Completed A Sea of Sorrow

[Thraah]

Of course she could
"Pfft, no I got magic to burn."
To demonstrate this Thraah produced a mote of flame in her palm.
"I can draw attention to us, well you. Heh."
She didn't like the idea but she didn't have a better one.
Lazily she tossed the mote onto the ground where it continued to burn on nothing and by focusing on it she made it bigger, a lot bigger. It started to roar and suck up air. Light and heat banished the dim cold on encroaching night. A pillar of flame sustained by her power.
"There, it'd need to be blind to miss that."
She stood next to it easily enough but it was uncomfortable for the others.

Mercer Alwin Zephyrine

 

[Mercer Alwin]

Mercer watched as Zephyrine began to work, Mercer's eyes studying her intently. She wanted to grasp the extent of what the younger girl could do, it was always good to know what the others were capable of. It was rather fascinating to watch, and as the sun sank ever lower, Zephyrine finished her tasks. There was no guarantee this approach would even work, they may have failed this night in total, but they had to try something, anything to stop this foul creature in its tracks.

Nothing had happened so far, as Mercer and Thraah waited quietly in the shelter that Zephyrine had conjured for them. Finally, after quite a bit of time had passed, Zephyrine called for fire from Thraah, and Mercer too watched the other keenly as she brought forth a roaring flame. Mercer could feel the heat easily, and she narrowed her eyes against the bright hot flame. All they could do now was continue to wait.

Zephyrine Thraah

 

[Zephyrine]

Zephyrine smiled at the fire crackling before her. She fished for a flat piece of scrap and fanned the flames, working with the magic Thraah had gifted her. It provided warmth that was needed now that the sun had fall below and taken it's heated rays with it.

"Where is it...?" She murmured to herself, but loudly so that the others could hear her too.

Misfortune was upon them when nearing two hours gone, there was nothing. Orders for their group was to return to the town before dusk, but that was now hours ago. If the creature had passed them, then it would face a great number of Dreadlord Initiates and Ranked Dreadlords.

Another half hour, Zephyrine called the plan off.

"We must be missing something." She shivered, now rifling through her pack for another jacket. "Unless it truly was not in our search area. Then we should head back to the town, regroup with the others."

Thraah Mercer Alwin

 

[Thraah]

Thraah shimmied closer to Zeph and consciously began radiating excess heat. She seldom needed a jacket or coat unless it was in freezing temperatures.
Casting her gaze back towards the village she hoped the monster had missed them, had faced the small force that awaited it and was already destroyed. No more deaths, no more fuss.
"Welp, we tried."
With a wave of her hand Thraah banished the fire and let the night cover them.
"What now?"
She stood up from the cover and stretched as a sound came, mingled with her yawn and carried on long after she was finished.
The wind carried a scream to them and the source wasn't far.
Thraah's blood ran cold and she looked to the direction it came, along the west bank of the hill.

Mercer Alwin Zephyrine

 

[Mercer Alwin]

It was disappointing, to have failed. She had made an error in judgement, and it was a bitter pill to swallow. Still, perhaps the thing had been killed elsewhere. Perhaps in her failure, someone else had succeeded. She could already feel the disappointing glare of her father upon finding out that his daughter couldn't even handle one mission without screwing up. She was an Alwin, they didn't make mistakes.

"you'll always be a failure girl, give up. Go crawling to daddy, tell him you can't do it."

Mercer shoved the demon's voice from her mind. Some days he was helpful, most days he sought to drag her down, sought to take over. She was in no mood for his games right now. She emerged silently from the hiding spot Zephyrine had manifested and stretched her stiff muscles, looking at her companions grimly.

Mercer was about to reply to Thraah, when the shriek pierced the night air, making her pause and stiffen. She gave a fleeting look to each girl, and then broke into a sprint in the direction the noise had come from. There was still time, she could redeem herself yet.

Thraah Zephyrine

 

[Zephyrine]

Her heart almost burst through her ribs when the scream disturbed the fading day, and as soon as Mercer moved, Zephyrine and Thraah followed suit.

It was meant to be me, it was meant to be me! She thought, cursing herself that their group had not intercepted the creatured that plagued the seaside town.

All three of them ran, determination powering through them as they ran against the incline of the hill and came to crest, and Zephyrine was quick to fashion herself a weapon.

The two Initiates that were in their group at the start now laid in pools of blood, and upon further inspection via distance, she could tell it was theirs. Bloody tracks disappeared into the treeline, heading back to towards Vel Luin.

"Shit." Leading the way down the hill, she could only afford a minute's assessment of the Initiates she had not bothered learning the names of. "One is still alive. The lamia cannot be too far off..."

"Go! Leave me here..." The Initiate groaned, hands pressing against the wound at their stomach. "The mission comes first."

And Zephyrine believed that too.

But she was part of a team.

"Quick. Do we follow or do we draw it here?"


Thraah
Mercer Alwin

 

[Thraah]

Shit that was a lot of blood.
"Shit... SHIT!"
She echoed Zeph's exclamation.
It was Lukas, half his stomach was opened.
Ignoring the others Thraah knelt next to Lukas.
"Stay still, we're going to get you out of here."
He was dying, or at least he looked like he was and she was no barber.
Consulting the others silently gave her the assumed response from Mercer who was coiled like a spring to go after the monster again.
Zeph looked torn between duty and compassion.
Fuck it.
"Go on, I'll take care of him. GO, it's fast and it has a lead."
The mission couldn't be sacrificed and Mercer was way more dangerous than Thraah was, Zeph was solid backup. Burning down a village to save it might be acceptable but it wasn't Thraah's idea of heroics or what passed for duty among Dreadlords.

Mercer Alwin
Zephyrine

 

[Mercer Alwin]

As they broke through the brush, a bloodied sight met their gazes. It was clear to her what the outcome would be, too much blood and no one to heal the wounded. He would fester in pain, a long slow, and horrible death. Both of the other girls paused, Zephyrine was torn. Thraah even more so. She steeled herself, pulling Thraah away from the victim.

"No Thraah, all three of us will go. He will not make it. A swift end is kinder than watching him die." She was anxious to continue on, but she was a soldier. She would give him the sweet release of death. No one should suffer what he was suffering. She took a dagger from her hip, approaching the boy writhing on the ground. "We'll make it quick, and then bring justice upon the head of his enemy."

Thraah Zephyrine

 

[Zephyrine]

Zephyrine watched Mercer and made her decision then.

Her hand went to grip Thraah's collar and pulled her up and away from the Initiate. "Do it, Alwin!" Zeph kept pulling Thraah along with her, marching them both to where the trees were rife with snarls and calls that could only be the Lamia.

"We have no time to waste, Thraah. We need to move!" She made sure her friend could not turn back to watch, Caddell almost pushing her friend froward. "I wouldn't leave you behind, ever. We are a team, the three of us."

Thraah Mercer Alwin

 

[Thraah]

"What? no... Lukas!?"
She didn't want to leave him, she didn't leave Pen-pen but she was with different people then. Better than this Mercer.
Before she could protest further she had been removed Mercer had killed him and Thraah burst into anger.
"THE HECK IS WRONG WITH YOU??"
Rolling a turn she broke free from Zeph and rounded on Mercer with an accusing finger.
"YOU SACK OF SHIT MERCER, YOU FUCKING DOG SOLDIER, YOU FUCKING BLOOD MUTT I'LL *KILL YOU*!"
Erupting into fire Thraah immolated herself and threw a running punch at Mercer. Too angry to even draw her sword or chain.

Mercer Alwin
Zephyrine

 

[Mercer Alwin]

There was no emotion from Mercer as she gave the boy the mercy of Death's embrace. She didn't know him, it didn't bother her, hell even if she had known him, she would not let a friend suffer a slow and painful death. She had begun to wipe the blood from her blade when the shouts from Thraah reached her ears. Great. She rolled her shoulders in anticipation as she turned to meet the fiery girl.

She let the punch land, having prepared herself for the blow. Yeah, it hurt like hell, but if it made the girl feel better, oh well. She grabbed Thraah's collar, her hand shooting out lightning quick to hold her in place. Her eyes narrowed as she practically hissed at the girl.

"You want to be upset, fine. Be upset later when there are no more lives at stake. Remember you mission. You would have crippled our team further, to stay and watch him die one of the most painful of deaths?" She shoved Thraah away, a look of disgust on her face. "Time to get moving, if you try and get in my way again, I'll end you."

Thraah Zephyrine

 

[Zephyrine]

Zephyrine did not follow Thraah as she went to confront Mercer, but as soon as the taller Initate spoke about the mission, she had to address her comrades with a grave face.

"We need to go. Now."

Thraah Mercer Alwin

 

[Thraah]

That stung.
"You're full of shit. You talk about saving lives. You fucking murdered Lukas."
Tempting as it was to roast Mercer where she stood Thraah picked up on the edge to Zeph's voice.
"We're not done."
With that she ran ahead. Fast as she could so that no one could see her face.

Zephyrine
Mercer Alwin

 

[Mercer Alwin]

Mercer stared coldly at Thraah, they couldn't afford to be emotional. It wasn't a fun job, but it was their job. They were brought in the academy to be used as weapons, not to get attached to each other. It's why she's always kept her distance from the other initiates. Less pain if you don't know them, just another body on the field.

She didn't respond as Thraah spoke, only followed her as she tore a path onwards. She turned her head to look at Zephyrine as she passed. Zephyrine had understood, and Mercer acknowledged her with a nod before proceeding onwards.

Thraah Zephyrine

 

[Zephyrine]

Her chest did something she had not felt before, but the way Zeph spoke to Mercer and ran past Zephyrine, she could not help but feel for her friend.

Tawny eyes caught Mercer's nod, and she moved the same time as the taller Initiate, following after Thraah. It was a necessary kill. One Zephyrine would have just left alone if it came down to it, but she was glad they were put out from their misery.

Perhaps if they had not run off without them earlier, as a team, they could have survived.

The seaside town was in view, down the hill as the sun dipped almost fully below the horizon.

The creature was already there.

Teams that were stationed closer were in the streets, orders being shouted loud enough to be carried to her own ears. She quickened her pace, carelessly running down the descent and hoping her feet would not stumble.

"Thraah!" She called out, hoping her fiery friend would slow and wait for them.

"Wait for us!"

Do not go alone!

Thraah
Mercer Alwin

 

[Thraah]

Wether she could hear Zeph or not Thraah would not be able to remember later. She only knew the blood pumping in her ears and the roar of her hearts hammering with painful heat in her chest.
The gemstone was alive with fury. Awakened by her outrage and grief it spilled heat from her body in wild and dangerous waves.
The monster was a hateful thing. Large with great wings, big as an elephant with a face that looked like no face she had ever seen. Long rending claws still tinged with blood. No eyes she could make out. It was stalking closer to someone, she couldn't make them out.
"*DIE!*"
She cried and leaped into the air, sword drawn and flaming bright as she hacked at its back but the monster was fast, much faster than its size belied and with a swipe knocked her straight to the ground.

Mercer Alwin
Zephyrine

 

[Mercer Alwin]

Long strides carried Mercer onwards, sure-footed and eyes narrowed dangerously as they plunged onwards. Thraah was a loose cannon at this point. She was going to be a detriment if she couldn't calm down and think. Mercer didn't want to dislike the flamboyant girl, but it was clear there were too many differences that could not be rectified. It was unfortunate but could not be helped.

Zephyrine was close by, and Mercer kept her positioning in mind as they careened down the slope to where their quarry awaited. Her footsteps slowed only to take in the scene laid in front of them. Thraah was well ahead, launching a solo attack on the creature, only to be swiped to the earth. Mercer pulled her chakram from her back, slowing to a stop as she held it aloft, and then arched backwards preparing to launch it at her target.

With a grunt of exertion, she let the circular blade fly. It spun with ferocious speed and accuracy at the beast, though she had begun running before watching to see if it landed. Her thoughts were to get to Thraah, to support the girl to fight their common enemy.

Thraah Zephyrine

 

[Zephyrine]

Something pounded against her ribs, climbed up her throat, and before she realised what she was doing, her hands began to craft large throwing daggers. "No!" She screamed, letting loose her creations with deadly accuracy. They embedded into the lamia, who screeched louder than Zephyrine had screamed into the night's air. It did not look to her, instead turning it's ugly face to Mercer, the taller threat that ran towards it with the intent of retrieving her unique weapon. It left Thraah forgotten, and Zephyrine dared to race past the creature and skidded along the grass on her knees, to Thraah's side.

"How could you?!" She seethed, looking over the Initiate with angry tawny eyes. "We are a team, Thraah. I am not losing anyone else on my team." When it was plain to her there was no fatal wounds, she got up and created a sword. Zephyrine wasted no more time on the hellbent Thraah, letting her blade drag along the grass of the hill before lifting it with two hands and delivering an arcing slice to the back of the lamia.

"On the hill!"

Screams came from the fishing village, and finally, shadows began racing towards them. Aide was coming.

Then more screams littered the night, frightful, fearful, and pained.

There was more than one creature in the night.

Thraah Mercer Alwin

 

[Thraah]

Thraah, though dazed, did not miss a beat.
"Awe, you doo care Zeph. That's sweet."
Slowly she tired over and sat up, shaking the dizzy from her head as she did.
"Fucking,"
Thraah spat a bit of blood and it sizzled on the ground. Moving hurt. She already knew she'd be painted with bruises in the morning.
"... shit."
When she stood up the call came and with it the terrible truth that this thing wasn't alone.
"Oh balls. There's more of them?"
No time to discuss it as she took an idea that came as she watched Mercer (the cunt) and Zeph swipe at the Lamia.
She closed her eyes and focused on the weapons. The long sword and that hoopy blade thing.
Immolation was easier when she was close but that could get messy.
She needed a moment more to make it work.

Zephyrine
Mercer Alwin

 

[Mercer Alwin]

Mercer did not stop, did not hesitate as Zephyrine beelined for the fallen girl. She had managed to wound the Lamia as Mercer had continued barreling forward, and it focused all intent on the perceived threat. This worked for Mercer, Thraah needed a minute to recover, and Zephyrine would want to help her friend to do so.

She paused as more shrieks and screams invaded, her steely eyes drifting away from the beast before her for only an instant. Fuck. There were more to contend with, this was going to be no good for anyone. The creature swung at her, in her distraction and she focused once again on the threat in front of her.

Her chakram lay upon the earth, just falling short of its prey. It had mattered little at the time, just enough to detract from Thraah. She slid to the ground as clawed hands reached out to strike her, rolling to grab her weapon. She grasped it with a grunt, swinging it upwards and into the jaws of the Lamia, blood escaping the wound to drench the girl underneath it.

Zephyrine Thraah

 

[Zephyrine]

Zephyrine delivered fiery cuts to it's limbs, effectively slowing the lamia down. Every swing of blade lit up the coming night, and she knew she had Thraah to thank as she could see where to hit. With her raised sword, she clashed it against Mercer's weapon and helped drive it cleanly through. She hacked at the shaking beast, watching it fall and twitch into stillness.

Anger. Blood boiling anger filled her veins as her deathly stare looked to Mercer. "There is another." The licking flames danced across Zephyrine's lit up face, giving her stare a touch of dread for those that would oppose them.

The shouts and screams did not die down. The Guard, Dreadlords, and Initiates were there, but when it had taken Mercer and Zephyrine to take down one, it seemed over twenty could not bring down the other. "Thraah. Get up." She turned to the other Initiate. Whatever calm and pleasantness she held was squashed down under the never dying flame of anger.

"We need to get to a higher vantage point. Who is to say there isn't more than two of these creatures stalking the night? Plaguing this town?"

Thraah Mercer Alwin

 

[Thraah]

"Then we BURN THEM TOO!"
Fire along Zeph and Mercer's weapons was hard to maintain but she kept it up. Sparked embers in the corpse of the downed one to wrap it in flames. Burn it down to the bones.
She was up already, moving towards the hill, limping slightly a hand over her ribs.
In her free hand she held fire and threw it up ahead to give them all a better look.

Zephyrine
Mercer Alwin

 

[Mercer Alwin]

One girl drenched in blood, the other dancing with flames, stared each other down for am oment after finishing their quarry. It wasn't the heat of the blade that was dangerous, it was the burning in Zephyrine's eyes that encouraged Mercer onwards.

Mercer was glad to see Thraah overcome their differences for the sake of the whole in this moment. She was grateful for the extra firepower on their weapons. The three of them together would be mighty against these lamia, one by one they would take them down. Mercer was confident in this.

Mercer said nothing, taking up the rear as she followed the other two, guarding their flanks just in case. She knew that no matter what the outcome was, she had failed this mission, and it burned her to her core. She would not forget this night.

Thraah Zephyrine

 

[Zephyrine]

The three of them did not rush in, not when chaos and hysteria ran high in the streets by the sea. A town that had been plagued, that had their children hunted, and the wails of mothers that had lost their treasured children. The fathers that could do nothing to protect their home, and neighbours having gone many dawns of hearing the despair that drowned their seaside town. The Dreadlords and Anirian Guard came in numbers, realising this was no regular threat. No being, human or creature, should test the might of proud Aniria.

Zephyrine motioned Thraah to cease the fire at their weapons, to conserve her energy for when they truly needed it.

She did not want attention drawn to them, not when they needed to know more of what was happening. A watchtower could be seen in the moonslight, set against the backdrop of stillwaters of the sea.

"Run, do not stop!" She ordered, moving to quicken her pace and leg it towards the winding staircase on the outside of the tower. They were lucky it was situated at the top of the town, giving them the vantage point needed to assess the going ons. The docks were alive; women and children being evacuated to the boats, and larger vessels no doubt on loan from Vel Luin.

Zephyrine's tawny gaze scrutinised the area below, past the rooftops and the shade cloths. Staring into the darkest depths unseen by the light, trying to determine if there were more than what they believed.

"The docks! Initiates! The docks. Defense lines!"

The command could be heard by the three, but Zephyrine made no move to join them. "We are too far to take up position." She surmised. They could have made it, but there was a dormant anger in Caddel that had not seen the surface in years. Finally, something worthy of her hurt and anger. Her anxiety of not to lose the rest of her team. The unknown outcome of this very night.

Zephyrine Caddel wanted blood.

Thraah Mercer Alwin

 

[Thraah]

"AGH! RAAGH!"
Fire rained from Thraah's hands in long jets as she, unlike the others ran head long towards the next Lamia.
A few others had engaged it. The creature had signs of damage.
A spike of ice from it's flank and arrows with plant barb's dotted it's wings.
"OUT OF THE WAY SHITCAKES!"
Her entire torso, head and all, were completely ablaze.
The Lamia could not help but notice her.
It howled eyelessly at her, a deep loathing screech of terrible origin.
When the gourd of fire struck it the monster tried to take wing but the barbed arrows made it hurt, tore at the pierced fleshy skin.
It did not get far and it was moving slowly, away from the shore and back up to the hills.
Thraah persued it, screaming obscenities.
She only knew that somewhere behind her the others were there. She could feel the fire on their weapons when she tried.

Zephyrine
Mercer Alwin