn't do the same for Sev, but that would come with time.
Once finished, Asa took advantage of the closeness he'd been afforded to gently take Ygraine's chin between his delicate fingers. "I will always worry about you, Miss Ygraine." Leaning forward he placed a chaste kiss on her forehead and leaned back with a smile. "Until the moment I no longer draw breath I will worry over everything you do. I'm sorry if that inconveniences you."
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Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 9:42 am
[7/10] There was nothing to be concerned over, but Ygraine still held her breath as Asa inspected her shoulder, trying to dismiss the butterflies fluttering in her belly. The wash of magic was familiar, thanks to Sol's own healing - but she fancied that Asa's magic was different somehow. Warmer, like it was his fingers stitching her up painlessly.
This was the man who still blushed and squeaked out apologies if she got too close to him sometimes, but - that had all fallen away under this wash of confidence he seemed to have. Even when he grasped her by the chin, it was gentle - but firm, and that was enough to send her pulse racing.
There was something incredibly attractive about Asa stepping into himself, knowing his feelings and abilities and--
Oh my. "Never." She blurted out, her cheeks a bright pink. This was ridiculous, to be so distracted when they'd only just had a fight - but-- she still reached for him, brushing his cheek with the back of her knuckles as she leaned down to eye level and kissed him.
Very, very soundly. Not the pecks and soft ones they'd exchanged over the past few weeks, but something more desperate - only fueled by the adrenaline of their fight.
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri May 07, 2021 9:56 am
This was - he'd never - All at once Asa's instincts pushed him into standing up on his tiptoes, one hand braced against her bicep to get as close to Ygraine as possible. In that moment he couldn't get enough of her. It didn't matter that she was bloody, dirty, that his own bruises made the awkward position harder to maintain; it was as if she were the last drops of water in a desert and the sweetest of flowers all wrapped into one.
It was only when he physically couldn't breathe that Asa broke away. His breathing came in short pants, much like it had during the fight, but this....this was so much more. A brief noise at his side drew his attention for the smallest of moments towards Sev, who had walked some bit away to curl up next to Morrigan. They were safe - they were all safe and -
Overwhelmed by it all, Asa threw caution to the wind and kissed Ygraine once again. This time, however, he threw his arms around her neck, and leaned up as far as he could, pressing his own chest against hers.
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