Aruna

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The peaceful world of Aruna, a massive grassland world, peaceful, calm, harmonious... Until now. A shadow looms over the White Tower, the shadow of Death. Exitium's forces have already begun appearing here and there, a prelude to the counterattack he will launch against Aeon's transgressions into his territory. Already, outlying villages are overrun, and one of them in particular shall serve as the staging ground for the attack on Aeon's fortress.

"We are in position for the slaughter." A dark elf reported to the demon known as Araman. He waved the elf away, looking down at the city below. Exitium's forces waited for his signal, he knew this, and the unsuspecting townsfolk held no chance against superior numbers and power. Though today seemed to be off... different... or he may have been perceiving the ease of this invasion incorrectly. It doesn't matter, he thought, the fires of war will scar this world regardless. He sent out a fire bomb onto the town below, the signal for the attack to begin. The first wave launched, followed close by the second, and already he could hear the panic ensuing...

The first signs of trouble immediately showed up at the door to the room Wynn rented. People panicking, far off sounds of fiery explosions, and screams of death and the likes... they all turned the morning into a red dawn for the approaching horde of Exitium forces, which already moved to surround the city.

When she woke up, everything was as it should be... The bag was still stuck where Wynn last placed it, the embers still burned away, providing unneeded heat, all is as it was before... Save for Matt sleeping on the other side of the died out campfire. He was entirely missing, with no clue pointing as to where he went.

Quantum Rain wrote:When she woke up, everything was as it should be... The bag was still stuck where Wynn last placed it, the embers still burned away, providing unneeded heat, all is as it was before... Save for Matt sleeping on the other side of the died out campfire. He was entirely missing, with no clue pointing as to where he went.

She would be dazed briefly, looking at the area around her. Then she looked back at the spot where Matt was sitting when she fell asleep. When she realized he was gone, she snapped to full alertness and resisted the urge to yell out his name. She picked up her weapons, and kept her bow and one arrow in her hand readying the arrow. She drew the string, and aimed all around her, looking for any details to figure out what could have happened to him.

All that met her in the daybreaking hour was a soft breeze and the light sway of the leaves around her. Nothing but the green foliage and brown bark underneath to be seen. Yet there was an odd feeling that she was being watched still.

Quantum Rain wrote:All that met her in the daybreaking hour was a soft breeze and the light sway of the leaves around her. Nothing but the green foliage and brown bark underneath to be seen. Yet there was an odd feeling that she was being watched still.

She looked all around her, and jumped off the tree tops. She fell down to the ground, then ducked and rolled. She got back to her feet from the roll and brought the bow and arrow back up to bear. All the action she just took, and she had hardly made a sound. She slowly spun around with the arrow still ready to shoot.

Suddenly, movement could be seen amongst the tree tops. With the rustling of leaves and sudden movement, it was hard to tell how many, but no more than two or three were jumping from tree to tree. They were quiet, quick, and well camouflaged. One seemed to glide from tree to tree, disappearing underneath the foliage just to appear somewhere else, while another seemed a bit more clumsy, but with the refracted light, whoever it was well made up for the lack of skill.

Quantum Rain wrote:Suddenly, movement could be seen amongst the tree tops. With the rustling of leaves and sudden movement, it was hard to tell how many, but no more than two or three were jumping from tree to tree. They were quiet, quick, and well camouflaged. One seemed to glide from tree to tree, disappearing underneath the foliage just to appear somewhere else, while another seemed a bit more clumsy, but with the refracted light, whoever it was well made up for the lack of skill.

With a trained eye, Wynn caught sight of the obvious amateur and fired an arrow just enough in front of him that it would catch him in the leg so that it would cause him to fall, but still give her a living captive.

The arrow struck true, but the sight would have likely frightened her as the camo fell and Matt fell down to the ground, barely catching himself with a barrier. "Agh, dammit!" He swore, landing hard on the ground still, the barrier shattering as he flew through it.

Quantum Rain wrote:The arrow struck true, but the sight would have likely frightened her as the camo fell and Matt fell down to the ground, barely catching himself with a barrier. "Agh, dammit!" He swore, landing hard on the ground still, the barrier shattering as he flew through it.

Wynn would be paralyzed by the event that just occurred. Despite having the hood, Matt would be able to see an expression of horror on her face if he looked. She stood there, her mind having come to a complete halt due to the harm she had just inflicted on him.

"I'm fine, get the Aeon assassin before he escapes!" Matt yelled at Wynn, trying to pick himself up, but stumbling back down to the ground, likely due to a broken limb. "If he escapes, it will make our lives a lot more difficult! Get him!" He yelled again, trying to get back up more slowly this time to avoid stumbling again. His face was contorted with pain, but he was staring straight at Wynn.

Quantum Rain wrote:"I'm fine, get the Aeon assassin before he escapes!" Matt yelled at Wynn, trying to pick himself up, but stumbling back down to the ground, likely due to a broken limb. "If he escapes, it will make our lives a lot more difficult! Get him!" He yelled again, trying to get back up more slowly this time to avoid stumbling again. His face was contorted with pain, but he was staring straight at Wynn.

She turned to run but stopped for a moment, and looked back at Matt for a moment. Then she finally sprinted after the assassin, climbing upwards as she jumped forward across low tree branches to higher branches quickly. In mere moments, she was actually on higher branches than the one she was chasing. She would continue jumping across the branches to chase after her target. After a few moments, she was able to see the distortions of light and was able to make out the for of a person. She continued running, but drew a knife and threw it with stunning accuracy.

The knife struck against another, golden colored one. As the man continued to glide, more and more without even jumping, to the point that he was actually flying now. Orion glanced back to see that Wynn was still keeping up. First, a trap by the thirteen year old, now I'm prey to the fifteen year old...

---

Matt propped himself up against a tree, finally taking the time he needed to inspect his wounds. The arrow stuck straight through his leg, barely missing the main artery there. As well, his left arm is broken in at least two places where he landed on it. "Ugh... maybe I should leave the trap laying to Wynn next time..."

---

It was several hours in that dark, dusty, cobwebbed filled hallway, with enemies not too far behind, once they found the secret tunnel entrance. Rain greeted the fresh, warm, clean air with grace, but immediately turned back to his responsibilities. As the Aeon soldiers poured through the small doorway dug into the hillside, he could hear, if not feel, the Exitium undead horde approaching. As the last soldier sprinted past, he slammed the door, just in time for an undead to ram into it to try to knock it loose or open it again.

Rain motioned for two soldiers to help him barricade the door before they started moving again. Whatever was behind there, he at least wanted time to get away before the door breaks apart.

Quantum Rain wrote:The knife struck against another, golden colored one. As the man continued to glide, more and more without even jumping, to the point that he was actually flying now. Orion glanced back to see that Wynn was still keeping up. First, a trap by the thirteen year old, now I'm prey to the fifteen year old...

---

Matt propped himself up against a tree, finally taking the time he needed to inspect his wounds. The arrow stuck straight through his leg, barely missing the main artery there. As well, his left arm is broken in at least two places where he landed on it. "Ugh... maybe I should leave the trap laying to Wynn next time..."

---

It was several hours in that dark, dusty, cobwebbed filled hallway, with enemies not too far behind, once they found the secret tunnel entrance. Rain greeted the fresh, warm, clean air with grace, but immediately turned back to his responsibilities. As the Aeon soldiers poured through the small doorway dug into the hillside, he could hear, if not feel, the Exitium undead horde approaching. As the last soldier sprinted past, he slammed the door, just in time for an undead to ram into it to try to knock it loose or open it again.

Rain motioned for two soldiers to help him barricade the door before they started moving again. Whatever was behind there, he at least wanted time to get away before the door breaks apart.

Wynn would not slow down and would continue to keep pace. She drew three arrows and put them all on her bow at the same time. She kept the bow down in front of her, one hand on the grip and the other on the string, waiting for the right moment. She continued jumping across the branches unhindered, then jumped forward as far as she could and pulled the string back and aimed at the figure. She let all three arrows fly and quickly put the bow on her back, just in time to free her hand to grab a branch she fell short of and flip herself back up onto it. In case the arrows didn't hit their mark, she continued to chase the assassin.

Orion flipped around, maintaining his ability to fly while using his daggers to block two out of the three arrows. Unfortunately, one passed through his defense and sliced through his right wing. While the pain was exquisite, he kept flying still, the tear not noticeably impeding his ability to do so.

Quantum Rain wrote:Orion flipped around, maintaining his ability to fly while using his daggers to block two out of the three arrows. Unfortunately, one passed through his defense and sliced through his right wing. While the pain was exquisite, he kept flying still, the tear not noticeably impeding his ability to do so.

Wynn would continue chasing the man and threw a hand full of knives at him, keeping the pressure on him. She did not slow down in the slightest. She had no intention of letting him get away... or even surviving this encounter.

The man threw his own knifes which swirled around him, blocking a majority of the knives, yet again, one managed to get through, tackling his right wing again. Still, though, the man showed no signs of slowing down. He dived under the treetops, however, and flipped around, heading back in the direction they just came from in an attempt to lose Wynn. I hate my luck. Orion thought, rather calm about the situation still.

Quantum Rain wrote:The man threw his own knifes which swirled around him, blocking a majority of the knives, yet again, one managed to get through, tackling his right wing again. Still, though, the man showed no signs of slowing down. He dived under the treetops, however, and flipped around, heading back in the direction they just came from in an attempt to lose Wynn. I hate my luck. Orion thought, rather calm about the situation still.

Wynn would be able to see what he was trying to do just as he dove under the branches when she cased to see the shimmering of light in the air in front of her. She did not know for sure where he went for sure, but she jumped down between branches on instinct feet first hoping she would hit him on the way down.

Wynn managed to land on one of Orion's wings, sending him horribly off-balance and launching Wynn a distance, straight into the trees, and likely off-balance as well. She cast Orion crashing into the trees as well, splintering and breaking through one after another until his speed vanished to nothing. Though bruised badly, with a broken bones in several different spots, Orion managed to stand up. That was not pleasant... He thought, as he stumbled and grasped onto a nearby splintered tree to support him up.

Quantum Rain wrote:Wynn managed to land on one of Orion's wings, sending him horribly off-balance and launching Wynn a distance, straight into the trees, and likely off-balance as well. She cast Orion crashing into the trees as well, splintering and breaking through one after another until his speed vanished to nothing. Though bruised badly, with a broken bones in several different spots, Orion managed to stand up. That was not pleasant... He thought, as he stumbled and grasped onto a nearby splintered tree to support him up.

Wynn would be sent upward into a tree, then fall to the ground. On a quick reflex she went to roll, but was a tad late and felt a surge of pain through her lower legs. She was able to get up and walk, albeit she was unable to move faster than a fast walk. She drew one of her short swords with her right hand, but held her side with her left. Despite the injuries, the cold, spiteful glare hadnt left her eyes. She stalked toward him, breathing deeply because of the chase.

Oh joyous be me... Orion thought sarcastically as he saw Wynn approach. He went to reach for his daggers, only to find them missing from their sheathes, likely cast away from his brutal crash. ... Now that's unfair... He thought as he looked back up at Wynn. He sighed, pain shooting up as he breathed in. He kept an entirely calm look about him despite the pain, and yet, he started to feel light-headed. He tried to walk forward. Seeing to at least make this quick for himself, but as he let go of the tree and turned towards Wynn, everything was a blur. When he took his first step, it also proved to be his last, casting blackness over his vision as he fell forward, unconscious.

---

Matt had already pulled the arrow out of his leg with his one good arm. Though it was the wrong arm entirely, he managed to do it intricately to avoid further damage, but twice as painfully for it. "Agh, man... well, at least she can aim good."

---

Rain and his small cadre of soldiers were already well into the forest, on towards what one soldier reported as the capitol of this world, the main Aeon fortress. He didn't like the thought of going there, but he had little choice, what with an undead force chasing him that were, at least, twice the size of his cadre, including the wounded. It wouldn't be wise to fight yet, not until they have the advantage.

Quantum Rain wrote:Oh joyous be me... Orion thought sarcastically as he saw Wynn approach. He went to reach for his daggers, only to find them missing from their sheathes, likely cast away from his brutal crash. ... Now that's unfair... He thought as he looked back up at Wynn. He sighed, pain shooting up as he breathed in. He kept an entirely calm look about him despite the pain, and yet, he started to feel light-headed. He tried to walk forward. Seeing to at least make this quick for himself, but as he let go of the tree and turned towards Wynn, everything was a blur. When he took his first step, it also proved to be his last, casting blackness over his vision as he fell forward, unconscious.

---

Matt had already pulled the arrow out of his leg with his one good arm. Though it was the wrong arm entirely, he managed to do it intricately to avoid further damage, but twice as painfully for it. "Agh, man... well, at least she can aim good."

---

Rain and his small cadre of soldiers were already well into the forest, on towards what one soldier reported as the capitol of this world, the main Aeon fortress. He didn't like the thought of going there, but he had little choice, what with an undead force chasing him that were, at least, twice the size of his cadre, including the wounded. It wouldn't be wise to fight yet, not until they have the advantage.

Wynn would walk over to him and put the short sword away. She knelt down, still holding her side, to look at him to see how able he was. She drew a throwing knife and looked over the body. She pulled the armor off him, then cut open the back of his shirt and began thinking of what to do. She stabbed him twice, once for each spot where the wings met his back, then sank the knife into his lower back and left it there. It would not be enough to kill him, but he sure as hell would not be escaping when he woke up. She struggled to lift the man up, and gritted her teeth through the pain as she hauled his unconscious body through the woods. Across the period of many hours, she managed to get him back to where Matt was. By the look on Wynn's face, she obviously didn't get away unscathed... either that, or he found a way to piss her off beyond belief, or both.

Matt watched Wynn for a second, not wanting to get up from his freshly healed leg, which was still scarred for the moment, and with light bleeding persisting. "Are you okay?" He asked, concerned about her first and foremost. She looked what she felt, that was for sure.

Quantum Rain wrote:Matt watched Wynn for a second, not wanting to get up from his freshly healed leg, which was still scarred for the moment, and with light bleeding persisting. "Are you okay?" He asked, concerned about her first and foremost. She looked what she felt, that was for sure.

Wynn would nod, but her posture said otherwise. She was hunched over, and still looked like she was recovering from that sprint. She threw Orion onto the ground purposefully hard and sat down next to Matt. "Sorry about the arrow..." She said uncomfortably. She sat there staring at the man she had just captured. If Matt looked closely, he would actually see the knife in his lower back.

"It's alright, I shouldn't have been playing monkey in the first place, right?" He said, attempting at a sincere smile. He turned to study the figure that used to be Orion, but the wounds almost said otherwise. "... So you captured him? That's good... That's what I was trying to do before I fell." He said, his mind thinking forward again.

Quantum Rain wrote:"It's alright, I shouldn't have been playing monkey in the first place, right?" He said, attempting at a sincere smile. He turned to study the figure that used to be Orion, but the wounds almost said otherwise. "... So you captured him? That's good... That's what I was trying to do before I fell." He said, his mind thinking forward again.

Wynn would not be able to turn to face him, perhaps feeling guilty for shooting him. She sat there for a moment silently, then got up and dragged him over to a tree and leaned his side against it. After a few moments she punched him in the side of the face hard and said, "Wake up." In a harsh, cold tone. While she didn't expect him to actually be woken up by this, she felt the need to try anyway so she could get rid of this new-found dead weight she had to haul around.

Orion was the epitome of dead weight in this case, as he didn't respond at all. As well, Wynn's hand met a near cold-snap like chill from Orion's skin. Upon further inspection, it would show that his skin was abnormally pale and his body entirely limp, and equally as cold to the touch. His heart was still beating, however, and that could be visibly seen.

"He's in a sort of stasis. Probably a bodily instinct when its damaged to such a point. Sort of like a coma." Matt explained the odd state to Wynn. "Give it some time and I'll be able to drag him out of it, without having him pass out on us." He noticed that Wynn didn't even attempt to look him in the eyes at all yet, but said nothing, leaving it as a discussion for a later time.