Fantasy The Other Side - Accepting Characters!

[tityanya]

.

𝖁𝖊𝖗𝖔𝖓𝖎𝖈𝖆 𝕽𝖔𝖘𝖓𝖔𝖎𝖗𝖊​

I am here: Garwood Forest
With: Vyrik
Form: Dark​

While the beast offered no sign that it recognized her words, Veronica took the fact that it didn't rise up and try and claw at her as a good sign. Beasts were usually good at sensing if someone meant them harm, although they tended to be a little more scared of her when she was in her dark form. The aura of undead just seemed to permeate much more when she wasn't hiding what she was.

Veronica meant to keep a lookout for the dogs, but she couldn't help but fascinatedly examine the creature before her. Her earlier assessment of a four legged bird seemed to be correct--it reminded her somewhat of a hippogriff, although with notable differences. It had also clearly been through hell. New injuries, coated in blood, half covered old scars. She got as close as she dared to the creature--almost close enough to reach out and touch it, but far away enough that she would be able to dodge if lashed out at her. Besides the injuries, it was clear that it was under-nourished. "I can relate to you on that one," Veronica said, eyeing its visible ribs. She knew that the longer she was without blood, they more she would waste away until she was just a husk. It wasn't a plesant thought, and it was one that made her her feel more sympathetic to the creature. Everyone just wanted to survive.

Veronica darted back as it tried to stand up. To the creature, it would probably look like she was standing near it one second, and then fifteen feet away the next. But the poor thing was unable to stand. Veronica watched with sympathetic eyes as it tried again to stand up, but failed. The sounds of the hounds was growing closer. "Don't worry. I will protect you," she said, turning her vision towards the sound of braying. They would be here in a few minutes, surely.

When Veronica glanced back at the creature to make sure it was still breathing, and she wasn't just wasting time, she was surprised to find it gone. "What?!" she shouted. No way something that big, and injured, would escape without her noticing. She rushed over to where it had been laying, and was surprised to find an underdressed man lying in the snow. His wild black hair was dotted with feathers, beads, and threads. Veronica could see scars and wounds on him in the same approximate locations that the bird had wounds. A shifter.

Veronica turned him face-up, brushing snow off his face. Her breath caught--he was very handsome. She glanced towards the sound of the hounds. "Tch-" she made a sound of displeasure, taking off her own cloak and wrapping it around him. She didn't really need it, and with his thin clothing..."You owe me one," she said, lifting him up in her arms like he was a doll. He was so light, so undernourished. She began running in a different direction than the two were originally heading, towards the edge of the forest. She wasn't certain what his chances of survival out in the woods was, and she could definitely manipulate the sympathy of some slack-jawed farmer into giving them a warm place to stay. She would run until he regained his consciousness, at the very least.

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((ooc: ))
((Outfit))​

 

[tityanya]

Emory Visconti​

I am here: Castle
With: Oksana
Wearing: outfit
​

Princess Oksana seemed to notice that Emory had muttered something to himself, but didn’t ask what that something was. Good. Emory wasn’t sure he was in the frame of mind to spin it as something other than an insult. Instead, she noticed his twiddling thumbs. With great effort, Emory ceased the twiddling. He didn’t want to make it obvious that he was uncomfortable, but he was pretty sure she had noticed.

Princess Oksana handed him the flower, and responded with a sweet “you’re welcome!” Emory gave her a smile, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. He asked her for his book, and she began rooting around in the jacket pockets. Emory realized he hadn’t exactly thought that plan through: she would be finding random sweets and coins, as well as the book. He should have just asked for the jacket back, but it was too late now.

She found the book and handed it to him, the jacket now loose from her shoulders and falling down around her waist. Emory’s face flushed again at how improper that would look if someone walked in. He was in such a dangerous spot, but he didn’t want to be rude to a visiting noble from a foreign country. “The jacket, uh, fell,” Emory said, resisting the urge to lift it up himself. Instead, he opened his book and as carefully as he could with shaky hands, and placed the flower into the book. It would be safer there, less chance of crumbling or getting smashed in his hands.

“What kind of books do you like reading, Princess Oksana?” Emory asked, holding the spine of his book towards her as an example. “I am a fan of horrors and thrillers, myself,” he added.

 

[viloxii]

Oksana
​

I am here: Castle
With: Emory
Wearing: Outfit


​

Oksana interlocked her fingers and pressed her hands into her knees. “I love horror too, as well as adventure.” She explained with a small smile on her face.

Oksana noticed a change of expression when the jacket fell off her shoulders. “I’m sorry, here’s your jacket back.” She said removing the jacket entirely and handing it to Emory, pulling the comforter over her now almost dried clothes.

“I actually am trying to write a book. One of my personal tales Id like to share.” Oksana told Emory excitedly, hoping he’d read it whenever she was done​

 

[Gazimon X]

Marshall Lykeios
Edge of Garwood | Shep, a dog & some sheep | Weary & irritable​

It was just as well that the shepherd had scrambled to his feet, for Marshall’s patience was thinner than the frost in summer when there were lives at stake. His eyes followed the direction that Shep had pointed at, a frown furrowed so deeply on his brow that it might have contributed to the creases on his forehead.

A glimmer of anger lit in his eyes when he looked back at Shep, retort bitten between his teeth – that a mere shepherd could presume to tell him what he should or should not do. If everyone had your measure of courage, there would be nothing left to save.

“How long ago?!” He asked, voice just as cutting as before. He waited for a reply, his gaze flicking down to the sheep huddled by their protector. Just then, the baying of the hounds rose again, filtering through the trees and heavy air.

The muscles around his eyes tightened. Calculative. “How much for a sheep?”

 

[Genii]

Shepherd​

Location: Edge of Garwood
With: Marshall


Shepherd was clearly intimidated by the stranger’s stern looks and tetchy tone. He wasn’t sure what he’d done to deserve all the attitude, but if the rider was a Mirim soldier, they didn’t usually need a reason.

He kept his head down, but looked up whenever he was spoken to.

“Well, I dunno… I, er-“ Not knowing how long he’d been asleep for, Shepherd struggled to answer to the man’s next question, until the baying hounds in the woods interrupted his stammering.

He found it suspicious - not to mention a coincidence, that the rider should enquire after his sheep right after the dogs howled. The rosy cheeked teen looked up with a frown.

“They’re not for sale, Sir.” Suddenly he’d found some confidence, albeit short-lived. “It’s… it’s the wrong time of year… and… well, these are Peppins… bred for their wool, Sir. They’re not for eating, if that’s what you’re thinking?”

The Collie dog remained quiet and alert, eyes still fixed on the edge of the forest.

Gazimon X

 

[Gazimon X]

Marshall Lykeios
Edge of Garwood | Shep, a dog & some sheep | Weary & irritable​

The crows’ feet at the outer edges of his eyes deepened and by some unholy capacity, his frigid stare turned evermore glacial. By the gods, he did not have time to be schooling a livestock keeper on the methodologies of dealing with monsters.

A startled bleat coughed into the air, a puff of warm breath escaping the flared nostrils and pink tightened lips. The nearest sheep kicked its legs, its hooves leaving the ground and treading upon thin air as it levitated like a possessed cloud. It was quickly joined by another, and another…

“You will be compensated for your loss. Now, I am not asking a second time.” The greying rider leaned an elbow on his leg as he bent a little and spoke softly, gently, as if talking to a particularly dim-witted child.

“Pick one.”

Perhaps one could wonder, who the monster really was.

 

[Genii]

Shepherd​

With: Marshall
Location: Edge of Garwood
Status: Afraid, angry, and probably very stupid.

Shepherd watched with shocked eyes as one of his flock began to levitate. “Wooliam?” He gasped in concern. Clearly the animals meant a lot to the teen if he’d given them names and could distinguish one from the other.

As more sheep joined the first, Connie moved below them and started barking - just to add to the stress of it all.

The rider was doing this. Some sort of mage? Shepherd tightened his grip on his staff and scowled as the stranger leaned closer and told him to ‘pick one’.

One could argue that they were only sheep, and not worth getting into trouble over, but Shepherd didn’t appreciate being bullied and threatened in this way.

The teen panted out little clouds in the cold as he built up the courage to act.

“I said no, Sir!” Shepherd said defiantly, before very swiftly swinging his crook, hoping to give this big bad wolf a smack on the side of his head.

 

[Gazimon X]

Marshall Lykeios
Edge of Garwood >> Corpses | Shep, a dog & some sheep >> Military dogs & dead guards | Outraged >> "Tired"​

“Argh!” The rider was clearly not expecting a retaliation from a humble shepherd, of all castes. He recoiled and the reigns tugged at the horse’s mouth, the beast’s eyes rolled in pain. His hand went to his temple, the pads of his finger and thumb drawing away a light smear of blood, almost black in the moonlight upon leather.

The sheep wavered in the air, by some restraint they hadn’t been dropped entirely; or worse, flung to the side. But what went up, must come down, and they came to land like anxious cats trying to spill out of unseen arms, only not quite as agile, and bucked as their hooves touched disturbed snow and cold ground.

“You’ll pay for this.” The rider scowled, mouth distorted in grimace and growl. With a sharp kick into the steed’s ribs, they thundered away in the direction of the howls.

Eventually the pace slowed as the bush scraped at the steed’s knees until they came upon the clearing. The sound of crumbling sticks and twiggy starved branches soon joined by a high-pitched whistle, inaudible to human ears. Marshall lifted the thin reed of the dog whistle away from his lips and spat, disgusted by the taste and scent of the metal.

The hounds converged upon them like a small tidal fury. But the horse was a military horse and these were military dogs. They were two prisoners of the same chain, shackled to the great machine of the empire. Or perhaps three. The man himself let out a deep sigh that seemed to groan from his very bones as he dismounted, muscle-aching steps bringing him to the heart of the disturbing scene. The guard in the middle had died quickly. The other lay twisted near the base of a tree. Both very much departed.

The hounds whined as they circled like clueless cowards; and as Marshall circled with them, swatting some aside, his eyes flicked about in focus. A fresh trail of blood… a twitch of his fingers levitated the sample, the droplets mixing with snow and floundering like liquid rubies in the air. The sags took up the scent. With a sharp motion, he pointed with two fingers held tightly together in the direction that the trail led. The hounds sprang off like coiled springs, hot on the trail of the hawkling.

 

[Gazimon X]

SOL
Apollo - God Complex [comic]
Edge of Garwood | Veronica, Vyrik & a horse | Bemused​

If the poor horse thought it could rest, it was wrong. A shadow seemed to walk up to it, a figure shaped like a man, yet resembling a piece that belonged on the chess board. Gold gleamed upon his brow, an arch that rose above his crown like a fused halo. Where skin and hair should have been nipped by frosty breeze, was unfeeling metal, inky black.

His fingers grabbed the reigns, they too bearing no skin nor nails, easily mistaken as gauntlets yet bearing no joints, no breaks in the armour that might suggest a smith’s handiwork.

“Ssssshhh….” He, it, soothed. The masculine timbre of his voice resonating with a metallic undertone.

The horse’s ears pinned back as he drew a hand over its neck, then the creature fell still, almost unresponsive, even as the ungodly being’s fingertips glowed red-hot. Hairs smoked and skin blistered as he unmarked the welts of the Empire’s brand upon its coat. With a sharp snap, the military saddle slipped and collapsed on the floor. The decorative crests on its bridle soon to follow, till all that remained were the plain leather reins.

Leading it quietly but briskly, they cut a path to the edge of the forest and waited.

“That, my dear…” Sol said bemusedly to Veronica. “Is a poor silhouette.”

He lead the horse over and held the reins out to her. “Far less suspicious it would be -- two lovers returning upon horseback from a tryst in the woods.”

 

[Genii]

Shepherd ​

Location: Edge of Garwood (about to leg it)
Status: Panicked, but slightly exhilarated.

Shepherd waited until the horse and rider had disappeared into the forest before he felt safe enough to breath again. “… I can’t believe I did that.”

He hurried over to check on his fluffy little hostages, giving them all the once over (and a little cuddle) before letting them go. Connie came over when he was done and gave the teen some much needed fuss.

“I know, I know… but someone needed to teach him a lesson… the big bully.” Shepherd hugged his dog for a long while, until his hands stopped shaking and his heart stopped racing.

“Come on… we should get away from here before he comes back.” He suggested, hurrying to kick out the dying fire and collect his things. “-and not a word of this to Ma and Da.”

 

[tityanya]

.

𝖁𝖊𝖗𝖔𝖓𝖎𝖈𝖆 𝕽𝖔𝖘𝖓𝖔𝖎𝖗𝖊​

I am here: The Garwood
With: Sol, Vyrik
Form: Dark​

Veronica heard a shrill noise in the far distance. One that pierced the eardrums. A dog whistle? It was something she never would have heard had she not been in her dark form. The braying sounds of the hounds died off, called back to wherever their master was. Good. The human had given up on the hunt. Veronica slowed her pace down to a walk. She was slightly winded from having to run so far for so long. Increased speed for her, unfortunately, did not mean increased stamina. She wasn't quite sure how much longer she would have been able to run at that pace. She looked down at the slumbering face of the man she carried. With her thumb, she wiped away some stray blood that had gotten on his face, then licked her thumb. She shivered. It had been way too long since she had been able to drink. She shouldn't have licked her thumb. Every instinct in her body was telling her to sink her fangs into the man. The logical part of her brain screamed at her that that if she killed him, it would have been a waste of effort saving him to begin with. She didn't think he was stable enough to survive even a small bite, and she didn't think she was stable enough to even manage that.

She put the thought out of her mind and continued through the snow. The man was growing quite cumbersome to carry, while he was thin, starved, he was still much taller than Veronica. When would he wake up? Veronica was so absorbed in these thoughts that she almost walked straight into the horse. “That, my dear…Is a poor silhouette.” A voice rang out. Veronica nearly dropped the man in her arms as she leapt backwards. How? A human couldn't sneak up on her, especially not when she was this thirsty for blood. The horse she understood, at the very least. Animals were all around her. She simply hadn't cared to notice it amongst the deer. But the man? Veronica's eyes narrowed as she took him in.

Something about him...unsettled her. Was it the golden mask with a halo he wore upon his head? Was it his strangely metal hands with no obvious joints? No, Veronica realized with a start. It was that he didn't have a heartbeat. She didn't notice him because there was nothing for her to notice. A cold sense of dread came over her, as though she suddenly felt all the snow around her. He was not undead. Victoria would have been able to recognize him if he was. He was...something she had never come across before. Was he even ever...alive? She felt rooted in place as he moved the horse towards her. Why couldn't she run? Her legs had seemed to turn into gelatin. Her teeth were barred as she began to snarl, trying at the very least to convince the man she wasn't scared of him. The expression dropped, however, as he handed her the reigns. What?

“Far less suspicious it would be -- two lovers returning upon horseback from a tryst in the woods.” Her eyes narrowed as she looked the man in the...face, trying to get a hold on him. The smooth metal offered no purchase. That was the excuse she would give to anyone who came across them, and a horse would be helpful. But horses were expensive, and he was just...giving it to her? There was something wrong here. "Why are you helping us? Veronica asked. She had been entranced by the man in her arm's monstrous form, and felt a kinship with it, and at the end of the day it was no skin off her back for helping him. If he seemed near death, she could always...hurry it along. But this...entity in front of her. It had definitely seen her dark form, what she was. Yet it offered assistance? Veronica wasn't buying it.

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((ooc: ))
((Outfit))
((Age appearance: Early thirties))​

 

[TaperedNightjar]

Shikari Khavan​

• Location: The edge of Garwood Forest > A barn (Shep’s barn)
• With: Military hounds.
• Wearing: [x]
• General status: Injured.

Before leaving his homeland he young Hawkling had no way of knowing how this journey would turn out. Shikari had been aching to leave home and had seized the first opportunity he got. Not only was he going on a journey, he was doing so with Vyrik. Hmmm, he probably should have known that things would turn out more complicated than expected.

He perched in a large spruce tree and shifted his feet upon the broad branch. The green that shrouded the tree was prickly to the touch. Shikari retracted his hand after brushing the foliage. His fingers felt as though they were frozen stiff. They stung horribly and the pain increased any time his fingers made contact with another object. The bristles on this specific tree were particularly offensive!

Arrroooo

A shiver ran up Shikari’s spine as the sound of the hounds drew near. He looked forward and gazed upon the open land that lay in front of him. He had reached the edge of the forest. There were only two options left. Fly or get on the ground and run. The bird was no fool. He would not be flying. Absolutely not. Even back home the Hawkling ,over low to the ground and among the foliage in order to avoid the eagles. This was no different. Even if those on his tail were also on the ground instead of primarily in the air. He could elude them enough to escape. Well, usually. In his current state? Maybe.

Shikari carefully climbed down from the tree and took off as soon as his feet touched the ground. The Land ahead was bare, but the Hawkling was fast. Shikari ran with everything he had in him. The frigid winter air burned his lungs and the snow bit his feet and hands.

Aroooooooooooo

Yip yip yip

They found him! Shikari knew they had spotted him. He continued to run with everything he had until he knew he would no longer be able to avoid them. The Hawkling skid to a stop and whipped a small item from the leather pouch that was strapped around his wide. With trembling fingers he reached back into the bag and withdrew several darts. The darts were long with red feathers sticking out of one end. Shikari slid the first dart into the blow gun he had retrieved moments before, and then he took aim.


Fffttttttt!

As soon as the large pack was within range the dart flew through the air and hit the first canine square between the eyes. It fell to the ground within seconds. Shikari wasted no time. This was nothing new to him (aside from the cold of course). He quickly loaded another dart.

Fffttt!

That one met its match as well. Right between the eyes. Four hounds remained. Two were black with rust colored markings and long ears. These were the trackers. The other two hounds were almost double in size and pure black with pointed ears and docked tails. These were the hunters, and they were quickly gaining on him.

Shikari decided not to stand around and quickly turned on his heels and ran whilst preparing yet another dart. He had a number of them left, but his fingers were hardly able to move at this point. He ran with everything he had. He was a fast hawkling, but he was also in a weakened state and the canines were gaining on him.

Alas! Refuge! There was something ahead of him. A barn! He could see it in the moonlight that the open fields provided. Shikari ran up to the building and grabbed the door. He gave the wooden boards a hefty pull. It was nearly impossible for him to open it in his current state but he managed. The hounds were practically upon him at this point. He stumbled into the barn and quickly moved to slide the door shut once more.

The snapping and snarling of the beasts was mere feet in front of him and before he knew it the dogs had all piled into the barn with him.

“Cursed wretched beasts!” He snarled back at them in his thick accent. An elbow struck one dog on top of the head and a foot hit another in the throat. With a swift kick the third yelped as it was struck in the ribs. The fourth however, was not as easily subdued. It knocked Shikari to the ground and grabbed him by the calf.

“Stupid mongrel!”

He tossed his small blow gun aside and swung a spare dart at the stumpy-tailed animal. The hawkling met his mark, directly in the dog’s neck and it fell to the ground within moments, the three remaining dogs had returned to their feet at this point and Shikari managed to do the same. There was quite the scuffle as he wrestled them to the barn door. Shikari eventually managed to shove them outside and slam the door shut. All three hounds scratched and tore at the door while barking and howling. Their target was inside and they were unable to get to it. They were doing as they had been trained and remained completely focused on their task.

Shikari backed away from the door and collapsed onto a pile of straw. He wheezed heavily with each breath he took. What a horrible experience. Golden eyes glanced to the dog that lay motionless on the floor. The hawkling was running high on adrenaline. The wound on his face still stung, distracting him from the bites and scratches he had sustained during his scrap with the military’s canines.

The boy’s lip twisted in disapproval of the creature.

 

[Genii]

Shepherd​

Location: Shep’s family home/farmstead
With: Stray dogs


Dangerous or not, Shepherd headed off into the wintery night, with his small herd and dog taking the lead. Luckily Connie was a clever girl, so the teen barely had to correct her or blow his whistle. He peered over his shoulder occasionally as they fled, but nobody appeared to be following.

Sometime into their (very) brisk walk, there was a hold up as Connie stopped to investigate something.

“Why’d you stop Con, we’re almost…” Shepherd stopped talking once he spotted the dead dog in the snow. It looked like there was another nearby too, with some kind of dart in its forehead.

He crouched and placed a hand on the nearest dog’s side… still warm. There were tracks in the snow too, leading out across the fields towards- “… home.” The teen finished as he stood back up.

“Come on Connie.” Shepherd nervously encouraged as they resumed their midnight trek.

It wasn’t much longer before they reached his family’s farmstead. Shepherd sighed with relief as he finally penned his flock, but Connie didn’t relax. The Collie dog growled at something, head and ears turned towards one of the snow covered barns.

“It’s alright, we’re home now.” Shepherd went to give the dog a pat, but froze when he heard the scratching, snarling and snapping noises that Connie was so worked up about. “Stay here Con…”

Shepherd gripped his cane in both hands and silently crept towards the source of the noise to investigate. More dogs. Just like the dogs back in the field. Were they trying to get at the pregnant ewes?

Not bloody likely!!

“Oi! Shoo! Get away from there!” He scolded, heading over to see them off.

 

[TaperedNightjar]

Shikari Khavan​

• Location: A barn (Shep’s barn)
• With: Military hounds, Shepherd, Connie, farm animals.
• Wearing: [x]
• General status: Injured.

Shikari hobbled to the door again and made sure it was shut tight. The dogs snapped and snarled as they gnawed at the wood, but the Hawkling was not so worried about them now. What worried him was the thought that their handler likely wasn’t far off. However, if they had a handler wouldn’t he or she have shown up by now? This was a strange situation. Perhaps Vyrik had taken them down before they’d been able to track their dogs.

The boy took in a ragged breath as he collected himself. It was now that he noticed the barn animals that he was sharing shelter with. The ewes were all huddled up together on the far end of the barn. They were such interesting creatures to the young Hawkling. There had been no sheep in his homeland, only goats and yales provided the birdfolk with wool.

“Winter goats?”

They were quite fat and fluffy. Shikari’s stomached growled. No! He would not be eating any of these wooly things. He was already committing a crime by simply being in Mirim. The last thing he needed was to get caught eating some farmer’s livestock, especially considering that Vyrik had killed two guards and Shikari himself had killed three military hounds.

Speaking of hounds...

Shikari’s eyes trailed to the dog that lay on the barn floor. It was certainly as dead as a door nail, so there was no need to worry about any further attacks. What was he to do now though? He explored the barn for a few minutes and eventually shimmied his way up a ladder to the hayloft. Once there he flopped onto a pile of hay and removed the satchel from his waist. He fished around its contents and removed a roll of bandages and a small clay pot of ointment. After setting these items aside he retrieved a tiny leather pouch with a needle and suturing thread inside. For the next several hours the bird cleaned his wounds and did the best he could at stitching them up with frozen fingers.

Hours passed and because he did not have a mirror the lacerations on his face were left open. Shikari treated them with ointment and then used a piece of bandage as a compress. His body ached terribly and his stomach protested the leisure due to hunger. Regardless of the fear he felt and the searing pain in his body Shikari managed to nod off.

Meanwhile outside, the remaining hounds were now focused on Shepherd and Connie. Shep was not their target. To them he was just another human and right now their focus was on pinning down their prey while they waited for their master. The two scent hounds brayed at Shep in an attempt at showing him they’d cornered their target. Meanwhile, the large black stumpy-tailed dog continued to snap at the door. It had been tearing at the wood for so long that froth had gathered around its mouth. The beast was clearly mad, but that was simply how the King’s shepherds were bred and raised. They had a job to do, and it was often nearly impossible for commoners to call them off once they pinned their prey.

 

[Genii]

Shepherd​

Location: Farmstead
With: Military Hounds & an unexpected guest.
Status: Trying his best

Shepherd put his crook down on the ground and held up his hands in a calming gesture. “Shh… You really don’t wanna wake my Da. He’s got a crossbow, and he’s not afraid to use it.” He warned the two Scent Hounds after they howled.

Slowly, the teen reached for his rucksack, and after a quick rummage he pulled out a handful of jerky strips for the hounds. They were seasoned and honeyed, and smelt very meaty and delicious.

“Are you hungry? Look what I’ve got. Mmmmm. You want some? Yeah? Who’s a good doggie. Come on. That’s it.” He cooed as he attempted to coax the animals away from the barn.

He led the less intimidating two towards an empty sheepfold and tossed the meat sticks inside. If they went for the bait, he’d close the gate behind them to keep them contained. “That should keep you busy… now for the big one.”

 

[TaperedNightjar]

King’s Hounds​

Location: Shepherd’s farm.

There was no hesitation from the large scenthounds as they followed the jerky right into the sheepfold. Shep’s food was all too enticing for them and his plan worked like a charm at removing the trackers from the door of the barn. The hounds did not fuss, nor did they turn away from their prize as the gate slammed shut behind them.

This left only the very large, very intimidating black shepherd at the door. The animal turned and stared hard at Shepherd for a moment before turning its focus back to the door again.

Arrrrrooooooooo

The beast howled louder than before. It was bragging about a job well done. Now it just needed to be allowed inside so that it could pin its target down.

 

[Genii]

Shepherd ​

Location: Farmstead (barn)
With: a determined dog

Shepherd froze and cringe-grinned as the largest of the three dogs turned around to glare at him. He didn’t want to hurt the hounds if he could help it, but this one didn’t look too friendly.

He returned to his bag and pulled out a length of rope. A slip lead he used on Connie sometimes, especially when wandering around Mirim.

His plan was simple - get the rope around the dog’s neck then tether it to the perimeter fence. Actually doing that though was nerve racking, because it meant he’d have to get closer.

Shepherd waited until the hound lifted its head to howl, then lassoed the leash around its neck. He proceeded to calmly tighten the rope and spoke softly as he attempted to walk the dog. “Good boy. You be nice now.”

 

[TaperedNightjar]

King’s Hounds​

Location: Shepherd’s farm.

He shepherd’s ears went flat back against his head when Shep placed the rope around his neck. It’s nub tail wagged with enthusiasm which caused the dog’s entire back end to wiggle. It wined and lowered its head, waiting for the praise that usually came with a job well done. The rope had subdued him and signaled that work was done for now. He stared at Shep, waiting for its reward.

 

[Genii]

Shepherd ​

Location: Barn
With: Shikari

Shepherd relaxed as the dog did. He tied it to the fence as planned, but was sure to give it some jerky too. “You’re just a big softie really, aren’t you.”

Connie, obedient as ever, sat patiently and watched as Shepherd tried to get the barn door open. The teen couldn’t get it to budge.

“… it’s barred on the inside?” Ewes weren’t that smart. Shepherd peered through a hole in the door, blue eyes widening as he saw the blood on the ground and another dog inside.

He stepped back, looking up at an alternative way in - a chicken coop cupola on the barn’s roof.

If Shikari was a light sleeper they may have heard Shepherd scaling the side of the barn. He climbed his way onto the thatched roof, (knocking off a decent chunk of snow in the process), before he crawled through the occupied chicken coop. “Ladies.”

The coop had a connecting hatch to the hayloft, which Shepherd squeezed through, then stood up and bashed some of the snow off his clothes. It was then that he finally spotted the sleeping figure in the hay.

“… h-hello?” He cautiously called. When there wasn’t a response, he gulped and crept closer.

 

[TaperedNightjar]

Shikari Khavan​

• Location: A barn (Shep’s barn)
• With: Military hounds, Shepherd, Connie, farm animals.
• Wearing: [x]
• General status: Injured.

Normally the boy was a very light sleeper, but he was out hard tonight. It wasn’t until Shepherd spoke out to him that the hawkling stirred. Golden eyes shot open and the boy was on his feet in an instant. That in itself was a mistake. Shikari stumbled backwards, almost too weak to stay upright. His head swam with dizziness. He managed to catch himself against the wall and after a few moments he steadied himself.

He squinted at Shepherd. The boy in front of him did look to be about the same age as himself. It was hard to get a good read on him though, considering the hood he was wearing. Shikari’s own hood was down, revealing his curly brown hair and darker complexion. The right side of his face was swollen and irritated from the lacerations.

“Don’t-“ he started as he held a hand up with his fingers spread. His accent was thick and likely difficult to understand if one did not listen closely.

It took him a moment to gather his thoughts. The common language was not his first language.

“Stay there-“ he ordered in a quiet and raspy voice. There was more fear in his words than anything else. “Stay there.” He repeated.

His eyes scanned the hayloft, clearly looking for an exit.

 

[Genii]

Shepherd​

Location: Barn
With: Shikari


Shepherd stopped his approach as the stranger got up - or tried to at least, he seemed very unsteady on his feet.

He could see Shikari was young and injured and… not quite human. The accent sounded foreign to him too, but Shepherd figured out what they were trying to say.

“… okay, okay.” He spoke softly and raised both of his hands to show that he no weapons in them, in fact both his cane and backpack were outside getting lost to the snow.

The teen lowered his hood, to reveal a mop of ashen blonde hair, two long pointy ears, and a friendly (yet nervous) looking face. “I’m not going to hurt you. I just came to check on the ewes, that’s all.” The aforementioned sheep were all huddled in a corner down below, but otherwise appeared to be fine, thank goodness.

His head titled and he cringed slightly as he noticed the slashes on the boy’s inflamed face. “… d-did the dogs do that? The ones outside? Don’t worry, they won’t bother you anymore.”

Shepherd went quiet for a moment, which must have been uncomfortable for the teen, because he soon started talking again.

“Are you alright? Do you need help? I bet you’re freezing. Here…” The teen started tugging at a tartan blanket that he wore around his middle, intending to offer it to the winged stranger.

 

[TaperedNightjar]

Shikari Khavan​

• Location: A barn (Shep’s barn)
• With: Military hounds, Shepherd, Connie, farm animals.
• Wearing: [x]
• General status: Injured.

Shikari watched Shep closely and took in the sight of his long ears. He was an Otherfolk as well. His eyes shifted toward the ladder he had climbed up, and then back to Shepherd as the other began removing a blanket from around his waist.

”The dogs?” He reached up and touched the sores on his face. The hawkling winced. He had treated the wounds with feathers and ointments, but they needed further care.

”Not the ones outside. Other dogs. They looked the same, but they were not these dogs. They ran away when my friend threw them against the trees.”

Perhaps he should not have said he had a friend. That could put a target on Vyrik’s back, although Shikari was starting to understand that Shepherd did not mean to do him any harm.

”I can’t see,” He gestured to his face, and then to the suture kit that lay open on the floor. “I fixed the other wounds, but I can’t see these.“

By now the blanket had been offered to him and he reached forward and took hold of it with his stiff fingers. There was an immediate look of relief on his face as he held the item.

“Your kindness is appreciated.”

 

[Genii]

Shepherd ​

Location: Barn
With: Shikari

Shepherd smiled and nodded as the stranger thanked him. “No problem. I’m Shep.” He gave his name, hoping it might break some tension.

“Trees… so you came from the forest?” Shepherd thought back to the screaming and howling he’d heard coming from Garwood earlier.

“What happened to your friend?” He asked as he cautiously got closer. He took a look at the boy’s medical supplies and suture kit, eyebrows raising up once he worked out what the stranger was asking.

“Oh, you want me to… um…“ Shepherd might have patched up a few torn shirts before, but he’d never sewn somebody’s face back together. “… maaaybe I should go get some help?” And by help, he meant his parents, because there was nobody else around for miles.

 

[TaperedNightjar]

Shikari Khavan​

• Location: A barn (Shep’s barn)
• With: Shepherd.
• Wearing: [x]
• General status: Injured.

The idea of getting help made him a bit hesitant. He thought he could talk Shepherd through the process of stitching up his face. However, if the other teen was suggesting he get help then that must have meant he wasn’t willing to try it. Perhaps he simply did not feel comfortable enough. This puzzled Shikari, but only because the hesitance wasn’t something he was used to. Back home the Hawklings were taught to act on instinct if they were not trained for something. Shep was no hawkling though. In fact, Shikari didn’t know what he was at all.

“Shikari,” he finally answered as he gestured to himself.

He then proceeded to wrap the tartan blanket around his shoulders. The warmth of the blanket was an instant relief. The snow outside had not been kind to the young hawkling.

”I did come from the forest. I left my friend. He ordered me to,” he said as he took in a deep wheezy breath.

”Please get help. The blood won’t stop.”

 

[Genii]

Shepherd​

Location: Farmhouse/barn
With: Connie, Ma, Pa (Oan) & Shikari

Shepherd chewed his bottom lip. He was beginning to regret speaking with the magic military man now. Hopefully he hadn’t found Shikari’s friend. Not wanting to worry the other teen, Shepherd kept that knowledge to himself for now.

“Okay, you just sit tight… and I’ll go wake my folks.” The Half-elf hurried to the loft ladder and deftly slid down to the bottom of it. He slowed as he passed the body of the dead hound, a familiar looking dart jutting out of its neck. He’d have to see to the poor critter later.

With a bit of effort, he had the barn doors open. He was hit with a biting wind and a face full of snowflakes, but he stepped outside regardless and (joined by Connie) ran towards the main farmhouse.

It was a small single storey building, made of wood and stone. It’s window were dark and shuttered, and only it’s smoking chimneys were an indication that someone might be home.

“Ma! Da!” Shepherd bleated as he barged through the pokey front door into a cosy looking country kitchen. He called them again as he grabbed a few things - some water, bread, and a few clean dishcloths.

“Shep? Are you alright? What’s happened?” A worried greying-haired man stepped into the room, wearing well worn nightclothes and holding up a lantern. A blonde woman huddled behind him, but she bustled on by to get to closer to her son once she spotted him.

“I need help. Someone’s been hurt.” Shepherd explained after a quick hug from Mum.

After explaning things (excluding any details about the military rider), he managed to get the two moving and they all prattled as they made their way over to the barn where Shikari was waiting.

Shepherd hurried back up the loft ladder first, followed by his Father who paused as he neared the top rung. Not once did his son care to mention that the injured boy wasn’t human, so he was surprised to say the least.

“Everything alright up there, Oan?” Shep’s Mother called from the bottom of the ladder.