Life Stone

[tangletail]

Leo watched Helios momentarily, finding him rather odd as he seems to be caught in a silent prayer. He even raised an eye brow when he started to laugh. He slowly looked away to see the others stalking off past the trees, and made a note to himself to ask exactly what the other feline was doing. He gave Helios another curious glance, then followed the party to the next kill. Depression did begin to seep in as he start to notice his own value was greatly limited when it came to actual combat. He can't fight to well when it's just a one on one with no tricks, and fighting a group was most definitely out of the question.

He hadn't exactly been paying attention to the group, when the loudest voice he could hear was the voices coming from his own thoughts, all bickering and mocking him. And to make matters worse, they were all his own voice.

But when his eyes landed on a cockatrice with a plume over his head, he blinked for a moment. When his eyes opened, he saw Korius already on the charge, making a direct B-line to the beast. “And then que the blo-” he began to himself, only to see the large stone sword stopped in place by two other weapons. His eyes widened for a moment and he quickly shifted himself out of sight. His eyes setting on the situation that happened before him. First the wildman and the amazon, and then the oddball Cockatrice that had suddenly slay the other male. The familiar baby dragon behind the female bird, and the remaining male one seemingly taking it's flank.

The cat slid his shawl over his maw while he scanned the area around the party, looking for anything else of interest and a way to sneak around.

“Oh great... this can't be good,” Leo thought to himself as he now kept low moved quickly, but silently through the brush, taking care not to make the underbrush shake more than the wind in the air would allow. Rather than charging the group, the cat decided it would be best to sneak up onto one of the beast tamer's while their pets were away and take em by surprise if anyone's blood turns hot.

[Suzumibachii]

Following close to the group as they made their was into the clearing where a small number of cockatrice were feeding instantly her eyes locked into the plumed crest of the female watching are Korius rushed forward but instead of the sound of flesh being cut a large clang filled the air, her eyes widening as the massive sword got stopped in place by the halbard and spear. Taking a step back so she was between the two archers slightly behind them. Bringing her hands up into a defensive posture she looked at the other hunters before whispering. "Against them I am useless, I know my limitations but I will try boost each arrow you fire with some speed." The gems on her gloves pulsing faintly with power.

[Vosur Aekira]

Karina quickly notched her arrow when she saw the other group, simply waiting for Korius's word for her and Kiana to fire. Her eyes were looking to each of the group, having the arrow drawn back and aiming it to the tamer in case if he or his comrades made any moves that were deemed dangerous to her. She was not liking the idea of this confrontation, especially due to the sheer experience of this group that they were against, but she was not liking the idea of falling behind on the kills either. "C'mon, Leader... make a choice or else we are just wasting our time here." she spoke, unsure on if he would give the word for the archers to fire or to have them continue their hunt without the female cockatrice.

[Shinzuu Katame: Her Tolfy]

Korius pressed harder while keeping his mind together, but was pushed back instead. The wolf let the sword recoil behind him and directed it so that it dug into the ground at an angle, and used it to stop and balance himself. "Back off, berserker! We saw this one first! We've had our team's cockatrice luring it over." Korius didn't like the wildman's tone of voice, it was as if he was looking down on the wolf, "Sorry, but you weren't with it. We were going to kill it first. It's our prey!" The wildman and amazon braced themselves and prepared for battle. Korius looked around him, checking on his party mates quickly. "Helios! The Dragon Tamer is yours! Karina! Cover him! Kiana, the Beast Tamer! Suzumi, back up everyone as you see fit!" He intentionally avoided calling to Leo, hoping the little sneak could get up behind the Beast Tamer while he was busy with Kiana's arrows.

The amazon and wildman ignored Korius' party, concentrating only on him. They were confident they could beat him, but not alone.

[Vee Katame: His Wolfy]

Kiana nodded in response to Suzumi when she mentioned that she'd boost their arrows. Keeping her focus on Korius and the other, she watched as Korius' sword was pushed back by the Wildman and the Amazon. She did not once even glance in the direction of Leo who she had noticed sneaking off in her peripheral vision, knowing that attention shouldn't be drawn to him if anyone in the other group was watching her eyes. Listening to the Wildman, she scoffed at his tone. "That one is all high and mighty..." She thought to herself as she listened to Korius response afterwards. When he turned to them and called out orders, she didn't waste a moment. "With pleasure." She said and found her mark in the Beast Tamer. She changed her aim to different areas on the body of the Beast Tamer, trying to find the best target. Loosing the arrow, it flew through the air on its way towards one of the Beast Tamer's eyes. After that, she pulled out another arrow, notched it, aimed it somewhere else, and let it fly. She did the same thing with a couple more. The transition between the shooting of each arrow wasn't very fast, but she hoped that she could at least hit him once while he was distracted by another arrow and maybe Leo would be able to take advantage of the distraction of all her arrows.

[tangletail]

The thief continued to quickly make his way around the group, and draw as close as he could. But sadly there was a large gap between cover and his own optional target. He cursed himself as he remembered his days as a cub, when his parents had shown him how to throw knives and daggers if lethal force was his only option. It was never a real pleasure for a thief to openly decide to kill someone, nor did Leo actually enjoy the thought, thus leaving home without carrying a supply of spare weapons.

 
And now here he was, regretting every second of his decision as he slowly drew a single dagger from his sash into his right hand, and slowly spun it till it was held right side up. His stance was kept low, almost till he was using all four limbs to keep himself off the ground. He could throw his current set of daggers, but being caught without a weapon would prove to be a death wish. With a silent sigh, he slowly krept out from the brush and slunk off to the side and askew enough to cover some distance between him and the beast tamer, using all four to move further out of perspective once he heard the booming voice of Korius. The motion was to keep himself low to use the tall grass and uneven ground to help assist keep himself hidden from peering eyes while building up the momentum for the jump he needed.

 
Once he saw the first arrow fly, he raised off his hands and quickly made head way with a low sprint, keeping to his toes easily. He curved off to avoid the tamer's view as it was directed close to him, and then snaked to the next direction after the second arrow was fired. He was only a few feet away now, and his hand was outstretched, ready to grab hold of the beast tamer and deliver a sharp crack. However there was something that he had noticed that spooked the feline. The cockatrice's head had followed the arrow past the group, “Oh....” Leo's thoughts began, his sprint not once halting as he was only mere seconds away from the mark. And inevitably, the cockatrice had already spotted Leo, and moved to step in the way with a loud hissing screech, it's beak outstretched and opened to intercept the thieves hand, “...SHIT.”

Thinking quickly, Leo lowered his hand and dipped his body just in time to avoid the snapping beak of the large bird. The same very arm drew back but remained outstretched. His legs quickly pushed upwards, launching his body into the air, and continuing with the momentum of his past sprint. His legs pulled in closer to his chest while tilted to the side to help himself fly over the beast master's pet, once he was sure he was over, he stretched them out. His arm catching around it's neck, causing the feline to swing around it's body to deliver a heavy kick to the beast tamer's head. Leo could only hope that the bird has not given the beast master enough time to avoid that impromptu maneuver. And should it land, hopefully knock him unconscious.

[Vosur Aekira]

Karina did not hesitate to quickly change her aim for the dragon tamer, letting her first arrow fly towards him and quickly re-notching two arrows instead of one as the arrow flew from her unique bow. The dragon attempted to intercept the arrow but the tamer quickly turned and shielded the small dragon, catching one arrow in the back of his shoulder, to which he unsheathed his short sword with his back to Karina and Helios. She quickly moved to one side, as she did in her practice before she met the group, before letting the two notched arrows fly towards their target from the side. One arrow went a little high and the other went a little low, the high-arrow went towards the face and the low one went for the thigh. The dragon tamer used his sword to block the higher arrow but he tumbled a bit from the lower arrow hitting its mark as he wasn't expecting that. "That tamer's trying to risk his life for the dragon. I'd only heard of such bonds being made before but never saw it happen." she thought to herself as she readied another arrow, expecting some form of retaliation from one of the others in the enemy group.

[Suzumibachii]

Nodding a little at Korius she changed her stance once more her body much lower than before she held one hand downwards and the other slightly backwards, her breathing slowing down as she started to channel her spell small burst of concentrated wind forming behind each arrow boosting them forwards a little faster than a conventional arrow would move, that wasnt the only trick she had up her sleeve infront of each archer she was forming an invisible wall, if any of the pets or tamers tried to attack using a ranged ability the walls would slow it down. There was one catch however, Suzumi was just an apprentice who recently graduated so channeling the way she was seemed to be incredibly taxing.

[ShiroTenshiRyu]

When Korius gave him permission to attack the dragon tamer everything became clear. Helios gave a wicked grin. As he charged her he knew that her pet would come to protect her. Having gained plenty of confidence from the earlier experience swung out at her with his blade, only nicking her ankle with the broad side of his blade. She danced away gracefully, but Helios caught a glimpse of pain as he turned to face the hissing baby dragon.


It's yellow-gold scales glinted in the sunlight, and despite he hatred of the beasts, Helios had to admit it was beautiful. Too bad he'd have to tare it apart. He brought up the broad side of his blade and slammed it into the face of the dragon as it snapped at him. He ignored the first whip lash he felt from the female tamer and focused on the dragon. Not one to be injured thought the dragon began to lunge out at Helios. With a few steps back he managed to avoid it. After a second more painful strike of a whip from behind Helios had a brilliant thought. He only hoped it would work. "Nyx guide me for surely I am crazy."

[Shinzuu Katame: Her Tolfy]

Karina's arrows kept the Dragon Tamer busy enough for Helios to get close, but the dragon did come to its master's aid after having broken the Female Cockatrice's left knee with a strong bite. The baby dragon's scales aren't as developed so parts of its scales are bent from Helios's attack. It let out a cute attempt at a roar when its master was hit with arrows and his eyes glowed as her wound glowed, pushing the arrow out. However, it was all it could do, being a baby, the blood still flowing. The tamer herself started diverting Helios's strikes with her rapier. She didn't expect him to be able to dodge them, but as long as she could keep him busy, her dragon can do the work.

The beast tamer was able to just barely deflect the boosted arrows with his whip merely because of the distance. His vision was a bit cocked as he was kicked in the head, but it didn't phase him too much as the scars on his bald head showed how intensely he had personally trained his cockatrice. The oversized bird came to its master's aid quickly, just grabbing the gruff of Leo's tunic and tossed him aside. The tamer himself would not spare more than a second or two to watch himself when he noticed, knowing more boosted arrows were coming his way.

Korius did not let go of his sword, still holding it in reverse as he had been when he caught himself. These two were looking down on him and wanted to steal what they found. The wolf had expected as much from seasoned hunters like them, and this just proved his bad feelings from earlier. The black wolf roared as he charged forward, slashing hard from the side, using his whole body's momentum in the attack. The short wildman grunted as he jumped up to slash down on the large sword, changing its slash trajectory only by a small bit, forcing the amazon to have to jump, too, the sword getting her in the ankle. Because of its usage, the sword didn't cut into her, but the force behind it was enough to break her foot right out of the socket. She let out a yell as she landed on her left and used her spear to compensate for her broken foot. The tall woman shook as she tried to maintain balance, this type of pain being something new to her.

[Vee Katame: His Wolfy]

Kiana watched as her arrows were barely deflected by the Beast Tamer's whip while Leo was sneaking up in the background. Once Leo kicked the Beast Tamer in my head and was subsequently tossed away by the cockatrice, Kiana fired another arrow at the Beast Tamer. Turning her attention for a moment to the Amazon who she noticed had gotten injured out of the corner of her eye, she notched another arrow, aimed, and sent it flying at the Amazon while she was distracted by the pain. Once the arrow was in the air, she returned her attention to the Beast Tamer and proceeded to notch another arrow and send it flying at him.

[tangletail]

Leo gritted his teeth and winced after feeling the hard impact on his lower legs. And landed back on his feet. He was about to leap once more to the tamer, till an easily distracting sound filled the air. Leo's eyes shifted to look to the dragon with the feeble roar. Hostility leaving himself momentairly as he relaxed a bit. In fact he hadn't noticed the still standing cockatrice that was now towering over him with a displeased stance.

“That is just too adora-GRAH!” Leo was promptly cut off as he felt his tunic suddenly snatched up. His body being lifted into the air much like a kitten, and having himself tossed aside to the dirt. His body tumbled for a few feet, till the cat managed to catch himself and kip up back to his feet.

The thief turned to the cockatrice, and hissed furious to the creature. The beast, returned the gesture and stepped forward a few feet with it's wings spread. The feline slowly turned his dagger around now, seeing the creature's eyes dart to the weapon, and back to himself.

 Alright Leo... you could just stab the female when no one is looking and get this over with... his eyes shifted to the female cockatrice, seeing it's new condition. ... but it could just easily turn around and nab me. Nor am I sure of the exact reaction that will receive if I do stab it. Great... I feel useless. And this guy... His eyes now shifted to the once again distracted tamer. And the woman who was lying on the ground with her knee broken. Ridiculous. I suppose I have to fight this overgrown bird first. His gaze went back to the woman with the rapier, seeing helios struggle to get near.. I can't kill this with what I have. And helio's looks like he's struggling. Alright... let's try something different.

Leo shifted off to the side as if he was trying to get around the Cocaktrice, and closer to the beast tamer. However, the creature now charged at him. It continued to snap at him as he drew his dagger near, grabbing hold of the blade, but letting go and retreating when the feline made a move to retaliate. Leo found himself into a forced slow withdraw, having to backpedal to back away from it's vicious snout.

But, the thief had actually hoped for this. He allowed the bird to push himself closer to the other tamer, and made a quick gesture to Helios for a hand. If Helios had responded to Leo's plea, he would quickly spin around with his leg raised to hopefully stomp on the back of the dragon tamer's knee. If successful his free hand would move to try and sweep underneath the arm with the weapon in hand wrap around the chest, grab hold of what it could and lift. The feline's body would follow with the motion to slam her down on the ground.

[ShiroTenshiRyu]

Helios caught Leo's cue out of the corner of his eye and gave a wicked, toothy grin to the dragon tamer. It's like you can read my mind Leo. Helios ducked under the horizontal strike of the dragon tamer's rapier though not with out taking a small gash down his back. Ignoring the feeling of blood down his back, he grabbed Leo with his right hand and held his sword in the left as he swung Leo around full force. Leo's foot planted firmly into the dragon tamer's back left knee as Helios let go. Leo vaulted off of her back and came down hard on her back. Leo looked pleased with his work, and completely ignored the charging female cockatrice and enraged baby dragon who let out an actual roar and charged on Leo as well.


Blood continued to spill down Helios's legs and back as he tackled Leo to the ground and watched the female cockatrice and baby dragon collide and begin to snap at one another.

[Vosur Aekira]

Karina had to separate herself a bit more from the main group to move to the side so she could get a better vantage point to aim, getting an arrow notched and ready for when she would stop or be within range of a good angle to aim. She saw the dragon and female cockatrice fighting each other, so she took the opportunity to resume her aim at the dragon trainer as originally called-out, letting loose arrows in quick succession one right after another.

The dragon tamer was having problems as he was bleeding quite a bit from the shoulder and the thigh and trying to fend off the barrage of arrows from the fox-kin archer. He was slower than before, getting a few arrows knocked a bit off their mark with his short-sword but still causing deep cuts with the arrow-heads on the arms and legs, only able to defend against the ones to the head fully while most of the other arrows were hitting approximately close to their mark.

Karina started to notice her quiver becoming a bit light. "Running low on arrows... this is not good." She notched one more and readied to fire it off as she stared down the heavily-breathing dragon tamer. "Just surrender already! Sheathe your weapon and walk away!" she called out to the tamer, trying to reason with him but he instead stood defiant. "Crazy prideful dragon tamer... their bond also seeps into their personality." she thought to herself as she waited to see what he would do.

[Suzumibachii]

Closer her eyes for a second as she simply listened tot he sounds of combat each arrow as it flew through the air, each slice a blade made the cracking of bones and the cutting of flesh. Opening her eyes once more they seemed to be burning with resolve. "Time to shift my strategy." She whispered out before glancing at the battle field as it stood, a small gust of wind kicking up some dust from all around, the gems on her gloves glowing even brighter than before, her hands shaking a little. "I wont give up...If I cant help here then I should just give up on saving him." Several small, white,needle shaped objects formed in the air around her hands, solidifying the air into a usable weapon she raised both her hands towards the beast tamer. The needles orientating to face him, with a quick gesture the solidified air projectiles shot forth. Suzumi dropped down on one knee gasping for breath after that attack, hoping that she put enough force behind it to actually do some damage.