The Pinnacle

[Moongaze]

As we continued something didn't feel right.  I detected a presence, again...  Perhaps it was only another paranoid feeling.  The rain clouded any sure feeling.  Besides...  What had happened before was coincidence.  If there were any others they would have heard our quarrel.

We weren't long from the next beacon.  I could feel it.  A deep pulsating sensation within me, and it got stronger with every step I took. 

Lets move a bit faster.  We're going to start losing daylight soon.

I picked up my pace as we moved closer.  We were about 400m off.  I don't know how I knew that...  I felt my sense of awareness growing somehow...  Regardless, I couldn't shake the suspicion that we weren't alone.  Part of me wanted to stop... but at the same time I wanted to press onward.  I met my thoughts halfway and mentally readied myself to draw a weapon at a moments notice.

[Bronze]

Drakus seemed to become tenser by the moment and it gave me a very uneasy feeling.  Even his urging didn't allay my concerns at all, but it did tell me that we were getting very close and that provided me with some relief. 

My hand shot straight to my staff when I heard the very large snap of a tree limb.  Even with the heavy rain a limb such as that couldn't have broken without help.  I stood there, in a defensive stance, waiting.  I blinked some rain out of my eye but remained unwavering.  Quite the opposite of what had been happening, I think I was now the one alarming the others.
"There's something big around..."  I told them,

[Cyan]

I sighed. I let my guard down so easily. I have to wisen up or I'll end up dead. I walked to a tree and scraped the arrow's head on it, igniting it. I began to look around and strung the arrow. I pointed it at a large bush; whether it was the intruder or the chimpmonk, I didn't know, but I did know something was behind it. The flame flickered in the rain, keeping alight by my breaking a few drops into the flammable gasses. "You can come out now." I said, trying to put strength into my soft voice.

[Ho'ne Diheart]

Rook didn't know whether or not to come out. Two thing went through his mind. Either join them in looking for Torian. Or fight them in hoping to find something. He went with gut and stepped out, with a displeasing feeling. "I mean you no harm. We are both looking for the same man. I figured we look for him together. Hands in the air showing them that isn't a threat.

[Moongaze]

I turned and saw this figure standing before us.  He seemed meek, yet I couldn't help but feel his presence was giving a tainted energy.  My deep inner thoughts were telling me to kill him right at this moment.  I was opening and closing my right paw repeatedly and meticulously, almost in the manner of a paranoid tick.  I slowed my thoughts and figured why not reason with this stranger, hear what he has to say and then send him off kindly before jumping off into the depths of rage.

What business have you? I boldly stated, starring our surprise guest in the eyes, coldly, Certainly you are delirious, you don't look to be with any affiliation with Torian Whisperwind.  Why is he in need of your presence?  Speak, before my patience wears thin.

I stood my ground and began my tick yet again, waiting for fumbled words to begin.

[Ho'ne Diheart]

Torid felt as something was stirring inside of him. But he had the feeling to fight it off for now.You are right, I am not affiliated with Torian in anyway but he is the only one that can help me. He felt a chill running down his spine either from the feeling from the fellows pointing their weapons at him, or something terrible might happen when they don't put it away.

[Cyan]

I spoke my sixth and seventh words to the stranger; the words on everybody's mind. "With what?" I said them with a demanding and threatening tone above the gentle tone as I gripped the arrow tightly. The flame now seemed to be burning off of air; growing toward the stranger slowly.

[Bronze]

I too thought his answer suspicious.
 "And what makes you think we would be looking for such a powerful person?"
I loosened my grip on my staff, prepared to strike at a moments notice, and call forth fire.

[Moongaze]

Something didn't seem right...  This dark tainted energy I sensed was pulsing stronger through me.  His words kept echoing through my my mind, "He is the only one who can help me."  My thoughts began racing again as I was trying to piece together why a lone stranger, such as the one standing before us seeks the wisdom and enlightenment of Torian Whisperwind...

And then it hit me.  I knew where I sensed that darkened energy before...  My eyes widened as I looked to inspect this stranger one last time before leaping off the edge of logic and reason.  I lunged towards him, drawing my dagger from the sheath on the back of my waist, and grabbing by the shirt with my free paw.  I put my forearm against him and forced his back into a tree, putting my dagger to his throat,

I should kill you right here...  I knew I sensed something amiss...  And my feelings proved to hold true, I know... I growled.

I lightened the force of my dagger and pulled his head closer to mine, whispering in his ear, Duskbringer...  Don't think for a moment that I am second guessing this...



I pushed him back and turned away, Killing you right here would be too easy...  I said, No... it would be foolish.  I smirked and turned back to him and pointed my dagger up, This is what you're going to do...  You're going to turn and walk from where you came, and you're going to deliver my best wishes to that snake Hadgar.  If you're lucky he'll make your death painful as opposed to slow and very painful.

I turned and threw my dagger into a tree behind me to vent a little rage before continuing, If you refuse...  I won't spare you a quick painless death.  I'll tie you to a tree and let scavengers decide your fate.  Your call.

It was at that moment I had realized that the rain had stopped for quite some time, "At least our friend will have a nice walk back..."  I thought.

[Cyan]

I jumped, letting the arrow fly, the twitch of my wrist making it miss the stranger by millimetres. I couldn't kill him if I tried; not that he was strong, but me overthinking it. The flame moved around rapidly; like a beed going down a never ending thread. It kept twirling about, never stopping nor hitting anything as its fuel was continuously moved.

[Ho'ne Diheart]

Rook wanted to walk away, mainly out of fear, but his body wouldn't move. Slowly inside him he felt something rising up him. It was burning inside him, he didn't understand it at first, then he realized he was angry. But at what? He didn't know, but all he know he wanted to tear these guys up. Rook body started to tingle, he growled at the others. Rook crotch down as he continued to growl at them. Rook body started to burn entirely. Argh!  His whole body started to ache. Rook pulled back behind the tree. Argh! Ahhh! Rook continued to groan. He stopped all of a sudden. Nothing happened for a bit. The leaves in the tree rustled abit. A figured jumped out of the tree wielding dual arm daggers. The figure headed towards the one who had his dagger on his throat. You b*st*rd are going to pay for that! It threw mini balls at them. They exploded as soon as they hit the ground.

[Bronze]

I was hoping it wouldn't come to this... But to a degree, I felt some relief that I at least now had a direction.  I charged at the new and mysterious attacker, without a second though.  I released my flow of energy to the blade, allowing flames to dance and flicker along it's edge.  I wound up and aimed for the neck of the mystery man...  With a mighty and final heave I attacked him.

[Moongaze]

Taken by surprise by this mysterious attacker, I rose enraged.  I knew it...  These constant delays had put me behind and allowed an assassin to catch up to me...  I reached back for my dagger and removed it from the tree.  I flipped in my hand and watched a display of inflamed weaponry charging towards the assailant.  I watched as he dodged the first attack and moved to take a fatal slash at my partner.

I seized this opportunity and held the blade tip of my my dagger, took careful aim and threw it, quickly after drawing my sword.  I watched the dagger strike the attacker in the thigh.  To my amazement, it seemed to have minimal effect, "A berserker, perhaps?"  Without wasting a moment I charged in and speared the attacker, knocking him to the ground and taking a slash to the arm in the process.

Agh! The sight of the blood coming from my arm sent me deeper into an uncontrollable rage.  I rose my blade and lunged for a death blow.

[Cyan]

The burst of flame coiled around the attacker, leaving the throat open. Tentacle like extensions from the flame began to wave, burning the treeside. My fur was singed from when it'd hit me, but I looked at the attacker trapped in my web of flames with the two attacking him. "I believe this would be the time to apologize." I said, taking out an arrow and readying my bow, aimed for the attacker's stomach.

[Ho'ne Diheart]

As if this could contain me It smiled as he released some mini grenades. The smoke from the grenades blocking their view from them.Then It dashed towards the one with a flaming sword, he turned a tuck and roll into a flying kick. Making a perfect landing on the one with the flaming sword. He looked the next one coming at him for the fatal blow, he threw some mini grenades at him exploding in front of him blocking his view. To think.... It power thrusted a open palm fist on the one with the dagger. I am not even trying....And for you. Looking at the one with the bow and arrow You are going down. He dashed up to him cutting down the arrows that were aimed at him. It dropped kicked the one with the bow in the chest. Now do you still want more?