Enya
Apprentice Scribe
Posts: 109
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Post by Enya on Jan 12, 2014 14:23:45 GMT -5
" i'll just hang back" Enya said bringing Stormy to a stop as she looked around a ta nervously. She did not like the look at all the vultures and was making the young apprentice very nervous.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jun 3, 2014 19:39:09 GMT -5
Heather nodded and slipped off her horse. "Stay here Mama Dog," she said and gave the hound a pat and hoped she would stay up on the saddle and not follow her. The dog wined softly and wagged her tail but it looked like she was going to stay put.
Heather quickly and silently slipped through the thin forest, looking up to follow the vultures. The smell of dead flesh wafted toward her on the wind. She slowed as she got closer and steeled herself for what she suspected she would find.
She peered through a thicket of bushes that ringed a small meadow and saw several carrion birds tearing away the flesh of a half dozen bodies. One was the skeletal remains of a cow, already picked clean. The other five were people. One looked to have been a woman, but it was impossible to tell who she had been. The others appeared to be male, by their clothing.
Heather scanned the forest around her and listened for several minutes until she determined there was no one alive around waiting to ambush her. She held her bow ready with an arrow knocked and approached the first body. She guessed it had been no more than two days since he had died, but it was hard to tell what he had died from. He was wearing remnants of farm clothing and a scythe lay on the ground a couple feet away.
The next man was wearing buckskin pants and jerkin, dyed black and had on arm bracers and a thick leather vest. He had several knives and a sword sheath belted to his waist. Heather shewed the vultures away from his head and caught a glimpse of a bear paw pendant around his neck. She used her throwing dagger to pick the chain and pendant away from the decomposing body, nearly gagging from the stench.
"Grizzlies again," she muttered as she examine the bear paw pendant closely. She tossed it back onto the corpse's chest and moved to examine the others. They also had been warriors and part of the Tuetlandt mercenary gang. One of the men was also a Scotti from Picta judging by the kilt he wore.
The woman was probably the farmer's wife and she had put up one hell of a fight judging from the scuffle on the ground. Heather guessed the farmer probably killed one of the mercenaries with the pitchfork, but who had killed the other two and where had they gone? She wished their faces were still intact so she could identify them.
Sighing she realized she probably was going to have to leave the bodies to the vultures because she didn't have the means to bury them by herself, or not even with Enya's help. She would send someone to take care of it as soon as she was able, but for now it would have to wait.
She circled the clearing, studying the ground carefully for tracks. She saw a clump of grass that had been trampled and a newly broken stick of a dead bush to the southeast of the clearing indicating someone had passed through there after the fight. She followed the signs for a bit and then marked the trail with her handkerchief and headed back to Enya.
As she approached, the dog began wining and thumping her tail against Shasta's shoulder. Heather walked up and patted the dog before turning to Enya and saying, "It wasn't who we are looking for, or at least not Nora, but could have been a couple from their homestead or some other nearby. They were killed by mercenaries - the Grizlies again - and then someone killed three of the mercs."
She swung up on the horse and turned east to intersect the trail at her marker. "I found a trail and I think it leads toward the sea to the east. It could be we may find signs of the rest of the homestead if we follow it."
As she rode she kept an eye out for more of the Grizzly gang members. The were known for having a dislike of rangers since the war with Aslavia. But, ever the teacher, Heather wanted Enya to learn from each one of their experiences, so she instructed as they rode.
"Enya, make a note of the landmarks around here. I want you to be able to tell a burial detail how to get back to this place to bury the dead. Keep your weapons ready and stay alert, there may be more Grizzlies around here. Later on you can mark this spot on a map, but don't do it right now because it may not be safe. For now you are going to have to make a mental map."
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Enya
Apprentice Scribe
Posts: 109
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Post by Enya on Sept 10, 2014 22:28:02 GMT -5
As Enya waited for Heather to return she looked down at the puppys in the basket and picked up the one she named Digs " Well arnt you just the cutest thing" She said smiling as she cradled the puppy in her arms, the pup licked her chin causing her to giggle " that tickles." she said smiling a little as she return the puppy to the basket.
Once Heather return Enya looked up and sighed " Well at least it won't who we were looking for" she said taking hold of Storms ranes as she followed after her teacher. When she spoke about keeping note of the trail Enya nodded " Alright " She said looking around a bit.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jun 20, 2015 21:26:56 GMT -5
They followed the trail from the battle scene east toward the sea. The person was making no effort to hide thier trail - at least not at first. After an hour, however, the trail seemed to just disappear, leaving them standing in the middle of a thicket of underbrush in the heavily forested area. The sun was down now and Heather was worried they would not be able to pick up the trail again.
"Be on your guard,whomever it is, is now trying to give us the slip," Heather warned Enya. She got off her horse again and carefully searched the ground and folage for signs of where the person went.
"So you see any sign where he, or they went?" Heather asked Enya.
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Enya
Apprentice Scribe
Posts: 109
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Post by Enya on Dec 2, 2015 10:19:54 GMT -5
(( i am soooo Sorry i thought i had posted. Better late than never =) )) Enya scanned the area around them with her deep sapphire eyes, Being sure to take note of the flatten yearling bush. " That bush, it doesnt look as is an animal could have done that." she said pointing over to the side of the road " plus it looks as if they ripped there clothing on that low tree branch as well" she said before looking at the basket of puppies whom where now sleeping, witch made her smile softly. " Maybe we could see if mama dog can track them with that fabric?" she asked.
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Post by Brandwyn on Jun 30, 2016 20:07:22 GMT -5
"Good idea! It's worth a try, but that is a small piece of fabric," Heather replied. She carefully plucked it from the branch, trying not to touch much of the scrap of tunic, and held it down for the dog to snif. The dog sniffed it for a full minute and then growled at it. She looked at Heather, as if asking permission. "Go get him, Lady!" Heather motioned to the woods.
It was as if the dog knew exactly what Heather wanted her to do. She sniffed the ground around the bush while Heather mounted her horse and then Mama Dog bayed once, indicating she'd found the scent and took off into the woods, sniffing the ground as she went. Heather plunged in after her trying to keep the dog in sight and a lookout for an ambush.
Every so often the dog would stop and backtrack, sniffing the ground and then off she'd go again with the two rangers on horseback in hot pursuit.
"I sure hope its those butchers she's following and not a rabbit," Heather muttered as she ducked tree branches and tried to keep her knees being knocked on tree trunks. "You okay back there Enya?"
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Enya
Apprentice Scribe
Posts: 109
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Post by Enya on Sept 13, 2016 8:20:38 GMT -5
Enya held tight to the basket with puppies with one hand and the reins of Storm in the other. " It's ok pups I won't let you fall" she spoke softly to them as she ducked out of the way of a branch." I'm Doing okay but the pups don't like this running" she called back. Her long black hair flowed behind her much like the tail of her horse did. " Do you smell smoke?" She called back getting a faint whiff of smoke in the air. ~ by the stairs i hope not~ she thought with a small hint of worry in her sapphire eyes.
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Post by Brandwyn on Dec 24, 2017 20:24:54 GMT -5
Heather smelled the smoke too, just as the Mama Dog stopped and froze, her nose pointing toward the smoke, with one foot up and her tail held out straight behind her. She growled and the hackles on her neck raised.
Heather slipped off her horse and motioned Enya to follow her as she crept forward, low to the ground and keeping to the shadows.
She parted the bushes, barely breathing, and saw a group of people huddled on the far side of the campfire. Thier hands were tied and some of them appeared to have minor wounds that had been hastily bandaged. They were sitting quietly, some of the women sobbing slightly and watching a group of men who were laughing and eating their supper on the near side of the fire.
Heather Glanced around the small clearing and noted two sentries keeping watch on opposite sides of the group of prisoners to her left and right. The four men eating dinner didn't seem to be paying any attention to their prisoners or the surrounding woods.
One of the women huddled across the fire lifted her face and stared straight at Heather. It was Norma and Heather realized she had seen her. Heather raised a finger to her lips and mouthed, 'get ready' and then she silently moved back,letting the bushes close around her and Enya.
She motioned Enya back toward the horses and dogs. When they got there, she whispered, "We have to free them. Now is our best chance - or rather when they settle down to sleep. If we are lucky we can get them away without bloodshed and take the Grizzlies prisoner." She looked Enya straight in the eye, "But I have to warn you, this could get ugly and we may be forced to kill these men." She checked hers and Enyas weapons and arrows.
"There are only six of them as far as I can see. If we can take out the ones on watch quietly, we can probably get the drop on those sleeping and then when we free the farmers, they can help us guard the Grizzlies. But if they start shooting, I need you to have my back, Enya. Do you think you can do that?"
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Enya
Apprentice Scribe
Posts: 109
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Post by Enya on Aug 21, 2020 11:01:07 GMT -5
Enya shuddered at the smell of smoke but followed none the less following Heather's lead to remain quiet and hidden. Kneeling next to her she peeked out of the bushes as well.
Following her back to the horses she nodded to the words spoken: " Alright" She said taking a few deep breaths " I can do it. " She responded trying to remain calm and not seem afraid, though she was scared she knew she had to do this to help those people.
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Post by Brandwyn on Oct 6, 2020 19:46:59 GMT -5
They waited until the Grizzlies settled into their bedrolls. The prisoners had all laid out on the frozen ground huddled in a group for warmth and only one guard now stood duty. Soon there were snores from the sleeping forms. Heather and Enya watched from concealment until the sentry settled on a tree stump and started to doze off.
"Okay, keep your eyes on those sleeping mercenaries. If any of them wake up and see me and look like they are going to attack, shoot them before they can get me." Heather checked her bow and string and then pulled her hood up over her head. She moved silently, living up to her nickname in the Ranger Corps of Lightfoot. She walked on the balls of her feet, carefully placing each foot so she would not step on a dry branch or make a sound as she snuck up behind the apparently asleep sentry. She unsheathed her seax knife and clonked the sentry on the side of his head. He grunted and slumped over. Heather caught him and quietly assisted his gentle fall to the ground. She looked at the sleeping Grizzlies and they didn't appear to have been disturbed.
Heather saw Norma lift her head and look at her. Heather held her finger to her lips to motion for silence as she tied up the sentry and stuffed his bandana in his mouth so he couldn't yell for help if he woke up. Then she carefully walked over to the prisoners, most of whom were now awake and watching her or their captors. They had been tied together with their hands and feet bound. Heather knelt down and sliced the big rope binding them together. She then cut Norma's hands and feet free and handed her one of her throwing knives. "Silence," she mouthed and pointed to the woods to a spot just to the right of where the ranger horses were stashed. She cut two of the men free and motioned for them to help the others. As the group started to head towards the woods, Heather moved off to the side, sheathing her seax knife and pulled her bow around. She knocked an arrow on the string and approached the sleeping men cautiously. She quietly moved some of their weapons out of their reach and then stepped back away from them. Her arrow was trained on them when one of the children cried out for his mother. Heather tensed.
"Shut them kids up," growled one of the men and rolled over. The man opened his eyes and saw the prisoners moving quietly for the safety of the trees. He kicked the guy next to him who sat up with a curse rolling off his tongue.
"Rrrruunnn!" Heather yelled at the prisoners at the same time as she let an arrow fly that landed between the outstretched fingers of the first man who woke up. "Don't move. Any of you." Heather said calmly. She already had another arrow knocked and aimed at the man.
The other three were awake now and reached for the weapons Heather had moved. She had a hard time watching all five at once. They were spread out too far. One of them lunged at her with a knife drawn and two others dove for their own weapons. Heather shot one in the leg and then backed up, keeping herself between them and the retreating prisoners. She saw the knife spinning toward her head out of the corner of her eye and ducked.
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Enya
Apprentice Scribe
Posts: 109
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Post by Enya on Aug 15, 2021 21:29:17 GMT -5
While Heather was helping the prisoners Enya had been watching the men as she has been told to. She stood there and remain quiet, her eyes moving between the men and Heather. She was scared, and her hands were shaking as the men began to wake up, taking her bow she tried to get a hold of an arrow, she nearly got one without knocking the others out. ~ to hell with it~ she thought before rushing forward at the closest man and leaped onto his back, pulling her arms around the man's neck and proceeded to bite down on his ear. ((sorry I could not at all think of what to post... kept trying to figure it out... then id forget.. id come back and try to figure it out and couldn't... figured this was better than nothing ((
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Post by Brandwyn on Oct 10, 2021 8:30:43 GMT -5
(OOC: That was great, Enya. good post. sorry for the long delay in posting. too many demands on my time these days))
The knife flew past Heather, almost knicking her ear as she ducked and instinctively let fly another arrow from her waist without aiming. She saw her attacker crumple to the ground with her arrow sticking out of his chest. He didn't move.
Somebody slammed into her from the side and Heather went down, the wind gushing from her lungs. Her bow was knocked out of her hand, so she reached up to the back of her head and pulled her small dagger from the neck sheath. Her assailant sat on her chest, pinning her to the ground and preventing her from catching her breath. She slashed his wrist and he howled, almost at the same time as the man who was getting bitten by Enya howled in pain.
Heather's vision started to go red. she was going to pass out. The man shifted his weight, reaching both hands to try to disarm her. Heather heaved with her hip and rolled, shoving him off-balance enough she could shimmy out from under him as she sucked air back into her lungs. She brought both knees up and slammed them into his gut as he was slamming her hand into the ground to dislodge her knife.
As she struggled, she saw Enya out of the corner of her eye bravely clinging to the back of one of the mercenaries. she hoped the girl would be okay because at the moment she couldn't do a thing to help her. 'If only one of the farmers would step in to help, they might just make it,' Heather thought.
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Enya
Apprentice Scribe
Posts: 109
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Post by Enya on Aug 15, 2022 20:45:20 GMT -5
Enya scribbled to keep hold of the man as he thrashed around,but she had the arms sleeves tightly in each hand which helped her not fly off the man, and kept her arms around his neck, Her teeth clamped down on the man's ear drew blood from his thrashing and howling in pain, the more he tried to rip his ear out of her teeth, the more it bleeds. ~Come on someone do something~ she thought. However, she did see one of the farmers cutting the other's free, seemed the distraction was working, for now.
(( sorry about that you can blame life for this wait XD ))
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