Lyamis (Naga), Catacomb
Lyamis’ head turned in time to see a small, bluish elf aim her crossbow into the Naga’s mist as she mentioned something about orders to kill them from a Tyrael. From Ssarak’s and Grey’s reaction, he could only assume he was some of great importance. He didn’t know this ‘Tyrael’ was actually the demon Karnage since he hadn’t changed his name until he arrived at the college else the betrayal would’ve brought Mar’s abilities into question. Twelve arrows flittered through the tunnel’s air as the snow elf vanished back among the ridge hounds, her eyes seemed to burn with determination to kill them. Each targeted Naga, himself included, had three arrows aimed at the heart, throat and other vulnerable spot meant to put them into Malice.
When the arrows were release, Lyamis was too late to hiss a warning when his body swayed to intercept and protect the Matriarch. His arms shifted about to create a barrier with his very body and arms dropped his weapon into his tail, his arms spread out to cover as much of her fragile as he could. Another glint and one of his hand blades were in his hand ready to end his life before Malice took him. It wasn’t needed as Grey’s and Ssarak’s shields promptly came up. The large surfaces collided with the steel points and shattered the arrows on impact, their pieces shifting back to ridge hound bones when they clattered to the ground. Grey’s shield caught five while Ssarak’s managed to gain four, sparing Lyamis, the Matriarch and one other Naga from being greatly damaged. However, the youngest female, the very one Lyamis had been trying to control wasn’t so lucky.
Her eyes turned and unfocused on her fellow Naga, she failed to see Lyamis’ physical warning before she struck into the skull back from her side. It didn’t touch the brain, but did immediately killed her on impact. Her body gone limp while two more arrows made fleshy thump, one after another, into her still standing body. She crumbled into the ground. Besides Ssarak, Darius was the only other one that knew of the Naga’s Malice ability from how to prevent-a blow into the brain- and how long it would take until the ‘deceased’ rose from death to act her fellow companions or enemies.
In an ill twist of fate, it wasn’t the Matriarch who was closest to the Malice Naga but Grey when he quickly pulled back to cover their rear from the attacking shapeshifter who was screaming emotionally. With Grey occupied, the Matriarch exposed, and Ridge Hound swarming for another push through the rattled Naga, someone was going to have to protect the guardsman before things got nasty quickly.
Lyamis, spotting the fact one of the students were already intent on following orders from the imposture, was already putting together a plan that might work within his mind. Through at the rate the student was hacking and burying himself in Ridge Hound bodies, their weight would likely keep him pinned for a few hours. ’If he comes too close, is it possible for the Esyire to keep distracted him long enough for me to wrap about him and bite him? My venom would paralyze him for a few hours and we don’t have much time, one Naga’s been hit and killed improperly. She will turn Malice and I can’t be sure to get a head shot without risking the larger man or leaving the Matriarch unprotected.’
Already he was shifting his spear to his tail and preparing to stab the young female who hissed softly, her eyes glazed over in a milky white seen in death. Her head already damaged, but not enough, while she swayed in place in warning. Lyamis placed himself firmly between her and their leader, his weapon at the ready. The others were still unaware as the protective circle became crumbled, one half of the circle scattered when the arrows found a way into their midst. Unknown to Lyamis, another Naga within their ranks was slowly bleeding to death, her mind fading from sanity into pure emotion she struggled to contain. If no one noticed the signs, it was likely they would have another threat on their hands.
Lyn’s Hunt
Cosh Pack
Several striped streaks of fur and muscle powered through the grey landscape. Their paw like hands propelled them forward and through the various underbrush and trees, their breath misting over the lolled out tongues in heavy pants. Howls, high pitched and eerily terrible, rain across the morning’s air to echo through the woods. Their noses twitched out at the scent of cherry blossom lingering faintly in the air while they sought their quarry. When Keri sent E’nasha into the woods, alone, to see out Althalus, the Noxomancer was long gone and his way to teleporting Mar to the medical wing. This left her easy prey for the creatures who didn’t follow Keri into the thick of battle.
Growls from invisible Cosh snarled from somewhere close, scenting Keri’s cherry blossom smell upon the human fairly easily. They drew closer and closer, their white teeth hidden behind their camouflage ability. It was enough to frighten the girl into darting back to where she had heard the screaming earlier. The Cosh pulling into her wake, quietly stalking her back to the others.
Lyn’s… Bear
Red little eyes glowed when it spotted Mackendrick move fast and close to Samson, a small wicked growl escape the usually calm toy’s demeanor. It shuddered rapidly, the outline vibrating at an increasing rate as it abruptly sprouted in height. Legs increased in length followed by arms, its height nearly to Uicle’s, as the bear wiggled its claws experimentally. Its muzzle curled into a malicious smile before it pushed off with one leg into a flat out bolt across the meadow. The speed was almost as fast as Samson, the toy picking up more speed the longer it moved across the grass, leaving plots of little dirt behind in its wake.
While it couldn’t see Samson, Annabeth or Lyn, it could barely see Mackendrick. And so going with the only visible target, the bear opened its mouth then collected a chilling breath before firing a rapid succession of about three small, narrow icicles just where Mackendrick seemed to be heading. It might not stop him but it would slow him down enough for the bear to catch up.
