[IC] In the Land of Heartstone

[catmint]

With each step he took towards him, Ryu took two back away. He stared at Grima, trying to figure out exactly what he was. Ryu walks slowly, wanting to stall time until he could come up with something that could divert Grima from the Kumiho group. "Soooooo," Ryu began, wiping his palms on his clothes. "What brings you this neck of the woods?" He said casually, reaching up to rub the back of his neck.

[ShadowVentus]

Grima's eyes narrow at this question. "Stop wasting my time, mortal, and take me to your allies." Grima commands. "Grima...maybe I should take control? If you can't tell, you're frightening him...in fact, you make us seem like the enemy." Michael states in his mind. Grima growls at this statement. "Do you really think he'll trust you? No, I think I will continue." Grima replies to me in my mind as he returns his focus to Ryu.

[catmint]

Ryu grumbled under his breath, "Can you actually even succeed in hurting me?" He questioned him, leading them onto a path. "I mean the last guy who threatened my life became my dinner." Ryu snarled, glancing back at the boy. "You don't look that strong." He said with a forced chuckle, in attempt to make himself seem more confident then he actually was.

[ShadowVentus]

Grima growls once more. "Then allow me to give you a taste of my darkness..." When Ryu fully turns around, he's greeted by Grima's shadowy aura. The aura morphs until it takes on the appearance of Grima's true form. Grima roars, the deafening noise echoing throughout the forest.

[catmint]

Ryu stumbled backwards, startled by the site Grima's true form. As he did, the back of his foot caught on a tree root. Ryu tumbled backwards, the momentum causing him to flip onto his stomach. "Well if that roar doesn't alert them, I don't know what else will." He hissed under his breath to himself, referring to the Kumiho group. Ryu climbed to his feet, cheeks red from embarrassment and a disgruntled expression. "Well, you know what? Let's just go." He snapped, brushing off his clothes before continuing down the path.

[ShadowVentus]

Grima chuckles silently to himself as his aura cancels itself out, disappearing as he follows Ryu down the beaten path. "A wise choice indeed...you just may live to see the dawn, young Kumiho." He says as he walks.

[catmint]

Ryu cursed at Grima under his breath, but was otherwise silent. He led down the path, eventually reaching the cover the group had made. He stopped as it came into view, hesitating to continue any further as a wave of guilt hit him. Ryu glanced back at Grima, lips pulled back in a snarl. He shot a glare, already plotting to end Grima's life.

[ShadowVentus]

Before Ryu knew it, Grima had a silver sword pointed at his throat, the tip extremely close. Grima doesn't become angry. Instead, he simply laughs. "There's not turning back...from the very moment you encountered me, you betrayed your group in an attempt to save your own hide. Now, step aside. I have business to take care of." Grima commands. It seems he won't hesitate to strike Ryu down, his eyes menacing.

[catmint]

Ryu growls at Grima, to cover the wince he had from Grima's harsh words. Even though he knew Grima was serious, he couldn't seem to make his legs move him out of the way. Ryu curled his hand into a fist, eyes concentrated on the sword devastatingly close to his throat. "Well the thing is-" Ryu cut himself off as he cast a spell of mist. A very simply illusion spell that clouds the vision, it only lasts for a few seconds and affects everyone including the spellcaster. However this was long enough for Ryu to put distance between Grima and him. Ryu, with his own short sword, circled Grima. The spell dissipates quickly and Ryu lunges, slashing with his weapon. He is fast, but his form is inexperienced, obvious that this sort of fighting was no something he was particularly skilled at.

[ShadowVentus]

Grima heard Ryu's movement through the brush, giving the advantage in order to turn around in time to counter Ryu's sword and disarm him, the sword sent flying until it plunges itself into a nearby tree. Grima chuckles at this. "Foolish fox...you're nowhere as near experienced as I am! Know your place!" With that, Grima simply hits Ryu hard with the flat side of his blade, sending him flying until he hits the tree that his sword is currently stuck in.

[catmint]

Ryu slammed into the trunk of the sturdy tree, the wind knocked out of him. "Okay.... Not good idea...." He wheezed to himself, forcing himself to stand up. His breath returning, Ryu yanked the sword from the tree and sent glares at Grima. "What do you even play to do?! They have nothing to do with you!" Ryu shouted angrily, trying to stall for time. There wasn't much else Ryu felt he could do, he felt that Grima would simple cut him down if he attacked head-on again. \

[ShadowVentus]

Grima growls at Ryu, his eyes narrowing with hatred. "They are trying to hunt my kin. For that, they'll pay with their lives!" Michael then speaks to Grima in his mind. "You don't know that for sure, Grima! Maybe that dragon you sensed is an ally of theirs--" "An ALLY? You'e saying that a dragon has sided with humans? What utter nonsense!" Grima snaps back at him.

[catmint]

Ryu snarled at Grima, gripping the sword tightly as he glared. "There's something wrong with your head." He spat out, glaring angrily. He took a step around Grima, glancing in the direction of the camp in desperation. He hoped the kids had heard the yelling, but he wasn't sure if they would bother to help Ryu considering his past. "If you don't leave, I'll..." He paused,trying to think of a plausible threat. "Make you sorry."
(sorry my responses are so slow, im not sure where to take this on from here)

[ShadowVentus]

(It's a-ok! I'm not too sure how long we can keep their interaction going...) Grima laughs at this. "Let's just see you try then." Grima followed his every movement, smirking whenever Ryu gave away the camp's location. "So, THAT'S where they are..I'll make quick work of you and head on my way!" He says.

[catmint]

Ryu winces, "I doubt it will be that easy for you." He replied bitterly, lurching towards Grima. He carefully picked his way to the dirt path, glowering at Grima as he did. His muscles were tense, ready to spring, but Ryu wouldn't dare to make the first move once again. "We don't have to fight you know..." He began through clenched teeth, deciding to try and talk his way out of this. "I'm sure we can come to some sort of compromise."
(yeah that's what im thinking)

[ShadowVentus]

catmint said
Ryu winces, "I doubt it will be that easy for you." He replied bitterly, lurching towards Grima. He carefully picked his way to the dirt path, glowering at Grima as he did. His muscles were tense, ready to spring, but Ryu wouldn't dare to make the first move once again. "We don't have to fight you know..." He began through clenched teeth, deciding to try and talk his way out of this. "I'm sure we can come to some sort of compromise." (yeah that's what im thinking)

(Hmm...I'm actually willing to sacrifice a liver to keep this RP from flatlining!) Grima snarls. "You had your chance! Now, arrogant mortal, you shall witness the wrath of Grima, for I AM THE END!" He bellows, readying his sword to attack Ryu.

[catmint]

(that's the spirit! lol)
"You're so pretentious!" Ryu snapped, keeping a keen eye of Grima's weapon. He circled Grima, before forcing himself to attack. Ryu launched himself forward swiftly, thrusting the sharp edge towards Grima's abdomen.

[ShadowVentus]

Grima parries the attack, barely missing. "You are a fool to challenge me!" He strikes out at Ryu with his sword, slashing in an arc at his torso.

[catmint]

Ryu twists around, deflecting the sword from cutting any flesh. But the force of the swing makes him stumble backward, nearly losing his balance. Ryu quickly puts his guard back up, heart pounding as he lunged forward again. His swings were fast, but had little force behind them, making it easy to block and to counter-attack.

[ShadowVentus]

Grima does just that, knocking Ryu back once more. "This is nothing but a sparring match!" He says, taunting the young Kumiho to try and attack again.