Fantasy ~ FableWood ~

[Bea Delaine]

Elena took action, sprinting as fast as she could and taking an old sturdy vine. She wrapped it around a tree and waited for the giant to flinch from the blinding attack by Nyr.


Seeing as it might be ineffective, out of impulse, she turned back to the page she drew the sword and pulled another out with maximum difficulty. As the giant took a step towards to the othe human, Elena threw herself under its foot flat with the sword through its foot. Trying to escape, she found herself overexerted and could bring both legs out fast. The adrenaline didn't help as much.

 

[Archangel]

Saer's eyes narrowed, cursing softly under his breath as he watched the human girl run towards the giant. Are all humans this stupid..?


Giants weren't to be underestimated, that was for certain. It would be a wiser idea to run away from something that was trying to eat you when you have no proper means of defending yourself.


He pulled back a little further into the dappled shadows of the tree, only his eyes now illuminated by a gap in the foliage, iridescent in the sunlight. He shook his head slowly; she was going to get killed if this carried on like it was. Yet something stopped him from stepping in just yet.


He watched the scene unfurl with increasing curiosity; by what chance of fate had a Dragon, Dread Raven and even a Gryffin come together? If they could work together and combine their power, they might just make a pretty formidable trio. But even as soon as he asked that question, he knew the answer. Humans...

 

[SilverFlight]

The dagger hit the giant square in his left eye just as his hand was scorched by Rose. His roar echoed about the trees and birds began to lift in clouds from the foliage. Who had thrown that? Leia wondered, but there wasn't much time to ponder as she giant turned his attention back to them.


"I SMASH YOU GOOD!!" The giant lifted his club, and now being able to see through one eye again leveled it just above Leia and Rose. With one swift motion be brought the club down. Leia braced herself for the end, just as the wind picked up to an insane pitch.


"I will do as you ask." Ward thought to her. "But, please be careful. Don't use more power than you have to."


Ward saw the club fall. "No!" he screamed. It came to the floor with an almighty crash, raising a cloud of dust that obscured the scene.


Ward stared in shock and horror. He pulled up to hover in mid-air, unable to comprehend what he had just seen..and yet, something was not quite right. As the dust began to settle he caught a flash of red scales. They were all right! Both of them! For some reason the giant's club had missed, and not only that, he was beginning to stumble. He howled again, a sound that nearly split Ward's ear drum. Something jutted out of one of his truck-sized feet.


"Lets do this now!" he cried.


((edited for Elena))

 

[Bea Delaine]

Elena pushed the sword into into the foot deeply.


Her trap was set. She felt hard pressure come down on her leg almost with a loud sickening noise. It felt like fire and she lacked the energy to fully ignore the pain. Still, unnoticed she scrambled up and limped behind the nearest tree. Pulling out her book, she drew the sword extending in razor like vines.


The sword within the giants foot did the same. Elena felt it sap away the last of what Nyr gave her and the now plant grew and cut out of the giant.

 

[DawnAntalios]

Nyr just finished with what she had been taught when she was younger. They thought she would never learn it but in secret she practiced it.


Dark Rune magic. Even though she hated it she was no other option but to embrace the heritage of her kind - and so she did not as the rune circe she drew with her finger on the ground below her stood ready.


" Olgromm dror, anroh-du'kar! " she thundered with a low, bellowing voice as she concentrated her remaining power and the power of the link in a single spell. She felt the winds rising up again, but this time not as a natural force - this time their power was tainted with something sinister even she could not fathom.


" Gale of the Abyss! Heed my call and rend the flesh of the brute before us! " she demanded from the wind as the runes lit up then their power expended. The dark wind shot up and fortunately it was able to catch one of Rose's fireball. The wind formed a channel, amplifying the blast and spreading around the brutish figure, enveloping it in the dragon's flame.


" Now is the time, Ward! Strike, try to imbalance it so that Elena's vines can do their work too! "

 

[wolfborn4]

Rose kept the flames going. She was now standing over Leia, wings outstretched. Slightly radiating heat that came from her core fire...the internal fire that kept all dragons alive.

 

[SilverFlight]

Ward shot forward on instruction. He soared upwards, gaining height on the giant's head. With a sharp bank he spun round and dove. The giant had been unbalanced by Elena's sword in his foot, but he was still massive. Ward braced himself, his wings snapped shut against his body as he plowed into the giant from behind. The giant staggered forward and toppled, his feet entangled in the vines Elena had tied across the trees. Ward was dazed but recovered enough to leap for the air as their enemy pitched toward the chasm. He gave his friends a broad gryphon smile when suddenly a massive hand closed around his body. He barely had time to register the shock before he was dragged over the edge.


The giant fell. The wind whistled about Ward's ears as he sped through the air. The hand crushed the breath out of him, he could see the light of the sky above him. He reached out as the hand released its grasp. Something caught in his talons, something ropey and taught. It held fast, ripping him out of the fall and leaving the roars of the giant to be cut short as he hit the water and was swallowed by the angry torrent. Ward hung there and breathed a massive sigh of relief.

 

[Bea Delaine]

Elena allowed the vines she made within the giant to disappear by finally relaxing. Dots filled her eyes and her body felt heavy. The pain of her crushed foot dulled like the rest of her senses movementarily as she thought for a moment that the fight was over without casualties. For a single moment, it seemed nice, like she could pass out right there and be safe for a day. Then a smiling Ward got snatched over the edge of the cliff.


Elenas breath hitched and she sprinted over to the side, only getting so far before skidding on her knees with a wince. Still, she was close enough to the side. It was difficult to see so far so she cried out.


"Ward!!!"


She bit her lip until the tears welling in her eyes were sure to not overflow. Her first friend, or comrade, even acquaintance here could be dead. Just like that, swept away in a millisecond.


"Ward.."


She searched for signs of the gryphon.

 

[wolfborn4]

Rose stopped and closed her mouth licking the inside and she looked around, she didn't see Ward fall. She folded up her wings and walked over to the edge of the cliff she peaked over the edge and saw Ward. She turned and dropped her tail downdown for him m to climb up knowing he was probably tiered " Are you ok? " she asked him

 

[DawnAntalios]

The dark winds have receded and she was glad that the battle was finally over. But just as she was to rejoice she saw Ward being caught by the enormous hand of the giant, dragging him with its last journey to the depths of the chasm.


" Ward! " she exclaimed but then her knees gave in and she fell to the ground. Fortunately her reflexes were still good and her hands prevented her from falling to the ground. Then she coughed and coughed out blood. Fear engulfed her as she saw her very life fluid but it did not matter to her.


She had to get up and search for Ward. She looked around and found a long stick she could use to help her walk. Equipped with it she moved to where everyone else headed: the edge of the chasm. Perhaps it was not too late.

 

[SilverFlight]

Ward took the tail gratefully and clambered up. Once safe he collapsed back into human form; a pile of disheveled blond hair and feathered garments. He looked about at his companions, Nyr was limping towards him. He sucked in a breath at the sight of blood.


"Oh Nyr." He got up shakily. Other than being bruised he was relatively unhurt, just drained. He made his way too her and pressed his hand lightly on her forehead. "A little charm, for the exhaustion and the pain. Your plan worked. And we're all alive." He smiled at her fondly and then after a quick pause for consideration pulled her into a tight hug. He then stepped away (a little embarrassed) to tend to Elena.


ward knelt beside the human girl and examined her leg, then tutted like a disapproving mother. "That was crazy," he scolded. "You could have been killed. Both of you." he shot Leia a stern look as well, who looked down sheepishly.


Ward placed a hand gently on Elena's leg and muttered a few words. "The bones are broken. Ive set a charm that will knit them but it will take time. Fortunately, we are almost as castle Branbern." He removed a small pendant from around his neck. It has a small needle of light that seemed to point in one direction no matter which way it was turned. One of his primary feathers had come away in the battle and lay next to them on the ground. Snapping it in two he used the pieces as a splint, tying it with strips of his coat. While the feather spine supported the limb firmly, the velvety soft plumes cradled it for extra comfort.


As soon as ward had finished something shimmered out of the corner of his eye. Just at the edge of the treeline, spanning the entire chasm was a bridge. It sat quietly in the warming sun as if it had been there all along.


"Ruddy forest magic." Ward muttered and got up.


"I can carry you for a while." He offered to Elena, shifting elegantly back into a gryphon. "At Branbern they will see to your injuries properly."


((I gotta go for now, this was fun ^^))

 

[wolfborn4]

Rose had not yet morphed back which was convenient since she usually couldn't be in her true form. She watched Ward and the looked to the other side of the canyon.

 

[Bea Delaine]

When Elena saw Ward return from the crevice, she sniffled slightly and made sure her eyes here dry. She could be seen as weaker than she was and she didnt want to cry for someone she barely knew, right? Instead Elena moved her attention to the fallen Nyr. The blood that dripped from her lips sent a shiver down her spine and she continued her new habit of lip biting. Nyr was always risking herself to save them. It wasnt fair to the Raven.


When Ward approached her, she could practically read the scolding parent expression off his face, though it was more than new for her to be on the receiving end. When he looked over her wound, Elena visibly stiffened and grew quite red in the cheeks. Uncomfortable and embarrassed, she simply stayed quiet as he did his splint and sent a charm. As much asthe contact hurt physically and his parental attitude was pride damaging, she had to admit the splint her made was fairly comfortable. It felt less loose and detached.


When offered to carry her, Elena got a darker red and looked over at Nyr. She had been carried and Elena hadnt thought of it in the least, but now it just seemed awkward. Trying to stand up, she felt a hot pain return and sat back down immediately.


"I guess that works, if its not too much trouble."

 

[DawnAntalios]

Nyr sighed in relief when she was Ward emerging from the seemingly bottomless chasm unscathed. Then when he approached her - and especially when he hugged her she felt something for the first time in her life - she blushed in surprise.


" T-Thank you. " she said, not understanding the sudden warmth in her belly. Maybe it had to do with Ward's magic he put on her forehead for she had not felt anything like that before. " It was all of our effort that has stopped the giant, we all deserve the praise. "


She then looked at Elena and Leia.


" Some were even braver than others... I have done what had to be done. "


She then searched through her pockets and when she finally found what she had sought her heart sank in fear. The small vial she tried to pull out of her pockets was now shattered and broken, its contents vanished completely.


" Blast it. " she swore in herself. She tried to save this for emergency but it was gone as well. " I hope we will reach that city in time... there is no telling when will the next foe arrive. And I am not sure I will be able to do anything if it does... even with the help of the others. "


Concealing her anxious thoughts and wiping off the little remaining blood from her mouth she forced herself to smile.


" I guess we better get moving then. "

 

[wolfborn4]

" Hey if we are flying then we better go now while I can still can " Rose said to them and laid her tail down curled around, it was like a ladder leading to her back. She looked around at the others and motioned for anyone who wanted to get on.

 

[SilverFlight]

Ward scooped Elena on gently onto his back. He looked to Rose with a bright exlression.


"Flying would be fantastic. If you can hold out that long before needing to transform. Can you take Nyr and Leia? I think I can carry Elena and Mira. We'll be within the protective barrier of Branbern before dusk!"


As Ward checked his feathers in preparation for takeoff he noticed Nyr staring forlornly at a broken bottle.


"There are a number of potionmasters in the town around the castle. Do you think they could help you replace it?"


Leia still held the pendant in one hand. Her thoughts were not with the present however, she was still thinking about how the club had missed. She and Rose should have been minced meat, but that gust of wind...just when she started wishing something would save them...had she summoned it? Nah.


Leia held the pendant up.


"Um, should I hang onto this for now?"

 

[wolfborn4]

Rose nodded and motioned for her to get on " I can carry a lot of weight so if any of you get tired I can carry you, and yes please hold onto that " she extended her wings and waited for the people she would carry to get on so she could take off

 

[DawnAntalios]

Normally Nyr would have objected against being carried around like a sack of coal but this time she felt that her worth was exactly around that point without her strength so she did not say anything. She heard Ward asking the question and she shook her head.


" I have no doubts about the vial being easily replaced... but what was within I highly doubt that anyone would have it, so... I just trust your counsel and we should be fine. "


But it was not fine, not by a large margin. She should have drank the elixir last night when she had the chance, that way it would have been much easier. Now that it was gone entirely... well let's just say that she was at the mercy of Mother Moon...


" They need not to know. " she thought in herself " Let us get to that city and I will find a healer... although I doubt it will be of any use. "

 

[sitanomoto]

Foxy sighed and went to retrieve her dagger, hoping no one saw her. But really, it was a false hope. Who wouldn't notice her red hair and crazy fox tail? Chicken Little. She remembered the first twenty times she snuck up on him. She's chuckled to herself. Man, those were fun.

 

[SilverFlight]

Ward was about to take flight when he caught sight of a figure out of the corner of his eye. A young girl with fiery red hair and a tail. He knew immediately that she probably had another form. A fox?


"Were you the one who threw that dagger?" He asked in a friendly tone. It had really helped to turn the tide of battle.


"We are headed to Branbern, would you care to join us?" Ward didn't think she was with the dark forces, and even if so, the barriers surrounding the castle could identify all those with evil intent.


Leia ran her hand over the pendant as she got ready for the flight. She hated flying...she was terrified of heights, but if the road ahead was filled with more of what she had encountered recently she may just find flying more desirable. She decided that once in the air she would just keep her eyes closed for the entire flight.


"So, how did you get that curse on you?" She asked, eager to distract herself from the thought of flying.

 

[wolfborn4]

Rose glanced to her she looked up at the sky and sighed. " a very powerful wizard cast it on me, then wolf me as a slave because of my rarity and healing factor... " she said and looked back to Leia and continued " he locked it inside of the only thing I have left from my parents... I never really knew them "

 

[sitanomoto]

Foxy jumped and then smiled as she retrieved her dagger. "Yes, I was the one who threw it." She yanked the dagger out of the fallen giant's eye and wiped it on the grass in front of her, then sheathed it with care. "I'm glad to help." She cocked her head when he invited her to come with them. "Sure." Her tail swished as she thought of something. "Gryphon?" She asked.

 

[DawnAntalios]

Nyr looked at the fox and knew not what to think. On one had she found her peculiar rogue and wild nature interesting, but due to these attributes was she skeptical as well. Accepting the fact that it was probably paranoia speaking to her she said nothing just observed as the playful girl.


" I see no harm in making new alliances in times like these. " frowned she ultimately. Besides, the more fought on their side meant that the enemy was weaker at least by this one creature.


She felt a sudden weakness assaulting her, which made her almost to lose balance, but she successfully regained control quickly without the others noticing.


" I am on borrowed time it seems... " she thought in herself as she turned to the others.


" Well should we depart? I don't want t see yet an another giant trying to kill us all. " said she jokingly

 

[sitanomoto]

Foxy smelled Nyr's discontent, but said nothing, only casting a fleeting worried glance at the girl. Then she turned to the dragon, marveling at her size and strength. "Well, well, well, a fire drake." She chuckled. "Been a while since I've seen one of your kind." She sniffed the air again. "And a morpher no less. Impressive." I wonder if this beast... No.... Being has any limit on its power. She walked around the dragon, inspecting her. "Beautiful." She then looked at Ward and she took in the smell of feathers and a soft, lingering smell of fur. "Leaving would actually be a good idea, seeing as how this giant basically woke up everything in this vicinity," foxy said, scuffing her boot on the ground and watching the ants scatter.

 

[wolfborn4]

Rose watched the Foxe girl walk around her, she seemed I be...inspecting her and pointing out her strengths. She watched her as she did I it to the others as well and she tilted her head then leaned down and smelled the girl she lifted her head back up