As the line of cattle began to shift, Marcus’ attention snagged on the small, frantic movement near the trees that Hank called out about. A calf had strayed too close to one of the bundled masses of brush and now stood frozen, its flank caught by something that looked like a nest of sticks. The sphere had unfurled just enough for a few branch-like limbs to coil around the calf’s legs, the creature rolling slightly as if adjusting its grip.
Taco shied sideways, ears snapping forward, and she snorted wildly. Marcus didn’t know what the thing was, only that it was not harmless., and the calf’s distressed bawl sent a tight twist through his gut. He reined Taco to a halt at a careful distance, eyes scanning for the heifer pacing nearby, torn between charging him and staying with her young. Panic would make everything worse. He turned in the saddle and lifted a hand, calling out, “Hey! I’ve got a calf tangled in something here—can I get backup? One of you keep the mother off me while I try to free it!”
The tangleweed shifted again, branches flexing, and Marcus swallowed. He didn’t know if he would be able to wrestle it off the thing, but leaving the calf felt worse. He slid down from the saddle anyway, immediately unsheathing a knife he never left home without. Born and bred Halovian, he was no stranger to the fact that the world around them was dangerous and he always needed at least one weapon--or tool, depending on its usage that day.
“Easy, girl,” he called to the cow, voice low and steady, trying to project calm he didn’t entirely feel. “We’re helping." He crept closer to the writhing bundle, heart thudding, already forming a plan in his head as he closed the distance. His knife hand moved to try and hack away at a branch, while his free hand went to touch the calf and send his magic pulsing through to calm.
Marcus dismounts to try and free the calf, using a knife on the tangleweed and his free hand to use his calming magic.
Magic: Ease | Can soothe the emotions of one person by touch. Heightened emotions are harder to soothe and require constant contact. Effects wear off quickly. Has narrative effects only in KQs/PQ+s.
Type: Light | Rank: Basic | Cost: Bonus Action
Taco shied sideways, ears snapping forward, and she snorted wildly. Marcus didn’t know what the thing was, only that it was not harmless., and the calf’s distressed bawl sent a tight twist through his gut. He reined Taco to a halt at a careful distance, eyes scanning for the heifer pacing nearby, torn between charging him and staying with her young. Panic would make everything worse. He turned in the saddle and lifted a hand, calling out, “Hey! I’ve got a calf tangled in something here—can I get backup? One of you keep the mother off me while I try to free it!”
The tangleweed shifted again, branches flexing, and Marcus swallowed. He didn’t know if he would be able to wrestle it off the thing, but leaving the calf felt worse. He slid down from the saddle anyway, immediately unsheathing a knife he never left home without. Born and bred Halovian, he was no stranger to the fact that the world around them was dangerous and he always needed at least one weapon--or tool, depending on its usage that day.
“Easy, girl,” he called to the cow, voice low and steady, trying to project calm he didn’t entirely feel. “We’re helping." He crept closer to the writhing bundle, heart thudding, already forming a plan in his head as he closed the distance. His knife hand moved to try and hack away at a branch, while his free hand went to touch the calf and send his magic pulsing through to calm.
Marcus dismounts to try and free the calf, using a knife on the tangleweed and his free hand to use his calming magic.
Magic: Ease | Can soothe the emotions of one person by touch. Heightened emotions are harder to soothe and require constant contact. Effects wear off quickly. Has narrative effects only in KQs/PQ+s.
Type: Light | Rank: Basic | Cost: Bonus Action
marcus
a song for a scribbled out name
