The blurred and bloodied visage of his opponent lying crippled below him seemed as though it could have been an accurate reflection of the devastated remnants that remained to be felt of himself in that moment - two Xaelan warriors of impressive size and build, each battered within an inch of their lives and with little more than the parasitic blotches of obsidian protruding uniquely from beneath the film of crimson in which both were bathed. Nhogai's chest heaved with each lung-slicing breath he stole as a fiery glare that could shatter mountains weighed down upon the other whom was only too eager to return the favour. The latter's teeth bared themselves in protest against the mind-numbing pain that tore itself throughout his leg, his trembling hand weakly hovering above the haft of a small blade - once belonging to him - now lodged deeply within his flesh. The brief seconds in which he had felt the assured advantage within his grasp had fled beneath the desperate though successful attempt of his competitor to deter him with a hasty, ranged attack. Nhogai had never shown a particular aptitude for throwing knives in his limited experience with them, though he welcomed the single remaining opportunity that had been left to him when a ferocity fuelled by desperation responded in haste as he beheld his panicked opponent racing down the rocky slope, his goal to reach for the bow and quiver which had escaped him during their scuffle and bring about a certain end to the one-on-one battle. It was an accurately-landed jab to the throat which had allowed him the chance of escape beneath his foe's indomitable strength, one that was only exaggerated further when Nhogai's weight would only work against him and bring him to stumble upon the loose rubble that had laced this section of the mountainous incline that lay underfoot. A bizarre terrain to have found themselves landed upon, though through the chaos of battle it was determined that their personal war was one of attrition, with neither male daring to let themselves emerge the loser, each taking turns to push the advantage against their rival before inevitably being bested in their counter attack by an enemy of equivocal strength - and though it were Nhogai whom had landed the deadly blow, the odds yet remained against him.
Yes, Nhogai had made his mark; though that had earned him little more than a few seconds... and only left him completely unarmed in the most unfortunate of positions. With nothing of his own to offer in retaliation, Nhogai was no more than a sitting duck. Even his fellows, all capable warriors whom should have been somewhere nearby, had known to return without him, even should they have proved successful in their own battles. They knew better than to risk seeking him out should his encounter have seen him delayed for longer than was expected, and it was in their ability to follow orders above heart that he trusted in them to not attempt coming to his rescue. There would be no hope of a last moment rescue. He was on his own.
Nhogai gritted his teeth as a sharp exhale announced both his desperate search for inspiration and his failing ability to continue hiding the extent of his injuries much further. The man's glare darkened into something even more dangerous then as it frantically set itself upon anything and everything around him, his determination to emerge victorious in this battle triumphing above every shredding ounce of pain that tore throughout every inch of his body as it screamed it's silent requiem of agony... and even further above the pathetic and unXaelan-like fear of mere death.
"...tch..."
Even while crippled, there was no hope for Nhogai to close the distance on his foe before he would have reached the bow which lay only a few feet ahead of him, and with nothing of his own to use in his defence, Nhogai's growing frustration only intensified to critical levels, seeing his boots digging only more heavily into the rubble underfoot and stealing his balance even further than before. A furiously desperate glare saw him snap at the neck repeatedly as he fought valiantly to retain his own footing in his endeavour, unknowing of what options yet remained for him to take. He needed..... SOMETHING. He could not die here. Not now. Not to cowardly vermin like this.
"....."
....something.... something..... anything.........
[...]
"..............!"
From the sudden and enveloping darkness pounced forth the vaguely familiar view of a stone ceiling, a structure of foreign construct and one which he had yet to learn to grow accustomed to awakening to. As had been the case with every moment he had found the ability to earn himself some rest, he was once again greeted by a visit from those charred memories whose loathsome existence had served as a prelude to the series of events that had led him to assuming a residency in this Raen settlement. A fatigued gaze masked by a deceptive facade of apathy gently narrowed to encourage focus, as the blurry scenery that met his eyes slowly faded toward the edges of his vision to meet with a hazy return of the world's colour which curled and wisped their way across strained eyes, much like a dye leaking it's stain into a flowing stream. Around him, the weak hues of the early morning were noticed to be have slowly begun canvassing across the quaint room space, quietly reminding the awoken Xaelan that this was to be the third time that he were greeted by such a sight; the absolute limit of Unzan's willingness to offer his crude and disrespectful presence any futher hospitality - assuming that his daughter's queer claims were not to be believed. He blinked slowly as he lay upon his bedspread, willingly allowing his thoughts to be carried in a slightly different direction. When the time came, just what end he would inevitably pursue this day even he did not know, and strangely, he could not find it within himself to offer much care to the matter. Either way, his fate would seem to have been sealed. What remained to be achieved before that end, however, remained uncertain to the Xaelan.
".....?"
It was soon after his awakening that the stillness of that morning would find itself meeting with an unnatural disturbance. Curiosity need not have been a vice for the scene to have earned the man's attention, seeing him so far as to rise from his humble bedding and make his way closer to the doorway so as to interpret what little he may from the inconsistent muffles and shouts that could be heard emanating throughout the household. It wouldn't take long for him to learn of Unzan's fall, curious as it was to ponder just how such an event could have come about, though his reaction was anything but afflicted. It mattered little to him what fate had in store for even he who had near-threatened to bleed the Xaelan's throat only two days previous, nor what effects it might have upon the potential of a more prolonged visit on his part. He was, after all, neither an enemy nor an ally in his mind. His departure from this realm held an equatable meaning to that of leaf loosing itself from a dying tree.
...How curious it was, Nhogai would however note, that he would meet his end on today of all days.
In a twisted way, it seemed darkly ironic that perhaps his daughter had indeed been right about his absence of objection in the end.
"..........."
Yes, Nhogai had made his mark; though that had earned him little more than a few seconds... and only left him completely unarmed in the most unfortunate of positions. With nothing of his own to offer in retaliation, Nhogai was no more than a sitting duck. Even his fellows, all capable warriors whom should have been somewhere nearby, had known to return without him, even should they have proved successful in their own battles. They knew better than to risk seeking him out should his encounter have seen him delayed for longer than was expected, and it was in their ability to follow orders above heart that he trusted in them to not attempt coming to his rescue. There would be no hope of a last moment rescue. He was on his own.
Nhogai gritted his teeth as a sharp exhale announced both his desperate search for inspiration and his failing ability to continue hiding the extent of his injuries much further. The man's glare darkened into something even more dangerous then as it frantically set itself upon anything and everything around him, his determination to emerge victorious in this battle triumphing above every shredding ounce of pain that tore throughout every inch of his body as it screamed it's silent requiem of agony... and even further above the pathetic and unXaelan-like fear of mere death.
"...tch..."
Even while crippled, there was no hope for Nhogai to close the distance on his foe before he would have reached the bow which lay only a few feet ahead of him, and with nothing of his own to use in his defence, Nhogai's growing frustration only intensified to critical levels, seeing his boots digging only more heavily into the rubble underfoot and stealing his balance even further than before. A furiously desperate glare saw him snap at the neck repeatedly as he fought valiantly to retain his own footing in his endeavour, unknowing of what options yet remained for him to take. He needed..... SOMETHING. He could not die here. Not now. Not to cowardly vermin like this.
"....."
....something.... something..... anything.........
[...]
"..............!"
From the sudden and enveloping darkness pounced forth the vaguely familiar view of a stone ceiling, a structure of foreign construct and one which he had yet to learn to grow accustomed to awakening to. As had been the case with every moment he had found the ability to earn himself some rest, he was once again greeted by a visit from those charred memories whose loathsome existence had served as a prelude to the series of events that had led him to assuming a residency in this Raen settlement. A fatigued gaze masked by a deceptive facade of apathy gently narrowed to encourage focus, as the blurry scenery that met his eyes slowly faded toward the edges of his vision to meet with a hazy return of the world's colour which curled and wisped their way across strained eyes, much like a dye leaking it's stain into a flowing stream. Around him, the weak hues of the early morning were noticed to be have slowly begun canvassing across the quaint room space, quietly reminding the awoken Xaelan that this was to be the third time that he were greeted by such a sight; the absolute limit of Unzan's willingness to offer his crude and disrespectful presence any futher hospitality - assuming that his daughter's queer claims were not to be believed. He blinked slowly as he lay upon his bedspread, willingly allowing his thoughts to be carried in a slightly different direction. When the time came, just what end he would inevitably pursue this day even he did not know, and strangely, he could not find it within himself to offer much care to the matter. Either way, his fate would seem to have been sealed. What remained to be achieved before that end, however, remained uncertain to the Xaelan.
".....?"
It was soon after his awakening that the stillness of that morning would find itself meeting with an unnatural disturbance. Curiosity need not have been a vice for the scene to have earned the man's attention, seeing him so far as to rise from his humble bedding and make his way closer to the doorway so as to interpret what little he may from the inconsistent muffles and shouts that could be heard emanating throughout the household. It wouldn't take long for him to learn of Unzan's fall, curious as it was to ponder just how such an event could have come about, though his reaction was anything but afflicted. It mattered little to him what fate had in store for even he who had near-threatened to bleed the Xaelan's throat only two days previous, nor what effects it might have upon the potential of a more prolonged visit on his part. He was, after all, neither an enemy nor an ally in his mind. His departure from this realm held an equatable meaning to that of leaf loosing itself from a dying tree.
...How curious it was, Nhogai would however note, that he would meet his end on today of all days.
In a twisted way, it seemed darkly ironic that perhaps his daughter had indeed been right about his absence of objection in the end.
"..........."
![[Image: ecec20e41f.png]](https://puu.sh/xvMxb/ecec20e41f.png)
Characters: Andre Winter (Hy'ur) / K'nahli Yohko (Miqo'te)
