Wandress stood in the middle of the street, dividing her gaze between two taverns across the street. One of them had to contain someone who might know something about where Hephastion may be. Her concern was steadily growing, and she was sure that the man, the one who was gathering hunters, had something to do with it. If she could find him...she just needed to find someone who knew. Someone, somewhere, knew.
Her decision was made for her as the darkened evening sky lightened to a pale purple, a flash of light cresting over the rooftops of the town. What were the odds that the flash of light had absolutely nothing to do with a missing Vampyr and a band of hunters? Fixing the direction in her mind she set out towards the light source.
Buildings gave way to trees as she hurried through town, her dark cloak flaring behind her not bothering to hold it closed. Occasionally a faint scream would echo through the trees, reaffirming her fears. Even if Hephastion wasn't out there, something was going on. The trees parted to allow a stream through, and she took advantage of the space. Cold mud slid against the bottom of her bare feet, but she barely felt it; her eyes were filmed over in quicksilver as she rushed on.
ORP - Hunted
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Hephastion
Re: ORP - Hunted
Hearing a splashing in the water, he freezes for a moment staying crouched by the water, he moves quickly through the undergrowth, the sound came from the other direction of the group trailing him.
His eyes shining as he focuses on the form moving through the trees, his heart stopping for a moment Wandress the word caught in his throat, he grimaces as he nearly shouted out her name.
Moving silently closer to her, his eyes focused on her movements, he keeps pace with her until he is right behind her, looking over her shoulder for a moment as she closes the gap with the hunters, he moves quickly behind her, he clasps his hand over her mouth pulling her into his chest, he wraps his arm around her gently, he needed to make her silent as quickly as possible "Shhh its just me" as she struggles in his arms, his voice calm and soft as he whispers to her, moving his fingers away from her lips he points towards the torches weaving their way through the trees towards them "We really do not want to draw their attention"
His eyes shining as he focuses on the form moving through the trees, his heart stopping for a moment Wandress the word caught in his throat, he grimaces as he nearly shouted out her name.
Moving silently closer to her, his eyes focused on her movements, he keeps pace with her until he is right behind her, looking over her shoulder for a moment as she closes the gap with the hunters, he moves quickly behind her, he clasps his hand over her mouth pulling her into his chest, he wraps his arm around her gently, he needed to make her silent as quickly as possible "Shhh its just me" as she struggles in his arms, his voice calm and soft as he whispers to her, moving his fingers away from her lips he points towards the torches weaving their way through the trees towards them "We really do not want to draw their attention"
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Wandress
Re: ORP - Hunted
The panic that had swelled in her chest ebbed as Hephastion whispered in her ear, retracting the claws she had dug into his forearm. "What is going on?" she whispered to him, eyeing the torches through the trees. "Are you alright? Where have you been? And who by the gods are 'they'?" she winced slightly as her voice edged louder, giving a glance at the weaving lights. Clutching his wrist she drew him further away from them, her hackles rising as she glanced through the trees. Hunters, indeed.
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Hephastion
Re: ORP - Hunted
As she pulls him away from the group he stumbles having missed a root while he was looking back. Regaining his balance after a few steps he sighs "They are just hired thugs, but the leader, he is a different story altogether"
He original question forgotten for the moment, he was still moving therefore he was alright, taking a turn to the left he turns back to circle wide around the group "They have trackers as well, im sure your footfalls will raise their interest a little"
As they move around the trees, he eventually begins to tell her snippets of what has happened and who Valerion is, not going into too much detail given the circumstances, he stopped for a moment to watch the torches in the distance, he eyes shining brightly in the dark he can make out each mans movement, see if they are carrying old injuries, if they are limping, or holding themselves awkwardly from an old injury, these would be his first prey, as with all hunts, take out the weak and sick first. Turning back to Wandress "How did you find me...i mean i found you but why are you here" his voice barely a whisper now.
He original question forgotten for the moment, he was still moving therefore he was alright, taking a turn to the left he turns back to circle wide around the group "They have trackers as well, im sure your footfalls will raise their interest a little"
As they move around the trees, he eventually begins to tell her snippets of what has happened and who Valerion is, not going into too much detail given the circumstances, he stopped for a moment to watch the torches in the distance, he eyes shining brightly in the dark he can make out each mans movement, see if they are carrying old injuries, if they are limping, or holding themselves awkwardly from an old injury, these would be his first prey, as with all hunts, take out the weak and sick first. Turning back to Wandress "How did you find me...i mean i found you but why are you here" his voice barely a whisper now.
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Wandress
Re: ORP - Hunted
She stopped in her tracks as he turned to her, glancing towards the torches not far from them before glancing back at him. "Your friend there didn't quite make it hard; lighting up like a beacon doesn't work well for stealth. Besides," she said with a soft sigh, "You disappeared without a word, and when you didn't return..." she gave a shrug, hoping the darkness covered the slight embarassed flush she found creeping to her cheeks. "I have a vested interest in your safety, unless you've forgotten. " He didn't need to know she had feared the worst. Only so many times would he be able to slip through the noose, before his past caught up with him.
Falling silent, she turned her gaze back towards the hunters. "So what do we do now?" she asked quietly.
Falling silent, she turned her gaze back towards the hunters. "So what do we do now?" she asked quietly.
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Valerion
Re: ORP - Hunted
Following behind the trackers of the group, he watches as the stop at the stream, examining the area "Looks like he has company mi'lord, theres another set of tracks, animal tracks but only on two legs"
Pushing his way through the group to the water he tilts his head. in the direction the scout is moving Maybe he attacked something, im sure in his mind the blood of one animal is no different from another
Turning back the scout shakes his head "No, there was a struggle right, but the tracks lead off and back through the water"
Turning back to the group Valerions eyes darkended as his own anger begins to take hold So he thinks he can outmanouvre us again, be alert and do not hesitate to shoot anything that moves. Walking back towards the centre of the group, he motions everyone to move out, keeping behind the trackers as they follow the renewed tracks made by his prey and its companion.
Pushing his way through the group to the water he tilts his head. in the direction the scout is moving Maybe he attacked something, im sure in his mind the blood of one animal is no different from another
Turning back the scout shakes his head "No, there was a struggle right, but the tracks lead off and back through the water"
Turning back to the group Valerions eyes darkended as his own anger begins to take hold So he thinks he can outmanouvre us again, be alert and do not hesitate to shoot anything that moves. Walking back towards the centre of the group, he motions everyone to move out, keeping behind the trackers as they follow the renewed tracks made by his prey and its companion.
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Hephastion
Re: ORP - Hunted
Hearing the concern in her voice he smiles softly, having her with him in this moment helped calm him again, he wasnt sure if it was her or just a feeling he got being around her but it helped him focus.
Biting his wrist so that the blood trickled down his arm sluggishly, it was still fresh and warm, so would not taste so bitter, he offers it to her, he was not there last night to keep their bond strong, and if she didnt feed soon she would begin to fade, not something he was prepared to deal with. As she accepts a few drop from him, he closes the wound then turns to her his eyes shining brightly So what do we do now, indeed.... what now "Well we need to deal with his, Valerion is not going to stop until either of us are finished, and I sure as hell dont plan on letting that be me"
With that he takes her hand, pulling her to her feet "Can you climb, their trackers are good and we need to break our trail" letting go of her hand a little reluctantly, a smile crosses his lips as he leaps into the tree. Clearing the first line of branches, swinging himself up to the higher ones, looking around he decides the trees are close enough even for Wandress to get between.
Biting his wrist so that the blood trickled down his arm sluggishly, it was still fresh and warm, so would not taste so bitter, he offers it to her, he was not there last night to keep their bond strong, and if she didnt feed soon she would begin to fade, not something he was prepared to deal with. As she accepts a few drop from him, he closes the wound then turns to her his eyes shining brightly So what do we do now, indeed.... what now "Well we need to deal with his, Valerion is not going to stop until either of us are finished, and I sure as hell dont plan on letting that be me"
With that he takes her hand, pulling her to her feet "Can you climb, their trackers are good and we need to break our trail" letting go of her hand a little reluctantly, a smile crosses his lips as he leaps into the tree. Clearing the first line of branches, swinging himself up to the higher ones, looking around he decides the trees are close enough even for Wandress to get between.
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Wandress
Re: ORP - Hunted
A lingering tremor shook her limbs as Hephastion disappeared into the trees above them, his blood rejuvinating her own. Casting a glance behind her towards the torches drawing nearer, she reached up for a low-lying branch, her claws digging into the bark as she hauled herself up after Hephastion. She was quite a bit slower than he, but she did her best to keep up with him as they penetrated the upper reaches of the tree.
She held her breath as Hephastion launched himself into the empty space next to the tree, breathing out heavily as he caught the next tree easily. Her heart pounded in fear as she glanced between her feet through the limbs to the ground far below. It would be a very long fall if she missed. Inhaling sharply, she gave the branch an unconscious squeeze before leaping out after Hephastion, biting her tongue to keep from a scream. She landed on an outstretched branch less gracefully than Hephastion, breathing heavily, but she had never adored the feeling of bark under her claws so much.
She held her breath as Hephastion launched himself into the empty space next to the tree, breathing out heavily as he caught the next tree easily. Her heart pounded in fear as she glanced between her feet through the limbs to the ground far below. It would be a very long fall if she missed. Inhaling sharply, she gave the branch an unconscious squeeze before leaping out after Hephastion, biting her tongue to keep from a scream. She landed on an outstretched branch less gracefully than Hephastion, breathing heavily, but she had never adored the feeling of bark under her claws so much.
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Hephastion
Re: ORP - Hunted
Reaching over he takes her wrist, steadying her "You'll get used to it" whether he was refering to the rush of his blood in her system or the fact they were swinging through trees, he hadnt mad his mind up. Turning he readies himself to jump the stops a moment, reaching back he takes her hand again "I'll give you a boost this time, when you land lean left, the branches are thicker" using his strength he pushes her as she leaps over, watching for her landing safely.
Stopping for a moment he looks through the forrest to the torches moving towards them, he needed to finish this but he also had to protect Wandress, her arrival had opposite effects, she gave him purpose but at the same time, he had to now had to protect her. Even with her abilties she was in danger.
Poising himself he leaps cleanly between the trees landing softly.
Stopping for a moment he looks through the forrest to the torches moving towards them, he needed to finish this but he also had to protect Wandress, her arrival had opposite effects, she gave him purpose but at the same time, he had to now had to protect her. Even with her abilties she was in danger.
Poising himself he leaps cleanly between the trees landing softly.
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Wandress
Re: ORP - Hunted
Her long arms windmilled comically as she soared through the endless space between the trees, her teeth jarring as she scrabbled at the branch appearing beneath her claws. Get used to it. The only things that were supposed to be in trees this high were birds, and squirrels with a death wish! She was a land creature; granted, as a child she had climbed trees with her kinfolk, but not nearly this high and never had they attempted to explore the spaces between. Had the gods wanted her to fly, they would have seen fit to fashion her with wings!
The tree shuddered again as Hephastion landed gracefully on an adjacent limb, and she left long gouges in the wood where she clung for her life. Her eyes bright in the darkness, she stared at him balefully, her back and tail stiff with fear as she attempted to loosen her grip on the tree branch beneath her. "We can't pretend to be squirrels forever," she whispered into the darkness, casting a glance over her shoulder at the bobbing spots of torchlight behind them. "They'll get wise sooner or later and simply alight the trees, letting the fire do their jobs for them. Can't we take refuge in the town, they wouldn't dare to try and take you there...would they?" Releasing her tenuous grip on the wood, she worked her way around the bole, awaiting the next unnatural flight he would ask of her.
The tree shuddered again as Hephastion landed gracefully on an adjacent limb, and she left long gouges in the wood where she clung for her life. Her eyes bright in the darkness, she stared at him balefully, her back and tail stiff with fear as she attempted to loosen her grip on the tree branch beneath her. "We can't pretend to be squirrels forever," she whispered into the darkness, casting a glance over her shoulder at the bobbing spots of torchlight behind them. "They'll get wise sooner or later and simply alight the trees, letting the fire do their jobs for them. Can't we take refuge in the town, they wouldn't dare to try and take you there...would they?" Releasing her tenuous grip on the wood, she worked her way around the bole, awaiting the next unnatural flight he would ask of her.