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Hide and Seek
by Red 30th July 2012, 8:43 pm
She scrabbled up the side of the tree, bare hands scraping against the rough bark as she searched for traction. Her shoes were worn so far through that she could feel the bark against her feet, and she gave a sigh of relief as she finally pulled herself up to a crook in the branches. She breathed softly through her mouth, shifting until she was at least somewhat comfortable.
She braced her feet against the branches and let her arms hang down, her canvas bag hanging from her wrist and blending in with the bark behind it. The first time she’d been out here, in the wilderness like this, she had been terrified of heights, but she’d been more terrified of running into any of the wandering bands of men, the lawless ones who called no city-state their home.
She snorted. Guess I’m one of them, now.
She looked out across the wilderness, a wilderness that seemed even more forlorn peppered as it was by the remnants of civilization. The process was a long one, the reclaiming of the suburbs by the wild. Of course, the plague only affected those living, so for many, many years the buildings had stood simply empty, the lawns growing more and more unkempt, the trees falling down and destroying the buildings they once guarded.
At least, that’s what was said. Papa said his grandmother used to tell stories, passed down throughout the generations, of how before the plague came food was plentiful and water came out of a tube in your house. Then again, the same grandparents told stories of fairies and goblins, so she wasn’t taking such ideas at face value.
She glanced out over at the wilderness around her. She was at the edge of an old suburb – cement could just barely been seen amongst the weeds on the ground, remnants of old roads, and the foundation of a house stood next to her tree, half filled with dirt.
Further, still, through the thin layer of trees, she could see the skyscrapers, or what was left, their top floors fallen down among the streets where people lived.
Utopia, he called it. That was the name Papa O’Leary gave it, at least, and when he ran the place, it certainly was a utopia in comparison to the wilderness. The rationing was strict, the guards even stricter, and all lawbreakers were punished harshly, but it was better than the wilderness. At least, until O’Leary decided to up and die and leave his son Ian in charge.
She suspected the man was paranoid. Maybe just jealous. But the moments he got his hands on Utopia, he decided to turn it to hell for mages like her.
Magic, so she’d heard, was a relatively new thing. With all the old technology gone, people thought to turn back to older arts. And, to their surprise, it worked.
It took a certain talent and a great deal of study to master even one discipline, and the power it afforded one… it was no surprise Ian was paranoid. Mages were called monsters, ill omens, accused of all kinds of filth, and people had no choice but to follow along with it. Ian had the guard in his pocket. Eventually, people started to believe it. And she and Papa slowly fell back to the edge of Utopia, standing on a knife’s edge between the unknown wilderness and the hell of the city.
She knew they couldn’t hide forever. Papa was getting old, too – too old to survive living outside. So she’d left.
She shifted uncomfortably, closing her eyes as she balanced on the branches. She focused, taking a deep breath, letting her thoughts slip away, all her cares fade. She reached for the words, muttering a short incantation under her breath.
To an observer, should they care to look up, she would have appeared to simply… fade. Disappear into the foliage of the tree, blend in with the bark.
She felt the spell take effect and opened her eyes, dragging her canvas bag up to her lap and pulling out what food she had. She ate only a little, careful to store the rest in spite of her hunger.
She was safe here, she was sure. Should anyone so much as approach, not only was she unseen, but they’d likely trip any of the traps she’d set up around the place. She’d used this place as her camp for long enough that she figured she’d invest in some additional defenses.
She braced her feet against the branches and let her arms hang down, her canvas bag hanging from her wrist and blending in with the bark behind it. The first time she’d been out here, in the wilderness like this, she had been terrified of heights, but she’d been more terrified of running into any of the wandering bands of men, the lawless ones who called no city-state their home.
She snorted. Guess I’m one of them, now.
She looked out across the wilderness, a wilderness that seemed even more forlorn peppered as it was by the remnants of civilization. The process was a long one, the reclaiming of the suburbs by the wild. Of course, the plague only affected those living, so for many, many years the buildings had stood simply empty, the lawns growing more and more unkempt, the trees falling down and destroying the buildings they once guarded.
At least, that’s what was said. Papa said his grandmother used to tell stories, passed down throughout the generations, of how before the plague came food was plentiful and water came out of a tube in your house. Then again, the same grandparents told stories of fairies and goblins, so she wasn’t taking such ideas at face value.
She glanced out over at the wilderness around her. She was at the edge of an old suburb – cement could just barely been seen amongst the weeds on the ground, remnants of old roads, and the foundation of a house stood next to her tree, half filled with dirt.
Further, still, through the thin layer of trees, she could see the skyscrapers, or what was left, their top floors fallen down among the streets where people lived.
Utopia, he called it. That was the name Papa O’Leary gave it, at least, and when he ran the place, it certainly was a utopia in comparison to the wilderness. The rationing was strict, the guards even stricter, and all lawbreakers were punished harshly, but it was better than the wilderness. At least, until O’Leary decided to up and die and leave his son Ian in charge.
She suspected the man was paranoid. Maybe just jealous. But the moments he got his hands on Utopia, he decided to turn it to hell for mages like her.
Magic, so she’d heard, was a relatively new thing. With all the old technology gone, people thought to turn back to older arts. And, to their surprise, it worked.
It took a certain talent and a great deal of study to master even one discipline, and the power it afforded one… it was no surprise Ian was paranoid. Mages were called monsters, ill omens, accused of all kinds of filth, and people had no choice but to follow along with it. Ian had the guard in his pocket. Eventually, people started to believe it. And she and Papa slowly fell back to the edge of Utopia, standing on a knife’s edge between the unknown wilderness and the hell of the city.
She knew they couldn’t hide forever. Papa was getting old, too – too old to survive living outside. So she’d left.
She shifted uncomfortably, closing her eyes as she balanced on the branches. She focused, taking a deep breath, letting her thoughts slip away, all her cares fade. She reached for the words, muttering a short incantation under her breath.
To an observer, should they care to look up, she would have appeared to simply… fade. Disappear into the foliage of the tree, blend in with the bark.
She felt the spell take effect and opened her eyes, dragging her canvas bag up to her lap and pulling out what food she had. She ate only a little, careful to store the rest in spite of her hunger.
She was safe here, she was sure. Should anyone so much as approach, not only was she unseen, but they’d likely trip any of the traps she’d set up around the place. She’d used this place as her camp for long enough that she figured she’d invest in some additional defenses.
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Re: Hide and Seek
by EphPhoenix 30th July 2012, 8:58 pm
He stalked along the ruins, his prey below him unaware. He counted two women and one child. His grin became devilish. This would be child's play. He had the rope ready, a lasso at one end, the other end thrown over a beam. Steady...steady...now!
He let fly and the lasso found its mark wrapping around the head of one of the thugs. Raziel leapt from his perch and swung down. Gravity was not the guy's friend; the lasso tightened around the guy's neck in an instant and the resulting force snapped his neck with a loud pop as he lifted into the air.
Raziel swung off the rope and into another asshole, kicking him in the head, then releasing his grip and landing on the guy. He pulled the guy's belt knife out and stabbed him in the neck with it, severing the jugular vein, before leaping out of the way as another thug tried to attack him from behind. He rolled, turned and threw the knife, hitting the guy in the throat.
There was only one left, and Raziel growled. The man had grabbed one of the women and held a knife to her throat.
"Easy there, poppet," he said. "I'd hate to splash this girl's blood all over you..."
Raziel went perfectly still, primed for movement, for the first sign of weakness to strike. But if he tried, the girl would be dead. What to do...?
He let fly and the lasso found its mark wrapping around the head of one of the thugs. Raziel leapt from his perch and swung down. Gravity was not the guy's friend; the lasso tightened around the guy's neck in an instant and the resulting force snapped his neck with a loud pop as he lifted into the air.
Raziel swung off the rope and into another asshole, kicking him in the head, then releasing his grip and landing on the guy. He pulled the guy's belt knife out and stabbed him in the neck with it, severing the jugular vein, before leaping out of the way as another thug tried to attack him from behind. He rolled, turned and threw the knife, hitting the guy in the throat.
There was only one left, and Raziel growled. The man had grabbed one of the women and held a knife to her throat.
"Easy there, poppet," he said. "I'd hate to splash this girl's blood all over you..."
Raziel went perfectly still, primed for movement, for the first sign of weakness to strike. But if he tried, the girl would be dead. What to do...?
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Re: Hide and Seek
by Red 30th July 2012, 9:15 pm
She perked up as she heard something off to her right - men, talking, a woman crying. Laura dropped her food down into her bad and let it hand off her wrist again, closing her eyes again. Nothing she could do. She could try to whip up a spell to distract them, but she wasn't sure how long she could maintain it, tired as she was, and if the spell failed...
She closed her eyes. Any man who knew jackshit about the surrounding area knew the kind of reward Ian put out for mages.
She twisted on her branch, looking off to her right. They were closer than she initially thought - she could see the the face of one of them, looking almost right at her -
A rope suddenly came down, snatching the man about the throat and jerking his neck up with a snap. In an instant a man dropped down, dispatching two more of them as the third desperately grabbed one woman as a human shield. He backed up, dragging the woman with him, and their savior stood perfectly still.
Laura's eyes darted to the ground behind the brigand. A few more steps back and he'd trigger one of her defense traps...
She closed her eyes. Any man who knew jackshit about the surrounding area knew the kind of reward Ian put out for mages.
She twisted on her branch, looking off to her right. They were closer than she initially thought - she could see the the face of one of them, looking almost right at her -
A rope suddenly came down, snatching the man about the throat and jerking his neck up with a snap. In an instant a man dropped down, dispatching two more of them as the third desperately grabbed one woman as a human shield. He backed up, dragging the woman with him, and their savior stood perfectly still.
Laura's eyes darted to the ground behind the brigand. A few more steps back and he'd trigger one of her defense traps...
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Re: Hide and Seek
by EphPhoenix 30th July 2012, 9:22 pm
"Unhand my momma!"
The man cried out as suddenly a knife plunged into his leg. His hand slipped and the woman's neck bled as the blade knicked it. The man looked down to see one of the children, a little girl, had stabbed him. He growled and turned toward her.
"You little--"
It was a most interesting sight as Raziel had leapt toward the man with inhuman speed, right at the same time the man triggered a trap. A rope immediately wrapped around his foot and hoisted him in the air. Unable to stop in time, Raziel hit the man and was drug into the air, then sent flying.
He grunted as a tree branch broke his fall, cuffing him in the midsection. The thug, on the other hand, dangled in the air.
"Get me down!" he growled.
The man cried out as suddenly a knife plunged into his leg. His hand slipped and the woman's neck bled as the blade knicked it. The man looked down to see one of the children, a little girl, had stabbed him. He growled and turned toward her.
"You little--"
It was a most interesting sight as Raziel had leapt toward the man with inhuman speed, right at the same time the man triggered a trap. A rope immediately wrapped around his foot and hoisted him in the air. Unable to stop in time, Raziel hit the man and was drug into the air, then sent flying.
He grunted as a tree branch broke his fall, cuffing him in the midsection. The thug, on the other hand, dangled in the air.
"Get me down!" he growled.
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Re: Hide and Seek
by Red 30th July 2012, 9:29 pm
Laura settled back down against her tree, smirking with satisfaction. Problem solved.
She kept quiet, only listening to the brigand's protests with a small smirk on her face. If Mr. Hero down below was smart, he'd keep clear. She wasn't planning on revealing herself to anyone. You never knew who was just a wanderer or who was from Utopia out on a run to find extra food.
She kept quiet, only listening to the brigand's protests with a small smirk on her face. If Mr. Hero down below was smart, he'd keep clear. She wasn't planning on revealing herself to anyone. You never knew who was just a wanderer or who was from Utopia out on a run to find extra food.
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Re: Hide and Seek
by EphPhoenix 30th July 2012, 9:42 pm
"Problem solved," he said aloud.
He cautiously leapt back toward the ground, keeping an eye out for traps. Something told him he'd invaded another person's territory. He sniffed the air; there was definitely another human nearby. However, he had no interest in trying to discover the who or why. He'd gotten what he'd come for.
He found the women and children all huddled together, watching him cautiously. He put his hands up placatingly.
"I mean you no harm," he said. "I heard about your predicament from your caravan. I'm gonna get you back to'em."
"Our--our caravan...?" one of the women asked hopefully.
Raziel nodded. "If we hurry, we can make it back before nightfall," he told them. "You don't wanna be out here after nightfall."
He quickly rummaged the dead men, checking for anything useful. A couple of pieces of golden jewelry, their knives were decent, not to mention...
He cocked an eyebrow. A lighter. One of the fancy ones. He flicked it; still worked. He shook it; decent amount of fluid. That would fetch a nice price.
"H--hey!" the thug whined. "Ya ain't gonna leave me up here, are ya?"
"Would you prefer I killed ya?" he snapped back. The man shut up.
Besides, he wasn't risking the traps. There had to be more than that one. It was whoever's territory this was' problem.
He led the way back to the caravan, keeping a brisk pace, but not too hard.
He cautiously leapt back toward the ground, keeping an eye out for traps. Something told him he'd invaded another person's territory. He sniffed the air; there was definitely another human nearby. However, he had no interest in trying to discover the who or why. He'd gotten what he'd come for.
He found the women and children all huddled together, watching him cautiously. He put his hands up placatingly.
"I mean you no harm," he said. "I heard about your predicament from your caravan. I'm gonna get you back to'em."
"Our--our caravan...?" one of the women asked hopefully.
Raziel nodded. "If we hurry, we can make it back before nightfall," he told them. "You don't wanna be out here after nightfall."
He quickly rummaged the dead men, checking for anything useful. A couple of pieces of golden jewelry, their knives were decent, not to mention...
He cocked an eyebrow. A lighter. One of the fancy ones. He flicked it; still worked. He shook it; decent amount of fluid. That would fetch a nice price.
"H--hey!" the thug whined. "Ya ain't gonna leave me up here, are ya?"
"Would you prefer I killed ya?" he snapped back. The man shut up.
Besides, he wasn't risking the traps. There had to be more than that one. It was whoever's territory this was' problem.
He led the way back to the caravan, keeping a brisk pace, but not too hard.
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Re: Hide and Seek
by Red 30th July 2012, 9:53 pm
Laura watched the man leave with the women and children, satisfied. Safe for now.
She glanced over at the brigand still hanging. She pursed her lips, then shrugged, leaning back against her tree. She scraped her foot along the bark as she pulled her legs in and dragged her bag back up.
The brigand twitched as he swung in the air. "Wh- Who's there?" he yelled, his nerves making his voice shake. She laughed softly under her breath, not caring if he heard. "Sh-Shut the fuck up! Get me down from here!"
She did nothing, leaning back instead to take a short nap. Let him spend some time up there. It'd make him more cooperative when she did decide to let him down. She wasn't sure she could handle him so long as he still had some fight left, and she didn't want to waste energy on another spell that she was certain would fizzle out at exactly the wrong moment.
She glanced over at the brigand still hanging. She pursed her lips, then shrugged, leaning back against her tree. She scraped her foot along the bark as she pulled her legs in and dragged her bag back up.
The brigand twitched as he swung in the air. "Wh- Who's there?" he yelled, his nerves making his voice shake. She laughed softly under her breath, not caring if he heard. "Sh-Shut the fuck up! Get me down from here!"
She did nothing, leaning back instead to take a short nap. Let him spend some time up there. It'd make him more cooperative when she did decide to let him down. She wasn't sure she could handle him so long as he still had some fight left, and she didn't want to waste energy on another spell that she was certain would fizzle out at exactly the wrong moment.
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Re: Hide and Seek
by EphPhoenix 30th July 2012, 9:57 pm
The reception when he got back brought a smile to his face. The group was happy to have their members back. Husbands, fathers, and lovers rejoiced to see their number back.
"You've done us a solid, stranger," said the leader of the group. "We thought them lost until you showed up with them. We have not much we can spare, but ask and we'll do our best to accommodate."
"I don't need much," he said. "A spot by your fires, if you don't mind, for the night, and maybe a bowl of that stew your cookin'?" His rescue had left him with no time to hunt.
The man looked both astonished and grateful. Likely, he had expected him to ask for more.
"Easily accomplished," was his reply. "Come, come."
"You've done us a solid, stranger," said the leader of the group. "We thought them lost until you showed up with them. We have not much we can spare, but ask and we'll do our best to accommodate."
"I don't need much," he said. "A spot by your fires, if you don't mind, for the night, and maybe a bowl of that stew your cookin'?" His rescue had left him with no time to hunt.
The man looked both astonished and grateful. Likely, he had expected him to ask for more.
"Easily accomplished," was his reply. "Come, come."
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Re: Hide and Seek
by Red 30th July 2012, 10:11 pm
The brigand got more and more nervous as the night passed. She must have left him there alone for four hours at least, because when she did wake up, night had already fallen. The man was groaning, spinning listlessly in the air and she smirked, standing up along her branch and scraping at the bark with her foot.
She could see him jump. "F-fuck!" He flailed his arms, desperately trying to get out. "Who's there? I'll - I'll fucking kill you, you son of a bitch..."
She balanced along the branch, keeping low as she crawled down the trunk and over towards the tree he was hanging from, stepping over her traps along the way. Her spell had long faded by now, and she kept to the shadows, scrabbling up the side of the other tree as the man got increasingly more terrified.
As she crawled along his branch, she drew her knife, and it made an audible scraping sound. The man sobbed below her as he heard. "Shit, just fucking kill me alre - "
She cut the rope in two, and the man wailed as he fell down and hit the ground with a crash. For a moment, she thought he'd broken his neck; but no, she could see the man rolling on the ground, groaning in pain.
She leaped from her branch down to join him, rolling to break her fall. The man didn't move, shaking as he lay on his stomach. His ankle looked swollen - must have been broken by the trap.
She stepped forward and shoved his face down into the dirt with her foot. "Turn out your pockets, sweetie," she said calmly, and, shaking, the man hurried to comply, dropping several knives at her feet that she kicked away calmly. "That's it?" she said, sounding disappointed, grinding his face down into the dirt.
"N-no, of course not, my bag! You can take it! Just please don't kill me..."
She frowned, looking around them to see a pack lying on the ground near where he fell. Must have fallen off when he was dragged up.
She considered the man on the ground before her. Probably would be safest to slit his throat, but...
What the hell. He wasn't going to be coming back. "Start running," she said, lifting her foot off his head, and he darted forward, crying out as he tried to run on his broken ankle.
She paced over to the bag to see that it was already open and empty. That man from earlier had already taken everything. It figured.
She kicked the bag away, disgusted, and snatched up the man's knives, returning to her post in the tree.
She could see him jump. "F-fuck!" He flailed his arms, desperately trying to get out. "Who's there? I'll - I'll fucking kill you, you son of a bitch..."
She balanced along the branch, keeping low as she crawled down the trunk and over towards the tree he was hanging from, stepping over her traps along the way. Her spell had long faded by now, and she kept to the shadows, scrabbling up the side of the other tree as the man got increasingly more terrified.
As she crawled along his branch, she drew her knife, and it made an audible scraping sound. The man sobbed below her as he heard. "Shit, just fucking kill me alre - "
She cut the rope in two, and the man wailed as he fell down and hit the ground with a crash. For a moment, she thought he'd broken his neck; but no, she could see the man rolling on the ground, groaning in pain.
She leaped from her branch down to join him, rolling to break her fall. The man didn't move, shaking as he lay on his stomach. His ankle looked swollen - must have been broken by the trap.
She stepped forward and shoved his face down into the dirt with her foot. "Turn out your pockets, sweetie," she said calmly, and, shaking, the man hurried to comply, dropping several knives at her feet that she kicked away calmly. "That's it?" she said, sounding disappointed, grinding his face down into the dirt.
"N-no, of course not, my bag! You can take it! Just please don't kill me..."
She frowned, looking around them to see a pack lying on the ground near where he fell. Must have fallen off when he was dragged up.
She considered the man on the ground before her. Probably would be safest to slit his throat, but...
What the hell. He wasn't going to be coming back. "Start running," she said, lifting her foot off his head, and he darted forward, crying out as he tried to run on his broken ankle.
She paced over to the bag to see that it was already open and empty. That man from earlier had already taken everything. It figured.
She kicked the bag away, disgusted, and snatched up the man's knives, returning to her post in the tree.
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Re: Hide and Seek
by EphPhoenix 30th July 2012, 10:19 pm
Morning came quickly as it always did when he had slight comfort. No matter, it wasn't like he had anywhere to be.
He trailed off from the caravan and began his morning routine. Yes, he had magic that could augment his attributes, but it worked better on a body kept in shape. He went through his forms, then called it. By that time the caravaners were already up and around.
They offered him some breakfast, to which he happily accepted. When they broke camp, he trailed off and hunted. By mid afternoon when they'd chosen their next campsite, he came back with some wild game. It was a good day.
He trailed off from the caravan and began his morning routine. Yes, he had magic that could augment his attributes, but it worked better on a body kept in shape. He went through his forms, then called it. By that time the caravaners were already up and around.
They offered him some breakfast, to which he happily accepted. When they broke camp, he trailed off and hunted. By mid afternoon when they'd chosen their next campsite, he came back with some wild game. It was a good day.
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Re: Hide and Seek
by Red 30th July 2012, 10:25 pm
Laura woke the next morning hungry again.
She needed to go out again. It shouldn't be too hard to find something edible out in the wilderness. She only hoped she wouldn't run into anyone else again.
She dropped down from her tree and swung her bag over her shoulder, starting off into the brush. She paused for a moment, closing her eyes and meditating for a moment, as she snapped on her chameleon spell yet again. It wasn't as great during the daytime, or when she was moving, but it certainly helped should she come across some wild game.
She needed to go out again. It shouldn't be too hard to find something edible out in the wilderness. She only hoped she wouldn't run into anyone else again.
She dropped down from her tree and swung her bag over her shoulder, starting off into the brush. She paused for a moment, closing her eyes and meditating for a moment, as she snapped on her chameleon spell yet again. It wasn't as great during the daytime, or when she was moving, but it certainly helped should she come across some wild game.
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Re: Hide and Seek
by EphPhoenix 30th July 2012, 10:30 pm
The caravan were most appreciative of his help. However, Raziel couldn't help noticing that the men were starting to look at him crosswise. He found the answer to their behavior in the sudden attention he was getting from the women folk. He sighed; good thing they were only another day's journey to the city. Anymore than that, and he might have to move on so he didn't have to worry about getting his throat slit.
That was gratitude for you.
That was gratitude for you.
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Re: Hide and Seek
by Red 30th July 2012, 10:36 pm
She had little luck. She'd been in the same spot long enough that much of the edible flora nearby was nearly gone, and her spell had fizzled out from her hunger and exhaustion not an hour out.
Son of a bitch. That damn hero had probably taken all the food the brigands had on them. Likely gone back home in a blaze of glory.
She nibbled on the food she still had left, hesitant to finish it off but knowing she had to if she wanted to keep going.
She suddenly stopped in her tracks, ears perking up as she heard voices. People - lots of them - milling around nearby.
Laura crept forward, closing her eyes and focusing to snap up her chameleon spell again. The spell flickered, then disappeared in an instant, and she cursed under her breath. Couldn't risk it. She'd just have to be quiet.
She started towards the voices, ducking behind a tree as she heard people passing by not five meters away. They could always be another group of brigands...
Son of a bitch. That damn hero had probably taken all the food the brigands had on them. Likely gone back home in a blaze of glory.
She nibbled on the food she still had left, hesitant to finish it off but knowing she had to if she wanted to keep going.
She suddenly stopped in her tracks, ears perking up as she heard voices. People - lots of them - milling around nearby.
Laura crept forward, closing her eyes and focusing to snap up her chameleon spell again. The spell flickered, then disappeared in an instant, and she cursed under her breath. Couldn't risk it. She'd just have to be quiet.
She started towards the voices, ducking behind a tree as she heard people passing by not five meters away. They could always be another group of brigands...
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Re: Hide and Seek
by EphPhoenix 30th July 2012, 10:41 pm
He sat on the outskirts of the camp, eschewing the company of the others. With the males getting uppity, he thought it best to keep back. Out of sight, out of mind, and all that.
Suddenly, he caught a familiar scent in the air. He held himself poised at the ready.
"Are you here to attack, or do you come in peace?" he called quietly to the night air.
Suddenly, he caught a familiar scent in the air. He held himself poised at the ready.
"Are you here to attack, or do you come in peace?" he called quietly to the night air.
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Re: Hide and Seek
by Red 30th July 2012, 10:45 pm
She jumped as a voice suddenly called out, clear even over the noise of the others. She took a step away, nearly breaking into a sprint - no, what was she doing? He hadn't attacked, he didn't seem like an enemy, and she needed to eat. It's not like they'd be able to tell she was a mage.
She stepped back again against the tree, letting out a soft sigh of breath. "Peace," she managed hoarsely.
She stepped back again against the tree, letting out a soft sigh of breath. "Peace," she managed hoarsely.
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Re: Hide and Seek
by EphPhoenix 30th July 2012, 10:48 pm
"A girl?" Raziel said before he could catch himself. He cleared his throat. "Er, I mean, hi," he added quickly. It stood to reason a female would be able to survive out here--he couldn't help but be a little bit surprised, though.
"So..." he said, casting about. "Ya like traps...?"
"So..." he said, casting about. "Ya like traps...?"
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Re: Hide and Seek
by Red 30th July 2012, 10:50 pm
Laura narrowed her eyes, keeping out of sight. She cleared her mind quickly - any spell she casted like this might not be as powerful, but that didn't matter. The question was, how did he know that...?
She knew she should have slit that brigands throat. "Why d'ya ask?"
She knew she should have slit that brigands throat. "Why d'ya ask?"
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Re: Hide and Seek
by EphPhoenix 30th July 2012, 10:56 pm
He shrugged. "Just making conversation?" he replied awkwardly. "I mean, those were your traps yesterday when I attacked that group of bandits. So, y'know."
He looked back to the campfire. "Would you like some stew?" he inquired. "I managed to catch some wild game today, so we have plenty--though the men over there are acting like ungrateful assholes," he added under his breath.
He looked back to the campfire. "Would you like some stew?" he inquired. "I managed to catch some wild game today, so we have plenty--though the men over there are acting like ungrateful assholes," he added under his breath.
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Re: Hide and Seek
by Red 30th July 2012, 11:01 pm
Laura frowned. That damn hero? She scowled - of course, she couldn't be sure, he'd never seen her and shouldn't be able to recognize her. It might just be an act; but then, if it was that brigand from the other day, she'd already be surrounded.
She snorted at his comment, letting a small smile pass across her face before it disappeared. She shifted nervously, her fingers twitching at her sides. Come on, you damn wuss. All she needed was food and then she could split.
She took a breath, closing her eyes. Come on. She forced her feet to move, and she stepped out from behind the tree, trying her damndest to look confident about it.
She snorted at his comment, letting a small smile pass across her face before it disappeared. She shifted nervously, her fingers twitching at her sides. Come on, you damn wuss. All she needed was food and then she could split.
She took a breath, closing her eyes. Come on. She forced her feet to move, and she stepped out from behind the tree, trying her damndest to look confident about it.
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Re: Hide and Seek
by EphPhoenix 30th July 2012, 11:05 pm
He cocked an eyebrow at her as she eased out from behind a tree. Her movements were...awkward. He hoped she wasn't planning on trying to stick a knife in his ribs. These were trying times, but no sense in believing the complete worst about people.
"I'll...take that as a yes," he said.
He ran over to the fire, ignoring some of the pointed glares from the men, and dipped up another bowl. He returned quickly and proffered her the bowl.
"It's hot, so be careful," he told her. "Raziel, by the way."
"I'll...take that as a yes," he said.
He ran over to the fire, ignoring some of the pointed glares from the men, and dipped up another bowl. He returned quickly and proffered her the bowl.
"It's hot, so be careful," he told her. "Raziel, by the way."
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Re: Hide and Seek
by Red 30th July 2012, 11:09 pm
Laura took the bowl from him slowly, her every movement intentionally slow and steady. No sudden movements. She glanced about the camp - large group, and from the looks the man was getting, he didn't seem to be welcome for much longer.
She forced herself to eat slowly as well, in spite of the hole in her gut. The first time she'd been hungry like this, she'd nearly inhaled her food and puked it back up not an hour later.
She raised her eyebrows as he spoke to her. "Laura," she said, between bites, staying standing as she ate. It couldn't hurt.
She forced herself to eat slowly as well, in spite of the hole in her gut. The first time she'd been hungry like this, she'd nearly inhaled her food and puked it back up not an hour later.
She raised her eyebrows as he spoke to her. "Laura," she said, between bites, staying standing as she ate. It couldn't hurt.
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Re: Hide and Seek
by EphPhoenix 30th July 2012, 11:14 pm
"Well met," he said with a nod.
He waited till she was through with her food before speaking again. "From the looks of it, you've been out here a while. Is life in the city that bad...?"
He waited till she was through with her food before speaking again. "From the looks of it, you've been out here a while. Is life in the city that bad...?"
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Re: Hide and Seek
by Red 30th July 2012, 11:16 pm
She nearly froze up at his words, but forced herself to look calm. She only shrugged. "Not my cup of tea," she said.
The man seemed nice enough, but she didn't trust him and his friends for a moment. She told them what Ian's deal was and pretty soon they'd be wondering exactly why she had fled from the city in the first...
The man seemed nice enough, but she didn't trust him and his friends for a moment. She told them what Ian's deal was and pretty soon they'd be wondering exactly why she had fled from the city in the first...
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Re: Hide and Seek
by EphPhoenix 30th July 2012, 11:20 pm
Raziel nodded appreciatively. "I can sort of understand," he replied. "Been raised out in the wilderness, myself. Though what I've seen of some of the cities, they're remarkable places. I love looking at the technology," he added, a childish delight in his eyes.
"But it's not for everyone, I'd imagine," he added. "I hope to see what interesting things lie in this place. I've never been to this one. And none too soon," he added to her in an undertone, looking back to the others. "How quick people are to forget you helped them..."
"But it's not for everyone, I'd imagine," he added. "I hope to see what interesting things lie in this place. I've never been to this one. And none too soon," he added to her in an undertone, looking back to the others. "How quick people are to forget you helped them..."
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Re: Hide and Seek
by Red 30th July 2012, 11:24 pm
She nearly cringed at his words. Interesting things, indeed. She kept her mouth shut. The city was still a fine place for the average man, she'd heard. He'd probably do perfectly fine there.
Laura glanced over at the others with him, cutting her eyes back quickly. "Rough times around here," she said, shrugging. "It's no surprise."
Laura glanced over at the others with him, cutting her eyes back quickly. "Rough times around here," she said, shrugging. "It's no surprise."
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