Closed Peace, Interrupted (Aello)

[Irriari]

Irriari focused on the sky above as her feet hit the forest floor in a rhythmic pattern. As she took to the sky, pain erupted in her left wing and calf. The zith screamed, but continued her ascent, searching desperately for a tree branch that was high enough that she could get away from the petching human witch that was attacking her. The zith dodged and dipped under branches until she found one that was stable enough she could stand on. Her calf burned as she landed on the branch, wavering and shaking. Blood dripped from the wound to the forest floor below as the muscles moved to accommodate her weight. Snarling, the zith wrapped her right arm around the tree trunk and folded in her right wing, sacrificing balance for defense. There was no sense in giving the human another target. Her left wing was more problematic. The dagger had ripped through her wing as she flew skyward, leaving a bloody gash that sundered the lower half of her wing into two distinct flaps of skin. Grimacing, she folded her left wing to her back as well, and did her best to press her form against the tree trunk. Irriari yelled down to the human,

“Leave me alone, you piece of rat shyke!”

Her voice had lost the cocky edge that had been present a few chimes before, but her voice was still strong as she gazed downward at the human.

[Aello]

Aello looked up at the retreating zith as her blade's twin swirled through the air before landing point down in the dirt with a muffled thud. It was lodged, a few paces from the tree's trunk, now laden with the zith's weight; seemingly leaning in a single direction as the creature glared down at the huntress. "And here I thought you wanted to play," Aello teased as she strode forward, bending to retrieve her fallen dagger and clutch it in her hand as she eyed the cursed that jutted out of the zith's thigh. She couldn't say she worried about that one, for it had a way of finding her. Sooner or later, anyway. "I recall something about wanting to rip my face off," the girl wore on as she straightened herself out. "Don't you Lily?" she asked, as she turned to face her companion, who had poked her head out, and was nodding vigorously, causing the huntress to look back up. "So you see zith, as nice as it would be not to bother finishing you off, we do have a score to settle. And now that you've kindly trapped yourself by that tree..." Her voice trailed off as her eyes glinted. Her dagger was twisting between her fingers, then diving between the folds. Finding its sheath as Aello's bow rolled nonchalantly down the length of her shoulders, and a single raven feather fletched arrow was being retrieved. She nocked it, closed her left eye as she took on a stance, and aimed at the zith's clawed hand. The right one first, and then she'd go for the left. "You may as well come down here," Aello whispered as she pulled back a little farther on the string, and then let go. "We won't hurt you... too much..." OOCErm... I won't keel you. I promise. Just... taunt you... a lot...

[Irriari]

Irriari ignored most of the humans words as she fixed her eyes on the treetops above. There was a small branch fifteen feet higher than the one she stood on currently. The angle of the branch was less than ideal and meant that she would be even more exposed that she was currently. Shaking her head at the idea, Irriari looked down at the human as she was replacing her dagger and drawing her bow. At the last moment, Irriari ducked downwards. The arrow lodged itself into the tree a second later, with a loud thwack.

The human taunted her again, urging her to come down to the ground where she would have an advantage. If the fight a few chimes prior had been any indication, the zith knew she wouldn’t last long against the human and her dagger. Irriari straightened and resumed her original position against the tree.

“You expect me to come down when you’re still shooting me? I’m not that easy to kill, human.”

Irriari wondered if her last remark would be proved wrong. The zith knew she had few options left, and desperation tainted every thought. If she could get to the clearing where she had slain the rabbit, she could fly away from this human and live. Urgency flooded her limbs as the zith pushed off from the tree trunk. Pain surged through her bleeding calf, but she did all she could to ignore it. This was life or death, and Irriari planned to be among the living at the end of the day. The momentum from the trees allowed her to glide parallel with the forest for a short while, and she did so, hoping that her flight would be faster than the humans running speed. As Irriari’s clawed feet hit the earth, she began running towards the clearing. Adrenaline and fear surged through her as she realized that she would have to run for a chime more before she would hit the clearing.

[Aello]

The arrow's tail quivered. The huntress could see it shaking from where she had struck the tree as she lowered her bow, both surprised and a little frustrated that she had missed her mark. "Really?" Aello asked, "for it sure seems like you're going to be." The Treaver's eyes narrowed as soon as her lips had snapped shut, and she watched as the zith slid, before moving away from the tree, distancing itself from her. Damnit, the huntress thought to herself as her fists tightened, it cannot be allowed to get away, her mind added as she resolved to come back for her lodged arrow, and began to run after the zith. Arms pumping with each of her steps after the fleeing creature. Her feet thundered against the ground. Cotton folds swirling hungrily around her form as she leaped over roots, and pushed past low lying branches. Scraping, constantly scraping her clothes; her very skin. OOCLooks like it's your turn to lead.

[Irriari]

The zith ignored the pain of the brambles and sticks that sliced into the tender skin of her feet and ankles. Her feet sank into the earth briefly with every breath and bounded upward as her chest burned. The muscles in her legs weren’t nearly as developed as the ones in her back. Zith were trained the fly when they needed to cross great distances- running was an option reserved for only the most dire of circumstances. Her foot caught on a stray branch that stuck up from the ground and Irriari found herself tumbling forward, her arms wind milling as she tried to balance a body that was falling to fast to right itself. Her knees hit the dirt first, quickly followed by her hands. Knowing that her fall had cost her the only advantage she had, the zith didn’t bother to scramble back to her feet. Even if she began running again, the human would catch her and the tender flesh of her wings would be the first thing the girl would have access too.

Chaotic once vowed that she would die before she would allow her wings to be damaged beyond repair, and Irriari agreed. A zith was nothing without their wings.

Irriari stood and the human approached her.

“You can try to kill me, human. Hell, you’ll probably succeed, but I can promise you that if you try, I won’t go down without hurting you too. My claws are coated in poison that I made. It’s not the strongest that I’ve made, but you’ll be weakened considerably by it. Or you can let me go with the knowledge that you bested me. Your choice.”

The lie felt awkward on her tongue, and her stomach twisted unpredictably as she stared down the human. Irriari hoped her false bravado would get her out of the Wild Lands alive. After all, everything else had failed.

[Aello]

Aello kept on running; ignoring the tightness in her throat, the way the innards dried as sharp breaths ran back and forth between the ridges. Lips growing a deeper pink as cheeks, too, flushed, and eyes blazed with murderous intent. Muscles scrunching with each step, and then releasing tenderly with each bound, over and over again, until a time when the hunted stumbled, bringing the mage to a halt. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, as she fought to regain her breath. Muddied irises trained on obsidian orbs. "Is that what you truly believe, zith?" she whispered as her bow was run back up the length of her arm, so that it may rest upon her shoulder. Free hands hovering above her thighs, waiting for a chance to wrench the remaining dagger free. Colored tendrils licking her lips, caressing her skin. They circled over the girl's boots. Swirling through the heels, prodding at pockets; folds of fabric. They filtered through the holes they'd poked in the zith's flesh. Like sunlight steaming off of rock; shadowing the mouth of a cave. It caused her flesh to glow, although ominously; the light of her essence swaying in the breeze. Flickering, in her weakened state. The huntress took a step forward. Slow; measured. "Why is it so hard to believe you?" Aello asked, as she eyed her opponent up and down. Fingers flexing. Flowing, one after the other. An undulation of the sea. A sign of impatience. Wear.

[Irriari]

The woman stepped closer, clearly confident in her position and ability to dispose of her. Knowing that she had nothing to lose, the zith dropped her bow and quiver on the ground, and placed her pack in front of her. She quickly unbuckled the straps that secured the front flap and pulled out the remaining two dose vial of roughwood poison. She held the vial out toward the human before speaking,

“I can assure you that this isn’t water. It’s half empty because the rest is on my claws. You don’t have to believe me, human. You can take your chances. In fact, I’d almost prefer it if you didn’t. It’s always far more fun to poison someone that way.”

Irriari waited. There was nothing else she could do, and nowhere to go.

[Aello]

The vial appeared a misty purple; bubbling with beads of black. The huntress could tell that whatever the vial held, was sinister. Harmful, and yet, not particularly potent. Perhaps enough to make her sick, from what she could sense, but little more. "You do realize, zith, that if what you said was true, each time you bothered to eat, or scratch your own arse, you'd be poisoning yourself," Aello commented. "Unless of course, you have an antidote contained somewhere in that pack of yours, which, seems doubtful considering your apparent lack of intellect." The huntress took another step forward before allowing her bow to slide down the length of her arm. She tossed it casually towards a nearby tree, before returning her gaze to the zith. She smiled wickedly. "Don't expect to survive this day," she whispered as she ran forward. Upon reaching striking distance, she jabbed at the zith's shoulder with her remaining blade, before ducking, expecting the creature to lash out. While she did so, she'd toss her blade over her head, and that of the zith, before catching it in her right hand. With hand on hilt, she'd turn around the zith's body as she straightened herself out, swiping lazily at Iri's wings before turning to face her head on once again. Legs slightly bent at the knees. Form ready to defend. OOCSorry, I felt the need to throw a little stunt in there.

[Irriari]

Shaking, Irriari was grateful that the human had finally left her alone. Perhaps the threat of poison had finally cowed the woman, or maybe she had grown bored of the chase. Either way, the zith was happy that she had managed to live through the encounter. She moved her muscles gingerly before replacing her pack on her back and moving home towards Ravok.

[Verilian]

. . Thread Award . . Irriari +1 Body Building +3 Intimidation +1 Observation +1 Flying +1 Running Lores: The Realization that You are Weak, Defeated by a Human, Aello I am unable to award your grade at this time due to this account being retired. If it is ever unretired, feel free to resubmit your request. You Question My Logic? : If you have any questions about your reward, feel free to ask. Notes: Well, it's too bad this was cut short. Things were getting very interesting. Oh well, good job, and keep writing! Notice As per the request of the Founders, threads cannot be graded unless your CS is up to date. This means you need to add threads to your thread list when you make new threads, keep your skills up to date, ledger, living expenses, ect. If you aren't up to date, you'll get a PM from me before i grade your thread. If you are up to date, disregard this notice.