[h3][color=pink]Lyn’s Hunt[/color][/h3] [h3][color=lightsalmon]Mar[/color] & [color=Khaki]Ellys[/color][/h3] Ellys hissed quietly when the voice entered her head. Her eyes narrowed and head twitched, stopping her from looking around for the source. She knew it wasn’t be there as her mind recalled her companion being invaded and controlled. Her body uprised while she spoke out loud, no longer caring if it made her look unstable, with a venomous tone. [color=khaki]”You don’t know Naga well. Besides, I’ve seen her magic, so [i]how[/i] she dies shouldn’t matter in the least, only that she does.”[/color] Ignoring any further words, the Naga’s figure broke into the small opening of trees where Mar currently laid. Her tail coiled and winded along the ground’s grooves with the elegance of a predator, each movement clearly wasted only enough energy that was needed. Her eyes burned into the filth trying to pick herself up. A loud, long whistle abruptly shrieked across the skies over head causing Ellys’ head to jerk upward and scan the air. She half expected the harpies to have returned after ripping the ex-Naga’s accomplish in procreating to pieces. Her fingers tightened about her spear and pulled it close, ready to defend herself when the black smoke lingered through the cracks in the tree top for several minutes. Ellys bared her fangs in snarl. Pain was swallowing Mar, her eyes filled by dark feathers and ripping claws dancing along her skin. The Harpies were overwhelming her quickly while they mobbed her. There was little place she could look and not smell their stinking breath running down her spine. Her back bent backwards, sparked with fresh ach, until it felt like it would snap in half and kill her. Mar’s teeth gritted in determination to bat them away but the rate she was picking them off was slow. They would kill her at this rate. As if reading her thoughts, the creatures cawed in their agreement then redoubled their efforts. In moments, Mar was forced to the ground where she was subjected to their slashing talons which split fabric and flesh alike. One even managed to kick away her weapon in the flocking with her hand, leaving the Naga defenseless. Mar’s arms wrapped about her head to protect her throat from being slashed while she hunkered down for the worse. Her tail lashed out and caught another Harpy, which was replaced by two more, on the leg then coiled about to crush the very bone within it. It snapped easily. Suddenly… all the harpies picking and tearing at her were gone. Shadows formed into tendrils then snaked their way from the darkness and quickly seized them. The sounds of screams, followed by ripping flesh were heard before pieces were left scattered across the forest ground. Gradually, Mar’s arm reached for the nearest tree to hoist her. Her weapon gone and body bleeding in several places, she glared at the man who extended his maw and swiftly swallowed down the whole arm with glee. Feeling her lip bleeding, she brought her hand back to wipe it away. Flicking out her tongue, she caught the strong odor of rot and corruption, causing her to hiss at the mage. [color=Lightsalmon]”I don’t think Althalus invited you to the hunt.”[/color] With those words, Mar whipped her tail at the mage. Slade’s lips smiled as he giggled. His figure sank into the ground, forming a shadow and gradually disappear the moment Mar’s tai; reached him. Mar hissed in frustration when she turned to face Ellys only to meet a blade flash through the air. Thwap! Her body stiffened when pain briefly spread through her then numbed. Mar’s eyes widened in shock causing her head to tilt down and spot the blade several centimeters deep in her skin. Tenderly her hands lifted weakly up and took hold of the hilt. She inhaled what seemed like nails in her lungs when she jerked her arms back to remove the blade. She barely noticed Ellys ready her spear, preparing to toss it and finish off the job. [center][h2]Group 1: [u][b]NiteMare[/b][/u] [/h2][/center] The nitemare softly neighed and stumbled like a newborn foal getting to its legs for a few seconds, rolling over to its side. As Alaira went backwards, its tail slashed back, missing nearly cutting itself, as it jerked behind its rear. The long whip flickered about to gain speed and power for a second strike when it tried to pull back upright. Finally managing to rise to its legs, its head noticed the mage rushing in for round two causing it to slash its tail back at her a second time. The range and reach, unless she did something, would easily reach her before she made it close and personal with the monster. When or if it impacted, her body would be set off balance by the force behind gained by the rapid twist back and forward again. However, when it connected the electrical pulses running up and down her figure shocked the animal’s muscles. Numbing the muscles first then causing it to crumble on its wounded leg then roll over its side, shrieking in pain. If Alaira tried to dodge it in anyway, the horse would start to dart forward at a trot as it gained a little speed to avoid her. Then pop! It vanished just when she went in for a strike since unless it was directly hit, the damage from the cloak wouldn’t be enough to cripple its leg. Through one thing Alaira would remember is that nitemare needed mobility to be a threat and use its teleporting ability. After all, its horns might’ve been sharp and powerful enough to withstand a blade but its neck could only reach so far to protect its flanks. Unaware of Annabeth’s position and the girl notching arrows, three arrows quickly sank into the horse’ flank causing it to jerk as the points landed into its hunches. More ‘blood’ leaked from its wounds as it flinched at the pain, limiting its mobility. [h3][color=pink]Lyn[/color][/h3] Worse still, the screaming came in the direction that Mar and Athalus was, at least last time Annabeth saw them. Considering the rumors and controversy they stirred up just for being together, Annabeth feared they were getting hit the worse. She was originally going to use her arrows to call for back up, but those two may need it more. "Lyn, cover your ears!" Aiming in their general direction, Annabeth let loose her two arrows. ALmost immediately the whistling arrow emitted a high pitch screech across the skies, loud enough for everyone in the area to hear them. Shortly after the smoke arrow started to emit a thick black smoke, which while not hot enough to actually burn anything, would continue to burn for a good ten minutes or so. If anyone was around, they could spot the smoke from a mile away, and hopefully come to help Mar and Athalus. Sam’s movements hurt Lyn’s ass as she held tightly to Annabeth, her arms pulled tightly to press her front against the older girl’s back. Her eyes squeezed tightly but not out of fear, instead to protect them from the harsh wind darting past. They moved several feet to drive a distance between her and the nitemare, Samson started to grind to a stop as Annabeth jerked him about to once more fact the creature. She loosened her grip when she felt Annabeth reach for her bow and notch two arrows. There was a loud shriek that broke out over the air and filled everywhere. Her brown head darted to the source and her eyes widened in fear, the emotion creeping but took little hold as it was shoved away by the spell Annabeth had created. The girl shifted uncomfortably in her sit while she considered lowering herself down. However, Annabeth exclaimed for her to cover her ears. Listening to her elder, Lyn’s hands immediately went over her ears and sealed them shut from the loud arrows screeching across the air. [center][h2]Group 3: [u][b]Cosh[/b][/u] [/h2][/center] When the seeds hit the ground, the Cosh was immediately snatched by the rapidly growing trees. Their leaves and branches scratched then seized the beast’s mass, lifting him off the ground. The beast snarled as his teeth dug into his makeshift restraints, trying to tear away the whipping branches as they became thicker with each passing second. Splinters filled his mouth causing the Cosh to whimper and growl in his futile efforts. Meanwhile, the Alpha Cosh shifted abruptly only to found his hand like paw ensnared by the roots of the tree. The tip slithered and tightened, nearly crushing the bone. Pulling his lips back the creature started to grip and tear at the vines gripping him, teeth easily shredding the crude restraints. From the corner of its eyes, the Alpha spotted movement causing its head to rear upright then snap in warning. One too late when the vampire slashed at his trapped leg. Blood spurted and it cried out in fury, its paw ripped free at last as it lounged forward. The monster’s breath skimmed Keri’s leg when she suddenly took off into the meadow’s direction. Her speed made it hard for even the Alpha to keep up, her figure quickly gone in the shrubbery, leave the two Cosh behind. The trees E’nasha held the other, smaller Cosh for a short time before the trees started to wither and die, dropping it onto the ground with a heavy thump. The Alpha snorted in the lesser Cosh’s direction causing the younger beast to whimper and lower his tail. Ignoring the reaction, the larger Cosh raised his head and howled for three others. In various areas just ahead of Keri and E’nasha’s location, three Cosh perked up their ears then abruptly vanished from side, their skin reflecting light to make them invisible while they lurked in the bushes for the incoming pair.