RP:You Start Walking Your Way, I'll Start Walking Mine

From HollowWiki

He would have found them along the path; Sabrina and Rohk traveling to Eastern Frostmaw in full battle gear. Well, Sabrina anyway, that is how Rohk always looked. The hound would have smelled the Avian before Sabrina, making some joke about 'chicken' that caused her to giggle and look beyond the drifts to a shadowy figure on approach. Her bow was drawn; taken from about her form and poised at the ready in half a blink. She moved fast when she needed to, so fast as to trick the untrained eye. An arrow flickered brilliantly blue- brighter at her fingers and the knock but faded to a glittery translucent near the middle. It was not full force they way she conjured it, clearly this “Radas” whispered gently on the wind was a warning shot, nothing more. She released in a fluid movement, the parting of thin gloved fingers loosing the rush of icy winds toward the figure that neared them in the distance. The bows sights are dropped as the piece dangles effortlessly from her fingertips. She leans forward from atop the hound, tightening her thighs under the lifted hackles in case defensive maneuvers did indeed take place. She was streamlined with the hellbeast, who by now stood out like a sore thumb in his gleaming scarlet aura that darkened the creases between ebon scales. He looked quite literally like he could burst in an angry heat. The arrows enchantment carried across the short distance, the icey rush speeding toward the Avian with enough force to push him backwards if he did not instinctively tuck those heavy wings in. She said nothing to him as this unfolded, until she knew who he was … in these lands, he was a threat.

It was miserably cold already, tracking Sabrina and her damned hellhound up the side of this seemingly endless slope. Josiah winced with pain as his foot sunk a little too deep into the snow, pulling at his ribs and spreading the almost-healed scar apart. He was not in good spirits...the last time he had gone this long without seeing Sabrina she had almost ended up dead, and he along with her. The wind whipped his hood off of his head, and he snatched it back on angrily. In doing so, he saw a flicker of blue light in the distance, and stopped dead in his tracks, his hand falling to his blade. He pulled it out as quietly as he could, not knowing if it was friend or foe ahead. Either way he did not think he had the upper hand. He stood silently and waited for the stranger to make their move...and suddenly the light has hurtling towards him, faster than anything he had seen in quite some time. Without thinking, he hacked blindly at the bolt with his blade, but missed, instead feeling it hit him in the right wing, under his arm. He didn't feel pain, but he knew it had landed true. He glanced down, looking for blood, but there was none. Could it possibly be true? He had only read through Sabrina's work for an hour or two, but he had gotten the idea. Were his wings some sort of armor? He grinned stupidly, but then snapped back to reality. Someone was aiming for him, and it was time to move. He pumped his wings, and broke right, into the forest, trying to find cover.

She leaned forward on her mount, resting elbow on Rohk's shoulders to support her weight. She wore a fur-lined cloak, such a trivial amount of protection considering the wild elements that would normally render one to smart to travel in it. When the stranger sought refuge in the scant forest her head cant to the side and wondered what kind of coward would venture to these lands alone. Instinctively Ro wandered in that direction, curiosity boiling inside him as it should any time something began to ran away; he was still a hound after all and giving chase is a pastime that often reaped tasty rewards. When they came to the edge of the dead and twisted treeline she propped herself once more,staring into the deep in search of this person who may need her help... be it healing or dying, for now she was indifferent to either outcome.

He ran as fast as he could with his unsure footing into the forest...not away from the danger, but around it. He needed to get a better line of sight, and whoever was out there had already proven themself to be a marksman. He tok refuge behind an old, fallen tree trunk, catching his breath, and looking at the refelection of the scenery behind him, searching for anything blue. Or anything at all. He had to make an approach sooner or later, but he wanted to know what he was dealing with. Sabrina may have already found trouble in the mountains, and he intended to track her down. He watched, and he listened, and he waited. He just needed a sign, something to go on, and he would erupt into action. His leg muscles were relaxed, conserving energy for whatever was coming. His wings drew themselves into a tight arc around him, blending in with the snow, and possibly sheilding him. He supposed it was time to put them to the test.

Rohk didn't mind the chase, for as long as it held his interest. The would-be victim though, wandered far enough for him to lose interest. There were much more violent things he could play with that weren't so easy to scare. In a human-like shrug he leaves the tree line. Cat and mouse could be left for another day. They walked the treeline East. Both Sabrina and the hound looked to be in deep thought between themselves, indicated by a brief nod now and again and a definite head shake that showed Rohk was displeased with some news he had been given. He stops in his tracks, indifferent to the dangers that may or may not be here, and dumps the Elfess to the ground. She stared at him for a long minute before taking the bow from about her form and swinging it full force and with good aim to his face. There was a spark when contact was made, accompanied with nails-on-a-chalkboard echoing off the dead forest. She stomped off, continuing East; the hound parted ways heading west. The insufferable Elfess would come begging for forgiveness in no time.

The Paladin sat, poised for battle, for quite some time. It seemed his attacker may have fled...or had found some vantage point with which to strike more accurately. The snow was falling slowly, but it had covered his boots to the ankle, and begun to weigh heavily on his wings. He stood up, slowly, turning to regard the path he had left behind carefully. His wings he kept tucked close to himself, as he realized they may indeed be useful, at least for defelecting an arrow or two. He saw no movement, no lights, heard no voices. He kept his blade out, and flexed his muscles, trying to keep the blood distributed correctly despite the cold. He hated the snow. He wondered what in the hell would drive Sabrina up into the mountains...had he offended her so badly? He couldn't just turn around and head home, although it was tempting. She might need him. He ventured back to the pathway, watching carefully, paying special attention to the treetops, looking for an archer ready to strike. Seeing none, he stepped back onto the path, and continued on his way, following the tracks. When he got to the area where the arrow must have been fired from, he squatted low, trying to read detail through the fresh layer of snow that had accumulated. He couldn't be certain, but it looked like whoever had fired at him had also been tracking Sabrina and Rohk. He kept his sword at the ready and quickened his pace.

She did not travel swiftly, but she did travel light. She was too steaming mad at that blasted hound to concern herself with the elements that were closing in. She mutters elvish words like 'ungrateful' and 'arrogant' asking questions like 'who does he think he is' with not but the wind whipping raven tresses angrily in the growing winds. She stops in her tracks, glancing at the vast emptiness behind her that looked very similar to the vast emptiness just ahead. She was still to angry, or uncaring, to realize she was losing herself in the harsh frozen wilderness. She continues on a few steps but is halted abruptly to a snap of twig over her right shoulder. What ever made the noise would have had to do it purposefully since the dead things that had fallen here were covered by snow ages ago. She pulls her hood close over her face, lifting the bow with ease over her head to lay at the ready between gloved and nimble fingers. It was now she noticed the cold ripping through the threads of her uniform. If there was any reason to miss that hound, the blistering cold invited that reason in.

It was pitch dark, and Josiah was completely miserable. Everything was too wet to make a fire with...he told himself it was his own fault for not bringing dry tinder. He couldn't see much by the light of the crescent moon, but it appeared that he was still on the same path. As far as tracking was concerned, it was out of the question. He was worried about Sabrina more than himself...Rohks tracks had disappeared long before hers, and he couldn't imagine why she would continue alone, or who may be following her, or what may be laying in wait ahead. He shook his head angrily, and leaned back, yelling her name as loud as he could. He listened to the echo come back to him time and again, and imagined the deep places on either side of the path that he dare not leave. He yelled her name again, almost screamed it, and then sat down in exhaustion as the echoes did their best to drive him crazy.

She had kept her poise for a long time, counting endlessly in her head for the amount of time a normal predator would have used to further his progress once he'd been found out. There was no point really, all the things out here that could harm her had no qualms about announcing their arrival. Frosted mint gems turn skyward to where the moon glinted of the iced over branches. It was colder up there, but it was also dryer. She began the climb. From the top of the treeline she could make out a clearing with a faint glow a little North and to the West. She had come from that way with Ro only hours ago. It was remarkable how intensely the warmth complained against the contrasting white even despite the wind and steadier snowfall. She thought she heard her name, shaking off the experience as tricks of the wind before she tightened a rope about her legs to keep her one with the tree for rest. Her eyes close restfully, the rest of her face hidden by a fur-lined leather face mask and a mess of strands whipping around the edges of the equally furry cloak. She wasn't getting colder and that made her smile to herself. Rohk was keeping track of her; feeling warm was the first sign he was even near. She heard her name again, this time she was sure it wasn't her ind playing tricks on her and she leans away from the tree, tilting pointed ear in that direction for a better version of its clarity. It was a long pause, so long she almost gave up on the sound of her name riding across the tundra. “Josiah.” She fit a name to that voice and she rises from her spot on the branch- or at least tries to since she had forgotten she tied herself down to it. Cursing she untangles the rope and leaves it dangling alone and abandoned. She was already on the ground, backtracking her steps in the direction of the call. Her heart was pounding. Did he know what lurked out here? Was he already injured? Why in Sven's name would he go this way to begin with? She had heard of those of the Eyrie and their flying patrols, maybe that had something to do with it.

He was back on his feet shortly, trudging mindlessly through the snow. He had given up on rest or refuge...tonight it was just him and the wind, and the snow. In the morning he would find some shelter and sleep for an hour or so before continuing. He put one foot in front of the other, thinking of nothing, just moving forward. He was bitterly exhausted, and he wondered where he was. Was this Frostmaw? Not yet, he didn't believe. If he was getting close, he was in danger. But it didn't matter. He had to find her. All of his injuries were trying to talk to him at the same time, but he ignored them. He would rest with her beside him, or not at all.

She came upon him much faster than she anticipated, his silhouette trudging into view matched that of the one she shot at hours ago. It must have been the wings that made him look so ominous and bulky from such a great distance, but she heard her name and so his form did not strike her as particularly imposing. She did not greet him, stubbornly walking directly in his path with balled fists and pink cheeks poking over the face mask. Whens he was finally in ear shot she would direct the most obvious question to him, demanding to know “What are you doing out here.” It was as if he didn't belong, as if he over stepped his bounds, as if Doctors orders should have implied some much needed down time.

At the sound of her voice, Josiah's heart jumped into his throat. He thought he might have just gone mad. He looked up from the frozen path, and there she was...looking angry at him. He couldn't reply. He was too relieved to have her in front of him again. And although he knew it was against her ways, he stepped forward quickly and wrapped his arms tightly around her, squeezing her to him silently. 

She could have punched him in the throat moments ago, but now, wrapped in his embrace. She was frozen in shock. Her hands rose up as far as they would go, the thought of returning the gesture far from her mind as she gulped solidly in the oddest of silences. You could have heard a pin drop through the eerie winds. What he wouldn't have heard was the sounds of a rushing beasty who lurked just out of view from either of them. He plowed into them both, shoulder first, in an effort to knock the two apart. He saw this chicken before, smelled him on the wind... fought near him in Xalious not long ago. But, he touched his person and she wasn't hurt or anything, and so he charged with full force at both of them because this action was most definitely not sanctioned.

Josiah went hurtling backwards, into the snowbank on the side of the path. His legs were exhausted, and had no defense for the charge. However, his mind was still active, and he had just been in heaven...he rose out of the snow with rage in his heart. "What the HELL, Rohk?!" he shouted. 

Sabrina went flying as well, though she had enough energy in her to at very least land on her feet. Rohk paced between them, nostrils flared and snorting out plumes of steam; all four eyes fixed on Josiah with intent to kill. “Ro” Sabrina protested long enough to be shot an angry glance that silenced her mid sentence. His attention was back on the Avian, pace halted to square off; a formal gesture of challenge. “He is not in good form.” She challenged his honor in return and with painful hesitation he walks thoughtful circles between them. Black scales flexed up and down like thousands of mini rudders directing the vented heat that came off him. He snorted a few rude notes at her, arguing his point and claim to that male. She explains to Josiah over beastly shoulder “Rohk understands we had a mis-communication last night. He would like to rectify the situation through a proper duel.” She adds in more loudly “I told him it was my fault, and that it wouldn't happen again... but he seems to have STOPPED LISTENING.” She kicks snow at Ro's backside only to watch it sizzle off his buttcrack and evaporate into the wind. Twin tails take a lashing at her face, but she is quick enough (and under enough experience) to dodge the much anticipated swipe.

Josiah cracked his neck...hard. If this was how it had to be, he was ready. He thought maybe he could use the Preklek tactics he had seen against the beast...although whether he would be agile enough remained to be seen. "Let's get it done with, then," he said. "Come on, you worthless thing!" he hollered. "What are you waiting for?!" He braced himself, but didn't bother taking out his sword...where would he stick it? And he knew that if he hurt Rohk, he hurt Sabrina...this much he had been able to gather. He stood there in the snowbank, waiting to see what the beast would do. He stooped low, holding his shield off to the side, snarling at the hellhound in genuine disgust.

Rohk snorted a wad of snot in Josiah's direction, Sabrina face palmed in minor disgust at his actions. “You look like the bad end of a horse... please stop.” His pride was being threatened now, if he backed down to every humanoid that crossed his path, where would it end? He crouched down in the lunging position, taloned paws bullying the ground to find harder ground for leverage on the proposed lunge. He snorts again, gaze deepening into Josiah's own and his growl so deep in the bellows the Avian would feel the vibrations of it rippling through his core. At a height of five foot round the shoulder and the bulk of nearly three tons to back it up he had little to worry about in a fluffy feathered foe. But he was going to make a show out if it, teach a lesson to the wee birdy in a way he would never forget. Maybe even take a flapper with him, if the opportunity presented itself. Scales flexed, opening and closing to a reverberating state where the friction began sparking small flames all over his form. His Hackles were tight though, full well knowing his weak spot was an invitation for defeat. Throwing up her hands at the audacity of them both she crosses thin limbs across ample chest and plops down where she stood to sit cross legged in the snow. “Fine.”

He took a breath, centering himself. He realized this was not a fight that he could win. The best he could hope for was to stay alive and intact long enough to earn the beasts respect. He stared into its fiery eyes and waited for it to make a move. He dug his feet more firmly into the ground for traction, and discovered there was quite a slope directly behind him. It seemed this battle was taking place on a narrow strip of firm ground, which could be a blessing or a curse. Remembering how Sabrinas name had echoed around him, He knew it would be quite a fall if he was forced from this spot. Beads of sweat formed under his hood despite the cold. He waved Rohk forward. "What's wrong, Rohk?" He snarled with false confidence. 


As the duo locked gazes with their stupid display she tantrumed her way out of sight and out of mind. They two were so concerned over who was in the right, her absence may have gone unnoticed for some time. “Idiots” was the last word she uttered before moving of to what one would assume was merely a safe distance. She wasn't getting between it.