The Redneck: She really enjoyed wearing black, or black and white, or any number of shadow shades entirely too much. Steel toed Docs, stretchy leather pants, a slouch shouldered sweater with white snowflakes on a black background, black beanie and scarf rounded the rest out. Nearly too long hair bound back in a thick braid down her spine, belled rings chiming cheerily as she padded along. The day was, to her, too fine to spend it indoors and there was any number of interesting things to be found, anywhere she looked really. Soft song throbbing in the base of her throat when she paused at the base of a huge tree, head c*cked to the right, eyeing the massive cluster of mistletoe way up there thoughtfully.

The Traveler: There he was that little rodent of a man, His clothes almost rags though he wasn't shivering in the cold, It didn't seem to effect him at all. One hand slipping into his pocket wile his head lifted he was sniffing the air trying to catch a scent that he had been trying to follow most of the morning. Bare foot and not giving a damn about it. He had a mission to run and his hands twisted around one another a nervous habit perhaps. A slight tilt of his head and he had the scent again. His voice loud, lurching out. "Miss Thorn. Miss Thorn." Beady eyes the were-rat had and he finally spotted her. Breaking into a run he was close now. "Miss Thorn, The Boss He has something for you too do." Yeah he was looking even more nervous than his cowardly butt normally was.

The Redneck: Torn between climbing the tree and finding out what ---what's-his-face's boss had on the list of her to do, the redneck shifted a bit of her attention to Ratty. "Hey there." Only when amethyst eyes took a moment to actually, and honestly look at him, did the whole of her attention snap to and center there, landing solidly on the were-rat with a fine pointed focus she rarely employed. "What's up an' what is it?" Thumbs hooked in the front pockets of her pants, the stance she took up was something at ease and anticipatory at the same time.

The Traveler: He came to a stop close enough for her to smell him and the sewers he inhabited most of the time. One hand still wringing a fist as he looked up at her. Something Thorn wasn't used to having happen very often. "Miss Thorn," Still trying to catch his breath. "The other hunters won't help because there isn't a bounty set yet. There might not be one set at all. It isn't worth their time." He paused for a moment looking down taking great gulps of air trying to slow himself down. Finally looking back up at her. "An aberration of a blue attacked, killed, hurt, a caravan of traders. Took them away with both heads. The Boss is having it tracked now. He needs your help. Your the only one he thinks will do it out of the kindness of your..." And that broke into snickering. "He wants you to do it for free 'cause he says you're soft hearted." He will say there were children involved if he has to.

The Redneck: No, it really wasn't something she was used to having happen, and it was something she could totally enjoy happening more often. Only, with less fragrant people and with less hand wringing. "If
there's no bounty, an' likely t' be none, why---" Oh, well that made sense, the soft hearted part. Amethyst eyes rolled in their sockets and she chuffed a laugh that was as self-mocking as it was humorous. "A two
headed blue snagged folk up an' I'm s'pposed t' rush in 'cause'a m' squishy heart." - This wasn't said as a question, because it hadn't been meant as one. Sighing in soft exasperation, she kicked at a tuft of grass in a sullen snit. Puffed out a breath and fidgeted before stating, "fine. 'Tever's in its lair that don' belong t' that caravan is mine though." There might be a solid working relationship, even a tentative friendship between herself and Ratty's boss, but Thorn wasn't as naive as she had been in the beginning. "'s freakin' gonna hurt." Though she sounded entirely too chipper about the prospect while indicating that Ratty should lead the way to, where ever they were going.

The Traveler: Nodding his head quickly and many times. "Yes you should think of how many died. Mercenaries, merchants, More creatures with the letter M that starts their title." He looked back over his shoulder as if the Boss could have come out of the lair to watch him. Looking back at Thorn. "Think of the children. Think of how close it is to Winter parties. Christmass? The children of those people need their Christmass Vengeance." He wasn't going to say anything else. A slight cant of his head looking at her before he realized that she said shed do it. "Wait what your serious?" He couldn't believe it. Doing it and not getting aid. The Boss only said soft heart not soft head. Good thing she could read minds or
he would have gotten his butt kicked. A hand in a pocket and he was holding out a gem for her. "Spell stone. It has a Gem jump on it. Throw it down between your feet and it will take you to where the dragon had been
tracked." He started to hand it over and paused. "Dont throw it between people or the group will be transported."


arthour: :Walking up a random path from the lake, Arthour was making in the general direction of the city. There was one odd thing however, something worthy of note. There was a young lupe on his back...Yes, he
was giving Rayne a piggy back ride. Why? Don't ask. Looking over his shoulder at her he siad: "So, tell me Rayne, how long have you been here?"


The Redneck: Christmas Vengeance? She liked that term, a lot. Probably more than she should. --Oh, it was a very good thing she couldn't read minds else she'd have a new shoe and Ratty would be not so very comfortable. Tipped her hand to accept the offered Gem. "All righty. Should I give it a few minutes or do y'all have it tracked t' bay already?" Best to know these things lest she wound up jumping before they knew where the damn thing called home base. "An' yeah, 'm serious. Can't have littles goin' without Christmas Vengeance." There'd be shirts with that phrase across the chest by the end of the night, trust.

The Traveler: He almost dropped the gem before pressing it into her hand looking over his shoulder. His ears were twitching he could swear he heard footsteps. "Uhh uhh. Hold on. The boss don't like this but." He pulled out a cell phone from a pocket that looked like everything that was put in it would fall out. Flipping it open and he pushed a single button. Looking at it and taking too it. "Uhhh Boss. Trackers hunted it down yet? She'll do it. I cant believe she is that gula..." Looking up at Thorn and back down to the phone, "That sweet and caring and not looking like shes going to gut me." He was taking a step back as the voice answered low and growling. "The dragons circling a spot of land that is un-natural. They think they're real close. A few minutes and they should have the point placed. Tell her I said
thank you." The were-rat nodded to the phone and closed it slipping back into his pocket. "The boss says thank you." Smile." And almost ready." He was still slowly backing up and ready to run if he had too.

The Redneck: Oh, the look Ratty got; looked down her nose at him, right sided auburn brow arching slowly while her head tipped, ever so slowly to the right as well. If looks actually carried heat, he'd have been nothing
but feathery ash. At least until her humor started jumping and kicking around. Lips twitching, the gutting comment had a large, heavy hand in that. As well as the bark of laughter that broke free. "Y'all're welcome,
an' no, 'm not gonna gutcha." She did however, begin stretching, limbering up as much as possible. And never mind that it would be a smart idea to hunt down her armor and an assortment of items and the like to make this easier for one person to pull off. Those were just, technicalities.

arthour: :With Rayne gone, apparently taken by the nexus, he shrugged and continued walking with a smile. There wasn't much for him to do today, so he'd just wander about the Glen. Walking through the trees, he let his cloak flutter behind himself as he moved, hands in pockets, his boots crunching on dead foliage loudly:

The Redneck: Head tipped to the right, she'd heard the boot-crunching of someone wandering in their
direction.

The Traveler: His nose lifted slightly sniffing the air once again. "Seems you have friends about." He was backpedaling a bit and starting to head out. " Let me know later if you kill it. I'll know if you die by you not
telling me or the boss." With that he was off and running for the nearest sewer grate.

arthour: :Boot crunching would slowly get louder and louder before he appeared in near the huge tree. Seeing Thorn, he smiled and waved: "Afternoon Thorn, what are you doing out here?" :Strolling closer, he stopped a few steps away from her:

The Redneck: Aww, Ratty was the most sentimental little guy. "You got it." Finger wiggling, bell chiming wave sent after the were-rat while amethyst eyes swept the area, her head tipped to the right when Arthour
came into sight not long after Ratty'd bailed. A sun bright, dimple flanked smile flared to life easily. "Was wanderin', thought I might cut some mistletoe, then I got distracted. Some two headed blue dragon hit a
traders' caravan, slaughtered a bunch'a folk, took off with either people or
wagons, 'm not real clear on which at the moment. Waitin' for a few 'til 's tracked t' land an' 'm gonna go kill it." Don't mind that she as bouncing on the balls of her feet just a little. "Y' want in?"


arthour: "Ohhh, that sounds bad" :He said, referring to the dragon bit with a frown: "Chance to kill an evil dragon? Why wouldn't I be in?!" :He replied with a smile: "Sounds like it'll be fun, plus I'll get to see you in
action" :Blinking, he thought for a moment, then said thoughtfully: "Also, I don't think Mai would like it if you got hurt of something before the party when I had the opportunity to help"

Charles Blackstone: Charles then appeared down next to art, his full ghillie suit making him look like a Wookie almost, the rifle that was slung in his arms matched perfectly like a purse matches a dress "hi guys"

The Redneck: She grinned fast, bright and wicked. "'M hard's hell t' kill, an' I'd go see a cleric, or flat out Healer instead'a bein' all wrecked for the fashion show." Because that was just, not something she'd do; she only wrecked peoples' plans when the people or plans deserved it, and Mai definitely didn't deserve it. "An' I'll get a chance t' see you do y'r thing too, 's kind of a win-win." At least, that's her story to stick to. And,
Charles looked like a Wookie, cool. "Uhm, I coulda swore that was jus' an old wives' tale, an' it was jus' y'r hands." Teasing, definitely yes. "Hi. Dragon killin', me an' Arthour, want in? Waitin' for 'nother minute 'r two t' make sure they've a chance t' get the other end'a the jump point set." Someone somewhere might be spinning in their graves or falling over dead because Thorn wasn't being all 'do this by myself.'

Charles Blackstone: Charles nods "I'm down with that, been a while before ive went hunting dragons, that's a lie it would be my first time but it can't be to hard right" Well definatly not as hard as a makynai purge, that
was brutal, but anyways "But yeah im in. Will be fun"

arthour: "Hay Charles" :He said, not looking or surprise by his sudden appearance. Great thing, being telepathic (and technically a demi-god) is that its hard for people to sneak up on you. He did smile however and left him to answer Thorn's question:

The Redneck: "We'll see here in a couple. 'Cept if 's big 'nough t' carry off loaded wagons, 's gonna be damn big." And big, when it came to dragons, usually meant old and strong. This was something she wasn't
exactly thinking about. Well she was thinking about it, just not worrying about it. "Y'all ready?" Let's hope so, because the Gem, just got dropped on the ground between the three of them to open the portal and whisk
them off to, where-the-hells-ever the dragon was.

The Traveler: And there it was. If a signal was to be had that was it. The gem started to warm in Thorns hand and pulse softly with a deep red light. It didn't hurt the tough and wasn't very bright but it seemed to be
ready.

The Redneck: Thorn's patience was, not a big thing really. Oh! Her timing though, it rocked!

The Traveler: Perfect time for a drop. It hit the ground and shattered the pieces breaking down into a fine dust and swirled around the legs of those close to it. All three were looking over the cold glen one instant and
between the blink of one eye and the next they were standing in hot sand. Acrid almost desert like. They could see snow fields a distance off but at least a half mile area had been shifted by the dragon to mimic his
natural surroundings, his preference. An up nod given to Thorn by a were-rat in its hybrid form. One finger pointing to a small incline in the sand. A rock cavern dipping not too deeply and what looked like two merchants wagons with the tops ripped off so something very large could get what was in it. The Were Rat looked at the other two it hadn't met and nodded.

arthour: :Great, one head on fire, the other looking at him, he grinned at it before throwing his left hand at it, aiming at the head as the five crystals soared through the air towards it, maybe he'd hit an eye if he was lucky? Flexing both hands again, he formed a pair of fireballs in each hand now, preparing to throw them at the body of the dragon now:

The Redneck: Oh, she was being snapped at? "Auk!" Such eloquence from Champion Christmas, who'd just launched herself into the snapping maw. Which was a lot easier for her to pull off since it was all distracted and staring. Flaming claws were, hopefully, soon to be plunged into the connective tissue and meat at the base of the dragon's tongue. Made it easier to hold on like that, really it did. The Dart Gun, she'd dropped it when the dragon was intending to bite her in half. Do excuse the cursing on her part.

arthour: ::Cursing is always excused when fighting a giant, bad a*s dragon::

The Traveler: And there were teeth all about Arthour now biting maybe in two if he didn't have wards to block it. Those fire shards didn't seen to do anything to the dragon even as they hit in the soft fleshy part of his
mouth. Thorn would have taken the dragon by surprise as Arthour distracted the other head as well. Flaming claws biting into the tongue causing the head to reel back and snap forward jaws snapping shut as tongue snapped up slamming her against the roof of its mouth.

The Redneck: Ow, lots and lots of ow. Lost her breath with being smushed against the roof of the dragon's mouth, even though that was, well she couldn't honestly say it'd been part of her plan, but it worked out for her well enough. Left hand snapped up to drive the blades from that hand, as far into the dragon's palate as possible. "Fuggin' sonofagodsdamnfuggin'bishesgnarlytoenails." Right hand, joined the left with, hopefully, the sizzle-hiss of flames meeting damp flesh.

arthour: :Oh great! An open mouth right in front of him! Wrists slapped together to combine the two fireballs into on bigger on and was sent blasting into the dragon's open maw before he took a stepped back, barely missing the teeth as they snapped shut, he flickered again and footsteps appeared, rapidly moving backwards away from the dragon. A second later and he was about fifty-yards away from the dragon now:

The Traveler: That head that Arthour shook from side to side the damage from the combined fireballs had hurt it though not as badly as one might expect unless they knew about a dragons natural magic resistance.
Both heads screamed One from claws to the tongue the other of course from the flames that were quickly going out. The head with Thorn in its mouth inhaled sharply as it saw Arthour flying away and spit a redneck
sized projectile at the man as he was flying away because of the blast. She was hot on his heels and may collide with great impact even before he had a chance to get his feet settled.

The Redneck: You know that sound that Goofy makes when he's falling, or flying? The yah-ha-ha-hooey! sound? That'd be the sound Thorn made, as she was spat out of the dragon's mouth. The blades, should
have been drug and ripped free of its fleshy mouth parts by this action though. Flattening out for a few seconds to slow her flight a bit, Thorn tucked into the pose of a diver approaching the water. "Duck!" Hopefully this warning meant she'd avoid slamming into Arthour, and could instead, tumble roughly, painfully, across the desert sand.

arthour: "Ohshi-!" :Redneck hit him unfortunately just took him off his feet, bowling him over. He came up quickly after, untangling himself from her....This was bad, they were a single target now, much easier to hit.
Raising both hands, palms pointing at the dragon, he drew on his magic, forming a large, golden magical shield in front of himself with Thorn behind him: "Thorn! I'd start running if I were you, we need to keep separate!"

The Traveler: That shield came into existence just in time as the dragons lightning hit it. It was strong enough to shatter even the arch-mages shield and shock the living hell out of the both of them. The brunt the shield did deflect a large amount down into the sand causing again near molten glass shards to spray the both of them. It might lighten there spirits though they couldn't see it at the moment one of the dragons heads had dropped low and looked like it couldn't breath. the inside of its throat was scorched and unresponsive.

The Redneck: Oh well, then, groaning and cursing, Thorn drug herself to her feet, shook her head sharply and staggered to the right. Then, she had the hell shocked out of her, and did that little jittering, tense muscled dance anyone does when electricity goes shooting through their system. Twiching and jerking, she pulled a pair of wands out of the back pocket of her pants; one rosewood the other golden oak. This, was going to be interesting. " 'S a little buttony thingy at the butt end, 's a lightnin' bolt wand. There's ten in there." The rosewood wand tossed to Arthour before she darted off to open up distance between them once more. Fireballs sent off as she went.

arthour: :Well, he grabbed the wand as it was thrown at him...He was however somersaulting over Thorn at this time, avoiding the lighting that had shocked her. Landing lightly as she ran off, he held the wand in his left hand and raised his right, making a sudden slash at the dragon, a bolt of wind sliced through the air and would hopefully hit the dragon:

The Traveler: With glass embedded in their bodies the fireball wand went off. the explosion cut in twain by the air lance that Arthour brought into existence the both hitting the dragon and scales burst from its hide at
the location of the attack. The ground could be felt trembling as the huge beast finally went down from the combined damage of our two current heroes.

The Redneck: And blinded and cut to hell and, ow. Lots and lots of pain. Wheezing, wounded, and really wanting a damn cheesecake cupcake, Thorn ran a few more steps before she realized that the shaking of the
ground, had actually been the ground and not her knees threatening to give out on her. Her pretty, sorority girl sweater though was semi shredded, so were parts of her pants, but woohoo! "Woohoo! We lived!" And now, to sit down, heavily, on the sand and suck in air.

arthour: "Owww..." :He said, going down to one knee. He had a lovely bit of glass sticking out of his left thigh right now. Eyes focused on the dragon, he raised the lightning wand and hit the button, blasting it for good
measure as it fell:


The Traveler: With the lightning bolt the dead dragon twitched spasmodically.

arthour: "Well, its dead" :He said with satisfaction, getting up painfully, he limped over to Thorn: "So, Thorn..Still alive?" :He said with a grin to her:

The Redneck: "Might wanna pull that out." Said the pot to the kettle while slowly working on tugging shards of glass out of the places she could reach, mostly before her skin closed up once again. But not all. "Thank
y' Arthour. Half the hoard's y'rs if y' want it." And once she'd caught her breath, the redneck's natural, more than a little off, humor returned. "Hells yeah. That, was frickin' fun."

The Redneck: She needed a new idea of fun, really she did.