Aestival and Hiemal danced in Rufus's hands, clashing against the steal of the two Cats he now faced. Thrust, parry, dodge, swing, spin, Rufus's movements looked like a dance as well. Hansel had let down the wind barrier as swords were met, and now he and Derek stood near the Lady Swinden. Hansel threw out magic projectiles and deflected hostile spells from an enemy caster as best he could, luckily any spells hurled from Rufus's direction were dispelled as they came near to him. Derek used his crossbow to make calculated shots at the enemies around them, slowing the approach of nearing enemies that were emerging from the trees. Swab was with them too, sword in hand. He stood ready to protect Dylanna, should any of the cats get through the other men.
There was no grace to the movements of Chuck. Where Rufus danced, Chuck was more like a wind storm, whipping this way and that. Axe in one hand, hammer in the other, he chopped and smashed every Mountain Cat that was foolish enough to approach him. Zahi had chosen him because of his fearsome ability with any weapon, and he displayed that now. When his axe got stuck in the skull of a fallen enemy, he wasted no time trying to retrieve it, but instead drew a large sword that would have taken most men two hands to hold. As a Cat ran past, out of his reach toward Rufus's back, Chuck threw his hammer at the man. It took him in the head, lifting him off the ground and sending him flying into another man that was also headed for the Red Wolf.
Canis Rufus, the Red Wolf, noticed this in his peripheral vision, and used the distraction to his advantage. He put Aestival into one of his opponents chests with a fearsome thrust and released his grip on the blade. He rolled to avoid the swing of the mans partner and used his now free hand to throw a fan of daggers into the men Chuck had felled, as well as a few other approaching Cats. His selection of Wolves had been partially dependent upon skill as mariners, but they were fairing exceptionally well in combat as well. None had fallen, and the Cats were nearly routed, but that couldn't last as out numbered as they were.
Brint and Meekus were laughing as they spun around each other taunting the Cats and cutting them down in droves. The two had been pirating together for years and they moved as one, knowing instinctively how to react to the movements of the other. Chuck and Rufus were laying waste to the enemy, each a solitary stone in a sea of Cats, but Brint and Meekus moved through them like light cutting through the darkness. The focus of the enemy soon changed from trying to reach Rufus to targeting what appeared to be a greater threat. Several of the Cats took aim with crossbows and fired upon the duo. Hansel knocked away the crossbow bolts and as the Cats reloaded, he threw lightning at them. It crackled along his fingers and jumped out at the men in a line, linking them like a chain. As it struck through them, it split away from one of the men, not touching him. Crossbow loaded, the Cat let fly his attack just as the Mountain Cats wizard threw an attack of his own at Hansel. Deflecting the magical spear of ice was not too difficult for Hansel, but it robbed him of valuable time and he was unable to blow away the crossbow bolt as it flew at the twirling pair of swashbucklers.
A twist of his wrist and a snap of his elbow made for a fearsome lunge, and Brint put his slender blade through the throat of yet another Cat. The ground was beginning to run thick with blood and he had to be careful not to slip as he skipped about the battlefield. What the Cats lacked in skill, and brains, they more than made up for with numbers. Meekus was laughing with each swing of his sword, clearly having as much fun as Brint. But they couldn't keep this up forever. They battled fiercely with wild abandon, it had been ages since they were in such a mad dance for survival, and it was thrilling. As a wave of crossbow bolts flew at them they felt a spike of adrenaline and looked at each other, thinking this the end, but a powerful gust of wind saved them, and lightning crackled through the enemy ranks, laying waste to the archers. Brint and Meekus let out a simultaneous hoot of excitement and started back up with renewed fervor, twirling about and giggling like children. They'd have to buy Hansel a few rounds when this was all over. The two pirates eyes met in childish glee but the look of joy melted from Brint's face as he saw the bolt coming through the air. He moved to push his friend, but was too late. The shaft took Meekus in the throat and his happy expression was replaced with one of pain and fear. Brint was frozen in time, the moment before his friend crumpled to the ground lasting a lifetime. Laughs turned to a roar of rage, and Brint was like a man possessed, chopping into the Cats as they came his way. Gone was the grace of his spinning, twirling dance, replaced with powerful chops and thrusts, no longer avoiding the blades of his enemies. He took many hits, the swords and knives cutting into his flesh, his blood running free. As his hand was coated in his own blood, his grip grew slick, the loss of blood making him weak. He thrust the scimitar into another cats chest, but lacked the strength to retrieve it as the man fell. Without a sword of his own, he balled his fist and tried to punch the nearest brigand. He was no longer a threat and the Mountain Cat easily moved aside, plunging his long knife deep in Brint's back. He fell to the ground, the last of his blood spilling into the earth, his eyes trained on the still form of Meekus as he slipped into deaths embrace.
Rufus saw the lightning Hansel threw bend around the now lone archer. There were few magical items that would do that, and there was one in particular he was searching for. Rufus scrutinized the archer as best he could from where he was fighting. The man definitely had a sickle hanging at his hip, it couldn't be a coincidence. He had the Autumn blade Carpere.
"Chuck!" Rufus yelled to the large man, and when the Blood Wolf looked his way, he pointed to the archer. Chuck nodded his understanding and headed toward his target, holding his large sword in two hands, hewing anyone who got in his path.
