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Post by Jenny on Mar 10, 2012 0:29:55 GMT -5
In her haste for them to get to safety, she made a noise of impatience. She lifted his arm and looped it around her neck and put her arm around his waist. She gritted her teeth, grunting as she dead-weight lifted him to his feet, trying her best to drag him from the pit. With the other hand she held the spear, raising her eyes as she dragged him upward, to watch the enemy.
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Post by Joe on Mar 10, 2012 0:40:55 GMT -5
As she lifted him and started to pull him away, a pain shot up his arm. He almost cried in agony but stifled it with his lip. He fell from Amber's hold, falling to his knees. Adrenaline from the pain stirred his body slightly. Trembling, he reached to his arm - at some point they had broken it, his elbow bent backwards slightly. He had to settle it before it healed. Ignoring Amber a moment, he carefully reached over and grabbed his wrist on the broken arm. He closed his eyes, gritting his teeth as he pulled it roughly towards him, pulling his joints back into place. He growled quietly with misery, collapsing into Amber.
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Post by Jenny on Mar 10, 2012 1:17:09 GMT -5
He stirred. In her surprise she almost dropped him, but before she could tighten her hold he slipped from her grasp. His arm, he was holding it as if in pain. Looking closer, she noticed it was broken. She grimaced as he set the bone but saw it as a good sign. She bent to a knee as she saw him falling back, ready to catch him again in an arm.
"Asher," she spoke in his ear so that he may hear more clearly as she was trying to make as little noise as possible. "Can you walk? I need you to move, we need to get away from here."
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Post by Joe on Mar 10, 2012 1:27:55 GMT -5
He was covered in fresh cuts and bruises, as she spoke to him he looked up at her, his eyes pitiful and filled with pain. He didn't respond to her but simply tried to stand, his legs shaking with the effort, threatening to buckle. He clutched his arm close to his chest and started to limp along with her, his hair matted to his face with blood and sweat.
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Post by Jenny on Mar 10, 2012 1:40:47 GMT -5
His pain filled Amber's heart with rage for these men who had captured and tortured him and by the looks of things had meant to eat him. She would kill every last one of them if she dared to, to wipe their scourge off the earth. But she had Asher to worry about. Even in the dark, they may be discovered. She supported Asher as he tried to walk, but mainly dragged him to the cover of the forest. Amber pulled him up so that he was sitting at the base of a tree, his back supported by the trunk. She knew that before the day dawned he would recover from the worst of his wounds. She counted on that.
Amber opened his hand and put the knife in it and leaned the spear against the tree. She knelt before him, placing her hands on his shoulders and looked into his eyes, clouded with both pain and the drugs.
"Asher, please stay quiet. Use the knife if need be. I have to take care of something."
Giving him a final glance she left him, skirting around the camp. With rage still filling her she moved through the brush quietly. Her body started to shake as she willed herself to shift into the great saber cat, finding the change easier the more she did it. With her growing power, and her kinship with the spirits, her beast form had grown in size and she was almost the size of the saber cat that had given its life willingly to her.
She stalked out of the grass, her golden eyes passing over the dark skin's sleeping forms. Keeping her body low she crept towards the first of them and, jaws opening, she struck at his throat, breaking the neck like a twig, her fangs drawing blood as the man silently gurgled a death throttle.
She struck again and again, a silent killer, until each and every one of the small band of cannibals were destroyed. Lastly, she approached the unconscious one and killed him as well, to be rid of them.
Blood streaked her face and neck as she returned to where she left Asher.
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Post by Joe on Mar 10, 2012 1:53:49 GMT -5
He eyed the knife in his hand, clutching it weakly. Even if he were attacked it would be of no threat save them throwing themselves on it.
While waiting for her to return, he thought. When she had fled from him in the hut, she had willed him to leave. For all she knew he had done so, why did she come looking for him? His heart wrenched, why did she care for him so?
As she returned, he tenses for a moment, thinking it a wild beast. He could feel her energy though, and he relaxed. He showed concern at the sight of the blood, muttering, "Wh.. What did you do?"
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Post by Jenny on Mar 11, 2012 20:09:50 GMT -5
Amber's saber form shifted to her human form and she stood before him. She lowered herself to squat before him, crossing her arms a little, looking ashamed for his words. "I killed them, every last one. Scourge such as they do not deserve to live. They intended to feast on you, and I could not let them do so for another of their prey. I would kill more, if it meant for your safety."
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Post by Joe on Mar 12, 2012 0:33:01 GMT -5
Asher looked away as she spoke, he had something to say but now was not the time. He shook his head, looking confused and defeated, "Why did you come back? You ran from me.."
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Post by Jenny on Mar 12, 2012 0:38:51 GMT -5
"I had to," she said quietly. "Whether you like it or not, our fates are joined. My steps led me back to that abandoned village, and when I saw that you had been taken, alive or dead, I had to see if I could do anything to help you. I understand if you'd like to part ways again..." Amber lowered her eyes, getting to her feet as if thinking that indeed he wanted her to leave him.
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Post by Joe on Mar 12, 2012 17:41:41 GMT -5
Asher stayed silent for a long while, uncertain of what to say. "I am grateful.. but I think you are making me out to be something greater than I am." He winced as the bones in his arm shifted, fusing back together. "You only have a care for me because everything else has been taken from you, by me no less.." He refused to accept that someone could love or care for him. Deep down he was something dark and powerful, and he felt even greater things were coming, "If you choose to care for me.. you will suffer for it in the end, I know it."
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Post by Jenny on Mar 12, 2012 17:51:28 GMT -5
"A friend is what you are to me, Asher," she shook her head a little. "It is the truth, unmasked. I wish you wouldn't bring up the past, that is a hurt slow to mend. I would not be reminded of it. Please, for my sake, do this one kindness. You may not be able to forgive youself, you may not accept my forgiveness, but please, let us not think upon it. There are more important matters to think of, such as where we shall go and where we will live. If not with you, a place where I may find peace. If you should wish to leave me, do so, but not before I am secure. If there is no future with you, then I must accept it. But do not bring me more pain, not now. I will reign my feelings in, and will not impose those feelings upon you. But know that deep inside, I will always call you friend. Is that not enough?
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Post by Joe on Mar 12, 2012 18:01:17 GMT -5
His closed his eyes, nodding as she finished speaking. "It is enough. I will do as you say." The poison was now starting to wear off as it had not been readministered in some time. "Let us find shelter.. I will be able to move again come dawn." He started to push himself slowly off the ground, steadying himself as he stood to gain his bearings. "You will forgive me if I ask you to lead us.."
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Post by Jenny on Mar 12, 2012 18:36:33 GMT -5
She stood to her full height, guaging his ability to walk on his own. When it was apparent that he could, Amber turned to lead them further into the forest, away from the carnage that held no additional danger. She would look out for game as well, now having a spear with which to hunt. She had begun to feel weak with hunger, but had enough will to stay in her saber form even if her energy was now draining from her body.
It was not long until a potential shelter presented itself. A nearby stream had carved a natural cave in it's passing, the stream trickling, the waterway now half it's size this time of the season. She walked towards it, her hand closing tightly around her spear.
"I will check to see if the cave is empty, or if there is a beast lurking in it as it's home." She lifted a hand to cause him to pause. "It will not take long. If you please, I would go alone. You are not yet strong enough to defend yourself against a wild thing." She hoped for the former, rather than the cave housing some large animal."
She lowered her body and ducked inside, using caution and moving silently and slowly.
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Post by Joe on Mar 12, 2012 18:43:49 GMT -5
Asher nodded as she departed to check the cave. He stood at the edge of the stream, gazing down at the clear waters as they passed over the smooth rocks of the creekbed. For a moment he dipped his toe in the cool aqua, but withdrew it quickly; water stirred dark energies in him, more than anything else.
As Amber disappeared into the darkness of the cave, Asher glanced around his surroundings nervously. Last time she left he had been abducted. The moon was high in the sky, and the only sound was that of the creek and the wind passing through the tall pines around them.
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Post by Jenny on Mar 12, 2012 18:48:49 GMT -5
This was not a season of hybernation, and the cave looked as if had not been used in some time. Decaying leaves swept in by the wind was not disturbed by pawprints or hooves. There was a slight musty smell that came with a long abandonment. Satisfied, she returned to the mouth of the cave and ducked through the low opening.
"It is safe, Asher. I do not expect any animal to take it's rest here until winter comes."
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