Clyvelle
Memorial Mob
| Fae | Merry |
Merry - character is frequently overcome with fae like merriment. While more respectable individuals may try to hide their amusement at improper times, character freely displays their amusement. It is often contagious.
Rain fell heavy on the meadow behind the mountain village of Kruhrin. The wind had relented, allowing the droplets to fall more or less straight. This caused puddles to form over the meadow in low places. The dirt path that passed for a road was awash under the relentless runoff that came in from the untrodden ground to either side.
It was a good thing the beasts were sturdy that hauled the caravan across the soaked meadow. A couple of horses pulled Lady Bao's wagon at the front. A bear hauled the scouts in the rear. The remaining wagons were pulled by a mixture of horses and beastkin power. Several of the able-bodied walked alongside certain wagons, assisting them through particularly mucky portions of the path.
It was a good thing the beasts were sturdy that hauled the caravan across the soaked meadow. A couple of horses pulled Lady Bao's wagon at the front. A bear hauled the scouts in the rear. The remaining wagons were pulled by a mixture of horses and beastkin power. Several of the able-bodied walked alongside certain wagons, assisting them through particularly mucky portions of the path.
It was impossible through the rain and now the distant darkness that had descended to discern the exact number of frogs that now pursued the remnants of the caravan. Even so, all one had to do was follow the heavy thumps and odd hissing sound created by the bodies of the frogs as they launched themselves horizontally across the meadow.
"You can hear them, right?" Jia called as he ran beside Ciu'nan.
The fae wasn't quite over the bearkin's attitude towards her, so she briefly considered not responding. That wasn't going to help Beni or anyone, though, and there was Jia's threat revolving around whether or not Wei and Beni make it to the monastery to consider. Something about a small bear chasing you with intent to kill was...unsettling. Ciu'nan swallowed anxiously at the thought. Clearing her throat, she pointed ahead of them.
"I can hear three just up ahead. Which one are we hitting first?"
"Excellent. We'll hit...the right one. The others sound like they just landed, so they're repositioning for their next lunge still. Move fast. I'll get the eyes if you bait the tongue." Jia called back picking up his pace as he veered to the right.
"Only if you don't keep me waiting!" Ciu'nan called back skeptically.
"Even though I'm a bear, I still know how to treat a woman. Besides, I still need you here."
"Over here, you warty beast! You'll make a good stew for what's left of this festival!" She called, as she attempted to run by and strike the frog to draw its aggression. When the bow made contact, it sounded--and felt-- as though she had struck a stone. The impact was unexpectedly jarring and caused Ciu'nan to stagger. Unfortunately, the plan to draw the frog's attention had worked without a hitch. It turned on her mid-stagger and seemed to consider her for a second before simply opening its mouth and plunging its face down on her with surprising speed--speed that Ciu'nan in that moment was not prepared to match.
Unable to get away, all she could manage was a distressed cry as the mouth scooped her up. She attempted to wedge her rod upright inside its mouth, but the top slid back towards the throat. Even as the frog worked to push her down into its belly, she held onto the rod, using it to push against anything inside the frog to hold her in its mouth. Until Jia could....
"Jia!!!" Ciu'nan screamed.
The frog suddenly thrashed as two distinct squishing sounds popped overhead. Ciu'nan was sloshed around inside the mouth before promptly ejected onto the ground. As she was getting her bearings, she felt herself being tugged away.
"I said 'bait the tongue' not 'serve yourself up on a platter'!" Jia was saying.
Ciu'nan shivered. She had long since been thoroughly drenched, but that was not why she shivered. A whimper escaped her as she began absently wiping the frog's slime off of her. She had almost become some creature's food...again.
"Are you crying? You're still breathing, aren't you?! We don't have time for this, girl! On your feet!" Jia was demanding.
But how could she expect this small, demanding bearkin to understand what she was going through in this moment? Ciu'nan sniffed and wiped a wet forearm against her wet and running nose. She noticed some dark matter on her shoulder where Jia had been touching her.
"Is that...?"
"Eye pulp? Yes. Now let's go. The other frogs are getting away."
Bao was decidedly quiet, sitting in the wagon. One arm cradled the pot while the other held onto the wagon to prevent her from tossing too much. Her eyes were shut tight while her lips moved silently.
The cart made no attempt to swerve around the creatures blocking the road. Such a maneuver may jeopardize them more than just running through the shadowy fiends. It was a game of chicken then. The creatures raised their talons as the horses drew near. Being urged on by the driver, the horses obediently charged straight into the creatures, but not without neighing in protest.
At first the horses seemed to collide with the trio of shadowy creatures. The middle one was toppled and driven over by both horses and cart. The creatures that stood off to either side of the cart's path seemed to puff up as their forms became more gaseous, like the fog that surrounded the scene. The murky fog comprising their forms then rose up onto the sides and backs of the horses while they passed before the avian creatures solidified once more.
A momentary accomplishment that would be overshadowed as a gasp came from Lady Bao. Looking behind, two shadowy, taloned hands clung to the back of the cart. Apparently, the creature they had run over was not done yet as it clawed itself up into the cart.
Kenju Law
