Fly Sparrow Crazy

[ShyWetThief]

Sparrow is nearly glowing, she is blushing so brightly. Her reaction was foolish and unneccissary. It was only that she wasn't fully awake when he came at her and that she could feel the magic coming off of him in waves that she reacted like she did....

"No, no it's okay," she reaches for the flask and sniffs at it. "I ... he just caught me off guard is all." She looks at Praxis, trying very hard not to show any fear. "Um,... thanks... what is it?"

A smile twitches at the corners of his lips. "An endurance potion. We'll have to cover a lot of ground today, if we are to make any progress." Praxis seems amused, although with what is uncertain.

Sparrow glances around at the group, smiles sheepishly and downs the vial. She shudders, then looks like she might be sick for a moment or two, then seems better... much better. She can almost feel the energy spreading through her body, and she feels healthy again - whole, as if she can walk a thousand miles without blinking.

"Wow, ... that wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be ...." she grins. "It did taste like shit, though..." she wrinkles her nose as she returns the vile to Praxis, who chuckles at her comment.

The strange mage tucks the empty vile away and glances around the group, still amused. "Anyone else for a little extra energy this morning?"

 

[GideonRose]

Gideon slipped out of the trees, just behind the group. "I think you all are going to need some endurance this morning. We're being followed, and they are catching up quickly. Somehow, I don't think they are ensuring our safety."

She looked around at the others. "You may not want to listen to me, I know nothing about group combat. But I do know we have two options. Fight, or flee. I can call... Reinforcements if we need them. Not werewolves," she added quickly. "Just the normal wolves, they're vicious enough. But it is up to you all." She looked to Sparrow. "Sparrow.. what say you?"

 

[Moonlight_33]

Shakira knew they were coming, she could feel them.

"They will be following our trail with no efort what so ever. Perhaps I can buy us a little time."

She raised her right hand in the direction from which they had come. She didn't know the words, but her Nan had told her that magic came from the heart, and if you truely wished it, it would serve you. From out of no where a wind began to stir, rushing through the trees and stiring the underbrush, covering their trail with a blanket of leaves and broken branches. The ground they had spent the night on, and the trail they had created now looked the same as the rest of the forrest. There was nothing left to be followed.

"If we move fast we might live to see another day. Personaly I like seeing new days."

She awaited Sparrow's decision.

 

[ShyWetThief]

Sparrow squirms at the sudden attention, but she doesn't need time to ponder her decision. A lifetime on the streets, dealing with guards and thugs, had left her sure of what to do.

"Run," she shrugs. "Unless there's a trap laid out in front of us ... or some sort of barrier, run and hope we loose them or they give up."

She is trying to look so somber, the knows the situation is serious, possibly even deadly, but she hasn't felt this good in a long time, and, to be truthful, she's eager to get going. "Uh... so we should get going... right?"

Praxis, too, is grinning now, and it gives him a very boyish look. He glances around at the others again. "Anyone else for one of my brews? Now would be the best time for them."What of you, boy?" he motions toward Kaegan. "Some extra energy?"

 

[shadowoftheheart]

"Run, indeed. The way ahead is clear. Gnolly, if you will take the lead. The remainder, move quickly as you can. Shakira, good spell. Now, I will follow up behind, as I am able. Fear nothing for me, I am going to ... slow their progress. If a ranger can clear out and find a safe path ... she can also make a safe path a deathtrap for those who follow."

I grin with glee. Alright, so this may have more to do with my Orcish instincts than my Ranger training, but I have some ... tricks that will dissuade and harass anyone following us.

 

[GideonRose]

Gideon paused for a moment, her eyes shining brightly before following the others. Within moments, a chorus of howls could be heard, surrounding the small party. "Don't worry," she said to the others. "They are merely here for protection, not only from the soldiers, but from other beasts that may hear, see or sense our progress. They won't harm you, so keep going!"

 

[poohlive]

The gnoll ran deep ahead of the group. Behind him smells and sounds both familiar and foreign reached him, but he had no time to seperate them out. They would remaine a cacophony of insanity behind him, as he guided it towards safety.

Nothing ahead was worrisome, though. Their paith led deeper into the forest, with mountains leering from the horizon, bending their broken backs ever toward the gnoll and his fiendish pace.


Kaegan nodded his thanks, "Sure... can never turn down a good drink. The last one tasted like sweet raisins. I've never tasted a drink quite like that before."

Kaegan, despite his burly size and massive demeanor, was running just like the rest. His pack, not suited for that kind of endurance, jostled and bounced lopsided behind him. He had to hold his axe out in his hand, running with it hanging loose. It was not ready for attack, and neither was the barbarian.

They had to run away, avoid the fight at all costs.

 

[ShyWetThief]

The potion that Kaegan drinks gives him an odd sort of rush. It feels as though light has been poured into his body and fills him up. It's not intense, but it is constant. It's very pleasant as well.

As the group progresses, everyone notes how much better Sparrow is keeping up today. She is much more aware of her surroundings and doesn't need to stop for hardly any of the rests... In fact, when the group does stop for a rest, she offers to keep going.

"I know we have a scout ahead of us already, but things change, right? I can go ahead a little and learn to scout."

Praxis grins, "Sounds like a good idea to me."

 

[shadowoftheheart]

Along the path that the party took, I laid a few select traps for our pursuers. They were all simple, designed to slow them down, to bother them and make them become cautious. I had no illusions that I would be able to stop them or make them turn back.

Tree branches were bent back, tied off with vines cut from the trees themselves. They were thick as rope, and blended into the undergrowth. If they were cut or disturbed, the branches would swing back, certainly knocking over one or more men.

Several times, I added an iron spike onto the branch, lashing it into place to add a sharp bite to several of the makeshift traps.

I was preparing one trap, bending a branch back, and lashing it into place, when I heard a sound. It was a soft snap. Someone had stepped wrong, and came down onto a twig that they should have avoided.

I looked around. Two men. They were coming up upon my position, from two different directions. So, they had apparently spotted me. Rangers, rogues? Scouts in either case.

I carefully returned the branch to its natural position, and quickly strung my shortbow. Again, I wished I had my longbow. I had made it with my own hands, carefully and patiently warping the wood, shaping it and hardening it into a powerful weapon of yew and string.

This shortbow was a purchase. Gold had been spent by me, rather than time and effort. I didn't feel the intimate connection with it that I had with my longbow.

I heard a familiar twang! sound, followed by the whisper of an arrow. I ducked, and a well-made green-colored arrow thunked into the trunk of the tree I was standing in front of.

I backed away, sliding into cover.

Stealthily, I moved sideways, moving into position on the flank of one of the two scouts. They continued to close on my previous position.

I nocked an arrow against the string, pulled it back, aiming carefully.

Release. The arrow sailed through the air, sinking into the man's neck with a wet thump.

The other man turned with a curse, and quickly fired an arrow my direction. It was well-aimed for a quick shot, and only by ducking and rolling to one side did I avoid dying then.

I hid, waiting. I saw him duck also. What direction did he go? I readied another arrow, and began once more to slink around to find an advantage.

Thunk!

The arrow lodged itself in between two of the metal plates sewn onto the thick cloth of my armor. I felt a stabbing pain, but also realized that the armor had done its job. Not stopping to think, to flinch, or anything, I turned, saw him ducking behind cover, and quickly tugged the string back. Twang!

I paused, the pain beginning to be felt over the adeneline in my system. Another arrow, at the ready ... No target. Slowly, the arrow burning in my shoulder, I moved to find an angle on my target.

The arrow was lodged in his throat, and he was clearly no longer a threat.

I returned my arrow to its quiver, and allowed myself the luxury of a cry of pain.

The arrow was only barely in my skin, and I was able to pull it out easily. It was a minor wound, and wouldn't slow me down any longer.

I retreived the arrows from the two scout's bodies, and while I was at it took their quivers as well.

A dozen traps, two dead scouts. It would have to do to slow down pursuit. I then set out to rejoin the party.

 

[GideonRose]

Gideon slipped off the path into the forest and was gone for about 20 minutes.

She rejoined the party soon, and had 3 wolves following her. One a large grey, another a large black and the one closes to her, and the largest was a pure white wolf. They all sat down when she stopped.

"These are the three leaders of the packs accompanying us. They wanted to meet you all, just so they know your scent." The three wolves spread out amongst the group, slowly sniffing each occupant, growling softly and almost nodding to themselves.