Forums » Fantasy Roleplay » Journey to Safety (ElisexDadj)

The sky was dark, the moon and stars shining over the mountainous area. The forest was silent save for a few howls of wolves and crickets chirping. The silence was disturbed finally by the sounds of footsteps running through the brush. A woman panted heavily as she carried something bundled in her arms. Her pale skin glowed in the moonlight, making her stand out like a sore thumb. Her face was tear stained with hair stuck to it from sweating. She panted heavily as she ran through the woods. Her long dress flowed behind her, the bottom ripped, probably from tripping on it. The blue dress was stained dark red from blood. Her body had random cuts, and her slender neck was bruised badly. She had a bag on her back but she was more concerned with the medium sized bundle she held tightly in her arms. She let out a sob as she ran. "Someone help me!" She yelled out in the woods. Unlikely she would find anyone this far out in the woods.

The ranger was asleep in a tree, cradled between the ancient bows. At this time in his life, he had no companions, no mode of transportation and no direction what so ever. It wasn't as bad as it could be though; this wasn't a dark spot. He was conscious, he was in control of himself and most importantly, he remembered each day as they came an went. But he thought this next day was not quite yet due to come, but he was being awoken nonetheless. The moon and stars still held the sky as Dadj blinked himself awake.

Someone was making a racket and it immediately put a frown on the man's normally... well, he was always frowning, so his face hadn't changed much. Slipping from the tree, Dadj landed with a little clatter as his long bow, quiver and short swords settled on him. The yelling was getting closer and the ranger decided to just cross his arms and wait for this ext disturbance life was sending his way. In the darkness of the trees, his honeyed eyes gave off a faint, eery glow.

The woman would soon stumble out in front of Dadj, falling to her knees. She cried softly, looking up to see the man. She panted heavily as her large blue eyes widened. She looked at him with both fear and hope. She looked back behind her and then to him again. Her hair was black, shoulder length and was partly tied up with a red ribbon. "P-Please.." She mumbled. "Please help me.. I mean you no harm.. I am lost and being chased..." Her large eyes blinked at him innocently as large tears flowed down her cheeks. She had never probably even been in a forest before, let alone run through one in the middle of the eve.

The ranger looked down out her without interest. He blinked as she spoke and quirked a brow at her comment of meaning him no harm. He had no such thoughts that this woman would be able to in any capacity harm him. Other than tiring his diaphragm from making him laugh.

But, he looked behind her to see what might be tailing her anyway. He was a tall, lithe man with a head of dark brown curls and sharp features. He was dressed in the normal supple leathers of an outdoors. "I don't see anyone chasing you."

Her shoulders slumped a bit as he spoke. She bit her lip looking back again and then to Dadj. "Thats because I put distance between us.. Please if he finds me he's going to kill me! I will pay you... just please..." The frail looking woman whimpered on the ground, sniffling. "I'm so scared.." She whispered. She would look back up at him, fearful worried for her life.

Dadj was still looking beyond her into the woods, waiting for some sign of chase. But she said the magic word and it was like someone had thrown cold water on the Ranger. "Fine, I take payment in the form of coin only, though. None of this bartering nonsense that's making a come back."

He put a hand around her arm and helped her to her feet. He would also take the bag from her, should she allow him to. "Can you still run?"

She looked up at him as he took her arm and helped her to her feet. She was relieved that he had finally agreed to help her. She wouldn't allow him to take the bundle in her arms, even though it looked pretty heavy. She did allow him to take the bag slung over her shoulders. When he asked if she oould still run she thought for a moment, "A-A little more I can run, but I am quite tired" She said in her soft voice. She sniffled, rubbing her cheek on her shoulder, smearing the red blood on her cheek further. She held the bundle tightly again and looked at him. "I want to get as far away from here. Possibly to even the ocean.. I know thats a long way... but If I can get on a boat I will be safe.."

Dadj grunted and urged her to move on. If she could run a little further, he could find her an inn to stay at. For an added price, of course. As they moved, the Ranger kept an eye out for anyone coming up behind them. He wished briefly he had a horse, but that would have made things easy. Life was never easy.

"Keep low and duck back behind this tree." While the Ranger himself could easily use his Camouflage skill to get the pursuers to pass right on by, he wasn't so sure it was going to cover this woman. It was worth a try, though. If she complied, he would stash her in the roots of the tree behind him and stand before her to make the cover.

She ran behind him, although she could not run as fast as him. When they stopped she looked at the tree, trying to catch her breath. She did as she was told, getting into the roots of the tree. She hugged the bundle she was carrying tightly and whimpered. Horse snorting and the sound of a dog howling echoed in the distance. As the sounds got closer he would realize whoever this was, was not alone. There were at least 5 men on horseback and 2 men on foot. Elise began to shake and whimper at the sounds. Two men were carrying torches as they trudged through the forest, looking.

Dadj unclasped his cloak and tossed it over Elise. The thing didn't have any magical properties, but in the dark, between the roots, it might help her cover. The Ranger had to think fast as the dogs were obviously going to get her scent very easily. He decided to engage them.

Walking out and away from the tree, Dadj made his way to greet the on coming party. "Hail, fine gentleman. What brings you to these woods?"

(sorry for suddenly slowing down! Its been a super busy week!)

Her eyes widened when he started to walk away... towards the crowd. She wanted to yell No! but... she held back her tongue and watched. She was petrified with fear. The group looked at Dadj as he approached, the dogs growling at him. The man that was obviously the leader sat up front. He was a very large man, probably about 6'5 if he were standing. His fine clothes were covered in blood. He had a claymore on his back. His hair was brown and short and his green eyes cold. He looked down at Dadj with a frightening stair. "We're looking for a woman. She's about 4'9 and really... frail looking." He said as if it were bothersome to him to have to explain what he was doing.

(Not a problem, reply whenever you're able )

Luckily for Dadj he was not easily intimidated at all. The man may be giant and covered in what was most likely a woman's blood, but the ranger was nonchalant. He shrugged as if he wondered why this would concern him.

"I haven't seen a woman here in the woods at night. That would be dangerous." He eyed the dogs. He would be loathe to hurt them, should it come to that, but he would if need be. He rested his hands on his hips, near the hilts of his short swords.

The men grew suspicious of him, all placing their hands on their swords and bows. Zayne glared down at Dadj. "Begone, We have no business with you." he said, clearly not convinced of this man saying she wasn't here. It was a large forest after all and the man was growing far too impatient.

(i'm going to be afk until friday or saturday! Just letting you know!)

(I have returned! Reply whenever you're able!)

(I'm so sorry, I thought I had posted that I would be busy as well ! Oops! Just so you know, though, I'm usually not on during the weekends. And I will be going away this Thursday-Monday!)

"Perhaps you should begone, I was here first." Try as he might, Dadj's tongue always got the better of him. He didn't like to be spoken to that way. Who was this stranger to tell him what to do anyway?

(And then, I never saw that you posted for some reason )

Zayne turned his head to the man on his right. They all drew their swords and one man drew his bow, pulling the rope back, ready to shoot. Zayne looked back at the man coldly, his face showing displeasure. "You must have a death wish to tell someone such as myself to leave." he said with a smirk. He had something in his pocket... and it was glowing. He rested his hand on it, patting it.

The ranger grinned and cocked his head to one side. "As a matter of fact, I do indeed have a death wish. But I don't think you'll be the one to fulfill it." He shrugged one shoulder, the picture of nonchalance. He wondered what wonderful thing the man was going to throw at him. Hopefully it was something new.

The man however made no attempt to throw anything at Dadj. Instead, he nodded at the archer, to shoot his arrow at Dadj. He moved his horse, to go around while the rest of the men watched Dadj, ready to attack if that arrow had missed. Zayne had no intentions of letting some mere man stand in his way.

Dadj's eyes slid to man with the arrow. He rolled them. "Very original. Shoot the man down with an arrow! What sport!" But his musings were cut short as the arrow thumped into his chest, buried almost to the fletching from the close range. The breath left his body quickly and he staggered back, then to the ground.