That's gonna hurt in the morning (Daeva, Seth)

[Sulavik]

20th Winter 510AV The road to Ravok was longer than it looked on a map, Sulavik was beginning to discover. It looked pretty short to Sulavik when he had been lectured on Geography by his uncle, but then again - maps were much much smaller than the land itself. Something about "scale"? He didn't know, he never really paid much attention in those lessons anyway. He probably should have. You're lost. I'm not LOST. Everything is just bigger in real life. And he certainly wasn't lost. He was on the road that stretched from Syliras to Ravok. As long as he followed it he would be fine. Nothing would happen to him. Right? As soon as that thought crossed his mind, there was a sinister rustling from the bushes on the side of the road before him. He could not help a sudden suspicion running through him, his muscles all tensing up. He slid from Jil'sk, who began to bolt. Sulavik grabbed the reins quickly, almost reflexively. The horse always tried to get away, it was a common routine between the two. Sulavik knew the moves well. The rustling, however, only intensified. Yes! Finally a chance to kill something! Wonder what it is. Slavers, Zith, Yukmen... Sulavik ignored him as he edged slowly towards the bushes. He drew his Lakan from his belt, unsheathing it with a quiet swish. Slowly edging towards the bush, he halted about two metres in front of it. Taking a deep breath, he tensed his muscles and held his Lakan in front of him, ready to kill. With a deep cry of war, he made to lunge forward, ready to attack the fearsome beast within it-- when out jumped a bunny rabbit. Sulavik instantly dropped his Lakan in shock. Well, that was embarrassing. You're an idiot. Shut the petch up, Makil. You realise I am NEVER going to let you live that down? Yeah... I know.

[Daeva Timandre]

She ran. Long legs propelled off the ground with surprising agility. Trees sped past her in mere chimes and foliage raked at the rich blue skin camouflaged well under the veil of night. Her heart pounded hard against her chest. Breathes came laborously but she kept up her speed. The men seemed far behind her, and she would give herself a chance to pause and assure this. Don't stop, urged Citlali, They could be anywhere. They could have us surrounded by now. The wolf, Masou, was up ahead, continuing his sprint with mighty determination. Those bastards can't possibly outrun me, Daeva growled, I had at least a minute head start. Footsteps slowed, and Daeva breathed heavily with a hand supporting her weight against a tall oak tree. She turned behind her, surging djed into her eyes to activate her auristics, and scanned the vicinity for signs of life or lackthereof. Human. That was all she was looking for. It didn't come as a surprise to see the speck of burning crimson aura rampaging through the brush and flattening the life that so thrived here without their untimely disruption. The men held swords that glinted forebodingly under the fractured light seeping through the trees. Petch. Hurry, we can lose them through the bushes, but you must be swift. It'd help if you'd just shut the petch up, Daeva barked, as she turned on her heel with the wolf in tow and sped through the flora that seemed particularly overgrown in this section of the expansive forest. With the auristics turned off, her night vision easily replaced it, and as the akontak ran, she managed to garner more incisions from the relentless branches posing an obstacle in her escape from these thugs. A few more chimes, and Daeva crashed through a brush and onto a road, but her vision, temporarily blinded by the foliage, soon proved to be her downfall, as she collided with something that only appeared to be a wall of flaming red and yellow. A body. They were both sent to the floor in a flurry of legs and arms, and Daeva ended up on top of a man who seemed to be.... "Sulavik?" The akontak asked incredulously. Daeva found herself dangerously close to the Akalak, and she immediately slapped him clear across the cheek and scrambled up. "Watch where you're going you petching ape." She berated, adjusting her skewed shirt and leggings, "I happen to be in a bind here with members of the less than handsome race of men, and I can't just be letting them touch little old me." She held out a hand to help him up, as if the slap was just her way of saying, "Great to see you!". "Let's go, quickly." Masou circled the both of them, his ears pressed against his skull as Daeva grabbed the akalak's wrist and pulled him along.

[Sulavik]

As Sulavik stood, jaw dropped, Lakan on the ground, muscles loosed and feeling like an idiot, he watched the bunny hop off. It was brown with two white spots just on its spine. It was really rather cute. He could feel Makil's utter derision as he thought that. Bunnies aren't cute. They're dinner. He could sense Makil wanted him to catch it and eat it for dinner. It would make a good meal, juicy succulent meat, but he could not bring himself to kill the poor thing. In a way, it had bested him in a battle of wits, and the Akalak were nothing if not honour driven. Sure, Sulavik wasn't really accepted by the Akalak anymore, but that did not mean that the same values, the same wants, the same needs had not been instilled in him, and were no longer working. No, he was very much still an Akalak even if the Akalaks themselves did not think so. He stood there still, even though the bunny had passed on and gone to do its little bunny business. It was if in being fooled by a bunny rabbit, he had lost the drive to reach Ravok for the moment. He stared aimlessly at his Lakan on the ground, and though he was aware of nothing but the glint of metal on the ground and the growing irritation of Makil at his inactivity, he could not summon the energy to pick it up again. As he stood still before the bush, he heard a rustling from within it. It would not do to move - he would not be outdone by a bunny again. The rustling was louder, more frantic this time, indicating something bigger than the little rabbit that had hopped away earlier. Daddy bunny, perhaps? He would not move, could not move, and simply waited for the rest of the rabbit family to hop out to find its little one. As such, he was supremely surprised to be flung to the ground by a flurry of blue limbs and curves. A brief flash of Makil flashed to the forefront of his mind as the newcomer fell atop Sulavik, pressing him to the ground in really a most compromising manner. A dominating thought snatched up all of his attention for the moment, as Sulavik melted away into the background and Makil took the reins. BREASTS! The confused voice of the woman atop him sent Makil to the depths. She had known his name, and she was blue. Unless it was an Akalak who had somehow changed genders, he could not for the life of him figure out how she knew him. His vision had not yet adjusted or focused when she slapped him, quite hard yet not viciously so, across the face. "What the petch?" he cried out. He could not help the mild swear escaping his lips, utter confusion reigning in his mind. Makil too was confused, though the press of womanly parts up against their body was still what occupied him. His vision righted itself as the woman pushed herself off him, adjusting her clothing and straightening up. "Daeva?" his voice was just as confused as the rest of him. What the petch was Daeva doing here? Of all places, he bumped into her twice in the Wildlands. The woman was clearly stalking him. You know, it's funny how much hotter a woman gets after her body is rubbed up against yours. He dazedly took her hand as she offered it to him, confused as to why she would offer such pleasantries after being so violent against him. "Um... that's not good?" He wasn't entirely sure as to what to say, still not really convinced that she was here by accident, nor that she was being chased by men. He found it difficult to believe that a personality as strong as Daeva's would be threatened by the weakling race of men, though of course, they were not entirely weak - there were quite a few intimidating ones. Sulavik did not recoil, did not protest, when she began to pull him along, he merely ran after her. Makil, occupied by the fact that he was alone with a woman, did not complain either. It was as his mind sharpened that he realised, while he was not entirely sure what was going on, he had left some very important things behind. "Wait!" he cried, grinding to a halt and tugging back on Daeva's hand. "Jil'sk, my horse... my Lakan... my supplies... all are back there." Without waiting for a reply, he tugged his wrist from her grip, and fastened his hand on hers, and began running back. No matter what she said, he would need Jil'sk and his Lakan - pursuing humans or not.

[Seth]

Daeva had been slowed by her sudden collision with Sulavik, and now, when he had actually halted her yet again and pulled her back toward what she was trying to flee from... alarm bells would go off in her head. Louder than they already were. The men had been gaining on her quite fast, and her only hope would have been to get to some thicker part of the forest, where they would be forced to follow her at a pace that was more her own. Her Auristics weren't advanced enough to discern the animal Auras mixed in with the ones of the Humans she had been watching... but she would have likely guessed it by now. Horses. They had horses. Sulavik would soon realize it, as he pulled Daeva back to where he had left his supplies. It was only a short distance away, no more than a dozen or so steps... but it was precious time. The thundering of hoofbeats could be heard coming even closer, crashing through the underbrush. They were surrounded by completely isolated forest with who knew what further within the trees... and the only other piece of landscape left was the road. It was a road that had quite a bit of walking left on it, though. Or in their case, riding. Well, Sulavik's case. Apparently Daeva was the only one who thought it wise to travel in the Wildlands, alone and on foot. The noise was getting closer, and it was getting louder. Just how many horsemen were there? They had two options, at this point. The first was to grab their stuff, and bolt, perhaps using Sulavik's horse to try and get far far away. How well would that work, though? If they were to bolt, the best idea would be to bolt through the woods... but was Sulavik and his horse good enough to traverse the rough terrain? They certainly couldn't drag the horse along on foot! The second option had became clear to Daeva earlier, for only a brief second. Further down the road, in the direction Sulavik had been heading... there was another Aura. It was a dim Aura, a purple one... but it was there. Perhaps they could use the road, and try to use the Aura as help? Just what were the pursuers after, anyways? The horse escape may not prove to be the best idea, though. Could Daeva really manage to hold onto a galloping horse? Daeva would realize it early. She was much better off without Sulavik. But now, she had gotten the man involved. Would the thought of abandoning him even cross her mind?

[Daeva Timandre]

“Sulavik!” She hissed, her hand jerked by the heavier and incredibly taller blue man who seemed far more interested in getting his petching knife. “You’re letting them catch up with us, you idiot!” And what was more, she could hear the sounds of hooves; there was no more chance of outrunning the bastards that pursued her, and all because of the idiot blue ape floundering about for his lakan. Masou circled Daeva with a growl, sensing the approach of danger. The akontak glanced at Sulavik’s horse, knowing the pathetic creature wouldn’t be able to carry the combined weight of their persons. He had at least managed to grab his lakan before Daeva whipped her head around for another course of action. Her auristics flared and she blinked toward the horizon, noticing the distinct purple aura of a man… or a woman… someone who, from what she could gather was hopefully unrelated to the men now practically upon them. Sulavik could easily escape on horse. She, however? She had no chance on foot, not if she had to wait for the lout to finish getting his shyke together. She split toward the direction of the aura. “Sul, follow me,” She shouted behind her, pure frosty hair whipping behind her as she raced with her wolf in tow toward the mysterious person beyond. “Hey, you!” She cried, as the purple Aura grew while the distance between her and it gradually decreased. This was it. It was either luck, or they were officially in even more shyke.

[Sulavik]

Sulavik ran, still holding tightly onto Daeva's wrist. There was something that made him smile about the blue on blue colour set off. It was not that he missed the Akalak culture, heavens no. It was more that it was a comforting colour. It was nice to see someone again who shared at least half of the heritage Sulavik had. You're fleeing from God knows what, being dragged around by an admittedly hot Akontak, and you're waxing lyrical on the colour of your petching skin? There is something petching wrong with you. Makil was right. There was something petching wrong with him. He was close to Jil'sk, who seemed to be nervous about something. She was edging around, tossing her head nervously, whinnying, as if trying to tell Sulavik something. He hardly heard Daeva's complaint when he realised what the thrumming noise surrounding them was - horses. Multiple horses. Petching petch shyke petch. Sulavik's heart hammered in his chest. Makil was ever confident, always unrestrainable in battle, but Sulavik doubted he could take multiple humans and horses. He bent down quickly, and grabbed his fallen Lakan. It felt good, comforting to have it back in his hands. Makil, too, felt pleasure drum through him. The possibility of a fight and cold steel back in his arms was making him become all the more prominent. It would not be long until he was almost as vocal at Sulavik. It was clear that he was convinced there was going to be a fight - and he could not wait until that happened. That being said, Sulavik was determined to avoid one at all costs. Sulavik heard the shout from Daeva as he grabbed Jil'sk reins. She was running off, leaving him, alone with the people she had brought. What the petch had she even done with him? Why was he hanging around? Petch that, he thought. I'm stuck in it now. She's hot. Don't complain. Sulavik sighed, momentarily forgetting about the humans chasing, though their hooves were loud and ominous. Despairing over the strange impetuous nature of darker souls, he swung up onto Jil'sk, holding onto her reins with one hand and his Lakan in the other. Squeezing her flanks with his thighs, he took off, galloping towards Daeva, glancing behind him. He still did not see any humans - but he heard them. Daeva was yelling out to something he could not see. But that hardly mattered right now. What mattered was finding out what they were facing. He rode up, tugging on Jil'sk's left rein, pulling her body closer to Daeva. "What the petch is going on, woman?" He put out a hand, as if expecting her to grab his hand and hoist herself onto Jil'sk's back, though the weight would undoubtedly be too much for her. Still, it was the only option he had. "What did you do and how do we fix it?" Makil briefly rose to the surface, taking Sulavik by surprise at the unexpected take over. "Thanks for getting me involved, love." To Sulavik's even greater surprise, Makil relinquished control immediately, seemingly content to watch the proceedings - for now.

[Seth]

It was a dark figure that soon came into sight, just at the same time that horsemen exploded from the forest. Three of them, longswords held high, rough and ragged leather armor haphazardly tied to their bodies. They were bandits or slavers, by the looks of it. They were quite common in the stretch of land that surrounded the Lake of Ravok, as everyone knew that Ravok would pay a pretty coin for slaves. Especially pretty ones, like the young Akalak female. And now, as they galloped closer, hooting and hollering, they saw that they had yet another potential target. A big strong Sulavik, who would likely fetch a hefty sum from the right lustful woman, or perhaps some kind of gambler who liked to stick fighters into the Pit. This was going to be a good haul indeed. The dark figure was cloaked, with a black hood pulled over his features. As Daeva yelled out for him, his hood only perked a bit, cocking to the side. He didn't slow up his pace any, as the two in need of his assistance were coming straight for him. Instead, he continued strolling, at a somewhat leisurely pace. Oddly enough, as soon as the horsemen saw him, they slowed down a bit. Why they would do such a thing, it would be beyond both Daeva and Sulavik. They probably didn't care. It gave them ample time to make haste for the cloaked figure who was drawing ever so closer. Daeva wouldn't be able to read much from his Aura, besides the dancing purple colors that chaotically swirled around each other. If anything, the Aura gave her a sense of... complexity. Her tongue would be filled with a multitude of tastes, layers upon layers of different sensations assaulting her magical sight. It was too much info to handle, and all at once, a sharp headache would hit her. Whoever this figure was, he was complex. As they drew closer, he paused, and flicked down his hood. Long white hair spilled out, almost down to his neck. Dark black eyes glimmered with an expression similiar to glee, and he spoke, his voice odd and oily. Sneaky and sly, perhaps. "Well, 'ello there. You two lovelies have a problem? What would a big handsome man like yourself, and a fine young lass like ya be doing, running in fear like this?" He paused, raising a finger to his lips, patting it ponderously, somehow managing to mock the stressful situation. The three horsemen pulled up, moving their horses to surround the three, aiming blades at them all, one tip apiece. "Oh." And the man smiled. Gods, was it a horrid smile. Every horse instantly took a step back, whinnying, the animals un-nerved by the grin that stretched across the thin and bony face of the man. He spoke, a slight giggle rising to his lips, his eyes shining with even darker amusement. "What a pleasant situation! Are we hostages?" He raised his hands high, the cloak falling down his bare bony arms, his giggling becoming a bit higher-pitched. Something was wrong. He was creepy. Really creepy. "Whatever will you do with your un-willing hostage, milords?" His voice held a tone of suggestion. Was he... flirting?

[Daeva Timandre]

She didn’t know what to expect, didn’t know what to sense or see or taste or feel. The purple aura was all she focused on, fleeing from the bandits that trailed them, the vibration from their hooves pounding in her boots. But she didn’t pause for a second. She didn’t even glance behind her until she was within distance for the purple figure to see her, and when the headache exploded in her temple Daeva winced and immediately turned the auristics off. The akontak didn’t like what she saw. More importantly, he looked far more disturbing than what she thought she’d seen from afar. His expression sent a wave of goose bumps up her neck, and almost instinctively her hand fell to her sheathed suvai. When he spoke, Daeva took a moment to scrutinize him. This guy looks like a creeper, but he called Sulavik big and handsome. I guess I have no worries about him fondling me then, Daeva smirked. We’ve fallen into a trap, Citlali suggested, This is beyond what we could have imagined. They could have set this up. We’re doomed if we don’t act fast. Daeva glanced at the men, who seemed agitated standing so close to the white haired creeper but their weapons were aimed at him as well. He’s not with them, Daeva concluded, So it’s a question of ending up a slave of these bandits or chancing the madman with the infectious smile. But the white-haired creeper’s obnoxious giggling disturbed the akontak a little too much. She was within arms length of him, but she took a chance to step back. “Obviously this man is hiding something, gentlemen,” Daeva spoke up, glancing at the men on the horses then at Sulavik, “And if you intend to find out what it is, then I implore you to attack him first.” She motioned at the creeper.

[Sulavik]

Sulavik's hand fell, disappointed when Daeva ignored it. It perhaps was not the best time for such feelings, but there you go. Makil, oddly enough, echoed the disappointment that Sulavik felt. He did not have time to dwell on it, though. The bandits crashed out of the woods, and Sulavik's neck snapped back to look at them. He quickly counted three with longswords and horses. "Petch," he grumbled. There was no way he and Daeva could take them on their own, even with their height and muscle structure. He turned back to Daeva, ready to update her on their status. It did not look good. Snapping his head back quickly, he was astonished to find her already focused on who seemed to who Daeva had run for. He felt uncomfortable just looking at the snow white hair, and hearing the slick voice. He dodged a look back at the bandits. They seemed to have paused, too, at the sight of the man. Jil'sk was uncomfortable around him too. But he didn't know what else to do. Hesitantly, he slung off of Jil'sk, and approached Daeva from behind. He put a hand on her shoulder, and a hand on her waist, pulling her closer towards him. He was not entirely sure why he did it. "Play along," he hissed. "They might be more intimidated if they think we're an item. They know I'd fight harder to protect you if that were so." He hoped Daeva did not mind. He knew Makil certainly didn't. He had not felt Makil so happy for ages. He smiled tersely at the man, flinching at both the compliments he gave both Daeva and he, and the smile. The giggle, too. Everything about this man was just WRONG. The horses felt it. He felt it. The bandits too felt it. His grip on Daeva tightened subconsciously, as if he were trying to get a grip on what was going on. He genuinely had no idea. "Daeva," Sulavik hissed again. Makil seemed to be content to watch for now. He did not do so well in these situations. He was better in situations involving blood and lust, none of this terse talking nonsense. "Don't encourage the bandits! We won't win against them," Sending an awkward smile towards the creeper, he leaned in, warm breath blowing against the Akontak's ear. "Who the petch is he?"

[Seth]

The white-haired man glanced back and forth between all the players present, that ever-so-tight smile still widely stretched across his face. It was odd in the fact that it didn't actually show any teeth, and instead just somehow pulled itself to an impossible width. Really, he shouldn't be able to grin that deviously. Whatever the case, he seemed happy and content to just stand there and grin for now, his hands in the air. The only thing that caused him to giggle again was the words Daeva spoke. In response, he merely tilted his head to the side and cocked his head up at the slavers, aiming his smile up towards them. Once again, their horses shuffled uncomfortably, the bandits glancing back and forth between each other. One eventually shifted from his saddle, and slid down. His eyes suspsicious, his longsword held at the ready, the man approached the three that him and his group had surrounded. He glanced back and forth cautiously between them all, but his attentions were mostly focused on the white-haired man. Sulavik seemed to be the second biggest threat, since he was a big hulking blue brute. Akalaks were well known for their unwillingness to be slaves too. At least around here. "So..." The man spoke, gesturing with his sword. "...you are trying to get me to focus on him?" The sword tip pointed at the white-haired man, who giggled again, shaking his head, raising his hands higher. "But milord... you don't understand! I ain't a threat! I have no intention of putting any fight up at all! By all means, take me away, tie me up, and sell me to the highest bidder! I might like being slave. 'Specially to you." He glanced at Daeva, winking, a long tongue flickering out to lick at his lips. In that moment, he would resemble one thing, and that one thing would pop to the front of everyone's minds. A snake. The men cleared their throats, still looking a bit nervous. Even if they were all battle-hardened, as their rough looks and easy grips on their swords gave away... this whole situation was tense. One spoke up about it, shifting in his saddle. "I dunno... he is just a human, it looks like. We should just kill him, and sell him." The apparent leader of the pack stared at the white-haired man for a moment longer, and then glanced to Daeva and Sulavik. "We will decide what to do with him later. First, the blue brutes. Are you going to do this the way your friend did? Peacefully, with your weapons on the ground, and your hands in the air?" The other two men shifted a bit, and then slid off their saddles, longswords at the ready. It was a choice of to fight, or to give themselves up.