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| Will of the Free, Will of the Forest | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Sep 11 2012, 08:26 PM (962 Views) | |
| Legend Blueshard | Sep 11 2012, 08:26 PM Post #1 |
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Miner
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Their small platoon moved through the redwood forest at a rigorous pace. Even Legend found the journey strenuous, and he was clearly in better shape than most of the male sheridans accompanying them. One horned man held up his hand when he caught up with Legend to signal another break. It was the third in half an hour, indicating that the group's endurance neared its limits. Legend slowed to a stop. The better part of a day had already passed since their departure from Middlebrook. Legend, Aru, Oyster, and a handful of sheridans comprised the team. Incredibly, the confident blonde named Meila disappeared before dawn that morning - and as such, they left without her. Legend still hadn't made up his mind about the sly-witted sheridan girl. Their members included a woods guide well-versed in the surrounding trails, a scout, and three warriors of Impa - as they preferred to call themselves. As far as Legend could tell, however, the three humans pulled most of the weight in their party. The short-legged sheridans struggled just to keep up with Aru's swift strides. "We've... been at it... all day..." panted the sheridan who requested the break. Legend, too, took several heavy breaths to keep his head from spinning. "Can't we... stop for an hour...?" His growling stomach wouldn't object if they took an extended rest for supper. "Fine," agreed Legend without wasting unnecessary oxygen. He slid his hand through his sweat-drenched, brown hair. Legend could smell his own body odor now that they stopped. Obviously, that was to be expected with this level of exertion, but his cheeks tingled when he considered that Aru might comment. The woods guide pulled sandwiches out of his backpack and distributed them one at a time. When Legend received his, he finally lowered himself to the ground. The veal-stuffed sandwich with garden-fresh lettuce and tomatoes was like a miracle sent from the heavens. If he didn't know better, he might have praised the forest spirit Impa for the gift. "How's everyone holding up?" he asked before sinking his teeth into the first bite. |
![]() On the cusp between worlds I wait, Beckoning the storm to end all storms. | |
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| Aru | Sep 11 2012, 09:14 PM Post #2 |
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"Ah cou rah fhorehar."* Aru barely could talk, her mouth full of bread and veal. She held the sandwich up to her mouth with both hands, hiding both of her lips from the rest of the group. Aru chewed over the meal as she thought about how much longer they would be stopped. Now that they had eaten, surely the group would want to sit and take a longer break than usual. When she swallowed her mouth full, Aru turned to Oyster and smiled. "How about you, are you tired?" (("I could run forever"))* |
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| Legend Blueshard | Sep 15 2012, 02:28 PM Post #3 |
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Miner
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"Aru, I know you're new around here and everything," said Legend, stuffing his sandwich back into his mouth. "Bud iz roo to tall wiff foo in yer mouff." Not long after their meal break began, the sound of distant voices interrupted their otherwise peaceful rest. Legend jammed the rest of his sandwich in and immediately grabbed the handle of his pickaxe. He made another attempt to speak, but the message he intended to get across came out no more intelligible than the whisperings of the wind. He hurried off into the trees before any of the sheridans could reply. A minute's walk from their rest stop, Legend came to a dirt trail winding through the redwood forest. A familiar carriage was stopped with a splintered wheel slumped against its side. The corner of the carriage with a missing wheel sagged lazily in the dirt. Meanwhile, a pair of crusaders argued over how to handle the damages. Legend stared at the closed back of the vehicle. He recognized it from the previous day. Legend practically choked on his mouthful of bread and veal when he realized the implications. |
![]() On the cusp between worlds I wait, Beckoning the storm to end all storms. | |
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| Aru | Sep 15 2012, 02:40 PM Post #4 |
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Aru watched as Legend slipped away into the trees. It didn't take long for her to stuff the rest of her own sandwich into her mouth and took off in pursuit of her partner. She knew the sheridans that had come along could fend and fight for themselves if needed, so she didn't think twice about leaving. "Legend?" Aru spoke a little louder than usual, in case he had already covered a lot of ground. As she continued on she could hear multiple voices shouting. Instantly Aru picked up her pace, but it was a short lived sprint. Within moments of starting her jog she bumped into Legend, running straight into his side as she pulled around a tree toward the sound of shouting. "Oof." Aru grunted, clutching onto the cotton fabric of Legend's shirt. She looked at him only a second, eye to eye, before letting go and backing up. "What is going on?" Aru asked, finally spotting the guards and their carriage with a gasp. |
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| Legend Blueshard | Sep 15 2012, 03:58 PM Post #5 |
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Miner
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The combination of Aru's grunt and Legend's own yelp of surprise caught the crusaders' attention. The pair of men in white robes turned simultaneously to face the uninvited observers. "We've been found out," Legend answered her. One of the crusaders grabbed his spear from the front of the horse-drawn carriage before approaching them. The other kept close to the carriage and its hidden cargo. "You there!" called the crusader. "Come out of the bushes!" Legend glanced to Aru with firm eyes. Without a word, he stepped onto the trail. The crusader's gaze settled on his pick. "I heard shouting, so I came to investigate. Looks like you're having some trouble." "So we are," agreed the spearman with a grim expression. He pointed out a dip in the earth further up the trail about thirteen inches wide and several deep. "We hit a bump pretty hard." "What kind of cargo are you towing?" Legend pressed. The crusaders both remained silent. |
![]() On the cusp between worlds I wait, Beckoning the storm to end all storms. | |
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| Aru | Sep 15 2012, 04:44 PM Post #6 |
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Aru followed Legend out into the open. She blinked at the men in their robes, still an odd choice of dress for guards in her opinion. The amazon quickly waddled over to Legend's side like a duckling following its mother and stood at attention. The sound of men trapped inside the carriage was audible from where the pair stood. Men who had heard the guards call out the strangers began calling for help. Aru's gaze moved from the robed of the guards over to the locked back doors of the carriage. "Legend!" Aru gasped. "I think the men are inside!" |
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| Legend Blueshard | Sep 15 2012, 04:52 PM Post #7 |
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Miner
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Legend could only grimace. The crusaders glared first at Aru, then at Legend, and finally at one another. "Maybe it's best if you mind your own business..." one of them offered. Legend kicked off with his pickaxe secured in one hand and thrust it forward with a burst of wind. The gust rippled the crusader's robes backward and made his eyes water. When the flat metal top of Legend's pick struck the man's chest, the magic-augmented force knocked him clear off his feet. The other crusader took a step back without even realizing it. "You just can't keep a secret," Legend sighed to himself. |
![]() On the cusp between worlds I wait, Beckoning the storm to end all storms. | |
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| Aru | Sep 15 2012, 04:58 PM Post #8 |
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Aru turned to Legend with a confused look in her eyes. She searched Legend's expression for any kind of clue, to help her figure out what she had done wrong. Before long, she came up with the only answer she could think of. "What secret? I didn't say anything about using magic." Aru complained, now crossing her arms and frowning at Legend. |
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| Legend Blueshard | Sep 15 2012, 05:07 PM Post #9 |
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Miner
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The other crusader actually had his weapon on hand; whereas the first didn't put up much of a fight, Legend had to backpedal to avoid a desperate jab for his torso. The winded man on the ground rolled onto his hands and knees with a groan. "That's two secrets!" Legend protested. "Who are you people?!" the crusader with the spear demanded. He pointed his weapon between Legend and Aru, unable to decide which to target. The wind collected around Legend's body and began to swirl just enough for those around to notice. "Believe it or not, I'm just a miner." |
![]() On the cusp between worlds I wait, Beckoning the storm to end all storms. | |
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| Aru | Sep 15 2012, 07:26 PM Post #10 |
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Aru pulled her spear from off her back. It slipped out from beneath her pelt without a snag, even though the rod was still split. She wouldn't stand to have a weapon drawn and not be armed herself. "Why are you worrying about secrets while they are attacking?" Aru said, almost whining at Legend. Then Aru turned her attention to the guard that had advanced toward them. "And you!" Aru proclaimed, waving her spear up and down. "You will let the sheridan males go, or I will do it myself." |
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