Hi Ho Hi Ho It's Off To Work We Go (Solo)

[Aello]

Timestamp: Fall 2, 512 AV Location: Somewhere between Ravok and Syliras The pycon had set out several chimes ago. For what reason, Aello wasn't certain, but in any case she wanted her back. She didn't trust the assassins she had left behind to look after Lily in her wake. Nor did she trust the forest to be kind to a being so small. So very vulnerable. Thus, she had ventured away in order to find her. Luckily, the earth was still soft from recent rains, and being as it was so early in the season, the leaves were only just beginning to change. Hotter hues flooding cool pigment. Churning a cauldron of lobed adornments, and those with teeth and crenellations. Causing everything to shift to sun's mirror, as older needles scattered in the wind, which caused even the most twisted, shriveled arms of deep brown bark to tremble. Upturned earthen fingers seemed to beckon the huntress closer, as gnarled roots. Twisting in heated battle against one another, extended. Reaching for her legs, seeking to clutch animated life, as though such a thing could gift them with it. Make them entirely mobile. Aello stepped over each with relative grace as her chocolate colored irises danced over the uneven terrain. Following the trail her companion had left behind. Prints delicately etched into earthen canvas. Several dark grains of dirt settling around the outer rim of the displacement she had created. A rather small, lobed marking. Flatter towards the near side; a mirror image of Aello's own larger boot prints, or so it would seem. Although, Lily had no true heel, leaving her steps to make lesser indentations. As the huntress moved along, beneath the elongated shadows cast by the trees as the sun's light played against their trunks and branches, she breathed evenly. In through the nose, and out through the mouth. The folds of her simple cotton dress rippled pleasantly in the breeze, fanning her flesh as she rounded a bend. Moving in and out of a cluster of trees, her fist tightened around the grip of her father's old bow. Her thumb idly stroked the supple curve as her eyes followed the gentle slope of each print. The outline of what her pycon had left in its wake. She shook her head lightly. At least you leave an easy trail to follow, Aello thought, as she moved through a series of low lying shrubs, whose leaves were toothed and branches swirling together. They brushed against her legs, leaving streaks against blue fabric, where threads were inched away on contact, but not severed completely. When she had moved out of the thrushes she lost the trail a moment. Leading her to wander in circles before she picked it up again farther down. She can't be far now. She's too tiny to gain all that much distance, Aello thought, as her eyes grazed the surface and then came to a swift halt. For standing before her was her companion. Rummaging about a grouping of trees and shrubberies. "Hello Lily," Aello called out to her. Startled, her companion turned to face her, and then smiled widely when she realized who had called. Then holding up a single plant, with a pale green stalk and bunched petals her smiled only widened. It was s deep yellow, a similar shade to a canary's feathers. "Look Aello," Lily called. "The last of the dandelions. We could use it couldn't we? Add it to my kit? If we only crush the stem and get the juice out, we can pour it on your battle wounds. If I remember correctly, it helps get rid of the pain, and ease swelling." Aello chuckled. "Alright Lily, we can put it in a pocket for now, and tend to it later. We should be getting back to Rhysol's slaves soon, or they're going to be coming after us." Lily nodded, "alright Aello," she responded, as she began to head her way. Her tiny feet treading upon the edge of the dandelion's stem as she moved.

[Aello]

The underbrush trembled. Aello's ears prickled as the hairs on the back of her neck stood at attention. She listened to the leaves as they made their shuddering song, her heart beginning to drum at a faster pace, whilst her chest rose and fell in the shallows. Her throat grew tight, and soon it felt as though someone were clenching it shut, keeping the air from flowing in and out properly, as the back of it began to dry. Again, the leaves trembled, as though in a wind that was not there, and soon, a paw had stretched out of the leaves. The pad dipping into the soft soil, as deep grey fur shone in the sun's light. The longer, although fine strands still, digging into the earth beneath the creature's step, as curved, black claws scratched at the surface. Another tick, and another paw had been excavated, along with a stark black nose. Quivering as it sniffed the air. Aello bristled as she watched the creature's approach. Knowing what it was long before its pointed ears, strangely similar to a cat's, had poked through, alongside elongated snout, deep green eyes, and fluffed grey and white coat. "Lily, don't move," the huntress mouthed, wondering if the animal would think her companion a clod of dirt, as opposed to the alchemical creation crafted of clay that she was. The huntress watched as a knob of clay trickled down her companion's throat. As though she were swallowing a clump of gathered saliva. Aello supposed Lily had heard it too. That if she were like her, her muscles would be rippling unpleasantly beneath the surface of her tanned flesh. Seemingly baked in the light of the sun. Her relentless gaze, eyes always unblinking, remained fixated on the huntress, although the young spiritst knew she wanted to roll them to the side, and see whatever it was that had approached. However, in this case, for once it would seem, Lily obeyed. The top of her sunny dandelion, still clutched tightly in her tiny fists, swaying in the breeze. As the wolf moved fully out of the trees it paused, eyeing both the pycon, and Aello. The pupils were two smoldering coals, surrounded by a turbulent moat of forest shades. Murky waters, upon which weeds and molds skimmed the surface. Paws clawing the ground as a pelt of deep grey stood a little higher, as lips furled. Vibrating softly as crescent shaped teeth were exposed. A stark white, with edges buried in rose colored gums, tinged with a hint of blood from recent meal. "Don't move," Aello mouthed again, to her companion, who gulped once more, drawing the full attention of the wolf. It growled again, then, before charging at the huntress' companion. Paws pushing up against the ground, propelling it forward at a startling rate, as its legs swept past one another, and the pycon turned tail and ran. The dandelion fluttering in the breeze she created as the wolf soon neared, and swept at it. Claws extended, cutting the flower from the stalk. Damn it Lily, I told you not to move, Aello thought to herself as she took a half step back and reached for her quiver. Her fingers soon finding the shaft of an arrow, which she rapidly plucked, and laced onto the string of her father's old bow. The three middle fingers of her right hand wrapping around the nock as soon as it had clicked and taken to the bow. The dark raven's feather's tickling her skin as she closed her left eye, raised the weapon, and pulled it past her smile. Moving it slightly to the right as her companion ducked to miss another swipe of the wolf's paws. "Just hold on," Aello whispered as she pulled the string a little more taut, and then released. Sending it into a fit of rapid vibrations which produced a low humming sound as the arrow erupted. Shooting forth. Whistling through the crisp air towards the wolf, before lodging itself in its neck. A steady stream of crimson blood trickling out. Cascading into dark fur, which soon tangled and matted as the beast fell. Leading Aello's companion to stop running, catch her breath and return to her when she was ready.

[Aello]

Aello offered the pycon a small smile as she leaned over and extended her hand. Placing the back of the free against the cool earth, so that Lily would have a stairway of sorts. She waited for the girl to climb the length of her arm, and settle upon her shoulder before striding forward. Crossing the distance between herself and the corpse of the wolf. At which point, she kneeled, as she drew her bow up the length of her arm, and allowed the string to balance upon her shoulder. Another tick, and her left hand had curved around the arrow's protrusion, in a clump of fur slick with freshly freed blood. Her right hand dove, falling towards the arrow's point. Fingers winding deftly around the shaft before she wrenched the projectile free. Bringing a long spurt of blood in its wake as she grimaced, and wiped the point off on the ground before returning it to the quiver with the others. Another tick and she had shrugged her left shoulder, the bow falling from grace and back into her hand. She gripped it tightly as she eased herself back onto her feet, and stepped over the body of the wolf. "We'd best move before the others come looking for it," Aello whispered as she left the narrow clearing, and appeared on the other side of a grouping of trees. Lily merely nodded. "I'm sorry we didn't get the last dandy lion," the pycon said. Aello kept moving as the wind swept through the trees, tousling her long mane of chestnut colored hair. "It's alright. There will be more." "We could have used it though," Lily responded. "We have more than enough in the kit to last us through the winter," Aello replied. "Especially if you leave the damned assassins to their own tending. Or... their deaths." A smirk crossed her lips as she stifled a small chuckle. "For we care not if Dira claims them. Do we?" The pycon shook her head. "And I don't get beaten up all that often. I doubt we'll use all of our stores," Aello added with a smile, leading her pycon to do the same. "I still would have liked to have one Aello. The petals are so pretty," the pycon said. Aello smiled weakly, her muddied irises sparkling as she glided through the tress with ease. "We'll find another," she whispered, as the sun glistened against their flesh. A long silence passing. "I'd rather have my special Lily anyway," she added after some time. "It wouldn't have killed me. I can come back together you know," Lily explained. Aello nodded. "So you have said, but not if it decapitated you." "I wouldn't have given it my head!" "Like you would have a choice," Aello chuckled. "I wouldn't!" Lily cried as she pat Aello's shoulder. Or at least, it felt like a pat to her, and not so much a slap, as was intended. "If you say so Lily," the huntress finished, as they found themselves before the other assassins again. Their eyes, dark, piercing. Probing, curious. Although, that would never be enough to get their answers. OOCGosh, I hope this is not too awful.

[Persona]

Thread Award! Aello: Skills: Philosophy +1 Tracking +1 Observation +1 Persuasion +1 Lores: Beheading Can Kill a Pycon Notes: Silly Lily, risking wolves for the sake of flowers. You keep her safe, Aello! If you feel this grade was unfair in any way, or would like to request changes to this grade, please feel free to PM me and we can discuss it.