Fight:An Avenue of Owls

Avenue of Owls

Satoshi's in a mood. One of -those- moods. The kind that has her pacing down random streets, claws flexing around the necks of imaginary foes, fangs bared in a frozen snarl for any daring to look her way. The silver-blue pipefox wrapped about her neck is the culprit, as usual, taking a certain delight in the shared state of wrath and eagerly fueling it further with each step Satoshi takes. Swiftly that temper builds, until imagined stranglings are quite simply not enough. The fox needs a -real- target. And she spots just the right one--'right' being 'first to enter her line of sight'--paces ahead. A dulcet snarl escapes the minstrel as she stalks toward the elf, pipefox tugged from its perch and forced into its proper form of a black-ice scythe, even as a soft hum begins to creep through the air. With that sound comes the sudden drop of temperature, a Winter's breath filling the area rapidly to steal away bodyheat and set in violent, crippling shivers for all mortal beings. As the air chills, the ground likewise begins to freeze, a smooth sheet of ice appearing underfoot to inhibit movement all the more. And all this, simply to keep her prey still long enough that Satoshi--moving upon the ice with a cryomancer's skill--can easily reach Strend and send Asorial flicking out in two cobra-swift strikes, meant to cleave through midsection and groin, and dye the ice beneath them red.

Strend was just walking around the city, his usual clothing upon him. A cotton scarf wrapped around his tail, as the boy Kassy pointed out he needed to keep it warm. His typical, loose fitting shirt and pants as well. As he went down the street, whistling a small tune through the vacant avenue. As he moved about rather relaxed a sudden chill kept up his spine, the tail had turned ice cold as the elf was suddenly yanked backwards by it being frozen into place. The sudden force, causing the elf to fall flat on his back, the attacks of the fox's changing their location and instead missing his midsection entirely instead taking some hair. The other however, caused the elf to drop his arms downwards instictively, in a X pattern. The metal struck metal, as her weapon bounced off of his true-steel skinned forearms. He grinned for less then a second, when the force of the attack caused his arms to go downwards causing him to hit himself in the groin. With a giant cringe, the elf tried rolling, to no avail as his tail was now stuck. Reaching into his quiver he gripped an arrow quickly speaking the words of magic and smashing it into the ice. The arrow exploded, sending shards of ice everywhere, some towards his attacker some towards himself. Several cut at the elf's arms, but nothing severe as he rolled away this time and quickly pushed himself up to his feet. "Why me? Why do I get the weird people assasinating me?" Sighing, the ranger went for his bow, notching three arrows upon it and facing it towards the Queen. Speaking the words of magic again, the arrows were released from the string, the first exploding into a haze of small wooden needles aimed at her chest. The second caused the entire shaft to burn apart, leaving nothing but a burning hot tip aimed for her right shoulder. The third arrow however, did nothing, just flew straight towards her left shoulder.

Satoshi does not answer Strend's demand, occupied then with whistling a hurried tune to the ice sent her way. Ever-obedient element that it is, the shards readily detour themselves, momentum reversed back on the elf even as the magus shuffles back a pace to warily watch a moment. Satoshi's studious pause grants her the time to properly react when the selection of arrows are sent her way through arcane means: the larger bulk of the splinters meet the flat of Asorial swiftly brought up in front of her, even as a fair few imbed themselves in Satoshi's undead flesh; the heated arrowhead simply deflects off the scythe's haft as well, but the final arrow does indeed find its target, forcing a snarl of pain from the foxkin. Eyes narrowing to near slits, Satoshi tears the arrow free, hurling it aside--blood droplets scattering with it--as she begins a low humming. Her spilt blood heeds the call this time, seeping into the owl topiaries they've landed upon, melding with the water within the plants and bringing them to rapid life. The sound of leafy wings flapping fills the air as the owls tear themselves free of their stands and fix emerald eyes on Strend. In unison, the animated flock, seven birds in total, descends upon the elf, talons and beaks at the ready to rend flesh even as Satoshi darts in once more--albeit slower, for pain and wariness--to deliver yet another pair of quick bites with Asorial, this time making a hacking strike for shoulders and thighs.

Strend watches curiously for the defense from his attack, studying his opponent and her reaction to his projectiles. As she skillfully deflects his attacks, the elf lets out a small sigh, until he sees the one get through. A proud grin crosses the elf's face momentarily as he awaits his foes next move. This time, it appears in the form of animals coming towards him and the elf raises his brow at the things not truly believing this is it. Raising his bow towards the critters he mutters something about reminding himself to thank Ceri for her wonderful inventions. The small true-steel box that was upon the side of his bow opens, as the elf presses down upon the insignia the avian crafted into his weapon. Out flies a net, at first small, but ever expanding towards the flying creatures as it quickly seeks to shatter them with the blunt force the steel provides. The first five are easily taken inside the net, shattering as the opposing forces collide. The sixth, catches the edge and the teeth upon the side of the net sink deep into the icy creation sending it the other way a long with his net. The final bird manages to break through however, this one Strend had long since been prepared for, as a smug grin lights upon his face. His arrow was quickly pulled from his quiver and notched to the string, sent flying towards the winged critter. He mutters the words of magic once more, but happens to get distracted as in the corner of his eye the fox has already come in for another attack. He turns to face her, the bird out of his mind, yet arrow still sunk into it, trying to sidestep the first attack. To late! The weapon cuts a line down his chest, the elf falling to a kneeling posistion, in pain from the attack. The second attack aimed for his side, as the elf moves his tail in the way of the weapon intercepting the attack. Course, as always the elf wasn't expecting the blunt force that comes with a swing, this time knocking him to his side while the bird that was flying towards him narrowly misses. Speaking fast, the elf makes a rushed attempt at his magic, causing the arrow to explode once again sending shards of ice every which way, hoping to burrow themselves into the fox. His next move however, was to stand up, dropping his bow to his side as he placed an arrow into each hand, blood still dripping down his chest onto his legs. He charges sluggishly towards the fox, speaking the words of magic as the arrowheads begin to light up brightly, infused with a large amount of heat. His left hand, comes down towards her already injured shoulder, while his right makes it's way for her side.

Satoshi allows the briefest of pauses for the loss of her owlish creations, one that costs her when she finds the returned icy shards burying themselves in her, forcing her back with a yelp. The pain is sharp, but quick, as the cryomancer's ties to the ice swiftly absorb the would-be projectiles, turning them into arcane fuel as she refocuses on the approaching elf. A tune comes from the magus then, the song wordless while it begins to call to her blood and the freshly absorbed ice. Strend's arrows will find their targets, yes, but not as he might have hoped: the sound of shattering metal and wood take the place of tearing flesh as the arrowheads meet not soft tissue, but blood and muscle frozen solid--a living shield beneath Satoshi's skin. If she hisses in slight pain at the punctures, they aren't audible over the sound of screeching steam that billows around them both then, the combination of heated arrows meeting unrelenting ice. With smokescreen in place, Satoshi allows herself an almost merry little chime as she defrosts herself and Asorial darts forward in a sluggish slash meant to drive the close elf backwards while her spell goes into effect. The steam around Strend will begin to take a new form then, one of a net--much like the one used to thwart her owls--enveloping him and drawing closed swiftly, each second bringing icy, razorsharp edges closer to him. The bone-numbing chill it gives off is one meant to slow an already dull movement speed in the injured archer, in an attempt to provide less resistance to the closing net.

Strend paid little heed to the damage he caused with the owl, but more to the absorbtion she caused from it. It startled the elf, bit by by making him more curious. But he could not distract himself long, as he arrows shattered. Shattered? What was this, their should have been blood, organs, and muscle there. The foe was not going down as easily as the elf had hoped, his next reaction one of a startled man as he spots her going for another strike, this time downwards. His arms raised defensively, the steel yet again contacting the steel upon his fore arms. The elf backed out however, knowing the attacks he had just done at a close range to fail. His steps back cost him, as she began to chant once more, this steam around him turning cold as he felt the net close in around him. Shivering as he looked around, he searched for an escape but was unsure as to how to cause it. He reached towards his arrows shakily, grasping it with a weak grip. Holding it out in front of him, he spoke through chattered teeth, the arrow igniting, causing a small amount of warmth to the elf. Course, he didn't think it through quickly dropping it from the sudden heat in his hand. The fire stayed alight, brightening the area around him to give him something of a view as he saw the trap more clearly now. The elf reached for his arrows once more, this time throwing them behind him into the net. Concentrating with all his will, the elf began to chant once more, causing the arrows to expode for another time causing a hole in the net which he quickly moved to get out of. Course, the hole wasn't quite large enough, as it ripped at his sides as he moved to escape, a howl of pain escaping his mouth as his chest was now covered in cuts from the various attacks. The world began to turn hazy to the elf, he was losing blood, oh so much blood, but this couldn't be it. His adrenaline, the thing that had fueled him so well in the past kicked in, just enough to straighten the world out for him, causing there to be a clear view of the light the firey arrow was still emmiting. He spotted Satoshi as well through this and pulling another arrow out, he thrust it towards her. This arrow however, began to spin and spin as the air around it began to bend causing it to go faster then before a mini cyclone like attack pushing along with it. The elf clenched his chest tightly, wishing his had more magic in him then this, as his fist slammed into the ground to at least keep him from laying upon the ground.

Satoshi finds herself oddly put off by the overwhelming scent of blood in the air, and even takes a repulsed step back. It's this recoil that provides her the time needed to spot Strend's last ditch effort, and with a flinch the foxkin brings Asorial before her once more. The surnaturally durable black ice readily absorbs the strike of arrow and conjured cyclone alike while crackling in annoyance--moreso at the minstrel's reluctance to approach her target again. Temper quelling with the scent of the elf's blood, Satoshi loiters at a distance, warily watching as she internally debates her next move. Or rather, Asorial and Ko'tar internally debate, the weapon of Wrath urging Satoshi to attack again while the Charitable katana coaxes her into a calm state of mind. While the cursed items wrest for dominance in their influence, Satoshi is left merely hovering uncertainly.

Strend was left clenching his chest foolishly, as he tried to stop the bleeding. His other hand firmly pressed against the cold ground. He had remembered something to seal wounds, something Knelltic taught him. Grunting uneasily at the thought, he removed an arrow from his quiver. His gaze was still fixed upon the fox, as he awaited her decision. He muttered softly below anything she could pick up, the tip of his arrow heating up as he moved it to press against his skin. The wound began to seal, the bleeding ceased as he started working around his body, trying to close the wounds and stop the bleeding. His eyes however, still resting upon the fox, awaiting her decision.

Satoshi's decision is made when Strend begins cauterizing his wounds. Wrinkling her nose in distaste at burnt flesh, the fox promptly turns on a heel and ambles off. At the end of the avenue, however, she pauses long enough to toss back, "Nice dancin' with ya. The ones that survive are always the best~."

Strend chuckles at the comment, somehow thinking surviving happened to be good indeed. He finished sealing the wounds as he searched for his bow, limping away slow and weak from the loss of blood.