[PQ] [HUNT] willow weep for me

Though it was awkward, Remi could partially shift in this form so that he could speak. Hopefully no one would look too closely at him, for the change was slightly horrific. "Do not take anything that she offers.." He warned with human lips and vocal chords poorly amalgamated into the face of a lion. Quickly shifting back, Remi slunk in the opposite direction that Ronin had gone. Faster than the humans were in this form, his hope was that if Ronin could indeed bait her out, that'd she'd be sufficiently distracted by the humans to take much notice of him creeping up behind her. Choosing his footing carefully and letting his mind sink into that of the hungry predator, Remi's golden eyes peered into the forest, ears twitching to catch any sound not made by his group. remi roar

MELITA

The honeybee youth listened, rapt and riveted, striving to earn her place within the group – yearning to be helpful, to have a purpose beyond a simple, bumbling girl longing for strength and guidance. Her eyes flickered over to Arthur as they became the co-defenders, head raising up and up as she noted their height difference, and his sheer, burly stature. She extended her hand, staff in the other, resting against her shoulder, with a wide, vibrant grin stuck upon her lips, as if they were at a party, at a gathering, instead of on their way to hunt down monsters. “Pleased to meet you!”

Thereafter though, she shuffled herself back into silence, following the treads, the footfalls, the patterns in the pathways, lingering amidst the thickets, flanked on the sides by those she knew and trusted. Her attention wasn’t allowed to waver though, not on Fangorn (who wandered at her side, but made no fuss, just stared eerily into the landscape), not on the unknown, not on the reasons why they’d come to destroy the banshee (did she deserve it – this harbinger of death?). She had to pay homage to the surroundings, to the pulsing wave of mad keening suddenly overcoming the group – a command of get yourselves ready following thereafter.

Melita couldn’t fall apart, listening to the woman wail. The sudden reel of sadness was an overbearing nuance, cascading, rippling, through her soul and out her limbs – she stared in the direction of the sobbing, then shook her head, wondering why they had to bother the poor thing at all. Who did she call for? Who had succumbed?

As far as defenses, the ground resembled a quagmire, too soft and shifting to be able to mark a place of fortification and protection. “Should we go a bit further up?” She asked Arthur, a vivid whisper curled from her mouth, frowning slightly as her feet continued meeting mucky earth. “And what should we put out to keep her away? Fire?” Her gaze swept to Emmett’s sticks and saplings, gathered there, amidst torches. They could set them alight, and the banshee might not come near (she wasn’t certain what they were afraid of), leaving them a place of sanctuary and refuge if necessary. Remi’s words were an omen in the back of her mind, an assurance she pressed against her skull, against the torment echoing from beyond.

See I've come to burn your kingdom down

The man acknowledged the same thing that Melita had, knowing the ground wouldn’t do well for any kind of true defense. It could have been made to work if it was absolutely necessary, but if they had a little time, it would be smarter to get to better ground.    He nodded with a short grin at the girl, sweeping his arm for her lead the way. When they found better ground, he would thank Emmett for the sticks he chopped and start creating and adding to the barricade that the young man had begun.    In addition to the barricade itself, torches were stuck into the ground for easy grabbing access and defense of the barricade. Arthur “Do not unsheath me without reason. “Do not wield me without valor.”

Roana was pleased to be put on offense. With three new potential recruits - two on defense, one scouting with Ronin - it was comforting being put in a position that put her in more danger. She knew she could handle herself...those new three were more wild cards. Silently she nodded, acknowledging what Remi said. The former captain drew Krosis, the claymore gleaming brilliantly even in the low light. It was clear this was no ordinary claymore, but something more special - something more akin to what Arthur may have had at one point. Roana stalked the darkness, separating herself from Remi, moving silently in the shadows. The movements of the others might draw this thing out and she and the lion could attack on the surprise. Roana 'Cause it makes me that much stronger Makes me work a little bit harder It makes me that much wiser So thanks for making me a fighter

His team, Ronin would learn, were very capable indeed. It was unfortunate, however, that he would not get to see them in action right away. Whilst they went about their preparations, the ex-captain took himself away into the forest in the vague direction of the crying. The eagle-eyed in the group - and most likely the lion who prowled the outskirts - might notice the silhouette of something ghostly and celestial pass through the trees. It was definitely Ronin shaped and definitely moved like the guildmaster... but it couldn't possible be him, could it? Either way, it weaved through the woodland and was gone, obscured by the trees. A few moments later, the crying stopped. And then a howling scream tore through the forest, shattering the peace of the night. The group would easily make out the celestial version of Ronin, sprinting at full pelt towards the spiky barricade and the ring of torches. Behind it, a bedraggled and skeletal woman lurched in pursuit. Her mouth was agape in a perfect, black O, that howl still ringing out of it, and hands with fingers much longer than fingers should be raked at the air, trying to tear the astral projection to ribbons. The not-Ronin disappeared promptly, just as it reached the barricade, and the battle would begin in earnest. Ronin has baited the banshee to you! Attack, attack! No post order. You have 48 hours to respond! RONIN Darkness is a funny thing. It creeps up on you.

Remi who knew of this little trick of Ronin's mentally grinned. Had he not though, he likely would have lunged for the spectral mimicry of his friend, assuming it was Ludo. Given that he'd seen the magic first hand it didn't fill him with the confusion or fear that it might do to others if they were observant enough to see it. As silently as he could, the lion pursued the banshee and the not-Ronin. If the guild master failed in his efforts to lead her towards the barricade, the creature would find an angry lion hot on her heels. As it was the banshee did indeed follow, and so now Remi focused his efforts on forcing her into the pikes that the others had made. With a roar that while impressive couldn't swamp her own cries, the lion lunged for her back, aiming to rake his claws through her, just as she'd raked her own through Ronin's projection. remi roar

As Ronin left, Emmett did catch a glimpse of the ghostly figure in the trees, but he assumed it to be an animal of some kind and refocused on the task at hand. He adjusted his axe in his hands, knowing that this was the moment of quiet before all hell would break loose.

And so it did, beginning with a screeching coming through the trees, a noise that made him grit his teeth and set a quick fear into his heart.

As soon as he saw the banshee Emmett rushed forward, aiming for the banshee's legs with his axe, kneeling and sliding across the floorr just as he reached her to glide by with the blade, hoping to immobilise the creature and avoid Remi and the rest of the team.

Emmett

It burns too bright
I think about my self a lot 'cause it's the only one I've got
I've earned this life
What have I done to earn this life?

Roana only just noticed the ghost like figure in the darkness, but the lack of light made it difficult to make out. She held her ground though, smirking when she saw the not-Ronin running to the barricade, the banshee following him. Hook, line, and sinker. She saw the lion come running out after it, a flurry of claws and fangs. Emmett followed shortly from the other direction, aiming low. Perfect. The former Captain surged forward then, coming directly from behind, swinging Krosis at the shrieking skeletal woman. Her aim was at her hip, moving diagonally up, careful to keep the blade away from Emmett and Remi. Roana 'Cause it makes me that much stronger Makes me work a little bit harder It makes me that much wiser So thanks for making me a fighter

MELITA

They worked quickly, efficiently, hands swift and keen as they went further up to better ground, to where the murk and bog wasn’t so heavy on footfalls, to where someone could tread and find their defensive measures. Her grasp was on the sticks and digging them into the soil, ensuring each remained lit, replacing them if they became extinguished by time and wind. Some of the burning torches were left aside too, for future weaponry, for the bestial shades, for the destruction of the impending beast.

Melita was too occupied by her tasks to notice Ronin’s form bounding through the woods, but the ear-splitting scream was difficult to ignore. Her head snapped upward and stared into the void, spine involuntarily shuddering as the howl curled and coiled its way through her heart, her soul.

Its form was something else.

The honeybee girl had seen many a monster and demon; some with claws and scales, rummaging through caves and catacombs for their next meal. Some came in the form of paragons or gods, drenched in devious, scrupulous designs, too late for anyone to conquer. Others were ghosts, spells and memories woven from a being’s mind, given life again just to witness the bearer suffer. She wasn’t sure where this shrieking woman would fall – skeletal and tousled, or why they had to bother her at all. Was she destined to send them ill fortune now? Or was it merely to cease the endless shrieking, the foreboding melodies scratching their way down her skull?

She held fast and firm behind their barricades, clenching her jaw, gritting her teeth, pondering what to do next – continuing to add to the sticks, wondering if she should be hurling some of the burning torches at the banshee, but with Remi suddenly there, striking at her, it seemed like it’d only be a recipe for disaster (she had no intention of accidentally snagging him). Roana was in the midst, then Emmett, and she kept her hand on her staff, swinging it towards the banshee should she come close to their fortifications.

See I've come to burn your kingdom down

It was a symphony of clumsiness that brought the banshee down. The celestial Ronin disappeared and the real one came jogging through the woods, torch held aloft, to ready himself at Melita's side. "If it comes for us, we'll try to draw it further back to give the others a chance to attack," he murmured. But the banshee wasn't interested in them. Not at all. It was Roana with Krosis, the blade singing through the shadows, who caught the creature first, the huge sword both slicing and lifting the banshee off her feet with the force of the strike. She screeched long and loud and hard, claws keening for Roana but missing - barely. That's the good news. The bad news was that the force of the blow had lifted her sufficiently enough that Emmett would go gliding right beneath her feet... and right into the outstretched paws of a lion. Roana hit the banshee hard! Another hit like that and it'll be down! Emmett ended up sliding right into Remi's claws and is injured (however badly is up to Emmett). Oh dear. Unfortunately Arthur has had to withdraw from the quest for OOC reasons. No post order! 48 hours to respond. RONIN Darkness is a funny thing. It creeps up on you.

Momentum carried the lion forward just as it carried the banshee upwards. Flying through the air with the force of his attack there was little time for Remi to do much as the farmer appeared suddenly right where the trajectory of his pounce was leading. EMMETT Remi roared into his mind, panic and worry lacing his mental voice. Claws retracting as quickly as he could, Remi shifted just as he felt his outstretched paws collide with Emmett. Where there had been claws and the full force of a lion thundering against Emmett, now there would simply be a startled looking raccoon. Scrambling to the side, Remi rolled, shifting back into his own body and bringing up a wall of earth between himself and Emmett, and the banshee to protect the farmer had Remi's failed attack done serious injury. "Are you alright?" Remi whispered hastily, trying to drag Emmett to him and behind the earthen-wall. remi roar

For a moment, it was all going far too well.

He felt himself slide forward, felt the axe begin to sink into the legs of the banshee...but then he was going to far and for a split second saw his dread as simple blackness as he knew he was going right into Remi's claws.

Emmett felt the burning pain before he saw the redness of blood before his eyes, covering his face. The claw had caught him just on his cheek, running up into the bridge of his nose. He was so convinced he had been hit by a lion (The panic in Remi's mental voice did not help this conception) he felt the wound on his face as a huge gash, put his head in his hands and wailed. After a moment though the stinging was too much and he lifted his face--

to see..
...a raccoon.

Emmett felt the cut on his face. Not a pretty scar for sure, but hardly more than a little scratch when it healed, dealt by the tiny claws of an adorable furry lump. Completely distracted for a moment he blinked at Remi a few times, raising his fingers to the blood on his nose. "...Uh..thanks..." He mumbled, realising what the man had done, then grabbed his axe and wobbily got to his feet (stumbling over the earth wall, which had just been a little too slow), clearing his throat in embarrassment at his overreaction.

Emmett

It burns too bright
I think about my self a lot 'cause it's the only one I've got
I've earned this life
What have I done to earn this life?

MELITA

All Melita could do was watch – and perhaps that was the most agonizing.

She’d chosen her position, due to inexperience, due to wanting to watch others, due to being likely the weakest of the lot; but it was so hard to stand back and witness those she knew being assaulted, trifled with, bombarded against. During the Rift’s bedlam, she hadn’t had any options or choices, the decisions had been impulsive and impetuous, but made to extinguish those who’d dared to harm her family. Was it any different now? She nodded at Ronin’s affirmation but ground her teeth and clenched her jaw, yearning to swing her staff straight into the banshee’s side – only to protect them.

And maybe they didn’t need her at all: Remi was quick and swift in his actions so his claws didn’t slash and lacerate into Emmett. The aforementioned seemed no worse for wear. The barricade still stood. The monster still shrieked from Roana’s blunt force. The torches were lit, the flames billowing, curling and coiling amidst the howls and roars; and so she kept adding, digging her heels in and grabbing hold of more of the stakes, ready to grab hold of her comrades if necessary, eager to do something in the glow of the firelight, in the hollowed junctures of terror and upheaval.

See I've come to burn your kingdom down

There was nothing quite like the feeling of one's blade singing through one's opponent like a hot knife through butter. Roana grinned, pleased to have gotten the banshee so well. Lovely when a plan worked out, really. Of course, she was vaguely aware of the scuffle of the lion and Emmett next to her but she frankly was a bit busy so that would have to wait, eyes trained on the banshee. Roana followed through her swing, moving at near impossible speed. She brought Krosis back around smoothly, slicing at the banshee again, aimed so that she should catch her somewhere in her middle - perhaps even cut her clean in two if her spine didn't get in the way. Roana 'Cause it makes me that much stronger Makes me work a little bit harder It makes me that much wiser So thanks for making me a fighter