[IC] Misty Moments - A short test of skill

[Kat chan]

Kat tugged at the hood of her cloak as she walked quickly through the rain. It felt like it had been raining for ages, and she was aching to find someplace warm to dry off. Especially her tail.

She glanced over her shoulder, making sure her feline tail was safely tucked away from the rain.

Spotting an inn down the road, she walked faster, hoping that they'd have room at the inn's tavern near the fireplace.

[ImmortalToast]

A figure dawning a cloak sits in the tavern, their hands resting and tapping against the wooden table, their gaze shifting to Kat and back down to the table.

[Kat chan]

Surveying the room and the small crowd within the simply furnished tavern, Kat smiles a small smile heads over to the fireplace with only one thing on her mind; getting dry.

However, she's careful not to let her tail escape from her long gray cloak. She didn't quite know how she'd be received in this small village, or if they'd even ever seen a cat-girl before.

Tugging at the hood of her cloak once again, she spared one more glance of the room before sitting as close to the fireplace as she dared.

As she watched the dancing flames, she was aware of movement around her. A large presence, judging from the heavy footfalls.

Footfalls that grew nearer. There was a jangle of metal and the sharp sound of a sword being drawn from its sheath.

Kat drew her tail in closer to her, tensing.

She looked up at the large warrior quickly, seeing all she needed of his scowling face. 'Uh oh. A hunter. This spells trouble. No, Kat. Don't make a move. Maybe he's just.. warming his sword near the fire? Or his chainmail?' she thought desperately, trying not to make a scene. She hoped against hope for some sort of distraction to let her dry off in peace.

[ImmortalToast]

They watched the burly warrior walk near the fire, a sour expression plastered on the warrior's face made the cloaked person shudder. "Ugh. . ." They muttered. A bang of pale sea green hair slipped from the cloaked figure.

They stood up and removed the hood, two tiny white horns stuck out of their head. He looked at the burly man and rolled his eyes. "Praying on another patron?" He scoffs.

[Kat chan]

The warrior turned his scowl to the horned speaker. "This is no patron!" he boomed. "This is vermin! A pest that should be nowhere near my food and drink. What do you have to say about it, greeny?"

Kat winced, edging away from the warrior slowly, trying not to draw his attention back to her. She'd encountered these hunters before, humans who despised any creature but another full-blooded human.

Through her terror, she wondered how he had caught her scent so fast. She did everything she could to appear human. Not that it was that difficult, seeing that the only signs of her dual nature were her ears and tail. Well, that and her claws. She hoped she wouldn't have to try and use her claws against that chainmail.

[ImmortalToast]

"Says the man who looks half bear." The horned man cackled, pacing around the tavern, wearing his black cloak, covering the rest of his body. His horns appear an orange tint due to the light of the fire. A sly grin sneaks onto his face, sharp teeth fill his mouth. The horned man looked down to the woman with his faint grey eyes.

[Kat chan]

Kat caught the grey eyes with her own emerald ones, and wondered. 'I hope he knows what he's doing.'
She continued to scoot away. Looking up, she spotted something useful. She looked back at her apparent defender, hoping that he was watchful enough to stay out of the way of her trick.

With feline agility, she leaped upwards and perched briefly at the top of the fireplace's mantle before jumping to the wooden chandelier. She perched there on the chandelier, above the warrior and the stranger. She bared her claws, waiting for the right moment. With any luck, this could mean that she would get a break from the warrior and be able to continue drying herself by the fire.

The warrior's scowl deepened in a grim grin in anticipation; he was itching for a fight. "A bear, am I? And what are you, some kind of sickly goat?" He took a swordsman's stance and beckoned the pacing man to challenge him.

The innkeeper looked on with a calculated patience, gripping his pugil stick and waiting to see who would be the victor. And if he would have to re-hang the chandelier again.

[ImmortalToast]

The horned man paced slowly around the room, his sharp toothed grin growing larger. "Well, I'm a goat with style." He says, taking off his black cloak to reveal a set of metallic gauntlets, a white jacket and black pants. "Come on, I can't BEAR the anticipation!" He laughs.

He pulls a set of needles from his pockets, placing them in his hands. He then looked at the woman on the chandelier and then to the innkeeper. "Do you guys clean up the blood or do I have to?" He asks.

[Kat chan]

The innkeeper started, surprised to be addressed. "Uh. It's usually me, but I'd be much oblidged if'n you'd help clean up any mess ya make."

The warrior's grin faded as he hefted his sword. "Fine. I'll rid the world of TWO pests tonight! AARGH!"

And with that he charged, bringing his sword down on the strange horned man.

Kat continued to cling to the chandelier, retracting her claws as she watched the events below. She should be safe up here..

[ImmortalToast]

The horned man's eyes sprung open and he rolled to the side, the blade crashing down, chunks of wood falling everywhere. The horned man's once cocky facade soon faded as he was thrust into action.

He stumbled to his feet, dusting off his clothing. He brought up his fist holding the needles and flung one at the burly man, the small sharp piece of metal bouncing off of him as if it was a toy. "Hey, look over there, a human who is half dragon!" The horned man fibbed, pointing and jumping up in down behind the burly man.

[Kat chan]

The warrior turned to face his foe, swinging his sword in a wide arch in an attempt to slice the annoying creature in half. "One thing at a time! A true hunter never loses sight of his quarry!" he boomed.