Ascending Legends

[Dragongal]

Slowly, Arryn reached out and wiped off his tears with one hand, pushing his hair back with her other. "It's alright, dearest. I guess we both understand each other better than we thought." Arryn wrapped her arms around his neck, providing comfort for them both. What was worse than the fact that they'd done it was the feeling of guilt afterward - it shouldn't have been done, they shouldn't have stooped to that low, but they both had. And it hurt. After some time, she moved one hand up to wipe his tears again, running her thumb over his cheekbone. There was nothing to say for either of them. She hummed softly, just to break the silence and hopefully distract him from his pain. Like usual, she was less worried about her own pain, and more concerned about his. After more time had passed, she began to speak again, partially to give him a distraction, partially because, well, when better to bleed than when already wounded?


"After that night, the-the nightmares really started. I didn't understand, then, but it was bad. I experimented with all kinds of sleeping potions and draughts, it got to every night, I was scared to sleep, I'd be practicing fighting or reading books until it was almost dawn, trying to not let myself sleep. Anyway, um, it - it got better after a while, and I adjusted. Um, I used to - and I did for years, actually - I'd grab my dagger by the blade when I woke to keep myself from slipping back into the nightmares or a memory...." She held her left hand out for him to see the many faint lines scarred into her palm, then she took his hand again. "I wasn't the only one in the team who was having those nightmares. Anyway, a year in, I was barely fifteen, we were doing a raid on a small outpost built in the woods. Cheap plyboard walls, dirt flooring, the works. I was carrying an injured child - intended to be a slave - out, that was my part of the plan, and I heard this... scream." She paused and shook her head, taking a second to wipe off her tears, which were quickly replaced, trying to order her thoughts. "Dayn, have you ever... The fire, um… have you ever…. no, nevermind, um… I recognized it immediately as Tomlain, one of the original five. Close-range fighter, we'd been good friends, and... I set the girl down, since it was safe, and I ran back, and I met with Matthias and Demi carrying him.... and..." she paused to run her hand through her hair, shuddering. She wiped off her tears, but her action didn't seem to make a difference. "Dayn, the smell, burnt flesh and burnt hair, it was so bad, I could hardly breathe, and - and he was so badly burnt, he was absolutely unrecognizable. The slavers, they'd - they'd set incendiary traps and he stepped right on it. He took the full conflagration He was basically dead when they brought him to me, but... I did my best, I tried so hard," Arryn paused; she was losing her ability to speak, her heart hurt so badly. "Matthias tried to drag me away, and I told him we couldn't leave him, but... I'd tried so hard... I was already getting exhausted, and i still needed to heal anymore wounded, including the slaves... then I just made sure there was no more pain, and... he was dead."


She looked at Dayn and tried to flash him a shaky smile through her tears. "That's why I can't stand being burnt, and I'm so nervsy around fires. My magic - it's like a reflex, it remembers healing those burns, and it makes me get caught in a flashback, and.... and I just can't. But it gets worse. We were - it was a simple run, and - and I was leading the whole group out and - and this armored man, he stepped out of a hidden panel, and he was blocking our way, and he had this vicious dog, and, and..." she paused, trying to slow her breathing. "He had a child in one hand, and a whip in the other, and, and, any time we took a step, he hurt the kid, and I knew we had to get out of there, fast, we had wounded, and.... that's it!" She shrugged, laughing almost hysterically through her tears, like someone who'd been shown something incomprehensible and impossible to wrap the mind around. "That's all I remember of that night, until I woke up covered in blood. Matthias was watching over me, we normally did that for the wounded, and I was so exhausted, and - blood was everywhere, gods, it - my hands.... It was worse than when I'd gotten hold of the assassin, and - and, Matthias, he - he told me, I had just... gone berserk. I'd finally snapped on a mission, I guess, but this wasn't like before, this - I had no recollection of any of it. I - I am not going to say what I did in front of the children we were trying to save. When they tried to drag me off of the man, though, I punched Demi and kept going, and then more enemies came, and... they just let me go, there was nothing else they could do, and when the fight was over, I collapsed. My team was concerned... but I think one or two of them might have been, almost... nervous around me after that. Next couple missions, went fine, then it happened again, Matthias and Kalie kept it on the down-low, but... I don't know what happened. It's just - I just lost it both times and I still can't remember anything of it. I wasn't even insane by that point. No, it took more than that to mentally break me...." Arryn leaned her head against Dayn's chest, closing her eyes, crying, shuddering with silent sobs. Yes, it had taken a lot to mentally break her, but it had most certainly happened, and it still hurt to even vaguely reference. "I can't stand to think about it, much less tell you, it hurts so bad, I can't - I-I just can't, not yet, it's- I... acknowledgment of it hurts too bad, I... I'm sorry, I'll tell you, the-the moment I can, I just..." Arryn put her right hand over her face, trying to keep some control over her pain, still holding Dayn's hand in her left.

 

[BookWyrm]

It all made sense now that Dayn understood Arryn's story. He slowly lifted her hand away from her face before wiping her tears away with his shirt sleeve. "You don't have to tell me any more. I understand your pain Arryn, more than I care to admit. But its time to let the past and the memories go. Don't hold anything in that needs to get out. It's past time that these wounds needed healing, and I can help you with that." Dayn wrapped one arm around Arryn's shoulders, the other under her legs as he slowly lifted her up as he leaned back against the wall, and there he sat, cradling his love as she worked through the emotions that had remained unheeded for too long. It broke his heart to see Arryn in such emotional pain, but he knew she needed to get it out of her system.


Dayn lost track of time as they sat there, though he did remember laying her down and letting her rest against him as he was against the wall. For some reason Dayn found this moment, even though it was so emotional and brought up past memories of pain, this moment was intensely intimate. They had bared their souls to each other and had shown that they were vulnerable, that they needed the other to strengthen them in times of need. This was something he had never felt with Kara. Yes, he loved his late wife dearly, but they had never been this close nor this intimate with each other.


After a while Arryn seemed to be recovering. Dayn slowly brushed her hair back from her face as he smiled. "How are you love?"

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn enjoyed their simple closeness, feeling warm and safe. It felt better to her than any kiss could have. She looked up at him then closed her eyes again, saying, "Tired...." Her outpouring of emotion had exhausted her completely. She lightly nuzzled against his chest as she sighed. This had been a rough night for him, too. "The weight seems mostly gone, but my heart still bleeds." Glancing up at him, she took his hand, saying, "I'm trying to get better, Dayn.... I still am nervous and skittish, and - and I don't know how to do anything right now but to take it slow. You deserve better.... Just, please be patient with me, beloved, I don't want to lose you. I'm trying my best." She closed her eyes again, still holding his hand.


(If you want, you can timeskip)

 

[BookWyrm]

The night had turned cold as they slept. Dayn had been awakened by a chill wind that crept in from the cracks and holes only to blow across his exposed torso. He had carefully gotten out of bed and started a fire, the chimney joining multiple others as smoke began to billow out into the night. When he was content he rejoined Arryn, who was laying on her side. Dayn scooted up against her and pulled her close to him and wrapping his arm around her before soon falling fast asleep.


When morning came the room was still nice and warm. Dayn slowly opened his eyes, noticing that they hadn't shifted much during the night. He smiled as he blinked the fog from his eyes, simply enjoying the sight of his beloved sleep so soundly. He slowly, very gently traced his fingers along the lines of her body, up from her waist and then down again as softly as he could.


"Arryn, dearest, its morning. Do you want some breakfast?"

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn opened her eyes and glanced at him, smiling tiredly. She took his hand in hers and sighed. "That sounds delightful, dearest." While she was rather hungry, she was also wonderfully warm with Dayn next to her. Sitting up, she turned to look at him, then leaned over and kissed him slowly before sitting up again. "It's odd, I slept surprisingly well last night. Almost no nightmares for once." She gave him a quick smile to let him know she was okay.


Dressed and downstairs, Arryn took the moment to go to the counter and quietly ask the owner what kinds of beasts were prevalent in the area, and how far it would be to the next inn. He explained that it would be two days to the next inn, and that the only common beasts were wargs and forest trolls, with occasional other creatures. She thanked him and returned to Dayn at their table. "Two days until the next inn, glad we got the warmer equipment." She adjusted her thick grey cloak about her shoulders a bit uncomfortably; two days also meant they'd have to sleep by the roads, which meant there was a risk for beasts to attack.


(If you have no plans, maybe we could timeskip to their travelling, toward sunset-ish maybe? Unless you have plans.)

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn frowned at the news as he chewed on a chunk of soda bread before taking a sip of water to wash it down. "Well, we'll just make the best of it I guess. Though I have heard some knight errant swear by the massive hedges that dot this landscape. Apparently, some are far cozier than the inns, or so they say."





Dayn and Arryn had been on the road for a good five hours, stopping once near a stream for lunch and to water the horses and refill canteens. With any other horse Dayn would have been worried about pushing them to travel as far at such a pace for as long as they had been traveling, but the horses they had purchased from the farm were proving to be more than worth their weight in gold. Most horses were only able to move at four gaits;walk, trot, canter, and gallop. Traveling by those means could take time and could be very taxing on the horse if pushed too hard for too long. The horses Dayn had bought, though, were blessed with a fifth gait, the amble. A sort of fast walk, the amble made for a very fluid, smooth ride and it took little to no toll on the horses, who were bred for traveling miles at this pace.


Around the fifth hour of travel Dayn had slowed the pace to a walk to let the horses have a break before finding a place to tuck in for the night. Dayn had been paying attention to the sky throughout the day, trying to keep watch of weather. With winter coming on it meant snow was bound to come sooner or later, and with the moisture and fog that had been around all day Dayn almost expected a frost to come during the night. But he had a plan. He had traveled the roads before, either coming from his families estate or going to it. He slowed the horses before dismounting and looking off the side of the road, trying to recall distant memories of traveling this route.


"Come on, it's around here somewhere." Dayn pushed aside vines and brush as he scanned the forest floor only a few feet in from the road. He stomped his feet purposefully, almost as if he were trying to step on something. Finally after stomping around, knocking about the brush and retracing his steps he finally kicked against a hard wooden surface. "Ha! Found it!" Dayn pulled a dead vine off of what appeared to be a well worn, but stable, wooden door. He walked back to the road, realizing that the sky was growing darker. "I've got us covered for the night."





Dayn had found a partially underground shelter that had been dug/built many years ago by the rangers that traveled through this region. These shelters, called sidhe, took after an old traditional shelter used by hunters from the north that the rangers had adapted to for their own use. "The rangers built many of these sidhe to provide shelters for their use, and the use of anyone in the know." As customary there was an above ground space for the horses that would keep them warm and out of sight. After tending to the horses Dayn led Arryn down into the sidhe. The floor was stone and mortar, along with the walls, but mixed and built well to keep from leaking. There was a decent supply of dried fire wood, tender, and other fire starters along with, to Dayn's surprise, salts and spices with canned preserved fruits. Dayn pulled a jar of spiced peaches from the cabinet and opened the lid, letting the smell flow out into the small room. As he ate one of the peaches the luscious, juicy fruit was almost more intoxicating than wine to him. He sighed with a contented, happy smiled before passing the jar of peaches to Arryn. "I could make myself sick, but we will need a fire."





Within an hour Dayn had a fire going and the two of them had changed into comfortable clothes before snuggling up on the bed. Dayn sat against the wall, Arryn in his arms, watching the fire as he traced his fingers up and down her arm. "Have you ever seen a dragon before, Arryn? I've seen a skull and some other bones before but I mean, have you ever seen a living, breathing dragon?"

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn had looked about the place with suspicion initially; it reminded her of some of the bunkers she'd led raids on. But this was much higher quality, and clearly well-kept. She tugged lightly on the cuff of her shirt, making sure she could move her wrists comfortably; not that she'd need to fight anyone, but it was more of a habit. Leaning against Dayn was extremely comfortable, and she enjoyed watching the warm flames dance from a - safe - distance. She looked up thoughtfully at him when he spoke. "No, I've seen griffins real close, though.... why do you ask?"

 

[BookWyrm]

"I've always wanted to see one, thats all." Dayn stretched out before readjusting as he sat up in bed, but instead of laying back he placed his hands on Arryn's shoulders and moved her around to where her back was facing him. He brushed her hair over to one side before starting to gently massage her neck and shoulders. "Your posture was noticeably tense earlier. I think I can remedy that." His hands were familiar with many arts; from the sword and buckler, poetry and written word, even massage, as Arryn was now finding out. Gently he worked the muscles in her neck and upper back until they were loosened up before he began to use firm, long strokes and kneading to work the stiffness and knots out of her back and neck. "How are you feeling love? Loosening up any?"

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn initially tried to look behind her to see what he was doing, not because she didn't trust him, it was just an innate wish to see everyone all the time at this point. She could have purred with ecstasy when he began massaging her neck. When he was getting close to her shoulder blades, she repositioned herself facing him. Yeah, shoulder blades are a bad idea. Shame, he's good at this. She smiled and said, "My turn. I'm not so skilled as you, but..." she put her hands behind his neck and pulled him into a gentle kiss that she fell into more as each second passed. While she was doing that, though, she was using her magic to ease any ache or pain in his body and loosen tight muscles. Where Dayn had skill, she had magic. "Isn't magic great?" She pulled away from the kiss and smiled to him, nuzzling against his chest. Content, she laid against his chest for a bit with her eyes closed, enjoying his warmth and the sense of safety. When she opened her eyes, she didn't say anything. It was too comfortable for that, it seemed. She let her mind wander a bit and her heartbeat slow as she ran her fingers lightly over one of the scars on his chest. Despite knowing that it wasn't the best idea, she had to ask; it was a question that had been plaguing her for too long, before even knowing him, he was the first person she could ask. She quietly asked, "Dayn...? Do your scars ever hurt you? I-I mean, once in a while...?"

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn had lost himself in the motion as he had been massaging Arryn. He often found himself like this when he was around her. She was so easy to get lost in. He came too as she turned around, though he found himself drowning in her again as she pulled him close and kissed him. Dayn closed his eyes and relaxed, feeling a soothing relief ease through his body as they kissed. "If that was magic, why did you have to stop?" he teased as they leaned back again. Dayn loved the feeling of Arryn laying against his chest. He felt his skin break out in gooseflesh as she ran her fingers over the scars that dotted his chest, the sensation being a little more pleasurable than he would have expected despite the history behind the old wounds.





"On occasion they do seem to remember the pain that brought them into the world. But," Dayn reached down and ran his fingers gently over Arryn's arm, "they seem to forget their pain if they are encouraged to feel something else, such as the soft touch of one's beloved."

 

[Dragongal]

"Glad I could ease your pain, then." Arryn smiled up at him and then returned her gaze to the fire, before closing her eyes, enjoying the feeling of him running his fingers over her arm ever so gently. He was always so gentle and patient with her, and she loved him even more for it. When she asked questions, he didn't pry or make her feel like she'd alienated herself so far from society that she couldn't be understood, like she was still an outcast to be pushed away. She sighed, smiling slightly as she let herself relax against him and let her mind wander. For a moment she had to note how odd it was that she let herself do this, since until recently it had been a dangerous practice she'd forbidden herself from. It felt so good to be mentally free, having fewer barriers as each day passed.


So it wasn't just her who had painful scars. The pain was normal, so, if she wasn't a special case, perhaps there was some potion she could mix up that would stop the pain, she'd already made a balm that served that function, but a potion would last longer and was much more discrete. Perhaps if I mixed a basic pain relief potion with a muscle repair remedy? No, that wouldn't work, but what about... Arryn couldn't finish her thought, as she'd fallen asleep warm in Dayn's arms.


(You can do the timeskip, or I can if you like.)

 

[BookWyrm]

(I'll let you skip to morning)


Dayn felt himself relax as he slowly ran his fingers over Arryn's arm. It wasn't long before he noticed that her breathing had slowed, her body had relaxed, and she had fallen fast asleep. Dayn smiled faintly as he continued to trace his fingers on her arm and back. The fire popped, sending sparks like fairies flying into the air around the fireplace. Dayn watched them burn out into nothing and slowly it seemed to him the the flickering shadows on the wall began to take shape. Centaurs, fauns, dryads, fairies and sprites all began to dance to the rhythm of some unheard music, though as he continued to watch he slowly began to hear the faint notes of a flute followed with small lowland pipes and lute. Drums beat in merry time with the dancer's footfalls, onlookers shouting cheers and jests to the girls they fancied or to their mates as they danced on into the night. Dayn smiled as he slipped off into sleep, the smell of burning oak bringing the memory vividly into his dreams.


He sat among a host of onlookers on a midsummer's eve. They had gathered out in the heart of the forest to dance and sing and make merry until they could no longer stand. Then they would drink and laugh and jest before gathering to here the great stories of old told from around the great fires. Dayn was one of the few humans that had been invited to join in this midsummer's eve festival. All around him were elves, centaurs, fauns, and other folk of the woods. He remembered the start as the sun began it's descent towards the far horizon, the last rays of it's light seeming to catch the forest canopy on fire as the music began to call out from everywhere at once. And then as the sun set and the stars came to light the celebration was on. Dayn remembered smiling as he watched the fair folk dance around the great bonfires that dotted the forest. The ales that night were better than any he had drank elsewhere, filling one's head with a merry warmth instead of drowsy stupor. As the night progressed and the dancing continued Dayn recalled with vivid detail the faunness that approached him to dance.


Her name had been Chepi, as fitting and exotic as she had appeared. Her hair had been raven, her skin tanned. Her only garb had been a traditional headdress, choker, and beaded top. Dayn recalled the smell of her skin, intoxicating as wine, and her voice just as smooth. They danced together for gods know how long before the music died down and the great old one began to tell the stories of old. Dayn had sat upon an oaken seat, Chepi his companion for the remainder of the festival. Dayn remembered after the festivities had ended they had walked together through the forest towards an ancient pond and sat on it's shore, watching the moon reflect out on it's body. They shared memories and stories of their own writing, and when it came time to part ways they had shared a proper end to such a festival; a kiss under a midsummer's moon before parting ways. Dayn had traveled through those woods several times after that night, and every time he passed by there he always felt like he could feel Chepi's presence near him. He would sometimes here what sounded like her laughter as he walked along the shores of the pond, or the sounds of music and cheer as he walked through the woods alone.


Even if he never saw the centaurs and fauns again he would always remember his one midsummer's night.

 

[Dragongal]

Come on Arryn, we have to go. No, it's got to be here. Arryn, we're trained as fighters, not hunters. I don't know why you accepted this job in the first place, it's not like we really need money and we're not supposed to be down South for so long - Matthias calm down, May's set her traps, bear or no, you know her traps will hold. It's not her traps I'm worried about. It's the idea that we're in the woods alone, far from anyone, and you seem to think there's only one bear. One bear with a bounty. If Theodas were here - He's not. He offered to help but I had to leave him to watch Demi, okay? He's the only one past me who knows how to care for a wound like his. We'll get him if we need to. *Sigh* Fine, just... Arryn! Watch - "


Arryn jumped very slightly, now awake, opening her eyes to find that the fire had died down considerably and Dayn was asleep. She smiled to herself. As terrifying as that dream had been in reality, there'd been a happy ending - well, not happy for the bear, but good for their pockets. She'd never been good killing beasts, her specialty was fighting humans. She shifted slightly, closer to Dayn. It was chill, and the blanket didn't seem to be cutting it. Should she perhaps stoke the fire? She glanced at Dayn. She was safe and pretty warm there, nestled against him, if slightly chilled, but if she got up to stoke the fire? It didn't seem worth leaving him, no matter how cold she got.


Arryn pulled the blanket higher over her shoulders, making sure to cover Dayn's chest as much as possible, before closing her eyes to sleep again. When she opened her eyes again, the fire was completely dead, and she could tell it was dawn. Funny how time seemed to pass when there were no dreams. She couldn't help but sigh heavily; she was so comfortable next to Dayn, so warm and secure.... "Dayn? Beloved, it's morning," she said as she took his hand in hers.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn woke easily, his night having been rather peaceful. He smiled as he felt Arryn's finger's intertwine with his own. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze as he opened his eyes and looked at Arryn. The sudden chill caused him to shiver, his body covering almost instantly in goosebumps, before he pulled Arryn against him and the covers up around them. "A rather cold morning at that." he said with a laugh. He looked over at the window and was content when he saw the outside had frosted over. "Seeing as how it is frosted outside, I think we might be able to steal a few more hours alone. But, I am going to start the fire back."


Dayn braced himself for the chill and quickly moved out of the covers, making sure to keep Arryn covered though, and tended to the fire. Once it was going again, and could be left alone, Dayn walked back over to the bed, pulled out a wool blanket from his pack, and then crawled under the covers before snuggling up with Arryn again. "I dreamed of a distant memory last night, something I haven't dreamed of for a long time." Dayn gently massaged Arryn's neck, slowly working his way up and onto her head and around to her face as he spoke. "It was from years ago. I had been invited to a midsummer's eve festival. Oh what a night that was. Have you ever been to one before love?"

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn gently pressed her cheek into his hand and laughed slightly. Thank the gods for frost. A few more hours close to Dayn sounded wonderful. "In my village we had a minor festival each year, you know dwarves use any excuse to get drunk, but no. I have had elves throw a ball for me before, though, if that counts for anything," she added with a laugh. "Would you mind telling me more about this festival?" She never tired of listening to Dayn tell stories or explain things, the way his steel blue eyes sparkled as he related the tales of adventures past and the rhythm of his voice as his words formed beautiful images. Before he could speak she pulled him forward and kissed him slowly, then let him lay back and put her head on his chest again. "Now tell me please," she laughed. Her sudden surge of emotion had surprised even her, but she didn't care. Right now she wanted to listen to him, and be warm and close to him.

 

[BookWyrm]

"I would love to, but I suddenly find myself distracted." Dayn laughed as he repaid the sudden kiss with one of his own. Her sudden passion had caught Dayn off guard, but he loved it for that reason. He took his time in returning the kiss, enjoying the feeling of her lips against his own. After a little longer he pulled away, though only parting a few inches from each other, close enough to whisper. "There, much better." Dayn stole a final kiss before laying back, letting Arryn rest against his chest before starting his story.





"It was about two years ago. I had been pursuing some bandit knights in the North and had tracked them down after they had captured a young elven girl from a nearby village. I came upon them not more than a mile from the village and charged them. To get to the point, I ended them rightly, but the last bandit knight was seasoned, and before he went down I ended up with a nasty wound to my abdomen." Dayn took Arryn's hand and moved it to a scar on the right of his abdomen, just above the liver. "I was lucky. Just a little bit lower and I would have beyond even elvish medicine."





As Dayn continued he began to massage Arryn's shoulders, slowly making his way to one arm and then the other. He took his time with the process, paying attention to every detail. As he got down to her hand he took it in both hands and gently, with a motion similar to a caterpillar, worked his thumb up and down her palm and fingers until he had passed from one side to the other before starting over again with a little more pressure before slowly working his way back to her shoulders and down to the other arm. "While I had been fighting the girl ran back to the village. Next thing I know, as I lay on the ground bleeding like a stuck pig, a group of elvish warriors appear out of the woods. They took me in and tended to my wounds, which took about a week to heal properly. The night before I left was the midsummer's eve festival, to which I held a seat of honor. It was beautiful, the stories just can't do it justice. Centaurs, fauns, elves, and other folk of the forest gather together for a single night of merriment, music, dance, and great stories. The ales and mead were delicious and didn't leave you drunk or hungover. The music, well, its hard to describe. I spent the time leading up to the sunset enjoying the ale and mead, but once the sun was down I spent the entire night accompanied by a rather beautiful faunness. Before you get any ideas, the midsummer's eve is a night of excess fun, yes, but it is well mannered excess fun. The most we did physically, besides dance, was share a kiss under the midsummer's moon."

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn smiled while listening to Dayn's story, enjoying the massage. "Well, I wouldn't have expected anything past that from a noble knight like you." Her wry smile was an obvious sign that she wasn't serious. He certainly seemed to enjoy that memory quite a bit, which was most certainly understandable. Very quietly, she hummed an Elvish tune she was fairly certain he'd have heard. Theodas had taught her how to sing it, and she still knew how, but... she didn't sing anymore. She was tempted to tell him about some of the more riotous dwarven festivities she'd been to, or her own experience with elves, but she didn't feel like now was the time for that. No, now was the time to travel toward their destination. "You'll have to go into more detail one of these times about some of your adventures." Arryn went to sit up, felt the cold, then laid back against his chest, pulling the covers closer. "Damn it's cold, I am ashamed to call myself a Northern girl." Okay, now was the time to be warm, later was the time to travel toward their destination.


The cold was chased away by the rising sun, the frost melting slowly under its rays, leaving the ground damp and cool. Dayn and Arryn were soon out on the roads again on their horses, heading toward the next village. A few hours past noon, Arryn noticed her horse acting a bit strangely. Arryn looked about, trying to see what it was, and it soon became apparent. She stopped her horse, signaling for Dayn to do the same, then resting her hand on her dagger hilt. "Um, Dayn, you know I'm not a tracker... however, is that not what warg prints look like? And are those not extremely fresh?" Arryn knew what fresh tracks looked like, and those tracks were too large to be a wolf's. Her horse whickered, stomping its hooves on the damp ground. Arryn looked to the forests on the sides of the road; those tracks belonged to more than just one warg, and a warg coming near the road without being very, very hungry? Unheard of.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn dismounted, handing the reins to Arryn before bending down to check the print. "Good eyes. I'd say they were made within the hour, probably the last half hour to be honest." Dayn didn't smell anything off, but if the horses were reacting then he figured they had been through recently. He stood to his feet before turning around, a finger to his lips as he walked over to Arryn. "They could be close. We are going to move on at a walk until the horses feel comfortable.", Dayn whispered before mounting his horse and nudging it along. Like any other pack hunter wargs were triggered into a chase by running prey. A single warg could be a handful, a pack of four though....


Dayn kept his eyes wandering over the woods on either side of the road as they continued on. There was one more village in between them and Riverbend, and not too soon either. They had enough supplies to last them out until they reached his families estate.


Finally after moving a good half mile from the warg prints Dayn nudged his horse back into it's customary amble. "We will need to report that. If wargs are hunting near the roads that could be a bad sign." But what would be forcing wargs to hunt near the road? Last he had checked there weren't that many forest trolls, and they never took to attacking warg packs anyway. That was what really bothered Dayn though. What else could be in the area that would force wargs out of their normal hunting grounds?

 

[Dragongal]

Arryn nodded in agreement as they continued on. While she'd be the first to admit that she was not good with beasts, she was better fighting men, she could tell that something was off. About an hour from the village, Arryn noticed something on the roadside ahead. Something rather large and bloody. She dismounted and handed Dayn the reins, saying, "Medic's right, I get to see something bloody first. And I can throw a five-inch shield up in about five milliseconds to boot, but medic's right first."


Watching the forests to either side, Arryn approached the form on the ground, then paused halfway to reaching it before continuing. A mountain lion, torn to absolute shreds. In fact, there was very little meat left on the carcass, just lots of blood on the ground. Why would the carcass be left out in the road? And how was just one enough fora number of wargs? She put her fingers in the blood, and a chill ran down her spine. It was warm. She stood to run back to Dayn and tell him that they had to leave, but she was interrupted by the sound of a growl behind her. She pivoted on her heel and threw up a shield just in time to block the warg's lunge. She fell on her back, and glanced to Dayn. Please don't get near and get hurt, I'll find a way out, I mean, I always do... somehow.


She heard a barking noise from behind her, and raised another shield to make a dome-form around her. Both of the wargs clawed at the shield, but she'd copied te consistency of ice - no traction.


She glanced back, seeing another set of eyes in the woods. They'd been waiting... This seemed like insantiy, but... Did wargs set a trap?! Arryn was distracted by one of the wargs bashing against her shield. They're ignoring Dayn as of yet... but not for long, surely! She got her feet under herself and forced the shield to expand suddenly and with great force, throwing the wargs back a bit. "Dayn, quick, I can fend them off, get out of here!"

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn was off his horse, arming sword in hand, and charging for the wargs before Arryn had even turned to yell. When she had forced them back Dayn side stepped behind the first warg, raising his sword as he came around the side, and brought the blade down across the warg's back leg. The warg yelped in pain as it's rear leg buckled. It turned sharply, clamping down on the air where Dayn's hand had been moments before. Dayn jerked his hand back away from the beasts jaws. Somewhere in the intensity of the moment Dayn found a focus and moved his hand in a backhanded strike. The air currents around the warg kicked it up, flipping it onto it's side before Dayn brought his sword down between it's ribs, twisting it violently(to the snap of a couple of it's ribs)before pulling his now crimson blade from it's corpse.


"Arryn!" Dayn yelled as the second warg launched it's at her. Dayn felt his empty hand ignite before he hurled a blaze over Arryn's head before it crashed into the warg. Dayn rushed over to Arryn and grabbed her, pulling her back away from the warg. "Are you okay?"

 

[Dragongal]

She looked at Dayn with surprise for a moment. Had he just cast two spells perfectly? "I'm fine, but... Dayn!" Arryn pulled him to the ground as she threw up a shield, the third warg crashing into it. This one was larger than the rest by a fair deal. She couldn't see where the other one was but she was certain that Dayn's attack had infuriated it. The stench of burnt fur was heavy around them. She took her crossbow from its case, took careful aim and fired, making the shield disappear for a millisecond as the bolt passed. It hit the warg's skull - and ricocheted to the side. This didn't seem possible - she'd put bolts from her crossbow through mens' skulls, and it bounced off of this beast?! She formed the shield around the two of them as it lunged again. Her shield's strain was felt through her body but she hid it carefully. She'd never had to stand up to so much weight or force. Why were these beasts so intent upon them, when the horses weren't far off? "Dayn, I can't hold this forever, they'll just wait us out."





An idea occurred to her. A rather insane idea, but considering she was familiar with insanity, it wasn't a bad idea. She took Dayn's arming sword, saying, "Trust me and use your bastard sword." She turned to face the burnt wolf and dissipated that half of the domed shield. As the warg moved forward, she made a shield forcing its head down, and made a hard one-handed slice, cutting into the neck. She dissipated the small shield and made another forcing the warg's head up as it tried to move toward her. She spun the sword back in a practiced move, letting the hilt run over her fingers. She moved forward quickly and slid on her knees, bringing the sword up, through the bottom of the warg's muzzle. She pulled the blade out and reinforced her shield around herself and Dayn, still holding the sword but keeping her right arm close to her side, trying to be discrete about it.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn looked in surprise when Arryn took the sword from his hand, though when she suggested the use of his bastard sword he looked back at the horses. There, hanging by it's strap and buried under other luggage, was his sword. Dayn brought his arms up, half shrugging as he shook his head before pulling out his roundel dagger. But the moment of frustration was short lived when he watched Arryn perform beautifully with his sword, mixing blade work with magic. Dayn stood staring at Arryn as the shield formed around them again. He suddenly had an idea. "Arryn, I have an idea. Lower the shield. NOW!"





Dayn didn't wait for Arryn to question him, instead charging full bore towards what had to be the alpha warg. When the shield the warg lunged, and Dayn met it head on by leaping into the air, his roundel dagger held back. As his feet left the ground he focused, using his aeromancy to push him towards the warg, and right before the impact he focused on his pyromancy, wrapping his free arm around the warg and driving the now red hot dagger into the beasts chest. The enhanced force behind Dayn's tackle forced the warg backwards, thus giving him one more advantage. As it hit the ground Dayn forced the dagger hard into the beast's chest, sinking not only his blade but his hand up to the wrist in the warg's chest cavity. The beast gasped once before falling limp.


Dayn struggled for a second or two before yanking his hand and dagger free from the corpse. He turned to Arryn, arm dripping with blood and gore, before flashing his signature mischievous smile. "Whaddya know, it worked!"

 

[Dragongal]

It was a relief to lower all of the shields, as the wargs had caused considerable strain, which she'd felt throughout her body; the longer she kept those shield up, the more her mana reserves slowly diminished, but she was fine for now. Arryn paused, watching him. It was honestly amazing, what he'd done. "Dayn, that was truly fantastic, but... I'm sorry, if I'd known that you didn't have your bastard sword, I wouldn't have taken your arming sword." She walked over to him and kissed him lightly, then stepped back and held the hilt of his blade out to him with her left hand, looking at him a bit apologetically, not because she'd taken his sword, but because she hadn't told him that her years of training had been with a blade - a hefty longsword. Her right arm hurt far too bad to consider moving, so she kept her arm close to her body, but tried not to let it show. She looked at his arm and commented, "We should get you cleaned up. I have to ask though, how do you feel after all those casts? They seemed flawless and unplanned for the most part." Despite her study, she wasn't sure how non-innate casting felt on the caster. Would he feel mana drain now that he cast so many perfect casts in one quick adrenaline-fueled bout? She was fairly certain there was some mana drain eventually, but had he hit the wall where he'd experience it? From what she'd heard, non-innate mages could cast all they wanted, until they reached a certain level where they hit a wall their first time.

 

[BookWyrm]

Dayn hadn't been paying attention...anything really outside of the short fight. When asked how it felt Dayn suddenly became aware that, as his adrenaline levels mellowed out, he was beginning to feel rather fatigued. "Now that you mention it, I feel drained." Dayn took his arming sword back as he walked over to the pack horse before using a canteen to rinse his hand and dagger before wiping both dry with a rag. He sheathed his sword before turning back to Arryn, "Is your arm okay?"

 

[Dragongal]

Following Dayn, Arryn had been about to joke that he now knew how she felt half the time, but stopped. Shit, he saw. Now that he knew, she could hold her arm more comfortably, tight against her chest with her left arm supporting it. "I-it's not bad," she lied quietly, shifting uncomfortably. In many ways, Arryn was similar to a wounded animal, something she'd picked up from being alone in the forests for so long. Fear and pain accompanied each other, and letting someone close when injured was terrifying, and so something to avoid. In reality, it hurt to move her arm, and just existing caused her pain. The inside of her shoulder blade, even up to her neck, was seared with pain from old wounds.