One wolf; one anxious wolf was all it took to put Kiht into the position where she no longer had time to entertain any possibilities. The roar had only caused many in the camp to stir, but one wolf became wide awake. Kiht was unlucky - she had moved into that position knowing that wolf was asleep. She did not anticipate the roar from a distant dragon. The wolf began barking and snarling then attempted to charge at her, but it was tied to his post by a long rope that wasn't quite long enough to allow the wolf to reach her. Kiht was startled to attention. More wolves began to awaken and bark in response. Ixal began to grumble and mutter as they emerged from their tents.
Kiht turned around, and quickly made her way back towards the ritual semi-circle. She had to find an alternate way to the gate. There was no more time; she would have to try her fire plan. Setting fire to the gate would likely move the guards away from it. As she moved from cover to cover and tent to tent trying to maintain her stealth, stirring Ixal created too many unexpected variables. She turned the corner of a tent; attempting to take another route towards the gate, but found an Ixal warrior waiting.
The Ixal warrior jumped back and let out a bird-like growl. It was just as surprised to see her as she was to see him. She took advantage of his hesitation, and quickly stabbed her spear into his abdomen then bolted to her right. The Ixal was not prepared to guard, but the wound was shallow. He staggered back, and let out a squawk of protest. Kiht's path began to lead her through the ritual circle; unfortunately, the three Ixal and the Shaman Chief were still there.
The three Ixal were armed. Two wielded scimitars while one wielded a halberd. They moved to intercept Kiht. She had no choice but to go through them. The first Ixal swordsman that charged at her raised his sword high, but she increased her speed unexpectedly. As his sword fell to try and chop, her spear flashed forward and struck against his lower arm; parrying his attack away. Quickly, in a flash of steel, Kiht's spear found its way to the Ixal's left inner thigh. The Ixal staggered out of the way then fell to the ground. Kiht moved past him, but the other swordsman was upon her quickly. The Ixal with the halberd unexpectedly threw the large pole-arm like a javelin. Kiht did not expect it, but it was inaccurate. A quick dodge to the side allowed her to avoid it, but the Ixal swordsman came upon her swinging wildly in short, quick slashes. Kiht interrupted the slashes with her own flurry of swings and strikes with the head of her spear. In a dance-like twirl, she spun her spear to once again strike the swordsman upon his arm. His sword went flying to the ground as he let out a yelp. She quickly took advantage of the situation, and brought her spear to thrust right into his chest. She yanked her spear free as the Ixal thrashed and fell to the ground.
The third Ixal, who tossed his halberd, had drawn a curved dagger. He let out a high-pitched roar as he charged her. The Ixal had long arms, but with only a dagger, Kiht still had better reach with her spear. She charged him with a flurry of thrusts. The Ixal staggered back after taking multiple wounds; just as Kiht had planned. Her spear quickly struck at his knees from between his legs. The beast-man collapsed; letting out a growling squawk of protest.
She was not going to turn around to see how many Ixal were now possibly closing on her, so she pressed on, but the Shaman Chief stood in her way. The female Ixal may have been smaller, but she wielded an ornate metal shield decorated with unfamiliar insignias. Even in the dark, it shined like polished bronze. Her right hand held an ornate short spear. It had a white haft with a three-pronged metallic spearhead that looked like it was made out of brass. Attached to two of the prongs were green feathers. The Shaman Chief took a battle-ready stance; determined to stop Kiht.
Despite the fancy weapons, Kiht confidently paced to face this fourth Ixal. As she charged in, the Shaman Chief thrust her spear forward before Kiht was even within reach. A sudden gust of wind blew forth from the spear, and knocked Kiht onto her back. She was surprised, but unharmed. She threw her legs up then forward; jumping onto her feet. She prepared her spear, but this time she would approach more carefully.
Kiht began to maneuver around; attempting to strafe and flank the Shaman Chief. That is when the Ixal swung her spear in an arc towards Kiht. Once again, Kiht was hit by a sudden burst of wind. That gust had taken her at an angle; thus causing her to stagger and nearly fall once again. The Shaman Chief came in quickly attempting to thrust, but Kiht barely dodged – she stepped back in a quick hop to avoid the attack. The wind spear was a big threat. Kiht needed to go on the offensive quickly. She was close, so she attempted a quick spear strike at the Shaman Chief's shoulder. However, the Ixal blocked the attack with her shield. She then stepped forward, and bashed into Kiht's shoulder with the shield. Kiht staggered back, but she was ready for the following thrust attack. Her spear swung down, and parried the thrust. The Ixal then flicked her spear towards Kiht's legs. A gust of wind impacted her legs; causing her to stagger, fall and roll on the ground.
Kiht growled in frustration as she began to climb back onto her feet. Suddenly, pain surged through her whole body as she felt a sharp impact on her shoulder blade. Her body was pumping with adrenaline, so she was still able to clamber to her feet. She realized she had taken a stab to her shoulder, and she realized that she lost hold of her spear. It was several yards away from her on the ground. She had little time to attempt any sort of defense as the Shaman Chief prepared to deliver another thrust. Kiht seemed almost helpless.
Kiht turned around, and quickly made her way back towards the ritual semi-circle. She had to find an alternate way to the gate. There was no more time; she would have to try her fire plan. Setting fire to the gate would likely move the guards away from it. As she moved from cover to cover and tent to tent trying to maintain her stealth, stirring Ixal created too many unexpected variables. She turned the corner of a tent; attempting to take another route towards the gate, but found an Ixal warrior waiting.
The Ixal warrior jumped back and let out a bird-like growl. It was just as surprised to see her as she was to see him. She took advantage of his hesitation, and quickly stabbed her spear into his abdomen then bolted to her right. The Ixal was not prepared to guard, but the wound was shallow. He staggered back, and let out a squawk of protest. Kiht's path began to lead her through the ritual circle; unfortunately, the three Ixal and the Shaman Chief were still there.
The three Ixal were armed. Two wielded scimitars while one wielded a halberd. They moved to intercept Kiht. She had no choice but to go through them. The first Ixal swordsman that charged at her raised his sword high, but she increased her speed unexpectedly. As his sword fell to try and chop, her spear flashed forward and struck against his lower arm; parrying his attack away. Quickly, in a flash of steel, Kiht's spear found its way to the Ixal's left inner thigh. The Ixal staggered out of the way then fell to the ground. Kiht moved past him, but the other swordsman was upon her quickly. The Ixal with the halberd unexpectedly threw the large pole-arm like a javelin. Kiht did not expect it, but it was inaccurate. A quick dodge to the side allowed her to avoid it, but the Ixal swordsman came upon her swinging wildly in short, quick slashes. Kiht interrupted the slashes with her own flurry of swings and strikes with the head of her spear. In a dance-like twirl, she spun her spear to once again strike the swordsman upon his arm. His sword went flying to the ground as he let out a yelp. She quickly took advantage of the situation, and brought her spear to thrust right into his chest. She yanked her spear free as the Ixal thrashed and fell to the ground.
The third Ixal, who tossed his halberd, had drawn a curved dagger. He let out a high-pitched roar as he charged her. The Ixal had long arms, but with only a dagger, Kiht still had better reach with her spear. She charged him with a flurry of thrusts. The Ixal staggered back after taking multiple wounds; just as Kiht had planned. Her spear quickly struck at his knees from between his legs. The beast-man collapsed; letting out a growling squawk of protest.
She was not going to turn around to see how many Ixal were now possibly closing on her, so she pressed on, but the Shaman Chief stood in her way. The female Ixal may have been smaller, but she wielded an ornate metal shield decorated with unfamiliar insignias. Even in the dark, it shined like polished bronze. Her right hand held an ornate short spear. It had a white haft with a three-pronged metallic spearhead that looked like it was made out of brass. Attached to two of the prongs were green feathers. The Shaman Chief took a battle-ready stance; determined to stop Kiht.
Despite the fancy weapons, Kiht confidently paced to face this fourth Ixal. As she charged in, the Shaman Chief thrust her spear forward before Kiht was even within reach. A sudden gust of wind blew forth from the spear, and knocked Kiht onto her back. She was surprised, but unharmed. She threw her legs up then forward; jumping onto her feet. She prepared her spear, but this time she would approach more carefully.
Kiht began to maneuver around; attempting to strafe and flank the Shaman Chief. That is when the Ixal swung her spear in an arc towards Kiht. Once again, Kiht was hit by a sudden burst of wind. That gust had taken her at an angle; thus causing her to stagger and nearly fall once again. The Shaman Chief came in quickly attempting to thrust, but Kiht barely dodged – she stepped back in a quick hop to avoid the attack. The wind spear was a big threat. Kiht needed to go on the offensive quickly. She was close, so she attempted a quick spear strike at the Shaman Chief's shoulder. However, the Ixal blocked the attack with her shield. She then stepped forward, and bashed into Kiht's shoulder with the shield. Kiht staggered back, but she was ready for the following thrust attack. Her spear swung down, and parried the thrust. The Ixal then flicked her spear towards Kiht's legs. A gust of wind impacted her legs; causing her to stagger, fall and roll on the ground.
Kiht growled in frustration as she began to climb back onto her feet. Suddenly, pain surged through her whole body as she felt a sharp impact on her shoulder blade. Her body was pumping with adrenaline, so she was still able to clamber to her feet. She realized she had taken a stab to her shoulder, and she realized that she lost hold of her spear. It was several yards away from her on the ground. She had little time to attempt any sort of defense as the Shaman Chief prepared to deliver another thrust. Kiht seemed almost helpless.
