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[ Littlestep | Crafter | Safe Haven's Walls ]
Littlestep was putting on a full throttle, his leg muscles screaming in protest as he charged across ashen earth. He could still hear the monster behind him shrieking in pain as it backed away from the flames he had started. Littlestep wasn't sure if it would still try to follow him, but he didn't want to stick around to find out.
The small tom launched himself upwards, his poor hind leg shooting pain through his nerves as he scrabbled his way onto stone at the base of Safe Haven's southern wall. His chest was heaving and Littlestep's throat burned, but he didn't stop. He wouldn't stop until he found someone.
His claws extended, he hauled himself up the walls. The ashen's screams echoed behind him. It was so loud.
When he finally reached the top, Littlestep wasted no time making his way downwards, more than once almost slipping and tumbling the rest of the way. His breath came in pants, and when he reached the bottom, he once again propelled himself off on long legs. Taking a deep breath with much difficulty, he called out. "H-Hopflight! L-Lynxtaaaail!" his normally soft voice was ragged and loud, desperate for someone to hear him. He was terrified. What if someone was out on patrol? What if they investigated the ashen's screams?
What if someone didn't run away from it fast enough?
{{ Tigerpaw | Vanguard Apprentice | Safe Haven }}
Tigerpaw, who had been laying about in the camp, stood bolt upright at the sound of a Tom yowling. She knew that voice, it was Littlestep or someone who sounded like him. Curiosity got the better of the young Vanguard and she followed the yowls which seemed to head for the Monarchs roost.
{ Hopflight | Monarch | Twilight Rim }
Hopflight had been investigating a curious burrow that he'd found under the roots of one Ashen tree. It had smelled quite interesting--some sort of prey ashen, but not one that he had seen before. But getting a glimpse of it was easier said than done. He was up to his shoulders in dirt, having dug down into it trying to investigate. He probably should have given it up awhile ago, but...
Wait. What was that?
The monarch turned and swept his tongue over his muzzle as he heard Littlestep's screams. "Damsel!?" he shouted back, leaping to his paws. No... it couldn't be... had Littlestep gotten attacked by an Ashen?
The fur stood up on the back of his neck, and his eyes widened in alarm. He took off running, bolting through the trees towards the screeches that he could hear closer to Safe Haven's walls. "Yo damsel! Hang on, I'm coming back to your rescue!"
I'd better make it in time. I'd better make it in time oh stars please...
It was exactly what he had said to himself during Ashenpaw's assessment. Telling himself that he wasn't too late... that he could still... save... someone...
A memory flashed before him. A she-cat, greviously injured, begging for mercy. Dying. His powers weren't able to heal her. Another whispering in his ear, that she would only find mercy in death. Trying to kill her, to end her pain. He couldn't do it. The other had called him weak, and he had looked away. She had done what he could not. Ended the she-cat's pain. Left a kit orphaned.
Because I didn't get there FAST enough...
[ Littlestep | Crafter | Safe Haven's Walls ]
Littlestep dashed across the grass, his paws a blur. His large ears were pinned to the back of his head, and his eyes wide. "Hoooopfliiiiiiight!" he called. He saw a flash of Hopflight's busy pelt and streaked towards him. He put the brakes on too slow, and the small tom barreled straight into the monarch. Pain shot through his sore leg, but he spluttered, looking up at Hop with wide terrified eyes.
"G-g-giant ashen!" he wailed, breathless. "L-loud! Sc-cary!" he flung a look over his shoulder, fur bristling. "I st-topped it w-with f-fire! B-But it's b-b-big!" his chest heaved as hyperventillated, almost unable to breathe. "It sc-creamed! And It w-was on th-the oth-ther side!" He took in another breath, legs shaking.
{{Tigerpaw | Vanguard Apprentice | Safe Haven }}
Tigerpaw had taken to racing after Littlestep and didn't see him slowing until he barreled into Hopflight. She skidded to a halt though her nose lightly brushed against Littlestep's back fur. She leapt backwards. Wondering if she should even get herself involved with this.
{ Hopflight | Monarch | Safe Haven's Walls }
"Stars..." Hopflight felt his breathing calm as he recognized that Littlestep was alive and relatively uninjured. His face remained shocked for a few moments before he laughed, drew Littlestep to him, and gave him what could only be called a "noogie."
"Good job, damsel! Taking on that scary beastie with your fire. I'm so PROUD of you!" He tried to slow his hammering heart. He was good at masking his unease or uncertainty under his usual cockiness and irresponsible attitude. It was just habit at this point. "And look at this, it's my grandprentice! Looks like we've got a team to deal with Mr. Scary right here, don't we? Saves me the trouble of having to organize a patrol!"
[ Littlestep | Pissbaby | Safe Haven ]
Littlestep nearly screamed in surprise wen Tigerpaw touched him, jumping a little bit before looking down at her and sighing in relief. For a moment, he'd thought the creature had gotten into Safe Haven after him.
His large ears perked at Hopflight and he stared up at the monarch in disbelief. "It's h-huge!" he meowed, a bit louder than necessary. "I d-d-don't kn-know if j-just th-three of us is en-nough!" Littlestep was clearing forgetting that Hopflight was a strong cat, and he certainly didn't think that even with his projection abilities he would be able to do much. And Tigerpaw, as strong a young cat as she was, she an apprentice. He didn't want her to risk her life. "Are y-you s-sure!?" Littlestep shook violently, still trying to recover.
{{ Tigerpaw | Vanguard Apprentice | Safe Haven }}
Tigerpaw looked up at Hopflight as he noogied Littlestep. Once his gaze rounded on her. Her mismatched eyes gave a glitter of adventure. "I can come...?" She questioned. Wondering if she actually stood a chance of going out of the walls with Hopflight and Littlestep.
{ Hopflight | Monarch | Safe Haven's Walls }
"Oh shush," Hopflight said to the damsel, releasing him and hopping lightly back towards the Rim. "I bet I could take that nasty bugger all by myself! But everything's so much more fun when you bring FRIENDS with you, wouldn't you agree?" He nodded to Tigerpaw. Of course, one of the most promising apprentices that Safe Haven had would be a wonderful addition to the fight. He paused and twitched his ear, remembering himself for a moment.
"Don't take unnessecary risks. Littles, calm down and tell us exactly what sort of creature you saw. We'll find some way to deal with it, without Safe Haven being put in danger in any way. I'll engage it from the front, while Tiger takes it from the back or flanks. Littles, you'll provide long-range support. Everyone think they can handle that?"
It would be thrilling, to hunt a single, incredibly dangerous creature alongside a couple of friends. He had often hunted monsters with Lynxtail, before Safe Haven had been created. He missed it. They hadn't gone out together in a long time.
Aah, but Tiger and Littles would be good enough for now.
{{Tigerpaw | Vanguard Apprentice | Safe Haven }}
Tigerpaw blinked for a moment. She was actually going to be going out on a Ashen patrol with Littlestep and Hopflight she was going to engage something that was way bigger than a fowl. A bright determined smiled spread across her face. She had her position if attack was needed. Flank attack. She mulled over things she had learnt in her vanguard training and what she would be able to bring. She felt she would a least be a small asset to the small patrol group of three.
She nodded as Hopflight gave her, her order. She could almost feel her auma swimming about her as if just as ready as she was.
[ Littlestep | Crafter | Safe Haven ]
Littlestep swallowed, feeling unsure of this. He didn't think it was a good idea. This was going to be dangerous, no doubt. He paused to catch his breath, heart pounding.
"It w-was h-huge." he repeated, probably for the fifth time. "It w-was l-like a l-liz-zard, a-and it w-was t-tall, and h-had sh-sharp teeth, a-and it s-smelled r-really bad! It h-had a-algae g-growing on it, a-and a b-big t-tail, and c-claws..." his eyes grew wide. "It s-screamed l-like a d-demon." his voice dropped, his voice a hoarse whisper. "It w-was the w-worst th-thing I ev-ver heard. It c-came f-from the left, b-but when I r-ran r-right, it was in f-front of m-me!"
{ Hopflight | Monarch | Safe Haven's Walls }
Hopflight paused, considered this, and nodded slowly. "So it's a BIG bugger, is it? This should be... interesting. Ok, from what you've told me, it sounds like we might not be able to trust our senses when we're near this thing. At best, it can throw its voice. At worst, it can make us see exactly what we want to see and attack each other. Neither of those sound particularly enjoyable to deal with, so just in case, let's have a safeword that we say before we mention anything important. I think the word "potato" will suffice. Any objections?"
{{Tigerpaw | Vanguard Apprentice | Safe Haven}}
Tigerpaw nodded. "Safe word 'potato'" she said, the word was odd, she had no idea potato was. But it was at least easy enough to say.
She knew what the safe word was, she knew what position she held in the group and she knew she was up against an Ashen that could kill her in little more that a stare. This just made her mismatched eyes twinkled that little bit more. She would do her best. She would do all she can.
[ Littlestep | Crafter | Safe Haven ]
Littlestep wasn't sure if he was more scared by the fact that they were actually going to fight a monster that could kill them with little to no effort, or by the fact that Tigerpaw seemed eager to do this. Littlestep swallowed again and nodded. He was the only one who knew what the creature was and where he had last seen it. He had to go.
With a strangled noise of defeat, he stood on shaky paws. "Ok-kay... P-potato..." he murmured, tail hanging low. This wasn't good for his heart.
{ Hopflight | Monarch | Safe Haven }
"That's the spirit!" Hop said to both of them, standing straight and curling his half-length talk over his back. "We'll kill that beastie and bring back its scales that you can tinker with for moons. Sound good, damsel?"
Oh stars, he just realized... Tide was going to KILL him for taking her apprentice monster-hunting. Aah, whatever. It wasn't like she had any actual, legitimate authority over him. But she certainly could be scary when he messed with the delicate training she was doing with her apprentice...
"Lead the way," Hopflight told the Crafter once they were outside the walls again, gesturing with a paw to indicate that he should lead. "If we take the fight to the creature, we'll have an advantage. We don't want to be stuck with it chasing us."
[ Littlestep | Crafter | Twilight Rim ]
Littlestep supposed that using its remains sounded reasonable, but was still reluctant. He followed Hopflight and Tigerpaw until they were outside of the walls once more, and Littlestep was bristling and looking around. He could smell the lingering flames from his small fire and located the bush he'd lit not too far away.
He glanced at the monarch and apprentice to make sure they were paying attention, before taking the lead. He parted his jaws to taste the air for the ashen's scent, coughing at the stench of fire mixed with the foul smell of burning algae and skin. Charred leaves sat were the bush once stood and Littlestep found a crevice of pushed-around ash in the ground. It led off somewhere into the woods. "Th-that w-way." he mewed in a hoarse voice.
{{Tigerpaw | Vanguard Apprentice | Twilight Rim}}
Tigerpaw blinked. They were off she followed closely beside Hopflight. She was actually going. She was actually going further into the Ashen land than she had gone before. But she also knew it was a reason for this to be done. This wasn't strictly a training session. This was what real patrols did, and at this moment in time she was part of a real patrol. She knew this was no time for games. She was given a job to do.
Opening her mouth to sniff the air, just as Littlestep did, she wrinkled her nose at the stench. It seemed to lead to a dead tree woods. She would have to think carefully on this. She wouldn have to make rational decisions. She moved with Littlestep and Hopflight on the direction of the woods.
{ Hopflight | Monarch | Twilight Rim }
"Steady," he told them, and then paused. "Potato." Wow, this was difficult. Trying to fight a creature that clearly had the power th befuddle the senses. They knew next to nothing about it, besides what Littlestep had already told them. Now that he thought about it, it probably would have been a good idea to learn more about this beast before trying to seek it out.
On the other hand, having a mysterious monster in Twilight Rim, where even cats with little battle experience walked, was horrible. They needed to deal with it as soon as possible, by either chasing it off (if it was too powerful) or killing it (if they could).
The scent of burning swamp reached his nose, a peculiar aroma which made him wrinkle his muzzle, trying not to sneeze. Holy StarClan, what was that!? It smelled.... well, it didn't actually smell too different from the scent of dog he had sometimes picked up when he had ventured too close to the Twolegplace. Even though he rationally knew that he had powers now and could totally take a dog, his tail bristled in unease. The dog has powers now, too.
{{Tigerpaw | Vanguard Apprentice | Twilight Rim}}
Tigerpaw continued to smell the air. Her nose now burning. "Wait it moved. The scent moved." She piped up. Turning around. "It's moving."
[ Littlestep | Crafter | Twilight Rim ]
Littlestep grew tense as he crept further into the woods, fur standing when Hopflight murmured the safe word. Was it near? He could see the monarch's obvious disgust when the smell washed over the small group and Littlestep gagged on the stench. His ears swivelled towards Tigerpaw, and the crafter froze. It was moving? Where was it? Littlestep stood in place, shaking with anticipation. He jumped at a crack of a twig somewhere nearby and moved is attention towards it.
{{Tigerpaw | Vanguard Apprentice | Twilight Rim }}
Tigerpaw froze at the crack of the twig. The scent was infront of her and the sound came from behind. Her instincts were confused. Follow the scent or follow the sound. She looked to Hopflight for guidance.
{ Hopflight | Monarch | Twilight Rim }
All was peaceful, but the tension was building. Even Hopflight, with all of his confidence, could feel it. He was creeping ever-closer, towards where he thought the scent was strongest (it was always more difficult to track with scent, if you weren't directly on the scent trail. It wasn't like looking with your eyes... and damn, this creature really did seem to blend into these Ashen trees, didn't it?) He was pretty sure it was in front of them, but if he got it wrong, he was dead--
The scream from behind made him jump, just on instinct. Any moment's hesitation might mean death, and quite frankly, faced with that sound, Hopflight wasn't about to make any sort of rational thought. His instincts only told him not to freeze, to MOVE, because motion meant life when something was hunting you, and stillness meant that if it really was right behind you, you'd be dead. He leapt forward, his fur standing on end...
And found himself nose-to-nose with the most horrifying creature he'd ever seen.
All Ashen were terrifying in some way. Even the Nytemares, who looked more weird than scary, were frightful simply because he knew what they could do to him when they tagged him with their stinger. He'd faced Juggernauts and Nightshares... and hellions were horrifying in every way. But this creature was something different. It was ingrained in every cat to fear huge, feral dogs, and for good reason. This was a dog crossed with an alligator which holy fuck, Hopflight had seen one ONCE back in TidalClan, and it had devoured a larger creature whole...
"POTATO!" he screamed at it. Nope. If it was a spell, it wasn't one that could be broken by screaming potato at it. The jaws opened wide, and Hopflight groaned. "Damn Ashen..."
He rolled out of the way just in time. The jaws, instead of closing around his head, bit into his foreleg. It would have meant death in a second if those teeth had met his throat.
Hopflight screamed in pain as he felt the teeth dig deep enough to hit bone. He battered at the thing's head with his remaining paws, but he couldn't get a darned swipe through its scales. He tried to focus long enough to gather power for a strength-infused blow, something strong enough to get it to let go, oh stars...
{{Tigerpaw | Vanguard Apprentice | Twilight Rim}}
Upon hearing Hopflight screech in pain, Tigerpaw suddenly turned and too came face to face with the beast. Her fur bristled and stood on end. She batted it's nose but nothing happened. That was then she closed her eyes tightly feeling her auma rising and spilling from her. That was when she opened her eyes and hissed. Though it wasn't a hiss that met her ears.
It was a loud pulsating screach. Did that come from her?
She looked up at the beast. What was that flying around its head. Was that what was making the screeching?
[ Littlestep | Crafter | Twilight Rim ]
Littlestep's fur stood along his spine when he heard the scream. He turned immediately only to see Hopflight face to face with the monster, staring into its blood-red eyes. The creature had a low alligator-like growl rumbling in its chest, and when Hopflight screamed their safe-word the monster only seemed to blink in response.
Littlestep cried out in alarm as its jaws parted, a reptilian hiss spilling from its throat when it lunged forward and clamped onto Hopflight's foreleg. Bile rose in Littlestep's throat. It had barely missed the monarch's throat.
His ears stood straight in alarm as another creature appeared, smaller this time and zipping around the beast's head.
There wasn't time to think about the small fry, Littlestep figured. The main problem was the ginormous pissed off lizard that could rip off Hopflight's leg if it wanted to! Littlestep whined, shuffling his paws in panic as he looked around for something to use against it. He couldn't use pyrokinesis again; it would probably only hurt Hopflight as well. Gritting his teeth, Littlestep activated one of his newer abilities, Geokinesis. Lifting a paw, Littlestep slammed it on the ground as hard as he could. Normally, the strike wouldn't have been very strong, but with the power a wave of energy pulsed through his foreleg and into the earth. The ground beneath the ashen shifted, causing the creature to stumble and loosen its grip on the tom's leg.
{{Tigerpaw | Vanguard Apprentice | Safe Haven}}
Tigerpaw paws tremored as she glanced round she saw Littlestep using his auma and pounding the ground with her forepaw. She was amazed at the sudden power Littlestep had. Hopflight was still being held by the beast.
As the creature stumbled. Tigerpaw saw her chance. She valiantly leapt forward onto the beasts head using her own auma she activated her first tier weapon and immediately attacked the beasts glowing red eyes. The plan Hopflight had previously made, was ditched. All Tigerpaw could think of was getting her Monarch free.
At the same time there a deafening pulsating screech emitting from the small winged creature.
With Tigerpaw blinding the beast and the small creature sending it's pulsating screeches the lizard like beast was clearly disorientated. And crashed to the ground, releasing Hopflight from its jaws.
A cloud engulfed Tigerpaw, the little creature and the beast.
{ Hopflight | Monarch | Twilight Rim }
After moments that seemed to stretch into an eternity of pain and panic, he was released.
It had, of course, been a joint effort between his two companions, and even as his mind had been screaming for him to do several things at once, ranging from ripping his own leg off to get free and staying completely still so no more damage was done. Luckily, the shock had kept him from the latter--not that the banshee hadn't tried. Between the efforts of Littles breaking the enemy's stance and Tiger's own blows, the banshee had roared (more in anger than in pain).
He looked up, blearily, his vision sort of hazed over from the shock, to see what it was that had driven the banshee to its irritation. It was something small, something that zipped around the banshee's head and defended the cats of Safe Haven. It was...
Good girl, Tigerpaw, Hopflight thought as he limped backwards, almost laughing in his pride. You little minx! You've summoned a familiar! He had felt the auma surging and pouring from Tigerpaw's body, manifesting in this form. It was rare for a cat to develop new powers on the spot. Usually it required time and meditation, usually on the Eye of Heaven. But if this didn't cound as a desperate scenario, Hopflight wasn't sure what was.
The pain. It burned white-hot through him. His foreleg ached all the way up to the shoulder--something had clearly been injured by the banshee's motions, trying to rip his leg from his body. His leg was bleeding too, the flesh ripped open and bleeding. He limped backwards, ears flat against his head, dazed from the ferocity of the agony. His paw was tucked close to his body, as though pulling it in would shield him from what he felt.
Oh... stars...
And now the banshee had fallen, and Tiger and her new familiar were in that cloud of dust with it. It didn't bode well--the banshee was barely injured, despite their efforts, and he could already see it getting up, its powerful tail thrashing through the air.
DAMN it!
Now he was here, injured and relatively useless. With a Crafter and an apprentice.
His mind automatically flung wide, back towards Safe Haven. In his haze, his concentration was lacking, and he was barely even aware of what he was doing, but for the fact that he could feel his auma being drained by the effort.
He couldn't find them. Where were they? The two cats that he absolutely trusted with his life... the two who could come to his aid....
He felt one. Tidefrost. He felt his plea connect with her, his pain and fear resounding through her own mind in his voice.
< Help us! >
Lynxtail... he couldn't find her. There was no time--he couldn't spare the effort to concentrate.
"Tigerpaw, get out of there!" he roared, because the beast was on its feet again, both red eyes burning with anger. Though one of the two was a bit wounded, it still seemed able to see through it. He saw second eyelids flick over the eye, clearing away the blood--they had protected it from most injury.
A perfect killing machine.
A horrible, horrible decision on his part. He would make sure that if this got anyone killed, the one to die would be him.
Littlestep was putting on a full throttle, his leg muscles screaming in protest as he charged across ashen earth. He could still hear the monster behind him shrieking in pain as it backed away from the flames he had started. Littlestep wasn't sure if it would still try to follow him, but he didn't want to stick around to find out.
The small tom launched himself upwards, his poor hind leg shooting pain through his nerves as he scrabbled his way onto stone at the base of Safe Haven's southern wall. His chest was heaving and Littlestep's throat burned, but he didn't stop. He wouldn't stop until he found someone.
His claws extended, he hauled himself up the walls. The ashen's screams echoed behind him. It was so loud.
When he finally reached the top, Littlestep wasted no time making his way downwards, more than once almost slipping and tumbling the rest of the way. His breath came in pants, and when he reached the bottom, he once again propelled himself off on long legs. Taking a deep breath with much difficulty, he called out. "H-Hopflight! L-Lynxtaaaail!" his normally soft voice was ragged and loud, desperate for someone to hear him. He was terrified. What if someone was out on patrol? What if they investigated the ashen's screams?
What if someone didn't run away from it fast enough?
{{ Tigerpaw | Vanguard Apprentice | Safe Haven }}
Tigerpaw, who had been laying about in the camp, stood bolt upright at the sound of a Tom yowling. She knew that voice, it was Littlestep or someone who sounded like him. Curiosity got the better of the young Vanguard and she followed the yowls which seemed to head for the Monarchs roost.
{ Hopflight | Monarch | Twilight Rim }
Hopflight had been investigating a curious burrow that he'd found under the roots of one Ashen tree. It had smelled quite interesting--some sort of prey ashen, but not one that he had seen before. But getting a glimpse of it was easier said than done. He was up to his shoulders in dirt, having dug down into it trying to investigate. He probably should have given it up awhile ago, but...
Wait. What was that?
The monarch turned and swept his tongue over his muzzle as he heard Littlestep's screams. "Damsel!?" he shouted back, leaping to his paws. No... it couldn't be... had Littlestep gotten attacked by an Ashen?
The fur stood up on the back of his neck, and his eyes widened in alarm. He took off running, bolting through the trees towards the screeches that he could hear closer to Safe Haven's walls. "Yo damsel! Hang on, I'm coming back to your rescue!"
I'd better make it in time. I'd better make it in time oh stars please...
It was exactly what he had said to himself during Ashenpaw's assessment. Telling himself that he wasn't too late... that he could still... save... someone...
A memory flashed before him. A she-cat, greviously injured, begging for mercy. Dying. His powers weren't able to heal her. Another whispering in his ear, that she would only find mercy in death. Trying to kill her, to end her pain. He couldn't do it. The other had called him weak, and he had looked away. She had done what he could not. Ended the she-cat's pain. Left a kit orphaned.
Because I didn't get there FAST enough...
[ Littlestep | Crafter | Safe Haven's Walls ]
Littlestep dashed across the grass, his paws a blur. His large ears were pinned to the back of his head, and his eyes wide. "Hoooopfliiiiiiight!" he called. He saw a flash of Hopflight's busy pelt and streaked towards him. He put the brakes on too slow, and the small tom barreled straight into the monarch. Pain shot through his sore leg, but he spluttered, looking up at Hop with wide terrified eyes.
"G-g-giant ashen!" he wailed, breathless. "L-loud! Sc-cary!" he flung a look over his shoulder, fur bristling. "I st-topped it w-with f-fire! B-But it's b-b-big!" his chest heaved as hyperventillated, almost unable to breathe. "It sc-creamed! And It w-was on th-the oth-ther side!" He took in another breath, legs shaking.
{{Tigerpaw | Vanguard Apprentice | Safe Haven }}
Tigerpaw had taken to racing after Littlestep and didn't see him slowing until he barreled into Hopflight. She skidded to a halt though her nose lightly brushed against Littlestep's back fur. She leapt backwards. Wondering if she should even get herself involved with this.
{ Hopflight | Monarch | Safe Haven's Walls }
"Stars..." Hopflight felt his breathing calm as he recognized that Littlestep was alive and relatively uninjured. His face remained shocked for a few moments before he laughed, drew Littlestep to him, and gave him what could only be called a "noogie."
"Good job, damsel! Taking on that scary beastie with your fire. I'm so PROUD of you!" He tried to slow his hammering heart. He was good at masking his unease or uncertainty under his usual cockiness and irresponsible attitude. It was just habit at this point. "And look at this, it's my grandprentice! Looks like we've got a team to deal with Mr. Scary right here, don't we? Saves me the trouble of having to organize a patrol!"
[ Littlestep | Pissbaby | Safe Haven ]
Littlestep nearly screamed in surprise wen Tigerpaw touched him, jumping a little bit before looking down at her and sighing in relief. For a moment, he'd thought the creature had gotten into Safe Haven after him.
His large ears perked at Hopflight and he stared up at the monarch in disbelief. "It's h-huge!" he meowed, a bit louder than necessary. "I d-d-don't kn-know if j-just th-three of us is en-nough!" Littlestep was clearing forgetting that Hopflight was a strong cat, and he certainly didn't think that even with his projection abilities he would be able to do much. And Tigerpaw, as strong a young cat as she was, she an apprentice. He didn't want her to risk her life. "Are y-you s-sure!?" Littlestep shook violently, still trying to recover.
{{ Tigerpaw | Vanguard Apprentice | Safe Haven }}
Tigerpaw looked up at Hopflight as he noogied Littlestep. Once his gaze rounded on her. Her mismatched eyes gave a glitter of adventure. "I can come...?" She questioned. Wondering if she actually stood a chance of going out of the walls with Hopflight and Littlestep.
{ Hopflight | Monarch | Safe Haven's Walls }
"Oh shush," Hopflight said to the damsel, releasing him and hopping lightly back towards the Rim. "I bet I could take that nasty bugger all by myself! But everything's so much more fun when you bring FRIENDS with you, wouldn't you agree?" He nodded to Tigerpaw. Of course, one of the most promising apprentices that Safe Haven had would be a wonderful addition to the fight. He paused and twitched his ear, remembering himself for a moment.
"Don't take unnessecary risks. Littles, calm down and tell us exactly what sort of creature you saw. We'll find some way to deal with it, without Safe Haven being put in danger in any way. I'll engage it from the front, while Tiger takes it from the back or flanks. Littles, you'll provide long-range support. Everyone think they can handle that?"
It would be thrilling, to hunt a single, incredibly dangerous creature alongside a couple of friends. He had often hunted monsters with Lynxtail, before Safe Haven had been created. He missed it. They hadn't gone out together in a long time.
Aah, but Tiger and Littles would be good enough for now.
{{Tigerpaw | Vanguard Apprentice | Safe Haven }}
Tigerpaw blinked for a moment. She was actually going to be going out on a Ashen patrol with Littlestep and Hopflight she was going to engage something that was way bigger than a fowl. A bright determined smiled spread across her face. She had her position if attack was needed. Flank attack. She mulled over things she had learnt in her vanguard training and what she would be able to bring. She felt she would a least be a small asset to the small patrol group of three.
She nodded as Hopflight gave her, her order. She could almost feel her auma swimming about her as if just as ready as she was.
[ Littlestep | Crafter | Safe Haven ]
Littlestep swallowed, feeling unsure of this. He didn't think it was a good idea. This was going to be dangerous, no doubt. He paused to catch his breath, heart pounding.
"It w-was h-huge." he repeated, probably for the fifth time. "It w-was l-like a l-liz-zard, a-and it w-was t-tall, and h-had sh-sharp teeth, a-and it s-smelled r-really bad! It h-had a-algae g-growing on it, a-and a b-big t-tail, and c-claws..." his eyes grew wide. "It s-screamed l-like a d-demon." his voice dropped, his voice a hoarse whisper. "It w-was the w-worst th-thing I ev-ver heard. It c-came f-from the left, b-but when I r-ran r-right, it was in f-front of m-me!"
{ Hopflight | Monarch | Safe Haven's Walls }
Hopflight paused, considered this, and nodded slowly. "So it's a BIG bugger, is it? This should be... interesting. Ok, from what you've told me, it sounds like we might not be able to trust our senses when we're near this thing. At best, it can throw its voice. At worst, it can make us see exactly what we want to see and attack each other. Neither of those sound particularly enjoyable to deal with, so just in case, let's have a safeword that we say before we mention anything important. I think the word "potato" will suffice. Any objections?"
{{Tigerpaw | Vanguard Apprentice | Safe Haven}}
Tigerpaw nodded. "Safe word 'potato'" she said, the word was odd, she had no idea potato was. But it was at least easy enough to say.
She knew what the safe word was, she knew what position she held in the group and she knew she was up against an Ashen that could kill her in little more that a stare. This just made her mismatched eyes twinkled that little bit more. She would do her best. She would do all she can.
[ Littlestep | Crafter | Safe Haven ]
Littlestep wasn't sure if he was more scared by the fact that they were actually going to fight a monster that could kill them with little to no effort, or by the fact that Tigerpaw seemed eager to do this. Littlestep swallowed again and nodded. He was the only one who knew what the creature was and where he had last seen it. He had to go.
With a strangled noise of defeat, he stood on shaky paws. "Ok-kay... P-potato..." he murmured, tail hanging low. This wasn't good for his heart.
{ Hopflight | Monarch | Safe Haven }
"That's the spirit!" Hop said to both of them, standing straight and curling his half-length talk over his back. "We'll kill that beastie and bring back its scales that you can tinker with for moons. Sound good, damsel?"
Oh stars, he just realized... Tide was going to KILL him for taking her apprentice monster-hunting. Aah, whatever. It wasn't like she had any actual, legitimate authority over him. But she certainly could be scary when he messed with the delicate training she was doing with her apprentice...
"Lead the way," Hopflight told the Crafter once they were outside the walls again, gesturing with a paw to indicate that he should lead. "If we take the fight to the creature, we'll have an advantage. We don't want to be stuck with it chasing us."
[ Littlestep | Crafter | Twilight Rim ]
Littlestep supposed that using its remains sounded reasonable, but was still reluctant. He followed Hopflight and Tigerpaw until they were outside of the walls once more, and Littlestep was bristling and looking around. He could smell the lingering flames from his small fire and located the bush he'd lit not too far away.
He glanced at the monarch and apprentice to make sure they were paying attention, before taking the lead. He parted his jaws to taste the air for the ashen's scent, coughing at the stench of fire mixed with the foul smell of burning algae and skin. Charred leaves sat were the bush once stood and Littlestep found a crevice of pushed-around ash in the ground. It led off somewhere into the woods. "Th-that w-way." he mewed in a hoarse voice.
{{Tigerpaw | Vanguard Apprentice | Twilight Rim}}
Tigerpaw blinked. They were off she followed closely beside Hopflight. She was actually going. She was actually going further into the Ashen land than she had gone before. But she also knew it was a reason for this to be done. This wasn't strictly a training session. This was what real patrols did, and at this moment in time she was part of a real patrol. She knew this was no time for games. She was given a job to do.
Opening her mouth to sniff the air, just as Littlestep did, she wrinkled her nose at the stench. It seemed to lead to a dead tree woods. She would have to think carefully on this. She wouldn have to make rational decisions. She moved with Littlestep and Hopflight on the direction of the woods.
{ Hopflight | Monarch | Twilight Rim }
"Steady," he told them, and then paused. "Potato." Wow, this was difficult. Trying to fight a creature that clearly had the power th befuddle the senses. They knew next to nothing about it, besides what Littlestep had already told them. Now that he thought about it, it probably would have been a good idea to learn more about this beast before trying to seek it out.
On the other hand, having a mysterious monster in Twilight Rim, where even cats with little battle experience walked, was horrible. They needed to deal with it as soon as possible, by either chasing it off (if it was too powerful) or killing it (if they could).
The scent of burning swamp reached his nose, a peculiar aroma which made him wrinkle his muzzle, trying not to sneeze. Holy StarClan, what was that!? It smelled.... well, it didn't actually smell too different from the scent of dog he had sometimes picked up when he had ventured too close to the Twolegplace. Even though he rationally knew that he had powers now and could totally take a dog, his tail bristled in unease. The dog has powers now, too.
{{Tigerpaw | Vanguard Apprentice | Twilight Rim}}
Tigerpaw continued to smell the air. Her nose now burning. "Wait it moved. The scent moved." She piped up. Turning around. "It's moving."
[ Littlestep | Crafter | Twilight Rim ]
Littlestep grew tense as he crept further into the woods, fur standing when Hopflight murmured the safe word. Was it near? He could see the monarch's obvious disgust when the smell washed over the small group and Littlestep gagged on the stench. His ears swivelled towards Tigerpaw, and the crafter froze. It was moving? Where was it? Littlestep stood in place, shaking with anticipation. He jumped at a crack of a twig somewhere nearby and moved is attention towards it.
{{Tigerpaw | Vanguard Apprentice | Twilight Rim }}
Tigerpaw froze at the crack of the twig. The scent was infront of her and the sound came from behind. Her instincts were confused. Follow the scent or follow the sound. She looked to Hopflight for guidance.
{ Hopflight | Monarch | Twilight Rim }
All was peaceful, but the tension was building. Even Hopflight, with all of his confidence, could feel it. He was creeping ever-closer, towards where he thought the scent was strongest (it was always more difficult to track with scent, if you weren't directly on the scent trail. It wasn't like looking with your eyes... and damn, this creature really did seem to blend into these Ashen trees, didn't it?) He was pretty sure it was in front of them, but if he got it wrong, he was dead--
The scream from behind made him jump, just on instinct. Any moment's hesitation might mean death, and quite frankly, faced with that sound, Hopflight wasn't about to make any sort of rational thought. His instincts only told him not to freeze, to MOVE, because motion meant life when something was hunting you, and stillness meant that if it really was right behind you, you'd be dead. He leapt forward, his fur standing on end...
And found himself nose-to-nose with the most horrifying creature he'd ever seen.
All Ashen were terrifying in some way. Even the Nytemares, who looked more weird than scary, were frightful simply because he knew what they could do to him when they tagged him with their stinger. He'd faced Juggernauts and Nightshares... and hellions were horrifying in every way. But this creature was something different. It was ingrained in every cat to fear huge, feral dogs, and for good reason. This was a dog crossed with an alligator which holy fuck, Hopflight had seen one ONCE back in TidalClan, and it had devoured a larger creature whole...
"POTATO!" he screamed at it. Nope. If it was a spell, it wasn't one that could be broken by screaming potato at it. The jaws opened wide, and Hopflight groaned. "Damn Ashen..."
He rolled out of the way just in time. The jaws, instead of closing around his head, bit into his foreleg. It would have meant death in a second if those teeth had met his throat.
Hopflight screamed in pain as he felt the teeth dig deep enough to hit bone. He battered at the thing's head with his remaining paws, but he couldn't get a darned swipe through its scales. He tried to focus long enough to gather power for a strength-infused blow, something strong enough to get it to let go, oh stars...
{{Tigerpaw | Vanguard Apprentice | Twilight Rim}}
Upon hearing Hopflight screech in pain, Tigerpaw suddenly turned and too came face to face with the beast. Her fur bristled and stood on end. She batted it's nose but nothing happened. That was then she closed her eyes tightly feeling her auma rising and spilling from her. That was when she opened her eyes and hissed. Though it wasn't a hiss that met her ears.
It was a loud pulsating screach. Did that come from her?
She looked up at the beast. What was that flying around its head. Was that what was making the screeching?
[ Littlestep | Crafter | Twilight Rim ]
Littlestep's fur stood along his spine when he heard the scream. He turned immediately only to see Hopflight face to face with the monster, staring into its blood-red eyes. The creature had a low alligator-like growl rumbling in its chest, and when Hopflight screamed their safe-word the monster only seemed to blink in response.
Littlestep cried out in alarm as its jaws parted, a reptilian hiss spilling from its throat when it lunged forward and clamped onto Hopflight's foreleg. Bile rose in Littlestep's throat. It had barely missed the monarch's throat.
His ears stood straight in alarm as another creature appeared, smaller this time and zipping around the beast's head.
There wasn't time to think about the small fry, Littlestep figured. The main problem was the ginormous pissed off lizard that could rip off Hopflight's leg if it wanted to! Littlestep whined, shuffling his paws in panic as he looked around for something to use against it. He couldn't use pyrokinesis again; it would probably only hurt Hopflight as well. Gritting his teeth, Littlestep activated one of his newer abilities, Geokinesis. Lifting a paw, Littlestep slammed it on the ground as hard as he could. Normally, the strike wouldn't have been very strong, but with the power a wave of energy pulsed through his foreleg and into the earth. The ground beneath the ashen shifted, causing the creature to stumble and loosen its grip on the tom's leg.
{{Tigerpaw | Vanguard Apprentice | Safe Haven}}
Tigerpaw paws tremored as she glanced round she saw Littlestep using his auma and pounding the ground with her forepaw. She was amazed at the sudden power Littlestep had. Hopflight was still being held by the beast.
As the creature stumbled. Tigerpaw saw her chance. She valiantly leapt forward onto the beasts head using her own auma she activated her first tier weapon and immediately attacked the beasts glowing red eyes. The plan Hopflight had previously made, was ditched. All Tigerpaw could think of was getting her Monarch free.
At the same time there a deafening pulsating screech emitting from the small winged creature.
With Tigerpaw blinding the beast and the small creature sending it's pulsating screeches the lizard like beast was clearly disorientated. And crashed to the ground, releasing Hopflight from its jaws.
A cloud engulfed Tigerpaw, the little creature and the beast.
{ Hopflight | Monarch | Twilight Rim }
After moments that seemed to stretch into an eternity of pain and panic, he was released.
It had, of course, been a joint effort between his two companions, and even as his mind had been screaming for him to do several things at once, ranging from ripping his own leg off to get free and staying completely still so no more damage was done. Luckily, the shock had kept him from the latter--not that the banshee hadn't tried. Between the efforts of Littles breaking the enemy's stance and Tiger's own blows, the banshee had roared (more in anger than in pain).
He looked up, blearily, his vision sort of hazed over from the shock, to see what it was that had driven the banshee to its irritation. It was something small, something that zipped around the banshee's head and defended the cats of Safe Haven. It was...
Good girl, Tigerpaw, Hopflight thought as he limped backwards, almost laughing in his pride. You little minx! You've summoned a familiar! He had felt the auma surging and pouring from Tigerpaw's body, manifesting in this form. It was rare for a cat to develop new powers on the spot. Usually it required time and meditation, usually on the Eye of Heaven. But if this didn't cound as a desperate scenario, Hopflight wasn't sure what was.
The pain. It burned white-hot through him. His foreleg ached all the way up to the shoulder--something had clearly been injured by the banshee's motions, trying to rip his leg from his body. His leg was bleeding too, the flesh ripped open and bleeding. He limped backwards, ears flat against his head, dazed from the ferocity of the agony. His paw was tucked close to his body, as though pulling it in would shield him from what he felt.
Oh... stars...
And now the banshee had fallen, and Tiger and her new familiar were in that cloud of dust with it. It didn't bode well--the banshee was barely injured, despite their efforts, and he could already see it getting up, its powerful tail thrashing through the air.
DAMN it!
Now he was here, injured and relatively useless. With a Crafter and an apprentice.
His mind automatically flung wide, back towards Safe Haven. In his haze, his concentration was lacking, and he was barely even aware of what he was doing, but for the fact that he could feel his auma being drained by the effort.
He couldn't find them. Where were they? The two cats that he absolutely trusted with his life... the two who could come to his aid....
He felt one. Tidefrost. He felt his plea connect with her, his pain and fear resounding through her own mind in his voice.
< Help us! >
Lynxtail... he couldn't find her. There was no time--he couldn't spare the effort to concentrate.
"Tigerpaw, get out of there!" he roared, because the beast was on its feet again, both red eyes burning with anger. Though one of the two was a bit wounded, it still seemed able to see through it. He saw second eyelids flick over the eye, clearing away the blood--they had protected it from most injury.
A perfect killing machine.
A horrible, horrible decision on his part. He would make sure that if this got anyone killed, the one to die would be him.
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Featured in Groups
Here's part one of the Banshee RP that Fluff, Wild, Bay and I were working on forever. It's super long so stay tuned for three more parts!
*Too tired to say anything else about it now aah*
Part one: Energy
Part two: Synergy
Part three: Victory
Total Word Count (of all parts): 16,732
+11 Favor to Hopflight
+11 Favor to Littlestep
+8 Favor to Tigerpaw
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Comments1
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Dang ;o; This is intense!