RP:A Wyvern Hunt

From HollowWiki

Summary: Meri, Magik, Tiber and Lanara team up to hunt a wyvern at the request of Nikola.

Part of the New Moon, New Motion Arc


Between The Tree

Meri :: A letter would have been sent to the Tibara household, it was sent a civil amount of time after Meri received that note from Lanara that informed her that the witch had managed to find a cure for the sickness that was threatening her life. This letter is inviting Tiber and Lanara out into the wilds of Frostmaw for a good old fashioned hunt, wyverns would be the target it says. All of the details that the couple would need would be included: where, when, how long Meri anticipates this hunt might take, and that she would be bringing most of the supplies and rations. They just needed to worry about their preferred weaponry and warm clothing.

Meri :: Frostmaw was a harsh climate and making it up to the wintery area and out into frozen hunting grounds was a challenge in itself. Which is why Meri saw fit to set up a makeshift camp for the purposes of this hunt. It would give the hunting expedition a warm place to meet as well as a place to sleep, as hunts can take a considerable amount of time and energy. Especially remote ones, like the one they are about to embark one. Two tents constructed from thick hides have been set up, one for Magik and Meri and the other for Tiber and Lanara. The one detail that Meri has not addressed herself is the warmth and she has good reason for not doing so, why put all that energy into manually starting fires when she has the company of a skilled pyromancer? While Magik wasn’t the lucky recipient of a letter, he was certainly aware of where Meri was going when she left...because she probably tried to make him leave at the same time that she did. It's just how couples work sometimes, no? Regardless of if anyone is at this camp yet or not, Meri’s going to be bundled up in that sable fur cloak that she loves to wear when she is out in Frostmaw and whining while she waits for everyone to assemble, “Why did I think this was a good idea. It’s so damn cold up here….” The sun that was still working on climbing up into the sky seemed to offer little relief against the bitter Frostmaw chill.


Magikrios just so happened to be sitting in the tent next to Meri. Couples that travel together share tents together and such. Usually. However, he was leaned half-way into his infinite backpack, literally. Meri might even hear a few curse words and a bunch of stuff being shuffled around. Maybe even a screech or two. What the hell is even in that backpack? Everything. Well, almost everything. The Lyastri ends up pulling his dark and heavy longbow out of his pack and places it just next to the backpack. After scooting over to Meri, he wraps an arm about her, "Frostmaw is pretty awful.." With that, the temperature in the tent rises a few degrees to make it a bit more comfort for the two of them. "I have plenty of food and drink in the pack for our excursion. However, let's try to stick to non-alcoholic beverages just in case things go south.." Ya know, because drinking lowers the body temperature making people more susceptible to hypothermia and such. Having said that, the elf reaches back into his pack and pulls out some beef jerky. He offers Meri a few pieces before munching on his own. Protein. Yum.


Lanara had eagerly read the return letter from her best friend and then left it atop the kitchen table, because she’s still coming to terms with the fact that she had managed to stop the curse in its tracks literally seconds before it consumed her life. Tiber, her beyond handsome boyfriend, had bitten her and breathed life into her veins… The life of a lycan. Is it a blessing or a curse? Lana isn’t so sure, yet. Of course she loves her family and friends and being in this mortal realm, but she has little to no control over her inner wolf, and she’s constantly at odds with what to do and what not to do. Case in point... The letter resting on the table! Her heart says to meet with Meri and convince her friend -not- to hunt the wondrous wyverns because her animal empathy will weep over the carcass. Her mind is screaming at her to race to Frostmaw and leave Tiber behind, so that she can slay everything that moves, because her wolf wants to dine on a fresh kill. Her soul says that she should become a hermit, that she has no place rescuing or hunting beasts, because she -is- an actual animal. And so, the witch does what she often does in situations where an immediate answer is needed and she’s hesitant to reply. She overly confides in her better half, to the point where Tiber will either fall asleep from endlessly reassuring her, or where he will shush her with endless kisses to try and drown out the anxiousness. In the end, the Catalian manages to convince Lana that a hunt will be good for her, and that she will have both Meri and himself there in case things head south. Three lycans on a hunt in Frostmaw will be a great experience, he assured, and so the couple had agreed to meet with the psion.

Lanara :: The pair made their way up the mountain path and entered into the lands of Frostmaw, feeling the sudden drop in temperature as the frigid atmosphere greets them at the gates. Lana stops to stretch her limbs, mumbling something about how bounding through the snow can give muscle aches, and she hands Tiber the map to review as she prepares to work on some breathing exercises. Has she ever been hunting? She’s dressed in designer furs, likely bearing a Kreekitaka label, and she didn’t think to bring any sort of weaponry. The magical powers she possesses are easier to wield than any bow or sword, and besides, her fingers feel numb from the cold, despite the fact that she’s wearing thick gloves. Lana smirks at Tiber, “Oh my gosh! You just climbed -another- mountain for me!” She giggles and claps her hands, “Technically, you are now climbing mountains for my friends!” It’s an inside joke she shares with her lover, and if he doesn’t try to throttle her, she will somewhat lead Tiber towards the meeting place, while also leaning heavily on him so she doesn’t take a tumble in the snow. “Don’t tell Meri about the engagement, yet… I want to wait to announce it to everyone at the party.” The ring had been left at their apartment, as with her random shifting, she doesn’t want to lose it. Lana’s cheeks are flushed from the wind, as well as a faint blush, and she gives his hand a gentle squeeze. Eventually, the pair of tents come into view and Meri and Magik will hear their arrival from the crunching of the snow beneath their boots, “We’re here…” The singsong voice of the witch travels through the breeze, and she waits for the psion to open her tent, so she can be greeted with their usual handshake. A unique combination of pokes and pinches ensues, before chocolate hues trail over Meri’s shoulder and lock on Magik, “Hello… I don’t believe we’ve met! I’m Lana, and this is Tiber.” She smiles, before giving a ‘look’ to Meri, as she hadn’t mentioned another was joining them for the hunt. Just who is this Magikrios fellow?!


Tiber had been on edge lately--mostly due to the recent transformation. Both the witch, now lycan, and the… (og?) lycan had been tiptoeing around each other. The Catalian was careful to not show his worry while Lanara was trying not to panic--as much--around him. It was a hard transition for the Kelvarian. Let’s be honest. An animal empath as a lycan was harder to fly with the whole ‘hey let’s hunt and -kill- some shmanimals’. Tiberius made sure to console the woman, but there did come a point where Tiber had enough of the worrisome, for his gut was sinking with her confliction. Best way to stop the newly anxious woman? Well, one could guess. Plus, Tiber was right, Lanara had Meri and him to guide her. That meant… another mountain. -Another- mountain for Lanara Banks to learn the ways of the hunt. Not to mention a mountain for Meri. A mountain for Meri? That one was new. One would guess girl friends came with the package of a girlfriend--no, no -fiance-. This pouty thought is met with teasing giggles from the witch herself. “Ha. Ha.” His tone is dry as ever with his lack of amusement of their inside joke. Then again, a smile cracked eventually at his lover. As Lanara mentions the engagement, he sucks in his chilled cheeks before nodding. “I guess if you want to keep me a secret,” his tone drags of guilt-trip, but he ends in a grinning tease. Honestly, the party was the last thing he wanted. People. Then again, his goal was to make Lanara happy. The two come to the clearing. Hands were stuffed in a fleece-lined coat as he stared at the tent. Tiber is not as giddy. Instead, he is flat per cue of normalcy. Eyes are locked on Magik rather than Meri as the man scopes the new dude out. “Hey,” he is short with the introduction before looking between Lanara and Meri with a weird gaze of weirdness because the confusion of women.


Meri watches Magik and that infinite bag of his with a bit of a lift to her brow. “Don’t fall in, I am not sure I’ll be able to find you.” The bits of jerky are accepted, the blonde is more than happy to snack and snuggle while they wait for Lanara and Tiber. Meri wouldn’t move from her spot next to Magik until she hears a familiar voice just outside the warmth of the tent. The blonde is quick to let them in, but they couldn’t get inside fast enough for Meri’s liking, “Come on, hurry up, don’t let all the heat out.” There is little confusion on Meri’s part, but she can see the look she is getting from Lanara and the one that Tiber adopts to. Meri’s following words will hopefully clear everything up, or perhaps make it all more awkward. “This is Magik. I could throw around a few of his titles?” So far so good, but the smirk that forms should reveal to any that know her that she’s about to say could change that. “How about...possibly going to be Fleur’s next daddy. Don’t quote me though, we’re still figuring it all out.” Meri takes a bite from that jerky she has been working on, still smirking a bit as she chews. It probably would have been a lot more normal to just be like ‘he’s my boyfriend’, but also a lot less amusing. At least to her. Presumably Lanara and Tiber are making themselves comfortable within the warmth of the tent, but not too comfortable. They won’t be sitting for long. “Anyway, like the note said. The Adventurer’s Guild has been commissioned to go on a number of hunts, which is why we are up here. We’re on the search for an ice wyvern, but we need to be mindful during this hunt.” Meri doesn’t skip a beat, the explanation goes on. “Because we’re not doing this for fun. Nikola has requested we bring her back a rib cage. If we’re not careful with our kill, we’ll just have to repeat this…” While Meri talks her blue eyes shift from face to face, almost close to equally. Almost, because maybe Meri likes looking at Magik. “Any questions before we head out? Do you two have any extra gear you’d like to drop off in your tent before we leave?” Meri was eager to get moving, yet she knew Tibara had just traveled a long way and was not looking to rush them.


Magik was in the middle of nomming on some beef jerky when Lanara and Tiberius made their appearance. The couple is given a brief look over while introductions are made. The Lyastri nods to Lanara after she introduces herself. Tiber gets a slight jut of his chin forward. Tiber's "hey" is met with a, "Sup." The elf's dark eyes shift between the couple multiple times but it's probably hard to get a read on what Magik is thinking since he keeps chewing the meat while doing so.. Magik then offers the pouch of jerky to the couple to take a couple pieces if they wish. Manners and such. He brings another piece of his snack to his lips. Meri's introduction of him actually throws him off guard a little bit. It shouldn't have given the slight hint he dropped on Meri when they were hanging out at her place one night. Something about homemade sushi and such. Meri could have chose a few titles for the elf. Veneficus D'Chath of the Mage's Guild. The Last Lyastri. Guardian of Sage Forest. But, nope. Meri chose Possible Future Daddy. Anyways. The elf pauses and looks to that tattooed chick. There's that familiar smirk of his as the flames within his eyes dance about happily. She receives a slight nudge as he pops in the beef jerky and starts nomming again as she explains the situation. "Don't damage the rib cage. Got it." That was his way of confirming he had no questions. Easier said than done. Precise archery it shall be then. Maybe? Hopefully? This is going to be quite the hunt. Whenever Meri's eyes would shift to meet his, eyebrow wiggle. Just slightly though. Company and such. He's ready to go when everyone else is.


Lanara flicks her gaze evenly between Magik and Meri, repeating the process several times, until she narrows her gaze on the psion, “Oh… This seems sudden.” The friendliness in her tone seems to have diminished, as she quirks a brow in an accusatory manner, “I wish you both the best.” The words are a bit forced, accompanied by a faint smile, so that they could move from this awkwardness in the tent, to the outdoors and begin their hunt. How is Fleur handling this new man in her life? Are Meri and Magik moving too quickly? Should she be concerned about the woman, or simply proud of her from moving on from the divorce to that undeserving storm witch? Lanara feels that Meri has kept this romance under wraps for the past several weeks or even months, and she’s obviously upset by this, as she considers the psion to be her best friend. Even after that breakfast in Cenril, where she questioned if she meant anything to the blonde, she still held Meri in the highest regard! She thought this hunt would repair the slight disconnect, but there is a rift now, in the form of a dark haired man wielding a bag of beef jerky. “No, thanks.” She waves off the offer of the meat and glances towards the tent flap, the feeling of anxiety kicking in, “Am I supposed to actually kill one of these innocent wyverns? Or am I to play the role of bait… Luring them to my side, using my empathy to make them sleepy, while you do your surgery?” Wyverns can live without ribs, right? So long as their organs remain whole and they follow extreme caution. The witch drops a small duffel bag of healing supplies, as well as a medium sized bag that has a few changes of clothes, “Should we work in teams? Alone? As a group?” She holds the piercing blue eyes of Meri, the leader of the Guild and this expedition, and she waits for further instruction and a reply to her inquiries. Asha, the wolf that lurks beneath the flesh of the witch, is getting antsy; so Lana takes Tiber’s hand in her own and gives it a gentle squeeze, as though showing that she won’t be separated from her mate.


Tiberius’ face changes from weird to amused as Meri word vomits that Magik is ‘possible baby daddy’. Another glance is given to Magik to size the man up again--not in intimidation, but observation. Then, eyebrows are wiggled with a smirk. At least the blonde was moving along, but Lanara’s change of tone has him slightly nudging her. Was the wolf coming out in the witch? Probably. Tiber sort of side-eyes his secret fiance. After all, Tiber may have been clueless with the mixed feelings his lover had because he was a dude. “If you’re happy, we’re happy,” case closed on Tiber’s end. Tiber was fine with new daddy as long as Meri was. Tiber had a black and white mindset. Perhaps he was forcing Lanara to feel that way too since Meri had been a part of Tiber’s life as well. Maybe not as close, but a trusty ally indeed. And perhaps Tiber would ask later why his witch is feeling so distressed. Meri was getting some, and that was the end of Tiber’s knuckle-head thought process. Magik offers the meat, and Tiber declines as well with the thick atmosphere before listening to Meri discuss the wyverns. “Hunting normally stands for killing, babe,” he sort of side-notes. Maybe that was a bad idea for the empath to hear, but it had to come from someone. “This is an important skill you need to learn--there's no veterinarians,” he said slowly and carefully to Lanara before turning to Meri to let the psion fill in any gaps. Then, the lycan concludes, “We’ll drop off our luggage in our tent and then we’ll be ready to go.” Tiber would then tug Lanara gently to move her out of the tent.


Meri’s humor seemed to be received well by most of the present company, but it’s not lost on the blonde that Lanara seems less than thrilled. Introducing Magik to Lanara never meant to be the focal point of this affair, so the blonde does her best to keep her eye on the prize and her head in the game despite any awkwardness that Lanara may currently be feeling. Meri grows serious as she attempts to answer the questions and concerns that are being raised within the tent. Her tone is an even one and the words are being delivered at a measured pace, making it obvious that she is trying to consider everything that she says carefully. “As a group, of course, which is why I invited everyone up here as a group. Tiber and I have hunted wyvern together in the past and this is an activity that Magik also enjoys. I was very open with the fact that this was supposed to be a hunt. We won’t be able to have an exact course of action beyond working as a team, because we won’t be entirely sure of where exactly we will find our targett. But...There will be no surgery and no one will be used as bait. I am not even sure a wyvern would be able to live without its ribs, but I am no scientist. ” Meri is looking directly at Lanara now, “I understand that you are very passionate about your animals, but no part of this wyvern is going to go to waste, our goal is to try and be as ethical as possible. Nikola is a blacksmith and while she might want the ribs of this creature, the seamstress who commissioned our first wyvern hunt would be interested in the scales. And in the unlikely event that she is not?” Meri motions to those designer label furs that Lanara is wearing, “Perhaps Kree would be.” There is a brief pause, but Meri is quick to go on to say, “However, I am not one to force anyone to participate in anything they do not want to. So why don’t you two settle into your tent, talk it over again.” Meri takes hold of Magik’s hand. “Magik and I will be waiting outside on the path leading north while the two of you decide either way.” Meri would let Tiber and Lanara make their way out of the tent to address their luggage situation before sharing a look with Magik and then trying to force him to wait out in the freezing cold for her.


Magik studies the three in the tent as he continues munching on his pre-hunt snack. As he devours the last pieces and Meri has her little chat with Lanara, he scoots his way back to his equipment. There were more than a few times where the Lyastri could have looked up and over to acknowledge that 'he heard that', but now was not the time for any drama regardless of how big or small. Now is time to focus at the task at hand. Backpack first. He tightens the straps that dangle in front of his chest a tad. Not too tight though. Mobility yet stability. That should be a new saying. He then looks his black longbow up and down and gives the string a flick. Nice and secure. There's a hook attached to his backpack that allows easy access to the weapon. That's where the bow will hang until needed. The Lyastri gives the tent one more scan for any lagging items. Ah ha! Meri's equipment! Anything Meri will be bringing on the adventure will be magically put into the side pocket of Magik's backpack. Ya know, for easier access. By the time Meri suggests the other couple discuss things, he was reaching for Meri's hand anyways. He then follows her out into the cold to wait on the path. He looks to the other tent then down the path. After pulling Meri close to him, she would probably notice the snow is falling everywhere besides on the couple and his embrace is warmer than usual. The elf smirks before placing his chin on the top of the blonde's head playfully. He whispers quietly to her, " Next daddy sounds weird. Daddy would be fine though." After a soft chuckle and a quick peck to Meri's cheek, he returns his bearded chin to the top of Meri's head. "I'm going to stay out of whatever that was back there but we need everyone in this with a clear head or someone's going to get hurt..or killed." Magik's fiery black eyes look down the path leading north. His voice now a bit more audible, "I hate Frostmaw.."


Lanara swallows hard as she’s nudged by Tiber and he gives the new couple their best, and she wonders what is wrong with her, and why she cannot express herself in an unemotional manner. It’s both a blessing and a curse to feel everything so deeply and Lanara blinks and shakes her head, realizing she’s being foolish. “Yes. Um, we -both- wish you the best.” Her words aren’t as forced, but she’s coming to see that just because Meri isn’t the cuddly type or one to wear her heart on her sleeve, doesn’t mean that her best friend doesn’t love her anymore. Lanara is so caught up in her own feelings that she assumes -everyone- else has to be equally as ready to share their emotions, hug all the time, and declare their intentions every few moments. The witch casts an icy glare at Tiber as he tries to explain hunting to her and she bites the inside of her cheek to halt a heated exchange, “I -know- but I don’t enjoy killing merely for sport.” As Meri explains their intentions and the plan unfolds, Lana trails her gaze from the blonde to her extravagant fur coat, and the lightbulb goes off in her head, “I don’t have an issue wearing the furs because they were put to good use, but if you plan to donate or sell the rest of the wyvern that isn’t needed… I’m alright with that, I suppose.” She knows that Meri is also an animal lover, and it seems that her words have reached Lana’s tapered ears and that she feels slightly better about this whole adventure. Having to adjust to life as a lycan is hard on the brunette, because she has empathic abilities with animals, and as a witch from Kelvar, she was only allowed to eat meat on high holidays. This whole new world is wearing her down, so she eagerly follows Tiber to their tent for a breather, and so that they can place their belongings inside. Lana places some daggers on a bandolier that straps in an ‘x’ pattern across her chest, and opens her spellbook to make certain she has memorized a few that may come in handy. It dawns on her that Tiber assumes she will hunt the wyverns in the guise of Asha, but Lana isn’t sure how to sniff out the beasts or how to attack. “How am I supposed to remember scents?” Nervously, she looks at her mate, before abruptly slipping into his arms and hugging him tightly, “I need you to walk me through all of this when we are out there, because the deer fiasco was -all- Asha and her instincts had nothing to do with me. But today… We are all doing this as a team, so I’m going to follow your lead.” Lana ends her anxious speech by nuzzling her nose against Tiber’s, before she steps back to let him gather his things, and they head over to where Meri and Magik are waiting. She smiles at the couple and motions for their fearless lead to guide them, and she makes small talk with her friends’ beau along the way, “So! Do you come from a long line of mages? You have a unique name, and as a practitioner of magic, I’m curious.”


Tiber may have not been the best at consoling Lanara through the hunting of animals. Tiberius was not an animal fan. He had just warmed up to the fact of -more- animals at their new house. Maybe it was best to leave it to Meri. He keeps his hands in his pockets idly and sort of looks around the couple’s tent before guiding Lanara out to their own. He sets his stuff to the side before shifting the recurve bow that rested over his torso. Arrows are equipped in the quiver on his back. The cold rests into the chest of the man, but he decides in the meantime to pull from a small flask to keep warm, and for a bit of bravery. He was not stumbling in like a sad loser like the last time he and Meri took on the hunt, but he did need the edge. Lanara’s panic wafts through the tent and Tiber screws on the lid to the flask before placing a hand on her shoulder to get on her eye-level. “You focus. It should be a natural instinct--our scent is intensified. Picture it like this, you buy some wine at a local market, you smell the aroma. That scent can last for weeks and you wouldn’t even know it due to all the new smells you have come across. Maybe it’s been weeks since you’ve poured that wine, but you still recognize the scent of that wine as you pour it. Your brain won’t forget. You just… know.” He sighs and runs a thumb across the woman’s shoulder. “You’re overthinking it. You have this. I’ll be with you. Every step of the way. You need me, I’m there. Stay close to me. Keep an eye on any chance that it may be open to attack.” He kisses the top of Lanara’s head, and he smirks as she nuzzles his nose before they both meet the others. The Catalian pulls out a cigarette as they all walk--again to keep warm. Tiber side-eyes Lanara as she questions Magik before nonchalantly keeping his own business as Meri leads the group.


Meri :: The words that Magik whispers to Meri earns the man a smirk, because he was right about it being a little weird, but also a nod of her head and a quiet, “We’ll talk about this more later.” Fleur was old enough that she might appreciate some sort of say on this topic. The hunt first. Meri is more than happy to soak up all of the warmth from Magik that she can get but when Lanara and Tiber emerge from their tent and begin to approach, Meri takes a small step away from the tall elf. The group would not be stationary for long, as once Lanara is close enough to begin questioning Magik, Meri begins to walk northward and motions the rest of them to follow. Meri’s reaction is very similar to Tiber’s, except instead of nonchalantly keeping to her own business, her blue eyes end up fixed on the skies above. Magik would be given a sufficient chance to answer Lanara’s question however he deems fit before Meri would issue the gentle reminder, “Camp is not set up too far from a known nest.” It’s not too close, though that might be a matter of opinion given how much ground a wyvern could cover by air in a single day. Meri continues to speak, making a point to keep her voice at a lower volume than normal. “The more we talk, the less we can hear.” Wyverns were not the only creatures they needed to keep aware of. Mammoths. Wolves. Ice Elementals. Their voices could easily pull attention.

Meri :: After about forty or so minutes of trudging on a mostly northward path through snow-laden terrain, Meri stops walking abruptly and why will be obvious. The skies were clear before, only dotted with the occasional cloud, but a wyvern has since decided it is time to take to flight. The size of the wyvern is considerable, they are not looking at young creature, but this beast is still considerably smaller than the dragons of these lands. That does not mean that it should be underestimated, the fact that it was smaller than dragons made meant that it would be considerably swifter. The beast flies in slow circles in the air, not directly above them, not yet but it’s path was steadily bringing it closer.. The current flight pattern was not for the wyvern’s own entertainment, it was searching for something to eat. The hunters could easily become the hunted if they are not careful. Meri is already drawing her bow and readying it just in case, though care would have to be taken if she did take a shot, their scales were sought after for a reason. They offered considerable protection. For now, she was just readying herself in case they are spotted before they make their move. Meri keeps her voice hushed, her first comment is said to Magik, “Remember what I said about the benu’s eyesight?” A brow is lifted, but she keeps on, this time speaking with the team. “It’s going to be hard to make the first move without it noticing us, but I say we go for it. I can try and ground it with my telekinetic abilities, but it’s a strong creature and will resist. I think that would be easier if it was distracted with fending off...arrows. Fire. Spells. Whatever you can hit it with.” Meri is looking to Magik to see if he was on board, because if he was…? He’s up.


Magik :: As Meri takes a step away, Magik turns around to look the other couple up and down. The elf keeps to himself as everyone puts in a fee last words before they head out. Magik lags behind just a couple steps from Meri as she signals that it's time to go. He was just about to play catch up to his love but Lanara's question catches him off guard. He watches Meri for a couple more steps before taking a deep breath in. The elf starts walking backwards with a slight smile on his face as they continue up the path. Manners and such. Does he explain the Lyastri part of his name or just stick to D'Chath? Given his position in the Mage's Guild, he decides to quickly explain the D'Chath side of his blood. "A line of mages, yes. A long line? I couldn't tell ya, unfortunately." The elf looks over his shoulder at Meri then back to Lanara and Tiber. His fiery eyes shift between the two as he continues on. "I know for a fact that my mother had abilities. She had a little bit more of a variety than I do. I know she was gifted her abilities from her father, who I don't know at all. Anything beyond that is unknown to me." After a short pause, he remembers that this line of mages actually continues, "My daughter will continue the lineage as well. She'll be just as powerful or perhaps even more so than I am with proper training and such." Then there is the Lyastri side that only a handful of people know about. Magik is going to keep up with only revealing that to certain people.

Magik :: Meri's voice is noticed behind him. After her first sentence, Magik brings his pointer finger to his lips. His voice lowers as well and quietly whispers to the couple, "We'll talk later." The Lyastri winks then turns back around to quietly catch up to Meri. Normally he would take her hand in his but given the situation and what may be lurking around any corner, free hands are best for now. The snow begins to collect on his head and shoulders as he lowers his body temp during the journey. Occasionally he would look over his shoulder to make sure Lanara and Tiber weren't missing or lagging too far behind.

Magik :: Meri's sudden stop causes Magikrios to repeat the same actions. He nocks a strange looking arrow and immediately looks to the sky. He then nods at Meri's directions. "Be careful, love," he whispers quietly to her before quickly heading further up the path. His bow is brought up and the string pulled back tightly. Looking down the arrow with the string pressed to his nose and lips, his movements are subtle as he follows the wyvern's pattern in the sky. First a deep breath. The elf steadies himself. As he slowly exhales, the arrow is let loose while aiming just ahead of the flying beast. Meri wanted a distraction. A distraction is what she's going to get. The arrow rips through the air quietly before suddenly breaking off into four other arrows. The original arrow is aimed for the wyvern's chest/heart. Should they be so lucky, this would be an easy win. The other arrows head towards the chest as well but end up peeling off and start circling the wyvern. Any opening the wyvern exposes while in flight causes the arrows to obnoxiously poke at the poor creature. Distractions!


Lanara mulls over Tiber’s words as they wander through the wilderness in hopes of finding a wyvern, and honestly, she’s not up for the task. Never before has she turned away from an adventure and she often follows Meri without question, but hunting is entirely out of the element for the animal empath. Could she even call herself an animal empath anymore? Now that she -is- an animal? The witch manages a small smile for her betrothed, “I just may need a bottle of wine after this.” Magik then turns to them and offers a little peek into his past and it works as a distraction, as she focuses on something other than hunting for the moment. His magic stems from the maternal side? Perhaps he is a witch! Lana nods encouragingly and pauses as he mentions a daughter, “How old is your daughter?” She assumes this is how the couple met, likely over a playdate, as Fleur is a curious little nugget! She wants to say more, but Tiber is giving her the ‘look’ and then Meri tells them to pipe down as their voices can carry in the wind, so Lana keeps her mouth shut. She studies Magik as he wanders over to Meri, unable to keep his eyes off of the psion, and it seems they have great chemistry. Although it’s new, and she’s wary around strangers, particularly men, she cannot find anything obviously ‘wrong’ with the male. He makes eye contact, he was open about his lineage, and he has bow hunting skills, so if Meri glances her way she will give her friend a nod of approval. Not that Meri needs it, because she -is- a grown woman, but it’s nice when your friends approve of your new boyfriend!

Lanara :: As the wyvern appears overhead, Lana instinctively lifts her hand to point, likely about to mumble something about it’s mesmerizing scales. However, she does not speak. This isn’t one of her animal rescue missions and she’s already been told to shush once. There is a look of pain in her dark eyes as Magik lets loose a flurry of arrows, because she knows what she must do. The three that whirl through the whistling wind annoy the heck out of the beast, causing it to thrash about in the air and try to bat at the arrows. However, the one that is meant to strike its heart strays slightly off course, and it’s now that Lanara steps into action. Focusing herself, she whispers in sylvan and the arrow seems to have a mind of its own as it bends in the opposite direction and forcefully plunges into the chest of the wyvern. The hellish howl that follows makes the woman sick, so she stumbles backwards, and clings to Tiber’s arm. Her gaze remains trained on the flow of blood that pours from the wound, as Magik’s other arrows keep the wyvern wildly trying to defend itself. All that movement causes the blood to trickle faster, and it’s then that the heavy crunching of snow is heard just around the bend. Is there another wyvern? How many ribs did Meri say they would need? Lana remains quiet, but she’s wishing that her instincts to kill would kick in already, because all she feels is guilt and sadness.


Tiber was really itching to say something like “please, don’t stop on our account” when it came to the other couple hugging, but he decided not to be a turd today. Instead, he trudges through the snow in that forty minute span in a lack-of-words--due to Meri, but also that was how he was in general. Tiber was the quiet one. Lanara was the chatterbox. A cute chatterbox, but yeah, he was keeping that to himself. As they approach the beast, Tiber comes to a stop. He observes the wyvern with a squinty gaze at the size of the creature. A smaller dragon than the red and blue dragons he fought with Meri a long time prior. Would this wyvern have an egg, too? Can Tiber pawn one off again? Slowly his bow is pulled from his torso. Tiber’s hand pulses towards Lanara’s arm that lifts to point to make sure she is fully stopped in protective instinct. The Catalian had promised to be by her side during the hunt. Luckily Lanara was in the hands of some decent hunters. “Don’t move,” he does not speak vocally, only in silent words. She better be good at reading lips because the man is not in the mood to get his booty kicked by a dragon today. His eyes shift to Meri, and he gives a nod in understanding with a small smile. Eyes shift to Magik who is preparing an arrow. The flurry of arrows soar through the air, and knock in various places while Lanara’s arrow plunges straight towards the beast’s chest. Did it knock the chest right? The dragon had been bleeding, and Lanara lunged to grip Tiber’s arm tightly. He turns, lips press against her head before he has to pull away. “I’m sorry,” he mouths before he lifts his own bow with an arrow on it. One eye squints as he pulls back aiming through the arrow rest. He angles to try to direct the arrow point towards one of the eyes of the beast that is, probably at this point, throwing a fit. If Tiber could blind a beast, that would be a great idea. Does it hit? Well, who knew because he was hearing another loud clap of vibration through the distance. He has no time to focus on what the single crunching vibration was, and he looks to Lanara as if he wants to comfort the paranoid woman, but he is not sure if the wyvern is dead in front of him, so he refrains. Time to be the mean Alpha he was supposed to be. This afterall was practice for the witch. The man then pulls another arrow back to wait to see if the wyvern that was shot with several arrows was still active and willing to attack. He was not messing around today with that stoic gaze.


Meri :: A barrage of arrows is released by the entire hunting party, everyone except for Meri, with Magik being the one who fires off first. The airborne wyvern makes a poor instinctual reaction with attempting to bat Magik’s arrows out of the sky, it proves to be highly ineffective. Two of the arrows released by Magik do not manage to penetrate through the wyvern’s scales, they impact and then ricochet off of the hardened scales back down to the earth. The trajectory of the ricochetted arrows has them colliding into the snow well away from the hunters. The remaining two arrows that Magik released manage to find weak spots within the body of the winged-beast, one colliding with a wing and the other burying itself in the chest area of the wyvern. Lanara’s blessed arrow does indeed manage to plunge into the chest of the wyvern, but given the amount of protection those scales offer, that arrow does not sink in with enough depth to penetrate any lethal organs. It does draw blood, but given the size of the creature it would take a considerable amount of time for the beast to bleed out. The wyvern releases a ferocious howl, one that has enough intensity that the sound vibrations cause the snow that has accumulated in the branches of dead trees to be knocked loose and hit the earth. Meri’s hope was that at some point during this distraction she would be able to put her telekinetic abilities to good use and pull the winged creature down to the earth but she won’t be given a decent window of opportunity. Not even a full second after Lanara’s arrow makes impact with the wyvern’s chest, the beast tucks its wings close against it’s body so that it can divebomb for the nearest set of hunters. Unfortunately, that is Magik and Meri.

Meri :: As the beast plummets downward straight for Magik and Meri, it’s jaws open up wide and a torrent of ice is spewed at the couple. It is this attack that forces Meri to abandon the original plan of action. The psion reacts instinctually and rather than focusing her telekinetic abilities on the wyvern itself, it is utilized in a defensive manner. Meri takes a single step closer to Magik just to make sure that he is within range of her defense, but she does not reach out to take hold of any of his limbs as she does not want to hinder or impede his own movements during this hunt. The couple might feel the temperatures drop around them as a result of this ice attack, but not a single shard of ice manages to make it to the couple. Magik and Meri are both protected by an unseen barrier of energy and the end result is that the couple now has a thick wall of ice in front of them, one that curves just slightly over their head. This is when Tiber’s arrow comes into play, connecting straight with the wyvern’s eye socket as intended. If the angle had been slightly different, it might have been a lethal blow. That arrow could have potentially connected with the wyvern’s brain. It doesn’t though. It does create another wound that is bleeding profusely; the more this beast bleeds the faster it will die but for the moment iit is still quite lively. Tiber’s attack serves to pull the wyvern’s attention on Lanara and Tiber next. At the last possible second the wyvern unfurls its wings so that it can land on the snow-covered ground between the two couples. With another angry roar, a torrent of ice is released toward Tiber and Lanara. There are a few trees that dot the space between Tibara and the wyvern and it might seem like they might offer some very small amount of shielding from the ice attack that is being launched at them. Alas, no. In this already freezing climate, the second the additional chill is introduced to these trees, they begin to explode from the sheer cold of it. Each tree that explodes results in an uncomfortable loud bang that echoes through the area and splinters of ice-covered wood are sent flying in all directions indiscriminately at all parties, hunter and beast alike.

Meri :: All of this commotion has indeed pulled the attention of something, but it is not a second wyvern. In fact, it is more like someone. From around the bend a figure emerges with a white and winged companion, his features are almost impossible to make out because the male is bundled up in heavy furs to help with the cold. He appears to be very bearded, though. Perhaps he is a member of the Eyrie? They are known to frequent the area of Frostmaw and have historically had winged companions. None of the hunters would find out who this stranger and companion would be, for he watches from a very comfortable and safe distance but does not seem to have an interest in interfering. The male says something to the white griffon at his side, it’s hard to hear what he is saying...but in the end the man climbs up on the back of the griffon and the two fly away leaving the hunting party to face their wyvern.


Magik :: As soon as the first arrow was loosed, Magik had already nocked another arrow and pulled the bowstring back. His focus remained on the wyvern while the couple behind him did their own things. Perfect. There was no reaction from the elf until the wyvern started throwing a hissy fit. We are just trying to harvest a wyvern. Magik wasn't sure why the wyvern wouldn't be okay with this. Even with the ice falling towards him, the elf refuses to move as he looks down the arrow rest and towards the sky, waiting for that perfect shot. Had Meri not threw that protective barrier up, Magik was probably just going to melt the ice away one way or another. The elf was just about to let loose as he spots an opening on this suicide bombing wyvern but Tiber's shot throws the beast off course. As the wyvern twists and changes his course at the last second, Magik is quick to do the same. He twists around and fires an arrow at the creature's tail. It only pierces halfway through however. After dropping his bow, Magik dives at the wyvern's tail. The elf grasps the arrow to get the wyvern's attention. Magik gets dragged across the ground for a few feet. He finally finds his footing and tugs at the arrow. " 'Ey!" Magik yells to get the wyvern's attention just incase it's new tail piercing didn't send the message. After the wyvern sends sharpened ice at Lanara and Tiber, it is quick to turn back to face Magik. The Lyastri releases the tail and drops his left hand to his side. Blood starts to drop from the elf's palm to paint the snow below. The wyvern staggers but stares down the elf, making his intention clear. "Come on.." Magik speaks quietly then suddenly yells the words once more. As he does so, the wyvern suddenly leaps to the elf. Magik holds his ground firmly until the last possible second. The elf then slides forward under the creature's bite and throws his left hand up into the jaw where an arrow is released from Magik's palm. From the jaw and out of the top of the wyvern's skull a thick black arrow now rests, dripping black flames. As the wyvern goes limp immediately, Magik manages to hold the dead weight of the skull and gently lays it to the side as the wyvern falls. Upon laying it on the ground, the elf stands and pats the wyvern's cheek. He speaks quietly, "This wasn't supposed to go this way.." He then looks to Meri then to Lanara and Tiber to check on their status.


Lanara gives a look of impatience towards the stranger that rounds the bend, and she spares a less hostile glance towards his griffon companion, before her attention is cast back upon the debacle above them. The wyvern is reacting as one would expect, because when the options are fight or flight, a magnificent beast is more likely to protect it’s domain and take out whoever gets in the way. First, it seems that Meri and Magik are the intended targets, and there is brief concern in Lana’s gaze as she cares for the psion, even if their friendship is up and down these days. Nevertheless, her worrying is pointless, as the wall of ice protects the couple from anything fatal. The explosion of trees makes the witch quirk a brow and she can feel her inner wolf threatening to make an appearance, as the wyvern is now issuing an attack on her and her mate, and destroying nature in its wake! Lana’s instinct is to unleash Asha and let her go toe to toe with the beast, as inexperienced as she is in her true wolf form, though the human part of her has a better trick up her sleeve. She hadn’t thought she would be able to use her empathic abilities on this trip, but she stands tall and proud, her long hair blowing wildly about her fair face as she sets her sights on the wyvern. It comes close enough that she can practically smell its foul breath, and a faint trail of ice dots her high cheekbones, as she opens her arms as though preparing to give it a hug. “It’s alright…” Hopefully, Tiber had used the cover of the trees and had been wise enough to run, because time is of the essence and there is a chance this may backfire! The brunette closes her eyes and waits for the body of the beast to collide against her animalistic aura, but in a flash, the wyvern turns to protect its tail and is impaled by an arrow that had magically sprung from Magik’s bloody palm. Dark eyes open and are full of fury as she closes her hands into fists and bites the inside of her cheek, because if Meri or Tiber -dare- to reassure her that this hunt will be a wonderful experience and a great thing for the guild, she is going to snap. With the wyvern dead, she knows the next step is to gut the carcass and carefully remove the rib cage, and so Lana stands a bit off to the side. There is no way she is taking any part in dissecting an innocent animal that they had just slaughtered! She holds open a large duffle bag that will house the bones that are to be transported to Nikola, and she avoids making eye contact with anyone, pressing her lips tightly together so that she doesn’t say something she will later regret.


Tiber frowns as Meri and Magik become the intended targets of this madness. What would one expect when fighting a wyvern, though? Risky events were bound to happen, and well, perhaps they all should have had a better plan ahead, but Tiberius was ruthless and never planned much of anything that he got himself into. The explosion of trees makes the man now throw a few curses—like that would do anything to stop the chaos. Tiber is about to take another shot towards the wyvern because Tibara is its next focus. This time, the head if he could, but… Tiber can sense the bond with his mate. Luca is going off the walls in the back of his mind. Growling and creating agitation on the back of the Alpha’s neck. Whatever Lanara was about to do, he did not want it, so the bow is lowered. The wyvern was angry, and this was a dangerous situation—he is not running. Not without her, nor would he leave Meri and Magik to fend for themselves. “Lanara!” He yells trying to warn the girl to stay back with a harsh tone before the head of the dragon becomes impaled in the course of Magik’s actions. A hand reaches to grip Lanara’s arm, but within that one touch, he can feel the seething energy coming from his fiancé. Asha is angry. Lanara is angry. This is bad, but this was what… hunting was, right? Better not vocalize it. Maybe hunting was not as chaotic as it had become today, but they had been here for a reason, and Tiber was not as empathetic as the animal lover he loved dearly. That single callused hand lets go of his beloved in her fit of rage and instead of poking his mate, he continues forth with the mission at hand. Lanara can yell at him later. Right now, the Catalian moves towards Magik to check on his standing since he was the one to force the final blow on the wyvern. “… I’m sorry this didn’t go as…” pause. He is careful with his words for Lanara’s sake in the background. “Magik, are you okay?” Tiber asking someone if they were ‘okay’? It must have been because of the psion. Amber eyes trail towards Meri and then Lanara who is not looking at anyone, but holds a duffle bag. “Let’s just… finish this.” He runs his hands through his blonde hair before pulling out his equipped blades. The man turns and gently pulls on the duffle bag Lanara holds because deep down, he did not want her looking at something she did not want to. He does not speak to her because through their connection, he knows. He was on thin ice right now. He was the one to convince Lanara 'it would be okay' in the first place. Tiber’s movements are slow and careful around the witch, and once, and if, he receives the duffle, he will wait for Meri for the next move.


Meri’s current status was that of wide-eyed concern. The blonde knew that Magik was more than capable, this was not the first hunt they have been on together, but a benu was not a wyvern. She couldn’t help that twisting feeling in her stomach, but she has always been good at containing her emotions. The blonde was instead moving forward while simultaneously drawing the sword that she brought with her, just in case she found herself in a situation where a bow was not suitable. Much to the psion’s relief, Magik has the situation well under control, as he utilizes a trick she has seen from him once before. It’s got a twist to it this time, instead of watching that palm arrow slam into the trunk of a tree, it collides through the jaw of the large beast and causes the wyvern to meet a swift end. Meri continues on her path toward Magik, but at a less rushed pace now that the beast is dead. Much like the first time that the woman saw Magik release one of his palm arrows, the blonde ends up reaching for his hand to inspect it, expecting that it’d be bloodied just like the last time. This time, though, they are way out in the frozen tundra of Frostmaw. Meri might have an understanding that it will heal rapidly, but if Magik would let her then the psion is going to end up spending a few moments fussing over it and applying some very basic bandaging. Let’s not go giving Meri the title of doctor, but one might hope that she at least knows the basics. This is her top concern first and foremost, not dissecting the wyvern right in front of Lanara. Magik’s words are heard and it causes Meri to send an apologetic look up to the very tall elf. Honestly, Meri felt like she had a lot of apologizing to do after this hunt, and not just for the fact that it went chaotic. That would be a private conversation between the couple. Tiber is given an appreciative but brief smile for the concern that he displays over Magik’s well-being. Meri is silent for a moment and then she shifts her gaze to Lanara, the duffle bag, and Tiber. “Ah, I think that it would be best for Magik and I to take it from here.” Lanara’s discomfort was obvious, and Meri had said from the start that she was not here to make anyone do anything they did not want to do. “You two are more than welcome to make yourself comfortable back in the tent we set up for you, but don’t feel obligated to wait for us to return. This will probably take us awhile.” Another glance at the duffle bag, an entire wyvern would not fit in there anyway, and Meri had stated she was not looking to put this animal to waste. Meri would in fact make no move to begin any field dressing of the wyvern until Tiber and Lanara were far enough away that they could not turn around and witness anything further.


Magik gives the wyvern's cheek one more pat before Tiber's words fill his ears. The elf pauses with a hand laid on the wyvern's head. The Lyastri turns his head slowly towards the couple and nods, "Yeah. You two good?" Before they can reply, Meri had taken his bloodied hand and began wrapping it up. He manages a soft smile as a thank you before taking a few small steps away from the fresh kill to get a good look at the creature. As he takes in the details of the wyvern, his backpack is removed from his back. The elf kneels down and rummages through while Meri speaks to Lanara and Tiber. First, a snack. He grabs an exceptionally long strip of beef jerky and lets it hang out of the corner of his mouth while he slowly chews on it. Next, a bundle of knives is spread out on a cloth just next to him. "Gotta get this done quick," he quietly says to himself as he looks around at the frozen area. As soon as Meri is ready, he begins the field dressing process. Not a bit of this poor creature is going to be waste. Nikola will get what she needs. Everything else will be properly processed, butchered, and perhaps a bit will be donated to those in need. Wyvern steaks, anyone?


Lanara :: Once the initial shock of what had happened wears off and only the guilt remains, the witch finds herself staring at the Catalian’s handsome face, as he is attempting to wrench the duffle bag from her grasp. Lanara knows that Meri and Magik must think she’s a fool, Tiber likely pities his soon to be wife, and she’s certain that her inner wolf is embarrassed by her obvious lack of hunting skills. Lana knows little about injuring or killing animals, as it’s in her nature to befriend and rescue, and a select few have grown on to become her most trusted familiars. Heck, before she was turned, it was rare to even see the woman eat meat! Only on special occasions such as a high holiday, or if she had fallen ill and needed the extra strength. Lana’s cheeks are a fiery shade, from wind burn as well as shame, but she refused to back down because she would have done anything for her guildmates. “How could yesterday have been so beautiful and today be so horrific…?” She whispers the words to her betrothed, before allowing him to take ahold of the bag, and she focuses on Magik next, “I’m a fairly decent healer… I can take a look at your hand, if you like?” Meri seems to have everything under control, and so she quickly adds, “I have salves, antiseptic, needle, thread, and fresh bandages in our tent, too.” The psion’s words are bittersweet as they reach her tapered ears, because she feels that she has royally screwed up their hunt, and that perhaps the Guild now views her as a complete failure. Is Meri’s offer of them to leave because she knows that Lana will likely bawl over the carcass of the wyvern? Or does she just want the two of them out of her sight as they hadn’t offered much help? “Um… Okay. We will wait back at the tent and prepare dinner and a nice fire.” She pauses, lifting her chocolate eyes to lock with the piercing cerulean hues of Meri, “I’m sorry that I suck at this, trust me, I’m still learning the ropes as a wolf… I’m not sure where one part of me ends and the other begins.” Her genetic makeup is at war with itself, as she’s half huntress and half healer to those in the food chain. “If you are planning to host the annual barbecue this year, please let me know! I’m happy to help plan and you know that’s an area that I have lots of experience in, should you need a hand!” A feigned smile is offered, before she links her arm through Tiber’s, and gently leads him back to camp.


Tiber watches Lanara carefully let go of the bag. Her words that escape her mouth about horrors makes his features reflect empathy for the woman. It was not easy for her, and this was only the beginning of the new life she took. The new curse that pulsed through her veins. He does not speak, but only gives her a stare of knowing full well what she meant. He turns to Meri who is keen on getting the job done and getting Lanara away from the situation. The man, although almost wanting to resist Meri’s suggestion, caves in. Baby steps, Tiberius. Lanara would get the hang of it soon. A nod is given off to the Lyastri and the psion while eyes make their way back to Lanara. “Well said. We’ll meet you two back at camp.” He lets Lanara do the talking about being better at hosting parties and he smirks in that moment before he is being tugged. Before he fully turns to follow his fiance, he tries to catch Meri and Magik with a single silent phrase that Lanara would not be able to hear. Only if lips were read could one see. “Time.” The witch needed time to balance herself out. Surely Meri would have to understand with the waves of emotion of a new lycan. Clearly the empathetic witch had a hard time containing her empathy with the rise and fall of events and emotions. Then, his head would turn back and a single arm would wrap around Lanara’s shoulders before he pulled her in for a kiss on the head as they travelled back to the tents.