Grayell had rolled head over ass with the first tackle and landed, sliding on his hips and chest in the wet grass. His hand had torn at the dirt, fingers digging deep to slow his uncontrolled drift. He too though was quick, mayhaps not as quick as these beasts anymore; but he had knowledge of their ways and their habits in combat. His legs coiled under him but he stayed low, ready.....
The wolf came at him hard. It's head was lower than it should be, Grayell had his throat down, beyond it's immediate reach. He turned inward and started to lift his posture and the wolf, having no choice target; was forced to adjust. It leaped high, claws looking to tear through his shoulders, it's jaw hungry for the base of his head.
The two collided and a vicious snarl snapped out of the conflict, echoed with the thud of their physiques smashing against one another. The wolf lowered to the ground atop Grayell... until it fell to one side.
Grayell pushed it off the rest of the way, one hand still on his blade. He tore it from the creature's chest savagely, a sliver of spit running from his mouth. His eyes saw red, his pulse screamed in his ears.
His sword rolled over the back of his hand and was then reversed, pulled against his forearm. He muttered a curse in a tongue unspoken and stomped his first step into the ground defiantly.
He would take this next wolf and quickly - so he rushed it, roaring like a wounded lion.
The next wolf, in it's hybrid form; should present more of a challenge. It stole from the dark and pulled at the trees beside it, catapulting from the forest and ready to rend and rip with it's claws. Grayell too was ready, he bolted low, head first, his sword by his side and singing a trail of blood stained steel in the moonlight.
The first lunge came, aimed at his throat. Wolves worked for the instant kill; the quickest, easiest take down. These wolves worked on overdrive, but the human part of them didn't have the restrained, controlled mind of a real wolf and used to his advantage was their downfall. His lead foot was far forward and he spun easily, his sword coming over and taking that first claw from it's owner with zealous ease. Before it could register it's missing appendage, the wolf moved to follow him - but he was behind it now. It lashed out blindly with it's other hand, furious at the pain that sang in it's head and Grayell, almost effortlessly but with tremendous eagerness; swept down with his blade again - lopping it off to flop on the ground with it's mate.
He stepped back and the wolf, looking down at it's removed weapons snarled. It felt pain and perhaps some of the rage that drove it's opponent. It's next move was forced but mattered little.
As it lunged with it's maw, Grayell rocked back and planted his heel in it's groin with sufficient force to wind a mule. It stumbled and Grayell turned, his sword arcing up and the wolf half-fell.... it's head impaled on his blade.
Grayell twisted the blade, eyes locked on the path ahead. He tore it forward, not down; splitting the creatures face in twain.
He had to move. His sword found it's sheath and the man, little worse for ware; gave chase once more.
Post by Cephen Alexis on Aug 10, 2011 3:58:04 GMT -5
Cephen sneaked into the grass, eying Grayell, he thought, I can get some gold from him...and maybe some other items... He stole up to Grayell, taking advantage of the enviroment, he took cover behind trees, bushes, grass, rocks, et cetera.
Last Edit: Aug 10, 2011 3:59:10 GMT -5 by Cephen Alexis
(Hey Cephen, I think Serenity and Grayell mentioned this one was for the two of them. If you'd like I'd gladly run something for you, or you and some other folks.)
Of all the graveyards in all the towns in all the world, she had to walk into mine.
The werewolf ran fast despite carrying Serenity in one arm, it easily passed through the thickest brush and tree lines with ease using its keen senses. This alpha male was beyond the small runts that followed it. Using its own momentum it leaped high, above the tree line, and landed in a small clearing in the wood.
Panting a little, it looked down at a sleeping Serenity, holding her like a baby.
Its expression seemed to turn sad now, its eyes looking like they would give way to tears, and whining beginning to slowly emerge from its throat.
Suddenly it gritted its teeth, thinking of Grayell, and roared to the sky.
Grayell ran past the space among the trees the larger werewolf took, but not knowing what direction it ran within the trees was difficult to tell simply by continuing to run forward.
The roar broke into the night sky and Grayell dropped instantly, spread across the forest floor with nostrils flaring. He worked hard to catch his breath, he wasn't young anymore and it seemed long years on the trap lines had made him hardy, but not spry.
The night was silent around him now, save for the echo of the bastard that took Serenity. He swallowed, mind racing; and looked about quickly, checking his blind spots and peering into the dark before closing his eyes.
Focus. Listen. The sound travels. Not there...... somewhere in this vicinity. Dammit where? Listen still, quiet..... focus....
Panting. Harsh and fast, but hard to pick up in this pea soup. Yes, that had to be it.
Grayell slowly lifted to his feet and with practiced steps, began to stalk his prey. Hopefully.
The echo of the roar slowly died out, the monster simply growling quietly to itself. It finally put Serenity down on the forest floor and circled the edge of the clearing. When it picked up Grayell via his scent, it began to growl louder and contemplated finishing what its younger members couldn't finish.
The first thing she smelled was wet earth, and then the scent of the alpha wolf that took her on her body. With her eyes closed, she could hear the wolf not far away from where she lay, and mentally checked herself for any pain or some kind of injury.
Then carefully she opened her eyes, she could see the werewolf in front of her just staring at the trees, as if something were there. Judging by how fast it was running before there was no way she could possibly escape it on foot.
Her only means of escape was to fight back, but she was unsure of herself. This wasn't like the last time, James was with her and they both focused their magic power on a single werewolf.
This one seemed much stronger than the last though, if its speed was any indication. Her wind might not be able to catch it, or harm it for that matter, the werewolf she faced last had an incredible regeneration factor.
But she would try, if anything she could at least use the earth to help her escape and perhaps get back to Grayell, if he was looking for her. No, he had to be, she thought.
Getting up carefully, she put pressure on her palms and some on her left leg as she tried to stand up, careful not to make any sudden movements.
The intuition and sense of the werewolf was to great though and it turned its head around immediately when it knew something was wrong. It saw Serenity half way up on her feet and growled at her.
Fear struck her again, in this instant where she thought for certain she was doomed, frantically used her powers. Four pillars of earth erupted from the ground diagonally around the wolf, trying to hold it in one spot.
A little surprised, it growled in defiance and used both arms to try to break one of the pillars or find a space it could crawl through.
Not wasting much time, Serenity chose a direction to go to among the trees and used her earth magic to bring up a new diagonal pillar at her side. Then she ran into the trees.
The makeshift cage wasn't strong enough, her focus lacking, and the wolf eventually crumbled the earth that held it in place. It chased after Serenity into the trees.
The battle could be heard a little ways off but Grayell could hear it clearly this time which direction it came from, unlike the roar from before. From his location it was more or less to the North East.
Grayell spun to face the commotion and his heart sank. Part of him new it was good, that she was alive - and Grayell had witnessed her powers before. She wouldn't let it take her so easily. But still, the beast was a greater threat than she may be able to cope with.
He had to think fast, act faster - his voice wanted to scream her name and let her know he had not given her up so easily...
But he did not. No, he wanted this bastard working over time if it was to know where he was coming from. He was no thief, but he knew the woods all too well and here, in his own backyard; he intended to use that knowledge to it's fullest.
Grayell was already sprinting toward the noise. He was betting he was faster than Serenity on foot so as long as she kept it busy, he could catch them. He ducked just in time to avoid a low branch and then pounced off the non-trail he was on and into the trees. The wolf would smell him with the winds as they were this moment - but it wouldn't see him.
She was in panic, bringing up obstructions of earth as she ran, only marginally slowing down the werewolf some. She would turn around for a moment, while still moving, to focus a new pillar of earth to get in the way but the wolf would simply jump over or slide under each one.
The process was tiring, and she isn't known for her running. Her mind was spinning, only processing one action at a time: Run, breath, run, turn, magic, turn, breath, run faster.
A tree was coming up ahead that in her direct path line, and the idea to simply run around it didn't cross her mind. When she got to it, she turned around and leaned heavily against it as if to brace for the impact of a werewolf tackle.
Using one last push, she brought up two earthen pillars crossing each other right in front of her. The wolf collided with the poor defense and nearly toppled it on impact. He lunged his head forward and roared in Serenity's face, she looking away from the werewolf.
The commotion was still going on a little ways from Grayell, but at least it meant Serenity was still alive.
The hunter eventually made it to the clearing that Serenity was held at for a short time. He could see the signs of the struggle, several obstructions of earth that were in one side of the clearing, and one that was alone, pointing away from the other pile of crumbled earth.
His nose sucked in air and his legs were again churning across the ground. He leaped from this pile of rubble to that one, a hand planted here, legs swung over and pounding the ground in full sprint again. Grayell was on a mission and nothing would get in his way - not for long.
He followed the stream of rubble as swiftly as his legs would allow, as his mind could process; clambering over the trail of desperation Serenity had thrown at the beast. He could smell the sweaty, dank monstrosity ahead and the lingering scent of the woman he considered already a dear friend....
And that fueled his rage. To have her threatened in this manner, to have her snatched from him so soon. Serenity was already precious to Grayell and his hands became like iron claws, so taut and rage-stricken were they. A slide over this, a bounce off of that...
Grayell crashed to a halt. The man, heaving with a seething need to kill stood defiant in the moonlight, arms at his sides, hands wanting to rip at the fabric of reality. His eyes flared, furious and lustful for blood. His weapon was not even considered at this point.
When he opened his mouth to speak, his jaw ached from being set so hard, teeth grinding in contemplation of what he would were she hurt. A single step forward. The challenge loud and precise.
LET HER GO.
Last Edit: Aug 10, 2011 12:03:57 GMT -5 by Grayell
She opened her eyes when she heard Grayell's voice, turning to face him as the wolf did. Relief had taken over her for the moment, but now the fear of losing Grayell came over her.
"No! Get away from..."
She was interrupted by the roar of the wolf, furious that Grayell would dare show his face here. The alpha would show this arrogant pup the error of his ways.
It backed away slowly from Serenity, its bulk and size greater than the ones Grayell faced not long ago. His challenge was great, but it didn't intimidate the werewolf, if anything the beast gave him a little credit.
The dark brown wolf measured up Grayell, saw that he was sure of himself and not wetting himself before the alpha's presence.
One last roar and it broke into a charge against the hunter, its size deceiving the incredible speed it possessed. It ran for a pounce, a single take down to show Grayell his place.
He had to be fast. Very fast. Shit he was too old for this. But with age came wisdom. Yup, wisdom and a lot of scars.
COME ON FLEABAG!!!
Grayell snapped the challenge, hunching lower as he did so, hands at his sides and looking ready to tackle. The werewolf took to the air and time slowed..... but not really. His mind focused rather, went into a place of detachment and purpose. The red eyes, screaming into him through the air didn't matter.
Killing did.
Grayell waited til the last moment and then dropped, dropped behind the rock remains of Serenity's own defense. Break the charge, close the gap.
The giant wolf slammed into the artificial rock form and collapsed it, its arrogant charge stopped firmly in its track. It didn't waste time though, it spun its head around to look for Grayell and when it located him immediately got back on its feet.
Serenity just stood there, shaking, unsure of what to do. The werewolf was going to kill Grayell and all she was going to do was watch it happen. The mage used quite a bit of focus running away, but she knew she wasn't completely out of it yet, all she had to do was lift a finger and Grayell would be at an advantage.
She noticed a clump of hair though, from the beast, stuck to the edge of the rock she brought from the ground. Not knowing why, she picked it up and took a closer look at it.
The werewolf spun around to face Grayell and swiped a large arm at him, nails unsheathed.
Grayell wasn't standing still but was doing his best to stay barely within reach, circling the beast. The claw came, as open and as savage as any other of it's kin and his blade rang out of it's sheath to intercept the blow. He knew he could only hope to sever it, but this bugger had grown this big for a reason.
His sword held high, ready for the next slash, Grayell switched feet and shot out a kick, aimed directly at the beast's knee. He only need to force it to think when it didn't want to, to force it to register stimulus that it normally wouldn't be concerned with in such a fight. It knew it was bigger, stronger, faster.... but Grayell was no slouch with his blade or his fists. No, he would force it to fight on his terms.