Night Flight (Sapphire)

[Mok]

Winter 9, Day 2 of Mok's journey, 5:34 PM

The sun was setting fast and there was nothing Mok could do about it. The myrian had been running all day and was fatigued. He didn't know what would be his fate this night. The stained smell of blood and sweat on his body was his enemy. The gladius at his side his only friend.

A howl rings from the north. Mok keeps running. Each step is a struggle, but there no choice. Each stride brought him closer to the inevitable truth. His heart was pounding almost uncontrollably. All signs of controlled breathing were gone now, but didn't matter anymore. All he could do was continuing. Again another howl rang from the myrian's right. Soon enough they would begin to gain on him. He had no hope for escape at all. He would be caught eventually. For now he could only run until he found the optimum place to fight for his life.

Adrenaline surged through his veins and fear swept his mind. There are no more thoughts for Mok. Everything was getting boiled down to the bare minimum: survival. Slowly, a grin sprawled across his face. He loved this shit. The feeling going through his body right now was the absolute best. Living life on the brink was what it was all about. Men all over Mizahar would be sitting safe in their beloved cities. These men would talk about their crops, their children, and their gossip. These people will worry about petty non-sense. Mok on the other hand, had only had one thing to worry about: the wolves trying to hunt him down. It was pretty damn glorious if you think about it.

It was dusk now. The sun was gone and in a few minutes it would be completely dark. It was now time to stop and take the best defensive position he possibly could. He needed to get out of the tree line and run up the closet hill. Mok wasn't sure if this was the best place to go, but at least he would be able to see his opponent before they attacked. Grabbing a dead branch, he jogged up the side of the hill. Minutes later he found himself at the top.

The location of the upcoming battle was set. Several howls confirmed this fact. Mok had maybe a minute to catch his breath.

Red = Myrian
Bold = Common

[Sapphire]

Sapphire was finally away from that blasted town of murder and slaves. She was now strutting in her tiger form, her clothes were in her backpack carefully tied to her back. She heard howls nearby, but merely dismissed them. If they came to attack her, she could take a few wolves easily. She looked for something weak to hunt. Much like an elk or gazelle. She let out a small roar, satisfied at the fact that her massive strength gave her free reign on the wildlife around her. I'll just find some elk and go to sleep. My day couldn't be better. She was satisfied with this simple life, it made things easier to deal with.

[Mok]

After catching his breath, the myrian scanned his surroundings. Mok estimated he had no more than a couple of minutes before it was completely dark. The hill was littered with stone big and small. Some were protruding from the side of the hill like massive fists. Others were as small and pointy like small knives. It was definitely treacherous terrain. At the top of the hill there was a large rock that resembled a small crown. The warrior couldn't be sure if it was big enough to be out of the wolves range though. The side of the mound he ran up was steep and short. The tree line was only about quarter of a mile away. On the other side facing the south was a long incline rolling steadily down. There were more hills to the east and west.

Only a minute before darkness. Mok fumbled through his pack and produced his flint and steel. Working as fast as he could, he tried to spark some dry grass on the floor. His mind was racing. He didn't think about anything else. His whole mind was bent on sparking anything. He needed to get some fire going with losing another minutes. Adrenaline could be felt pumping through his face. Sweat droplets splashed on the floor. He absolutely needed to succeed or else even fighting the wolves would be difficult.

The darkness enveloped the whole hill side. The last remaining strands of sunlight disappeared in seconds into the black of the night. But luck seemed to be on Mok's side. The moment darkness hit, the myrian got the perfect spark. The leaves and grass started to smoke. Lying on his face Mok began to blow slowly to get some air in there. Suddenly, the brush caught on fire. At last Mok found an ally. The ally known as fire could be a great help, but it just as easily could become their enemy.

Next, Mok need the fire to spread. Lifting his dust crusted, sweaty body off the floor the myrian sprinted to the closest bush and ripped off a large piece. Crawling back to the little fire that he had, the myrian attempted to get the bush burning as well. A moment later he was successful. Now Mok had a burning branch. Flinging it as hard as he could Mok grinned as part of the hill started to burn. He also lit the dead branch he caught to make a simple torch.

The howls were loud now reverberating in his ear drums.

At the sight of fire he had marked himself for death. The wolves would be closing in any second now. Sprinting back to the crown of the hill, the warrior placed himself at the top of the crown rock. Taking his ancestral tiger roarer Mok placed it on his lips and blew it with all his power. A deep, rich, mighty tiger roar reverberated from the devise.

"I am Mok of the Jagged Blades Clan. I was abandoned by my people. Here now I stand alone in the wilds. Alone, with these wolves against me. None will know of my fight with the wolves, but that does not matter. All that matters is that one stood against many and fought to the bitter end." The torch was in his left hand, the woodsman's ax in his right, and his sheathed gladius at his hip. The half-blooded warrior was ready for fate to unfold.

Red = Myrian
Bold = Common

[Sapphire]

Sapphire looked up startled, if she was correct she had just heard a tiger's roar, and what had seemed to be yelling from a burning mountain. This was also the direction she had heard wolves from. Someone must have been running from wolves, and burnt the hill to get away, but he's being chased because he has a tiger he is trying to steal, and the wolves are trying to help it! Though her thoughts were incorrect, it gave her a reason to go and help someone in trouble. She quickly turned toward the mountain, and ran. She dodged between bushes and rocks, but finally made it through the steep climb. She passed a crown shaped rock, to meet a dark haired man. He had fear in his eyes, yet a smile on his face. She sat at his feet, though this almost put them face to face, and stared into his eyes. To tell him she was in control, she gave a loud roar flaring her monsterous teeth, then pawed at his shirt with her razer like nails. The light from his torch made this all clearly visible, so she didn't his making an attempt to kill her.

[Mok]

oocI aplogize for such a lagged reply. I have been busy all week.

What happened next was not only strange but heart stopping frightful.

In response to his tiger roar and battle cry, the sounds of all the wolves stopped for a brief moment. In the darkness, Mok watched the flames of the fire burn brightly. Through the flickering shadows a dark looming nous shape appeared. To the myrian's astonishment a large tiger appeared from seemingly nowhere. Not a wolf, but a huge blasted tiger. The myrian heart exploded. He was about to break into a nervous breakdown. He could fend off a few wolves alone, but he could not take on such a massive tiger. Where did this freak tiger appear from? It made no sense, they were so far from the jungles, and it was preposterous.

The warrior did not know what to do. The cat might have proven too much to handle for a single man. No matter, he would fight to the death against opponent that presented itself. Wolves or cats. If it was any consolation, at least the half-blood would die at the hands at of a truly noble beast. Not a bunch of scrawny, half-starved wolves. Enough musing, it was time to fight.

Now this is when things went from frightening to strange. Instead of getting ready to attack, the huge cat simple walked towards the myrian. Mok stared at his quiet disposition and face in shock. None of the jungle tigers he had seen in the past acted this eerily. The big cat simply walked over and sat at his feet as almost to protect the warrior.

Then the two made eye contact. Was this tiger insane? It simply stared into his eyes. Mok didn't know how to react to the beast sitting at his feet. He remained perfectly still ready to react in case the beast was playing games. Suddenly, the beast roared into the darkness. This triggered the howling of wolves once again, but the warrior was not paying attention to such things. This tiger was much more important. Mok was confused and scared at the same time. He had no idea what the next move would be.

Next, the tiger pawed Mok's shirt. The myrian hesitated, but something held him back. The beast was acting way too docile. It might have been the end, but instead the animal was only showing friendship. But why? Why? Why? And more important why? These questions ran through Mok's mind. The howling continued. Was this tiger an ally? It had to be. The tiger was way too friendly.

The howling continued. The wolves were upon them, "I do not know if you be friend or foe, but if you be friend prove your worth and help destroy these wretched wolves."

Red = Myrian
Bold = Common

[Sapphire]

OOC: That's okay, I don't mind

Sapphire gave the man a somewhat quizzical head tilt, as if to ask "You can't handle a couple of dogs?" She chuckled a bit, which in her bestial form, came out as more of a soft growl. She stood and walked to were the man had set flame. Who the hell lights a mountain on fire? She looked and stared past the flames. The howls of wolves was followed by their appearance beyond the so hastily set fire. Though the fire went quite far around the mountain, the wolves would eventually find a way around it, or if they were brave enough, or even dire, they might try to run straight through it. The flame wall wasn't that thick, so if they did try to travel through it, not very many would even catch flame. From what she could see of the wolves, now that they were in the light of the flames, there were at least six of them. Six wolves. A fairly easy number with help, though it would be hard to kill them all alone, her new acquaintance seemed to be the type that could handle himself in a fight. With him fighting by her, this would prove to be a fairly simple battle. As she saw the wolves running to find a way around the flames, she looked at the man. Sapphire turned towards him, knelt, and let her back lower as much as she could. She doubted that he would understand, but if he did, it would make this fight much easier for her. Being mounted would mean that she wouldn't have to worry about wolves getting on her back. She had seen wolves take down large animals very quickly this way, and in a fight with more than two wolves, an attack from the rear could easily mean death.

[Mok]

From the corner of his eye he noticed that the tiger was crouching with its back turned to him. Looked like the tiger was going to help him after all. A million questions raced through his mind, but they could all be answered in good time. Battle was about to begin and now Mok's instinct took over. The myrian instantly knew the key to survival. Although he had never been attacked by such desperate wolves, he did know that falling on the floor meant death. He would not be able to protect his face and neck on the floor. No way. The key was: stay standing.

The wolves were finally upon them. The battle would momentarily begin. One, two, three, no four wolves were sprinting full speed towards the rock. Leading the charge was a huge alpha male, maybe three and half feet at the shoulder. Its teeth were stained yellow and its face scarred. The alpha male would be coming right for Mok's throat and everyone knew it. Readying his ax hand, Mok got ready to rumble. The upcoming encounter would be both a test for Mok and his new found ally.

"Argghhhh!" the myrian howled as he brought down his ax on the huge alpha wolf. Contact was made on the wolf's left shoulder. The wound was deep and fatal: success. The alpha dog continued his charge running into the rock that Mok was standing on. It fell limp. The ax was lodged deep in the wolf, no way to get it out before the next wave.

On a side note, the myrian noticed that the tiger had easily devastated one of the charging wolves.

Jumping off the rock, Mok unsheathed his gladius. The second wave of their initial charge appeared. The half-blood held the torch in his left hand. The gladius was wielded above his head, pointed at the opponent. These two wolves made the same mistake as their predecessors and blindly attacked. Mok waited and waited and the moment the wolf was upon him, he made his move.

Swinging his hips out of the way, Mok brought the gladius down as hard as he possibly could. With all his might, the myrian struck the wolf behind the neck and drove his blade deep into the desperate animal, "Deahhhhh!" Mok screamed as he drove in the sword deep into the wolf's fur. The animal had barely missed him. Everything was happening so fast. Only four or five seconds had passed in total and already Mok was out of breath.

Four wolves dead. But they would not make the same mistake again.

Red = Myrian
Bold = Common

[Sapphire]

The man had, as she expected, obviously not understood that she wanted him to ride her. He looked like the battle was wearing him out a bit, but he was a very strong fighter. To her, wolves were no problem. She merely batted them out of the way as they lunged at her. The alpha wolf was killed by the man easily. If their leader was so hasty and foolish, the rest of the wolves would be easier to kill than hunting a giraffe. The wolves came very fast, but with her reflexes she fought back faster. Another wave of wolves were coming. The first wolf circled her, as she did the same. Stalking each others movements, the walked around an invisible circle never letting their gaze slip. This wasn't the alpha wolf, that one was dead, but it was far more intelligent than the other wolves. It ran at her and tried to get her stomach. She put a paw underneath it, and flipped it into the air. On it's way down she pounced, landing on top of it breaking most of it's bones. Being a tiger, her incredible weight was far more than the wolf'es body could handle. As soon as she got off of the lifeless body of the wolf, she felt something tearing at her back. Sapphire roared in pain. She knew that this would happen if the man wasn't riding her, but she should have made it more clear that she wanted to be mounted. She needed to find a way to get this stupid mutt off of her.

[Mok]

Pivoting in his fighting stance, Mok quickly surveyed the battlefield for his next move. The fire had
Continued raging in the background and the dead wolves were pilling quickly. The tiger that arrived had been jumped by a wolf. Snarling and biting at the tiger's neck, the wolf was trying in desperation to hang onto the cat's fur.

With no other wolf in sight, the myrian decided to charge the wolf on his allies' back. Mok had no idea why he was help a petching tiger, but apparently he was. He didn't make this decision consciously. In fact, as he sprinted in the direction of his comrade, the myrian questioned his actions. Lhex's balls he was helping a wild
beast, damnit, he was out of his mind!

No worries though. The decision was already made. The myrian was helping the tiger out.

Flanking the wolf, the myrian easily stabbed the canine between the shoulder blades. The wolf was tougher that he thought. He needed to twist his blade deep inside the dog's back before it gave up and died. The tiger seemed not to be hurt. Its back was soaked with the wolf's blood but it wasn't a big deal.

Standing at the ready position again, Mok observed the tiger's every move. He didn't want to get attack by surprise now.

Suddenly, Mok heard a snarl coming from his right flank. Pivoting, the warrior was greeted by a large wolf with shaggy fur. By the time he flipped his hips, the animal was already in his face. Getting tackled right in the chest, Mok fell to the floor. This was no time to fret though: he trained for these situations in the jungle. Grabbing onto the wolf, Mok used his momentum to toss the wolf off over his head. Using his the explosive power's in his legs, the warrior redirected the wolf's momentum over his head and sent it flying.

Springing onto his feet, the half-blood got back into his fighting stance and charged. It was time for a diagonal slash that he trained for yesterday. Sprinting towards the wolf, Mok timed his stride so that he would be stepping into the strike using all his power. Transferring the kinetic energy from his legs, hips, and torso, the
warrior brought down a devastating attack upon the wolf.

He could feel the blade hacking into the animal flesh. He could feel the energy transfer into the body of his opponent, then recoil back into his own shoulder. Mok had cut fur, muscle, and bone on that strike. He didn't know for sure, but maybe he even broke his own blade.

Red = Myrian
Bold = Common

[Sapphire]

Sapphire was happy that the wolf was dead, but she was drenched in blood. She slowly morphed into her human form. Being clothed would have been much nicer, however she wasn't. She was now cold, and still soaking in wolf blood. "Did you really have to kill the wolf on my back? Couldn't you have just knocked it off, then killed it?" She was too tired to yell at the man, especially since he had almost been killed. "Thank you for getting it off of me though. I would have been a goner if you didn't. Oh, and why the hell did you light the mountain on fire!" She shouted, remembering the fire burning behind her. "Couldn't you have done something else that didn't involve killing all of those insects? Sure they can't think, but you didn't have to burn them all, and how well did burning the hill help you? If I hadn't come and helped you, you would have died anyways." She then noticed that the man had been confused by a little bit that had happened, but she would introduce herself, and explain everything later.