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AEPHIX WILDERNESS - EARLY AFTERNOON
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Gareth stands, cutlass drawn in one hand, a smoking pistol in the other as he stares at the four ankhegs still standing in front of him. Two more, each felled with a shot a piece , lie crumpled on the ground where they tried to rush him moments earlier. The report from the successive shots made the rest of the group pause really fast, and all four of them are eying the wolf warily at the moment, likely considering how best to attack their target.
Gareth carefully eyes all of the ankhegs as he slowly stows his pistol on his belt alongside the first. After his encounter with Sammi and his almost-drowning, the tension he'd thought was gone from seeing her has come back in full force as memories of that masked... thing he'd seen moments before he got pulled away from Sammi flash through his mind. With no real leads to start with, and not wanting to search for Maxime while he feels fit to burst, something adrenaline-pumping was necessary, something that even sparring couldn't provide...
Gareth reaches into his overcoat and draws a dagger, not the parrying dagger he'd used against Louma in that sparring session he'd had with her a week or so prior, but a regular one, sharp and deadly. He flips the dagger into a reverse grip, then settles into a stance, almost daring the ankhegs to try him as he stares each one down. A life or death fight against giant insects seemed as fitting an idea as any, and he'd have to thank Fiora for telling him about the nest some months back, once he got back to town.
Narrator: The ankhegs all rush him at the same time after another tense moment or two, the four apparently having come to the conclusion that this prey would only go down to a coordinated attack. Mandibles clacking, two beeline straight for the wolf while the other two move to flank and try to surround him. All it would take, they reasoned, is for two of them to get a grip, and it'd be over.
Gareth notes the movement, then decides to take the initiative once the four have moved closer than their fallen brethren. He surges forward, weapons flashing as he angles towards the ankheg furthest to his left, hoping to bait it into an attack as he gets close enough.
Narrator: The ankhegs respond fittingly, with the leftmost one taking the easy attack as their prey seemingly willingly throws himself at them. It lunges once the wolf is in range, mandibles wide as it goes for the grab. The other three press their attack, repositioning to close the gap between them and Gareth.
Gareth sees the leftmost ankheg's bite coming and responds with a vicious swing of his dagger, the sharpened edge catching against one of the mandibles and slicing clean through it. The unexpected wound forces the ankheg to reel back for the moment, its attack halted if only for the moment. In one fluid move, Gareth uses his momentum to aim a stab straight into the next nearest ankheg's face as it likewise dives in for a bite, and he sinks the blade in up to the haft.
Narrator: The remaining ankhegs continue their attack, trying to crowd the wolf down so he can't hope to swing his blades anymore, but the pained flailing of the one now missing a mandible and the one who now has a dagger lodged in its face mean the remaining ones can't get a good position without getting tangled.
Gareth keeps the two unwounded ankhegs at bay by swiping his cutlass at them, while he waits for the ankheg he just stabbed to move to a different position. His grip remains firm on the dagger, so the ankheg's movements dictate his own for the moment, but the first opportunity he gets, he swings around, kicks off another ankheg, twisting the dagger in the head of the wounded one as he goes, then viciously yanks the blade free once he lands.
Narrator: The ankheg that previously had the dagger lodged in its head crumples to the ground almost immediately after the dagger gets pulled free, the damage proving to be much too severe for it. The wounded ankheg is missing, likely having fled the area at the prospect of more pain if it stayed around, leaving just two uninjured ankhegs to deal with.
Gareth wastes no time once he gets an assessment of the situation, and immediately throws his dagger, sinking the blade deep into one of the leg joints of one of the remaining ankhegs. While that one is distracted, he launches himself at the other, seeking to cut it down before the first one recovers.
Narrator: The ankheg hit by the dagger staggers as the blade bites deep, though it only proves to be a bother rather than something worth retreating over. It spends a few seconds skittering around as the wolf tangles with the other ankheg, trying to get a good angle of attack with its weakened state.
Gareth takes things a little more methodically with the last uninjured ankheg. He stands his ground, doing what he can to bait attacks out and responding in kind. It's easy when the enemy is a hive-mind wild animal focused on just trying to eat him. Every attack from the ankheg is met with a counter that lops off a limb or mandible, and it's not very long before the ankheg is too wounded to not retreat.
Narrator: The ankheg, now missing a few body parts, pulls back from the engagement and tries to take the wolf down with a glob of acid spit in desperation. It doesn't, however, wait to see if the spit lands before it turns tail and flees.
Gareth sees the acid glob as it launches and hastily sidesteps. The glob misses him completely, but splashes against the ankheg with the dagger in its leg. The ankheg's chitin is too thick for the acid to eat through, though, and it really seems to be more of a minor inconvenience than anything it needs to worry about, and it clearly considers it so as it attempts to pounce Gareth in one last attack attempt.
Gareth turns as the ankheg pounces and dives aside. As the ankheg lands, he reaches out and yanks the dagger free of its leg joint, then swings again as it turns to face him... and he lodges the dagger firmly in the side of the ankheg's head.
Narrator: The last ankheg goes slack after a few seconds of wiggling about, the rest of the nest patrol either having fled or lying dead in front of Gareth as well.
Gareth pulls the dagger free again once the ankheg is done struggling, then wipes it clean on the grass at his feet before sheathing it again. He looks around at the carnage in front of him, then shakes his head as he turns and goes to take his leave. The last sound he makes as he leaves the area is a metallic click as he sheathes his cutlass once more. It certainly didn't help speed his efforts to get Sammi back home... but it still felt quite nice to... well, best not to dig too deeply into that mindset.
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RESPITE FALLS - WEST GATE - MIDDAY
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Aerdrid walks through the gate as he heads into the walled part of the town, the construction out past the gate for the Saurs momentarily on pause as the hired workers take a break for lunch. He's been helping them for the most part, so their schedule is similar to his own though he's not necessarily bound by it, and is thus hoping to get something nice to eat from one of the many market stalls specializing in foodstuffs.
Annika was around the market store, examining the goods before picking out a meat pie, and settling down to eat it. She sees one of the Saurs, and gives him a smile, determined to be friendly to them despite their less than ideal mutual history. You gotta try and move on, right? Despite everything that happened...
Aerdrid notices a fox sitting nearby as he enters the marketplace proper, munching away on a meat pie. He smiles a bit in turn and dips his head courteously, though the growling in his stomach is enough make him redirect his attention towards the meat pie stall so he can get himself one to eat as well. It doesn't take more than a few seconds, though, and he has a pie in hand.
Annika: "They're pretty decent, all told" She remarks conversationally "So, how are you settling in?" She takes another bite, giving him a glance from where she is sitting.
Aerdrid hums in agreement as he takes a bite out of the pie while moving aside for other customers. "Mmh... these are delicious, especially after a morning of labor." He takes a moment to look at the stall again, already considering buying another for later, before he looks over at Annika again, "Quite nicely, I think. I am... glad that the people of Respite are welcoming enough to let us settle here alongside them."
Annika: "That's good. It could have easily gone much worse, but you're right. People are very forgiving" She nibbles on her pie "Tell me, what are you doing, work wise?"
Aerdrid tilts his head. "Currently? I help the people building the houses. I spent some time back at the Prominence, and moving boulders has given me enough strength to assist in carrying heavier materials where they need to go."
Annika: "Ah, that's some good work. The town is meant to be expanding, right?" She clucks her tongue "Any bigger plans though? For the future"
Aerdrid shakes his head as he takes another bite of his meat pie. "Mmn... nothing as of this moment, no. I am still getting many of my thoughts in order, as are most of my kin... though months have passed, we have much to think about still now that the Whisperer is no longer whispering lies to us."
Annika: "Ah, that must be hard, but still..shouldn't you try to have aspirations? It seems a little sad..not having any grand plans for the future"
Aerdrid smiles. "Right now, I am content, and that is enough while I try to grapple with the fact that all of my beliefs are now in question, after Yzzayt destroyed the Prominence."
Annika: "I can't really help with that much. I've never had any real beliefs to be questioned. Maybe there's some good that could be salvaged from it?"
Aerdrid shrugs a little as he considers what good there might be. "If there is, then it is well-hidden. We waged war because of the Whisperer... and we lost our home because of the Whisperer. It will take much time for us to find what might have been good."
Annika: "Well, at least you're on a better path" She sighs "I'm sorry. I wish I could help in some way, but..I don't think I can"
Aerdrid offers another smile at that. "The sentiment is still much appreciated, thank you. I just think this is something that nothing but time will resolve. All of my kin will come to terms with what happened as we all move forward, little by little."
Annika: "Aye. I think the town is willing to help you out with that" She sighs "I suppose, I can't feel too negatively about it, since I met Victoria through all of this"
Aerdrid hums curiously. "Victoria... is a friend of yours, I assume?"
Annika chuckles "A very good friend, yes"
Aerdrid nods at that. "Then, I wish I could say I am glad you two met, but I also know that you two met because of my kind directly, as a result of what we did. Instead, I will just say... I wish you two good fortune in the future."
Annika: "You can say that though. Even if the reason was bad, the outcome was good..and it's good to appreciate that good things"
Aerdrid hums a bit at that, then nods. "Then... I am glad you two met. The Saurs may have met the people of Respite with weapons drawn, but we know well the value of a true friendship."
Annika: "Well. I'm always open to having more friends, and I've been looking for a chance to visit the saurs"
Annika: "Perhaps you could give me a tour some day?"
Aerdrid nods, smiling again. "If you wish, I could. With the amount of time I spend in the air, I know the layout of the new section of the town well, and I could introduce you to Saurs you may get along well with."
Annika: "Right!" She ponders "I've also been looking to practice my magic, so it might be a good chance. I'm able to..make myself look like other beings? But I want to get a good feel for what you all look like, so I can get some that seems right"
Annika: "But, maybe not right away. Seems a bit forward..."
Aerdrid tilts his head. "Your... magic? Illusions and similar? I, uh... yes, it may be best to meet my kind as you are first. We are a welcoming sort, now that the Whisperer no longer guides us."
Annika: "Yeah, still. Maybe give me a vibe of who you'll be taking me to meet?"
Aerdrid nods at the question. "Certainly. Let us see... I think, first, I would take you to meet..." Aerdrid begins to describe several folks who he thinks Annika might enjoy chatting with, mostly the non-combatants that focus more on ensuring the day to day needs of the Saurs are met. Food, clothing, healthcare, entertainment and the like.