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Post by Travis Huntman on Dec 25, 2010 0:05:12 GMT -5
Stupid, stupid, stupid! What kind of compliment was that? Yeah, he was trying to be sweet and kind, but it made a fool of himself. Seriously, what was he trying to accomplish? Why did the kid have say they were meant for each other? It was stupid to think of.
"Of course," replied Travis, even though she was the one who brought it up in the first. He figured he'll go off ahead, trying to hide his embrassment, but also to show that they needed to get going.
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Post by Markus Selder on Dec 25, 2010 0:15:14 GMT -5
Markus could tell something hadn’t gone perfectly there. Analasia had backed off, and Travis had lost his cheer. Mark almost stepped in once again, then reconsidered. He’d done plenty for today, and a relationship didn’t have to be instantaneous. Besides, Analasia had a point; they still had to get to down, and the sun didn’t slow for song, no matter how sweet.
He nodded, keeping up and following the group. “We’re close, aren’t we?”
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Post by Analisia Moonbright on Dec 25, 2010 13:26:11 GMT -5
Analisia remained quiet for a moment, her brain proccessing everything that was happening. She kept her eyes on the road ahead, ignoring everyone else. She liked Travis, it was true. But she was wolfkin, not human, she didn't even think that it was possible for such a couple to come to bear. Shaking her head with irritation, she looked down at Markus. Why was the kid interested in the two of them anyways, other than being their traveling partners. She was getting in a fouler mood with every such thought.
And she knew that only a good few drinks could bring her back from it. "The town is just over the hill here, a league at most. We have been making good time, and will shortly be in the tavern." She would be glad to get away from Travis and the confusing feelings that came from being around him, and even be glad to get away from the ever curious Markus. She didn't let her mood show on her face, keeping it fairly clear of emotions. But the way she played with her braid nearly gave it all away.
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Post by Travis Huntman on Dec 25, 2010 14:23:09 GMT -5
Good, shortly they'll arrive at their destination, and then could go their own ways. He figured that would be best due to the emotions that were heating up. After he give his report to the sherriff, Travis will goto the tavern and handle his thoughts carefully. It was foolish of him to think ever had destany with any woman, especially with one who he thought had a lot a common ground and could handle the fact he lived a dangerous life.
It's that sort of thinking that makes you weak, that makes you off guard.
Suddenly along his own thoughts, he could hear galloping. It wasn't just one horse, but multiple horses. The ranger looked around to see three men on horseback from each side, were surrounding the group. They were dressed similarly to the gang of bandits they just fought. Did they ever give up? Travis pulled out his bow, ready to fight. Clearly, they were outnumbered: 12 to 3. He backed up to Markus and Analisia, jestering Ana to protect Markus.
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Post by Markus Selder on Dec 25, 2010 14:40:39 GMT -5
Markus felt he could effectively split the situation into good, bad, and worse news. The good news was that they were almost to town. The bad news was that Travis and Analasia were definitely drawing away from each other, and it didn’t help the mood any. The worse news rode up on horseback in the form of bandits wearing outfits sickeningly familiar to those on the six they’d fought before.
He wasn’t too fond of being coddled, but Mark knew when to let someone else take charge. Surrounded by twelve horsemen who were none to happy about their unconscious teammates, Mark was more than happy to let Travis and Analasia step up. Nevertheless, he grabbed his own dull shortsword, hoping to at least keep himself safe during the fight.
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Post by Analisia Moonbright on Dec 25, 2010 19:23:40 GMT -5
Analisia caught the sound of hooves before Travis and Markus, but hoped to the gods that she was wrong. Then she turned along with Travis, and saw teh twelve men on horseback. Fuck.... She caught Travis' motion and moved over to Markus, daggars flipping into her hand. "Stick next to me until I give you the signal, when I do that, run into the forest as fast as you can and dont look back. Please." She whispered to the youngling. She snarled at the bandits, flashing her daggars at them.
"What do you want?" She calls out, figuring that it was better to at least get an idea of what it was they were there for, and hope it wasnt to just kill the three of them. She got into position to launch herself at the closest bandit to her, not caring for the fact that he was leering down at her, a smug smile on his lips. Fuck this... she thought to herself, she knew that if she changed now she had a chance of scaring the horses into running off. But she didn't dare risking scaring off Markus as well.
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Post by Travis Huntman on Dec 25, 2010 22:46:46 GMT -5
Travis heard what Analisia said to Markus. While it seems risky, it would be better for the kid to run away than stand and fight. Afterall, the boy did get hurt once. But they had to make sure he wouldn't get captured.
The ranger drew his bow. He aimed his arrow at the rider's heart. While the woodsman didn't want to kill anyone, especially in front of the boy, it seemed rather impossible in the circumstance at hand. Feeling confident in his shot, he let go of the string, allowing the arrow to glide through the air into the enemy's heart. As the body dropped from the horse to the soil, Travis drew another arrow, ready to strike another foe.
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Post by Markus Selder on Dec 26, 2010 0:26:02 GMT -5
Markus nodded immediately. He didn’t like leaveing Travis and Analasia on their own (and, perhaps more importantly, running off alone), but with such close proximity to the town, it would be safer for everyone if he vanished to look for reinforcements.
Analasia called out for a reason, possibly to negotiate. Almost as soon as the words had left her lips, Travis sent an arrow rocketing into a bandit’s heart. Mark jumped, already moving to stick close to Analasia and watch for her signal. So much for negotiations...
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Post by Analisia Moonbright on Dec 26, 2010 0:32:54 GMT -5
Analisia shook her head, so much for figuring everything out, or talking, or being civilized in the least. She laughed for a moment, then a jumping movement behind her brought her back to reality. She had to watch out for Markus, had to protect him. She growled darkly at the man that was leering down at her, tossing her dagger up into the air, only to catch it's tip and toss it directly into the man's eye.
At least he could no longer stare.
She twirled around, pushing Markus around her, and barely caught the tip of the next bandit's sword with the hilt of her, now lone, dagger. She was barely able to tip the sword aside, earning herself a long slice up her arm. Analisia gasped softly, but continued to spar with the her current opponent. This was going to be difficult.
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Post by Travis Huntman on Dec 26, 2010 2:08:34 GMT -5
A horseman came charging at the ranger, his sword was pulled for the kill. But an arrow in his throat ended his life, his lifeless body fell on the ground. The third horseman had a short bow and his sights on Travis. However, his aim was a bit high, causing the arrow to fly inches above the woodsman head. Travis returned the favor, shooting the horse archer in the back as he made his past.
Travis turned his head to see how Analisia was fairing up. So far, it seems she wasn't doing too well. The ranger flailed in anger to see that the swordman's sword cut Ana's flesh. The ranger made him his next target as he drew his bow at the fiend's head. However, as he released his string, an arrow struck Travis's left shoulder, causing to yelp out in pain and swifting his aim, making his arrow hit the target's shoulder.
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Post by Markus Selder on Dec 26, 2010 21:42:25 GMT -5
Mark, truly, didn’t have to do much of anything. The bandits, while cruel, hadn’t quite stooped to attacking a child yet, so he only had to deflect one or two strikes, using the opponent’s force and his own shortsword to slide their strike aside and avoid damage. Analasia danced about on her own, pushing Mark along when necessary (he tried not to watch the blood gushing down her arm). Travis, meanwhile, proved to be a sort of one-man force-to-be-reckoned-with, shooting down thieves right and left with no remorse or mercy. Markus almost began to wonder if Analasia would even need to give a signal to run, at the rate Travis was going.
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Post by Analisia Moonbright on Dec 26, 2010 23:45:45 GMT -5
The arrow. Flying past her head into the bandit's shoulder. That was what set her off. The pain in her arm was considerable, the man's blade had dug deep. But it was watching Travis' arrow fly past her. "Run, now" She snarled to Markus. Tossing her dagger to the ground beside her. Her arms flung out, hands curling into claws. She growled darkly and lept at the bandit in front of her, arms now flung forward as if to tackle him down from the horse.
Something that should have been impossible. Except for someone who wasn't human.
Mid-jump, Analisia Changed. Her hair elongating to cover her entire body, limbs shortening, snout elongating. It was quick, but for those who truly watched and paid attention, it was as if time slowed around her. Within the next blink of an eye, a brown and black wolf pinned down the bandit on the ground. Her teeth tearing into his neck. Her paws drawing blood from the man's arms and groin. She was attacking him with all her might. And when there was nothing but a bloody mass in front of her, the lithe wolf turned and growled at the horse, sending it rearing and bucking. Her light brown eyes looked around for the next victim, choosing another nearby horse. Running to it quickly, she hamstrung the beast, causing both it and it's rider to topple to the ground.
The woman was no longer there, replaced by a feral beast. Her true nature revealed, a growl ringing deep throughout her body as she attacked without fear.
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Post by Travis Huntman on Dec 27, 2010 3:11:47 GMT -5
Intense pain. That's all he could feel in his left shoulder. Yet, he wasn't the only one feeling pain, and he knew he couldn't give in. He needed to protect Markus and Analisia. Using his might to ignore the shock of pain, Travis pulled another arrow from his quiver, drew his bow, and turned to the archer who shot him. Despite his injury, the ranger delievered an accurate shot, right through his neck, dropping him from his horse.
However, he heard galloping coming towards him from behind. A horseman, wielding a sword, was was making his attempt at killing the ranger. Travis didn't have time to draw another arrow, so he held out his bow in a defensive position, hoping to at least block the hit. The woodsman was able to defend against the swing, but pushed him off his feet, causing him to land face first into the dirt. As he looked up, he wondered where Analisia went. However, as he saw, it seemed a fierce wolf took the place of the tall wandering woman. Yet oddly, something was familar of the wolf, and as he examined it's eyes, it became clear who the wolf was. Everything seemed to make sense...
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Post by Markus Selder on Dec 27, 2010 16:11:28 GMT -5
The signal wasn’t very complicated. Mark caught it in an instant and dashed off into the woods. Disobediently curious, he looked back as he ran in time to catch the end of Analasia’s transformation. He nearly tripped, mesmerized and shocked at the same time. Suddenly, her desire for distance and Keith’s terror made sense. Nevertheless, he shook away his surprise and ran forward, glad to hear no hooves behind him as he turned to head towards town. Hopefully he could get some help.
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Post by Analisia Moonbright on Dec 27, 2010 16:19:22 GMT -5
The man was pinned beneath his horse, it had landed on his legs and was now thrashing about. The wolf slowly came up to the horse and bit deep into it's neck, crushing the windpipe. Then turned it's brown gaze and bloody muzzle over to the man beneath the animal. The shewolf snarled, lips pulled back to show her sharp canine's. Until she heard someone fall into the dirt. At that, Analisia turned quickly, seeing Travis lying face down and a horseman coming towards him. She ran in front of the horse and began nipping at his legs in the hopes of tripping up the horse. She felt the cold steel dig into her pelt, felt the warm blood running down from her new wound as well as the old. But she had spooked this horse enough that it began to bolt away, it's rider jerked up from the saddle and landing on the ground. As soon as the swordsman fell, Analisia was upon his with teeth and paws. When his body was limp, she turned over to Travis, her brown eyes now sad.
She felt the need to protect him. Running in front of him, she snarled at the three remaining bandits, growling darkly. They were hesitant to attack again, and chose instead to circle around the wolf and Travis.
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