Many questions Ulric had about the events of this day. Most of them with regards to how easily the Elves seemed to just gloss over the, shall we call it, the friction of their initial meeting to arrive at where they now sat.
Drinking fine booze and grilling wieners. When the cloth-wrapped bundle of brats had unfurled, he heard again the ironclad voice of his dearest grandmother yelling "Raus aus meiner Küche!" as she prepared a Kraut und Schnitzel waving her spatula to run him and his sister out from her domain. The flavor of these was more oniony, and with a hot pepper note that was absent from the cuisine of his Oma, but excellent nevertheless. The memory made him briefly sad but in a good way. His sister had died in an avalanche not long after, and his grandmother a few years later of age. He'd missed them both terribly, and that moment was one of his fonder reminiscences.
Ulric was rolling with it, but some part of him struggled to get his head around the atmosphere of relaxed companionship. Joclyn had just had his damned face beaten in and, after a heartfelt apology, and assurance that he would "Honor the stranger upon the plain and welcome the traveler to one's fire forever hence." that left Ulric speechless, was now chatting as if nothing happened. Well, maybe he chewed more on one side of his jaw than the other but that was about it. What in the Mickey Mouse fuck?
Admittedly, the mead was helping to smooth things over more than a little. It was hard to hold ill will towards people who passed around the good stuff and handed you a plate of grilled vegetables and sausage. Especially when he and his Huntress traveling companion had been about through their supply of travel food and were staring down the barrel of some dried game and bread living. Come to think of it, that was more or less his diet back in the glade, minus the bread, and add in a plentiful supply of roots and tubers. Hmm…so this was a definite improvement.
Even more bizarre was Taipan. She was…cheerful? Exuberant. That was the word. She carried a general air of good vibes that was so alien to her normally cool demeanor or even dour vigilance that Ulric was going to [Scan] her soon to determine if body snatchers had gotten her. It probably helped that the Legranel were cowed by her presence, she could have ruled them with a word. His own status was as a very respected guest, which made sense, in a very Aes'r fashion. They also had the idea that it was his Shadow who was actually in charge, and he had no clue how they'd ever gotten that idea.
Perhaps it was because when Rik'e asked her how she'd "conquered her barbarian" she'd chirped "he was more docile when the burns healed". She wasn't exactly wrong about that, but there were about twelve steps in the middle that she'd left out, including how he'd arrived at those burns. The rest of the Elves took it that they'd been enemies and eventually joined out of mutual respect and that was…actually sort of correct…hmm. Whatever! Ulric still didn't know why that meant Taipan was now Boss of the Grass Elves. What baffled him even more was that she and the scarred Elf, with whom she'd nearly come to blows earlier, were now yammering on like old friends.
The Legranel were definitely of a much more heart on the cuff of the sleeve sort than their more Southern woodland cousins. For instance, Ulric was currently sure that both Rik'e and his sister Days'e were completely enthralled by his glorious wife, like younger siblings meeting a respected elder sister but recently returning home; Joclyn would have been too if he weren't still slightly scared of her. The two Elves from the more distant Roost, the name for these traveling cities, called Jorn, the man named Tomas and the woman named Hild, were as newlyweds, too obsessed with each other to be able to see that there was anyone else at the campfire, except when addressed directly. And, lastly, was the lovely aunt of Joclyn with her fascinating scar and clipped ear. Prenya would have thrown her panties at Ulric had he not had his Shadow in tow.
She might anyway, as the liquor did its work, she was increasingly flagrant about her flirting even as she and his Shadow traded tales and chattered about goings on within Orlethrem. He had been unable to find a way to shut it down with anything close to grace and was getting, surprisingly, no help from Taipan on that front. There was, based on a few somewhat ambivalent statements, a not zero chance that his wife was egging the woman on to watch Ulric squirm. That was exactly something she might do, the sideways habit she had of playing practical jokes. That she'd gotten from her father, in addition to her facial features.
No, Ulric, do not think about that. He suppressed an invasive thought that had Taipan sitting on the throne in Irielhos, speaking with Bald'rt's deep voice and shuddered. More booze was necessary.
**********From a shaded vantage nearby**********
A slim Sauri lay flat upon a small rise, motionless, completely invisible to any eyes that might peer into the darkness. He had been here for nearly a day already, had arrived as soon as he might after the targets made their way to the Haven he knew was their goal.
He was satisfied that he'd been able to pick up their faint trail so soon after their spectacular departure from Trachn'ir. Only two days after the pair had departed the Triad had arrived, killing two sets of [Crested Harrier], the large bipedal birds that were used in place of the more common horses when speed was paramount, having ridden the exorbitantly expensive mounts to death in their haste. The birds cost a Sil crown each, but their Contractor had paid gladly to facilitate their trip. A hard grudge did the Contractor have, having lost a son, a fledgling son in law, and now an entire wing of his *cough* alternative revenue stream.
It irked Quert greatly that the targeted pair had then, somehow, set an impossible pace, putting leagues behind them as if all the demons of the hells were on their heels. Did they know the Triad had been hired, somehow? He suppressed the desire to move his head in negation of that possibility. No, he told himself, vanishingly small chance. The communique was encrypted and oblique to the point of being nonsensical. It was a greater possibility that the pair was using some sort of transport. Gods knew the reknowned daughter of Bald'rt Iriel would have ways of obtaining it through her family's connections. The Valin that had spurred this entire mess wouldn't be able to hold this kind of pace, even if the Aes'r noble blood could.
The assassin was even more greatly vexed that he had been forced to leave his partners behind or risk losing the scent of their quarry. Ari, as fine a traveling partner as he was, moved as if against the tides. Even worse was that monster in Beastkin skin, Yherska. Quert made a living committing murder and even he found his scaled hide crawling when he considered that Leor's habits. She could have outpaced them all had she been able to keep from pouncing on some unfortunate soul every few days, spending a good few hours extracting pain from her victim before rejoining the Triad. As often as not, they would then lose even more time cleaning up her mess before they could return to the task for which they'd been paid.
Quert resolved again to send a formal request that Yherska be removed from the Triad and replaced with someone less…unstable. As much as he appreciated her unparalleled combat skills, she was, frankly, more trouble than she was worth. Especially when she interfered with his carefully orchestrated artistry. No battle maniac was necessary if he were allowed to act as he saw fit, preparing a perfect death.
So it was that he'd been set to as hard a run as he'd ever experienced, only catching up nearly a day later, after the targets had established their quaint little shelter and rested themselves. He chafed, being forced to rest out here under the open skies, in the snow. The heat imbuments of his thick, padded clothes, made their expense worth every Sil. He'd have gone into Lethargy without them in the still cold environment. He might be warm-blooded, but that didn't change the fact that Sauri hated the cold with a passion and it made them sluggish.
Again, he cursed his partners for their slowness, resigning himself to having to observe and leave sign for the rest of the Triad to follow until these two finally stopped racing towards wherever they were headed.
He had to revise slightly his preconceptions about the Valin as he watched the man hunt a [Dire Ox]. The Human's ease of movement, his power and speed while attacking, and the incredible violence of his skill, beheading the massive beast he preyed upon with a single strike upped the threat level of the man substantially. Great care would have to be taken to avoid engaging that one directly or else would require Yherska's talents. The other target, Geyrt Iriel, was as she had been described, stunningly beautiful, if not for his personal tastes, and moved with grace that spoke of her rumored lethality. That one would alone make this job worth taking. He rarely had so wonderful a canvas on which to work his art. He had not observed any of her gifts in use and those were not documented even in the dossier provided by the Contractor, other than to say she was dangerous in the extreme, if far less so than her parents. Hmm…that one would require the utmost care. Perhaps Ari was necessary, to tank her undoubtedly deadly arrows and draw out whatever killing skills she might possess. He looked forwards to her surprise when they all failed against the invincible dwarf.
The Sauri, unmoving, unnoticed, made plans, revised them, discarded them as being insufficient, and started anew all the while the day lingered. He noted the arrival of the Legranel, and the subsequent animosity with concern. He was slightly aggravated that their targets might be killed before ever his comrades caught up and they'd go unpaid for this venture. That notion was rudely disabused when the Valin contemptuously smashed the arrogance of the young Herdrider.
How in the Seven Hells did it happen that a nameless Human had learned to fight like a scion of the Iriel'en Greater Houses? Few enough of those had ever even been seen in combat, they left almost none alive behind them. This was the first time he saw their rumored "Dance" although he'd read reports enough of it during his intelligence gathering. Quert was forced to raise the threat estimation again for the man, those sometimes-blurring movements were deathly fast and the blade the target wielded was radiating potency. The trained assassin did not fail to notice the way the dark metal scored the opponent's deeply, compromising that weapon's integrity without a scratch to itself. Yet more plans were revised as darkness fell.
A musky blood-tinged taste on the air alerted the Sauri to the presence of some of the plain's predators. He did not worry for his discovery, he had long since learned to erase his scent in addition to other signs of his presence. There was, however, the odd chance of being tripped over directly, it had happened before, and he had things better to do than cut the throats of beasts so he carefully withdrew, moving soundlessly, invisibly, away into the night to make his own preparations to ride out the darkness in relative comfort. A coughing roar sent prickles over his skin from instinct. [Amberfangs] were dangerous beasts. But what in the hells had brought them so close to the well-trodden paths of the Legranel? Had he made a mistake and drawn the beasts in?
Shrugging, the Sauri assassin put this unexpected interference out of mind. Not everything could be controlled, this would be just another paint to add to the canvas of his greatest work yet.
************Legranel Haven, A Brief Time Later**********
As the evening hours wore on, Ulric relaxed a little, easing into the company and letting the sounds of melodic voices that told of adventures across endless plains carry him to a peaceful slouch against his Shadow's side. Alright, he was ready to admit that it was maybe just him being overly self-conscious. There had been a problem, the problem was handled, and everybody is now moving along with their lives. No hard feelings or even much in the way of scarring. This had to be a species thing, this almost refusal to dwell on events of the past. The Aes'r all did it, just always moving forward, staying in the now.
A trait like that would be of incredible benefit to so long lived a sapient creature, would protect against mental breakdown. So…probably a heritable trait, evolutionary pressure to maintain a stable psyche assisted by the fuckery of the Akashic system, maybe, or some kind of Impossible magic to facilitate positive trait selection. I might be drunk Ulric realized.
He rubbed Taipan's shoulder and she snuggled closer against the chill of the evening. Unfortunately for Prenya, who Ulric would have been glad to give a pass to his blankets under other circumstances, as she was a slim, sleek bit of athletic loveliness with beautiful eyes and a nicely squeezable rump, he held a woman that, to his senses, was unrivaled under the suns. He sure was glad he hadn't had to kill her. He was even more glad that she hadn't ever quite gotten around to killing him, the greater of the possibilities.
Taipan liked to play with his emerging beard and trace his scars with her fingers when she was relaxing in skinship. She was starting to show signs of getting a little frisky, given that her tracing was wondering South and he had to catch her before she went under his robe, earning a pouting purse of her lips. They played public displays of affection chicken, from time to time, but Ulric wasn't going to risk it right now. His bosomy partner had a hunger in her viridian orbs that declared she was in a mood to drop all reservations and demonstrate her ownership by vigorous humping, flickering firelight be damned. The overtly interested attention of Prenya, who was close enough to damned near taste the pheromones, had not escaped him either.
The others in the camp were not unaware of the goings on, except, maybe, for the definite couple. Ulric had heard a few muted sounds that might indicate they were farther along the road of wantonness than his adventurous companion. He avoided looking in that direction, if they wanted to play a game of slap and tickle under their furs he wasn't going to judge. The Legranel similarly deigned to not notice their comrade's doings, giving them that sort of public privacy they were so good at.
Life could be short in the wilds, the touch of a lover was a thing to be treasured and enjoyed, the sensibilities of others being a highly secondary consideration. That, at least, was more or less the Aes'r mindset. They could be rather forward at times. Reserved at others though, and the rules for that Ulric still didn't know exactly. Exposure training was bearing fruits, however, Ulric was starting to get a gut instinct regarding when to move forwards and when to retreat, especially in public settings.
He more or less played Taipan by feel, she made her desires or reservations known to him in a straightforward manner, for which he was eternally grateful. One of the major hurdles to him in his old life, especially in the romantic scene, was trying to decipher a train of cryptic messages and signals according to a set of guidelines it seemed like someone had forgotten to cc to him. It was not that way here, in as much as he had seen thus far. Never had he witnessed a set of crossed wires, men and women pursued or were pursued in equal measure and with an openness that left little to the imagination. Not that all relationships were instantly kindled to flame, courtships could run a slow smolder until one or the other combusted.
Christ had been after a rather comely healer woman whose tender care he found himself in almost daily from the results of challenging Idra'se more days than not. Somewhere along the way, the old warrior had figured out that there was an additional agenda to Christ's spars and obliged him by laying a few extra injuries to extend the duration of the young warrior's stays with the subject of his longing. Idra was a solid guy like that. Ulric didn't know how that had turned out, but he suspected the gifted rookie of the royal guards would capture her interest, he was a catch by any measure.
Absently keeping his amazon partner's hands above sea level and contemplating the fascinating natures of Elves occupied him nearly completely. He was suddenly aware that the scarred aunt had closed her distance to the bundle of furs he lay on, at a pace so glacially steady that he was completely at a loss as to how she'd done it, and was now sidled up nearby, just out of touch.
"It was a fortunate thing that our paths crossed young Ulric, and yourself, vibrant Taipan." the Legranel lass breathed, in a decidedly husky tone.
"The drive of the herds to market is a long task, full of hardship, and with so little opportunity to find distractions. Or pleasures." She continued, turning herself to sit in profile to the fire, letting its light cast over her figure to make obvious her charm.
Astonishingly, Taipan didn't wave her off, didn't give that sweeping downwards gesture that indicated a lack of interest, but instead placed a hand on the woman's thigh to pat it in commiseration.
"Indeed. The wilds can be harsh, and comforts few, and far between. Long are the nights spent far from friendship or welcome company. Was one of these drives how you received your wound? If you do not mind speaking of it?" His Shadow replied, not aloof at all.
Propping herself up on his chest, which drew a grunt from him as her elbows on his sternum took her not inconsiderable weight, Taipan ignored Ulric's wide eyed disbelief to continue her obvious flirting, "I am sure one so bold as to stand by her nephew as you did would have a brave story to tell."
It suddenly dawned on him, why his partner was being so…welcoming. Taipan had what a man might generously call an attraction for scars, the bigger the better. A less generous individual would call a spade a spade and say she had a battle wound fetish. And Prenya right here had a doozy. Something had tried to take off the side of her head and came near to succeeding.
The plains Elf turned her head to show the old wound more completely leaning over Ulric's body to present it for Taipan's detailed inspection.
"Not at all, my nephew is my responsibility and I would gladly spin you a yarn about my lesson in Herdriding. Especially for so lovely an audience." Prenya purred.
Ulric opened his mouth to start pumping the breaks and had a dark-skinned hand cover it, simultaneously, he issued a muffled grunt as he received a pinch through his robes that was definitely going to leave a welt. What in the hell had gotten into her?
Scootching until she was kneeling almost on top of his thigh, Prenya tapped her chin with an exaggerated consideration, before smiling down at her captive audience, one literally captive as Taipan refused to let him up and ignored his minor struggles, "This tale begins three springs ago, as I delivered the calving herd to markets, the prairie melt was done with and we battled insect hordes the likes of which-"
A coughing roar sounded in the distance, breaking her from her story and sent every Legranel into an ears lifted posture of total attention, even the lovebirds poked their heads free of their nest, completely focused on the guttoral cry of some beast.
Taipan had gone rigid at the sound as well and Ulric's buzz dimmed significantly at the reflexive adrenaline wash.
Another unmistakable roar sounded, this time on the opposite side of the clearing and the Plainsfolk scrambled to action as if to a starter pistol shot. Ulric had barely gotten to his feet but before the clearing was full of armed Elves arrayed in pairs, one armed with a short bow, much reduced compared to their forest kin, and the other with a long glaive, the broad sword blade tip on a haft longer than the bearers were tall. Each pair faced a different direction and they had backed up closer to the fire, closing the angles they would have to guard.
All of this spoke of a trained response and the only reason that kind of training was necessary was if something nasty this way come.
Joclyn held his bow in unsteady hands before a comforting hand from his aunt, spear held firmly, settled him down. The lovebirds were rock solid, the male's spear professionally braced while his lover scanned the darkness with an arrow that traced along with her vision. The peacekeepers were similarly arrayed, calm but ready.
[Warrior's Instinct]
Calming influence, readiness to take up battle poured through him as Ulric grabbed up Xef'tocht from where it had lain near his fur blanket and took up a similar posture to the Legranel, who seemed to know what they were about. Taipan, of course, had her Blinder already nocked and ready to send the hand length broadhead into whatever came out from the night.
"With what do we reckon?" Ulric asked aloud, to no one in particular.
Dais'e answered with a terse "[Amberfang], at least two males, probably a pride."
Rick'e followed that statement with a nervous clarification, "A pride hunting a Haven is unheard of, they should not even be here with a Roost so nearby."
Taipan Hmmhped in Ulric’s general direction, and Ulric rolled his eyes at her in return.
"Yeah, yeah, I know, I know. More of this nonsense from the death of the [Forest Lord]. Look, if it makes you feel any better, I could have just let it eat me." Ulric noted drily.
He felt her hip back up into his and wiggle softly, "I am the only one allowed to eat you now Ulric, do not worry."
Ulric felt the heat in his cheeks, amazed the woman could still make him feel like a boy with his first crush with a little touch and a suggestion. He leaned forward and bit her ear softly to return the favor, which made her stiffen briefly before she yelped, "Ah! Ulric! Not there, not in the open!"
He filed that away for future reference: Ears in the open particularly vulnerable, biting recommended to punish for teasing. Now though he pulled his focus back to their surroundings.
"How dangerous?" He whispered, staying calm.
Taipan's stance had returned to its Hunter's readiness, her expression serenely cool, a mirrored lake surface.
"Not as much as the [Shrieking Ravager] but much moreso than the [Polar Weasels]. Strong, fast, weigh about three grown Elves. They number seven to twelve adults, normally. One or two males and the rest females. Females have larger claws, hooked, to hold down prey. Males have canines as long as your forearm to rip into the throat and heart of creatures held by their harem. They prefer to rush the flank, secure a hold, and let the males finish with a single lethal bite before retreating to repeat with another target."
Ulric nodded, that would explain the posture of the Legranel, they'd circled up to protect each other's rears, to discourage a rush.
Okay, so pretty similar to the old extinct lions of Earth. Just, ya know, all roided up on Varda magical shenanigans. Speaking of which.
"Any weird magical abilities or skills like the Ravager?" He checked.
Short locks bounced as Taipan shook her head.
"No, Glade Chief, nothing to worry about. Their pelts ripple shades as they move to break up their outlines and makes them harder to see but nothing to be concerned about." She described.
Oh, just a little active camouflage on your apex predators then, nothing to worry about, Ulric snarked to himself.
Taipan's arrow suddenly tracked left, her dark vision peering into the darkness. Ulric gripped the hilt of Xef'tocht more tightly and spun his core up to readiness, harnessing the humming power of the lightning bottled therein.
"Let me touch your arrow, Taipan, just a moment. When you fire, call when it hits. I have a gift for our would be hunters. Show these sonsofbitches who is predator and who is prey." Ulric suggested, the idea coming to him suddenly that his Shadow's archery was a perfect complement to his ability to target lightning.
Briefly, he wound Ceraun through the construct of his [Lightning Javalin] and her arrow, binding them together, linking them by a bridge of charged mana.
There. Perfect.
"Ready when you are love." Ulric assured her.
Glittering teeth, slightly sharpened compared to a Human's, told him she knew his intent and approved.
They waited not long. The beasts saw a perceived weakness in their prey, a shorter horn than the rest.
Taipan suddenly loosed the arrow, drawing another from her quiver, and a loud yowel of pain was echoed by her victorious cry "Hit!" and Ulric's upraised hand released the pent up magic.
[Lightning Javalin]
A jagged ribbon of violet power ripped through the night, throwing feline forms into stark relief as it slammed home into a form that was still flinching from the impact of the arrow that had pierced its lungs. The creature hurtled to the ground, smoking ruin behind its shoulder as the lightning blasted life from it.
Thunder reported, booming wash causing the beasts to scatter and run a circle, regaining their formation out of sight.
"One female dead, six remain. Two males with the pride, they are reorganizing, not broken, twenty meters beyond firelight." Taipan announced.
The Elves had jumped at the furious light and sound but regained their poise quickly.
"Can you follow the creatures through the dark, Cousin?" Asked Rik'e.
"I can. What is your mind?" Taipan replied.
"Fire an arrow in their direction and we will volley them. We need not have their exact position to put fear into the beasts and perhaps cripple a few." the Isevoran male requested.
Immediately Taipan put the plan to motion, she turned slightly, lofting her arrow in the direction where Joclyn and his aunt covered.
Instantly, three more arrows joined hers and there was another pained yelp from the dark.
"Hit! A male hindleg is injured. They circle Undan, the crippled male lags behind!" Taipan narrated the movements of the pride to her kin.
Realizing that they had an advantage in the Iriel'en Huntress' darkvision the Legranel gained confidence.
Ulric had another [Lightning Javalin] ready and tagged his wife's arrow. It took him some five or so seconds to spin one up to lethality for a creature as large as the [Amberfang].
The pride must have judged that they were losing momentum against their prey because they rushed suddenly. Into the firelight poured the forms of six leonid forms, rippling grey and tan coats making the eye almost hurt to follow them. A larger form came slightly behind, large amber dagger canines giving the creatures their name.
Three arrows darted towards the male, clearly the plains Elves believed the priority target to be the sword toothed monster coming behind his mates. Two arrows missed wide, one was intercepted by a female that stepped into its path. Ulric goggled briefly. The female had done that on purpose! These beasts were intelligent, they were carrying out a coordinated, planned attack.
The injured beast nevertheless pressed on, the wound being insufficient to slow its rush.
Taipan's arrow leapt out, faster than her cousin's from her far more powerful bow, delivering the hand's breadth of lethality into the skull of a lead female, dropping her instantly. Ulric broke the connection to that arrow, saving the mana, and pushed out a streamer to intercept another form.
His Ceraunic core was incredibly potent, snapping the targeting stream of charged mana into place so rapidly Ulric nearly cried out his shock before unleashing the bolt.
Once again, the night was parted by lightning and the female behind Taipan's victim took the arcing power into its chest turning in the air before crashing to the ground to roll to a stop, twitching in death.
Another volley of arrows leapt out towards the male who had to break off its charge to leap to the side to evade. The remaining four [Amberfang] females reached the defensive Elves.
Spears lowered to receive the charge. Prenya impaled a female through the neck and turned, guiding its leaping form to the ground without being bowled over by its momentum. Joclyn, readied an arrow with impressive poise and put it into the pinned female's heart from point blank range.
That maneuver was repeated by the lovebirds who similarly dispatched a foe.
The peacekeepers were less fortunate, Rick'e's spear caught a small hump of frozen ground and locked, he couldn't complete the force stealing turn and the impact knocked him to the ground. A roaring, hissing, and enraged whirlwind of claws pounced. Dais'e's arrow punched through both its lungs but it continued its mauling. Yelling valiantly, Rick'e's knife stabbed twice before a bite savaged his hand. Dais'e abandoned her bow to draw her knife and she laid vicious stabs into its neck and head.
Ulric couldn't follow that side of the conflict anymore, the male had used its harem's rush to close and the monster immediately tried to pounce on the Lovebirds while they dispatched its mate.
Taipan put an arrow through its side which buried to the fletches but did not slow its leap. What a beast.
He stepped forward to intercept the last of the females that were rushing in, this one angling to take his Shadow in the flank as she put an arrow into the male. From the corner of his eye, Ulric saw disaster, even as he readied himself to take on the female, not having time to line up another [Lightning Javalin].
The leap of the [Amberfang] hit the female lovebird. Hild was tackled to the ground, her arrow having been expended to kill the female beast and her partner's spear still buried into the dead cat's neck. A flash of golden yellow fangs drew an agonized cry from her. Her mate Tomas put his life between his mate and death, he discarded the useless spear and drove his knife into the monster's eye. Claws raked at him savagely as he held the head at bay, his body shielding Hild, who had wrapped herself around her stomach, blood pouring from between her hands.
Prenya turned and received another leaping form, this time her spear only penetrated its shoulder. Growling she fought to keep the beast pinned while Joclyn put arrows into its flailing chest and abdomen, unable to get a clean shot into its heart as it struggled.
"Taipan, Help Tomas! I have this one!" Ulric ordered, drawing on his class, his focus narrowing to the rippling cat blurring across the camp.
Ulric let the surroundings fall away, concentrating everything on this creature that thought it could challenge his territory, thought it could make prey of his mate. He saw its gathering of limbs the pounce coming, and dropped the point of Xef'tocht, turning his shoulder.
The beast leapt at his Shadow's back, turned as she was already going to the aid of the elves locked in melee with the Amberfang male.
He heard a piercing cry from a beast, a dying keen, and put it away, moving through the dance-like turn, a piroutte whose momentum he used to throw his vorpal blade up and felt the faint tug of resistance as the lioness he cut lost both her front legs and most of her wide open maw, brains spilling from the opened skull even as she fell. The dying beast hit the bare dirt of the clearing with a muffled thump and Ulric was able to breathe again as he saw Taipan go to work.
Her practiced archery left him in amazement, pumping three more arrows into the beast locked in mortal combat with the lovebirds in as many heartbeats, causing it to sag as the lifeblood poured from it, poison racing through the blood that remained.
Joclyn had managed to land a mortal wound to the lioness pinned by his aunt and Ulric saw the peacekeepers, ragged but victorious, already moving to help Hild, who hadn't stopped moaning while she held her impaled stomach.
Ulric almost missed the sliver of golden yellow light, a bolt of energy from the corner of his vision that slammed into the lithe form of his wife, her pained cry echoed above the other sounds in that flickering clearing.
He turned to the source and saw the oncoming form of the second [Amberfang] male murderously suicidal, bearing down on the sprawled elf that had wounded it, namesake fangs still flashing an inner fire that it had used to strike her down.
The world flickered red, white, then violet. He couldn't feel himself, the scene before him froze, a tableau of nightmare.
His core tightened, compressing the racing mana, Ceraun's keening note loud in his mind. The mana that sought to bind pulled together the disconnected aspects of him, months training in the dance, classes whispering Akashic experience of lives long past, roaring magic housed in core and channels throughout, weightless body soaring powerful on adrenaline, and the dominating will that was now part of his existence. Unity was achieved.
Arclight drizzled briefly, falling from his form to throw a cascade of sparks.
[Surge][Crackling Draw][Voltaic Riot]***OVERRIDE***[Ceraun's Dance, First Movement]
*PING*
Ulric's perceptions jerked, warped, and suddenly realized he stood outside the firelight, melting snow vibrant in bright violet light, his blade held vertically over his head, as if he were about to complete a downstroke, except his body felt like that was an echo, his mind said he'd already done that. Vertigo and de ja vu combined and he almost lost his sword, catching himself with his hand as he fell forward. Ulric staggered back to his feet, readying himself as dark closed around him.
Thunder boomed behind him turning his head to find the clearing behind him. Ignoring the confusion about where he was and how precisely the fuck he'd gotten there, Ulric saw the campfire, the Elves scattered where they'd been locked in combat, and Taipan's glimmering eyes on him as she raised herself from the ground.
The wounded [Amberfang] male was bisected, smoking halves cauterized, and explosive wounds that Ulric distantly recognized as high voltage electrical discharge entry and exit cavities.
Was that him? Ulric couldn't remember it. He'd needed to kill the [Amberfang], needed to stop it's leap. There'd been some kind of…coalescence, like a jigsaw puzzle finally falling into place, pieces assembling according to common sense, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Next thing, he was standing outside the camp and his brain felt fuzzy. Like he'd been in two places at once. The memory alone nearly made him nauseous.
What the fuck just happened?
Abruptly, mana exhaustion crashed down on him and his body burned like molten steel ran through his veins, his core had gone dark, the latent power that had hummed in the background of his being ever since waking in this world was missing. He felt weak. As weak as he'd ever been, not unlike when he'd woken from his burning. Ulric gagged, and broke out into shivers. Pain nearly brought him to the ground, only using his sword as a cane kept him from collapse.
Taipan was suddenly at his side, and he let her half carry him into the warmth of the camp. He didn't resist. Couldn't.
"My thanks, wife." He mumbled into her shoulder, barely hanging onto consciousness.
The deceitfully strong woman gently laid him into the bedroll inside their shelter, tucking him in like a boy with a fever. He hadn't been tucked in since he was a lad, all those long years ago. He flashed a weak smile her way, which she returned, concern evident in her emerald and bronze flecked eyes.
Ulric had to fight another wave of flaring agony and a dull weight in his limbs, "I don't know what happened but I'm burning from the inside out. Worse than the mana sickness before my core tempered. I can't feel my magic either."
"You're going to be on your own for a bit lass, I'm out, I think." He whispered, letting the comforting hand on his cheek pull him under.
Many questions Ulric had about the events of this day. Most of them with regards to how easily the Elves seemed to just gloss over the, shall we call it, the friction of their initial meeting to arrive at where they now sat.
Drinking fine booze and grilling wieners. When the cloth-wrapped bundle of brats had unfurled, he heard again the ironclad voice of his dearest grandmother yelling "Raus aus meiner Küche!" as she prepared a Kraut und Schnitzel waving her spatula to run him and his sister out from her domain. The flavor of these was more oniony, and with a hot pepper note that was absent from the cuisine of his Oma, but excellent nevertheless. The memory made him briefly sad but in a good way. His sister had died in an avalanche not long after, and his grandmother a few years later of age. He'd missed them both terribly, and that moment was one of his fonder reminiscences.
Ulric was rolling with it, but some part of him struggled to get his head around the atmosphere of relaxed companionship. Joclyn had just had his damned face beaten in and, after a heartfelt apology, and assurance that he would "Honor the stranger upon the plain and welcome the traveler to one's fire forever hence." that left Ulric speechless, was now chatting as if nothing happened. Well, maybe he chewed more on one side of his jaw than the other but that was about it. What in the Mickey Mouse fuck?
Admittedly, the mead was helping to smooth things over more than a little. It was hard to hold ill will towards people who passed around the good stuff and handed you a plate of grilled vegetables and sausage. Especially when he and his Huntress traveling companion had been about through their supply of travel food and were staring down the barrel of some dried game and bread living. Come to think of it, that was more or less his diet back in the glade, minus the bread, and add in a plentiful supply of roots and tubers. Hmm…so this was a definite improvement.
Even more bizarre was Taipan. She was…cheerful? Exuberant. That was the word. She carried a general air of good vibes that was so alien to her normally cool demeanor or even dour vigilance that Ulric was going to [Scan] her soon to determine if body snatchers had gotten her. It probably helped that the Legranel were cowed by her presence, she could have ruled them with a word. His own status was as a very respected guest, which made sense, in a very Aes'r fashion. They also had the idea that it was his Shadow who was actually in charge, and he had no clue how they'd ever gotten that idea.
Perhaps it was because when Rik'e asked her how she'd "conquered her barbarian" she'd chirped "he was more docile when the burns healed". She wasn't exactly wrong about that, but there were about twelve steps in the middle that she'd left out, including how he'd arrived at those burns. The rest of the Elves took it that they'd been enemies and eventually joined out of mutual respect and that was…actually sort of correct…hmm. Whatever! Ulric still didn't know why that meant Taipan was now Boss of the Grass Elves. What baffled him even more was that she and the scarred Elf, with whom she'd nearly come to blows earlier, were now yammering on like old friends.
The Legranel were definitely of a much more heart on the cuff of the sleeve sort than their more Southern woodland cousins. For instance, Ulric was currently sure that both Rik'e and his sister Days'e were completely enthralled by his glorious wife, like younger siblings meeting a respected elder sister but recently returning home; Joclyn would have been too if he weren't still slightly scared of her. The two Elves from the more distant Roost, the name for these traveling cities, called Jorn, the man named Tomas and the woman named Hild, were as newlyweds, too obsessed with each other to be able to see that there was anyone else at the campfire, except when addressed directly. And, lastly, was the lovely aunt of Joclyn with her fascinating scar and clipped ear. Prenya would have thrown her panties at Ulric had he not had his Shadow in tow.
She might anyway, as the liquor did its work, she was increasingly flagrant about her flirting even as she and his Shadow traded tales and chattered about goings on within Orlethrem. He had been unable to find a way to shut it down with anything close to grace and was getting, surprisingly, no help from Taipan on that front. There was, based on a few somewhat ambivalent statements, a not zero chance that his wife was egging the woman on to watch Ulric squirm. That was exactly something she might do, the sideways habit she had of playing practical jokes. That she'd gotten from her father, in addition to her facial features.
No, Ulric, do not think about that. He suppressed an invasive thought that had Taipan sitting on the throne in Irielhos, speaking with Bald'rt's deep voice and shuddered. More booze was necessary.
**********From a shaded vantage nearby**********
A slim Sauri lay flat upon a small rise, motionless, completely invisible to any eyes that might peer into the darkness. He had been here for nearly a day already, had arrived as soon as he might after the targets made their way to the Haven he knew was their goal.
He was satisfied that he'd been able to pick up their faint trail so soon after their spectacular departure from Trachn'ir. Only two days after the pair had departed the Triad had arrived, killing two sets of [Crested Harrier], the large bipedal birds that were used in place of the more common horses when speed was paramount, having ridden the exorbitantly expensive mounts to death in their haste. The birds cost a Sil crown each, but their Contractor had paid gladly to facilitate their trip. A hard grudge did the Contractor have, having lost a son, a fledgling son in law, and now an entire wing of his *cough* alternative revenue stream.
It irked Quert greatly that the targeted pair had then, somehow, set an impossible pace, putting leagues behind them as if all the demons of the hells were on their heels. Did they know the Triad had been hired, somehow? He suppressed the desire to move his head in negation of that possibility. No, he told himself, vanishingly small chance. The communique was encrypted and oblique to the point of being nonsensical. It was a greater possibility that the pair was using some sort of transport. Gods knew the reknowned daughter of Bald'rt Iriel would have ways of obtaining it through her family's connections. The Valin that had spurred this entire mess wouldn't be able to hold this kind of pace, even if the Aes'r noble blood could.
The assassin was even more greatly vexed that he had been forced to leave his partners behind or risk losing the scent of their quarry. Ari, as fine a traveling partner as he was, moved as if against the tides. Even worse was that monster in Beastkin skin, Yherska. Quert made a living committing murder and even he found his scaled hide crawling when he considered that Leor's habits. She could have outpaced them all had she been able to keep from pouncing on some unfortunate soul every few days, spending a good few hours extracting pain from her victim before rejoining the Triad. As often as not, they would then lose even more time cleaning up her mess before they could return to the task for which they'd been paid.
Quert resolved again to send a formal request that Yherska be removed from the Triad and replaced with someone less…unstable. As much as he appreciated her unparalleled combat skills, she was, frankly, more trouble than she was worth. Especially when she interfered with his carefully orchestrated artistry. No battle maniac was necessary if he were allowed to act as he saw fit, preparing a perfect death.
So it was that he'd been set to as hard a run as he'd ever experienced, only catching up nearly a day later, after the targets had established their quaint little shelter and rested themselves. He chafed, being forced to rest out here under the open skies, in the snow. The heat imbuments of his thick, padded clothes, made their expense worth every Sil. He'd have gone into Lethargy without them in the still cold environment. He might be warm-blooded, but that didn't change the fact that Sauri hated the cold with a passion and it made them sluggish.
Again, he cursed his partners for their slowness, resigning himself to having to observe and leave sign for the rest of the Triad to follow until these two finally stopped racing towards wherever they were headed.
He had to revise slightly his preconceptions about the Valin as he watched the man hunt a [Dire Ox]. The Human's ease of movement, his power and speed while attacking, and the incredible violence of his skill, beheading the massive beast he preyed upon with a single strike upped the threat level of the man substantially. Great care would have to be taken to avoid engaging that one directly or else would require Yherska's talents. The other target, Geyrt Iriel, was as she had been described, stunningly beautiful, if not for his personal tastes, and moved with grace that spoke of her rumored lethality. That one would alone make this job worth taking. He rarely had so wonderful a canvas on which to work his art. He had not observed any of her gifts in use and those were not documented even in the dossier provided by the Contractor, other than to say she was dangerous in the extreme, if far less so than her parents. Hmm…that one would require the utmost care. Perhaps Ari was necessary, to tank her undoubtedly deadly arrows and draw out whatever killing skills she might possess. He looked forwards to her surprise when they all failed against the invincible dwarf.
The Sauri, unmoving, unnoticed, made plans, revised them, discarded them as being insufficient, and started anew all the while the day lingered. He noted the arrival of the Legranel, and the subsequent animosity with concern. He was slightly aggravated that their targets might be killed before ever his comrades caught up and they'd go unpaid for this venture. That notion was rudely disabused when the Valin contemptuously smashed the arrogance of the young Herdrider.
How in the Seven Hells did it happen that a nameless Human had learned to fight like a scion of the Iriel'en Greater Houses? Few enough of those had ever even been seen in combat, they left almost none alive behind them. This was the first time he saw their rumored "Dance" although he'd read reports enough of it during his intelligence gathering. Quert was forced to raise the threat estimation again for the man, those sometimes-blurring movements were deathly fast and the blade the target wielded was radiating potency. The trained assassin did not fail to notice the way the dark metal scored the opponent's deeply, compromising that weapon's integrity without a scratch to itself. Yet more plans were revised as darkness fell.
A musky blood-tinged taste on the air alerted the Sauri to the presence of some of the plain's predators. He did not worry for his discovery, he had long since learned to erase his scent in addition to other signs of his presence. There was, however, the odd chance of being tripped over directly, it had happened before, and he had things better to do than cut the throats of beasts so he carefully withdrew, moving soundlessly, invisibly, away into the night to make his own preparations to ride out the darkness in relative comfort. A coughing roar sent prickles over his skin from instinct. [Amberfangs] were dangerous beasts. But what in the hells had brought them so close to the well-trodden paths of the Legranel? Had he made a mistake and drawn the beasts in?
Shrugging, the Sauri assassin put this unexpected interference out of mind. Not everything could be controlled, this would be just another paint to add to the canvas of his greatest work yet.
************Legranel Haven, A Brief Time Later**********
As the evening hours wore on, Ulric relaxed a little, easing into the company and letting the sounds of melodic voices that told of adventures across endless plains carry him to a peaceful slouch against his Shadow's side. Alright, he was ready to admit that it was maybe just him being overly self-conscious. There had been a problem, the problem was handled, and everybody is now moving along with their lives. No hard feelings or even much in the way of scarring. This had to be a species thing, this almost refusal to dwell on events of the past. The Aes'r all did it, just always moving forward, staying in the now.
A trait like that would be of incredible benefit to so long lived a sapient creature, would protect against mental breakdown. So…probably a heritable trait, evolutionary pressure to maintain a stable psyche assisted by the fuckery of the Akashic system, maybe, or some kind of Impossible magic to facilitate positive trait selection. I might be drunk Ulric realized.
He rubbed Taipan's shoulder and she snuggled closer against the chill of the evening. Unfortunately for Prenya, who Ulric would have been glad to give a pass to his blankets under other circumstances, as she was a slim, sleek bit of athletic loveliness with beautiful eyes and a nicely squeezable rump, he held a woman that, to his senses, was unrivaled under the suns. He sure was glad he hadn't had to kill her. He was even more glad that she hadn't ever quite gotten around to killing him, the greater of the possibilities.
Taipan liked to play with his emerging beard and trace his scars with her fingers when she was relaxing in skinship. She was starting to show signs of getting a little frisky, given that her tracing was wondering South and he had to catch her before she went under his robe, earning a pouting purse of her lips. They played public displays of affection chicken, from time to time, but Ulric wasn't going to risk it right now. His bosomy partner had a hunger in her viridian orbs that declared she was in a mood to drop all reservations and demonstrate her ownership by vigorous humping, flickering firelight be damned. The overtly interested attention of Prenya, who was close enough to damned near taste the pheromones, had not escaped him either.
The others in the camp were not unaware of the goings on, except, maybe, for the definite couple. Ulric had heard a few muted sounds that might indicate they were farther along the road of wantonness than his adventurous companion. He avoided looking in that direction, if they wanted to play a game of slap and tickle under their furs he wasn't going to judge. The Legranel similarly deigned to not notice their comrade's doings, giving them that sort of public privacy they were so good at.
Life could be short in the wilds, the touch of a lover was a thing to be treasured and enjoyed, the sensibilities of others being a highly secondary consideration. That, at least, was more or less the Aes'r mindset. They could be rather forward at times. Reserved at others though, and the rules for that Ulric still didn't know exactly. Exposure training was bearing fruits, however, Ulric was starting to get a gut instinct regarding when to move forwards and when to retreat, especially in public settings.
He more or less played Taipan by feel, she made her desires or reservations known to him in a straightforward manner, for which he was eternally grateful. One of the major hurdles to him in his old life, especially in the romantic scene, was trying to decipher a train of cryptic messages and signals according to a set of guidelines it seemed like someone had forgotten to cc to him. It was not that way here, in as much as he had seen thus far. Never had he witnessed a set of crossed wires, men and women pursued or were pursued in equal measure and with an openness that left little to the imagination. Not that all relationships were instantly kindled to flame, courtships could run a slow smolder until one or the other combusted.
Christ had been after a rather comely healer woman whose tender care he found himself in almost daily from the results of challenging Idra'se more days than not. Somewhere along the way, the old warrior had figured out that there was an additional agenda to Christ's spars and obliged him by laying a few extra injuries to extend the duration of the young warrior's stays with the subject of his longing. Idra was a solid guy like that. Ulric didn't know how that had turned out, but he suspected the gifted rookie of the royal guards would capture her interest, he was a catch by any measure.
Absently keeping his amazon partner's hands above sea level and contemplating the fascinating natures of Elves occupied him nearly completely. He was suddenly aware that the scarred aunt had closed her distance to the bundle of furs he lay on, at a pace so glacially steady that he was completely at a loss as to how she'd done it, and was now sidled up nearby, just out of touch.
"It was a fortunate thing that our paths crossed young Ulric, and yourself, vibrant Taipan." the Legranel lass breathed, in a decidedly husky tone.
"The drive of the herds to market is a long task, full of hardship, and with so little opportunity to find distractions. Or pleasures." She continued, turning herself to sit in profile to the fire, letting its light cast over her figure to make obvious her charm.
Astonishingly, Taipan didn't wave her off, didn't give that sweeping downwards gesture that indicated a lack of interest, but instead placed a hand on the woman's thigh to pat it in commiseration.
"Indeed. The wilds can be harsh, and comforts few, and far between. Long are the nights spent far from friendship or welcome company. Was one of these drives how you received your wound? If you do not mind speaking of it?" His Shadow replied, not aloof at all.
Propping herself up on his chest, which drew a grunt from him as her elbows on his sternum took her not inconsiderable weight, Taipan ignored Ulric's wide eyed disbelief to continue her obvious flirting, "I am sure one so bold as to stand by her nephew as you did would have a brave story to tell."
It suddenly dawned on him, why his partner was being so…welcoming. Taipan had what a man might generously call an attraction for scars, the bigger the better. A less generous individual would call a spade a spade and say she had a battle wound fetish. And Prenya right here had a doozy. Something had tried to take off the side of her head and came near to succeeding.
The plains Elf turned her head to show the old wound more completely leaning over Ulric's body to present it for Taipan's detailed inspection.
"Not at all, my nephew is my responsibility and I would gladly spin you a yarn about my lesson in Herdriding. Especially for so lovely an audience." Prenya purred.
Ulric opened his mouth to start pumping the breaks and had a dark-skinned hand cover it, simultaneously, he issued a muffled grunt as he received a pinch through his robes that was definitely going to leave a welt. What in the hell had gotten into her?
Scootching until she was kneeling almost on top of his thigh, Prenya tapped her chin with an exaggerated consideration, before smiling down at her captive audience, one literally captive as Taipan refused to let him up and ignored his minor struggles, "This tale begins three springs ago, as I delivered the calving herd to markets, the prairie melt was done with and we battled insect hordes the likes of which-"
A coughing roar sounded in the distance, breaking her from her story and sent every Legranel into an ears lifted posture of total attention, even the lovebirds poked their heads free of their nest, completely focused on the guttoral cry of some beast.
Taipan had gone rigid at the sound as well and Ulric's buzz dimmed significantly at the reflexive adrenaline wash.
Another unmistakable roar sounded, this time on the opposite side of the clearing and the Plainsfolk scrambled to action as if to a starter pistol shot. Ulric had barely gotten to his feet but before the clearing was full of armed Elves arrayed in pairs, one armed with a short bow, much reduced compared to their forest kin, and the other with a long glaive, the broad sword blade tip on a haft longer than the bearers were tall. Each pair faced a different direction and they had backed up closer to the fire, closing the angles they would have to guard.
All of this spoke of a trained response and the only reason that kind of training was necessary was if something nasty this way come.
Joclyn held his bow in unsteady hands before a comforting hand from his aunt, spear held firmly, settled him down. The lovebirds were rock solid, the male's spear professionally braced while his lover scanned the darkness with an arrow that traced along with her vision. The peacekeepers were similarly arrayed, calm but ready.
[Warrior's Instinct]
Calming influence, readiness to take up battle poured through him as Ulric grabbed up Xef'tocht from where it had lain near his fur blanket and took up a similar posture to the Legranel, who seemed to know what they were about. Taipan, of course, had her Blinder already nocked and ready to send the hand length broadhead into whatever came out from the night.
"With what do we reckon?" Ulric asked aloud, to no one in particular.
Dais'e answered with a terse "[Amberfang], at least two males, probably a pride."
Rick'e followed that statement with a nervous clarification, "A pride hunting a Haven is unheard of, they should not even be here with a Roost so nearby."
Taipan Hmmhped in Ulric’s general direction, and Ulric rolled his eyes at her in return.
"Yeah, yeah, I know, I know. More of this nonsense from the death of the [Forest Lord]. Look, if it makes you feel any better, I could have just let it eat me." Ulric noted drily.
He felt her hip back up into his and wiggle softly, "I am the only one allowed to eat you now Ulric, do not worry."
Ulric felt the heat in his cheeks, amazed the woman could still make him feel like a boy with his first crush with a little touch and a suggestion. He leaned forward and bit her ear softly to return the favor, which made her stiffen briefly before she yelped, "Ah! Ulric! Not there, not in the open!"
He filed that away for future reference: Ears in the open particularly vulnerable, biting recommended to punish for teasing. Now though he pulled his focus back to their surroundings.
"How dangerous?" He whispered, staying calm.
Taipan's stance had returned to its Hunter's readiness, her expression serenely cool, a mirrored lake surface.
"Not as much as the [Shrieking Ravager] but much moreso than the [Polar Weasels]. Strong, fast, weigh about three grown Elves. They number seven to twelve adults, normally. One or two males and the rest females. Females have larger claws, hooked, to hold down prey. Males have canines as long as your forearm to rip into the throat and heart of creatures held by their harem. They prefer to rush the flank, secure a hold, and let the males finish with a single lethal bite before retreating to repeat with another target."
Ulric nodded, that would explain the posture of the Legranel, they'd circled up to protect each other's rears, to discourage a rush.
Okay, so pretty similar to the old extinct lions of Earth. Just, ya know, all roided up on Varda magical shenanigans. Speaking of which.
"Any weird magical abilities or skills like the Ravager?" He checked.
Short locks bounced as Taipan shook her head.
"No, Glade Chief, nothing to worry about. Their pelts ripple shades as they move to break up their outlines and makes them harder to see but nothing to be concerned about." She described.
Oh, just a little active camouflage on your apex predators then, nothing to worry about, Ulric snarked to himself.
Taipan's arrow suddenly tracked left, her dark vision peering into the darkness. Ulric gripped the hilt of Xef'tocht more tightly and spun his core up to readiness, harnessing the humming power of the lightning bottled therein.
"Let me touch your arrow, Taipan, just a moment. When you fire, call when it hits. I have a gift for our would be hunters. Show these sonsofbitches who is predator and who is prey." Ulric suggested, the idea coming to him suddenly that his Shadow's archery was a perfect complement to his ability to target lightning.
Briefly, he wound Ceraun through the construct of his [Lightning Javalin] and her arrow, binding them together, linking them by a bridge of charged mana.
There. Perfect.
"Ready when you are love." Ulric assured her.
Glittering teeth, slightly sharpened compared to a Human's, told him she knew his intent and approved.
They waited not long. The beasts saw a perceived weakness in their prey, a shorter horn than the rest.
Taipan suddenly loosed the arrow, drawing another from her quiver, and a loud yowel of pain was echoed by her victorious cry "Hit!" and Ulric's upraised hand released the pent up magic.
[Lightning Javalin]
A jagged ribbon of violet power ripped through the night, throwing feline forms into stark relief as it slammed home into a form that was still flinching from the impact of the arrow that had pierced its lungs. The creature hurtled to the ground, smoking ruin behind its shoulder as the lightning blasted life from it.
Thunder reported, booming wash causing the beasts to scatter and run a circle, regaining their formation out of sight.
"One female dead, six remain. Two males with the pride, they are reorganizing, not broken, twenty meters beyond firelight." Taipan announced.
The Elves had jumped at the furious light and sound but regained their poise quickly.
"Can you follow the creatures through the dark, Cousin?" Asked Rik'e.
"I can. What is your mind?" Taipan replied.
"Fire an arrow in their direction and we will volley them. We need not have their exact position to put fear into the beasts and perhaps cripple a few." the Isevoran male requested.
Immediately Taipan put the plan to motion, she turned slightly, lofting her arrow in the direction where Joclyn and his aunt covered.
Instantly, three more arrows joined hers and there was another pained yelp from the dark.
"Hit! A male hindleg is injured. They circle Undan, the crippled male lags behind!" Taipan narrated the movements of the pride to her kin.
Realizing that they had an advantage in the Iriel'en Huntress' darkvision the Legranel gained confidence.
Ulric had another [Lightning Javalin] ready and tagged his wife's arrow. It took him some five or so seconds to spin one up to lethality for a creature as large as the [Amberfang].
The pride must have judged that they were losing momentum against their prey because they rushed suddenly. Into the firelight poured the forms of six leonid forms, rippling grey and tan coats making the eye almost hurt to follow them. A larger form came slightly behind, large amber dagger canines giving the creatures their name.
Three arrows darted towards the male, clearly the plains Elves believed the priority target to be the sword toothed monster coming behind his mates. Two arrows missed wide, one was intercepted by a female that stepped into its path. Ulric goggled briefly. The female had done that on purpose! These beasts were intelligent, they were carrying out a coordinated, planned attack.
The injured beast nevertheless pressed on, the wound being insufficient to slow its rush.
Taipan's arrow leapt out, faster than her cousin's from her far more powerful bow, delivering the hand's breadth of lethality into the skull of a lead female, dropping her instantly. Ulric broke the connection to that arrow, saving the mana, and pushed out a streamer to intercept another form.
His Ceraunic core was incredibly potent, snapping the targeting stream of charged mana into place so rapidly Ulric nearly cried out his shock before unleashing the bolt.
Once again, the night was parted by lightning and the female behind Taipan's victim took the arcing power into its chest turning in the air before crashing to the ground to roll to a stop, twitching in death.
Another volley of arrows leapt out towards the male who had to break off its charge to leap to the side to evade. The remaining four [Amberfang] females reached the defensive Elves.
Spears lowered to receive the charge. Prenya impaled a female through the neck and turned, guiding its leaping form to the ground without being bowled over by its momentum. Joclyn, readied an arrow with impressive poise and put it into the pinned female's heart from point blank range.
That maneuver was repeated by the lovebirds who similarly dispatched a foe.
The peacekeepers were less fortunate, Rick'e's spear caught a small hump of frozen ground and locked, he couldn't complete the force stealing turn and the impact knocked him to the ground. A roaring, hissing, and enraged whirlwind of claws pounced. Dais'e's arrow punched through both its lungs but it continued its mauling. Yelling valiantly, Rick'e's knife stabbed twice before a bite savaged his hand. Dais'e abandoned her bow to draw her knife and she laid vicious stabs into its neck and head.
Ulric couldn't follow that side of the conflict anymore, the male had used its harem's rush to close and the monster immediately tried to pounce on the Lovebirds while they dispatched its mate.
Taipan put an arrow through its side which buried to the fletches but did not slow its leap. What a beast.
He stepped forward to intercept the last of the females that were rushing in, this one angling to take his Shadow in the flank as she put an arrow into the male. From the corner of his eye, Ulric saw disaster, even as he readied himself to take on the female, not having time to line up another [Lightning Javalin].
The leap of the [Amberfang] hit the female lovebird. Hild was tackled to the ground, her arrow having been expended to kill the female beast and her partner's spear still buried into the dead cat's neck. A flash of golden yellow fangs drew an agonized cry from her. Her mate Tomas put his life between his mate and death, he discarded the useless spear and drove his knife into the monster's eye. Claws raked at him savagely as he held the head at bay, his body shielding Hild, who had wrapped herself around her stomach, blood pouring from between her hands.
Prenya turned and received another leaping form, this time her spear only penetrated its shoulder. Growling she fought to keep the beast pinned while Joclyn put arrows into its flailing chest and abdomen, unable to get a clean shot into its heart as it struggled.
"Taipan, Help Tomas! I have this one!" Ulric ordered, drawing on his class, his focus narrowing to the rippling cat blurring across the camp.
Ulric let the surroundings fall away, concentrating everything on this creature that thought it could challenge his territory, thought it could make prey of his mate. He saw its gathering of limbs the pounce coming, and dropped the point of Xef'tocht, turning his shoulder.
The beast leapt at his Shadow's back, turned as she was already going to the aid of the elves locked in melee with the Amberfang male.
He heard a piercing cry from a beast, a dying keen, and put it away, moving through the dance-like turn, a piroutte whose momentum he used to throw his vorpal blade up and felt the faint tug of resistance as the lioness he cut lost both her front legs and most of her wide open maw, brains spilling from the opened skull even as she fell. The dying beast hit the bare dirt of the clearing with a muffled thump and Ulric was able to breathe again as he saw Taipan go to work.
Her practiced archery left him in amazement, pumping three more arrows into the beast locked in mortal combat with the lovebirds in as many heartbeats, causing it to sag as the lifeblood poured from it, poison racing through the blood that remained.
Joclyn had managed to land a mortal wound to the lioness pinned by his aunt and Ulric saw the peacekeepers, ragged but victorious, already moving to help Hild, who hadn't stopped moaning while she held her impaled stomach.
Ulric almost missed the sliver of golden yellow light, a bolt of energy from the corner of his vision that slammed into the lithe form of his wife, her pained cry echoed above the other sounds in that flickering clearing.
He turned to the source and saw the oncoming form of the second [Amberfang] male murderously suicidal, bearing down on the sprawled elf that had wounded it, namesake fangs still flashing an inner fire that it had used to strike her down.
The world flickered red, white, then violet. He couldn't feel himself, the scene before him froze, a tableau of nightmare.
His core tightened, compressing the racing mana, Ceraun's keening note loud in his mind. The mana that sought to bind pulled together the disconnected aspects of him, months training in the dance, classes whispering Akashic experience of lives long past, roaring magic housed in core and channels throughout, weightless body soaring powerful on adrenaline, and the dominating will that was now part of his existence. Unity was achieved.
Arclight drizzled briefly, falling from his form to throw a cascade of sparks.
[Surge][Crackling Draw][Voltaic Riot]***OVERRIDE***[Ceraun's Dance, First Movement]
*PING*
Ulric's perceptions jerked, warped, and suddenly realized he stood outside the firelight, melting snow vibrant in bright violet light, his blade held vertically over his head, as if he were about to complete a downstroke, except his body felt like that was an echo, his mind said he'd already done that. Vertigo and de ja vu combined and he almost lost his sword, catching himself with his hand as he fell forward. Ulric staggered back to his feet, readying himself as dark closed around him.
Thunder boomed behind him turning his head to find the clearing behind him. Ignoring the confusion about where he was and how precisely the fuck he'd gotten there, Ulric saw the campfire, the Elves scattered where they'd been locked in combat, and Taipan's glimmering eyes on him as she raised herself from the ground.
The wounded [Amberfang] male was bisected, smoking halves cauterized, and explosive wounds that Ulric distantly recognized as high voltage electrical discharge entry and exit cavities.
Was that him? Ulric couldn't remember it. He'd needed to kill the [Amberfang], needed to stop it's leap. There'd been some kind of…coalescence, like a jigsaw puzzle finally falling into place, pieces assembling according to common sense, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Next thing, he was standing outside the camp and his brain felt fuzzy. Like he'd been in two places at once. The memory alone nearly made him nauseous.
What the fuck just happened?
Abruptly, mana exhaustion crashed down on him and his body burned like molten steel ran through his veins, his core had gone dark, the latent power that had hummed in the background of his being ever since waking in this world was missing. He felt weak. As weak as he'd ever been, not unlike when he'd woken from his burning. Ulric gagged, and broke out into shivers. Pain nearly brought him to the ground, only using his sword as a cane kept him from collapse.
Taipan was suddenly at his side, and he let her half carry him into the warmth of the camp. He didn't resist. Couldn't.
"My thanks, wife." He mumbled into her shoulder, barely hanging onto consciousness.
The deceitfully strong woman gently laid him into the bedroll inside their shelter, tucking him in like a boy with a fever. He hadn't been tucked in since he was a lad, all those long years ago. He flashed a weak smile her way, which she returned, concern evident in her emerald and bronze flecked eyes.
Ulric had to fight another wave of flaring agony and a dull weight in his limbs, "I don't know what happened but I'm burning from the inside out. Worse than the mana sickness before my core tempered. I can't feel my magic either."
"You're going to be on your own for a bit lass, I'm out, I think." He whispered, letting the comforting hand on his cheek pull him under.
