On The Hunt (closed for Angeleyz)

[Angeleyz]

Listening carefully, Safia chewed her bottom lip in indecision. While it certainly sounded like her opponent had taken the bait, she wasn’t convinced he had been so easily fooled, especially not when her shot had been so sloppily delivered. She looked down at Laika, wondering if he’d be able to make the mad dash to the cave. She knew he’d try his best, but his wound would likely slow him down. Dropping to a silent squat, she whispered her direction in a tone so soft only her faithful companion could hear. Knowing that he wouldn’t care for the order to move on without her, she ended the command with a comment about being able to move more swiftly if she didn’t have to worry about his speed.

Staring into his dark eyes, she saw the moment he capitulated, but knew that it was likely only his own worry over her safety that brought about her win. Laika pressed his muzzle to her cheek before turning and silently making his way deeper into the thicket where he would eventually start to angle towards the cave they had visited on occasion.

Safia rose to her feet, ready to take up her bow again if the orc was somehow able to make out Laika’s departure and circled back. The continued quiet didn’t reassure her, the very silence indicative that he was still very much in the general vicinity, but at least he wasn’t after Laika. She waited as long as she dared, picturing the path that she’d take… a path that would largely parallel the one Laika was taking, but that which would offer him more time to get to safety.

Telling herself that they’d both get to safety, she slipped her bow back over her shoulder, took a fortifying breath and tore off at a speed developed from many years of running through the woods. A pace that didn’t falter even when her ears picked up the sound of something much much larger crashing through the thicket behind her.

 

[fr33ks33k]

Her wolf left ahead of her, loping through the brush. He caught just a moment of it disappearing into thicker vines and branches. She followed, sprinting like the wind. He laughed as he bolted forward, all his tensed muscles loosing like coiled springs. Brambles caught his skin and left weeping trails, but he didn't care. Couldn't really feel anything but the rush of stalking prey. It had been a long while since anyone had really given him a challenge, and this was proving to be more enjoyable than he'd thought.

He howled a warning into the forest, eyes narrowing as he took a sharp turn to avoid a gnarled root that had grown fat and oppressive, slapping at branches and snapping saplings in half as he barreled through the undergrowth. He could smell blood in the air, the wolf's wounds leading him straight to his quarry. He could still hear her heavy breathing, though it was measured well. She was trained, this one. Or very accustomed to running.

The treeline gave way to gravel and loose stone as they neared the cave that would serve as only a temporary reprieve. He had nearly caught up to her. A grin split his mouth wide as the moon bathed the path ahead of him in light, her figure slowly becoming more clear.

 

[Angeleyz]

Instead of employing a myriad of twists and turns, Safia opted to take as straight a path to the cave as she could, tearing through the thicket and bounding over felled trees in a graceful yet efficient manner. Watching her move from a distance one would never know the almost oppressive terror that gripped her heart and tried to tear the precious air from her lungs as she struggled against the desire to see how close her opponent was getting. She knew she couldn’t afford even a momentary glance, but it was so very hard when she swore she could sense hot breath on her neck or feel the whispery draft of fingers about to catch hold of her.

She nearly slipped when the path turned to gravel and loose stone, but thankfully was able to keep moving with only the slightest of hesitation for recovery. From the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Laika angling towards the mouth of the cave. Her breath caught painfully as she watched his almost unsteady lope, willing him to make it to safety before her as she would never enter the cave without him.

And then she saw it – the opening of the cave – safety at least for the moment. Laika managed to get there first, but paused at the opening.

“Inside!” she called out desperately, pouring every last ounce of energy she had into her mad dash up the path.

 

[fr33ks33k]

The wolf had managed to limp to the entrance, but Oryk was just a few strides away from having her in arm's reach. Gravel sprayed up behind him like a shark's wake. The maw of the cave loomed ahead, growing taller but not wider. Just as his fingers reached for her, she slid into the mouth of the cave, which was far more narrow than his orcish frame could manage. He eyed her carefully as she crept further into the cave, a low growl rattling his throat.

"You're quicker than I thought. But I assure you that cave will only offer so much respite. You'll need to eat, and in that cramped space, your dog's wound will fester. When you decide to come out, I'll be waiting."

Oryk snarled and stalked about the mouth of the cave for some time before moving off into the forest, disappearing in the shadows and sounds of the night hunters.

He did not go far. Just enough to observe without intrusion. He pulled some dried meat from a pouch at his side, gnawing at it before also drinking from a wineskin. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and stashed his provisions before climbing one of the more sturdy trees in the copse he'd chosen, testing a few branches before relaxing into a seated position there. He had a clear view of the cave from this vantage, and any other ingress to the area could be watched as well. It was well into the night before the first hint of tiredness tugged at his eyelids. He vowed not to sleep until she emerged, but his vow was broken as the moon sank low on the horizon.

 

[Angeleyz]

Slipping inside, Safia continued pushing deeper into the cave afraid her opponent would still be able to grab ahold of her, even though she knew the entryway would never allow his broader frame entirely through. Nudging Laika ahead of her, she spun around to face the opening struggling to ready her bow as the deep, menacing growl echoed around her.

You're quicker than I thought. But I assure you that cave will only offer so much respite. You'll need to eat, and in that cramped space, your dog's wound will fester. When you decide to come out, I'll be waiting.

Wincing against the continued stabbing pain in her palm, she notched an arrow with a trembling hand and waited to see if he’d try to force his way inside. Her stomach churned as his last words turned around and around in her mind. Food wasn’t overly important to her as she was used to going for stretches of time with minimal to eat, and she always carried a small amount of dried meat on her, but that wouldn’t be even a mouthful for Laika and she couldn’t discount the comment about his wound festering.

Eventually the noises outside the cave entrance faded to little more than the occasional chirp or twill of the normal forest inhabitants, and Safia finally relaxed enough to drop her arms with a soft moan. Tucking the arrow back into the quiver, she slung her bow over her shoulder as she tried to peer through the darkness for something to use for kindling. Thankfully whomever had used the cave last had left a small pile near the entrance and she set about making a fire.

——————

Patting Laika’s head reassuringly, Safia examined her handiwork with a critical eye. It wasn’t her best work, but she hadn’t been sure she’d have enough supplies to close the entire length of the wound so the sutures weren’t as evenly spaced as normal. Thankfully she had been able to close it, and even better... she had enough herbs to make at least two days’ worth of her healing salve. She pushed to her feet and gathered her weapons.

“I’m going to see if I can find any more echinacea, my friend,” she murmured when he raised his head to look at her, “I’ll keep close to the cave until I can figure out where he’s gone.”

Giving him a stern look, she added, “Stay... I don’t have enough to re-stitch your side. I won’t be long.”

Stepping out of the cave, she paused and let her senses scan her surroundings, confident that she could slip back inside should her opponent be nearby. There was a small breeze that felt good on her skin, but even better brought back no scent to concern her, and although the night sounds had paused momentarily when she appeared, the ready return convinced her she was free to move further from the safety of the maw of the cave not that she had to go far to spot a cluster of the small purple flower.

Dropping to one knee, she went about pulling a number of the flowers completely out of the ground, knowing she’d be able to use even the roots in her healing practices. She made sure she looked around as she gathered the flowers, wondering if she’d also luck out and find some comfrey as well.

 

[fr33ks33k]

A breeze blew a leaf across Oryk's forearm, jolting him awake. He blinked his eyes to adjust them to the near-pitch darkness of the forest. As the clearing outside the cave came into focus, he saw and heard hints of movement, though he couldn't be sure whether it was the woman, her dog, or some other creature.

Carefully, he climbed down from his vantage, stalking slowly through the night. He was careful not to disturb any foliage, though the breeze blew once more and carried his movement's sounds with the rustle of branches and vines.

She was picking herbs, no doubt for a healing salve of some kind. He drew one of his daggers, creeping around the periphery of her field of vision. His back was to the cave, his body between her and it. This time, he wouldn't let her get to a safe haven.
This far from her wolf companion, she'd be forced back into the forest. And that was his territory.

 

[Angeleyz]

With a practiced hand, Safia made short work of gathering the echinacea, deciding it would be best to return to the cave with her treasure before risking another venture out for the comfrey. She kept hearing the orc's parting shot repeating in her head.

I'll be waiting... I'll be waiting... I'll be waiting...

Surely he had gotten bored or better yet, distracted by the lure of treasure from the next passing caravan versus pitting his strength against someone such as she. With that thought, she rose graciously to her feet and turned back towards the cave, but froze in place as her stunned eyes registered the hulking presence blocking the entrance as her fingers crushed the precious flowers in her hands.

It was like the mere thought had conjured him, but even then her thoughts couldn't have envisioned how much more.... everything... he was in comparison to her. Bigger... Broader... Muscled.... Safia swallowed convulsively as the words menacing ricocheted about her buzzing brain. Her eyes locked with his as she struggled against muscles frozen in place.

Laika. She had to lead him away from Laika. If her faithful companion realized that she was in danger, he would throw himself at the threat and she knew, simply knew, that he wouldn't stand a chance. Not now. Not as wounded as he was, and there was no way she'd let him do it. Not when she had a chance of escaping on her own.

Maybe.

One minute she stood frozen in place, and the next Safia was gone, the echinacea dropped to the ground as she made yet another mad dash into the forest. She didn't have a destination in mind, her only thought was to draw him as far from Laika as she could. Surely she could outrun him, her slighter frame better suited for longer distances. She could do it. She had to do it.

 

[fr33ks33k]

He grinned as she took stock of her situation, frozen like a rabbit in a snare. The grin quickly turned into a snarl as she bolted back into the forest. Gravel kicked up as he strode after her, brambles and vines snapping as he barreled into the thicker undergrowth.

"Swift little elf, you should have run sooner. This forest is like a second skin to me. You can't get away."

As the chase continued, the brush gave way to a brief clearing. As she came into clearer view, he paused, launching the dagger he'd held ready with deadly aim.

He cursed as it sunk deep into the thick bark of a tree. Angry eyes narrowed as she slipped into the forest at the other side of the clearing.

He retrieved his dagger and stalked onward, growling into the darkened foliage, scanning for signs of her passage.

Twilight began to give way to dawn, the guttural noises of nocturnal predators waning as the still of morning took hold of the forest.

 

[Angeleyz]

Her quiver bounced against her back in an almost steady cadence of ‘Can’t get away, can’t get away’ as her legs moved faster and faster. Hampered by the way her arm had to clamp her bow to her side, she wished she had the time to switch its position off her shoulder and into the opposite hand. The bow would have been better to push away the tree limbs, but she dared not stop her desperate pace and forced onward with her right side taking blow after blow.

And then blessedly... a clearing loomed ahead and a temporary relief for her battered side. A whirring noise to her right had her feinting to the left, aware that something had been thrown her way probably the large dagger he had held when they had faced off at the cave.

She wanted so badly to turn and release a volley of arrows at her opponent, but feared her injured hand would prove ineffective and so she headed back into the waning shadows of the woods at the opposite side of the clearing. Those shadows wouldn’t help hide her much longer and she struggled to recall whether there was anything in the area that she could use to aid in her defense.

Unfortunately she had purposefully steered clear of this section of Bloodbriar once rumors of the orcs had started to make the rounds, so couldn’t immediately recall anything that might prove useful. And so she kept running, zigzagging as she went, determined to not make it easy for him, running with the desperation of small prey fleeing a much larger adversary.

 

[fr33ks33k]

The brambles thickened here, her slight frame able to squeeze through, though not unscathed. It was not long before Oryk had to slow his pace to prevent the grasping roots and vines from entangling him entirely.

The rising sun shone in spears through the canopy, piercing the waning darkness; his eyes squinted to adjust. He stowed his dagger; opting for a longer, wider blade. He hacked as the vines before him, making steady progress into the knot of vegetation.

Her path was haphazard, easy to follow. She was persistent, that was certain. It was nearing mid-morning when her progress seemed to slow. His body dripped with sweat, the exertion of cutting a path present in the dull ache in his shoulders. This hunt had become more of a chore, but eventually these vines would become impassable. When she finally had nowhere left to run, he would take the frustration of it out on her lithe little body when he caught her.

A smile that was more a predatory snarl crossed his lips at the thought.

 

[Angeleyz]

Each push through the brambles was becoming harder and harder, and Safia feared she was rapidly reaching the point where it would be impossible. Her pursuer was no longer on her heels, although he was clearly still behind her based on the sound of hacking she could hear. She needed to figure out what her next course of action was and quickly. She’d never be able to take him on directly – his size and strength would cut through her fast, although the curtain of thorned vines would prevent him from getting at her too easily. Of course, the same curtain thwarted the use of her primary weapon.

Hissing as another thorn pierced sharply into her shoulder, she stopped to catch her breath and pull ineffectively at the barb. Looking around in desperation, she spotted something that could very well be her only chance. A few feet away stood a tree with branches just the right height for her to use. Not bothering to second guess herself, she raced toward the tree and clumsily scrambled up into the branches almost losing her grip more than once.

Safia climbed high, stopping only when the branches became less stable. Curling into the trunk, she tried to make herself as small as possible, hoping that the mottled greens and browns of her clothing helped further camouflage her. Her chest rose and fell quickly as she worked to quiet her breathing.

The sounds of hacking and slashing grew louder heralding his approach.

 

[fr33ks33k]

The sun continued its steady rise to the apex of the clear blue sky. Its heat radiated like an intangible campfire, bathing the forest in humidity and a shimmering haze.

Oryk stopped and observed the brambles, some still sticky with blood from his quarry's hurried pace. Her progress halted suddenly; there was nowhere to turn around in this area without slogging through thick vines and more thorns.

His eyes narrowed as he scanned the surroundings. She couldn't have eluded him, not here. His gaze turned skyward, one hand shielding his brow from the oppression of the noon sun. Birds chirped, sundering the stillness of the scene.

A branch swayed in the breeze.

There is no breeze here...

His eyes narrowed even further as he realized where she'd gone. She was nearly indiscernible from the bark of the grappleroot tree she'd climbed. Her back rose and fell shallowly. She was clever, that was for sure.

He considered taunting her, shouting all the things he planned to do once he got her out of the tree. Instead he simply started hacking at the stout base of the tree with the same blade he'd used to clear the swath through the vegetation. It would be slow work, but he had a focused look in his eyes and it wasn't that old of a tree. Gripping his sword in both hands, he continued to strike the tree. Chunks of bark and then wood splintered and fell away as he worked. Every few swings, he'd level a stare at her, smiling malevolently.

 

[Angeleyz]

A whispery squeak of dismay slipped passed her lips before she could swallow it when her pursuer finally came into sight. His skin glistened with sweat, blood streaks adding to an already savage countenance. Her heart pounded so loudly she was convinced he’d be able to hear it as she tried to huddle into an even tighter ball against the swaying trunk. He stopped and looked around as if mystified.

‘Go away...’ she silently commanded him, struggling to remain as still as she could.

One thudding heartbeat followed another and then he looked up, and for the smallest fraction of a moment, Safia thought she might have been successful. However, she swore she felt the instant his keen eyes spotted her – the triumphant glee of hunter cornering his prey.

There was no mistaking his intention for reaching her as he began to methodically whack at the base of her tree. Her thighs and arms burned from gripping the trunk as it vibrated with each solid hit. The way he kept stopping and looking at her only fueled the overwhelming sense of doom that was trying to eat away at the strength of her hold.

‘I am so dead,’ she thought, ‘He’s going to kill me the second he lays a finger on me.’ Well perhaps not the second, but she had no little hope pitting her strength against his.

Whack! Whack! Whack!

They stared at each other, his malevolent smile turning her blood to ice.

Whack! Whack! Whack!

They stared at each other, her face contorted as her hold on the trunk became more and more precarious.

Whack! Whack! Whack!

Closing her eyes against the promise in his helped. Okay, not as much as she would have liked, but it offered some respite. And with that respite came the return of her senses. ‘Well, most of them’, she groused as her mind seized on a crazy last-ditch effort to escape the giant below.

The tree swayed with an ever-increasing pendulum motion as his blade neared the midpoint of the trunk.

She was likely to kill herself in the process, but since she was dead if he got ahold of her, what did she have to lose?

Whack! Whack! Wha…

There was no time to second guess herself as the tree began its rapid descent to the ground. Taking a deep breath, she flung herself forward, the whip like motion of the falling tree propelling her faster and further than even she had expected. How she managed not to be skewered on another tree was a minor miracle, but she hit the ground hard, rolling her right ankle in the process.

With no idea how close the orc was, Safia forced herself to run again despite the immediate throbbing in her ankle. Tears temporarily blinded her, but she blinked through them as she set off, her gait swift but uneven.

 

[fr33ks33k]

He could see the tree beginning to bow, hear the wood splintering as his sword bit chunk after chunk from the tree. He stepped aside as the final *CRACK* of the wood signaled the achievement of his goal. But instead of triumph, Oryk bellowed in frustration as his quarry flew from the tree like a squirrel vaulting through the canopy. He snarled and in his rage threw his sword, hurling it overhand. It sailed, twisting end over end and sunk deep into a trunk not too far from where she'd landed. He saw her limping gait, desperately keeping a pace she surely couldn't maintain for long.

He sprinted after her, tearing through brambles and overgrowth. She would not escape again. He had given her too little credit in her craftiness. This chase would end; no more games, no more waiting.

He gained ground with every stride. His arms pumped furiously as he closed the distance. The path she had taken was haphazard and the condition of her ankle made things worse for her. Another guttural noise rattled his throat as he came nearer to being able to reach her.

A feral grin twisted his features as he stretched forward, finally finding purchase on her person, snatching at her quiver, jerking it back hard as he continued barreling forward, colliding with her and sending them both to the ground.

 

[Angeleyz]

Every other footfall caused her to grimace as tiny blades ripped at her ankle, the rocky ground adding to her struggles. More than once her injured ankle threatened to give out and there was no way to find her normal fluid running pattern. She was going too slow!

Safia didn’t chance looking over her shoulder. The thrashing and crashing behind her was enough to signal how close he was getting. It was hard to believe that what sounded like a herd of stampeding horses was really just one orc. One incredibly enraged sounding orc.

Taking a fortifying deep breath, she girded herself to increase speed. There was a moment when it felt like she had launched herself forward, her feet not even touching the ground, and then she felt the hard jerk on her quiver, her body flying backwards until it hit what felt like the side of a mountain.

Seconds ticked by as she tried to process what happened, an inner alarm screaming to get up, to get moving. It was more instinct than consciousness that drove her to roll to the side before scrambling to her feet. She wobbled unsteadily, as she tried to grasp the dagger at her side with a bloody hand.

The embedded thorn in her palm made it difficult to unsheathe the dagger, but she succeeded, holding it loosely as she tried to step further away and prepare herself for another attack. She doubted she’d be able to survive this round, but she wasn’t going to make it easy for him.

 

[fr33ks33k]

She looked a mess; Oryk grinned as he saw crimson trickle around the handle of her dagger. She'd caught a briar somewhere in the chase, giving her a sever disadvantage now. His own grip was somewhat diminished by the sweat of exertion, but nothing like hers. He circled her warily; cornered prey was often more dangerous.

He darted in, feinting an attack just to gauge her reaction time. It was almost a shame that it would end so swiftly. He wouldn't really have a chance to savor the victory at this rate. Unless...


His vicious grin widened as a more sinister plot developed quickly in his mind. He sheathed his sword and adopted a wrestler's stance. His circling tightened, venturing ever closer to her wildly waving dagger.

One swift backhand disarmed her, sending the blade cartwheeling into the forest, clattering somewhere unseen. He clasped her wrist and turned it, wrenching her around so that her back was to him. His opposite arm encircled her neck, becoming a too-tight scarf, cutting off her airway.

He felt her struggling, clawing and kicking while her air supply and consciousness lasted. His hold never slipped once.

"Go to sleep little one...I have more fun planned for you, but not here..."

After he was sure she'd gone unconscious, he bound her wrists and ankles with a loop of twine he kept for snares. Then he hefted her over his shoulder and stalked off back to his camp, whistling an indiscernible tune.

Once he arrived, he fastened her bindings to a stake and set to digging the thorn from her palm. He rinsed it with water from a waterskin, expecting the jolt to wake her. A grim grin awaited her as the haze of sleep shimmered in her eyes.

 

[Angeleyz]

Her heart raced painfully in her chest as she watched him roll to his feet and unfurl to his full height. Too close, he was way too close and the awful grin on his face had her back pedaling a few more paces as she tried to grip the dagger in readiness. She swayed slightly as she turned in sync as he circled, paying close attention to the hand holding the sword. There was a small twitch of his hand that warned her of his lunge seconds before he executed it, and Safia raised her dagger, slashing sloppily in his direction but she was too slow. She knew it, and he apparently did too. He seemed so sure of her inability to defend herself that he actually put away his sword and proceeded to come towards her with nothing but his bare hands.

Desperation fueled her movements as he got closer and closer, the dagger slicing through the air nearly catching him on more than one occasion but never succeeding like it would have had she been able to grip the dagger properly. ‘Goddess of the Light, help me,’ she implored in despair. Closer and closer he came as her movements became more and more frenzied, her balance becoming more precarious by the second. He struck without warning, a backhand that sent her dagger flying as a tidal wave of numbness swept to her shoulders.

One moment she had faced him, and the next he held her from behind in an iron chokehold. Despite the certainty that he would kill her, she still fought wildly, squirming and kicking, clawing and bucking.

Go to sleep little one...I have more fun planned for you, but not here...

Black dots appeared in her vision as her lungs strained desperately for air. It became harder and harder to command her limbs to fight, a twitch where there should have been a kick, a tremor that was supposed to be a hit. The dots began to join together, faster and faster, until they became a curtain that was slowly lowering.

‘Laika….,’ she cried silently as the darkness swallowed her.

-----------

Stinging pain startled her awake, a soft hiss escaping as her fingers flexed in protest. Her eyelids fluttered a couple of times as she sought to throw off the heavy blanket of sleep that had gripped her. Something had bitten her and she needed to examine it. Infection could cause a delay in her last job before she and Laika could finally leave the area. They needed to meet Rod-….

Memories intruded and jarred her completely awake, and Safia stiffened as she saw who crouched in front of her. She immediately tried to dive to her right, only realizing her wrists and ankles were secured to the stake she had been leaning against when her flight attempt was abruptly halted, and she went face first into the ground. Mocking laughter filled the air as he picked her by the back of her tunic and plopped her back against the stake with a quick flick of his wrist.

Her hands clenched in frustration, causing another spasm of pain as the thorn drove further into her palm. Her eyes flicked from one side to the other, searching for something that could be used to defend herself but there was nothing nearby. She looked back at her captor who smirked knowingly, causing her lips to tighten and her chin to lift defiantly. He might not think much of her skills, but she had almost gotten away.