Taken (Semi-closed) (On Hiatus)

[Xydane Vale]

Meanwhile...

 

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It was a gorgeous day in Gridania and though clouds were starting to form in the distance, the sun still shined with a brilliant ray of majesty.

 

Dressed in light armor and covered by a black coat, Xydane removed his hood as he quickly made his way toward the Botanist Guild. It was funny to think that his nervousness and excitement clashed at the same time. It has been months since he had visited Clover and he was overjoyed to see her.

 

Held in his hand was a bouquet of emerald and golden flowers, tied neatly together by a white ribbon. The emerald flowers were meant to represent the color of the girl's eyes while the golden roses was a favorite of his past beloved. He had handpicked them himself and thought of them as a wonderful gift.

 

Exhaling deeply, the young man approached the closed door of the guild and knocked. Only in a short moment did an elderly woman answer, her expression sincere as it was surprised. She smiled warmly.

 

"How can I help you, dear?"

 

"Evening ma'am," said Xydane while a shy smile made it's way onto his face. "I was wondering if a girl named Clover was here today?"

 

With a slow shake of her head, the old Hyur replied.

 

"I'm afraid not, son. She's been gone for some time and I think she may still be traveling."

 

Hearing the news caused his smile to slowly vanish as a hint of disappointment kicked in. Still, he had traveled up north to see her and the thought of waiting couldn't hurt. Bowing his head thankfully, Xydane held the bouquet towards the woman and beamed once more.

 

"If she does return, can you make sure she get these flowers? Tell her it's from Xydane."

 

"Of course, dear! Might I also say that these flowers are absolutely gorgeous. I'm sure she'll love them."

 

"I'm sure she will too. You have my thanks, ma'am."

 

Bowing once more, the knight turned and casually walked away. Perhaps it was time for him to visit other parts of the city. Gridania was looking rather lovely this time of year anyways.

[K'nahli]

Nezul's eyes shot deeply into Siha's, not wavering for even a moment as she spoke. His threat had to be made clear. Deceit would never be tolerated. For both her sake and her allies, she needed to tell him exactly what he wanted to hear. Her voice stuttered and shook with what seemed to be a typical fear that her kind was so quick to indulge the Ixali with when met face to face. It was a good start but he would not be sold on mere dramatics. Many a fool, arrogantly thinking themselves as would-be-heroes, had attempted the same trickery in the past, believing that their lies could not possibly be proven even when their direction yielded no results.

Their 'bravery' was often quickly regretted.

 

Her persisting fear and reluctance was a positive sign in one sense. Normally it would lend one to believe that only truth was pouring from their lips, though the skeptical Nezul was not entirely convinced. She may have been grovelling at their feet earlier, but there was more to this miqo'te than met the eye. She placed her own self in danger in exchange for the mere possibility of Simba's well-being. Her words were not to be taken lightly. Even were it the case that the two were merely bound by blood, her altruism was a trait than could not be overlooked. Her compassion and morality both had to be drowned beneath a crushing sea of fear.

 

 

Nezul snorted with uncertainty as the girl finished speaking. Not for a moment did he take his eyes away from her, even when she motioned past him to indicate the alleged direction which they had taken. He drew every so slightly closer, allowing his  large and sharp fangs to reveal themselves to the young miqo'te once more. He growled menacingly. It had seemed that he had come to his own conclusion.

 

The girl was a liar.

 

 

 

"Traitor!"

 

"No! How could you?!"

 

"I won't let you take them too!"

 

The unexpected voices of the two males spoke aloud suddenly, the emotion and perhaps sincerity carried with them succeeding in distracting Nezul from the girl whom had come very close to earning his wrath. The archer's head quickly swiveled back and forth to bring both men into view as they interjected in protest against the girl's 'betrayal' as they saw it. He blinked once and then twice before returning his eyes to focus upon Siha yet again. A subtle, twisted smile formed across the creature's face as the corners of his mouth peaked upwards with delight. Perhaps her direction was indeed worth pursuing.

 

Nezul slowly rose to his feet with a faint sigh of intrigue that hissed out of his leathery throat.

 

"Good. In that case, let us...-" he began to speak as another booming clap of thunder from the encroaching storm rolled through the tainted ceiling of cloud overhead in warning to all who dwelt within the forest below - and with it, followed the low and commanding tone of their superior's authority.

 

"Nezul" Kuzal, their leader, spoke placidly though with a distinct voice of direction toward his Second.

 

Nezul turned to look in his direction, the evident appearance of joy soon fading from his expression as though he knew what was coming, before indeed being met with a dismissive shake of Kuzal's head.

 

"Why would you deny us further bounty? We can surely find them without trouble!" he retorted quickly while taking an unintentional step of belligerence towards Kuzal. His response was eager and almost pleading though it was not intended as a challenge of authority.

 

"..They could not have traveled far. Their rotten stench still corrupts the air.." he added a little more calmly while drawing in a large, nasally breath through his distorted beaked that he hiked up to better catch the breeze.

 

 

"We have wasted enough time here. The wind travels fast and with it our deeds here will surely be carried to the Gridanians" Kuzal replied wisely before, he too, gently tiled his beak upwards and sampled the air with a more discreetly drawn breath.

 

 

"...Someone is already pursuing us..." he added after a brief pause with a voice that betrayed a subtle hint of contempt. He blinked slowly, taking a moment to withdraw himself into his own thoughts.

 

Nezul snarled in irritation as he drove a powerful, clawed fist into the side of the caravan with a tremendous crack. The sturdy wood creaked and groaned under the weight of where his fist had landed, the force in turn startling the anxious chocobos once more and sending them into yet another chirping frenzy. The archer's features furrowed and frowned with dissatisfaction. His leader's direction was infuriating... though, ultimately, he knew that he was correct. Such rich fortune was not something they should test in exchange for but a little more.

 

 

 

"Dispatch a couple of scouts if you so wish, but we are returning. Come" Kuzal replied after looking on for a short moment longer, before then proceeding to descend from the hill.

 

Nezul drew in a deep breath with as he came to accept Kuzal's order. His eyes opened once more to stare absently through the fine grains that laced through the wood's surface before, with a quick glance over his large shoulder, he then focused his stare on two of his idle brethren.

 

"Go"

 

His blunt instruction was acknowledged with a brief nod from each of the two Ixali before they both hastened down the path in the specific direction that the girl had pointed toward earlier. Their weapons were drawn and readied for any encounter they may stumble upon. This situation was different from the one prior.

If they encountered anything they deemed too much of a threat to attempt to subdue and capture alone... then they would instead choose to slay it.

[Siha]

This beastman was a shrewd being, she could tell that even her most genuine performance wasn't convincing him completely and fear slithered more tightly around her heart. He would know, he would find out, he would-

 

The cries from behind her erupted, first S'imba's whom had flicked his tail and then the more convinced one of the Lalafell, she couldn't recall his name off the top of her head but his own was completely genuine. He'd been bound and had no way of knowing her plan, if that was what had to be then that was what had to be, she would deal with his ire later when it came. If it came. She shivered again at the unknown, if they weren't going to kill them then what could they possibly want from them, she dulled her shudders and glanced up. She had to focus, had to keep playing the part, sharp blinks and some focus brought tears to her eyes as she projected a sob, "I'm sorry" she choked at the others and brought her hand to cover her mouth as though in shame.

 

Part of her worried that the Hyur had gone the direction she'd pointed but that worry was short lived as another more powerful Ixal spoke up the hill, one who had been silent until now. Her look upward brought her violet gaze to his figure and dread seeped through her, his power was in his figure but also in the way the others obeyed and the timbre with which he spoke. Here was an Ixal that she knew wouldn't buy her half truths should she come face to face with him and her mouth dried as she curled slightly away from his direction. His words however inspired hope, someone was following them, and if someone was following them then there was still hope that help would come. Surely whoever it was would recognize what was happening and send for help, just as the Hyur would if they reached their destination. She had to believe that.

 

The crack of a fist sent her head down quickly but it appeared the wrath of Nezul was towards his inability to pursue his prey and thankfully not herself...for now. Hands balling in her lap she stayed silent, only peeking through her lashes to watch the scouts head in her misdirection, hopefully there would be nothing for them to find on that particular trail. A shuddering breath later she offered out her hands without complaint, there would be time to struggle later but for now they needed to stay as safe as they could and she glanced up to S'imba with that slightly pleading expression once more. Briefly her eyes moved towards Rurutani as well but he couldn't see her and so she could only hope that he'd do nothing rash, he hadn't to this point so she had faith in the man's survival instinct for the moment.

[S'imba]

S'imba was completely torn at this point.  He had been trained to fight with surrender not being an option it had always been kill or be killed.  To show it or to even beg for it would normally be met with severe and unyielding punishment in Thanalan how could he be any different here.  Worse still his new friends were in danger, he knew they couldn't understand what surrender would mean.  They didn't understand the feeling of knowing that someone else controls your freedom, of being seen as property instead of a person.  On the other hand he couldn't try and keep fighting the Ixal's threats towards the others had made that clear enough.  He sighed and held his hands out to let ready to allow them to be tied furious that he was about to willingly give away his new found freedom. 

 

That was until he saw their leader approaching them.  At this point S'imba's eyes left Nezul's to meet the mastermind behind this ambush.  Though the expression on his face was different then the one he had been giving to Nezul.  S'imba had no doubt in his mind that physically he could beat any single one of the Ixal that stood before him.  However with their leader it was different...he was a planner he was the one who would rely on others to do his dirty work.  He was the type that S'imba was never able to beat the foe that could use his intelligence rather than strength to beat their foes.  An individual like his owner.  Instead of the confident unbreakable look he had given Nezul he gave the new Ixal a look of the purest and deepest hatred.  This Ixal was a representation of everything he hated in life.  

 

Completely losing control of himself and letting the hatred take over and cloud his mind he threw himself at their leader with a snarl.  Unfortunately for the young Miqo'te he was now completely surrounded and in his rage failed to defend against the Ixal who had been standing almost next to him, who reached out and reached a hand through the collar that was around S'imba's neck and slammed him down into the dirt with a loud thump knocking the air completely out of him. He lay coughing as the Ixal held him in the dirt squirming and kicking as he tried to free himself from the hand that held him there. The Ixal would only laugh at these now pathetic attempts to free himself from his grasp he was completely in their power now.

[Clover]

As Xydane passed right by the Twin Adder headquarters, he could witness an apparently usual scene. A middle age man with a very unfriendly expression had approached Gavin, the Twin Adder soldier guarding the entrance. The former looked quite anxious.

 

"One of my employees has informed me that the path to Gridania is completely obstructed by a bunch of debris," he explained, almost scolding Gavin as if it were his fault. "They're trying to remove it, but he estimates it might take a few bells, and I need the shipment he's carrying for yesterday!"

 

"I'm very sorry, sir..." Gavin tried to calm him down with open hands and an apologetic expression. "We'll see what we can do."

 

"You'll see?! What does that even mean? That carriage has passengers and merchandise! Will you abandon them in the middle of nowhere?"

 

"Not at all, sir, but I'm afraid we have other cases that take priority right now, and it sounds like the travellers are capable of taking care of the problem. If the path is still blocked in a few bells, however, then the Twin Adder will take part in the matter."

 

The following part of the conversation involved the impatient man yelling at the very pitiful, very patient Twin Adder soldier.

[Xydane Vale]

Xydane's stroll across Gridania was rather serene. He first stopped at Apkallu Falls in Old Gridania, admiring the small waterfall in the area and then casually made his way south where he watched a small play at the Mih Khetto's Amphitheatre. The city was quite lively as was it's usual and Xydane soon found himself leaning next to a wooden pillar as he watched a feud with interest at the Twin Adder's HQ.

 

For the moment, curiosity was Xydane's company as he stared at the man who was protesting at the soldier. The words heard in the conversation sparked interest and when he finally walked toward them, the knight interrupted the two with a slight bow of his head and a pacifying smile. "I didn't mean to intrude but I overheard that a carriage has been blocked by debris? I'll be happy to help."

 

The man's eyes widen with relief and he quickly shot Gavin a disappointing look before he turned to face Xydane. Thanking the stranger for his genuine offer to help, the man took time to discuss the details of the situation and when he finally finished, he shook Xydane's hand in a thankful gesture.

 

"It's alright, I'll handle this." said Xydane, giving Gavin a friendly slap on the shoulder while the soldier nodded in return and sighed, seeming relieved for the situation being handled and not having to hear the man bicker anymore. Perhaps Clover would return once he was finished with his task. Perhaps not. Either way, it was a good opportunity to kill time and thus he began to proceed outside Gridania, leaving the peaceful city towards the woods of the Shroud; axe on back and sword resting on his shoulders.

 

In the distance, above the sea of trees and rivers, lightning clapped against the darkening sky and signaled the coming of a storm.

[K'nahli]

The sight of the two Ixal suddenly speeding in their direction was enough to make the hyur's blood run cold. How could they have possibly known? He had taken every precaution to remain out of sight of the assailants whilst attempting to eavesdrop on the scene above, there was just no conceivable way that they could have known where they had been. Had they known from the beginning then they would long-since have made their move, but this was unacceptably sudden. Was it sheer luck? Or had someone else offered them guidance?

 

Regardless of the answer, it mattered little right now. Andre blinked furiously as he shot his head forward once more, his grip growing increasingly tighter around the likely, oblivious Clover's fragile form. Both he and the girl were unarmed and in great danger. If they weren't careful now then they too could end up captured, or worse...

 

Andre swallowed hard against the surmounting sense of confusion and panic that was steadily tearing him apart from the inside out, his mind suddenly bombarded with a thousand, agonizing thoughts that rained down upon him like cannonfire. He tried to analyze the events around him but rationality was not born from the impulsive thinking that the situation demanded. His mind immediately succumbed to the options he faced in a worse-case scenario; if they were located. After all, was death truly the worst outcome? If they were found then should they submit to capture and risk an existence that would break even the stoutest of warriors? Or should they refute the chance of liberation and life in order to avoid what could prove to be but a short-lived hardship?

 

The young knight became flustered as his lack of experience quickly caught up on him. His body twitched excitedly as it begged him to move, to act... while his mind demanded that he remain still until it was absolutely necessary to. Each deep breath he drew sought to steal back the control that he was continuously losing over his body - but it would not be so easily pacified. How does one make such decisions for not just themselves but another? Could he really take responsibility for signing over Clover's life... or for bringing about her unnecessarily, early demise? Such poisonous thoughts seemed impossible, utterly unfeasible and reprehensible.... but it was not something that he could just wish away, nor one that he could run away from this time. His expression convulsed fiercely as though he were vehemently struggling against revealing an excruciating pain that tortured him relentlessly, bringing the male to the point where a cool, trickling sensation could be felt surfacing within the corner of his eye - effectively serving as yet another, subtle reminder of his own mortality.

 

Andre blinked again to rid his vision of the droplet and quickly peered out from the far side of the tree at an angle where the incoming Ixal would not be able to detect him. He exhaled sharply with what little relief he could manage to express in that chaotic moment. The main force of the Ixali seemed to be departing ahead of the others, and with them, all of their archers. He quickly withdrew once more as his eyes jumped widely around himself in search of something before leaning in to briefly whisper a hastily spoken instruction to the girl that he held tightly within his arms.

For now there was only one clear choice that had to be adhered to, one that stood out amongst all of the other binding questions that held his body and numbed his mind. Only one true objective whose importance seemed to scream within his own skull, almost deafening him to all sound until all that could be heard was the piercing and ceaseless ringing that echoed loudly within the depths of his ears.

("Just until they are out of earshot...... it will be enough... I will make sure it's enough.....") he echoed quietly to himself repeatedly as though the simplicity of the idea would somehow help him regain his nerve.

 

 

("....Do not be detected").

[Clover]

This wasn't the Andre Clover had known. Not even the same one from that first day, when he saved everyone's life against a small group of Ixal. That time, she'd watched his suffering from afar, but now... now he was closer than he'd ever been, more open than he'd ever been. Perhaps more alive too. This was the person who always smiled and never said much; his eyes were loud today, as was his heart. He was a petrifying sight.

 

Confined with him behind the tree, hidden from death's view, Clover's world had been narrowed to that single hyur. He was her eyes, the core of her fears, and her only distraction. A terrifying one. However, her life seemed to have fallen onto his hands, so she had to stop being herself. For a moment, her heart calmed down slightly as she turned into a ghost, watching a dangerous tale that was happening to someone else.

 

She was only back when he tightened his grip with alarming urgency, reminding the girl that this was her story as well, perhaps the last one. Her heart became loud again. Reality sure was a very strange occurrence; to Clover, it felt less real than anything...

[K'nahli]

It near went completely against his rationality to dare and peek out from behind the tree once more. The trundling shuffle of the Ixali as they crushed fallen, yet solid branches beneath their great talons had grown so close now that it had almost sounded as though they were right on top of them - a concern that would prove to not linger very far from the truth.

 

Though the creatures had initially been pushing in their direction, at some point while Andre wasn't looking, they seemed to have stemmed away from where they had initially been traveling and instead hugged closer to the road that lay a little uphill from their position. It wasn't much consolation considering how close danger yet loomed, but it had certainly earned them a little time at the very least. That one, tiny blessing had been just enough to help restore the hyur's slowly, rekindling nerve.

He watched for a moment as the creatures' pace slowed, their depthless eyes eagerly peering along the fallen foliage for any signs of prior disturbance. The pace at which they moved suggested impatience and so too did the hunters make little effort to conceal their own presence from any quarry that may, and in fact was, lurking nearby. Their gnarled beaks aggressively sucked at the air as they searched through it for any tell-tale scents that could lead them in the right direction. The pair grunted and snorted violently every few seconds as though they continued to find anything of interest. To Andre it was unnerving, listening to them as they mocked his concerns for having left any sort of trail for them to follow and wondering if each short exchange of indecipherable dialogue was a plot against surprising their newly, detected foes.

 

"They're looking for us... but they may yet think we have escaped entirely..." Andre turned back to whisper quietly to the girl once again.

 

"We cannot risk moving rashly" he warned her while bringing his lips even closer to her ear. His whispering allowed his voice to come with a sedated softness. If not for the context in which he spoke, then one could have almost assumed that he were  merely afraid of disturbing the silence under which the two concealed themselves. The girl had likely seen his dismay already, there was no way to hide it, though at the very least he had fought off any anxious tremor that would have sough to infect his voice. He owed it to the girl to at least try and sound assured that he could bring her out of this alive and safe.

 

Andre tilted his head slightly until he made eye contact with the girl. Her eyes were as pure and as clear as crystals, leaving her fear absolutely nowhere to hide. The vibrant shade of green that had once imbued her irises with a purity comparable to fine emerald had now drained until all that remained was an unvarnished reflection of the carpet of grey above.

That innocence, one that radiated from a girl who knew nothing of this world that offered only death and anguish... it no longer had a place out here.

 

Perhaps that fear of which her widened gaze failed to conceal was only natural. Any man's logic would testify to that, any one, that is, except for Andre. No, to him it was only one thing; a reflection of his failure. Her fear existed solely because he could not hide his own. That lack of confidence, experience and hope that could potentially see her through this only stole from her the belief that things can and will turn out for the better. His sickening show of incompetence tore at his own heart. He needed to be in control. He needed to salvage this situation so that not only they, but the others could see their way to safety once again. If he couldn't do at least that much then he was only further supporting the chances of Clover and the others getting hurt. It was time to stop.

 

Andre blinked again, reaffirming his grip on Clover before guiding her eyes down toward the ground with his own, gently shuffling his feet to bring attention to the carpet of leaves and twigs that would quickly see to their detection were they not careful.

 

"We must seek cover beneath their own movements lest they hear us" he continued while gentle readjusting his feet once again so as to not make a sound from his movement.

 

 

"Do you understand me?" he asked her while meeting her gaze once again, awaiting a gentle nod of verification. His expression had grown notably more stoic now as the confidence that he wanted to display mostly for Clover's sake had finally begun to infect himself.

 

His eyes quickly rolled over to his left, once again leading Clover's gaze toward a fallen, moss-infested tree that lay a short distance away - though a distance that would almost feel impossibly far were they to avoid detection.

 

 

"That's where we need to be..." he continued to whisper before gently taking his arm away from Clover's abdominem to reach up and tear a metallic button away from his shirt. He rolled it between his fingers analytically, taking it's weight and density into account before presenting it before Clover's eyes.

 

"When the Ixal run... so do we..." he explained quietly.

 

Andre carefully peered around the edge of the tree again as he took a brief moment to confirm the creatures' locations once more before committing to his next move. Luckily they had moved just a little further from their location but were still far too close for any sense of comfort. Andre pulled himself back behind the tree with a soft exhale, satisfied that this was as good as it was going to get.

 

"Get ready......"

 

 

Positioning the button carefully between his fingers and thumb, Andre slowly raised his arm to the extent that the tree cover would reasonably allow before flicking his arm swiftly to send the object flying hastily through the air towards a large tree.

 

......

............

.....*klack*....

 

The two Ixali raised the heads unison as the tinny sound reverberated beautifully agaisnt the solid, oak tree a distance away - successfully garnering both of their attention. They paused for only a second to exchange glances with each other before hurrying off in the direction of the sound, noisily tossing up leaves, twigs and branches in the process. They Ixali had hardly even begun to run, however, before they both had nearly entirely closed the distance on the tree they sought out.

 

The window of opportunity had unfortunately proven to be incredibly narrow.

 

"..now.. hurry!"

 

 

 

 

 

[align=center]Due to a trip and it's preparations, a small hiatus may need to be taken with this scene. It will be continued as soon as possible.

I'm sorry for the further delay and inconvenience.[/align]

[Clover]

((OOC: I'm very sorry for being slow (=A=) I'm still on a trip, but I'll try to find more time to tag.))

 

 

She couldn't fall asleep now. She couldn't forget where she was. Andre was trying to be strong for the two of them, she could tell that much from the look in his eyes, the sound of his voice. No matter how inexperienced she was or how extreme this situation might be, she needed to ease his burden the best she could.

 

Despite the fear in her eyes, Clover remained silent and calm, receptive to his words and actions. She'd look at him when he sought her eyes, and nod when he spoke. The warmth of a whispering voice in her ear was a very strange sensation, almost uncomfortable. Or perhaps it was the situation itself, making her more tense than what was safe.

 

"Get ready," he said, and Clover's treacherous heart only raised its pace. She didn't see the Ixal, no. She saw her parents in the battlefield, looking at the giant that wanted to crush them. They must have been very brave back then, even if it was the last thing they did. She could be like them now. She could run where Andre told her, push her luck and see how the next page from this book would unfold.

 

"...Now... hurry!"

 

At the signal, there was nothing Clover heard that wasn't her own breathing. The world seemed to stop at that moment. She just knew she had started running as fast as her legs allowed her, not looking back. It was an easy task, wasn't it? Running from A to B. From A to B. Beyond her, the cat she'd been following looked at her from the goal, waiting for her there. Green eyes opened wider then, and Clover felt she wasn't simply running to B. She was running to safety.

[K'nahli]

((OOC Note: It was actually my fault for not notifying Clover about needing to reply. Ignore her humble post ¬o¬    I'm very sorry for the inconvenience, everyone)

 

Andre quickly released his hold on the girl and swapped it instead for a tight and perhaps uncomfortable grip around her wrist. He launched himself away from the tree with a sudden jerking motion and hurried forward with a swift pace, his exposed fingers tethered to the girl who struggled to keep up with him. Clover did well to listen and follow his instructions closely, but even so, he would settle for no less than to drag her along behind him if necessary. If they were spotted by the two Ixali then it was all over; for them and possibly even the others to whom they were the only witnesses of their capture. After all, there was simply no way that either of them could even hope to fend off such powerful beasts while unarmed.

 

The distance in which they needed to traverse was rather short but for the hyur, each second seemed to drag out to an eternity of its own. He cursed every tiny hollow that had been engraved into the soil and every tangled bramble that would attempt to trip him were he to dare take his glance away from them for even a moment. His mind was in a total state of chaos as too many questions raced through his mind at one as he led Clover to the nearest “safety”.

 

Were the Ixal still running toward the decoy?

Were they making enough noise to cover the movements of their prey?

Had they been discovered already?

Would stopping behind the log only ensure their death?

 

Each question would sting like a pin-prick as they continued to hound his mind without rest in the final few seconds before they finally reached the log. Once they stopped to take cover however, he would have his answer to all of them.

 

Leaping over the final obstacle, Andre immediately dove toward the ground, bringing Clover along with him to come to a stop on the forest floor next to him. The ground had grown a little damp from the weather and the leaf litter in this particular area seemed to ice perfectly over the soil like an emerald-coloured frosting, offering them the tiny grace of a softer, and more muffled landing.

Andre quickly reached his arm over Clover's lower back and latched her down forcefully to ensure that she made no attempt to move.

 

Seconds passed as the pair lay side-by-side on the ground in silence for a moment as they anxiously listened for a particular sound; the oncoming sound of trampled leaves and twigs that would have all but confirmed their detection. The wind in the forest was growing progressively stronger by the minute as the oncoming storm drew nearer, causing the massive branches to sway and creak loudly overhead. Nesting birds chirped happily above in response to the gentle rocking of the canopies as they remained completely oblivious to the scene below and the low rumble of a distant, tumbling river could be heard as it reverberated dully against the maze of trees around them. The sounds of nature carrying on harmlessly around them gave way to an uncomfortably peaceful and inappropriate image, but even so.. they were in fact the only sounds that could be heard.

 

Nothing seemed to be approaching.

 

 

Raising his head slightly, Andre peered through a small crack in the log that allowed him to see out ahead of himself. It wasn’t quite large enough to see through at an angle, but the rotten wood appeared to be flexible. Bringing an index finger to his lips in an effort to instruct Clover to remain still and silent, Andre released the arm that had unconsciously pinned her down toward the ground and reached forward to peel back the damp bark that obstructed his view. A soft sigh of mild relief pressed past his lips as the wood obliged without much complaint, allowing him to get a much better view of the area ahead. Hawk-like eyes scanned the woodland before him, adjusting minutely to overlook the shrubs that hugged the fallen log they resided behind. Andre’s heart began to race once again the seconds continued to pass before finally the Ixali returned to view, an almost strange sight to be grateful for. The hyur sighed heavily to himself as a wave of relief washed over him.

 

 

So, they really had made it. For the moment at least, they were safe.

 

 

 

A short distance away, a loud ‘thunk’ echoed through the woodland as one of the Ixal sliced at the nearest tree in frustration, allowing a low grumble to roll out of it’s throat at the same time. The other Ixal blinked calmly, his demeanour and body language giving the impression that he were oddly unafflicted by their lack of fortune in their pursuit and instead continued to sample the air around with him, creating soft yet indicative snorts with each long and drawn-out breath it took.

 

“Enough time has been wasted here, let us return with the others” the first Ixal finally stated after having apparently thought on the matter for a moment.

 

“Their scent still fills the air…” was the other’s response as he continued to suck at the air and slowly survey his surroundings, his head gently bobbing with each inhale.

 

“And even so, we could spend much longer merely trying to seek them out” the first debated with insistence. It was clear, even from his grated voice, that he was not eager to abandon their prize so hastily but he seemed to understand that they longer they tarried, the more risky it would become for them.

 

“The featherless-ones will surely be here soon in numbers, we must make away” the first repeated, suddenly turning to make a hasty retreat without so much as confirming his companion’s obedience.

 

The remaining Ixal took one step back in the direction the first had run off, and then another... though something seemed to have caught his attention. He was more insistent than the others about sourcing whatever scent he had captured. A third step backward was taken as his head slowly revolved for what seemed – judging by his arched posture – to be be a final glance around before retreating.

 

Suddenly, however, his eyes fixed on something.

 

The Ixal made no immediate movements but it was clear that something had definitely earned his attention. The Ixal slowly took one more step, and then another… and another....

 

But this time he wasn’t moving backward; no.... this Ixal was steadily moving directly for where Clover and Andre were hiding. His pace calm, yet accelerating.

 

 

"....!"

 

Andre withdrew from the log suddenly as the Ixal began marching toward them. He grimaced with apprehension as he realised that his hand may have been forced. His eyes reached for the floor as he began to scan frantically among the leaves in a vain hope of finding a more reassuring solution, but he quickly realised that there was simply no choice left for them. Without warning, Andre suddenly spun around, gripping Clover roughly by the collar and pulling his face in close to hers.

 

"Clover, you need to run. Now" he spoke darkly in a tone very unfamiliar with his character, allowing the girl no room to argue with him.

 

"Do not look back and do not stop for anything. Get to Gridania and inform the authorities of the ambush."

 

Without releasing his grip on her, Andre quickly turned to peer through the log once more. The approaching Ixal appeared only to be suspicious of their hiding place for he was still only walking and hadn't even attempted to call for his fellow scout when he was still within range, but even so, there was absolutely no avoiding it now. They would be found.

 

The blonde hyur shot his glance back to meet with Clover once more. His eyes burned with a fiery determination as he focused his mind on the one, remaining task at hand.

 

"Now, as fast as you can! Go!" he ordered in an elevated whisper as he pushed Clover away from himself with a forceful shove. His eyes followed the girl for what he believed would be the final time as she clumsily pushed herself back to her feet and hurried away through the trees, before he himself, while still crouched and hidden behind the fallen log, turned forward once again.

 

As expected, the Ixal had quickly launched into a charge as he beheld the sight of his prey fleeing before him. The sound of the twigs and branches being crushed under his massive, clawed feet grew increasingly louder as he quickly closed the distance between them. Andre's drew in a long and shaky, deep breath as his hand slowly glided along the ground to reach out to reaffirm his grip on the object he had spied earlier.

 

The young and inexperenced knight's anxiety was difficult to suppress, but he was ready for what came next.

[Clover]

Forced against the ground, Clover did her best to hold her breath, to remain as motionless as possible. It was a difficult moment for many reasons. The most crucial was, without a doubt, the risk of being found by the Ixal. Were that to happen, it'd be unlikely for them to survive or avoid being taken as prisoners. Andre wasn't armed, and Clover's Conjury wouldn't be enough.

 

When one of them started moving in their direction, Clover frowned and quickly covered her mouth with a hand. Her breathing was struggling to come out, the need growing as the distance with the enemy diminished. If there was any bit of hope left in her mind, it disappeared as soon as Andre started speaking. He forced her to look at him, to listen to a voice she could barely recognize, closer than he’d ever been. It felt like the end, somehow.

 

"A-Andre..." she breathed, noticing, as if she was a ghost again, that the voice coming from her throat had trembled. Ah, fear could be strangely paralyzing, she thought afterwards. But his words sounded like sacrifice, and it was hard accepting the idea that this might be the last time she'd see him.

 

"Andre, you s--"

 

Clover could never finish her sentence. The boy pushed her away before she could, and then there was no turning back. Her breathing and heartbeats became loud again as she did her best to stand on her feet, almost tripping in her attempt. Her knees felt weak at first, but the girl still managed to start running through the trees. Behind her, the roaring of a beast; beyond her, a familiar small figure guiding her steps, so that she'd only have to focus on running.

 

In her mind, the words she still wanted to say echoed.

 

'Andre, you should run with me.'

[Xydane Vale]

As the clouds began to fade, the sky above slowly darkened and Xydane’s mood followed suit. The walk was well away from the city and all he had to keep him company was the occasional chirping of a bird or two. The leaves on the branches started to sway back and forth, signaling the wind’s speed growing stronger. The breeze brushed sharply against the expose skin beneath his hood but aside from noting that it was getting colder, he pays it no further mind and continues walking.

 

After a while, Xydane halted and stared into the sky that had become a darker color than it was not too long ago. The birds were gone and their calls were replaced with the silence of the cold. The Hyur narrowed his eyes, bringing his head back down as he lowered his hood even further.

 

‘Something seems… off.’

 

Before he could even continue, a breaking in the silence tipped him off. Xydane quickly turned toward the source of what sounded like the rushing of footsteps. In the distance, his eyes picked up the silhouette, feminine in shape and approaching with haste. The closer she came, the more she became clear and in a matter of moments Xydane’s eyes widened in astonishment once he realized who she was.

[Clover]

She didn't notice him at first. Not until she was too close to avoid the imminent collision, which luckily didn't send him down to the ground. With wide open eyes, the girl raised her head to look at the male she'd just crashed against, finding a familiar face she hadn't seen in a while.

 

"X-Xydane..."

 

She managed to say with something akin disbelief, still breathless from all the running and her own fear. Finding him in the forest, at that precise moment... it was odd, almost as if Xydane wasn't a real being but a part of her imagination. Had it been a tree she crashed against? No; he was warm...

 

"Xydane!"

 

Desperate as he'd never seen her, Clover placed both hands on the boy's shoulders, trying to get his full attention.

 

"The Ixal attacked the carriage! One of them is following me!" She warned him, summarizing the best she could, for time was a luxury they didn't have. In fact, the Ixal scout wasted no time in making its apparition, all claws and eyes injected in blood. It came to a halt as soon as the figure of another hyur was caught in his field of vision, adopting a defensive stance.

[K'nahli]

It was almost time. Crouching, hidden behind the fallen log as the Ixal beast drew ever nearer, oblivious to his presence, the hyur was relying completely on his sense of hearing. The sound of everything being destroyed under those massive talons filled his ears and became his whole world. Nothing else mattered beyond the sound of it’s approach. Not the past and not even the aftermath. There was no room for distraction nor hesitation. He just needed to get this right.

 

*Crunch* .. *Crunch* .. *Trundle*

 

("Here it comes") was the hyur’s single thought. His index finger tapped rhythmically against the object he held in his hand to each step Ixal took, calculating the remaining distance and timing carefully.

 

("Just a little more and...")

 

*crunch* *crunch* *crunch*

 

Drawing near to the log, the Ixal’s pace suddenly quickened as he prepared to launch himself over it with a single stride, an effortless task for a creature of his stature. Andre’s knuckles grew white as his grip on the thick branch tightened with determination.

 

……

 

 

“…!”

 

Suddenly launching himself upward, Andre drove the log with all of his might until it struck the legs of the airborne Ixal, sending the beast into a tumble as it lurched forward to land heavily in the soil behind them, causing the ground around them to tremble slightly from the impact.

 

Success.

 

 

The unsuspecting Ixal grunted heavily as it slowly scrambled to push itself back to it’s feet, having momentarily been dazed by the sudden fall. The colliding force of the beast and log had briefly forced Andre back to his knees though luckily he had escaped the daring attempt uninjured. With a sharp exhale he too, returned to his feet and turned to face the Ixal whom had also regained it’s composure. The two of them quickly met eyes as a dark atmosphere quickly descended down around them. The surrounding environment almost seemed to grow dark, the world around them shrinking, as both man and Ixal faced one another - both with an impassioned intent to kill. A low and threatening growl escaped as the Ixal bared it’s fangs menacingly and reaffirmed it’s grip on the large blade that it carried by it’s hip. Taking a moment to size up the creature that stood before him, Andre slowly strafed around to the side, placing himself further away from the large log behind which he had been hiding, his eyes locked with a permanence against the Ixal’s beady orbs. The creature’s gaze followed him closely; refusing to break away from the arrogant scum that had dared to assault him. His dark eyes burned with an uncontainable fury as he stared the hyur down. This Ixal, as was typically their kind’s nature, would not sacrifice vengeance in exchange for the girl. Andre drew to a halt once more and awaited the beast to make it’s move. Holding his attention for but a little longer would ensure Clover’s escape.

 

 

A sudden roar of anger filled the air as the Ixal suddenly charged forward and began swinging long and powerful strikes in the hyur’s direction. Andre narrowed his eyes in focus as he quickly responded with evasive dodges and crouches, anticipating each attack well as the fury-driven beast hastily threw wild slashes in predictable patterns. He retained his grip on the log in both his hands, holding it firm and close to his chest protectively, ready to use it at a moment’s notice but holding himself against retaliating too hastily.

 

"…!"

 

Andre’s attention was momentarily diverted as his back collided with the trunk of a tree, its rough bark pressing sharply against his back with warning. Hurriedly returning his attention forward, his gaze focused on Ixal just in time to see a downward strike slicing through the air down toward him. A sudden gasp pushed out of the males pressed lips as he launched himself away from the tree, barely escaping the Ixal’s fatal wrath as he nimbly dodged beneath it’s sword and passed behind his assailant. The sharpened steel drove cleanly into the aged, tree bark with a mighty crack, pinning the Ixal for a fraction of a second as it quickly jerked away to pull himself free again. It was a small window but not one that was wasted. With a forceful heave, Andre slammed the log against the Ixal’s back to strike it’s tough body with it’s entire length. The heavy piece of lumber struck cleanly against the Ixal’s spine, pushing it roughly into the tree before it.

Andre withdrew a couple of steps to regain his own balance and to allow his breath to return to him. His eyes seemed to grow a little wider with surprise as a sudden feeling of hope stirred within him. He was certain he would die, or at least be captured here... but now he had briefly been captured with the idea that perhaps it didn't have to end that way. If he could just remain focused then perhaps even with only a mere log...

He tried to control his excited breathing by returning to take in slow and deep breaths, his eyes still focused on the Ixal’s back as it agitatedly turned to return his glare upon the hyur once again.

 

The Ixal snarled angrily, as it turned away from the tree he had been thrown into. His merciless eyes appeared to grow even more fierce as it became progressively more agitated, his glare focusing intently on Andre once more. Andre returned it’s glare in silence as he, once again, awaited the beast's next move - to launch into yet another attack. The Ixal grunted loudly before charging forward again, resuming it’s flurry of strikes all thrown with an unrivaled aggression in the direction of the blonde male. Despite his elevated aggression, the beast’s strikes had grown slower and more precise this time as each one was more cleverly delivered than from the time previous. A raspy breath escaped the hyurs lips with each dodge as the blade drew nearer and nearer to striking it’s target, quickly slicing away the thin veil of hope that had only barely begun to creep over over the male. He knew that he was quickly approaching his limit.

 

 

 

"Gyahh..-ah..!"

 

A small cry escaped as the beast’s blade eventually made it’s first mark. A cleanly cut laceration to his upper arm almost forced the male into a spin as the blade dragged across his flesh with great force. A thin lace of crimson danced through the air and landed amongst the green shrubbery that nervously spectated from beneath the safety of the nearby trees. Andre fought against the instinct to protectively grip and seal his wound as he forced his gaze back upon the Ixal. He was hardly given the opportunity to so much as respond to the pain before the Ixal quickly followed through with yet another downward strike aimed directly for the man’s skull, but this time there was no time to dodge. Andre quickly threw the log upward in an arcing pattern across the blade’s path as he had no option but to attempt to parry the strike. The Ixal’s steel blade sliced deeply into the log, causing the air around them to resound with a fearsome crack as it almost completely snapped through, but otherwise succeeded in stopping the blade in it’s path. The Ixal didn’t hesitate for even a moment. Retracting his weapon suddenly, Andre was roughly drawn in toward him before being met with the beast’s massive, driving claw. The creature’s harsh grip spread out firmly across his neck, choking the hyur with a frightening level of malice before casting him backwards to collide against a nearby tree. Andre’s head harshly struck against the trunk of the tree, forcing his back to slide down along it's length until he came to a seated position at it’s base. The young male grunted weakly as he slowly reached up behind his head to attempt to alleviate the pain that pounded furiously from within the back of his skull.

 

Knowing that his foe had been momentarily incapacitated, the Ixal strode toward him with a bitter satisfaction, his pace moderated but anxious.

 

Andre’s eyes struggled to lift themselves away from the ground that was shaking dizzily beneath him. He blinked repeatedly as he vainly tried to regain focus and clear away the darkness that had moved in to occupy the borders of his vision. Eventually, with a slight shake of his head, the hyur laboriously forced his gaze upward just in time to see the Ixal draw to a stop before him. The creature appeared no less determined than it had been all along but there was something else… a faint hint of joy that was struggling to creep past the raw anger that dominated it’s naturally-sculpted, threatening features. With a low hiss, the Ixal’s sword rose high into the air as he prepared to deliver the finishing blow.

In the end, it was as he had initially predicted. There was no recovering now, this is where he was to die.

 

Beyond his daze, within the corners of his vision, the hyur could once again see the fleeting, ghostly form of the young girl’s back as she rushed through the woodland to escape the scene behind her.

Andre blinked wearily as he tried to focus on the image. If nothing else, he could take with him the satisfaction that at least she would survive. Her innocence, Clover’s.. innocence.. it had no place here. For her kind to be taken or even to have loved ones taken from them by the violence and corruption that tainted the hidden reaches of this world was just too cruel of a thought, and yet... it happens… it has already happened.

 

Hidden reaches...? The thought echoed back through Andre's mind. It no longer even seemed that way to the hyur. The dangers of the world had always been present, but they were not something that could just reveal themselves to anyone... least of all the people he knew and cared for. Was it that the world was changing or had he truly been so naively ignorant to it's extent all along?

 

 

A grunt echoed from the pit of the Ixal’s throat to interrupt his train of thought, announcing it’s readiness to deliver the final strike now.

 

Forcing his eyes to a close, Andre tilted his head away away as he awaited his fate.

[Knight Kat]

("No!")

 

A silhouette of a figure leaping to just above the Ixal's head from a position behind the beast-man would have been the sight Andre beheld if he had not closed his eyes at the last moment. Kiht Jakkya felt as if time had slowed down as she sailed onto the Ixal's back. All the momentum of her roughly 110 ponz body suddenly slammed into the Ixal; knocking him away from his position above Andre.

 

Clasping her thighs on his torso, and wrapping her left arm around his head; she pulled back with all her strength to expose his long neck. As if part of a singular motion, her right hand brought her hunting knife around and thrust it into his neck. She grit her teeth, and let out a furious growl as she buried the blade deep into the thrashing Ixal's flesh. She then pushed the hilt like a lever to slice his neck wide open. No hesitation, and no holding back.

 

The Ixal did not stand for long after that. He fell down on his chest with the full force caused by his literally dead weight. Kiht ruthlessly yanked the knife from the Ixal's neck, and stared down at his corpse for a long moment.

 

She turned her gaze to Andre. She was panting heavily after having ran quite a ways over rough terrain. She regarded him as she held her knife down at her side. The blade was coated in Ixal blood.

 

"Are you dying?" She asked in an apathetic tone. It might have been a silly question, but she figured if he could answer it, they could get right to the point of what she would have to do next. She sheathed her knife on her belt then surveyed the area in the direction Clover ran.

 

Because of the angle in which Kiht arrived on the scene, she had not surveyed the road where the caravan was, nor did she witness the army of Ixal. To her, this looked like a pair of Hyur lovers out on a frolic in the forest who got tracked by a couple of Ixal scouts. It did not leave a good first impression on her, but she showed no indication of her feelings in that regard.

[K'nahli]

The unmistakable sound of flesh being sliced open forced the hyur to flinch even harder as death's brutal call beckoned toward the hyur, drawing him into it's domain. Though, oddly, the afterlife as he had imagined it was not what greeted him...

 

As the seconds past he soon began to question if he had already been killed. He was well enough to tell that he still remained seated against the tree, upon the same damp, forest floor on which he had last drawn certain breath... but...... where was the pain? Why was it that he could he still hear his flesh being torn so brutally asunder?

Finally, curiosity overcame all else. Andre forced his eyes open as he anxiously sought to find the answer to the questions that plagued his mind.

 

 

As Andre looked on before him, his genuine bewilderment was disguised well behind a pained expression as the defeated Ixal crumbled lifelessly before him into the soil. The perpetrator, an unfamiliar miqo'te whom, after pulling herself and her weapon away from the beast, seemed momentarily transfixed on the results of her handiwork before eventually moving her gaze on to that of Andre.

 

"Are you dying?"  she asked bluntly, seemingly absent of both emotion and interest.

 

Her question, regardless of it's tone, had no immediate bearing on the hyur as his eyes scanned from her, to the Ixal and back to her again as he struggled to make sense of the situation that had so unexpectedly unfolded before him. Was this... real? Or had he instead passed out and fallen prey to a deceptively, real dreamworld? He watched the miqo'te for a moment longer in silence before his lips parted slightly in an attempt to answer.

 

"I... uh.."

 

He blinked furiously as he dried to alleviate himself from the daze whose effects continued to dull his wits.

 

"I'm... I'll be fine... thank you.." he finally managed to blurt out as he struggled to pull himself back to his feet with evident difficulty. His answer, too, was lacking a connection if its own as he seemingly still appeared unsure of what had just happened. His eyes met with the female as he silently hoped for an explanation.

 

Just who was she and what was she even doing here?

[Xydane Vale]

His shock broke the moment she placed her hands on his shoulders, the touch bringing him back to reality. Her warning prompted Xydane to alertness and sure enough, the Ixal scout appeared. He looked at her with sincere eyes for a moment before turning to face the beast, no trace of sincerity lingering in Xydane’s eyes. Now, they were full of blood-lusted determination.

 

"....."

 

Placing himself between the girl and the Ixali, Xydane unsheathed his sword and slowly began walking towards the beast. Without turning his head back, the Hyur spoke in whispered words.

 

"Hide."

 

His fingers twitched as they gripped tightly onto the hilt of the sword, the blade extended fully as Xydane charged. Sprinting as fast as he could, Xydane brought his sword high and swung it down at the Ixali with his entire might. The beast roared, rearing it's ugly head back as it parried this new enemy's attack. The Ixali's grip on the blade shook - the Hyur's strike was strong indeed. The Ixali roared, attempting to intimidate the Hyur as he swung his jagged sword at the Hyur's head. Xydane ducked, parrying the blow with his own sword before bringing his free hand towards the beastman's neck.

 

For a moment, the Ixali merely blinked before realizing what has happened. The Hyur's hidden blade had stabbed him clean in the throat. Spitting out foul blood, the Ixali hissed at the unknown Hyur as it stomped and cried in pain, dropping it's weapon to hold it's own throat. Within a matter of seconds, Xydane had swung his sword at the creature's neck and watched as it's corpse fell onto the ground before him.

 

Xydane's expression was one of abhorrence.

 

'I will not lose her again.'

[Knight Kat]

"I'm... I'll be fine... thank you.."

 

Kiht just nodded at his answer then surveyed the area more. She started to sniff the air, and her ears began moving about on her head. The overcast sky and typically thick canopy helped provide better lighting conditions for her eyes despite the fact that it was day-time. Once she noticed Andre stand, she nodded to him again.

 

"Good, you can stand too. We need to go after your mate. There is never just -one- Ixal. They scout in groups, and I have been tracking a massive force of them. She will likely run right into them." Kiht stated in a calm tone.

 

It was at that point that Kiht took an opportunity to examine Andre. She gazed upon him with her blue eyes. He was handsome. Blonde hair, blue eyes as well and a strong build. Kiht was impressed that he managed to put up a fight against an Ixal; considering Andre was only using a stick. However, she said nothing further. Her stern expression softened a bit as she waited for his reply.

[Clover]

That look. Clover had witnessed some changes in Xydane's eyes before, but they'd never looked as murderous as they did now. It was the first time she saw him face an enemy, the first time she saw the young man transform into the warrior she knew he was. Clover was no longer scared, for some reason. It was as if she had blind trust in Xydane's ability to survive, as if he were the main character of a book who had far greater things to do than to die at the hands of a single enemy. Reality was a strange phenomenon.

 

Obeying his command, Clover stepped behind one of the trees. Xydane wouldn't die; that much, she was oddly certain of. But heroes could still get injured. She looked at her surroundings then, and found a small branch near her feet. That'd do. Her power as a conjurer was limited, but she might still be of help.

 

Not like it was necessary at that moment, apparently. As soon as she raised her body and her head after grabbing the branch from the ground, the grotesque image of fountain of blood was locked in her wide open eyes. The Ixali's dying cries hit her ears with sheer force, a crimson nightmare that took shape at that right moment. The sculptor of such a painful scene remained motionless after the beast fell, familiar and yet unrecognizable. Xydane.

 

"......"

 

He was no demon, no, even if he might look like one. Xydane had seen and done things she could never imagine, all to protect people like her. He wasn't a demon but a human sacrifice with blood stained hands. Even now, her hands were still clean…

 

Albeit Clover's expression became serious and firm for the most part, it was also softened by a brush of melancholy. She stepped away from the tree.

 

"Xydane..."

 

There were many things she wanted to say, many things she could apologize for. Oh, but words could cost lives when time was so scarce, how to forget? And yet she still took a few seconds of simply looking at him, before she spoke again.

 

"...Please help Andre, he stayed near the carriage so that I could escape,” she said, her tune filled with urgency.

[K'nahli]

"No... you don't understand" Andre breathed with discomfort, his tone sounding almost irritated that he needed to force out even more words to explain the situation.

 

"The Ixali... they already attacked our group. The girl I.. assume you saw... she and my-..self, by a stroke of luck, had been briefly sep-arated from the rest... right after our caravan was stopped..."

 

He paused briefly as his eyes rolled away back down to the ground, seemingly in thought, though his expression was a blatant revelation to his bitter feelings.

"...and before the Ixali attacked....".

 

Andre scowled slightly as he found himself stuttering and even speaking more slowly than he'd have liked, but simply finding the words necessary to properly summarise the situation was a challenge on it's own to him at this very moment. Each word he formed came with a new, tortuous pain that refreshed the pounding sensation which seemed to be radiating even further across the back of his skull, leaving the hyur to struggle against simply wincing from the sheer agony.

 

"They... took the others... and sent two scouts to try and find us, though just as one had returned to rejoin his group the other... he began to approach our hiding place.."

 

Andre slowly blinked a number of times as his focus was slowly but surely returning to him. Giving his skull one last firm squeeze of relievement, he slowly shook his head and raised his gaze away from the forest floor and brought it back to meet with the miqo'te's stare.

 

"Still... I'd appreciate if we could find her first....before anything else.."

[Knight Kat]

Kiht listened intently as the Hyur struggled to tell her about the situation. She suddenly fully understood. He did not describe much, but Kiht had heard and seen many scenarios like that in the Shroud. That was something the Ixal did often.

 

"They... took the others... and sent two scouts to try and find us, though just as one had returned to rejoin his group the other... he began to approach our hiding place.." Andre had said while struggling against his own disorientation.

 

"Craven monsters." She muttered in a bitter tone. Her expression formed back into a scowl.

 

"Still... I'd appreciate if we could find her first....before anything else.." Andre had concluded.

 

Kiht looked back towards the direction Clover ran. She took a few sniffs of the air. The storm was still brewing overhead, and now Kiht was dreading the incoming rain. Her sense of smell was always dulled in the Shroud's downpours, and it seemed like she would need to do quite a bit more tracking. Too much rain would cause mud to potentially cover up tracks. She felt as if time was now limited.

 

"Shite..." She muttered then looked back to regard Andre. "Like I said, let us go after her." She responded in a clear tone.

 

She would not wait for Andre's response that time. She began to swiftly pace in the direction Clover went. She unstrapped one of her harpoon spears from her back, and took it into her hands. She was preparing for the second Ixal scout that she was certain would return when he noticed his companion had not followed him.

 

Her ears perked up and her eyes opened wide as she went into full alertness. Her pace quickened into a swift stride as she traveled in Clover's direction. Kiht would survey her surroundings constantly as she moved.

[Xydane Vale]

Xydane stood triumphantly over his kill. His prey. No one else to claim but his and his right alone. In the world of predator and prey, he was the hunter. The feeling was glorious and the adrenaline pumping through his body felt like a drug - an addicting drug… and he wanted more.

 

As the Ixali’s head severed from it’s neck and fell onto the forest floor, the sequence triggered flashbacks that left Xydane staring at the corpse with animosity. The vivid scenes that haunted his mind reminded him how he wasn’t strong enough to save Rose. He wasn’t strong enough to save anyone.

 

But not anymore.

 

Baptism through fury, revenge, and war was what granted him the power to fight. Clover was in trouble and Xydane knew that he’d rather send himself to the seven hells than let a second chance be killed by something as foolish and weak as one Ixali.

 

"Xydane..."

 

Xydane blinked, returning to reality after Clover’s voice brought him back from his own blood-driven logic. He slowly turned to face her, meeting her eyes and returning the gaze. He felt the momentary silence between them was not at all awkward. Rather, it was fleeting serenity amongst the deafening chaos of the world.

 

But as the tone of her voice shifted, Xydane listened and gave a quick sigh of relief, thankful that she escaped from harm’s way. But now they had to return there, back into danger, and he was anxious for it, but not with a sense of worry. No, he was eager. Eager to kill the enemies, to see their blood spilled. He felt his arm aching to swing his blade down, the need to see red consuming him and he allowed it to. But as she had done before, and he was sure it was unbeknownst to her that she has this power over him, one look at Clover and the blood lust disappears.

 

He knew better than to waste time and yet he still extended his arm towards her, lightly grabbing her and pulling her in for a tight embraced. It was quick and he said nothing throughout it, but he hoped the feeling of thankfulness translated through because without her, he would have been so different. He pulled back from the embrace and took her hand, leading them towards the direction she ventured from.

[K'nahli]

Andre quickly followed after the miqo'te as she led the way in the direction that he had last seen Clover run. He failed to conceal the occasional, gentle grunt of pain as he hobbled along dizzily but his movements, too, were slowly improving as the debilitating feeling that had once smothered him began to lift.

His eyes briefly travelled up to gaze upon the overcast sky that lay beyond the interlocking branches above before quickly retreating forward again. Nothing had been said by either of the two fighters, but the weather had certainly not been forgotten. The inevitable downpour had yet to commence but the occasional interjection of droplets tapping loudly against the large and springy ferns in the distance was a sore reminder of that time that they did not have.

 

Andre's eyes remained fixed ahead of himself as they hurried along. Clover was safe, he had made sure of that... and yet, a creeping doubt continued to seep inside of himself, causing his heart to ache with a new pain from the uncertainty and anxiety of never being sure enough for comfort.

[Clover]

Safe, yes. She felt safe. The brief embrace didn't feel too wrong, and neither did the touch of his hand on hers. She let him guide her through the woods in silence, staring at his back as they walked. This was the young man she'd never get to know, for all the things he'd seen, and all the things he'd lived through, would be forever locked inside his head. Xydane simply didn't want to contaminate anyone, did he?

 

A sound behind the lush vegetation made her come to a halt. Someone was approaching, but it didn't feel like an Ixal. It didn't sound like them, or at least not like the one who was scouting the place. The creature's breathing had been heavy, almost tied to a permanent grunt.

 

Clover's eyes grew wider when, not much later, two figures emerged. Like some sort of miracle that makes your own thoughts become a reality, one of them was exactly what she'd hoped for. Or almost.

 

"Andre..." she said to herself, barely audible, and wasted no time to let go of Xydane's hand to run towards her friend. He was injured, that much was obvious even before she could approach him. When she was right in front of him, she didn't smile, didn't say anything for a moment. Only her eyes spoke of how it was, how it felt when a dear friend you thought dead was standing right in front of you, even if soaked in blood. No smiles and no warm embraces. Just well open eyes that hid nothing.

 

"Please let me see your wounds," were her first words, her tone urgent in her usual softness. She wondered who the miqo'te was, but Andre's injuries couldn't really wait for introductions.