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Post by Quorkbirb on Mar 11, 2016 1:06:37 GMT -6
Froya | Valkyrie
Had it not been for Amber's strike to the skull, the bear would have mauled Khala untill her mottled pelted was peeled from her flesh. It's heavy head was swaying, trying to follow the moving shapes of Amber and Froya as they merged into the storm and reappeared somewhere new. Fear was swelling up in the beast's eyes, confused and frightened, but it had forsaken itself. Mercy would not be found among its equine enemies, orders were set and the ursine's death awaited it.
Calling for Arro, Froya's voice fighting the storm to reach the gryphon's ears, her distaste for the flighted animal was temporarily forgotten. Tearing himself away from the fight, Hira's familiar hailed her, perching upon the small mare's back, bits of fur clinging to his claws from his sieges on the enemy, and rocked with her sprinting body. "Fetch the ropes from our bags, we may be able to hold him long enough for Hira to focus a strike." Knowing he was aware of her aversion to him, coupled with his normal temperamental mood, there was a chance her order would be ignored. However, he was as valiant as he was headstrong and loyal to Hira. She expected to feel his weight leave her any moment and fly towards the cavern.
"Amber!" Froya's shape materialized from the furious snow, heeling beside Amber while the bear was wheeling about in a spell of confusion. "We have ropes in our bags, I've sent Arro to fetch them. Do you know how lasso?" her hopes were not high, she didn't think the skill common among non-herding horses, but hope she did. If her and Amber could contain the bear, Hira may be able to pierce it with an earthen spear.
Post: 8
Word Count: 291
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Post by Jennycallie on Mar 13, 2016 0:56:32 GMT -6
Hira and Arro
Normally, Hira enjoyed the snow, even snow storms that left others bundled up and cursing. But as she and the two Valkyries lurched and stumbled across the treacherous drifts with next to no visibility, Hira could dredge up nothing but frustrated rage at the element. It obfuscated her connection to the earth, the layers of ice crystals confusing and dampening the enhanced sensation she normally enjoyed. She no longer knew where the earth was each time she put down a hoof, and on the mountain, that could mean death. And of course, just for some extra fun, there was the bear.
Hira snarled as a swiping paw just missed her, clipping one of her ears but doing no damage. How long could they keep this up? How long until the scales of mountain life dipped away from their favor? How long did Khala have? Fear gripped at Hira's heart, and it was only with an effort born of long experience that the shaggy mare managed to funnel it in to rage instead. They would not die like this! This would not be her legacy, the Valkyrie's legacy. And so she fought.
With a piercing shriek that defied the wind, sliced through it with utter disregard for all its howling and blowing, Arro plummeted from above, coils of ropes dropping from talons to land between Amber and Froya.
Hira did not bother to ask the specifics, to contemplate what the hell had just happened.
"BIND HIM!" She shouted, again retreating from those deadly claws. "GET ME A CLEAR SHOT-"
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Post by Quorkbirb on Mar 21, 2016 18:41:36 GMT -6
Froya | Valkyrie
Snatching up the ropes with a golden glow, Froya began to tie them into lassos with her mind as she ran and avoided the bear's assaults. Once the ropes were both looped and ready, Froya looked for opportunities to cast them upon the bear and its limbs. First she snared a back leg and the soon the second back legged was also bound. Keeping one of these ropes in her mental grasp, she left the other free for Amber to grab when she was ready.
Sweat rolled through her thick coat, from running, avoiding the strikes, and the mental strain of holding the fighting leg of a full grown grizzly. The stout mare was strained, but still she tried to throw one more rope, aiming for the bear's head. They needed to pull from separate directions in order for the creature to stand still. Frustration built within her belly each time the rope would form a halo on the raging bear's crown, only to slip off in its fits of fury. Finally, praise Kaia finally, the wretched creatures head slipped through the noose. Whether it be by some divine push from the fitful wind that finally allowed the rope to grasp the bear or Froya's sheer persistence and determination, Froya seized the moment and pulled hard. The rope became taut, cinching around the wild animal's throat. Swinging it's head wildly, the bear began to furiously grasp and bite at it's binding. Holding the head lasso with a combination of her mouth and what little aura she could spare from restraining the back leg, the young Valkyrie hauled the ropes away from the bear, pulling opposite ways. The bear protested profusely, Froya hoped Amber was following her lead. One mare could not hold a bear, no matter how strong, not even if Kaia herself lent her mortal body strength.
Her body began to quiver and quake, it was only a matter of time before she collapsed from overexertion. Hira must get a clear shot, she must take down the bear. It all depended on her now.
Post: 9
Word Count: 344
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Post by moonlightwalk on Mar 23, 2016 12:21:24 GMT -6
Amber | Valkyrie
Amber strained to make out what Froya said. She huffed internally, in fact not knowing how to throw a lasso. Her family was not of the herding kind, so it was not a skill she had ever learned of felt bothered learning. Now however she regretted never finding the interest. She said nothing however, instead keeping her eyes on the bear and simply nodding. She was a Valkyrie, she would make it work.
It seemed forever before Aro dropped the rope needed, Amber becoming sweaty even in this cold. She managed to get another kick in and then Froya was already throwing her rope. Knowing nothing else to do, she threw the rope around it's back legs with her mind, pulling them back with all her might. She grunted as she tried to both restrain and knot at the same time. But however how much her muscles screamed and trembled, she wouldn't allow herself to let go. That bear had made an enemy out of them. "NOW!" She yelled as both Froya and herself kept the beast as still as possible.
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Post by Jennycallie on Mar 24, 2016 17:40:23 GMT -6
Hira | War Lord
No hesitation.
Hira leaped.
It was, perhaps from a distance or bird's eye view, a misleading tableaux. Despite the violence of the bear and the storm, the three mares were moving with a misleading grace and fluidity, harmonious and cohesive, as if they manipulated each other with the gravitational push and pull of the stars. Despite the spontaneity, the absurdity of the unfolding plan, none of the three mares had faltered or hesitated, but had instantly adapted to each other. As Amber and Froya worked together, Hira anticipated their maneuverings, and so it was that she found herself in place, the Valkyries flanking the bear, and she was already moving, hind quarters bunching as she launched herself from the drifts of snow.
Cloven hooves landed, slicing through the snow and striking-
Earth.
Hira drove her hooves in with every ounce of strength her fury could generate, and twin-born spikes of earth and rock erupted, arcing towards the bear. The first missed it's mark, burying itself relatively harmlessly in the brute's shoulder, but the second cut off the bear's roar of fury as it slammed in to the creature's throat.
Silence. As its own sort of irony, the wind suddenly abated, and while the snow still fell in thick sheets, it no longer obscured the air. The worst it seemed, had passed.
Sides heaving, Hira took a moment to visually assess Froya and Amber's health- they both looked fine- and then she pivoted, turning her back on the carcass and moving to Khala's side. The chimera was still out cold. Hira rolled a wary eye up at the sky; it looked like the storm truly had passed.
Quickly, still breathing hard, Hira fetched a roll of parchment and stick of charcoal from one of the abandoned packs, and scribbled a hasty, terse message on it.
"Aro," she called, and the gryphon appeared. "Take this to Alistair," she told him, and the gryphon clutched the roll in a talon. "And don't bite him!"
"We need to set up camp for the night," Hira said finally. "We need to keep Khala warm, and treat her." Then they could focus on skinning the bear, and making a sled to bring back the body of the Scout, as well as Khala if she wasn't recovered enough to walk by first light. "Amber, get a fire going and the medicinal herbs out. Froya, help me move Khala." She shook her mane, then paused. "You did well. I could not have done this without you." And despite the situation, a proud, weary smile tugged at one corner of Hira's mouth.
Then she bent to work.
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Post by Jennycallie on Mar 24, 2016 17:45:50 GMT -6
 Checkpoint 3: Despite all odds, you defeated this denizen of the mountains, and now the snowfall has lightened. But Khala was injured and night has fallen. Huddle up for the night- it is unlikely any other bears shared this one's territory, at least!- and head out at first light.
You guys are welcome to reply to this, but this officially wraps up the thread! Great job! |
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Post by Quorkbirb on Mar 25, 2016 10:46:51 GMT -6
Froya | Valkyrie
She collapsed.
The snow embraced her tired form, Froya's breath came in ragged pants. Looking on, the body of the bear struggled and twitched briefly, life draining from it's eyes and blood seeped from it's jaws. Then it was silent and still, dripping red as it's fur was rustled in the easing wind.
Her eyes were weighted with heavy lids, exhaustion engulfing her and urging her to sleep. But she would not, not until she was granted the luxury by Hira's command. Watching her Lord, the mare laid in the snow, slowly regaining composure of her breath and body. As Arro took wing, laden with message, Froya also rose from the snow, ice clinging to her shaggy fur. Hira's following orders were met with a nod and immediate fulfillment. With their combined (though fading) strength, the War Lord and her underling quickly brought Khala to the cavern. Piling all of their blankets upon her, they accompanied and tended to her in turns. First Hira, as Froya returned to the corpse and set knife to skin, slipping the fur from it's owner's body. When she returned, Amber had arrived with healing fauna and Hira had a small fire burning.
The pelt was cast upon Khala's body, fur down, and began to collect and retain her bodily heat. Soon all three mares were around Khala, sleeping in shifts. The storm had quieted, the wind almost a breeze, and Froya waited for dawn.
Post: 10
Word Count: 240
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