[o] [SE] deer to be different

Lena

Lena’s initial intentions had been to travel to Halo briefly; figuring she could grab some of their finest and sturdiest knitwear for the upcoming season – and then she’d somehow managed to wind up in the Hollow Forest. Curiosity, mostly, but also one of the trackers had mentioned hearing a hurt fawn from across the wake, and maybe if she could find it before it’d managed to circumvent its way into the Celestine, she could’ve prevented any undue stress.

But neither she nor Mittens seemed to have found the particular injured deer, and the eerie semblances of the woods already had her on edge. “Let’s head back,” she offered to her companion, who screeched in return – difficult to tell if it was bothered by the state of the world or just content to revel in its customary state. It probably enjoyed Halo.

From the corner of her eye though, as she turned to traverse the way they’d come down the more open trail, she spotted something. Right on the edge of a nearby tree, she could’ve sworn she saw a glow of antlers – but the more menacing and habitual void essence still lingering through the threads of many.

sunlight on mist; summer lightning
your choices outweigh your substance

Panacea

Panacea cursed herself for once again doing the good thing and going the extra mile for those in her care. A young boy she had been treating had not been getting with her normal broths, ointments or tinctures. He could never seem to catch his breath, and his temperature seemed to always be cooler than normal. Despite the heat in Torchline, he was perpetually cold. So, on one night she was able to drown her liver, she had overheard a tale from some young sailor, on some small ship, about the oddities that grow in Halo, and more specifically the Hallow Forest. You absolute moron. Nothing good her grows. She pulls her fur coat closer to her body, attempting to maintain her warmth. She borrowed the hood coat, and fur lined boots and pants from one of the local vendors she shops with, whose son spends his time exploring the continent and brining home gifts for his mother to keep and to sell. They were a size too small, and a few years too well worn. I hate the cold. I should have never left my island. The breeze picks up and whistles through the trees and the darkness. She can hear the music she swore were described only to scare children in stories. You idiot. This cold will kill you, unless something from the void gets you first.

Panacea is well aware of all of the void creatures that still linger in the area. The knife and bow she has become more than comfortable with are ready and waiting. Her bag at her back is ladened with enough clothes and food to last at least five days, with plenty of space to accommodate whatever she may collect. Taking a fortifying breath, she continues on, walking though the cloud of breath she had created. And then she stops. She hears it. A whisper of a breath that does not sound human or animal. The hair on the nape of her neck begins to stand on end, and she has the overwhelming sense that she is being watched. Panacea slowly turns her head. From the corner her eye, a slight glow hid behind the trees. I hate this place

// He who has health, has hope. He who has hope, has everything. //
// Take a breath and let the rest come easy //

Lena

Lena’s own weapons laid in her bag, but she, as always, remained hesitant to use them. There were plenty of other potentials – she could shift, she could compel, she could – well, there wouldn’t be any commanding of these creatures. She’d learned, quickly, that all the void cretins in Stormbreak didn’t adhere to her quiet requests, and she figured the ones dotting across Halo weren’t going to be any different.

She heard another crack in the wood – and beyond adapting a very still frame, her eyes flickered over to where she saw someone else on the lonesome, winding trail. Not wanting to ask why, she gave a brief wave to signal that she’d seen the stranger, and then a press of her finger to her lips, as a warning to be still and quiet.

Steeling another breath, she snagged at her own abilities, pulling at any nearby threads of birds in the brush or high overhead, to come swarming down on whatever lingered in between the portions of timber nearby.

sunlight on mist; summer lightning
your choices outweigh your substance

Panacea

Panacea nodded slightly, only to acknowledge the warning sign from the stranger in the distance. She did nothing but tighten her grip on her bow, waiting for the right time to draw an arrow.

Without turning her head, her eyes slowly traced all that was in front of her. She had nothing but her weapons, body and wit to protect her. Shifting is pointless in a land of snow and rock, there is only so much her Aqueix shift can do, and none of it can be done here. 

Panacea's can hear her heart pounding in her ears, until she feels it stop. In the distance, a flutter of wings starts. At first she couldn't tell if it was just the wind picking up, trying to instill more fear and confusion, but the noise didn't stop and it seemed to grow louder and louder. It was wings and it was getting louder, and it was getting closer.

// He who has health, has hope. He who has hope, has everything. //
// Take a breath and let the rest come easy //

You know how sometimes you step outside and the cold just catches your lungs? And you cough and gasp and desperately try to inhale more oxygen?

Congratulations! You probably just wandered into a breath snatch!

Yeah, that glittering cloud of glittering frost wasn’t friendly either. Who knew?

---

You’ve encountered a Breath Snatch. This counts as an uncommon creature encounter for the purposes of levelling, but does not count as a Random Event for levelling or MP. There will be no further admin/re intervention. If you choose to follow this creature, you do so at your own risk, however, just having it in this thread is enough to satisfy your levelling requirements. (You may not kill this creature without admin permission. )

Breath Snatch (uncommon) - A minor Halo nuisance, the Breath Snatch is a small elemental spirit that lingers in open areas on cold days. They're easiest to notice on bright days, a concentrated cloud of glittering frost lingering in the air, but if not noticed and walked into, the elemental will disperse in a puff of freezing air, often freezing the breath in the lungs of whomever was unlucky enough to come across it. It doesn't seem to possess enough sentience to be truly malevolent. Large groups of the spirits are rare, but potentially deadly if walked into unknowingly.

Lena

It hadn’t been the most perfect plan; it might’ve been easier to simply fly away. But that wouldn’t ensure things were rid of – only evasion. And between herself and this stranger, Lena thought they might me able to make a difference – though, perhaps, that had been on optimism, hope, and unfounded belief in someone she didn’t know at all.

The birds flew in on her accord, mustering their rallying volley, carrying seeds and stones, throwing them downwards, at the void luxere lurking in the brush. It seemed irritated and annoyed, shaking its head and glancing at the flying miscreants, rather than either of them, as she shook and tried to ready her own bow. Even Mittens, swift and mighty, started slinging its snowballs at the beast.

What she hadn’t counted on were other elements in play – like the breath snatch, suddenly compounding within her throat. She choked and coughed, bent over, an inevitable thing as it surged through her lungs with avarice and ease.

sunlight on mist; summer lightning
your choices outweigh your substance

Panacea

Panacea watched on in both amazement and horror at the birds that filled the trees and sky above her. It was amazing to see the flock rally together to aid them. She could see from her angle that the void luxere that the was getting more and more agitated. She wasn't sure if this was the moment for her to run, or to take a shot. She hoped to maybe find the right time to get closer to the other woman, and hopefully either use the cover of the birds to run, or to come up with some sort of attack plan.

While contemplating her next move, Panacea noticed the air getting even colder. She is so unused to the cold and snow, she wasn't sure what was happening. Glancing from the void luxere to the woman, hoping to see if she should be concerned for new the cold, she knew she had to move.

Panacea took off running without another thought. Cold air puffed in her face, blinding her as she ran. She hoped that the birds would continue to distract the luxere void as she moved. The strange woman was bent over, looking as if she was gasping for breathe. If it was from magical intervention, she hoped she would be able to help with what she has with her. If it was something medical, she knew she would be able to help with whatever it is.

Snow kicked up around her and sprayed as she came to a stop in front of the woman. She placed a hand on the stranger's back, and leaned forward, listening for breathing and hoping to hear her speak. As she did so, the cold she felt earlier was nothing compared to what she felt now. It was as if the breath from her lungs was being sucked out of her. She stumbled back from the woman and it cleared. That was when she saw it, a cloud that almost shined, floated in front of her face. A breath snatch. The woman she got her clothes from warned her of these. She grabbed for the woman, attempting to pull her out of the cloud. "We are in a shit ton of trouble, and need to move. How can I help?"

// He who has health, has hope. He who has hope, has everything. //
// Take a breath and let the rest come easy //

Lena

The birds kept up their frenetic pace, but Mittens seemed to be in overzealous mode – bolting and lobbing one snowball after the other in banshee-like screams – anything to keep the void creature from barraging towards them while Lena recovered.

What the Caretaker hadn’t expected though was the stranger’s kindness, figuring it would’ve been much wiser to evade and run while she could – suddenly pulled from the cloud of frost. “I’m so sorry,” she uttered, as if it had been her fault for the multitudes.

Bent over and coughing far less, she managed to squeeze more air into her lungs as the woman patted her on the back. “It’s a breath snatch – that’s easy to be rid of,” she just hadn’t noticed it in time. Taking another large puff of air, she persisted, mind strumming through what needed to be done, instead of rampaging into panic – finally. “The luxere though-,” she hated to admit would likely need to be disposed. “The birds and my companion can fend it off while we prepare, but,-“ well, she wasn’t a very good shot and it would likely take some time and precision she didn't have. “Let’s find some cover.”

sunlight on mist; summer lightning
your choices outweigh your substance

Panacea

With all of the commotion around the two, it was amazing that they were able to keep their heads straight enough to come up with a plan, even if it was just to find cover. Panacea was thankful she was strong enough to pull the woman free from the breath snatch, as she rubbed the woman's back. If the woman was talking, she was breathing.

"I am thankful for your companion and your birds then.". She glanced around looking for any way that may gain them some distance and some cover so that a real plan can be formed. Panacea may not be much help in terms of having a companion or being able to communicate with animals, but she was strong and was a decent shot with her weapons. Thankful for all the small training she did on the road with her father when she was growing up.

Pointing just to the left "I think there is a trail that way. Maybe we can get enough distance to find a way to kill this thing, before it kills us, or someone else." she offers. Clouds from their breathing catches in the wind, as the world around continues to be in motion. She looks to the woman, "I am Panacea, by the way. I figured you should probably know my name if we're about to fight for our lives." She offers her hand in a form of greeting, but also to assist, if needed.

// He who has health, has hope. He who has hope, has everything. //
// Take a breath and let the rest come easy //

Lena

Figuring the trail was enough, Lena nodded, sending notes of her whereabouts to Mittens, who was currently hovering just out of reach of the luxere, as she fumbled with her quiver, extending an arrow upon the bow in her hand. “Nice to meet you, despite the circumstances,” she grinned, trying to muddle through her nerves with her usual compassion and dignity, shaking her hand once they had a moment. “I’m Lena.”

The birds fluttered about, throwing down more seeds and stones, and some seemed to have taken it upon themselves to follow, mimic, and copy her companion’s movements – grabbing some snow and plunging it down over the void cretin’s antlers. It was shaking them off, but clearly distracted enough to let the ladies plan. “I’m not a very good shot – though I’ve been practicing,” she informed, trying not to let her fingers and hands shake as she fumbled around with notching the arrow. She didn’t add in the apprehensive feeling of putting any animal down; but the infested creatures couldn’t be taken care of in any other facets – she’d be certain to say her prayers to Mort. Didn’t make her feel much better though, beforehand.

Swallowing down those trepidations, she tried to line up her efforts, pulling the string with as much force as she’d been taught, taking in a breath that hadn’t been scraped away by the snatch, and fired.

sunlight on mist; summer lightning
your choices outweigh your substance

Panacea

As the two sought refuge along the trail, Panacea watched the animals providing their protection. She was in awe of the magic behind it all. She loves animals and was amazed by the teamwork she saw. She was thankful for the distraction being provided and the obvious influence this strange woman Not strange woman, Lena, had on the animals.

Panacea looks to the woman and notices a slight shake in her hands, and the trepidation in her voice as she pulls at her bow and arrow. She looked on as Lena brought up the bow to take aim. With her admission, Panacea draws her own bow and arrow to provide extra precaution incase she misses, or Gods forbid, there is something else near by being drawn over by the noise. "Lets hope you have practiced enough, if not, I've got you." Panacea readies her aim as Lena lets the arrow fly, and watches on to see if the arrow hits.

// He who has health, has hope. He who has hope, has everything. //
// Take a breath and let the rest come easy //

Lena

Lena’s arrow, perhaps predictably, missed. It veered off a yard or so from the infested deer, and she bit at her lip, uncertain about the sudden layers of emotions reeling through her, but incapable of letting them rattle her further. Shaking her head, tossing the trepidations about, she quietly and quickly snagged at another, while the other woman’s fired off.

That one was much more successful, landing upon the luxere’s shoulder. It gave a bellowing call of rage and pain, and she could see her birds beginning to rise out of the brush and area, preparing for another round. “Thanks,” she whispered in return, striving to quell the nerves in her fingers from skewing the aim of her next one any further. “Maybe one more will do it?” Its speed was slowed down, at least, but certainly not its raw anger.

Mittens hissed in return, layered another shot at the antlers, the head, as she drew again.

sunlight on mist; summer lightning
your choices outweigh your substance

Panacea

Panacea let lose her arrow when Lena's missed. She had been hoping to hit where the jugular should have been, but with an irritable void, it was no surprise when it moved and she hit the shoulder. Damnit.

She watched as the birds and Lena's companion prepared for another onslaught on the void luxere. "I'm not sure I'm ready to say no problem yet." Glancing over, Panacea watches Lena line up her next shot. "Hopefully the next shot will do it.". Panacea also reached for another arrow as she watched the small animals continue to provide them some extra cover with snow and rocks. She had faith that this next arrow would hit, but just in case, she had another one prepared.

// He who has health, has hope. He who has hope, has everything. //
// Take a breath and let the rest come easy //

Lena

As Mittens walloped the luxere again, Lena’s arrow flew – hitting the infested deer in the hindquarters, not taking it down, but certainly a wound that would slow its motions. A combination of such effects made Panacea’s armament hit directly – down by the base of its skull, and in no time at all, it seemed to hit the ground in an audible thump.

The mixed feelings brewed within her again, palpable through her chest, quelling through her fingers as she breathed, taking a deeper sigh, and began to put away her bow, securing it alongside her quiver. “Well – good work.” She swallowed down the bile as she peeked through the trees and undergrowth, snagging at her companion, releasing the birds back to their canopies. “I’m not sure what to do with it now though.” Should they just leave it? Burn it? She worried other animals might come around and try to snag at the infected meat…or perhaps they knew better.

sunlight on mist; summer lightning
your choices outweigh your substance