It's The Little Things in Life[Private]

[Eldon Sunkiss]

Eldon knew that sound. It haunted him occasionally with paranoia as he was barely rescued from a Glassbeak attack several years ago, his own fault of course. It was always his fault. His memories were quite vivid of his father and his hunting party skillfully dispatching of the predatory birds as if they were nothing to be feared, such skill that Eldon could only pray that he may someday mimic. As Vanator spoke the word, Glassbeak, Eldon felt himself whisper it in a weak echo. Glassbeaks, the very worst word in his vocabulary. Oh how he hated them. "Then I suppose we ride as a group. Do any of you know how to shoot an arrow?" Eldon glanced at Kayiri, grinning faintly. He knew Kayiri could shoot, he had trained with him first hand, and even though Eldon doubted his abilities as a leader, an archer was a different story. "It may come in handy. Anyway, I think it is settled that we need to move out now before we are in over our heads." Of course everyone would be thinking this right now, most were even saying it. Eldon, with spear in hand and riding on Vanah's back, he was prepared to move, away from the calling birds, whichever way that would take him, didn't matter, but he was ready to ride as fast as possible. He was just waiting for everyone else to start.

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

Sam nodded to Dymphna, not bothering with a more complex sign when a simple gesture would do. He wanted to know why Vanator hadn't felt them coming, if his skill with the Webs was not so advanced as Sam had given him credit for. He mounted Dohaina and readied his short bow. Whether they would flee or fight, it would be done on horseback. Drykas were more effective at most things from horseback. It was a testament to his focus just then that he didn't have a flash of doing certain things with Dymphna on horseback, but if they survived, he likely would during some embarrassing dream. "Bows out," he said, even though Kayiri and Vanator urged them to run. "Look, we don't know where they are. If we run, they might leap out from cover and take us down, or the horses. At least if we fan out into a defensive position with the water at our backs, we can't be flanked so easily, and we know where we are. If we run, we lose whatever control we have over the situation." It seemed logical to him, but he had never really plotted out a battle. He wished Aiken were there...

[Raylin Sunsetfeather]

When Sam said that they had to stay and fight, something washed over Raylin. She didn't know if it was courage or fear, but she knew that something had clicked.

"We should probably make a circle and put our backs to the center, that way we don't have the possibility of the Glassbeaks running through the shallower water and getting us in the backs." she said. Sam's strategy was good, but she still felt like something could go wrong with it. Then again something could go wrong with her's too.

[Vanator]

As the grave nature of the group's predicament became more apparent, so did the the fact that they did need a leader. Everyone had their own strategy for dealing with the Glassbeak danger. Vanator was torn, his nature was to take charge. But most of the team had put their faith in Sam'ael. There was no more time for debate, so Van threw in with Sam. To his credit, the young man had already taken on the mantle and was organizing the hunters. Van quickly pulled Backlash up to Sam, the mare prancing, already knowing from experience what awaited in the grass. The older Drykas' gaze was somber and piercing, searching the younger man's eyes. As if convinced of something, Van then gave Sam quick nod, a sign of conceding to the man's lead. Run, stay, there was terrible risk in either tactic, for, without open grass and a wide lead, there was little chance for them to escape. Sidling his Strider next to Sam, Vanator slipped the battle ax back into its loop in his yvas and drew his bow. A long thick shaft was plucked from his quiver and nocked to the bowstring. The Denusk flashed a glance at the other Drykas, to see if they would follow, then he began to scan the grass for signs of the large predators. "Raylin, that is a good point, they are fast, we should at least keep our eyes open for that." Van glanced over at Sam, then again out to the horizon.

[Sama'el Sunsinger]

Sam spared Van a quick locking of gazes, and that something passed between them, but he was quickly searching again with his eyes for signs of their predators, and listening with his ears. It was Dohaina who changed his mind, of course, that part of him that was even more attuned to nature and the senses. She made a whiny of protest, not fearful, but determined, shook her mane, and moved restlessly around beneath him. He was surprised by this, as she had always been steady and, if not docile, certainly keen to work with him. His calming hand on her shoulder, merely made her turn her head around to look at him with one liquid eye. He blinked, and a few things clicked in his head, senses registering and actually putting information together in a new way. "Wait, no," he said, risking his credibility as a leader in order to keep them all safe. "They sound farther away than I thought." It was a gamble either way, but a chance to flee was better than being surrounded by superior numbers in an attempt to fight. Their position had some merits, but not enough. "Ride," he said. Then, "RIDE!" He kept his bow at the ready, not needing his hands to stay in the yvas or direct the mare. She shouldered Dara to make sure Dymphna followed orders rather than freezing on the spot. And then he was off, leading them, hopefully, to a safer place to reconnoiter.

[Eldon Sunkiss]

Eldon, deeply distraught they had decided it would be better to stand their ground again and number of glassbeaks, merely gripped the spear he carried and offered silent prayers to the gods of his choice. Makutsi, a quick plea of forgiveness for not proving his worth, Zulrav for making life on the plains bearable by Drykas standards, Rak'keli for keeping him healthy, and so on. Once his mind was cleared, his eyes returned to the horizon, scanning, searching, watching for anything, everything. Stand and fight, Eldon had told them earlier how much he did not like the idea, but he wasn't the leader of the group, he just hoped now, for their lives, Sam knew what he was doing. Then the command was given to ride. Eldon didn't need to be told twice that command, once Sam had taken the lead and began his retreat, Eldon was quick to do the same. No, certainly not, Eldon felt much better avoiding the Glassbeaks at all costs. Besides, who was better suited for outrunning them then a Drykas Rider on the back of a Drykas Strider? Exactly. "I feel much better about this choice brother! I'll follow up the rear of the riding party to make sure nobody falls behind! Lead on!" Eldon grinned wildly at Sama'el as he slowed Vanah's speed only enough to let the others pass him. His spear would be no use if he was in the middle of the group after all. Besides, seeing how much Sam tried to look after that girl, Eldon could only assume a little more protection to the rest of the group would be much welcomed.

[Dymphna]

As they started to discuss and debate again, Dymphna felt herself starting to grow uneasy. Her eyes lifted out into the expanse of grass, waiting for the birds to come. Whether the group had made it official or not, she was listening to Sam for leadership. She didn't know anyone else well enough to put as much faith into them. She glanced to him with wide eyes, stayed close, and generally waited to do as she was told to do and follow when ready.

[Raylin Sunsetfeather]

When it came to Striders, Sabela was probably the fastest mare Raylin knew. Then again, her opinion would always be biased when it came to Sabela. When the order was given to ride, she quickly slung her bow over her back and put the arrow back in its quiver. She then got close to her Strider and lightly tapped her feet on her sides to get her to start moving.

After afew secounds, Sebela started into a full gallop, seeming to understand the urgency of the situation. They soon caught up and placed themselves inbetween Sama'el and Eldon, the calls still echoing behind them.

[Kayiri]

Kayiri continued to shift uneasily on the back of his Strider, eyes darting from one point to another, bow gripped under white knuckles, arrow notched against the string of the bow. Sama'el's order rang through his ears. Hurrah! They were saved! Certainly they could outrun this threat! The Drykas urged his horse onwards, but then, something hit him. A pang of guilt shot through his heart like a bullet piercing his chest as his eyes made one final pass over the location they had been waiting in. His dog was with them. Aindreas could not match speed with the Striders. He would be left behind.

It was with saddened eyes and a submissive tone that Kayiri spoke to his beloved dog. "Flee, Aindreas! Flee!" His voice broke as the second command to flee was given. Then, with a broken heart, the Drykas urged his Strider forward with a simple squeeze of his knees. As saddened as the warrior was, he would not mourn the dog yet. If it fell, it would fall with honor and purpose. He owed the dog that much. Serenity fell in next to Vanah and Eldon, matching their pace with ease.

"Hey, look! I see an X on the leg of our foe!" Kayiri joked at the man, referring to their little contest they had had earlier in the season. He shot a playful grin at him, but even the unfamiliar man could tell the grin was more forced than he would care to admit. "You take the ones that get close, I'll watch the ones that hang back!" he then barked. With that little exchange of words, he turned as much as he could, looking over his shoulder. The arrow lifted from its position on the string, the hand that held it wrapping around Serenity's yvas, so that he could hold on and urge her on just a little faster without flying from her back.

Behind the group ran Aindreas. He was a faithful dog, and he would follow his master to the end. If it came to it, hopefully, the Drykas would not let him die in vain. Kayiri would never forgive himself if they did.

Secret :

Sorry it took so long for me to post! I thought it was Nate's, :S. Don't let my dog die in vain

[Baku]

And so the group road, road hard and fast. In the trailing distance of the watering hole, a view of buffalo was seen suddenly breaking through the grass line. A split second later three Glassbeaks broke from the grass line after it, their large feathered frames leaping through their air as talons lining their leg tore through hind quarters of one, another slicing through the rib cage as it’s beak bit down into it’s spine. With the third finally landing on it, the large beast fell to the ground before several Glassbeak varying greatly in size began to pounce in for the kill, their speed carrying their frames in a blurred motion. Eventually, shrill cries and death coils filled their ears, even from the distance the smell of blood assaulted their nostrils, and the fresh coat of red coated the ground as the Glassbeaks literally tore the buffalo to pieces in their retreating gaze. With the danger behind them at a distance, and now growing further, all the group had left to do was to pick up the trail. Bells seemed to pass as the group moved a bit slower, following Sama’el’s beginning skills as a tracker. Several smaller game had been found, as well as other tracks. Their main quarry, however, remained elusive for the time. It could have been that the pursuing coyotes had spooked the deer, causing to run much further from their range, or that it had simply had large of a lead to begin with. In the end, the group was forced to make camp for the night, as the sun was setting. During that time, the group raised their tents, built their fires and ate of either their rations or small game. Discussions were had as to what to do next, with most of them leaning towards picking up a new trail the next day. It wasn’t a huge surprise, considering the season, most animals were moving on to warmer climates, where food would be more plentiful. So the group eventually decided to turn in for the night, and get an early start tomorrow. Life in the grass had other plans for the group, as it so often did for many who traveled away from the safety of cities or large settlements. Like Kayiri and Vanator, with their experience as combatants on several occasions, would be the first to be roused from their sleep from the sound a slight rustling, like the skitter of tiny feet running along the ground. The others would simply be jolted away by a sudden surprise scream echoing out across the camp. For when Vanator and Kayiri woke, they would see a small group of Pycons running from their camp, all of them carrying around items which the group owned. Vanator’s axe rested in one of the Pycon’s hands, Kayiri’s bow in another’s. Others would find their own personal effects being carried off by the Pycon’s. The last one carrying Vanator’s axe, had turned for a brief moment to see the two of them waking before that shrill scream of surprise escaped it’s lips. “They wake!” the Pycon screamed as he and the rest of his group began running as fast as they could. As Vanator and Kayiri started giving chase, they saw the Pycon’s disappearing into a cavern into the ground. The last Pycon continued to run as he repeated, “We got da shiny, we got da shiny , we got da shiny!” Vanator’s axe suddenly caught along the rims of the cave opening, proving to wide to carry directly through as the Pycon’s body was suddenly lifted into the air by the forward inertia it was still running at. It suddenly fell to before scrambling to it’s feet as it began tugging at Vanator’s axe, trying to force it into the hole. When it’s gaze lifted, seeing Vanator and Kayiri, and eventually others of the group approaching quickly, it gave a panicked scream, and ran down into the cave, leaving the axe behind. The entrance to the cave and the cave itself went deep, but the spacing wasn’t too great. It was large enough for the group to travel down into, but they would have to crouch in order to do so. One thing was certain, as the group took inventory of their own items, all of them were missing items, many of them their primary weapon. They would need those items not only to continue their hunt, but mainly to just have the comfort of a weapons protection while traveling the open wild of the grasslands.