The Hunters (Private)

[Luella Vaettir]

(Reserved for Delliks)

Elle stepped between the wide trunks of two trees, looking up at their massive branches way up. They formed a rather nice canopy above, and were still tall enough to let enough light through to allow some cheery lighting. She looked around, seeing smaller trees running off this way and that. There was pretty good space between the two giants, and not far off she could hear a stream trickling. She eyed it a while, turning around, wandering the area a bit, before placing her hands on her hips.

This was the third spot she checked out, having disregarded the last two, saying they weren’t right. She sort of felt bad for Delliks, considering the fact that he was the one hauling the little wagon, but he was getting paid for it, and it wasn’t like it was heavy. The wagon wasn’t large, small enough for a strong, grown man to pull. And it wasn’t burdened that much in her opinion either. Just a large trunk, currently empty, where she planned to store any furs, antlers, bones, or other bits of her kills. A smaller trunk, made of leather mostly, where she’d store the meat she’d either keep or sell, two tents big enough for one person as well as blankets and some rough pillows, neatly wrapped up to save space, a bucket, some cooking and dining ware, which were mostly a pan, small pot, ladle, forks, spoons, two plates and bowls, and a spit. There were also two small stacks of wood and two faggots of kindling to start out their fire, rope, and lastly a medium sized bag that contained some food they’d not find in the forest, such and bread and cheese, and some basic spices, like a lot of salt, pepper, and a couple of other herbs.

Elle figured they’d trade one weight for another. By the end of the trip the food and wood would be used up, but of course it would be replaced by animal meat and hides. The trip back would be heavier on Delliks, but Elle would help in any way she could.

“We’ll set up camp here!” She called back, deciding this spot would be suitable. She wondered how Delliks would be, whether he’d be mumbling and grumpy like many of the man she hired for such trips like this. It was hard to picture the man in a sour mood, and she doubted a bit of work would put him off. Assuming he had enough patience to deal with Elle dragging him through half the forest to find a good camping spot of course. She walked away from the massive trees, spotting some small hedges not too far away, and she brightened, seeing they were blueberry bushes. “Yay, I picked a sweet spot.” Elle said to herself, picking a little handful of berries before turning and walking back towards Delliks, popping a berry in her mouth.

[Deleted]

Delliks stood by and watched as Elle inspected the area thoroughly. He didn't suspect to set the cart down anytime soon, or to be stopping here as they had already been to two places before. Each time it took a rather extended amount of time for the huntress to decide it just wasn't right. The first place was perfect, trees, not too shady, soft flat ground, but no water. They had stopped and Delliks had nearly set the cart down when she exclaimed there wasn't water, the perfect spot ruined. The second camp candidate was a long and gruesome trek next to a small stream, it didn't pan out, too open, not enough trees, too much water, etc. The worst part about that one was it took a half hour of winding steps to finally decide it wasn't going to work. To be honest, Delliks was surprised this place had worked out.

The man sat the cart down and stretched his arms a bit after receiving the go ahead from Elle. His arms weren't sore or hurt from the weight, but steering hadn't been the easiest, especially during the winding river inspection. The man laughed as he walked around, looking at the camp for himself. "You sure now? This place has the right amount of leaves on the ground? Wouldn't want too little, make it too hard eh? And too many," he smirked, "our fire might catch and spread eh?" He was joking of course as he looked at the blueberry bush, that did make it a 'sweet' spot.

"I'm kidding of course lass, you did a fine job." He said returning to the cart. "Anything specific? You have the camp supply placement all planned out or just start unloading?" He asked.

[Luella Vaettir]

Elle smiled as Delliks made his remark. She stepped up to him, offering her little handful of berries, while plucking a few more from her palm and eating them.

“Careful mister, if you keep pointing out the flaws of this place I’ll have to find another spot.” She joked, before gazing up to the canopy of branches and bright green leaves, enjoying the golden sun that shined through them. How she loved the forest. She could never understand why her parents or brother never cared for this place. Even when Aerin had his sight and could run he never ventured into the forest unless it was to follow Elle. It was like her whole family had some kind of disdain for the forest. Except maybe her uncle.

“We can just unload. I’m not that controlling. Set up your tent wherever you want. A lot of the stuff we can keep on the cart, like the chests for the hunt. I plan to keep them off the ground and covered so no animals get too tempted.” She replied, walking over to the cart with Delliks and pulling out her tent, as well as the wood. She stacked the wood and kindling on the ground. They’d figure out their fire for later. She took her tent over by the massive trees and dropped the small bag she carried on her shoulder containing her few items, and began unrolling her tent.

“It’s so good to be out here for the long run! It feels like ages since I’ve had a good long hunt.” Elle said happily, unconsciously pointing her well rounded rear in Delliks’s direction. Elle was always a flirt, even when she didn’t mean to be. She paused a moment, realizing her second most loved activity had also been put on hold for a while. She glanced back at Delliks, picturing him without his clothes for a second, before turning back to her tent. Easy girl. Been here five minutes and you’re already mentally undressing him. She staked down her tent with her heel, looking off into the woods with a small smile. Aw, who am I kidding? I’ve mentally undressed him at least six times before I even knew his name! She snorted a little laugh at her own thoughts before carrying on with the task of pitching her tent.

[Deleted]

Delliks chuckled as he took a few of the berries and indulged. He too unloaded the tent and walked around, trying to find a place that seemed like it would be nice. After a bit of walking around, he decided that by the trees, not too near but near Elle's would suit him quite well.

"I must agree with you, Elle," He started as he knelt down and began to unravel the tent, "it had been some time since I myself have been out in the woods; sleeping in a tent." He had done it often back in Core but since coming to Avaleur it had been some time indeed, at least some time since staying overnight in the forests.

Delliks ceased his pitching for a moment to turn around and look at Elle, who knelt facing away from him. Her rump displayed out in the air. He smirked for a moment, finding a small stick on the ground. He threw it and chuckled as it hit one of her displayed cheeks. "If you keep that out there like that we won't need to hunt at all. We'll have plenty of game coming to try and mate, that would be an interesting trap eh?" He laughed a bit. It wasn't until afterward, after he had said it, that he realized his joke could have come across as very rude... he hadn't meant it that way and he hoped she didn't take offense to it. His laughter stopped as he turned back to his tent and bit the inside of his cheek. Great, hopefully his pay wouldn't be docked for harassment, he silently chuckled to himself at that.

[Luella Vaettir]

Elle jumped a bit as she felt something strike her bottom, and she turned, seeing a stick lay nearby. She blinked as Delliks chuckled. She lifted an eyebrow, a smirk on her face. It was a rather harmless enough joke, but she could certainly find ways to twist it around. She stood, picking up the stick.

“Are you saying I can attract animals? I must be rather alluring then.” She replied, slapping the stick in her palm for a moment. “Why Delliks, I had no idea with liked smacking girls with sticks. I should have guessed you were the kind who liked it rough.” She walked over to Delliks, sticking the little stick behind his ear, then she stepped back and gave the man a quick, hard swat on his own rear.

“I’ll have to keep this little bit of information in mind, hm?” She said, grinning at him. She turned, golden hair swishing, and strode over to her tent again. “But we’re here to hunt. You’ll just have to be satisfied by tossing sticks at my lovely ass until later.” She bent, pulling her tent up and onto its poles, using some roped to tie it to the tree nearby to keep it standing. She stepped back to look at her handiwork, making sure the tent wasn’t crooked, then she tossed in her small bag and pillow and blankets.

With her tent set up she turned and walked over to the firewood, picking it up and looking around, finding the best spot for the fire. When she found where it should go, she began digging into the ground, creating a small dip for their fire. She paused though when she heard a loud snap, like the sound of a small tree breaking. She remained perfectly still for a little while before looking around, seeing nothing and hearing nothing further.

[Deleted]

Delliks smirked as he listened to Elle answers his jokes with her own... Hopefully they were jokes. He remained silent for the most part as she came over to him and slapped his own rear. He had to admit it was quite the surprise. He hadn't expected it and the sudden smack made him jump slightly, his tent's appearance suffering from it. He didn't really care about the tent's appearance however, as long as it would stay up.

He worked on it for a bit longer before standing up and looking it over. He took the stick from his ear and folded his arms as he beheld its splendor. Tilted tithe right, slumped in the middle, and loose on the side. No it was not textbook or pretty but it would keep out rain and such. It would work just fine if it rained indeed, and really only if it rained or the insects became horrendous, did he foresee himself using it as he generally preferred to sleep under the stars.

Delliks turned and walked toward Elle, deciding that he could help with the fire easily.
"There aren't enough sticks in this forest, I could use them all and yet it would only be a disgrace to your alluring rump eh?" He chuckled. There was some truth to his compliment. Elle's rear was quite...appealing... Even to Delliks who was not normally attracted by a woman's backside.

He had not taken any notice to the snapping of sticks, perhaps he should have but he was too preoccupied with trying to determine if his fun was friendly and accepted or offending. He didn't want to offended Elle of course.

[Luella Vaettir]

Elle didn’t reply to Delliks’s compliment, though she did store it away for later remark. She was a sucker for compliments, and she rather liked this one, even if it was a tad strange. She never thought she’d enjoy a man telling her there weren’t enough sticks to throw sticks at her bum. She must secretly, deep down, have the weirdest kinks or something. Well, she wouldn’t over-analyze it. Aerin was the person of the family who did that, and frankly, everyone found it frustrating.

She remained focused on the snapping she had heard, and on what she didn’t hear. Nothing. The forest was utterly silent. That wasn’t normal. In Elle’s experience, something dangerous, really dangerous, usually caused the forest to fall silent. It was unnerving. She didn’t know what kinds of creatures there really were out here. And from her perusal of the creature guide, there were a lot of dangerous things. Suddenly, her previous notion of meeting a hydra didn’t seem so fun anymore. She half wondered if the gods were granting her casual remark of wanting to encounter one.

Elle slowly stood to her feet, looking off into the woods. After a moment of continued silence she turned and walked a few paces to where her bow and quiver lay. With complete silence she shouldered the quiver of arrows, strung her bow, drew and arrow, notched it, and waited. At least she had a trained mercenary accompanying her. That definitely made her feel better.

Elle blinked and quickly drew the arrow back, the tip pointed into the forest, as she heard something crashing towards them. She narrowed her eyes slightly, back straight, stance ready. She almost let her arrow fly when the thing crashed through a bush, but she didn’t. It was only a deer, bounding across the camp, heedless of the human and elf. Elle watched it go, noting that it’s white tail was up. She let out a small breath, but didn’t relax. It was running from something. Something it found more terrifying than hunters. She looked towards the direction the deer came from, watching a raccoon skitter out from under a log and run off. Then some chipmunks darted around her feet. Then a blood-chilling roar was heard, high pitched, pained, and angry. A couple of birds took flight above them, apparently wanting no involvement with the thing that generated such a roar. Elle thought it sounded familiar somehow. She knew she never heard that sound before, but she heard something like it. But what?

“What do you suppose that is?” She asked Delliks, sounding calm. She was a bit scared, but she wasn’t trembling. She wasn’t really the type to turn into a blubbering, shaking, puddle when something happened. Actually, she had the problem of usually not being scared enough. She adjusted her aim when she heard something thundering their way, moving fast, and big enough to knock trees aside. Bigger than a bear by the sound. Much bigger. “Seems it won’t wait for us to finish setting up camp.” Elle said, almost conversationally, as she waited for the creature to show itself.

[Deleted]

Delliks watched in curiosity as Elle got up and walked away without even a word. She went over to her quiver and bow, not wasting any time to load it. His face turned red for a moment before his eyebrow raised... wait a second... he was immediately worried. So this is how it would end? An arrow by a lady who he accompanied on a hunting trip?! He was about to protest and apologize, figuring that his joking had made her wish to use her bow against him and run him through with an arrow.

Luckily, for Delliks' sake, the deer ran by him and it all became clear. He silently chuckled to himself. Why would he have though she was going to kill him over a compliment to her rear?!

A raccoon waddled by, then a chipmunk, then squirrels, then a roar. He froze for a moment before he slowly turned toward where it had come from and began to back up toward Elle's position. The birds fluttered away and he could practically hear the worms in the earth digging deeper to avoid the thundering of the creature nearing them.

His hand rested on his sheathed blade as he neared her. Her voice was calm and his answer would be as nonchalant as always but within him he was suppressing his great fear and nerves. Fear was something he felt often, but he forced himself to get over it in order to protect those he was entrusted to.

"I am not entirely sure, lass. Don't suppose we could ask it eh? Or we can wait a bit longer... maybe the other animals are just playing a game of tag." He chuckled with a smirk. Delliks hesitated, justifying his decision to draw his blade, making sure it wouldn't break his oath. The blade uttered a sound that would be ecstasy to any warrior but to Delliks it was dreadful. He held his blade up in his hand, ready to protect Elle. "No, I guess it won't... you don't mind if we start the hunt a little earlier than scheduled do you lass?" Delliks continued to talk his nerves away, soon, they would all but vanish.

[Luella Vaettir]

Elle gave a nervous little smile, though she didn’t tear her eyes from the direction of whatever was approaching. No, she didn’t mind hunting a bit early, but she liked to know what it was she was hunting. To give her a chance to prepare and plan. This was a total surprise, and she wasn’t sure she was ready for a surprise like this. She winced as she heard the roaring again. Such a high pitched squealing…wait…

“Oh shit, Delliks. I think I know what it is.” Elle sad suddenly. She knew what it sounded like now. “If it is what I think it is, the creature guide never mentioned them being here.” She blinked, seeing trees falling now, instead of only hearing them. And through the brush and branches she saw something big coming. It was large, as tall as Aerin’s two story shop. It had a red brown color to it, and it was tossing its massive head as it swept trees aside with ease.

“Ever been boar hunting?” Elle asked Delliks, the shape of the charging creature becoming more clear now. Smaller ears, beady eyes, and huge tusks. It was a giant boar. The biggest Elle had ever seen. The sound she remembered were the farm boars that one of the farmers in her village raised. They all roared in high pitched squeals and stomped about. They were fast and viscous creatures. The farmhands that handled them were always extra careful, and few walked away with horrid gashes in their bodies. And those boars stood only three feet tall.

The giant boar veered to the right a bit, and it smashed through a tree, letting out another angry roar. It was now almost in the clearing, close to the camp. Its eyes rolled crazily in its head. Elle watched an elk bolt into the clearing, and realized the boar had been chasing it. The giant boar gave a mad dash forward, opening its massive jaws to reveal rows of sharp little teeth, and the elf gasped as it struck lightning quick, snatching the elk up into its jaws and snapping its mouth closed. Blood spurted everywhere. The elk gave a pitiful last cry before the sound was drowned out by the sound of the boar’s teeth gnashing and crunching the elk. Elle paled, looking a little sick as blood ran through the boar’s teeth like little waterfalls. She blinked, seeing its reddish brown fur move, shift. That was odd, it looked like an invisible comb was running through it every which way. The boar let out another pained squeal, shaking its head back and forth.

“Its lost its mind…” Elle whispered, watching the boar scrape its body against a tree that was too massive for the creature to knock down. The boar continued stomping about, shaking its head. Until its gaze fell upon the two that stood within the unfinished camp. It’s nostrils flared, and it slowly turned to face them, feet apart, head lowered. Elle’s eyes widened a bit. It was going t charge. The boar let out a roar and indeed charged forward. The elf let her arrow fly, and the boar’s eyes erupted in a fountain of blood as the arrow pierced it. The boar simply roared in anger and continued its charge, hardly faltering. “Oh, shit!” Elle cried, reaching for another arrow, stepping back. She had hoped blinding it would make it run off. The damn thing hardly batted an eye, no pun intended.

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Delliks' brow raised as he turned to Elle, "You do? It wouldn't happen to be friendly eh?" He asked with a bit of a chuckled but the crackling of the tree's trunk splintering away not too far from them caused him to turn. His smirk had faded quickly as he laid eyes upon the giant boar.
"Boar... hunting... Elle we may need a bigger cart." His smirk, somehow, through his fear and uneasiness, found its place back upon his face.

It wasn't long before Delliks' heart continually beat faster as the deadly creature grew closer and closer, even allowing them a nice little display of its deadly jaws and powerfully horrid abilities to tear creatures much bigger than Delliks and Elle to fleshy, bloody shreds in no time at all.

Delliks' blade lowered as he stood there, momentarily frozen. Elle's words were heaven, compared to the terrifying and dismal sound of the crunching bones and teeth. "Okay... good, for a second I thought it was my mind that had lost it..." Giant boars... the world really did have it all. His peace found in the voice of Elle didn't last long as the boar soon found them, its nostrils flaring for a split second before it charged. The man spun his arm back and threw his blade at the creature. The sword rotated in the air before slicing into the flesh of the neck, looking like a splinter or needle in the giant boar. He then ran forward, at the beast only because he had no other choice, it stood between them and the cart, or at least it would.

Delliks began to see his future unfold in a slowed motion of time, something that happened from time to time, most nearly if his current plan of action would result in his death. He ran underneath the giant boar, hooves raining down from above. One clipped the side of his head, sending him down to the ground with a giant gash and bloodied side as soon after a dozen more stamped him flat into the ground in a bloodied mess as the boar danced above him. Delliks cringed for a moment, after he witnessed his would be death once again, before continuing on, underneath the beast. Hopefully Elle would be alright too. Delliks dashed back and forth, a giant hoof stamping down beside him before he continued on as the boar stopped to try and trample him from underneath. He spun out of the way of another and jumped back to avoid the stamping of its hind leg before sprinting forward to the cart where he grabbed the rope quick and began to tie it into a lasso. As he did so, he looked to were Elle had been in worry. The boar not facing him at the moment.

[Luella Vaettir]

Elle managed to nock another arrow when Delliks threw his blade. She watched it spin round and round, glittering in the sun, before it was buried into the boar’s neck. She winced when the boar gave a high pitched shriek. Delliks’s sword seemed to do more damage than the elf’s arrow. She gasped as the man suddenly darted forward, towards the huge beast.

“What are you doing!?” She cried, watching Delliks slip under the creature and dance about, dodging the stamping hooves of the boar. Elle had a momentary thought where she was sure that Delliks was just as insane as the boar, before she turned and moved away from camp, circling the boar, which was preoccupied in trying to stomp Delliks to death. This way there would be minimal damage to the camp.

Delliks ran out from under the boar, snagging some rope. The boar turned to face Delliks, and Elle fired another shot at it. The arrow buried itself into the boar’s neck, a few inches above Delliks’s sword. The boar grunted and faced the elf. Without much preparation, it charged. Elle gasped, realizing she was too close to do much, and her back was to a tree. She tossed her bow aside so it wouldn’t get trampled and she turned and leaped up into the tree, reaching heights that normal humans could not. She gripped a branch just as the boar collided with the tree. The resulting jolt shook the branch from Elle’s grip, and she gave a cry as she fell, landing onto the boar’s back.

The boar’s fur was thick and felt like oily spines were digging into her back. It was unpleasant, and almost painful. The coarse hairs pricked into her back. The boar, feeling the elf on its back, gave a roar and reared up like a horse, which Elle would have thought unlikely, considering its girth. Elle gave another cry as she slid down the boar’s back and landed on the ground with a small oof! coming from her. She blinked and back rolled out of the way as the boar landed on its feet again, thrashing its head angrily. She backed up to where Delliks was, looking to see that he made a lasso.

“The hell are you going to do with that?” She asked, rubbing at her back, where a burning sensation lingered. She spotted her bow, and was a tad dismayed to see it was closer to the boar than her. And the boar nearly stomped on it as it turned to face the hunters.

[Deleted]

Delliks smirked to Elle as she stood next to him and looked down at his lasso that was now completed. "I think he needs a leash..." He looked around in an effort to develop his plan further but there was nothing. With the two of them there the boar wouldn't be distracted enough for him to lasso the sword and slice a gaping wound into the boar's neck.

Looking around there was much to aid them. He sighed and backed up into the cart, his eyes went wide before he nodded slowly and smiled.
"Go for it." he told her as he looked to her bow. "I'll watch your back." If she distracted the hog he could lasso the blade, mount the cart, and roll nicely to the other side where he could hopefully get enough strength to pull it all the way underneath the boar's neck.
"Just be safe alright."

((sorry for short reply))

[Luella Vaettir]

“A leash…” Elle said, giving Delliks a disbelieving glance before regarding the giant boar again. Right. Of course it needed one. She watched the downfall of the blood pulsing from the boar’s neck. How was it still standing? She eyed her bow again, cringing as the boar stepped uncomfortably close to it again before it actually backed away from it a little ways. That was good. The more distance between the bow and the boar, the better. Then Delliks told her to go to it.

“Eh?” Elle looked at him, making sure she heard correctly. Go for it? Really? But he seemed sure, and promised to have her back. How he’d managed that she wasn’t sure, but she’d trust him. If she didn’t she wouldn’t have brought him out here alone to begin with.

“Safe? Always,” She answered, bringing her hands together, and between her palms she created a ball of fire. It wasn’t big, and her fire blasts didn’t make an explosive bang that would impress any mage, but it’d serve enough here. She condensed it until it was a hot blue ball, and then she shot it out to the boar. She watched its beady, rolling eyes glimmering in the fire light momentarily before the fire blasted into its face. The boar gave an angry and hurt roar, fire burning the fur on its face, and Elle darted forward. The boar danced about, shaking its head vigorously until the fire was out, leaving just smoldering hair, and it saw the elf running forward. It gave a loud grunt and began to rumble towards her, disregarding Delliks for the moment. Elle got to her bow, rolled over it, snagging it in the process, and grabbed an arrow from the quiver on her back. Her mouth went dry when she saw how close it was. She’d never be able to fire an arrow in time. She hoped Delliks had a plan or she’d get killed.

(Its okay, happens to us all.)

[Deleted]

Delliks smirked, it was all or nothing; unfortunately how nearly every situation turned for him. As soon as Elle moved, he did. The man ran around the cart and pounced up onto it after giving it a forceful push. As he balanced himself and the cart in order for its stands to be lifted into the air and allow it to continue to move, he spun the lasso in the air with a grin on his face, fighting the urge to let out a loud ye-haw!

He let the rope fly as the smoke cleared and it found its mark as the loop wrapped around the revealed blade. It tightened as he continued to zoom by. A bounce nearly sent him tumbling to the ground but in a show of struggled and nervous maneuvers, he regained his balance in time. As he neared Elle, he held the lasso in one hand and with the other he lowered it down and outstretched it as the cart passed behind her. He grabbed her tightly, not taking heed to exactly where as he got a handful more than he was trying, and lifted her up as the cart continued to wheel through the forest. There ride would only last for a fleeting moment as the added body threw off the balance and the stands drove into the ground, sending them tumbling to the ground but at least out of the way of the giant boar. Immediately, Delliks got up and ran around a tree with the rope. He pulled tightly and put his foot up against the trunk for more power as his face turned red from exertion. Down the side of his face, a small stream off blood began to run from a cut on his brow; he had hit a rock during he and Elle's tumble.

The rope became taught, sliding under the first tusk and just barely missed being cut by the other. It began to mover slightly and Delliks prayed that this plan would work as he had imagined it...

[Luella Vaettir]

Elle watched as the giant boar seemed to grow in size as it stomped toward her. But at the last second it seemed to hesitate, finally seeing Delliks and the oncoming cart, giving the man enough time to bend and snatch up the elf. Elle gasped as he grabbed her, lifting her up with ease. His arm wrapped about her, his hand gripping a bit more than he aimed, as it was firmly clamped onto one of her breasts. Elle hardly noticed, considering the fact that she was trying to find a way to stand on the tumbling cart, as well as focus on the boar that tracked their progress by slowly turning its massive head. Elle grabbed onto Delliks, half panicked, pressing their bodies together, a position most men would probably make fools of themselves for. Something even Elle had wanted, minus the insane giant boar and crazy cart ride of course.

The crazy cart ride didn’t last very long though. Elle was light as a feather but even that much added weight threw what shaky balance Delliks managed to maintain off and the cart tipped, sending the two hunters flying. Elle tumbled, rolled and managed to stop on her feet in a lot crouch. She even was able to hold onto her bow this time. She watched Delliks stand and wrap the rope around a tree, using it as leverage to try to noose the boar. She looked over at the boar, seeing the rope slowly make its way round the beasts neck, but the boar was shaking its head, aware of the rope. A little more power might send the rope to where they needed it to go. Elle stood, shouldering her bow, and she ran up to Delliks, grabbing hold of the bit of rope that trailed out behind the man, and she pulled. The boar gave another roar, but despite its struggles the rope slid home, fully wrapped about the beasts throat.

[Deleted]

The two of them, well at least Delliks, pulled with all his might as he fought the beast. With every passing second it felt as though he would slip and be thrown through the air to his demise. The rope now had little to no slack as it became a game of tug-a-war. The rope had tangled and caught the sword and it would be for that reason that would save the two hunters.

The boar stood still for a moment and did not more as it put its head down and readied itself to start kicking and bucking again. In a ferocious swing of its powerful neck, the boar yanked with incredible strength against the two but it also pulled on the blade lodged into the side of its neck as well. Delliks could not hold his stance as he was pulled into the trunk of the tree where he smacked against the back with a sickening thud. The hit opened the cut on his eyebrow wider but his body and Elle's pulling acted as an anchor in the tree and the sword finally had enough pressure to rotate down and around the boar's neck; slitting its throat. Delliks' let go of the tension in the rope as he backed up and began to stumble around as his vision blurred, the boar did something similar as it danced around while it began to lose blood from the fountain in its neck. The man's eyes rolled back and as if the two were acting in unison, they both collapsed to the ground. Delliks' eye bleed badly while his hands revealed some moderate rope burn that would definitely sting but wouldn't hinder anything majorly.

[Luella Vaettir]

Elle gasped as she was dragged forward with Delliks, and watched him slam into the tree. She gave another tug as hard as she could, and was glad when the boar’s neck was finally slit, blood spurting in great amount everywhere. She let go of the rope, panting, and stepped back as Delliks did, the man reeling about. She watched him, gaze darting between the man and the beast, until they both collapsed at the same time.

“Delliks!” Elle cried, kneeling beside the man. She winced at the wound in his head, then plunged her hand into a larger pouch on her belt, digging around until she produced a small red vial. One of Aerin’s healing potions. She uncorked it and poured the contents over the wound in his head, watching as the potion did its work healing him. It was a small vial, so it would be enough to close the wound, but not enough to heal it over completely. She looked his hands over, then re-corked the vial. She had a salve for burns she could apply to his hands. But she’d deal with that once she got him back to the center of camp. Which they had to move since there would otherwise be a rotting boar corpse not too far away on a warm day…

“Delliks…” She said softly, gently patting his cheek. “You awake?” She looked over at the boar, eyeing it a minute, before she noticed dark things falling off of it and scattering. They were small, no bigger than the little vial she held in her palm. She watched them emerge from the boar’s fur, fall to the ground, then skitter away. Some fell dead. Their bodies were triangle in shape, with long, thin tenticular like legs that whipped about as they ran off. They looked creepy as hell. “Parasites?” She murmured to herself. Perhaps. Parasites abandoning their host once it became clear it was done for.

[Deleted]

That knock to the head had sent him whirling back into heavy and dark memories of his passed. The horrifying aura and dark overtones hung around him, inside his own head of course, as his thoughts swayed around in his vision and dream that came to frightening clarity. A nightmare from his past. His vision was laced in red as he looked around the dark camp and he dropped his blade that was covered in crimson as he caught the female before him in his arms. He looked into her lifeless face now just as he had then and all the sorrow and anguish was only magnified because of the years he had spent reflecting and trying to forget and forgive. Delliks' turned away and as he did so, his mind was taken out of the nightmare and rushed back to reality were he stirred awake and grabbed his side where his sword would have hung as he panted and a sweet had began to form on his brow.

His breaths were fast and short as he looked around and leaned over onto his forearm, closing his eyes and looking at the ground; trying to regain his sanity and composure. "..." He was silent as he felt his cut that had begun to be closed by Elle's potion. It stung slightly to the touch. Without looking up still, unable to look at another humanoid's face for the moment, he spoke. "Is the boar dead?" His voice was soft and seemed to hold much sorrow. His heart continued to thump hard and quick in his chest.

[Luella Vaettir]

Elle watched with concern as Delliks broke into a sweat, seeming to be in distress. His hand went to his hip, where his sword hung once. His breath quickened, almost panting. What was going on with him? Did he really hit his head that hard? Elle once saw a man’s head get stomped on by a bull and shortly after that he seized up and died. His brain had swelled too much, too fast. It scared her, because Aerin could have gone easily in the same way so many years ago.

Delliks rose, opening his eyes before quickly casting them down. He remained silent a long time before asking about the boar. Elle blinked before glancing over at the creature, which seemed to have run out of parasites to shed.

“It’s dead.” She answered. She looked Delliks over, wondering if he hurt himself anywhere else, and managed to see one of the strange parasite things reached out with its leg, grasping Delliks’s foot. Elle let out a cry, mostly of disgust. The thing was uglier and creepier up close. She could see a pair of pincers for a mouth, clicking away madly. The tentacle-like leg had spines along the bottom, the spines facing towards the body of the thing. She drew her dagger, leaned forward and stabbed the creature before it could hoist itself onto Delliks. It let out a little screech, legs flailing. She watched it squirm and fight, before it finally stopped moving. “That boar was covered in these things. I don’t know what they are.”

[Deleted]

Nothing like strange, disgusting, odd, insane, creepy, dark, nightmarish, large, insect things to force you to stop whatever you where thinking before and instead turn as white as a sheet and have your gut fall to your knees.

Delliks scrambled away from the horrific looking parasite creature thing and threw a rock at the body that had stopped moving as he sat up with his eyes wide and his heart know pumping for a completely different reason. He wasn't scared of bugs, not exactly, but this thing looked like someone had built it with the intention of making it the most frightening and startling creature imaginable. He panted as his color returned and he stood up, brushing his hands on his pant legs and he cringed as he rubbed his sore hands against the fabric. He looked at them for the first time and shrugged to himself. Just another thing to make his rough hands rougher.

"More of those things?" He asked as he looked at it and shuddered for a moment. "I say we kill as many as we can, I don't want a single one crawling over me while I sleep." He said and then looked at Elle. "I don't think you do either."