[Quest] Welcome to the Wastes (Closed)

[Cara]

Before Cara stepped out of the tent behind Yuralria and Druna, she began to call her magic to her. Her eyes seemed to glow a ghastly golden yellow, as she spread her arms out to her sides, as though calling the winds, or inviting an advance from any bestial opponent. She viewed her stomach as a cauldron, a cauldron in which her djed settled until she forced it to stir with the power of her will. She imagined it bubbling now, heating up, waiting to be called into action. As she stood in the tent's doorway, the flap billowing out around her, she imagined the djed rising. Cara raised her hands a little higher, as the magic made its way from her chest, upwards. Into her heart and lungs, causing them to expand, to sting, before it inched upwards, into her neck. From her neck, the magic seemed to course through each of her veins, wind their way through the length of her arms into her hands. From there, a pale blue mist seeped through her skin. From her palms sprouted this transparent smoke, which spiraled into the cool night air. The res danced around her palm, until it had collected into a large sheet, approximately two feet high, and another foot across. It was about an inch thick. The res board rested between Cara's outstretched palms, pooling just above them, until she flicked her wrist towards the growling beasts. The board inched forward, guided by Cara's hand to the wolf's tail. Once it was upon it, Cara moved her hands in tiny circles, causing the res board to wrap itself around the wolf's bushy tail. When she was as certain as she could be that it was in place, given the light, Cara turned the res in its entirety to a bed of heavy grey rock. The Vanthan woman thought she could just make out the sound of something sinking heavily into the snow, but it was difficult to tell if that was more than a foot. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, as she began to allow another bit of res to pool above her palms. This time, it took the shape of a sphere. "Can't get a clear shot when they're doing that," Cara muttered under her breath. "But hopefully, the earth will be enough to slow that wolf down... so the bears can finish it off." To whom she was talking seemed unclear. For her voice was low. But Yura was close enough to her that she may hear.

[Cheshire]

The more human form of Aeyan disappeared in a flash of light before anyone else could speak another word. He needed to protect her. It was his duty. He could see the recruits and bears springing into action around him. The group was ready to fight, a very good sign. At least they had good reaction time. Meanwhile, the wolf shook Avaana's body, trying to literally shake the life out of it. She could not speak or move. There was too much pain. Only one mumble made it past her lips "Please… Morwen…" The great wolf snarled at the on coming fighter's, it's jaws clamping tightly around his prey. It was the girl bear who was the first to enter the fray. It tossed Avaana aside, where Aeyan rushed to her side. Without the obstruction in his mouth, the wolf snapped at the bear. Her ivory fur was gripped between his fangs and he shook, much like he had with the Vantha. The bear's claws raked into it's chest, making it growl in pain. All of this ruckus was distracting him from another very important happening. The Res was wrapping around the wolf's tail but he was more intent on trying to maul the bear in his jaws. When the Res hardened and tugged the beast's tail to the ground he howled in surprise, dropping the bear. Turning to see it's tail, it tugged at the stone, trying to free itself. Another howl was called out to the winter sky and it it's wake, two more wolves approached. The first wolf had just been a scout to see what the group would be up against. The two new beasts ran through the snow, one charging toward Yuralria and the other toward Belgar, swiping at them. The first wolf tugged at the stone which incased it's tail and snapped it's jaws at Cara and Druna. It howled in frustration, lashing out a paw to swipe the girls. The wolves were out for blood. They were starving and if they could not have a meal, they would die trying for it.

[Yuralria]

Yura's sword came up to her face as she hooked it paw of the wolf and neatly sidestepped, pushing the huge paw of the beast of to the side. The momentum of the wolf carried him farther forward, yanking Yura's sword backwards out of her hand before she could pull it out, straining her shoulder in the process. Clenching at the pain of her almost dislocated shoulder, she pulled her second sword with her uninjured left arm and with a half pirouette drove it towards the wolf's ribs, but instead catching it's rear flank as it turned to snap at her. Pulling the sword neatly out, she rolled quickly to the side, away from the wolf and looked for her other sword, as she found about ten feet away lying in the snow, the wolf leaped at her again, and this time it's paws met her shoulders she brought her left arm up in an attempt to catch the wolf across the throat and they fell to the ground, with Yura grunting as the massive wolf landed on top of her.

[Belgar]

Belgar glanced at the wolf that had escaped him in favor of Druna’s wrath, nostrils flaring at the stench of res that manifested around it as solid earth. He could not fathom how such a thing could possibly come to be, but he did not have time to wonder. Its foolish brothers emerged to defend it—why else they would face a hoard of dires and mages and warriors, the bear could not begin to guess. Guessing that his comrades had the scout under control, he turned to the fresh ones.

The wolf that dove at him misjudged his height, reached the furry hollow between his forelegs instead of the fat on his neck. It was stunned and flailing as it struggled to regain footing, but he knew not to underestimate it. Instead of keeping its claws and teeth exposed to his soft underbelly, he stepped hastily to the side. With the rumble of stones and the flurry of snow, he parried its reaching fury with the back of his paw. Then he brought it down against the warm, heaving flesh around its snapping ribs; thus pinned, he wrapped his maw around its growling head. With a swift jerk of his own, the enemy fell limp beneath him.

He did not hesitate to sweep his black attention over the rest of the fight. Before a single puff of white condensation could dissolve on the air, he saw the girl who called herself Yuralria, beneath another wolf and without one of her blades. He leapt to them and, hoping to catch it distracted by its triumph, bit for its middle and tore it away from her. He would not kill it, though. This was her trial, not his. He watched it throw white as it found its bearings and caught sight of her again. In the meantime, he crossed the field to retrieve the sword it had stolen. He picked it up between his teeth and tossed it to her, then looked over the scene for where else he was needed.

[Cara]

Cara stepped away from the snapping jaws. The snarling, the creature's spit which spewed from its mouth and threatened to douse her like newly fallen snow or even rain. Her eyes flashed angrily as she raised both of her hands once more. She could feel her arms tingling. Fresh djed winding its way through her veins to her hands. She could feel her hands growing warm as gaseous res began to gather around her fingertips. The Vantha moved her hands slowly up and down, and then turned them towards the other from time to time. Winding them in a circular motion, molding the res she was gathering into a cylinder. The cylinder was about two and a half feet tall, and about two feet wide, when she was done. Cara smiled weakly as she imagined some of the res from the cylinder's wall gliding across the bottom of the structure, forming a sort of bottom. She left the top of the structure open. Cara's eyes flashed a threatening orange as she pushed her hands away from her slender form, guiding the res cylinder forward. She could see the pale blue misty substance sparkling in the light of the moon, as she dodged the wolf's mouth once more, and kept out of Druna's way so as not to hinder her own attack and defensive process. The Vantha kept on urging the res cylinder forward with her hands, until a time in which it fit itself around the wolf's hind left foot. At that point, Cara filled the base of the cylinder with both earth, and fire. The smell of smoke filled her nostrils, as did freshly plowed dirt. She watched as the red, gooey looking liquid sank into the snow, causing it to sizzle. Within a fraction of a second later, Cara had turned the rest of the cylinder into stone. The stone was a dark grey, speckled with bits of silver mica which sparkled brilliantly despite the time of day. It wasn't a particularly thick slab of rock, no more than an inch or two, but Cara felt as though it should do, for a time. It would encase the wolf's foot, ensuring that it was burnt by the magma it contained, and it should, at least in theory, slow down the progression of magma, making it all the less likely to harm one of her allies. For although Cara couldn't say she truly cared about their well-being, she knew that they were her best chance of getting out of here alive, without having overgiven. Couple in the fact that the rock may guide the magma into the earth, keeping it out of reach of anything worth harming, and it seemed like a very good idea. Of course, the rock may not have been thick enough to contain anything, which meant that the girl would have to find another way to accomplish her nefarious plan. But even so, the attack should make it rather easy for one of the bears to pick the wolf off, after all, it couldn't well fight when its leg was being burnt away. Its blood spilt. Cara could hear it howling.

[Druna]

Druna stood, bloody paws, and temperd flaring, she shook her fur clean of the wolf's unclean blood. Splaters of red fell on the white snow. Her dark black eyes fell on the wolf that now turned its attention to Cara. MINE! she growled in her head as the air filled with the smell of burning flesh. A growl escaped her muzzle as she went for the wolf. The wolf turned, snapping its bloddied mouth at her before letting out a howl, Druna side stepped it jaws as she answered with her own roar. A glance at Cara confirmed that she was waiting, Druna eyes narrowed on the wolf, as she lunged her self at the scouts back. She held tightly to the top side of its neck, feeling the spine between her jaws. Using her body weight, she forced the beast down to its side, closing her jaws, a audible snap echoed in the still air. She didn't stop to find out what it was, she held on tight to the wolf, that now was her prey.

Druna felt the warm copper liquid fill her mouth, felt it turn cold on her taste buds. A possessive growl escaped deep from with in her. Her eyes searched what she could see, it seems that most had it under control. Still the half blood fought her own beast. Something that didn't concern her at this time. Slowly she let go of the pile of fur, unsatisfied with the little action she got. Her senses looking for any other danger, besides the one that was left, she sensed none. Druna eyes flashed as she looked towards Cara, a small nod was all she gave to acknowledge her help. Then turned back to the half blood, waiting to see how her battle would pan out.

[Valkyrie]

Moderator NoteDue to Cara’s retirement and Druna’s lengthy inactivity I will be writing their actions as needed to excuse them from the thread. Cara noticed the edges of her vision begin to turn black and she barely had time to realize she was about to pass about before she did so. The djed she had expended would have been a reasonable amount had she not compounded the strain on her body with the physical exertion of the hike from Avanthal. The two coupled together had made the hardy Vantha woman reach her overgiving limits quickly and robbed her consciousness from her. The wolf spun as Belgar knocked it away from Yuralria and fought to regain its footing. It heard the howling of its burning brethren and swung around to witness the female bear end its life. It took only a moment to assess the situation; all of its companions had been killed and the creatures facing it were certainly dangerous. It caught sight of Cara falling and landing in the snow and immediately decided that its life was more important then the revenge of its brethren. It raced towards the fallen Vantha and leapt over her body intent on the safety of the snowy expanses beyond. Druna had sprung forward as she realized the intent and trajectory of the wolf but she could not stop its rush past Cara and her pursuit of the beast was given up in order to check the prickly woman for life. Her nostril pressed against the woman’s throat and she snorted gently as she felt the soft ticking of her pulse. Looking up at the others she nodded her head to reassure them of Cara’s continued existence. As soon as Aeyan judged the two corpses and fleeing third wolf to mean that they were safe for the time being he focused himself solely on Avaana. The woman was alive but barely. Blood soaked through her clothing and the shaking had given her a concussion, her eyes could not focus on her beloved companion nor could her lips form words to comfort him. Aeyan looked up and snorted briefly as he assessed the group’s situation. He growled to Druna and Belgar to get their attention and and swung his head to call them forth. As soon as the two had trotted near he growled his instructions, bear to bear. “Avaana must get back to Avanthal for medical attention. I’m guessing Cara needs the same. I shall carry my companion back and I wish for you, Druna, to do the same for Cara. You shall get to observe a recruitment another time. Belgar, I wish you to stay with the recruit we have left. Let us not have this excursion be a complete disaster. The Wastes will be even more dangerous for you as a group of two so try to nudge her in the right direction as best as you can. If you try to stay within a day’s jog of Avanthal you should be able to avoid the worst beasts. Stay safe and we will see you three days hence.” Aeyan’s deep growl rumbled through his throat and though he tried to remain calm the strain in his voice was evidence of his concern for Avaana. He turned away without waiting for a reply and began to see to Avaana. Druna looked at Belgar quizzically and shrugged one of her shoulders. There was not much to say. Within a quarter of a bell Druna and Aeyan were heading back towards Avanthal with a Vantha draped across each bear’s back. The two tried to run as quickly as they could without dislodging their passengers. The longer they stayed out the more likely a predator would see the easy targets. Soon enough only Belgar and Yuralria were left together to face the Northern Wastes by themselves. Night was beginning to fall and the brightness of the Aurora cast a green shadow on the expanses of white surrounding them. The dead bodies of the wolves were quickly freezing and the two living creatures would have to decide what they would do soon or face the scavengers that sought the freezing flesh.