The Night, Its Call

[Lion]

"We can go...if we take the right path," Rook said in a low breath.  He had nearly forgotten his let until its throbbing reminded him of its pain.  Crouching low, he crawled around for his things in the dark until he had them successfully gathered.  His blanket was rolled up and put away and canteen firmly tied to his back, after he redressed.  His dagger, now cooled to the touch, was slid back into its sheath on his leg and he threw his quiver over his head.

The rustling in the trees and brush made it more than evident that something was moving closer to their position, though whether it was intentionally making itself known was another matter altogether.  And Rook didn't want to stick around to find out.  When he had his equipment gathered, he looked to Roxanne and motioned her to follow him.

And just as he stepped out of the inlet into the moonlight, the creature unleashed a terrifying growl, that nearly made Rook fall on his ass.  It almost seemed to be laughing at him, drawing closer.  If they were to move, now would be their only opportunity.  "Let's go!" Rook whispered harshly to Roxanne, and limped as fast as he could to the trees beside the inlet.

[Zero]

Roxanne peeked tentatively out of the inlet to keep watch while Rook gathered his things. She still didn't really understand what was going on, or what she'd gotten herself into. If Dirk hadn't come up to this campsite she could have slipped quietly through the trees without ever having to deal with Rook and his "beast" and now she wasn't sure what to expect. People – nothing but trouble.

As soon as his things were gathered up she moved quickly behind him. The thought of simply ditching him to fend for himself did cross her mind. With his leg injury he would slow her down, and he'd said something about the thing possibly hunting him, which logic would dictate meant staying far away from him was a good idea. The second that growl issued, though, that thought was abandoned. If she left him he might get ripped to pieces.

"Do you know where we're going?" She hissed, grabbing his hand and trying to pull him along faster. Roxanne knew where she was going, but did he? Knowing where they were going could be the difference between life and death if this creature was as dangerous as he'd made it sound. "There's a soft downwards slope ahead, it's rocky, but there's a shallow creek at the bottom, we could turn east towards the river or west towards the mountains."

[Lion]

Rook couldn't say he very familiar with the Draconi forest.  It was a long way from home in the Niahi where he was raised and grew up, but that didn't stop him from venturing forth.  Yet when she grabbed his hand and snapped her question at him, he inwardly cursed at not thinking of such a thing ahead of time.  "No," he answered, limping as quickly as he could behind her.  But thankfully she did and he followed her lead as he heard the creature snapping branches and coming for them all that much faster.

"How-how close is town?" Rook whispered harshly to her.  "Wouldn't it be safer there?"  Good gods, they wouldn't even have time to make it, actually if they didn't find some kind of high ground or place to hide.  He had to make a decision, and going to town was currently not in the cards.  "The river.  Head towards the river!"

As they moved towards the downward slope, Rook grunted with effort as his leg throbbed savagely and vengefully as he hopped over the small rocks and loose soil that nearly made him slide downward.

[Zero]

She thought about calling him an idiot when he asked if they could make it to town, but didn't waste her breath. There was no way they could outrun whatever this thing was for that long. The closest little village was miles away, and miles more until Ketra. No, they didn't have that kind of time, especially not with Rook dragging like he was. It was kind of surprising he was doing this well considering how much pain he had to be in.

When he made up his mind to head for the river she led the way, mind trying to work out a plan. They couldn't outrun it forever, but could they make a stand? It would be ironic to end up with their backs to the river and no way out. The nearest fjord was miles from here, but maybe they could swim? The current was strong and swift, treading water would be difficult, and they were as likely to drown as to get pulled downstream fast enough to get away.

Roxanne felt herself pitch forward and let go of Rook's hand as she stumbled and ended up sliding the last couple feet down with a soft splash at the end. The creek was only a few inches deep here and no more than two feet at its deepest. Cursing, and not caring how loudly, she struggled back to her feet. "Ow, bloody hell, keep going. Dirk! Where are you when I need you? You bird-brained brat."

[Lion]

Despite the wound, Rook could keep up well enough on his own.  When at last they made it to the creek, Rook nearly slipped on a stone, but kept his balance on the side of the slope.  He made after Roxanne as he heard the beast  splash down toward the creek several yards from them.  But the darkness congealed here was too think to piece through with his eyes.

All he knew was that his heart beat even faster and it was his turn to reach for Roxanne's arm.  He snatched her by the elbow, skirting around her and moving swiftly through the water, ignoring the massive throbbing in his leg.  "Forget the bird!" he growled.  "No time!"

He half-dragged her as he full bolted onward and made for the river.

[Zero]

It wasn't going well, was it? Roxanne growled in frustration as he pulled at her elbow, but she kept running. She could run fast and for a good distance, but they were losing ground, and fast. She still didn't even know what was after them. Rook seemed terrified, but what was so bad that it warranted this?

"We're on borrowed time anyway. It's gaining on us. What should we do? What can we do?" They had bows, arrows, and blades, everything they needed to kill something. It galled her to think she was running instead of fighting.

The sound of rushing water could be heard ahead of them, and it grew louder with each frantic step. They were probably only a few hundred feet from the water, but she didn't know if that was going to help, or if they would reach the water before they were caught.

[Lion]

Rook didn't know how to answer her question.  In all the time he had hunted the beast, it had never been so close to him like this before.  It frightened him to think that all this time, the creature had toyed with him, that he'd tracked it this far and for this long only to have it turn on him and kill him.  But being as close to the river as they were, Rook was not going to waste a second to stop, not going to waste another moment that they might need to survive.

"Run," he said.  That was all he could say.  And just as they reached the river's edge, the trees becoming scarcer, the creature came into view.  It was ghastly thing to behold, the mynorian as the men of his village called it, and Rook did not dare look back lest he be frozen in fear.

[Zero]

Roxanne ran until they reached the water's edge, where she skidded to a halt, jerking on Rook's arm to try to stop him from going in. The water was cold and deep and swift. What a choice, drown or be mauled. There hadn't really ever been a plan, and she could hear it. Part of her wanted to look back, call it morbid curiosity, another part really didn't want to know.

There was something else she could hear, though. Splintering wood as a tree near the water fell, crashing into the river. Her eyes spotted something brilliant and white. Dirk was pushing the tree with all his might, slowing shoving it into the water. "I hope that thing can't swim. Go, for the love of light, before the current pulls it completely in." She pushed Rook towards their new escape plan.

[Lion]

Rook turned his gaze to the sound of snapping wood and he gave a shuddered breath.  It seemed a sigh of relief, at the prospect that the gryphon might be of some actual use after all, other than haughty glares and sarcastic commentary.  Of course, Rook would be a fool to assume the creature was doing anything to save him, a complete stranger, and it was readily clear that the fallen tree that was taken to the water was meant for the huntress.

It was no matter, Rook didn't have to be told twice when she pushed him to it.  So Rook dashed for the log and splashed through the first few feet of water before throwing himself onto it and wrapping his arms around the trunk of it.  The water was icy and made him gasp for breath, as he held onto the tree for dear life, the current taking them away.

[Zero]

Roxanne was right behind him, splashing through the water before grabbing a limb and pulling herself onto the tree and as much out of the cold water as possible. The bitter coldness of the water had knocked the breath out of her momentarily, but she clung to the tree desperately.

Once the current had the tree and was tugging it downstream Dirk flew up and grabbed a branch, balancing the tree to keep it from rolling in the water and doing his best to push it towards the far bank.

[Lion]

When Rook saw Roxanne clutching onto the log, he instinctively shifted closer to her as he clung to the log with arm and an arm to her around her waist, holding her too him in case she lost her grip.  He gasped for breath, his legs feeling like icicles were piercing him.  With what strength he had, he kicked and tried to assist the grypohon with the task of pushing the trunk toward the opposing bank.

But as they struggled and drifted onward, the current grew increasingly stronger and soon became impossible to fight.  Water rushed all around them and the tree turned and tumbled as they were pulled through the rapids.

[Zero]

Within moments of going into the water the color had drained from her skin, pale blue lips struggled with each jagged breath and her teeth chattered so hard she thought they must be shattering. Roxanne might have thought to push the arm around her waist away, but she didn't dare loosen the grip of even one of her hands.

The gryphon released his grip on the tree with a screech as it turned out of his control, not willing to be dragged into the water. Roxanne lost her grip as her head went under the choppy surface, her limbs flailed as she tried to breach the water to take a gasping breath.

[Lion]

Though Roxanne had lost her grip, thankfully, Rook had not lost his.  But his hands were dangerously close to losing their grip.  The arm around the huntress clung to her tightly just as his head dropped beneath the water.  He tried to pull himself up, the rapids taking them and rolling them over.

He coughed and sputtered water from his mouth.  He lost all sensation in the hand that tried to grip onto the tree and couldn't even feel the bark underneath it.  In his other, he held onto Roxanne, but he could quickly feel the swell pulling him away and his hand slipping.  He had to decide between the trunk and his companion and in that slipt second decision, he let go of the the tree and was pulled after her in the rushing waters.  And soon she and him were plummeting down a waterfall.

[Zero]

If it wasn't for Rook's hold on her, Roxanne might have gone under and not come back up, but she struggled back to the surface, trying at first to get a hold back on the tree, but giving up when her hands refused to grasp the wood, instead trying to hold onto Rook. A few moments later they were both swept away from the tree.

In the dark disorientation quickly washed over Roxanne, not to mention the cold numbed her body and dulled her senses. She did feel them plunge harshly down, though she didn't know how far they fell. Had they reached the waterfall already? It seemed like they couldn't possibly have gone so far. Certainly they would have reached the far bank before that.

The air was knocked from her again as she hit the water for a second time as they reached the bottom of the falls. This time when she tried to gasp for breath she found herself sucking water instead, coughing and choking as she tried to struggle to stay afloat.

[Lion]

She was not the only one that floundered.  Rook did not even have the voice to cry out as they fell and slammed into the water.  Amidst the drop, Rook had lost his hold on her and when he splashed into the water with a violent slam.  A sharp rock tore open his shin and Rook fought to reach the surface.

As he broke it, he twisted around, leg currently numb to the pain, looking for the huntress.  "Roxanne!"  But no reply.  "Roxanne!"  His eyes sought the darkness desperately untl he saw something struggling in the water.  He swan for it, as well as he could in his injury and reached for her.  He ducked low, holding his break beneath the surface and reached for her arm, pulling her up with him when he had her in hand.

The water were less  violent after the falls and the current drifted them toward the nearest bank.  Rook washed up with a cough and sputter and dragged Roxanne along with him.

[Zero]

There were a few moments of pure terror, when Roxanne wasn't sure she would figure out which way was up and which was down in time. She would have mentally cursed herself for ever getting involved with the strange man camping in the forest, or for jumping foolishly into the river, but her mind couldn't even form thoughts coherent enough for that. The only thing she could think of was air, which had eluded her.

Darkness had closed in on her when something grabbed hold of her. She didn't even know who or what had grabbed her, she thought something was dragging her. Was that solid ground? Her limbs were deadened, heavy, she couldn't move them. There had to be sky above her, but she couldn't see the stars, only black blurs and shadows. Sounds were muffled, strange, far away. It occurred to her suddenly that she was on the cusp of consciousness and unable to rouse herself.

[Lion]

Rook ignored his own injuries as he pulled Roxanne from the water.  The water had been freezing and with the night air as cold as it was, ithe icy touch of death would not be far behind.  He worked to undress her from her leathers, working quickly and setting her gear aside.

Rook laid hands on either side of her head and leaned down, pressing his mouth to hers and blowing what air remained in his lungs into hers and promptly started to press on her chest in five second intervals before pressing his mouth on her once more and blowing.

[Zero]

Dirk had landed on the shore as Rook was pulling Roxanne from the water. His feathers and fur were ruffled and he looked tired, but he was making soft crooning noises as he watched, appearing very disgruntled and concerned.

One moment there was nothing, and the next if felt like she'd been kicked in the gut. As Rook breathed into her mouth again Roxanne's body jerked violently. Sitting up she gasped for air before nearly falling over sideways, coughing up some water before collapsing back onto her back, staring up in a bit of a daze and panting for air that seemed to freeze and burn her lungs all at once.

"Ow."

[Lion]

When she sputtered, Rook sat back and gave a breath of relief to  see that she was still alive.  It was his turn to peel the tunic from his torso,  shivering harshly.  "Are...are you all right?" he breathed. His gear and blanket was practically useless, everything completely soaked with water.  Moving over, he gathered her things after strapping her bow and quiver over his shoulder along with his own and knelt beside her.

"We have to get some place dry. Make a fire somehow," Rook panted, reaching for her hand to help her up  or carry her if she could not stand. "Dirk, get her gear.  Please!" Rook glanced at the bird for the statement was a command, not a question.

[Zero]

Roxanne blinked her eyes several times, clearing her vision and catching her breath. Was she all right? She almost laughed, but the sound choked in her throat. "Never better." She finally managed to say, though she felt far from fine. Aside from the violent shivers, something felt off. As he gathered up their things she realized what it was.

When he knelt beside her she sat up, looking down at herself. Getting out of wet clothes was logical, of course. Hypothermia was a real problem. Still, he had undressed her while she was unconscious? If she wasn't so cold she'd probably be furious.

"A fire." She murmured numbly. Yes, they would need a fire, and blankets would be helpful, preferably furs. Shaking herself she used him to help herself climb to her feet. If she was self-conscious about being naked, she didn't show it. "We're near the waterfall? We should head that way." She gestured a little further down river and into the woods. "We're not far, maybe a mile or two."

Far from what, she didn't say.