[PQ] let go of the anchors

Deimos

before bones, before dirt, before even light
this is who we were

Perhaps it was the dramatics of the situation (though, Deimos thought, not wholly necessary), but a majority of the hunters finally got their precision and might in. One of Colt ’s arrows went directly into the ursur’s eye, leaving it not only enraged, but embittered with pain – swiping at its socket as the blood pooled and poured, and that unmistakable feeling of dread clung to the rocky surface.

It wouldn’t much matter, in the end, as long as they kept their wits about them. Koa, perhaps in panic, managed to put himself squarely between Sohalia and the ursur, but with the monster’s incensed movements, missed the punch. Sohalia ’s apprehension-laden throw seemed to do the trick though, slicing neatly into the bear’s right shoulder, leaving naught much for the birds or Deimos to pick off. It only took a gust of the air incantations to finish it.

And then ultimately, there were three carcasses, stretched out across the tundra’s terrain.

A long sigh filtered through, before he pushed a mountain of lectures aside. “Well done. This was some valuable experience,” he noted instead, fostering his stoicism rapidly across his features, already beginning to move downwards, intending to incinerate the beasts – their meat wouldn’t be any good. “Everyone all right? Zuriel can heal you if necessary,” to which the mare below snorted, tossing her haughty head. “I am going to burn these. You can help or check yourselves and your equipment over, then when we can be on our way.”

By now, of course, Belial had managed to retrieve the lasso, and playfully tossed it at Colt’s feet with a screech.

--

And with that, all the ursurs are dead! Heal up, check over your equipment, or help Deimos burn the beasts!

this untamable expanse
churning proof that we have always been deep, restless souls

Colt

It's boots and chaps
It's cowboy hats
It's spurs and latigo

A twist of satisfaction flared through her as she hit her mark. It wasn't enough, she knew, but it was something. The rest quickly followed in their own manner, and at last the beast crumpled under their combined efforts, none worse for the wear, somehow. Steadily she crept away from her rock cover, the adrenaline shaking through her a bit, causing her bow to quiver as it dropped to her side in hand. "We did it?" she asked as if in disbelief. A glance at the felled brutes, and then a ghost of a smile. "We did it!" and lived.

She glanced over to Soh, who seemed more than okay now that Koa was with her. "I'm good," Colt reassured as Deimos asked, patting herself up and down as if to be sure. Under that much focus and life-gripping terror, sometimes things didn't hurt until you saw them or poked them. Luckily her word held true though, and Colt released a long sigh she hadn't known had built up inside of her.

She turned to the screech with a mild flinch as her lasso flipped with a thump by her feet. "Thanks," she said wryly, a mild wave lifted up at the companion as she reached down for her lariat and began to coil it back up. "Guess I need bring more of these next time," she muttered. With her weapons gathered, she glanced around for Beans. The horse had spooked and run off a bit when the rocks had trembled and the ursur had roared so nearby. She couldn't blame the horse, and stalked off after some of his footprints as she set her fingers in her mouth and whistled for him (Arthur Morgan style).

---

Colt gathers her things and starts to look for her horse.

It's the ropes and the reins
And the joy and the pain
And they call the thing rodeo

Koa

There's going to come a day when you feel better
You'll rise up free and easy on that day

As soon as the ursur finally falls Koa turn to Sohalia, taking her shoulders in his hands and looking her up and down. "Are you okay?" he asks, concern flooding openly through his voice, splayed across his handsome face. Only when he has confirmed that she's uninjured will he let himself relax, mouth curling into a relieved smile as he pulls her into a quick, tight hug.

And then it's back to business, the soldier's affect and dedication pulled around him like a cloak. "Pip can help with burning," he volunteers, earning an eager trill from the dragonling because, yiiiiis, fire. "I'll check equipment." He's uninjured, and has no desire to spend more time among the corrupt corpses than strictly necessary. So he busies himself with gathering up and cleaning their assorted equipment - which really just boils down to his chakram, now streaked black with Ursur blood.

Wrinkling his nose, Koa pulls a rag from his path and sets to the cleaning, making sure to keep upwind from Deimos and Pipsqueak's pyre.

And float from branch to branch, lighter than the air
Just when that day is coming, who can say?

Sohalia

Almost before Sohalia knew what had happened, it was over. The ursur fell, and Koa turned to her, checking her over before sweeping her into a quick, tight hug. "'M fine," she murmured, the reassurance muffled as she returned the gesture, quickly releasing him to take stock of the rest of their party.

Deimos, of course, was fine; Colt, too, it seemed. Soh shot them both a relieved grin as she began to check over her own equipment. Everything appeared to be in order, and she handed the chakram back to Koa with a quick, "Thank you." Since she hadn't used any of her own equipment, and there wasn't much she could do in terms of fire, she made her way over to Deimos. "Is there anything else I can do?" she asked softly, unsure what more she could contribute to the group but willing to do whatever she could.

Deimos

before bones, before dirt, before even light
this is who we were

In the aftermath, with much to reflect upon and learn, the world maneuvered onward. Between Pipsqueak and Deimos, the fires sparked, sizzled, and eventually unwound the void creatures into nothing but ash, sprinkled upon the wind. A momentary impact – for there was always something to be fought and conquered, destroyed and brought to heel, but for the present, it made hunting out here that much easier for trackers and fellow wanderers.

With equipment checked, and individuals ensured they were fine and healthy, the Sword shook his head at Sohalia’s inquiry. “I think we are all set here. Until the next time,” to which he gave a slight grin; for wasn’t there always some of those?

“Thank you again for all the help,” he extended in gratitude as he made his way back up. “We can head out.” For another time and place. “If any of you are staying in Halo for the moment, I can treat you to dinner.” Might as well be rewarded for their efforts.

--

The PQ is done! Thank you for helping!

[FIN]

this untamable expanse
churning proof that we have always been deep, restless souls