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As the beads shot down the road, Branka gave an alerted shout "Seven Hells!" as she instinctively scooped up the bear cub out of the 'danger'.
She watched with a steely leer as the seemingly innocent objects danced with bewitchment.
She scoffed at the idea of something so small spooking her.
Hosting the cub on to her back she gave Chase with the others.

As they ran she could feel her injuries from before slowing her down.
Each time her foot bounced off the ground a shot of pain seared her ribs.
She cursed her own foolishness for letting something as dim as trolls land blows on her.
But it was too late to worry about any of that now.
This was their only lead and the girls life was in more danger with every moment.
Gritting her teeth she powered through the pain and managed to keep pace.
With a small bear cub on her back no less.

The moment they arrived at the stone gate Branka set the cub down so she could rest.
It wined and pawed at her as if pleading to get back up but Branka was spent.
She felt bad for it as it paced with the other animals but she needed a moment to try and see straight.

When Yivi suggested that the beads were trying to get inside, Branka could only muster a low growl and a agreeing nod.
She speculated that whatever dark powers control them, may very well have taken the child.

Walking up to the gate she rested her hands on the stone doors and whispered to herself "father..give me strength..for the child."
She then began to push as hard as she could against the stone.
Her muscles bulged and strained as her boots slipped in futile effort for traction on the stone floor.
Suddenly the doors opened a crack a few hopeful centimeters.
Not much, but enough to show that it was within mortal means.
The beads shot inside the moment the gap was large enough.

Branka slumped her shoulders in defeat.
She was so close, but her body had failed her.
Blood dripped from her nose, a sour reminder of her internal injuries.
With each drop that hit the stone floor, a mocking *plit* frustrated her further .

In a rage, she kicked the stone door, knocking it another tiny centimeter open and sending her falling to the ground.
Deciding the only thing she could do now to save face was sit silently, she waited for someone else to try their hand.

The started... but let the words slip away. He was also unhappy that the beads managed to slip in, while they did not... Though, his spell should make them atleast wait for them so they could follow. "Wait for us little ones! We wish to follow!" he called to them, causing the small sounds of rolling to stop. "...Eh? it's actually worked? Or perhaps they fell?" he gasped while looking to the others. "...This world is only getting stranger and stranger by the minute..." a "frustrated" sigh came forth as he scratched his rough head of hair.

"Sera, with me. Branka, rest yourself. You needn't hold the world upon your shoulders, we shall aid you as we can. Yilvi, keep watch for oddities in the woods, if anything appears speak up immediately. Even if it is only a squirrel, we don't know what these beings can do... or what their watching us from." he warned before bracing against the door. "And get your prayers out now, while inside we cannot utter a word of your god, if we're to get that young lady out we shouldn't anger them any more then needed... We are far from his realm anyways...." Hrafn warned, knowing just what she was thinking with this place...

"trust me, we shall get through safely... Sera, if you would." he motioned to the door he was against.

"Eh?" Sera's gaze snapped up from the tracks she'd been observing. Only to watch a string of beads skitter across the ground and up the hill. "What in Kvicke's name...?" Pushing herself back to her feet, she gave chase with the rest of the group. If these beads were enchanted the whole time why was it so long before they started for their owner? Now wasn't the time for trying to figure out something she had such little knowledge of. When it came to the ways of the forest and the creatures that dwell within, she could tell you all you wanted to know. But magicks? She was just as clueless as she was about the big cities in the south.

Skidding to a stop with the group, the hunter quickly took notice of the animals uneasiness. They were always the most knowledgeable on the dangers of the world. Whatever waited within likely wasn't going to offer their ragtag group food and good drink. "Everything about this is strange..." Sera murmured as the beads seemed to come to a stop at the old wanderer's behest. Shaking her head, she moved up to his side before pressing against the great door and working to coax it open.

With a groan, the door slowly opened, sending the hunter stumbling a few steps inside. Her nose wrinkled in displeasure as the sharp stench of rot and decay welcomed them within.

”I-... Fine.” Ylvi said with a ever so faint snort when she was ordered the look-out while Hrafn and Sera went about to open the huge rock doors. She was used to taking orders, just not from Vagabonds, but that wasn't really what had her a bit irritated at the order. Perhaps it was the fact that she was pretty much told to leave her prayers to The One behind when they were about to enter an obviously unholy place such as this.

She turned to Hrafn. “I will heed your advice, Hrafn, but know that The One is with me wherever I go. Always watching, always listening. I can't choose leave him behind no more than you can choose to set aside your shadow on a sunny day.” She stated, wanting to make sure that everyone knew that her beliefs wasn't optional or situational, ever.

She turned around to face the sun, which still shined as golden and bright as ever in the blue summer sky, and got down on her knees.

“Branka, you're not doing so well are you? Just say the word if you wish me to have a look at your wounds and bruises.”

Ylvi had a noticable touch of fright in her voice for she felt rather unsettled from watching how the strong woman suddenly seemed not so much as the unstoppable force she had appeared to be only earlier this day. Whatever stood in the way of someone as strong as Branka, must be something mighty indeed, she thought. Though Ylvi's question was one raised out of concern but it was impossible to know whether or not it would tickle the witch hunter the wrong way and appear more so like critique.

She turned to her got down on her knees, locked her hands in front of her face and started muttering a prayer in a low voice.

“Listen, One, to my prayer;
hear my cry for aid and mercy.
I reach for your light in nights of trouble,
because I know you hear my prayers.


Listen, One, to my request;
save me from the darkness I must face.
Hear the prayers in my heart when my lips are sealed.
Lift me from the abyss and into your grace.”

Before her prayer was over the foul odor of the dark tunnels behind the rock doors had reached her nostrils. And Ylvi truly had to force herself not to gag upon smelling the horrid smell.

“Does anyone have a light?” She whispered as she entered the cave and silently walked up to Sera who already were inside. In front of them started a winding and uneven set of stairs that led down a steep tunnel deeper into the solid darkness of the mountain.


V viska Orikanyo KageYuuki

Branka gave a defeated and frustrated groan as Yyivi showed concern for her injuries.
She knew survival of the fittest meant that showing weakness meant your doom.
But at the same time she didn't want to throw away Yyivi's kindness.
It had been a long time sense anyone had shown her mercy for mercy sake.

As Yyivi insisted her god could not be silenced.
A proud smirk found its wad on to Branka's lips.
Sure the girl was misguided , and would likely pay for her apostate nature at some point.
But that fire in her belly was admirable.
It reminded Branka of a younger, frailer version of herself.

Branka did her beat to ignore her prayers out of a limited degree of respect.
However that smell that soon assaulted her nose was something she couldn't ignore.
Holding a hand over her face she sneered "Seven Hells! Who fed the moose pickled eggs?"


She struggled to her feet and walked over to the edge of the doorway hoping to see the cause of the smell. But instead was greeted with a piercing darkness.
Again she muttered "seven Hells" this time in astonishment.

Picking up a small round stone, she carefully tossed it into the void.
*tick tick tick* down deeper and deeper getting softer as it was father away.
Finally a distant and shallow splash.
Whatever was the bottom was no doubt dank.
To make matters worse, the splash was soon followed by the sound of skittering.

Branka hated rats; nasty vile things were good for nothing but ruining your food stores.
She grimaced as she realized that the way this day was going, rats would be a welcome site compared to what could be lurking in the depths.

The bear cub whined as it pawed at Branka.
It seemed to be pleading for comfort
She picked it up and in a surprisingly gentile tone cooed "Hush now little one. Be a brave boy and wait for me outside."
She gave the cub a quick hug before sending it on its way.

The cub toddled off back through the stone doors and climbed a small tree near by