Rook risked a quick glance backwards. One rider was directly behind her, his mount gaining on hers quickly. Two others were further behind, fanning out in an attempt to limit her escape options.
"Yaaa!" she kicked the chestnut gelding with her heels, trying to urge him faster. To her right was a large rock outcropping and she turned the horse in that direction, hoping to find some way to put the odds back in her favor. Just as the horse started to respond, Sampon's knife struck her, piercing her shirt and into her left shoulder.
Stupid girl, she cursed herself, cringing at the pain in her shoulder. She should have stuck to her original plan and never let herself be swayed so easily into taking on so many bandits in a straight up fight.
--
A rather animal-like growl escaped Cordell as he recovered enough to rejoin the fight. He hadn't had any time to grab a weapon in the sudden chaos, so as the man faced Silveris, he simply launched his shoulder at Grey's back, trying to knock him to the ground.
"Yaaa!" she kicked the chestnut gelding with her heels, trying to urge him faster. To her right was a large rock outcropping and she turned the horse in that direction, hoping to find some way to put the odds back in her favor. Just as the horse started to respond, Sampon's knife struck her, piercing her shirt and into her left shoulder.
Stupid girl, she cursed herself, cringing at the pain in her shoulder. She should have stuck to her original plan and never let herself be swayed so easily into taking on so many bandits in a straight up fight.
--
A rather animal-like growl escaped Cordell as he recovered enough to rejoin the fight. He hadn't had any time to grab a weapon in the sudden chaos, so as the man faced Silveris, he simply launched his shoulder at Grey's back, trying to knock him to the ground.
Silveris heard a satisfying crack as his fist collided with Grey's face but suddenly he felt a pressure at his stomach, and the next thing he knew, he was flying backwards in the air, the breath knocked from his lungs as he landed tumbling in the sand, scratches covering his face.
Meanwhile, the two bandits he had dispatched took advantage of the girl's wounded state and galloped after her towards the rocks, giving their horses their heads so they were almost flying over the desert landscape, intent on blocking the girl's path to the rocks.
Meanwhile, the two bandits he had dispatched took advantage of the girl's wounded state and galloped after her towards the rocks, giving their horses their heads so they were almost flying over the desert landscape, intent on blocking the girl's path to the rocks.
As soon as Grey knocked the fire boy back, he scanned the bandit camp for any sign of Rook.
She was heading for the horses, he thought. She had better not have left me here.
But Grey didn't have time to dwell on the thought because something hard rammed into his back and he tumbled forward, swallowing a mouthful of sand in the process.
Karma, Grey thought ruefully.
----
Sampson smiled when his knife hit his mark and spurred his horse on. He was almost upon her now, and the two other bandits were branching off to block her path from the rock outcropping. As he neared the girl's chestnut, he made a grab for her bow.
She was heading for the horses, he thought. She had better not have left me here.
But Grey didn't have time to dwell on the thought because something hard rammed into his back and he tumbled forward, swallowing a mouthful of sand in the process.
Karma, Grey thought ruefully.
----
Sampson smiled when his knife hit his mark and spurred his horse on. He was almost upon her now, and the two other bandits were branching off to block her path from the rock outcropping. As he neared the girl's chestnut, he made a grab for her bow.
Cordell couldn't help but feel just a little admiration for the stranger when he knocked Silveris backward. It wasn't often the young fire boy got knocked down a peg. Of course, that wasn't enough to stop the bandit from following up on his attack. As Grey got a mouthful of sand, Cordell simply tried to throw himself on top, attempting to pin him down on his stomach before he could turn over.
--
Maybe if there hadn't been pain shooting down her arm, she could have maneuvered the bow away from him, or maybe swerved her horse to avoid him, but the small knife in her shoulder crippled her range of motion. As Sampson grabbed the bow, she should have just let go. Instead she clung to it like a lifeline... one that sent such a wave of pain through her and pulled her right out of the saddle. And for the first time since this started, adrenaline gave way to real fear ... I'm sorry, Danny, she thought as she fell...
--
Maybe if there hadn't been pain shooting down her arm, she could have maneuvered the bow away from him, or maybe swerved her horse to avoid him, but the small knife in her shoulder crippled her range of motion. As Sampson grabbed the bow, she should have just let go. Instead she clung to it like a lifeline... one that sent such a wave of pain through her and pulled her right out of the saddle. And for the first time since this started, adrenaline gave way to real fear ... I'm sorry, Danny, she thought as she fell...
Grey flung out an arm at the last moment and sent a burst of telekinesis force towards the bandit that was trying to pin him. He searched desperately for any sign of Rook.
"Dammit, did they kill her?" he muttered, spitting out sand. He needed to find her. They were definitely outnumbered and needed to leave this place as soon as possible.
----
Sampson had expected the girl to pull away. He had not expected her to fall out of her saddle, fingers still gripped tightly around her bow, and promptly pull him down along with her. Sampson felt himself slip and fall, colliding with the girl in the sand. His horse whinnied in surprise and Sampson felt a sudden, excruciating pain in his ribs as a hoof struck him in the abdomen.
Sampson coughed. Something broke, he was sure. He noticed the girl some distance away and slowly reached for another knife in his pouch.
"You are the most annoying, horse-stealing idiot," he winced, "I have ever met. I am definitely going to kill you."
"Dammit, did they kill her?" he muttered, spitting out sand. He needed to find her. They were definitely outnumbered and needed to leave this place as soon as possible.
----
Sampson had expected the girl to pull away. He had not expected her to fall out of her saddle, fingers still gripped tightly around her bow, and promptly pull him down along with her. Sampson felt himself slip and fall, colliding with the girl in the sand. His horse whinnied in surprise and Sampson felt a sudden, excruciating pain in his ribs as a hoof struck him in the abdomen.
Sampson coughed. Something broke, he was sure. He noticed the girl some distance away and slowly reached for another knife in his pouch.
"You are the most annoying, horse-stealing idiot," he winced, "I have ever met. I am definitely going to kill you."
((Hello? Is this still open?))
((Yes, I think))
Silveris lunged towards Grey, his hands heating up with fire intent on burning the man and getting pay back for humiliating him in front of Cordell because Silveris knew that if he didn't get everything sorted out by the time the bandit leader returned, someone was going to pay.
Silveris reached out a hand, straight for Grey's face.
Meanwhile, the two bandits saw Sampson and the girl fall out of their saddles and rounded their horses to surround the two, aiming their swords at the girl who was bleeding from the knife wound in her shoulder, and one of the bandits managed to grab the reins of the horse she had taken.
Silveris lunged towards Grey, his hands heating up with fire intent on burning the man and getting pay back for humiliating him in front of Cordell because Silveris knew that if he didn't get everything sorted out by the time the bandit leader returned, someone was going to pay.
Silveris reached out a hand, straight for Grey's face.
Meanwhile, the two bandits saw Sampson and the girl fall out of their saddles and rounded their horses to surround the two, aiming their swords at the girl who was bleeding from the knife wound in her shoulder, and one of the bandits managed to grab the reins of the horse she had taken.
((Welcome Megladon!))
Luckily, Rook's father had taught both her and her brother how to do a more controlled fall from a horse. A graceful, unplanned exit, he called it. And those hours of practice kicked in as she rolled away from the galloping animals, then was back to her feet a moment later, never letting go of her bow. As Sampson reached for a second knife, she knocked another arrow to the string. The knife in her shoulder had become dislodged in the fall, giving her slightly more range of motion in her arm, though her shoulder still screamed in protest as she raised the bow and aimed it at Sampson. She took one deep breath, lined up her shot and released.
Luckily, Rook's father had taught both her and her brother how to do a more controlled fall from a horse. A graceful, unplanned exit, he called it. And those hours of practice kicked in as she rolled away from the galloping animals, then was back to her feet a moment later, never letting go of her bow. As Sampson reached for a second knife, she knocked another arrow to the string. The knife in her shoulder had become dislodged in the fall, giving her slightly more range of motion in her arm, though her shoulder still screamed in protest as she raised the bow and aimed it at Sampson. She took one deep breath, lined up her shot and released.
((Welcome))
Grey flung out his hands and focused his energy on the fire boy's chest, sending out a burst of telekinesis in his direction. Then he stumbled to the side, spotted the hoof-prints in the ground, and followed them, his face sweating and bruised.
You had better not be dead, Rook. Grey grit his teeth, head pounding in fear and anxiety.
----
Sampson saw the arrow pointed at him, saw the arrow release, and immediately ditched his knife. He tried to roll away, but the arrow pierced his left shoulder and he screamed in pain.
A shoulder for a shoulder. So that was how she wanted to play it.
Sampson noticed the other two bandits and glared at the girl.
"Surrender!" he said. "You're surrounded!"
Grey flung out his hands and focused his energy on the fire boy's chest, sending out a burst of telekinesis in his direction. Then he stumbled to the side, spotted the hoof-prints in the ground, and followed them, his face sweating and bruised.
You had better not be dead, Rook. Grey grit his teeth, head pounding in fear and anxiety.
----
Sampson saw the arrow pointed at him, saw the arrow release, and immediately ditched his knife. He tried to roll away, but the arrow pierced his left shoulder and he screamed in pain.
A shoulder for a shoulder. So that was how she wanted to play it.
Sampson noticed the other two bandits and glared at the girl.
"Surrender!" he said. "You're surrounded!"
((Hi everyone! Could the thread do with a character on the morally darker side to balance things out? I can provide another if the need be.))
After getting separated from her caravan with little food or water to speak of, Jez knew stumbling upon a quiet oasis with date-heavy trees was too much to ask for. When she had seen it on the horizon, she was convinced it was just another trick of the desert; she supposed she should be grateful despite the scene of struggle and chaos ahead of her.
Dragging her feet through hot, thick sand, she pulled her hood closer to her face to shield herself from the sun's merciless rays. She was just close enough for the sounds of violence to fall on her ears. Well, she thought, I could risk being butchered over a drink, or wait for the fight to die down and risk passing out and dying right here in the sands. Blinking and swaying a bit in her stride, she drew her long dagger from her hip sheath and reached into her boot for its little brother.
Can I tell whose side to take when I can barely walk in a straight line? Simple answer. The bad guys were whoever stood between her and water.
After getting separated from her caravan with little food or water to speak of, Jez knew stumbling upon a quiet oasis with date-heavy trees was too much to ask for. When she had seen it on the horizon, she was convinced it was just another trick of the desert; she supposed she should be grateful despite the scene of struggle and chaos ahead of her.
Dragging her feet through hot, thick sand, she pulled her hood closer to her face to shield herself from the sun's merciless rays. She was just close enough for the sounds of violence to fall on her ears. Well, she thought, I could risk being butchered over a drink, or wait for the fight to die down and risk passing out and dying right here in the sands. Blinking and swaying a bit in her stride, she drew her long dagger from her hip sheath and reached into her boot for its little brother.
Can I tell whose side to take when I can barely walk in a straight line? Simple answer. The bad guys were whoever stood between her and water.
((
Welcome, mr-mollusk!))
Cordell had been thrown backwards against the small dune where Grey and Rook first met, dislodged sand sliding down on him as struggled to get back the breath Grey had knocked out of him. He was still gasping a little as he managed to climb his way back to his feet.
"Silveris! Give that lousy yaldson a taste of his own medicine," the bandit said as he hurried over to help Silveris back up. Suddenly, now that he'd gotten tossed around a bit more by Grey, he was willing to put aside his grudge against the fire boy to put a stop to this intruder.
He looked up and cursed under his breath as he spotted the cloaked figure coming toward the oasis from the opposite direction. "There's another one!" he shouted. This time he hurried back for his weapon. Enough of this fighting unarmed stuff...
--
Rook could see the other two riders from the corners of her eyes, but kept her gaze on Sampson as she knocked another arrow. "Back off!" she called loudly, aiming the bow once again at the bandit with an arrow now protruding out of his shoulder. "Back off or he dies!" she called again, hoping these bandits had at least enough camaraderie amongst each other to care for the lives of one another. She also hoped they couldn't see her injured arm shaking just slightly from the strain of holding the bow at the ready.
Welcome, mr-mollusk!))Cordell had been thrown backwards against the small dune where Grey and Rook first met, dislodged sand sliding down on him as struggled to get back the breath Grey had knocked out of him. He was still gasping a little as he managed to climb his way back to his feet.
"Silveris! Give that lousy yaldson a taste of his own medicine," the bandit said as he hurried over to help Silveris back up. Suddenly, now that he'd gotten tossed around a bit more by Grey, he was willing to put aside his grudge against the fire boy to put a stop to this intruder.
He looked up and cursed under his breath as he spotted the cloaked figure coming toward the oasis from the opposite direction. "There's another one!" he shouted. This time he hurried back for his weapon. Enough of this fighting unarmed stuff...
--
Rook could see the other two riders from the corners of her eyes, but kept her gaze on Sampson as she knocked another arrow. "Back off!" she called loudly, aiming the bow once again at the bandit with an arrow now protruding out of his shoulder. "Back off or he dies!" she called again, hoping these bandits had at least enough camaraderie amongst each other to care for the lives of one another. She also hoped they couldn't see her injured arm shaking just slightly from the strain of holding the bow at the ready.
((Hello Jez Holmes))
Silveris let Cordell help him to his feet, slightly surprised that the grumpy man was willing to work with him as a team, then turned to see that Grey was already some distance away so he conjured a fire ball and hurled it at the man's back with all his might before turning to confront the cloaked stranger who had emerged in the middle of the desert.
"Why does this always happen when I'm in charge?"
Meanwhile, the two bandits couldn't care less about Sampson and advanced anyway, cornering the girl and waving their swords at her since bandits knew the consequences of being one and they could never really trust their own kind, and one bandit drew a club from behind his back with the intent of whacking the girl unconscious.
He swung.
Silveris let Cordell help him to his feet, slightly surprised that the grumpy man was willing to work with him as a team, then turned to see that Grey was already some distance away so he conjured a fire ball and hurled it at the man's back with all his might before turning to confront the cloaked stranger who had emerged in the middle of the desert.
"Why does this always happen when I'm in charge?"
Meanwhile, the two bandits couldn't care less about Sampson and advanced anyway, cornering the girl and waving their swords at her since bandits knew the consequences of being one and they could never really trust their own kind, and one bandit drew a club from behind his back with the intent of whacking the girl unconscious.
He swung.
Rook realized she had misjudged the bonds of fellowship between these marauders only a half second before the club swung toward her head. She tried to dodge forward, but the club still clipped her pretty hard just as she released the arrow pointed toward Sampson. The shot was clumsy as she staggered, coming off the bow at a low angle and the arrow plunged into the sand mere inches in front of Sampson. The ranger fell to her knees, barely catching herself with her hands, the world spinning too wildly to do more than try to lift her uninjured arm over her head to protect it from another blow.
What's he eyeing me up for? Jez wondered, squinting back at Silveris from under the shade of her cloak. Hasn't he got his hands full enough?
Her eyes wandered from the acting leader of the bandits for a moment, sizing up the rest of the battle. A man and a one-eyed bandit fought off to one side, a heated skirmish she might want to stay away from. To the other side, an archer tangled with several bandits. She looked injured - Jez wasn't sure she liked the odds whether she intervened or not, but it was hardly an honorable fight, and it would be hard to resist aiding the wounded archer when Jez herself was dragged into the fray.
The analysis was over in a second, and her attention was back on Silveris. Her odds seemed poor as-is; unless her eyes deceived her, fire sprung from his hands like some sort of demon.
"I take no issue with fellow travelers," she called out, adrenaline starting to melt the weary haze the desert had left on her. "I hope you don't take issue with me." Empty words, she was sure, for sand-roving criminals.
Her eyes wandered from the acting leader of the bandits for a moment, sizing up the rest of the battle. A man and a one-eyed bandit fought off to one side, a heated skirmish she might want to stay away from. To the other side, an archer tangled with several bandits. She looked injured - Jez wasn't sure she liked the odds whether she intervened or not, but it was hardly an honorable fight, and it would be hard to resist aiding the wounded archer when Jez herself was dragged into the fray.
The analysis was over in a second, and her attention was back on Silveris. Her odds seemed poor as-is; unless her eyes deceived her, fire sprung from his hands like some sort of demon.
"I take no issue with fellow travelers," she called out, adrenaline starting to melt the weary haze the desert had left on her. "I hope you don't take issue with me." Empty words, she was sure, for sand-roving criminals.
Grey saw the three bandits surrounding Rook and threw out his hands desperately. Telekinesis erupted from his finger tips, heading for the three bandits. It would be hard to lift all of them into the air but Grey had to try. Rook was injured and needed medical attention fast.
"Go!" he yelled at Rook. "Get out of here!"
----
Sampson took the chance to scramble away from the girl. He wrapped his fingers around the arrow in his shoulder, winced, and pulled the arrow out, throwing it in the sand and trying to stop the blood flow. He was about to make a stab at the girl with his knife when he was slowly lifted into the air.
"Who is - " Sampson spotted Grey and narrowed his eyes. "You."
So where was Silveris?
"Go!" he yelled at Rook. "Get out of here!"
----
Sampson took the chance to scramble away from the girl. He wrapped his fingers around the arrow in his shoulder, winced, and pulled the arrow out, throwing it in the sand and trying to stop the blood flow. He was about to make a stab at the girl with his knife when he was slowly lifted into the air.
"Who is - " Sampson spotted Grey and narrowed his eyes. "You."
So where was Silveris?
“Then leave. This is our oasis and if you think we’re going to share even a drop of water, you’re in for a death sentence.”
Silveris growled threateningly at the girl, who looked like she was badly dehydrated but he couldn’t care less because he himself was even sure how long the oasis would last the bandits before they drunk it dry and moved on again.
Meanwhile the two bandits found themselves lifted into the air along with Sampson and screamed obscenities at Grey, waving their swords in the air, and one of them made a last swing with his club at Rook’s head.
Silveris growled threateningly at the girl, who looked like she was badly dehydrated but he couldn’t care less because he himself was even sure how long the oasis would last the bandits before they drunk it dry and moved on again.
Meanwhile the two bandits found themselves lifted into the air along with Sampson and screamed obscenities at Grey, waving their swords in the air, and one of them made a last swing with his club at Rook’s head.
((May I join this))
"Go!"
The voice sounded far away, but somehow Rook recognized that it was directed at her... the man she'd met... what was his name again? Another blow hit her, this time on the arm she'd been using to shield her head and an involuntary cry of pain escaped her.
"Get out of here!"
Where? The world still refused to quit swaying beneath her, but the rocks were ahead and she started toward them, crawling more than running as she used her hands for balance.
--
By this time, Cordell had retrieved his lasso and a heavy studded club from his tent. Having the rope and weapon in his hand gave him renewed energy and he sprinted after Grey. He was only halfway to the man when he saw Sampson and the other two lifted into the air and the girl starting to make a slow escape. Grey seemed to be concentrating on keeping the 3 in the air, so Cordell slowed, favoring a quieter approach. "Wonder if he can do that if he can't breath," he whispered to himself. When he drew a bit closer, he twirled the lasso overhead a few times in preparation, then sent it flying toward Grey as if he were trying to rope a horse. With any luck, he'd get the man around the neck.
The voice sounded far away, but somehow Rook recognized that it was directed at her... the man she'd met... what was his name again? Another blow hit her, this time on the arm she'd been using to shield her head and an involuntary cry of pain escaped her.
"Get out of here!"
Where? The world still refused to quit swaying beneath her, but the rocks were ahead and she started toward them, crawling more than running as she used her hands for balance.
--
By this time, Cordell had retrieved his lasso and a heavy studded club from his tent. Having the rope and weapon in his hand gave him renewed energy and he sprinted after Grey. He was only halfway to the man when he saw Sampson and the other two lifted into the air and the girl starting to make a slow escape. Grey seemed to be concentrating on keeping the 3 in the air, so Cordell slowed, favoring a quieter approach. "Wonder if he can do that if he can't breath," he whispered to himself. When he drew a bit closer, he twirled the lasso overhead a few times in preparation, then sent it flying toward Grey as if he were trying to rope a horse. With any luck, he'd get the man around the neck.
"A death sentence?" Jez cried out. "But we haven't even discussed terms! We could strike a good deal!" She hadn't broken her stride; desperation was a powerful motivator by itself, and she was reasonably miffed that Silveris was so quick to turn her away. This deep in the desert, being turned away from water was just as much a death sentence as getting in over one's head with bandits.
She glanced over at Rook. She's in desperate need of rescue, Jez concluded. Bet he wouldn't be too happy if I stabbed one of his floating bandits for her, even if it meant more water to go around. This is going to get worse before it gets better. The thought made a bit of the desert weariness poke at her brain again.
She glanced over at Rook. She's in desperate need of rescue, Jez concluded. Bet he wouldn't be too happy if I stabbed one of his floating bandits for her, even if it meant more water to go around. This is going to get worse before it gets better. The thought made a bit of the desert weariness poke at her brain again.
((Sure Mystic!))
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