Starting Date and Time: Saffra 32nd, 301DM, mid-morning
Starting Location: Outside Stone Crest
CS URLs: Ralen & Li Severcrest

Ralen leaned against a large boulder, desperately attempting to catch his breath. He was baking inside his plate armor despite the chilly weather, and his lungs sucked in air like a furnace. Even with his helmet's visor down he felt like he was suffocating, a notion that intellectually he realized was ridiculous, but was in a state of half-panic all the same. Damned mountains, Ralen thought. Why couldn't the beast live in some nice plains or a scenic forest? It would certainly be more enjoyable to hunt.

Shortly after formally partnering with Li, he had come to the realization that there was a significant lack of decent work in their line of business for men with little experience. Few merchants were willing to hire guards with no one to vouch for their reliability; after all, they could be bandits. So Ralen had somewhat rashly come to the decision to do some great deed to get Li and him noticed. It was important to establish a reputation, and what better way to begin one than by hunting a Wyvern?

Of course he had not told Li that last part. Knowing him, he would flat-out refuse such a notion, desiring to earn their reputation through decidedly less impressive means. And so Ralen found himself nearly puking blood halfway up a mountain top in the pursuit of a creature that he was finding himself less and less sure existed. In between desperate gasps of air, he swore to himself that he would strangle the barkeep that told him a Wyvern made its home on these mountains when he got back down, likely crawling.

Wiping the sweat off his forehead with half-soaked rag, he looked up to check their progress. Just halfway more...curse it all. With a groan, he lurched back into motion, following Li further up the mountain.

Li had started to regret his decision of following Ralen. Although Ralen had clearly stated that they were hunting a dire bear that was terrorizing the local villages, Li was certain that no normal bear could survive the mountain’s desolate environment. Infact now that he thought about it, he started to recall the various wildlife that lived on this mountain. Of the common creatures such as, wolves and chimeras, that he knew lived within and on the mountain, he had not recalled even one instance of a dire bear seen around the territory. Hell the only thing worth hunting would be the wyvern that was rumoured to have made a den around these parts.

If this idiot lied to me again, there is no way I don’t poison his food and make him puke for the next four days. Ji sighed, his suspicion of Ralen increasing with every step. It wasn’t that Ji distrusted Ralen, it was just that anyone that knew Ralen for more than a handful of weeks, would undoubtedly get caught in some sort of disastrous plan. Ji had to admit, Ralen could make the most terrible ideas become enticing plans filled with glory and riches.

After another half stretch of their slow climb up the mountain, they had reached a large plateau. Mainly small shrubbery and weeds grew around this area, but compared to the rest of the areas they passed, this would be like finding an oasis in a desert.

From the records that Li read, this particular plateau should be suitable for dire bears, and because of this reasoning, albeit hesitantly, Ji decided that Ralen did not hide any “small” details in his plan. That was until he heard a loud screech coming far above them, like metal being dragged through a gravel road. When the source of the creature was in view, a dark grey wyvern about 16 feet long, Li, for the third time, made a mental note reminding himself to never trust Ralen.

Ralen cursed and drew his sword in one swift motion. He didn't think the wyvern would be this close, if here at all! He was still exhausted from the steep climb, and he growled in anger as sweat dripped into his eyes. Doing his best to ignore it, as he couldn't exactly take off his helmet now, he scanned the skies for the beast. There! he thought, seeing a dark grey dot in the distance grow larger and larger. Ralen turned towards Li and yelled "I'll distract it, you nail it!" Without waiting for an answer, Ralen turned and braced himself for the incoming battle.

The Wyvern was far stronger and far faster than he had even dared to predict. It swept past him before he even had a chance to respond, viciously raking its talons across his expensive plate armor. Ralen was knocked flat, though his armor took the brunt of the attack and he was able to stand back up, if painfully. He cursed again, this time at himself for underestimating the creature, and waited for its next pass. Ralen prayed that Li had heard him and was doing his utmost to help take the beast down.

On the Wyvern's next pass it attempted to snatch him off the ground in its formidable claws. Ralen was able to somewhat predict this, and managed to cut at one of the claws with his greatsword before being grabbed by the other. He was lifted ten feet off the ground before being dropped again, the Wyvern's grip weak due to only having grabbed hold of him with one claw. The breath was knocked out of Ralen's lungs with a whoosh on impact, and he struggled to even move, his limbs rigid from shock.

Finally he clambered to his feet, and that is when the fear set in. This was a fool's mission, he thought, as he watched the Wyvern circle around for another pass. His blade was hardly bloodied and he was already more beaten up than he had ever been in his life. He quickly looked for a way out, an escape, but he did not see any nearby. Ralen swallowed his fear and readied his sword again, glancing at Li as if asking him to do something.

"God damn bastard." Li muttered under his breath, while taking cover behind a large boulder.
Wyverns were such fearsome creatures that, although weaker than dragons, were still capable of tearing limbs off effortlessly. Just thinking about the wyvern that Ralen was currently taking on solo, made Li’s wings shake. Li started a series of breathing exercises, which calmed his nerves. Before long, Li heard the wyvern cry out again, accompanied by a metallic clash. It was then that Li’s eyes locked with Ralen’s, who had gotten up from his fall.

Li knew that he could not leave his friend to die. They had been through too much. From the time they had saved each others lives, to the journeys they had been together. They had created a bond too deep to break. Li exhaled one last time before sprinting towards Ralen.

Li had very little knowledge about wyverns, but he knew one thing for sure. Like most creatures, their eyes should be the weakest point on their bodies. Li thew a single dagger at the wyvern's eye, all the while hoping for a miracle.