Resupplying

[Vavrinec]

Vavrin looked over her shoulder at Yin and grinned slightly. She was glad that the twins were finally coming around. It had only been a few hours, but Gil'ead was a great distance behind them. She turned her focus back to the trail ahead of them and replied, "No, we are not there yet. How do you two feel?"

She gripped the reins tighter and scanned her surroundings. It was serene, and quiet, the only sound being the clopping of hooves against the ground. She heard one of the twins say something about rain. Vavrin wondered what the view looked like from far above, and welcomed the thought of a good rainstorm.

[dannylam4]

"Rain rain... go away..." the twins weakly sang as thunder cracked overhead. A small amount of rain came down and quickly sped up, soaking the twins and the horses quickly. The twins shook the water off their head and lifted their arms, snapping the rope to bits. "Nothing like a shower to start the day."

The twins tossed off their jackets and placed it on their lap, wearing their black/white short sleeved shirts. "As much as we love the rain, we should get out of here as soon as possible." They brushed their horse's mind as they sped up, increasing in speed. "Contact Nihael and see if they're okay. We can't have them swept up in the storm."

[Vavrinec]

Vavrin looked up and let the rain hit her face. Within moments, her hair was drenched and sticking to her cheeks. She ran her fingers through her hair and reached back, shaking her snakeskin cape free of the droplets of water. She nodded and said, "I'll contact him."

She reached out to brush Nihael's mind and said, "Nihael, how are you and Onyxia? We're getting drenched down here in the rainstorm. Perhaps it would be best if we find some shelter amoungst the trees and rest while the storm passes. The twins and I will begin looking now."

Vavrin kicked her heels into her horse as he rapidly gained speed, and her eyes scanned for the closest thicket of trees possible. She called out to the twins, "Let's find a place fast."

[dannylam4]

Yin eyed the area quickly. "There's no trees that we can see... though it's not like the area is flat that we can see everything," they said. Yang tried to sniff around but smelled nothing due to the rain. Yin sped up, seperating from the others quickly while he went on higher ground. "There! An abanoned wagon. Old, but it'll work."

Yang's horse flew towards the carriage past Yin as he waited for Vavrin. Yang hopped off his horse quickly and grabbed the side of the wagon. The wagon had been flipped over on it's side and it's wheels broken, but Yang flipped it back into a sitting position with ease. The sheet used as the ceiling on the wagon had several holes in it, but it basically fine to shield them from the rain. Yang waved Yin and Vavrin over.

[Vavrinec]

Vavrin glanced over at Yin. "Better than nothing, right?" and with that her horse trotted quickly alongside him as they approached the abandoned wagon.

Vavrin dismounted quickly and led her horse to the side. He shook his mane free of the water, and she gave him a brief petting on the head and told him to stay put. He merely stamped his hoof and blinked at her. The Shade took off her cape and folded it across her arm as she climbed inside the wagon.

The water dribbled off of her forehead into her eyelashes and the back of her shirt was drenched from where her hair rested. She grasped it and gathered it to one side as she found cover from the rain underneath the wagon's canopy. The Shade sat, knees pulled up close against her chest and listened to the rolling thunder.

[dannylam4]

Yin pulled their horses next to Vavrin's as Yang threw their jackets over them to keep them warm outside. If the rain changes direction, move to the other side, they instructed the horses. They went into the wagon and shook themselves as water sprayed against the wall. "Don't enjoy the storm, Vavrin?"

Yin stuck his head out the wagon as he gazed around at the sky. Yang sat down beside Vavrin, making sure his pack was okay. "We, on the other hand, love the rain," they said, looking over at Vavrin. Yang tossed an apple at Vavrin and one at Yin, eating one himself. "Eat up, you look half starved."

[Vavrinec]

Vavrin caught the apple and shook her head. "I don't mind the rain." She took a bite of the apple and glanced upwards at a nearby hole in the sheet. She placed the apple in her lap and began removing the bracers from her forearms. Her skin felt cold and clammy underneath, though she didnt shivver.

She picked up the apple and nibbled at it again. Slowly she lowered her legs and crossed one ankle over the other. She gazed at both of them and said, "At least you both dont smell funny anymore." She took a large bite out of the apple and wondered how Nihael was doing.

[Nihael]

It is starting to rain heavily... we should probably head down for some cover soon, or atleast check up on the others.

Yes this wind is startting to tire me...

Let me just quickly locate them... ah there we go...

"Nihael, how are you and Onyxia? We're getting drenched down here in the rainstorm. Perhaps it would be best if we find some shelter amoungst the trees and rest while the storm passes. The twins and I will begin looking now."[/colour]

Tracing the trio with his mind, Nihael found them sheltering beneath a wagon. With a loud squelch, Onyxia landed a dozen feet from the wagon. Calmly dismounting and walking up to the wagon with the rain pelting around him, Nihael knocked against the wagon and waited for someone to respond.

[dannylam4]

"Wish we could say the same about your look," the twins said, looking at Vavrin. They laughed slightly and held their hand into the air. "Heh, what we mean is that we're not use to you having your down, in more then one way. And your forearm is exposed. You've worn basically the same thing since we've met."

Yin and Yang turned quickly as they heard a knock against the wagon walls. They popped their heads out of the wagon and looked over at Nihael. "Good to see you're safe," they said, turning and looking at Onyxia. "Come on in."

The horse whinnied when they saw Onyxia and backed closer against the wagon. She won't eat you,[/color] the twins promised the horses. The twins returned inside the wagon and tossed Nihael a piece of fruit as they continued to eat theirs. Yang continued rummaging through his pack with Yin. They looked over at Vavrin. "Did you take some of our food earlier?"

[Vavrinec]

Vavrin's pale face was expressionless as she rubbed her cold forearms. She wasnt sure if she understood them correctly, so she shrugged. "Yeah... although I did change out of my torn tunic before we left the compound. This top may not be the warmest, but it serves its purpose." She tried pulling its short cap-sleeves down to no avail.

Vavrin heard a knock and knew it was Nihael. She moved closer to Yang and told Yin to as well to make room for the Rider. She finished the rest of her apple and set it aside. She arranged the length of her hair on both shoulders and said, "Yeah, I did take a piece of fruit before we left Gil'ead. Since we didnt get a chance to grab breakfast..." she teased. "I can repay you for it later."

[Nihael]

Nihael tossed the apple back at Yang, "We already ate a while back. Thank you for the most generous offer though." Nihael removed his cloak and stood up in his ebon armour, "I shall be outside, I dislike these cramped quarters." Levaing his cloak on the ground, he stepped out into the rain once again.

Nihael let his legs carry him wherever he wished as he felt the rain pinging off his armour. Turning his head up to the skies, he stood letting the rain wash over him. Snapping out of his reverie when he heard a noise not far from where he was, the suttle sound of a footstep falling in the wet grass. He slowly withdrew his sword and scanned his surroundings.

[Vavrinec]

Vavrin glanced at Yin and then at Yang. She poked her head out of the wagon and looked at her horse. He was still standing where she left him, and she touched his mind to say, Rest. We may be a while. Dont mind the dragon, Onyxia. She wont hurt you. She saw Nihael's back not far away from the wagon and saw that the twin's horses were trying to nibble a shrub.

"Well. I'm going to lay down now." she mumbled. She reached over to get her cape which was partially dry. She folded it neatly and set it beside her, and she laid down and rested her head upon it. It wasnt very supportive. Her back was up against the wood side of the wagon, and she curled her legs beside her and shut her eyes. She wasnt planning on sleeping, but the least she could do was lay down and enjoy the rest period.

[dannylam4]

Yin grabbed Yang's sword and tossed it to him, taking his bow staff in his other hand. "We'll be outside," they told Vavrin. Yang hopped out of the wagon followed by Yin. They walked a small distance away from the wagon when Yang removed his sword from the sheathe. Yin raised his bow staff and got into a defensive position as Yang charged towards him. Yang used different forms, aiming for Yin's head and arms, but Yin quickly deflected the attacks. Yang's speed decreased as he placed more pressure on his attacks. Yin lifted the bowstaff above his head as Yang swung down on it, Yin's knees buckling and slidding across the floor. Yin turned his legs quickly as he spun around, the sword sliding off his bow staff. Yang fell forward and rolled it out. They smiled at eachother and charged after eachother again.

[Nihael]

Nihael quickly searched for any consciousness’s around him. After a quick sweep, he found a group of twenty or so men hiding in a nearby copse, just off the side of the road. Delving into the mind of the closest man, in which he did not even receive the slightest bit of token resistance, Nihael soon discovered that they were a group of Highwaymen being led by a bear of man named Cyric. He withdrew from the man’s mind and calmly started to throw up barriers around himself. After a few moments, he heard a gruff voice call out.

“Welcome to my domain traveller! Throw down your weapons, money and armour and we just might let you live.”

“Is that so? Who do I have the pleasure of addressing?”

“Apparently you are new to this area! Everyone near here knows and fears the name Cyric and his band o’ merry men!”

“Well then you will have to excuse me for my ignorance, but I fear I shall not be parting with anything.”

“It would be wise of you to do otherwise!! We have forty archers all aiming at you right now!”

“Is that so? I was under the impression that you had twenty men in your merry little band.” Nihael delved into the mind of the man he had sought out earlier, uttering a word and causing the man’s brain to separate from his spinal column, he heard the sound of the man’s body slamming into the ground from the tree he had previously been perched in. “And now you have nineteen.”

“FIRE!!!”

Nineteen arrows arced towards Nihael, slowly gaining speed until the came to a dead stop ten feet from his body. Uttering a few words, He sent the arrows flying into the trees at his attackers and was rewarded with the sound of three more men dropping to the ground as the arrows found their mark.

“He is a sorcerer! Run!”

Nihael quickly located the other men and killed them with but a word. He then bound the leader’s legs together and slowly walked up to him. Releasing the bonds after he approached him, Nihael tossed the sword that the man had dropped when he was sent tumbling.

[Vavrinec]

Vavrin had just drifted off to sleep. The sound of the lightening rain must have lulled her. She barely heard the twins say that they would be outside. She merely shifted a little in her light sleep and brought her knees closer to her body.

Her sleep was a dreamless one, her body still as it recovered a bit from the past 2 days events. Her hand was tucked under her folded cape to support her head, and for the most part all of her clothing was dry. Her hair was still damp though, but it didnt matter.

[Nihael]

“You can either get up and fight like a man, or you can run and be cut down from behind. Take your pick.”

Nihael saw the man slowly get up to his feet and start to circle him while he stood calmly watching the man with his sword limp in his hand at his side. Seeing the man charge, Nihael almost lethargically swung up his sword and parried the first few blows, letting himself get pushed back. After a few moments, Nihael started to grow bored of the “contest” and started to attack, parrying a thrust from the man, he sliced at his midsection and then swung his sword down in a crushing arc that knocked Cyric’s sword away when he attempted to block the attack. Knocking him to the ground, he pressed the tip of his sword to the huge highwayman’s throat.

“Do you concede defeat?”

“Yes! Please don’t kill me! I beg of you!”

“What is in it for me if I let you live?”

“I have money and goods stored in our camp in a small clearing amongst the trees! You can have it all!”

Nihael quickly bound the man, flipped him over and slashed his Achilles tendons.

“There. I haven’t killed you, you are free to try and crawl away, although if I were you, I would watch out for the wolves.” with that Nihael strode towards the copse of trees as the man’s screams followed him.

[dannylam4]

A group of men watched the twins closely, their weapons in hand. "They look pretty strong... think we can take them?" one bandit said, watching as Yang charged after Yin once again. The other man nodded. "We'll just get them off guard... we'll sneak over quietly."

The man waved his arm as the small group of men started creeping towards the twins. Yang charged towards Yin after being pushed back again. He raised his sword into the air as Yin held out his bowstaff. Yang jumped into the air and prepared to swing down when Yin changed position, dropping to one knee as he held his bowstaff over it. Yang dropped down and stepped on the staff and Yin launched him back towards the bandits.

"Catch who on guard now?" they said as Yang cut off the head of the man. Yin appeared by his side faster then it took for the man's body to hit the ground. The bandits stirred as the twins looked at them.

"We've got them outnumbered, men!" the other man shouted, raising his sword into the air. Yin counted the group quickly and they were easily outnumbered 5 to 1. "If they do not fall, our other comrads will surely beat them."

Other comrads, brother? Yang asked, swinging his sword and easily deflecting an attack. What do you think he means?

Simple, brother; the others must be attacked as well... Yin said, ducking as a sword attempted to cut him in two. He raised his staff and slammed it against the attacker's jaw. We could take these men out, but we should check on the others.

Vavrin sleeps, and we know not where the rider walks.

Then we visit just the shade then. Let us move before their comrads overtakes our sleeping beauty. Yin shot backwards, his feet sliding across the wet mud and away from the group. He pulled Yang's collar and dragged him back as well. They spun around and took off towards the wagon.

"They run! After them!"

[Nihael]

Nihael picked his way throught the trees and found the camp easily enough. He examined the camp, noticing the recently dead fire and the multitude of footprints.

That is odd... It seems as though a group of atleast fifty men were camped here, I killed twenty of them... where are the other thirty?
"Vavrin." he whispered
Onyxia. Look lively, there may be about thirty men headed your way, keep a look out over the camp and warn the others of my suspicions.

What may I ask is leading you to this conclusion?

I am standing in the camp of what looks to be about fifty bandits. I killed twenty of them and I did not run into the other thirty, even though the embers in the fire and the tracks around are relatively new.

I will do as you ask

[dannylam4]

Yin made it back to the wagon fastest while Yang turned to keep the bandits back. It was only a few seconds before the bandits caught up and Yang quickly took the heads of a few of them. Yin jumped and tackled the wagon, shaking it and knocking it over onto its side. "Vavrin!" the twins shouted. Several bandits turned, thinking Yang was speaking to someone behind them. "We've got killing to do."

Yin was prepared to return to his brother when he noticed another group of bandits running towards the wagon on the opposite side. He relayed the situation to Yang, letting in a few curse words, as he ran off to attack the second group. About 20 to 30 bandits, not including those we took out," Yin told his brother.

I am fine for the time. Be Vavrin's shield, though I doubt she'll need it.

[Vavrinec]

The Shade woke with a start, her eyes springing open as the wagon was rolled onto its side. She toppled over and landed on her shoulder with a thud and crawled out. Vavrin quickly got to her feet and saw that there were indeed many bandits to be slaughtered.

Vavrin unsheathed her pale longsword and with a flick of her wrist, flourished it just as a tall bandit was coming straight at her. She plunged the sword in the man's upper-chest without hesitation and withdrew as he collapsed to the floor in a heap.

She saw Yin not far off fighting another group of bandits, though more of them were headed her way. Two burly men came running from both sides and she parried a thrust from one and quickly sidestepped, beheading the opposite man then lowering her sword and cutting off the arm of the other. He dropped to his knee, she Shade scowled at the barrel-chested man and thrust her pale sword into his ribcage, kicking him away as the sword slipped back out.

Vavrin kept her sword at the ready as yet another man approached. The stubbly man spoke as he pointed his sword at her lazily. "My my, and what do we have here?"