Fantasy We're Going Dragon Hunting

[MorganaLeFay]

Ceira stared into the fire, engrossed in her thoughts. If they were able to defeat this dragon, then she would have enough money to travel back to her hometown and-


"-Strange bear over there, wouldn't you say?"


She looked up sharply. "Bear?"

 

[Vespertide]

Rip smelled something strange. Something new. Oorfang was asleep, so she wouldn't mind. He padded around the bright orange monster (fire), and came to stand by Helpful Man (Rengar) and Metal Man (Daray). He barked, not liking this new scent.


It smelled strange, and he barked again, going further into the brush to investigate.


@Skychild @Traka

 

[SkyChild]

"Catch!"

He raised an eyebrow as he saw the cylindrical object being tossed his way. He caught the container and inspected it, wondering what it was. What in the gods name am i supposed to do with this? What even IS this? He thought to himself before Rengar told him not to drink it...?


Just.. What? Are there any creatures around or not?!

"Huh. That's a rather strange bear over there, wouldn't you say?"

Daray turned around, seeing something moving in the shadows. He glanced at Rengar, letting out a sigh as he gave the vessel back to him. "It's not friendly, is it?"


His hand hovered over the hilt of the heavy blade as he used the other one to form a small flame, using the source of light to see what was lurking in the darkness. Is it really a bear? Maybe it's just a small creature again...


He looked at Rip who barked at the shadows before vanishing in the underbush. Unsure what he was going to find, he quietly followed the small wolf pup.

 

[MorganaLeFay]

In the shadows nearby, a creature loomed in the shadows. It did look something like a bear, but it was bigger and stronger than any other bear, and had bright golden fur that glittered in the moonlight. The Wildling snapped it's jaws in the air near the wolf pup, trying to scare it off.

 

[Vespertide]

Rip didn't like Golden Bear. He growled, and yapped as Golden Bear reared to his full height. He then snapped his jaws near Rip, and it made Rip jump back. Scared he ran behind Metal Man (Daray) and decided to show his bravery from behind the clanky metal fur.


((THANK YOU.))

 

[SkyChild]

Daray looked up at the bear with the golden fur, overwhelmed by the creature's size. It was standing on two feet, inspecting them.


"Get back! Go! Go away!" He shouted, trying to scare the golden bear away. But instead of leaving, it only stepped closer.


Way too close for his liking.


The animal stared at him, and he stared back into its eyes, trying to intimidate it. Frankly, Daray was the one who was starting to get shaky legs. This thing isn't like the other creature. It's a serious threat.


Just... Don't make any sudden movements...


Very slowly, he reached for the lightweight blade on his back, keeping his eyes on the animal the whole time. It was a sticky situation.


...Shh, shh. Don't freak out, big guy. Careful... Take it easy. Just don't---


The bear let out a loud roar, and Daray realized that he was screwed.


With only about a second to react, he quickly turned around to pick up Rip and jumped out of the way before the bear--


*BAM!!*


...-Before the bear could crush him under its weight.


As he got up from the ground, the beast already began to charge at him, leaving him with no choice but to draw one of his swords. It was highly aggressive, maybe it was hungry?


"Go back to your owner! Shoo!" He told Rip as he quickly put him back on the ground before turning his attention to the creature again. It moved a lot closer in these few moments he needed to get the little pup out of harm's way.


It was fast.


Faster than expected.


His armor clanked as he fell on his back, the blade knocked out of his hands. He sat up, but was quickly pushed back to the ground by the bear's weight. How is it so fast? And--


It was a lot stronger than any other bear!


He punched and kicked the golden animal in an attempt to get it off of him, but that only angered it more.


Seemingly unimpressed, the bear raised its left paw and scratched Daray's face with its sharp claws, leaving deep cuts in his cheek.


He was lucky it missed his eye.


Trying to keep the creature at a distance with his arm, he reached for the blade on the ground next to him.


It's right there!


Just--...Just out of reach..!


"--C-come on..!! Curses!"


Damn it, he should wear a helmet to protect his face and head, too!


It is way too quick!


He realized that if someone doesn't do something, he's going to end up as a snack.


Oh how he hated situations like these.


Pathetic.


This is not like him. Since when did he need the help of others?


Because Skye is trying to heat things up

 

[Vespertide]

Rip ran as fast as he could to Oorfang's side, barking and nudging her. She was still asleep, but quickly awoke and asked him blearily what was happening. Golden Bear gave a loud roar, and even though Rip couldn't understand it, Oorfang could. Her eyes widened and she leapt out from under her coverings and dashed past Rip, shouting for him to stay by the fire.


Sia grabbed two of her knives, running towards the screaming bear. This one was not actually protecting anything. She had only heard about this creature from the wolf pack, the kind of creature that hunted for sport, not food. Such a creature was detested in the forest.


She found it leaning over Daray, roaring and claiming Daray as its prize. Sia glared at it, and whipped her knives into a fighting position.


She ran towards it and jumped, twisting in the air so she could land on its back. She stowed her knives in her boots mid-air and wrapped her arms around its thick furry neck. It smelled horrid, but she tightened her grip.


Instantly the bear reared up, trying to reach around or turn fast enough to unloose this new pest. But it was smart, smarter than Sia realized, when it backed into a tree, slamming her against it.


Sia could hear the tree crack behind her, and in surprise and sudden pain she released her grip, falling to the base of the tree. Her back ached, and she stood shakily. The bear roared, and prepared to swipe, and Sia's mind raced to find out what she should do.

 

[SkyChild]

The bear was beginning to squeeze the air out of his lungs. It felt like a gift from the gods when it finally reared up, allowing him to breathe in again. He immediately picked up the blade from the ground and stood up, feeling as if gravity was trying to pull him back down.


He looked around, and it didn't take long until he spotted the creature again. It slammed someone into a tree, and it sounded very painful.


They had to kill it. There was no other way.


Daray raised the sword and charged at the animal, leaning forward as far as possible to maximize the damage he was about to cause.


He reached back before thrusting the sword forward, standing on tiptoes to shove the blade as far as possible into the bear's body.


It impaled its shoulder, blood running down the sword until it reached the handle, continuing to drip on the ground next to his feet.


The bear roared in pain, and Daray stepped back, staring at it as it turned around. He made eye contact with Sia for a moment before looking at the animal again. The glint in its eyes was terrifying.


He had no idea what this thing wanted from them. Where are the others?


He wasn't sure what to do. If he was alone, he would just kill it, but in this case...


He was clueless.

 

[MorganaLeFay]

When Ciara heard shouting, she shot to her feet, grabbed her sword, and ran towards the place where the noises where coming from. She came into sight as the golden bear let out a blood-curdling roar, shaking the ground and trees around them. Ciara had to fight the urge to cover her ears. Daray was assaulting the thing with his sword, and Sia was dancing around pricking it's pelt with her knives. They weren't doing much damage, the beast's fur was too thick and was almost like soft armor. Ciara stood for moment and assessed the fight.


Can't attack it from the front, you'll get hit by it's paws, from the back it could simply crush you against a tree, and even if we managed to get close enough to do anything, there's the fur. There has to be a weak spot, somewhere....


She saw the glitter of the bear's eyes at it roared again and swiped it's paw at Daray. Eyes. Eyes were soft and where a direct passage to the brain. She ran forward again, reaching down to pull a knife out of her boot.


"Daray! KNEEL!"


@Skychild

 

[Vespertide]

Sia slumped as the bear was distracted by Daray, her back hurting. She knew something was wrong, but she also knew that the bear would kill one or both of them. It was too large, too big. She started to lose hope...


Suddenly Ciara stepped out in front of it. From behind Sia could barely see what was going on, but she heard Ciara shout.

[QUOTE="Ilani the Archer]"Daray! KNEEL!"

[/QUOTE]

 

[SkyChild]

Daray frowned. It seemed unimpressed by the stab wound in its shoulder. The damage should've been a lot worse, but it wasn't, and that was unnerving. How much can this creature take?!




[QUOTE="Ilani the Archer]"Daray! KNEEL!"

[/QUOTE]
He heard Ciara shouting behind him, and it was at that moment he realized that the animal swiped its paw at him again. He had to act fast, so he did what Ciara said and dropped to the ground, kneeling on one knee and keeping his head down. He heard a swooshing noise above his head, and he could feel the gust of wind brushing his hair.


He wasn't sure what it was, but it was pretty damn close.

 

[MorganaLeFay]

Ciara ran foward and used Daray's back as a lauching pad, plating one foot on his back and jumping up towards the bear's face. She was able to cling to the fur with one hand, but now she had to worry about it's mouth, which was filled with razor sharp teeth. She lashed at it's eyes, but it turned it's head and she grazed it's cheek. It roard again, and slashed at her back, and it's claws cut her armor to ribbons and flayed open her back. She grit her teeth tthrough the pain, and made another stab for the eye, this time she stabbef it, but not as deep as she would have liked. The bear shook it's self, and she lost her grip and crashed tp the ground, crying out in pain as the ragged edges of her armor bit into her back.

 

[SkyChild]

Unfortunately, Daray had to hear the scream of pain from one of his new comrades. Something went terribly wrong. This thing is causing way too much damage.


He looked up, seeing how the bear was shaking itself, blood running out of its eye. Ciara lied on her back near the creature, injured. Badly. Sia didn't look good, either.


That thing had to die. Immediately. They can't complain about him killing it now, can they?


Daray wiped the blood off of his cheek and stood up, glaring at the beast.


He held out his left hand and pointed his middle- and index-finger at it, focused.


His fingertips started glowing, getting brighter with each second.


He then slid his fingers over the sword, making it look like he smeared off the heat on the blade. And basically, that was what he did. The metal started glowing, and it got extremely hot, as if it was freshly forged by a blacksmith. However, the blade remained solid and barely bent.


"HEY, YOU GOLDEN SACK OF SHITE!" He yelled, throwing a rock at the bear in an attempt to get its attention and lure it away from the two.


It turned its head and gritted its teeth before charging at him.


Just as planned.


He reached back, staring at the bear as it got closer.


And closer.


And closer.


He just stood there, waiting. Waiting for the right moment to strike.


He took a fighting stance, one foot in front.


It roared again, and he tightened his grip around he handle.


The bear darted forward, trying to tackle him.


Daray reacted immediately and let himself fall on his back. The bear jumped over him, and he quickly shoved the glowing blade up into its chest while it jumped over him. It hissed as it burned its way into the flesh, and Daray turned the blade, carving an even wider and deeper hole into the bear's body.


It roared again. But this time, it wasn't as loud as before.


The sword clattered to the ground, still fuming.


He quickly stood up, breathing heavily.


Where is it? Is it finally over?


He's running out of stamina.

 

[MorganaLeFay]

The bear turned to chard at Daray again, but the hot sword had sliced one of it's main arteries, and it was bleeding out fast. It would be dead within a minute, they just had to hold it off until it keeled over.


Ciara lay on the ground and focused on her breathing so she wouldn't black out. Somehow, she had managed to keep a hold of her knife, and her fingers ached because she was holding it so hard.

 

[Vespertide]

Sia walked over, holding her side. She didn't know how bad her injuries were, but Ciera and Daray looked injured. The bear lied still, breathing slower and slower as it bled out.


"So ends the reign of the bear, and begins the reign of the wolf," Sia cursed in beartongue at it. "I curse you and your kind. Curse you with the blood of my pack. No more."


It coughed, and spoke. "Long... hail... the Dragon... king."


It died, and Sia reeled back, shocked. How was this bear in league with the dragon? How many others had he turned into his will?


She heard a coughing behind her, and turned around. Ciera. She and Daray and risked their lives to slay this animal, this torturer of the forest. Why?


Sia knew little of healing, other than the basics. She still walked towards Ciera, and saw quickly the wounds across her back.


She knelt by her, and just pulled apart the shreds of Ciera's shirt, exposing her back to the chill night air. The wounds weren't deep, but they were deep enough to scar.


"Be still." Sia told her, and almost raised her head to call her pack. But they wouldn't come, no matter how loud she called. She glanced around her, and saw a plant in the dark... The same plant she used to make her clothes out of. It was strong, hard to tear and most importantly, clean. She didn't know how it did it, but it kept itself and plants around it completely clean. Grabbing a knife from her side pouch, she tore at the plant, grabbing the biggest leaves. Pressing them down she put them along Ciera's back, covering the scars. A miracle that that plant grew all over the forest...


But she still had to ask. "Why?" Why risk your life and kill the beast if you didn't know what it was saying?

 

[MorganaLeFay]

Ciara coughed, turning her head away from Sia as she did so. The pain was horrible and she winced every time Sia pressed on the wound.


"That was stupid... attacking it like that. Could have -ow- killed someone else. Better me than an innocent villager. Who knows-" more coughing. "Who knows how much blood it had on it's paws already."


What in the world was Sia doing? It felt like her back was on fire.

 

[Vespertide]

She was right about that. Sia didn't say anything else, but glanced around her for more herbs. Something to speed the process...


But there was nothing. The broad leaves themselves held healing powers, and they would certainly help. Sia lifted one, the blood sticking to the underside of the leaf. Her vision was better than most humans because of her time spent among the wolves. She could see tiny needles, and curious, she put the leaf back down, pressing it back against Ciera's spine.


She grabbed a smaller leaf, cut it with a knife, then pressed her thumb onto her blade. Instantly her thumb was pricked, and she pressed the small wound to the leaf. Sure enough, it stung like she had pressed it to a burning log. Adamant though she kept her thumb there, and eventually, the pain subsided.


When she took her thumb off, the wound wasn't bleeding anymore, and only a small scar remained.


Ciera's wounds were much larger than a thumb prick, but the leaves would have her back on her feet in the morning. Maybe early afternoon.


Suddenly her chest heaved, and she pressed her side. She'd have to attend to her own wounds later.

 

[Traka]

The forest became quiet after that last roar, is the creature dead? Took a bit longer than expected, I've counted to one hundred and ninety-three since they engaged. That bear must have been as powerful as it was odd. My, what's that in the corner? Ah, of course... How awful.





After rummaging through the dark, humid and fetid place, Rengar headed back to the camp; looking around and admiring the aspect of nature in the moonlight as his shoulders, on which rested a large, clacking sack carried on the right, swung lightly along with his cheerful walk. Four hundred and fifty-eight, fifty-nine... Oh, there they are! Fierce battle, by the looks of those wounds. He stood next to Daray and glanced at his cheek. "Worry not, scars give you a more seasoned air, it works wonders with women". The assassin then turned to face Ciera.


"Good news first, as it should always be: there don't seem to be any other dangerous creatures nearby, and nothing inside of the bear's cave reacted to the alchemical compounds that I dispersed around", said he, waving the flask held between his fingers, half-full with bright red powder. "Which means that there're no signs of a mage controlling it". Storing the vessel back in his pocket, Rengar circled around the bear, examining it closely. Is its meat edible? It might be poisonous. Or just bland.

 

[MorganaLeFay]

Ciara rolled her eyes and shoved her way into a sitting position, waving Sia back. "Go help daray, since you seem to know what your doing."


She turned to face Rengar, wincing as she did so, and crossed her arms over her chest to try and cover up what her torn shirt didn't. "Thank you so much for helping us with the actual battle, assassin."

 

[Traka]

"Someone had to check the surroundings, and Traka was busy you know how it is", answered Rengar to the leader, turning the grinning demon to face her. "Besides, a bear can be very strong, but it shouldn't take four of us to defeat. How are we going to fight the dragon if we can't handle a woodland creature? Thus, I'd say that this animal right here should have been slain by only one of us, and with minimal injury". Also, I suspected that the corruption inflicted upon this bear was the work of a dark mage, and that he or she might have a book at hand.

 

[Vespertide]

Sia stood, and Rengar's mention of the dragon made her think of what the bear had said before it died. She furrowed her brow, thinking back to that terrible night when she lost everything. That werewolf... He said he was sent from the dragon lord as well. What was going on in the forest? Why were animals serving a dragon?


Sia folded her arms, digesting this in her mind. Should she say something? Did they deserve to know?


She did just work to save Ciera's life. In many ways, she owed them a debt, as well. Again her pride flared, but more so her guilt. She had treated another animal, a creature, terribly. It was against the rules of her pack, to treat any creature with dishonor. She listened to what Rengar said, and decided that it was true. But should she speak out?


"The bear is with the dragon." Her own voice surprised her. But she had spoken. It was done.

 

[MorganaLeFay]

Ciara listened to all of them before speaking again. Rengar's words made her angry, but what Sia said surprised her.


"This was no normal bear,"she started to say. "As you well know. It was a Wildling, twisted creatures that take the forms of bears and wolves and the like, but are a hundred times more powerful. They usually only live in the deep woods in the north, and the fact that this one appeared this far south and this close to towns and villages worries me. The apparent fact of them allied with the dragon... well that's another matter entirely."

 

[SkyChild]

By the looks of it, Sia was taking good care of Ciara. Rengar was back, and the golden bear is dead.


...So a scar is supposed to attract women? Is he being sarcastic?


Whatever.


So, everyone is--


Wait.


He remembered now. There was a woman sitting by the fire. She told him her name, too...


Lixa, right?


Daray walked back to the fire and glanced at her.


Was she asleep?


"Are you alright?"


@LegoLad659

 

[LegoLad659]

Lixa was still huddled up in the blanket that was given to her, having watched the battle and not being able to do anything to help them with it "I'm... Okay, but are you sure you should be worrying about me right now? After what just happened?"

 

[SkyChild]

"Warriors and Assassins are quite tough. The woman with the wolf pup treated Ciara's wounds, and Rengar returned safe and sound. So... Yeah. I haven't seen you anywhere."


Daray replied, sitting down by the fire as he let out a sigh. That creature was a tough opponent. How are they supposed to fight the dragon? Rare creature or not, it was still just a bear...