Topic: Stalking the Hunter

The Storm Fox

Date: 2009-01-07 14:55 EST
The elfess was wrapped up in her thick wool cloak now, lined in fur. Gloves, and boots, as well, lined in fur, but they really just took the edge off the cold for a time. She would not have too much time available to her before she would be vastly slowed down and shivering, teeth chattering. She had maybe an hour, at most, before she would be near useless in this cold. She was hoping that the gear Cie and Danny had mentioned would be given to her soon. Would help here, too!

Gem moved soundlessly, except where the snow was crunchy with freezing melting and refreezing. Near soundless, there, being an Elvin thief. She was not long in reaching the west end, and aimed for those areas that her sources had told her might hold either news of the villain, or possibly the villain himself. She paused to check her guns and get the second mags slid into her belt so she could reach them fast. Daggers were all freshly dipped in sleep toxins and were sharp and ready to work. The first part of her search, she conducted on foot, her coronet of braid let down and behind her back, under the cloak. No razors in it, since it had been up. Hood up and shielding her face, she looked like a child, but for the overly large bumps in front of her.

Stepping out of the tavern Fox wasn't paying much mind to his surroundings at the moment. Instead he was reading over something that carried a hint of a glow that was rising off the page and casting the tattooed features into a play of shadows. Near the window he stood, a cigarette in one hand, holding a very familiar scent of Zymirian Gold and he took a draw before one hand folded it back up and tucked it away casually into a pocket. It was only then he started to walk. Heading towards the road that would take him towards the many water front mansions.

Well now. Here was a totally unexpected treasure trove, the man himself if that tattoo was seen right. Gem blinked and caught her breath. This man had beaten her and Danny quite handily and that was two of them. She was only one and she knew she was really no match for a practiced assassin. Oh, she might get lucky. Guns were good equalizers sometimes. But if got hold of her, she was most likely going to be dead, and fast. She swallowed, her courage tested, though only for a moment. It was Cie and Danny. They were worth the risk. Oh, so much worth it. She waited till he was moving away from her to begin stalking him. Flirting with shadow...doorways....alcoves. Moving silent as the wind and trying to avoid those crusty places of snow. If she could not, she was trying to time her steps to his. Staying back far enough, she hope, not to be seen. And....damn it. Not to be smelled. Her lilac and honey scent was not washed away...honey never really was, as it was part of her skin. But she had not prepared for this, as she would have on a night of thieving. Drat! Testing the wind with a damp finger.

Turning down one main road towards another and he paused. Head lifting as he seemed to be catching a scent in the wind and then turned around. Metallic blue eyes glowing ferally in the gloomy darkness for a moment. Smoke danced from his fingers, the sultry subtle scent playing upon the ebb and flow of the teasing drafts before The Fox spun back, catching nothing and once more started to walk. Then a curious thing, another form melted out of the darkness and fell into step with them, and quiet words were being exchanged. Neither paused in their forward movement, while they continued to speak in soft hushed tones; A language that was both unusual and lyrical and nowhere near to the common tongue used in RhyDin.

Her heart seized up in her breast as he paused and turned. She pressed to the cold stonewall behind her and held utterly still. not even breathing. As he moved back, she dizzily thanked the Gods and moved with him....blinking as the man ..or woman..joined him. She could not make out that tongue, though!! Double drat. Her purpose was to gather information. If she could not understand, then she had to see. See who it was that the Fox spoke to. She dared to edge closer...and closer. Trying to see a face.

The Storm Fox

Date: 2009-01-07 14:58 EST
Another missive was passed over to the Storm Fox, the features of his newest companion cloaked, however a watcher might catch the sheen of golden predatory eyes. He was taller then the headhunter and bulkier in stature. Sharp ears might catch a creak of armor, or the soft chime of chain when he moved. Fox spoke again, rapidly, sharper the tone even if the words would likely make little sense. It was an Elfin tongue, but not one commonly spoke here. Soon a heavy bag was held forth in a gloved hand and just as swiftly taken with a sharp nod of a dark head with a low guttural muttering. "Aye. Soon. Just waiting on the final piece. Ye brother has promised ye will handle that."

The thief was quite perturbed. There was a brother. There was this other guy. Golden eyes. Taller..bulkier. Chain and armor wearer. Lots of gold, most like and passing a missive to the Storm Fox. Most troubling. And what was she to do' Follow the Fox and try to get that missive" Pick his pocket' Or follow the big guy and see where he went' Gem gnawed on her bottom lip and watched...thought...in a quandary.

That larger form mumbled something and then turned and moved off, seeming to fade away into the mists rolling in off the water beyond. Leaving the Storm Fox alone once more. Taking up a lean against one of the gas lamps he cracked the wax seal open and looked at what was written on the page. Again a glow rose from the thick parchment and danced over his dark shadowed features. What ever he found inside made a cold smile move and he was then snapping it closed. This one was tucked away into an inside breast pocket. He was again walking. Soon moving past the guard house and then the Scath sisterhoods compound. Getting closer and closer to Shadowhold.

Gemethyst did not have to worry about the big guy. He was gone to fast and in too odd a way for her to get after him. So she followed the cold one, and watched him read that document. She. Had. To get that document. It held the key to..maybe...saving Cie and Danny. Licking dry lips, she began to inch closer to him as he worked his way closer to Shadow hold. And isn't that interesting" That he was heading that way' And it was even...jeez, she hoped the Cie was not heading home herself right now!!!

Gemethyst hoped that for once, Veighn would pay more attention to her and whisk her off to make hot passionate love to her. Inch. Closer. Closer. Pause, let him move...inch. Closer.

The Storm Fox paused, just outside the boundary of the keep. Those glowing metallic blue eyes watchful as he seemed to just stand there, hidden in the shadow of one old tree, barren of leaves due to winters touch. After a few moments, the faint cry of a hawk broke the chilled silence. It went swooping over the land he was unable to enter, sailing unnoticed through those wards as it was but a simple creature.

Gemethyst gave a tiny gasp as indeed, he seemed to have some affinity or control of animals. A beastmaster, it seemed he was, she thought. Dredging up the term from old memories. Probably not accurate, but it is what she thought of. They were close to the estate. And she was getting colder. Too cold for action here but very soon. Licking her lips, she decided to make her move. She slipped up on him, using every ounce of skill she possessed. Sneaking, the thief, so that she could then flit past him, and slip a hand into his inner pocket, trying for that document. He would have a chance, then, to grab her but if she could dodge it or break free, she could try for the hold itself. It was only a stone's throw away. She could enter, and he could not.

The Storm Fox

Date: 2009-01-07 15:02 EST
Having been concentrating on the hawk, so he might see through it's eyes, it took him a moment to realize someone had come into his personal space and a sudden blink and blazing of those blue eyes was turning upon her with a low snarl of rage. One hand shooting out to try and grab her as she collided with him, unaware she had gotten her hands on that newest missive. A surprised growl broke from The Fox and shaking the silence of the surrounding area with the tone. "What the "ell do ye think ye be doing?"

He got...her hand. Not her wrist. Her gloved hand. Gemethyst had forgotten, somehow, about his faster than light reactions. Her heart seemed to stop beating as she felt those strong fingers on her own. She knew she had maybe a second or two to get away, and it was surprise that would maybe do it for her. And that he hand not closed around the bone of her wrist, but of her squeezing together fingers. She went ballistic on him, a Hellfire Kitten, her free hand, having tucked away that document in her bosom, slapped forward to try to catch him in the neck with her pin ring of sleep toxin, as she had Tara the other night. The other was yanking and yanking from his grip, leaving him with more glove than hand. One foot rose up and STOMPED down at the outside edge of his booted foot, to hopefully break a pinkie toe. And then her other knee rose up, to hopefully impale his manhood on her knee. A flurry of movement and motion, all at once, hitting on more than one front, to hopefully win at least on one of them.

The ring nicked the leathers encircling his neck as he started to struggle with the sudden shecat assaulting him. Managing to avoid a good bit of those attacks, especially those directed at his groin, for that was always a place most sought to hit after all. He was swiftly losing his grip on her however and in a sudden flood, a blast of freezing cold shot from his hands as he started hopping, the stomp on his instep unavoided and causing him a moment of colorful cussing, and all said in a lyrical language.

The elfess was very afraid that she was not going to get away, as he was very nimble and avoiding most of her tried and true methods. But then...man was an assassin! She gave a little cry as that frozen cold blasted her hand, the glove on it having fallen to the ground as he blasted with that cold, and she fell back a step. Her hand seared and stung. So cold! And she...why she just did a sudden bolt for the gate, hollering her foolish head off and racing for all her life was worth for that gate of Shadowhold. She was fast...like a deer. The speed of the man behind, though, was an unknown. Her cloak and braid billowed behind her, too, as she fled.

Words flowed from him, low and in a curious tuneful cadence as the ground under her running feet started to ice over. Once the spell was cast he was moving behind her. Closing the distance only to veer off as two guards stepped through the gates, hearing the screaming. Of course they were starting to skid and slide a bit due to the icy ground under their boots. Words on the wind floated around her then, an omen perhaps or a threat. one couldn't tell. "Ye will be next little elf."

Oh, Gods above and below!!! Gem's heart was beating a mile a minute as she kept slipping and sliding towards the guards. She was sooooo glad to see them! She went down just feet from them and skidded towards them on her backside, body whipping around so she was facing the Fox again, or where he had been. Terror in her eyes, of course, at those words. Then the guards were past her and heading for him, and so she could breath again. She scrambled to her feet and kept on running for the keep itself. The message in her top first and foremost, it must be delivered!

Cieara DeAuster

Date: 2009-01-07 15:19 EST
Cieara was stalking toward home about this time, muttering and cussing about Veighn of course only to send up hearing shouts. It brought her up short and then she was running towards the keep. While another was bearing down on her, moving faster then normal so she didn't see him until just a moment to late and was thrown back into the Scath sister's stone wall with a gasp of pain. Barreled into she was, but something that seemed more like a wall of ice then human. It was rather like the very wind had swept down her, and a mere second before became some unrelenting barrier.

The flash of color as she was turning back to run was played in her mind after she had started to run for the keep. It hit her that was the color of dress that Cie had worn. She skidded to a stop as she realized with horror that Cie was all alone out there, with two flagging guards and an assassin targeting her. She fell again in her haste to get back out there and try to help, her shouts never stopping, hoping more guards would deter the man. Then she was racingslippingsliddingwavingherarmsand pulling her guns on her way back to Cie. "RUUUUNNNNNNNN!!!" She could bellow, by the way. Good lungs on her, that elf. Not daring to say her name, for if he did not realize it was she, then Gem was not going to inform him. Lifting her guns that way, seeing Cie up against a wall.

Sinking back, gloved fingers reached for the weapon impaled in her side and just gasped again. "That be just damned lovely. Fitting end to a foul night aye." Cieara was struggling to her feet just as the guards reached her location and was still cussing. Even as the bronze velvet under the cloak was rapidly becoming scarlet, and a rather nasty shard of ice was till embedded in her side. It had her snarling as her assailant was still being pursued but she couldn't even attempt to join in that. Yet she was well aware of Gem heading her way, the small lady did have a pair of lungs on her. "No....oh no...OH NO...!!!!" Horror etched on the face of the thief as she saw blood spattering the frozen gown. He had gotten her..Nonononononoo!!!!! Gem shot after him in her sudden rage, neatly avoiding the guards as she emptied her gun at him, all fourteen slugs. But whether they hit or not, or would do anything to the man she had no clue. Not even sure what she was seeing there.

Then she was at Cie's spot, and she shoved her guns home. Still hollering for help from the keep...surely they had more then two bloody guards????" She was crying, and did not even know it. Shhh...Gem did not ever cry, see. Hands were already pulling out a potion, one of the two stronger ones Kaelynn had given her recently. She ripped her cloak off herself and threw it on the ground at their feet, and then tried to get Cie to sink down on it. "Here, love, sit. Sit, Cie...lemme get this in ye." Oh, Gods where are your fathers *people*!!! "OVER HERE, YE THRICE BEDAMNED WET-BEHIND THE EARS GOOD FOR NOTHING GUARDS! A DEAUSTER BE DOWN!" Her throat was raw.

"Oh dear." Something wasn't right. Cieara had taken far worse damage in battles and skirmishes, however she was suddenly feeling rather light headed and started to sway on her feet. One blood soaked glove moving to find balance against the wall nearby, even as she caught a curious scent and just blinked in surprise. Behind Gem, and entire battalion of DeAuster's soldiers was moving coming up behind the others rapidly with weapons drawn while Cieara sort of just stood there, trying to recover from the realization she may have been poisoned.

"What...what is it...!!?" Drink this, Cie...sit ye down....oh..oh!! Assassin..! Poison, I bet ye my life." Gem ripped her other glove off and took off her most prized possession...well, besides her bag of holding and tried to thrust it onto Cie's hand. "Tis a ring of poison immunity...Gods." Snarling in her frustration and fear. Cieara found herself being pushed down but didn't have the ability to resist as she sort of sank against the wall again, the cold a dull ache upon her senses. Her kind didn't generally succumb to such things as poison, there was but a few that could affect her and apparently who ever had hit her knew of them. All this was moving through her thoughts as she struggled to keep her eyes open. Words become quite mumbled and slurred. "Need to get...home. Find a soulgem."

Poor Gem...terrified....aghast...she was forcing that ring on the girl's finger even it if broke the damned bone! Her fingers smaller than Cie's, but it was a magic ring. It might fit her smallest one" Gem was trying, and then praying for it to work. As booted feet came round her, she was popping the cork off and trying then to pour it down the lass' throat. "She needs a soul gem! She needs to get inside! Can ye carry her?"

"Pull" it...out." Cieara could smell it, it was a mixture of two potent poisons. One had killed her father a very long time ago and the other had nearly killed her mother. The scent she knew, from shared memory it seemed. She was trying to move but fingers fumbling against the now melting shard of ice. Akcailis however was slowly starting to paralyze.

The returning guards stopped and one tall older man moved through them, barking orders, only to stop and scowl at the sight of his lordship's daughter down on the ground. Farris shouted then. "GET A DAMN HEALER! NOW!" A soldier's bellowing, sent the words bouncing and echoing through building and the street beyond.

Cieara DeAuster

Date: 2009-01-07 15:26 EST
"Get it out...get it out..?"" Gem was not tracking well here. The ring was partially at least on Cie, and the potion she was still trying to get in her mouth. She reached down to Cie's side and pressed her back, trying not to hurt. Peering close, thinking she meant a blade was still in her. Ice. Ice shards" Melting...she caught her breath and reached nimble fingers right into the wound closed in a tight grip around the slippery thing or things...and then she tugged....hissing as she was sure that had to be agonizing....then she gave it as hard a pull as her body could manage. Out!

It was a muffled scream she made as the piercing cold ice was yanked free, sending another washing of blood pouring from it. Cieara was fighting against the effects and even managed a hint of a smile as Farris leaned down and just swept her up without any effort at all, cradling her like a small child. "Come along Lass." The large, iron haired soldier said to Gem as he started off towards the Keep with his burden. Behind where he walked there was a trail of blood following in his wake.

Another of the men held out a small oilskin bag to Gem. "Put that in "ere Miss. Might be needing it fer a cure. Tis something we have run into a time or two." Motioning to that shard of melting bloody ice she had yanked free.

The elfess looked gratefully at the big guy for picking up Cie and moving for the keep. The other soldier she nodded to, dropping the shard into the bag and tying it off. She kept it in her hand, and then, silent tears on her face, and another cloak a bloody ruin behind her, she followed at Farris' side, eyes never leaving Cie.

The ring seemed to be helping to some degree, however she had gotten plenty of that deadly poison into her system already. Cieara was trying to talk but finding that none to easy. "Wha "it me" Who?"

Farris just shook his steely gray head as he continued to walk. The long stride eating up the distance rapidly. He was even sure footed stepping over the deadly and slick patches of ice lining the outside gate. "Shh Lass. Ye will be just fine. One of my men ran ahead to find a healer." "Fox...it was Fox....I could have ..I should have just shot him. Why didn't I just shoot him?" Gem was in some shock, herself and following along like a dejected puppy that knows it did all the wrong things. She realized her face was wet and she wiped at it, leaving smears of blood behind. Watching Cie with huge eyes.

Cieara's heart was racing, for that one poison was designed to essentially give her a silent heart attack. Such was how one had killed her father in the past and Cieara was rather hoping the same didn't befall her. She had stupidly walked home, hoping to burn off the rage from dealing with Veighn but instead stepped into something unexpected. Had she not been so darn careless. Tears sparkled in her glassy eyes as she struggled to not give into them but did manage a rather wobbly smile to Gem. "Na ye fawlt." Her words still slurred and fuzzy.

They would have to argue later...if there was a later, for Cie, about whose fault it was. Gem could not believe she had not just shot the man, never mind her plan to let the Fox think he was all good, and yet have info on his plans and his partner. At least she had hoped the paper would give that up. She just smiled with tremulous lips at Cie and hoped they would get there soon!!! "You will be fine. Ye be strong..strong!" "Who is this Fox ye speak of Lass?" Farris instantly asked as he was striding up the steps towards the open door. Men already scrambling out of the way of his movements and inside he stepped.

There, Kaelyn came running, still in a nightshirt and dressing gown. Having been woken from sleep apparently. "Gracious Cieara! What trouble ye be getting into this time?" The dainty woman was directing Farris towards Cieara's room on the second floor. "Up here. Get her to the bed if ye please Captain."

Gemethyst looked up at Farris with guilty eyes. "Assassin." Seeing Kaelynn, she gave a cry of what could only be joy. "Oh, save her!! She be poisoned. A shard of ice...here it be!" Holding the bag up. She bleeds too much...I have a ring on her of poison immunity, but I think it be too late for that."

It was only then that Gem realized that Farris was likely Lucius' man and that meant what she told him was likely to go straight to his ears. Oops.

Cieara DeAuster

Date: 2009-01-07 15:38 EST
Kaelyn's delicate fingers took the bag Gem was offering and just turned and handed it to Farris with a warm smile of thanks to the small elf. "Thank ye Gem. This may help should they try this again. Get that to the keep. Manacore will analyze it see if there be a cure Captain."

The tall erect man wasted no time as he moved off swiftly after laying Cieara down gently upon the bed. "Aye Lass. I most certainly shall."

Kaelyn turned instantly and was soon checking Cieara. Fingers moving to her neck then down to probe the wound that was still bleeding more then it should. From a small pouch a green gemstone was taken, but she paused to look back toward the hovering Gem. "If ye be sensitive, this may be a bit of shock to ye Sweet. Just so ye be knowing." A sudden ethereal scream was unleashed. As green light and sparkling dust flowed from Kaelyn's hand down over Cieara causing the auburn haired woman to gasp and shiver instantly. It was a sudden washing of pure soul energy, that even those unaware would likely sense.

Gemethyst gave a ragged shudder as she felt it go off. Danny had done one on her, and on Tasha. She knew. It was a Gods-awful sensation, and carried a bit of guilt along with it. She grimaced, but nodded to Kaelyn for the warning. She watched anxiously. "Can I do something" Ye need water, towels, anything?"

"That be a soulgem. Tis nae something we use often. They are nae as easy to come by as our herbal blends. Aye, some hot water and towels. There be those in the bathroom." Kaelyn made a motion towards the door across the spacious room. "I will need to clean the wound first. Else my efforts may nae be of any use if there be any lingering poison there." Kaelyn spoke softly as she eased down beside Cieara on the bed, removing the cloak and easing it out of the way and gently started to undress her.

Cieara was still struggling to speak but that was becoming harder and harder. And as Gem moved towards that bathroom, a pair of glowing slanted eyes watched her. A figure stood just a foot in the shadows near the drapes watching. Dark skin and faintly Elven, and yet didn't quiet seem real.

"Kaelyn!!" Guns were empty so her daggers were in her hands, the long fighting daggers, and Gem was aligning herself between the two women and this figure at the edge of shadows, heart thumping again. Glowing eyes?"

"She wants ye to know, this is not your fault Milady." The words a low hiss as a finger that was just slightly exaggerated in length motioned towards Cieara. He didn't seem alarmed at the sight of the daggers, even as Kaelyn looked over with a surprised blink. "Normally she would have used the Path to return home, but she was walking off a temper." The voice was ethereal and hollow, and yet carried it's own sort of curious melody when speaking.

"Tis all right Gem. That be a Sentinel." Calmly, Kaelyn commented before turning back, making Cieara mutter darkly as she used a pair of scissors on the snug front of her bronze gown. "Hush Cie. Ye can have another made. It be ruined already." All there was to it. Gem just shook her head, and moved for the bathroom. In minutes, she had water and towels in plenty, and brought them to Kaelyn's side. "I can empty the water as ye need, lass." "Thank ye Gem." Using a towel Kaelyn gently eased it under the bleeding wound and then took another and started to carefully wash away the blood while that shadowy form looked on from across the room. She had covered Cie with a sheet of course before she started to work. The healing vials of blue waters was also used. "Tis a curious mixture used. Often the family is nae susceptible to such poisons. Ye say it be an assassin that did this?" This said as Cieara hissed faintly, trying to move away but was stopped by a firm grasp upon her arm.

Cieara DeAuster

Date: 2009-01-07 15:42 EST
Gemethyst winced for Cie, a frown on her face as the work progressed. "Aye. I don't think I be s'posed to speak of it, Kaelyn, sae please...ask me nae more." Oh, Danny was going to be so upset. And Lucius and Fiona. She gnawed at her bottom lip for whole minutes, changing the water whenever it got too bloody for use.

Kaelyn's honey gold head lifted and she gazed at Gem, somber and far to aware those sapphire blue eyes. Her brow arching just a little before she offered a quiet nod. "As ye wish. Though tis odd that one might poison her, instead of just kill her as most assassins would. The wound is nae as serious as the elements used." A quiet smile as she set about bandaging the injury. Only to then lay hands upon Cieara's skin. Eyes now closing as a faint halo of gold surrounded her.

Gemethyst nodded, a pained look given to Kaelyn. She hated to not let her know something, but well. Danny and Cie could tell her. And it was *very* strange that he had poisoned her so close to her own home, where he surely knew help was. She frowned at this and nodded to the woman. "M'sorry, Kaelyn. I must go to the library and study a document I got off the assassin. I will likely be there the rest of the night. Can ye send me word if things go ill" Or...if they go well?"

Beads of moisture bloomed upon Kaelyn's smooth brow as she started the healing process. This was going to hurt, as she was taking much of it into herself as well. Though only the effects would linger of course and not the actual poison. It was an exhausting process. However as she felt Cieara's heart start to slow down her own breathing evened out. And after a few moments she slowly withdrew with a glance of very dark eyes at Gem. "Ye go on Gem. Cieara will be fine in a few days. Will take a while for her to recover from the effects. However the worst of that be over. " There was a bit of strain her softly spoken words but also relief. "For now, she be needing sleep." "Aye. " Eyes darker than normal from her emotions, Gem sighed in relief. "And I be thinkin' ye do, as well. If she needs *any*thing....I be happy to serve." That said with a look over to the Sentinel. Hopefully he would let Cie know this for her, as well as Kaelyn. With that, she bowed in deep respect for the woman, and withdrew.