On thin ice (Gaunt)

[Anadwen]

The silent steps of two solitary travelers. Wind, ruffling the thick fur, lining their capes. Snow, crunching under their heavy boots was all that could be heard, along with their breaths, creating clouds of mist before their faces.

Anoriel sighed. "Athran, please, stop... I can't continue..." she pleaded him. They have been going for a day already, and she needed a break. Athran, however, only shook his head, peering at the frozen fields of ice on the surface of the sea. "We can't stop. We must continue. There's not enough food and nothing to hunt anywhere near. We have to go on... Come on. I'll take your bag." he replied, and reached out to take the bundle of things at her back.

The elf-maiden shook her head. "No. I only need a short while... Don't worry... Don't take the bag. I can carry it." trying to catch her breath, she bent above her knees. Athran let out a worried sigh. They had to reach Hyoite fast, or they would risk getting lost in the tundra and freezing to death, without food.

Athran pulled the scarf, covering his face from the cold wind, higher, to cover all of his face. He could walk for many miles, but his sister wasn't used to the cold weather of the tundra.

Suddenly, a sound of a loud crack echoed in the air. Both elves immediately turned back, to see thin cracks opening in the frozen earth. Athran's eyes widened with surprise and horror. They were on solid ground... This wasn't natural. He grabbed Anoriel's shoulder.

"Something is happening. There's a big hole in the ground..." he muttered. She only nodded, terrified. They both reached for their weapons...

[Brisinger987]

The portal had opened about 20 feet under ground, but the fresh strength of this Hakri was enough to rip the ice asunder. As the cracking and creaking of huge amounts of ice moving and shifting as the monstrous form struggled against the solid ice.

Then, a huge thunderous crack resounded as the creature broke a hole in the ice.

Then came the roar.

The creature burst forth from the ice, using it's psychic charge to launch itself onto solid ground, roaring at the two elves. The huge scythe-like talons protruding from it's wrist joints raring to rip into the elves.

The Hive Mind decided to speak briefly.

"Identify yourselves, as a species."

[Anadwen]

Anoriel screamed at the sight of the creature, tightly holding onto Athran's arm. "What is it? Athran, what is it?" she shouted. He didn't move a finger, utterly shocked by the Hakri's sudden appearance, and stared at it. He had no idea what it might be...

...But the Black Sword was out of its sheath and ready just a moment later. Anoriel also let go off him, grabbing her bow and preparing to launch an arrow off the bowstring, tied onto the elegant shape, carved from wood.

"Dammn the gods, and damn them a hundred times. I don't know what is it, but it sure as hell isn't friendly." Athran whispered. He turned towards the creature. "What do you want off us?" he shouted. "We're just passing through!" His sister pulled his cape and shook her head. Bad idea! It most likely didn't even know how to speak...

It didn't matter. They were ready to attack.

[Brisinger987]

"Did you not hear us? Identify your species. Now." The Hakri stepped forward with one foot, the loud thud of it's heavy body landing causing the ice and ground to shake. The Hakri's mouth wasn't moving, but the voice of the Hive Mind projected from it.

It snarled and growled as it waited for a response, flicking it's tongue.

It's long talons were blood red, and it seemed to have no concept of camouflage or any other natural defence. As if it were the perfect predator. It's long talons reached the ground, and the muscles on the creature tensed as it waited to hear their reply.

[Anadwen]

"Elves. From Adela." Athran cried out. Anoriel stepped from behind his back, where she was hiding until now, clutching his black cape. The shock has passed and she was ready to fight. After all, she was with Athran... They couldn't be defeated so easily.

She saw his bag slipping from his shoulders. He made a step forth, gripping the sword with his hands, ready to charge at the slightest sign of threat, and they both waited for the monster to reply... It was huge and terrifying... And yet, he didn't even appear to be afraid.

[Brisinger987]

"You are Elves.... Of Adela... Interesting. No matter. This Hakri is hungry. FEED!" The creature roared again, and slashed wildly at Athran and Anoriel, ripping huge chunks of ice out the floor in it's feeding frenzy.

[Anadwen]

Athran indeed din't wait. He leaped into the air, running towards the beast, and the blade of the Black Sword glinted in his hands as he raised it up. Anoriel followed him, slowly aiming her bow at the monster, and searching for any weakness.

The knight didn't attack it straight away, instead avoided its slashing claws and holes in the ground to find himself behind its back. From there... It was more vulnerable.

"Anoriel, shoot!" he screamed. His sister let go off the arrow, aimed at the beast's eyes. And Athran threw himself up, jumping at the creature's back.

[Brisinger987]

The creature roared as the arrow went through both eyes, but it kept moving, just going into a worse frenzy, before calming briefly, tuning it's other senses. It tuned it's hearing and smell, and sonar sense, able to hear Anoriel's heartbeat. It couldn't hear Athran, as it's back was a blind spot.

It turned to Anoriel, snarling as it stomped towards her, slashing wildly, able to follow her through echolocation.

[Anadwen]

Athran climbed its back up until he reached the neck. The soft spots were by the sides, big enough for him to bend and reach them with the sword... He would risk being shaken off, but if he would be quick enough, nothing like that would happen.

Despite the shaking body of the monster, he aimed his sword at the soft spot, watching over Anoriel with one eye. She was running from the claws, still clutching her bow, but didn't turn back. "Shoot here!" he shouted, and plunged down for the stab.

[Brisinger987]

The creature made a wide sweeping arc with it's claws, still following Anoriel with it's head, and the place Athran was aiming for tensed, the sword bouncing straight off the heavily armoured monstrosity. The arrow landed, but this time it just fell away from the would, the head instantly dissolving in the acidic blood.

The creature roared again, and it suddenly stopped it's frenzy, making a wretching sound. Then it turned to Anoriel, and a fell shriek filled the air, and the creature reared to full height suddenly, before throwing it's head forward, launching a huge, searing ball of cyan fire at Anoriel.

[Anadwen]

Anoriel ran as fast as the wind, avoiding the monster, while she led it onto the thinner ice, further towards the sea. Athran still kept on its neck, poking it to turn to the direction in which they wanted to lead it. More arrows were launched from Anoriel's bow, and almost all reached their target, but most simply bounced off the beasts's armour.

The sudden movement upon releasing the blazing fire surprised both of them, but while Anoriel just ran further, Athran was shaken off as the creature threw its head forth. His body sled down the monster's back and fell onto the ground. Despite the big fall, Athran kept his conscience, and landed on his bent legs, ready to spring from the ground and keep chasing the creature.

In a clever maneuver, they exchanged places with Anoriel, and he found himself right before the beast's slashing claws, while his sister took his spot behind. If they would guide it onto the thin ice, it would collapse under its weight...

[Brisinger987]

The fire landed on the ice, and a small explosion sprayed fire everywhere. The smell of foul bile and acid filled the air as the flames continued to burn, despite the cold of the environment.

Then when it clocked Athran in front of it, it's body began to glow as it's psychic boost came into play, sending it into complete overdrive mode, the creature roaring yet again and making accurate, very powerful, fast slashes at Athran, the Hive Mind's will dominating the creature's instincts.

"Feeeeeed.... Hunger...." The creature then bent it's legs, and somehow managed to make itself jump into the air, impossibly high, showing off it's psychic charge.

It was aiming to land on Athran.

[Anadwen]

Athran had to control himself truly exceptionally to keep running as the monster leaped up into the cold air. It was huge, and its shadow fell straight onto him... There was no doubt it will land on his body if he doesn't avoid it quickly. His feet were moving as fast as the wind itself, brushing on the snow and ice.

He ran aside to lead it further onto the grinding ice, floating in the clod sea, looking over his shoulder. Anoriel appeared to be far behind, following it behind the back. It was on him - there was no help from anyone.

The huntress slowed down, rushing through the burning piles of acid, following the terrifying creature from behind. It was hopeless to shoot arrows - the thick carapace reflected all of them. She could only hope that her brother will act quickly, and not get crushed by the beast's body.

[Brisinger987]

The creature landed, throwing huge chunks of ice into the air, and letting out snow, crushed ice dust and hail from the huge crater it created. By then, Athran had covered a distance that left him just barely in the Hakri's range of sense.

It slowly plodded towards Athran, the thunderous sound of it's huge hooves hitting the ice closing on each other, and soon, the creature was actually running, much faster than an elf or even horse could run, charging Athran with it's menacing bulky form, not hearing the ice creaking underneath it in it's blind rage.

[Anadwen]

Cracks opened beneath Athran's feet, and he had real trouble jumping over all of them. His plan was working - his only concern was not to fall into the water and drown alongside the beast. Anoriel shouted something from behind him, but she was too far from him to hear her words.

Another great hole opened in the ice. Athran's feet slipped on the shards as he landed in front of it, and he collapsed onto the ground. It was a hard fall, but he stood up anyway, running onto thinner and thinner ice with every step.

Soon, it will be over.

[Brisinger987]

The creature, mid charge, seemed to start flickering, vibrating as the psychic charge started to work on it's fast moving body. This time it flung itself not upwards, but forwards, towards Athran.

It had nearly caught it's prey.

[Anadwen]

The beast begun to move strangely - just as before the first jump. Athran quickly figured out it was meaning to spring into the air once again... He wasn't mistaken. It leaped towards him, too quickly for him to run forth in an attempt to escape. There was yet one way to run, though.

He turned on his heel and ran back. Through the beast's shadow, he flashed like a lightning, sprinting through holes in the ground and leaping over cracks in the ground. He could run away towards Anoriel... Then return and melt the ice beneath the beast.

[Brisinger987]

The beast landed on the ice with a thundering boom as ice was wrenched from it's place and flung into the air, huge chunks of ice raining down like meteors. But then it screeched, and although it looked like it was in a crater, in truth, it was drowning. The ice beneath it had given way to a small thin patch, where the beast was now condemned to it's death.

The roars and screams of rage as it tried to claw it's way out of the huge hole in the ice all in vain. After about 30 seconds, the beast was no more.

[Anadwen]

The ice cracked loudly, forming a huge crack beneath the monster. Its chunks were literally thrown into the air and left to fall down like a rain of ice. Athran ran as fast as he could, but the shards and turning icebergs beneath his feet were slowing him down, and he was tripping on them. Anoriel shouted something at him, but he couldn't hear her words through the roaring beast and crashing ice.

Something broke under his boots, but he payed no notice to it, only kept running before the cracks catch up with him, racing towards the shore, where ice was replaced by solid ground. His sister waved at him, gesturing him to hurry up. The breaking ice was behind his heels...

A great part of it broke off. It shook a little, shifted aside, and Athran couldn't keep his balance on the slippery ice. The soles of his shoes weren't fit for this... His feet slipped and he could only realize that he's falling sideways. He hit the ice with his head, and the world went black in a matter of a moment.

Anoriel ran to him, jumping from one chunk of ice to another. She saw him fall down on the ice, and then he didn't move... He was on a solid piece of ice, and not too far from the shore, but he didn't move. What was wrong?

[Brisinger987]

Suddenly a portal opened, letting out a foul smelling gas, and 30 odd Fenresk came out of it. The beasts clocked Anoriel, and began an agile charge at Anoriel.

The beasts were seconds away when Halford seemed to appear behind the horde, calling to them to distract them. He took out his swords, and skilfully began to kill the creatures.