There wasn't much in the way of Tarfyr and I as we sprinted after the rest of the group. The Kite had cleared an astonishing amount of the pines around us, leaving nothing but shattered stumps, broken canopy, and a minefield of wood splinter.
And it looks like Old Guard and the two others were able to lead it quite a distance away.
Or I suppose they were chased quite a distance themselves.
But with how much of the forest is cleared we spot them quickly. Just as the swordsman from the Mages group gets buffeted by a wing as he attempted to dodge out of the way of the creatures charge. The swordsman being sent flying head over heels just to crash into the piles of sharp wood splinters scattered around the area.
Tarfyr ignores the man, speeding past him, so I do the same. The burly bearded man grunts as he readies his double sided axe. "Dreyfus should be finishing his spell soon! Once you cripple it, get away swiftly cub!"
I grunt right back in response, both of us nearing to the Kite to see that Old Guard and the Halberd man are dangerously close to it. Both dodging around as the Kite unleashed pecks and swipes of its wings. Both men using their respective polearms to get in stabs and slashes where they can. But they are obviously doing little more than surface damage. Atleast they seem to have gotten it locked in place…
OH GOD DAMNIT!
Just as my thought finishes the Kite raises its head, neck puffing up before it releases a long winded sonic screech directly down at Thorpe who blurs out of the way but the monster just keeps the screech going as it swings its head around to sweep the entire clearing.
And heading right towards us…
That prickly sensation coats my body but not as strongly as I expected. But I don't have enough time to get out of way before the sonic waves sweep over us.
Tarfyr jumps in front of me and yells "[Strength of Oak]!". The man's feet suddenly crater and sink into the dirt with a THUD!
The sonic waves striking us but Tarfyr doesn't move an inch. I have to grab onto his belt or else I'd still be swept back. And despite the sound resistance it still makes my ears feel like their about to explode. But the attack continues its path past us as it blasts back dirt and debre that shreds the bark off the trees.
The Kite cleared enough of a gap for itself to start leap charging again, hounding down on Thorpe who has to constantly keep on his toes. And he is definitely looking exhausted.
Tarfyr throws his axe down, embedding its blade into the dirt. "I too am tiring of this stubborn creature. So much destruction for little purpose…"
The burly bearded man bends his knees and leans a bit forward, baring his teeth. "[Strength of Spruce]."
I can see his body vibrate some, his feet not sinking so deeply as before. And I swear I can hear the creaking of wood emitting from him.
He tilts his head over his shoulder at me. "Alright cub. When I do this I will be wild like beast! I will not listen to words. So I entrust you know what to do."
I furrow my brows in confusion. Not really sure what he means. But he doesn't give me time to ask.
He turns to reface the Kite, gritting his teeth. My eyes widening as I see his muscles seem to double in size suddenly, straining against his loose leather armor. The veins in his arms protruding. The growl coming from his mouth changes in pitch and tone until it begins to sound like an actual beast of some sort. Even thick brown fur starts to coat over parts of his body.
The incisors in his mouth that were already rather big have gotten even larger now. Drool dripping from them.
I step back as his now clawed hand regrabs his axe. The axe head itself beginning to vibrate and glow feintly red.
What the hell is happening to him?!
I move myself further back away from the beastial man. That prickly sensation boring sharply into my skin. I suddenly feel like a small animal staring down a bear. My hands sweating profusely.
Tarfyr opens his vicious looking jaws and lets out an animalistic roar that shakes the ground. A forceful wind buffeting me back.
The Kite suddenly halts his pursuit of Thorpe, stumbling over itself to turn and spot the mad beast man. Staring him down as if it's been insulted. The feather drake screeches back and charges. Drawing nearer with each [Leap Stride]. The wind parting for it.
Tarfyr wastes no more time as his feet dig up dirt behind him, sending him bounding right towards the Kite. Which just seems suicidal to me.
I mean, what the hell does he plan to do?! He's just going to get barreled over and crushed!
Tarfyr meets the Kite halfway, dragging his axe in a deep carve behind him. Snarling like he's rabid. Closing in on the monster in mid leap, which should be the most dangerous moment for him.
But the raging man digs his heels in, dragging his axe with both hands through the ground and into an uppercut. The strike hitting the Kites's lower beak on the left side of its face. It's powerful impact resistance mid [Leap Stride] soaking up most of the damage. But the sheer force behind Tarfyr's swing sends its head sailing upward and to its right.
My jaw dropping as the hit shoots the Kite's head up high and drags its upper body with it. It's stubby legs finally coming back into few as it desperately clutches for the ground. It's talons skidding through dirt.
Oh…right.
A gap between the monsters back left leg and its wide plumage appears. Light on the other side.
I lean into a sprint, just like with the Sawtooth. Angling myself as my knees bend. Letting myself fall forward so low I nearly go face first into the ground. Head locked onto that exact spot.
THUMP!!
Shooting forward with [Leap Stride] inches over the ground. Speeding past wood shards and rocks by a hairsbreadth. The angling giving me a tuck and roll, allowing me room to unsheathe my sword and touch down on my butt and back into a slide. My own impact resistance saving me from too much of the bumps as darkness overcasts me when I pass beneath the Kite's body.
Roll. Swing. SLASH!
Ending the slide into a tumble right on the other side. The impact resistance ending just in time for a large rock to bash against my side and send me rolling. "AAAGH!"
I groan, clutching at what will most likely be a pretty nasty bruise. Hearing the crash and pain filled screech of the Kite.
Lifting myself off the ground with a bit of a limp. Which sent pain right up not only my side but also in to my chest. Finally remembering that my ribs cracked back when Thorpe threw me out of the way earlier.
The Feather Drake is not looking good. Attempting to stand back up but its left back leg is limply dragging behind it. Blood gushing from the deep gash right between its thigh and lower body.
Yeah I definitely cut deep. Probably hit some major arteries.
The Kite can no longer use its [Leap Stride]. Which also makes it hard for it to take off as well. But it's certainly making an attempt.
The monster stretches out its wings and starts to angle them for take off. But just as it does so the ground beneath it begins to dot with green light.
"[TANGLED GROVE]!" The mages voice calls out from the edge of the monster made clearing.
And out from the earth around the Kite vines sprout by the hundreds. Wrapping around the monsters body and outstretched wings, dragging it to the ground. It struggles through a few but it quickly weakens with the massive amount of blood it's losing.
Everyone is standing a clear distance away, watching as more and more vines securely entangle around the creature.
The Kite warbles in distress as its head is pinned to the ground by the vines. Even securing over its beak as well.
Only once the creature looks thoroughly secured does everyone start approaching it cautiously. Every light struggle it makes gives everyone a pause before continuing forward. And I follow suit, still clutching my side. The pain beginning to numb itself a bit.
The vines are holding for now. But everyone still looks on edge.
The swordsman limped over as well. Not looking in the best of shapes either after getting smacked away by its wing. His arms and face are cut up, blood dripping from his nose. And he looks pretty agitated as well, walking up to the head of the creature and reeling back his sword to likely kill it but his arm is grabbed before he can strike.
Tarfyr is the one who stopped him. Back to normal from his wild transformation but it certainly appears to have drained him considerably. He looks a bit gaunt and pale. And his voice sounds like he's dehydrated. "The girl gets the kill."
The swordsman furrows his brows and looks incredulously at the burly man. "Are you fucking kidding me? The runt barely did shit!"
The insult pangs through my chest but I try not to show that it had an effect on me. Even if I can feel the corners of my mouth tugging downwards. My right hand squeezing the grip of my sword for support.
The Mage, who I guess is named Dreyfus, approaches finally. "The girl did more damage to it in a few seconds than we did in the past 10 minutes." His eyes narrowed at the swordsman. "She gets the kill."
I am a bit confused why this is even an argument. Obviously these guys put in way more work than I did. But I can't get myself to speak up. The swordsman kind of rattled me a bit.
Thankfully Thorpe steps in, placing a hand on my shoulder. And for some reason shifting me behind him a little.
Old Guard looks just as worse for wear as the others. His slicked back auburn hair is now a tangled curly mess around his head. He's covered in dirt and sweat. Armor torn up and a wound has opened up on his left arm but the bleeding seems to have stopped. He clears his throat."Listen…all due respect Sir Mage, but your lads did way more of the lifting here. And you were helping us out of a bind and you even lost a man for it. I think it's a fair assessment that your group gets the spoils on this one."
I sigh in relief. Thanking the old man silently for voicing what I was feeling. I mean…one of their friends DIED helping us. It's odd that their not demanding the spoils and then some.
Dreyfus's nose wrinkles, his staff creaking some as his hand grips it tighter. "Our man made his decision…a stupid one that he has been warned about repeatedly before. You take no blame for that…"
I guess that settles that part, even Thorpe accepts that answer with a sigh. Even still…I feel terrible.
I lean my head out from behind Thorpe. "Uh…and I wouldn't have been able to even get that cut in if it wasn't for Tarfyr. If anyone, I think he should get it…"
Thorpe gestured to me at them. "What she said. I'd say that is pretty fair. Your Druid put his whole back into that swing." Old Guard chuckles.
Tarfyr scratches his beard and nods. "Felt as if striking a Golem." His eyes glancing towards the mage to see what he thinks.
Dreyfus looked pensive, sharing a stare with his bodyguard for a moment before shifting his gaze down to me. The expression on his face is kind of odd. That same appraising look he gave me earlier. As if he's studying me.
I didn't think much about it before but now that things have calmed down…it kind of makes my skin crawl.
The mage finally sighs and gives Tarfyr a nod.
The burly man shrugs and grunts, hoisting up his axe while approaching the lightly cooeing Feather Drake.
Lifts up.
CHOP