The woman, he knew not her name, just a Keeper, walking the path from here to there, "May I ask? I am searching this road for a Hyur, a midlander-like woman. She would be young, have you seen her?" The miqo'te thought for a moment, then smiled, "No sir, I'm afraid I haven't." The elezen returned the smile, warm and loving, "Thank you for your time Miss." he said as he raised his gun to her head and fired, his smile never leaving his face.
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Erik waited all the day, never once seeing the girl, but he had learned more. She was associated with the Night Blades, a group he had encountered a time or two. He learned from one of their numbers that they made their home in the Lavender Beds. Setting off, he reached the Beds by sunset. Their home was grand, much bigger then the Red Wings' headquarters... on the outside anyway. There he questioned more, leaving a message of danger for her with one of her colleagues.
Once finished there was little to do but wait. Traveling the road from the Beds to Gridania, he would stay in the Shroud until she made contact or his duty forced him to leave. These thoughts fluttered away as he walked and spotted the girl on the side of the road. She had a terrible wound to her head, a gunshot wound. He checked her closely, feeling sorrow for the fear on her face. He stood and listened now, scanning the outlying areas around him. So much cover, so many perfect spots to ambush. The poor girl was bait he realized as he drew his blade, a flash from the sword and his ring calling out his armor. He felt for another, but it was harder here then in the desert, so much wild aether drowning out everything.
It was to late anyway. The shot rang out and all he felt was the hot tearing. His armor was made for hand to hand weapons, not firearms. The armor's enchantment did more harm then good, slowing the round, taking the energy needed to pass through him. The bullet lodged in his lung caused him to cough blood, but he stood, looking in shock at the elezen, waving like he was a friend spotting him in a market, "Hello Erik. Wonderful to see you again." Two more shots that time, one to his right arm, causing him to drop his sword, the other deflected by his shield. "You always stop for a pretty kitty don't you? I know of a pretty kitty you really like. Maybe after I'm done sawing your limb off the family tree, maybe I'll go see her." Erik gritted his teeth in rage, but was unable to move, he was lucky he hadn't blacked out yet. "Now here is my plan, you ready? I'm going to add a few more holes to mostly non-vital areas so you can have the fun of bleeding out. Meanwhile I'm going to go look for that little girl of your's. I hear-tell she has quite a way with the aether, bet she gets that from you. Be proud. That bit of data may keep her alive for a bit. My machine needs a new battery since you left, she may be just what the doctor ordered." Erik lurched forward, sweat rolling over him as his body began to feel cold. There was no way he would reach him, easily 30 fulms away, damn guns. Ombre smiled as he raised the gun and took aim for the stomach, "Night night cousin." The shot echoed for miles. As Ombre walked away he wondered why Erik had dropped his shield before he fired. Never knowing he had pressed his linkpearl, the shot echoed... everywhere.
------------------
Erik waited all the day, never once seeing the girl, but he had learned more. She was associated with the Night Blades, a group he had encountered a time or two. He learned from one of their numbers that they made their home in the Lavender Beds. Setting off, he reached the Beds by sunset. Their home was grand, much bigger then the Red Wings' headquarters... on the outside anyway. There he questioned more, leaving a message of danger for her with one of her colleagues.
Once finished there was little to do but wait. Traveling the road from the Beds to Gridania, he would stay in the Shroud until she made contact or his duty forced him to leave. These thoughts fluttered away as he walked and spotted the girl on the side of the road. She had a terrible wound to her head, a gunshot wound. He checked her closely, feeling sorrow for the fear on her face. He stood and listened now, scanning the outlying areas around him. So much cover, so many perfect spots to ambush. The poor girl was bait he realized as he drew his blade, a flash from the sword and his ring calling out his armor. He felt for another, but it was harder here then in the desert, so much wild aether drowning out everything.
It was to late anyway. The shot rang out and all he felt was the hot tearing. His armor was made for hand to hand weapons, not firearms. The armor's enchantment did more harm then good, slowing the round, taking the energy needed to pass through him. The bullet lodged in his lung caused him to cough blood, but he stood, looking in shock at the elezen, waving like he was a friend spotting him in a market, "Hello Erik. Wonderful to see you again." Two more shots that time, one to his right arm, causing him to drop his sword, the other deflected by his shield. "You always stop for a pretty kitty don't you? I know of a pretty kitty you really like. Maybe after I'm done sawing your limb off the family tree, maybe I'll go see her." Erik gritted his teeth in rage, but was unable to move, he was lucky he hadn't blacked out yet. "Now here is my plan, you ready? I'm going to add a few more holes to mostly non-vital areas so you can have the fun of bleeding out. Meanwhile I'm going to go look for that little girl of your's. I hear-tell she has quite a way with the aether, bet she gets that from you. Be proud. That bit of data may keep her alive for a bit. My machine needs a new battery since you left, she may be just what the doctor ordered." Erik lurched forward, sweat rolling over him as his body began to feel cold. There was no way he would reach him, easily 30 fulms away, damn guns. Ombre smiled as he raised the gun and took aim for the stomach, "Night night cousin." The shot echoed for miles. As Ombre walked away he wondered why Erik had dropped his shield before he fired. Never knowing he had pressed his linkpearl, the shot echoed... everywhere.




![[Image: Emblem%252520by%252520Rhea%252520Zaheela%252520x50.png]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5YSh8yMniHU/VlLStr_7SSI/AAAAAAAAIQ4/qLoOmtz-Jdg/s100-Ic42/Emblem%252520by%252520Rhea%252520Zaheela%252520x50.png)
