Exiles

[Cynical Cat]

The woman raised her foot, hesitated. Then she took a step forward. And another. She walked rapidly towards the dog.

[LadyTevar]

Fluffy remained where she was, but now the tail-wagging wasn't feigned. The canine grin widened, welcoming the woman closer.

Of course, if the woman did attack, Fluffy could shapeshift instantly. But for the moment, HappyDoggieHappyDoggie! WillyoubemyFRIEND!?

[Hotfoot]

Another is near.

He's not that nice though, not like him.

Not as fun.

Not as good a listener.

He still hears, he just doesn't understand.

Shhh...more are here.

Faun wandered around with an aura of focus he didn't fully understand. It was like he was looking for something, but he didn't know what it was. Finally, he came upon the woman, the wizard, and the wolf. Something twisted in his gut and his head felt light. Around him a cool breeze whipped through the park, rustling the leaves. He shook off the feeling, and as soon as it left him, the wind died down. He looked at the woman and the dog, tilting his head slightly.

"Hey there. A little late for walkies, isn't it?" He flashed a charismatic smile, letting his charm take over for the nervous feeling that was creeping up the back of his spine. Almost every instinct was telling him to run, but something kept him here, something he couldn't explain.

[Cynical Cat]

The woman started at Faun's words. She glanced over her shoulder. "Please," she said. "They are coming."

[LadyTevar]

The woman started at Faun's words. She glanced over her shoulder. "Please," she said. "They are coming."

The woman's words made Fluffy sit up, her neck ruff rising in response. She spoke to the man who'd joined them, not to Fluffy or the 'fool' who'd followed Fluffy from the Black Goat.

The woman smelled of fear. Whatever was behind her, she was fleeing it. Was the woman the one that the Prince of Coins wants? "whinewhinewhine"

[Hotfoot]

Faun blinked as his comment had been shrugged off, and the cool breeze became a chill wind as the weight behind woman's words struck home. "Wait, who's coming? What's going on? Should I call the police?" Even as he said it, he knew something was wrong with his words, something was wrong with the situation, but he couldn't think of what. His head started to hurt, a dull ache that had been bothering him recently.

What is coming?

Let's find out

The wind blew through the park, searching for any thing that could be a clue of what pursued this woman. Meanwhile, Faun looked at the strange man nearby, tilting his head slightly. "Do you know what's going on?"

[Cynical Cat]

Shadow spilled over the fae and otherworldly humans and then receeded, leaving them someplace . . . . different. A shard of Faerie now touched the world called Earth and then had been taken into it. Overhead a moon rose full and massive, dominating an alien sky.

They found themselves on bramble lined paths in a forest of dark and twisted trees. Phospherescent mushrooms glowed softly on the park small creatures scampered through the underbrush. Wolves howled close, very close. Something ahead of them easily forced its way through the brambles. A chill wind whipped autumn leaves into the air and a hunter's horn sounded.

"Too late," said the woman.

[LadyTevar]

Fluffy growled, low and deep in her throat, still planted protectively between the woman and whatever came with the wolves. The howls were strangers, yet even then she thought to answer simply because they were also like her. The howl burned in her throat, to cry out she was here, this was her land, her prey; yet there was two of them, and one of her.

Fae smells surrounded her, dark odors, dangerous scents. They all needed to escape, back to the Earth World. A quick glance around... only the maiden, and the two men who'd followed her ... Where was MetalMaw?! BOSS! Where Are You?!

No answer. Could he be still on the Earth side of the Rift?

Growling, her body low to the ground, she backed towards the woman until she was touching her, trying to gently push her closer to the two men. Get them in a group, better protection, watch each other's backs ... and pray that the two men actually knew how to defend themselves.

[Comrade Tortoise]

"macwe was not pleased with this situation, and yet he was. He had no idea what had just happened, but here he was, in a place that was not earth. The first part distressed him, the second excited him

"Finally something to do..." he muttered as the pseudodog gently pushed this strange woman back toward them, he got the point. She was in need of protection and seemed to have an idea what was going on after she said "to late" He took a position to her flank. Put his forearms out parallel in front of him, his upper arms flat against his sides, upturned his palms, and muttered a single word. Then snapped his fingers. Fire was called forth to his hands, ready to be shaped in what ever way he desired.

He looked down at the dog

"If you have tricks up your sleeve, which I suspect you do, use them"

[LadyTevar]

Backing up, planting herself at the head of the little protective triangle she was hoping to form around the woman, Fluffy glanced around once more for MetalMaw. When Fae and Earth touched, sometimes ... sometimes people were lost.

Another set of howls from the hunters was all that kept Fluffy from starting to whimper. MetalMaw had taught her many things, but the one that rose to her mind now was 'always survive to collect your fee'. Time to survive.

With only a thought, she started growing, doubling her size and weight, growing from wolf into that ancient beast called the DireWolf. Her head snapped to either side, the 'goodsillypuppy' look gone from her eyes as she gazed at the two men who -had- come through the fog with her. The 'fool' from the BlackGoat had summoned fire -- a wizard then, it seemed. The other, smelling of faerie when the wind was not whipping his scent away, only looked confused. MetalMaw wasn't there to take charge. She had no choice, she had to speak.
Four Wolves, a mounted Hunter behind them. The feminine voice somehow whispered into their ears despite having no human lips to speak. The Hunter wants HER. It was clear the now dangerous-looking Fluffy spoke of the frightened maiden amongst them. Fighting is possible -- Finding the way Back is better. Are ye with me?

[Cynical Cat]

Four massive, dark furred wolves loped down the path towards them. Green fire blazed in their eyes. They stopped, growling, and then raised their heads and howled. The leader charged and the others followed suit.

[LadyTevar]

Fluffy didn't bother to howl back, simply snarling her challenge before giving a short leap to meet the pack leader head on. Her larger body would give her the advantage here, and the DireWolf's jaws were as powerful as a modern hyena, able to snap the largest bones. She plowed into him, to turn him so she could better bite into his neck or back.

Beat the Leader, Beat the Pack.

[Comrade Tortoise]

The wizard nodded right before the Dire Wolf leapt at the wolf pack leader. Then he spoke several words, and a protective ring of blue fire errupted from the ground and encircled him, the woman and the confused looking man. Another word and he could see through the flames.

[Cynical Cat]

Fluffy was slightly larger than the lead wolf. They collided with bruising force, tearing and biting at each other. Both wolves drew blood and with brute strength Fluffy smashed the leader down. The other wolves closed on her flanks, biting and snapping at her.

[Hotfoot]

Faun's eyes snapped open wide in a mixture of wonder, fear, and confusion. Shadows overtook him and the wind whipped around him violently, screaming warnings into his ears.

Warnings he heard.

His body acted as though under someone else's control, leaving him watching as the events unfolded. He reached out for the woman, wrapping his thin arms around her, whispering something that didn't sound at all like English. A soft, melodic string of words that seemed to linger on the air.

"Please, protect us."

Wind whipped around the two bodies, gathering in force until the two of them were surrounded with strong gusts of wind on all sides. Around him, voices soared.

He remembers!
Hooray!
Where are we? Are we home?
Oh we thought we'd never go home again!
Is it still dangerous?
Yes!
Look out!
Hurry, protect Him!

Faun couldn't explain why, during all of this, he felt like crying.

[LadyTevar]

Fire behind her, now a windstorm, yet to the giant wolf called Fluffy it was merely noticed in the back of her mind. The Pack Leader was down but not dead; his lessers were biting at her flanks to try to draw her away, make her leave him alone.

Fluffy refused to be distracted, continuing her assault on the Pack Leader. She'd won the first encounter merely by her size as a DireWolf, she had to keep the momentum going or she'd lose for sure. While he was down she lunged, once again hoping for the chance to break his back or rip out his neck and end the fight quickly.

[SirNitram]

The mists parted, reluctantly. In this strange place, it could be believed they didn't want to let what was in them in. The creature was a thing of nightmares; scarred, built, and armed with more weapons than anyone had a right to. The world even tried to snuff out the sound, unfamiliar, unwelcome, wrong, as the revolver discharged.

"Hey Fluffy. Sorry for the delay." Pure diamond dazzled when his mouth opened. The Redcap known as Metalmaw entered the fray, blasting another round, this time aimed at one of the wolves trying to flank his adopted 'daughter', his aim perternaturally good.

[Cynical Cat]

One of the wolves started and staggered as MetalMaw's bullets slammed into it. Blood seeped from the wounds as it shifted to a larger, humanoid form. As it did so, another wolf seized Fluffy's right foreleg with his jaws, slowing her lunge. The pack leader slammed his shoulder into her, knocking her back. He rose up on his hindlegs, his form shifting and expanding into an eight foot tall lupine humanoid. He howled, his arms held bent, ready to rake her with deadly claws. Behind him bushes and trees shook with the impact of heavy footfalls.

[Comrade Tortoise]

In soft tones Mace spoke, tracing a pattern in the air in front of him with flaming hands. The fire from his wall fed the effect he created, motes of fire sprang forth from the wall and struck at the wolves biting at Fluffy's flanks, an especially large one aimed at the howling one.

[Hotfoot]

What's coming?
Do we know it?
Should we say hello?
Ask it for help?
What if it wants to hurt us?
What if it wants to hurt Him?

Faun's breathing was heavy, his clothes whipped against him in the strong winds that engulfed him and the woman. While the wind protected him and went to find out more, he looked around, trying to make sense of this. This couldn't be happening, this was impossible. Wolves growing and fighting and flames and guns and the sky and what was talking to him and how did he talk back? He held on to the woman and let his voice slip through to her ears.

"I don't know what to do..."

He looked at the...dog...the one that had defended them, and shook his head. The dog was outnumbered, it was bleeding. The fire raged around them, fed by the furious winds. He could feel the searing pain, hear screams as the air was consumed in furious gasps. He couldn't ask...

You don't have to, sweet one.
Having you back, you don't know what it means.
We will do anything to save you.
And your friends.

"But..."

Shhh...we will be fine.
Just promise to keep listening to us.
Promise to let us run through your hair more.
Promise to talk.

"I promise."

The wind wrapped itself around Mace's jets of fire, helping to amplify and guide them to their targets, and to hit the wolves with as much force as possible before lighting them ablaze. The screams of pain mingled with shouts of joy in Faun's ears, causing him to clutch the woman tighter with his frail form.

[Cynical Cat]

The three werewolves jumped back, yelping in pain. They rolled around in the grass to extinguish the flames and end their agony. The pack leader snarled. "You'll pay dearly for that," he growled.

A great horned head peered forward as the elephantine drake pushed its way through the thorns and into the clearing. It was a monstrous beast, easily nine feet tall at the shoulder and thirty feet long. Its scales were a dark purple, almost black. Upon the drake's back was a saddle of leather and bronze, loaded with weapons. Upon the saddle rode a huntsman, shadow dancing around him like a cloak flapping in the wind.

He wore leather trousers armoured with strips of bronze. Black fur covered his naked chest, arms, and head. Fangs gleamed in his mouth a a pair of ram's horns crowned his head. Each finger was tipped in a claw and in his right hand he held a ten foot lance with a two foot long steel heard. A horn was slung across his back. "The chase is over, my lady," he growled.

[SirNitram]

"Looks like I might need to try for you, buddy boy." Metalmaw grinned horribly, as he holstered his revolver, watching the mounted fae. Brass knuckles, their striking edge honed to a blade, were donned. "You always find the best fights, Fluffy." He called to the wolf, as he moved to stand between the new arrival and the whirling defenses around the strange woman.

"You gonna come down here, or do I get a two for one this fight?"

[LadyTevar]

The three werewolves jumped back, yelping in pain. They rolled around in the grass to extinguish the flames and end their agony. The pack leader snarled. "You'll pay dearly for that," he growled.

In a fight, its' good to keep an eye out around you. It can keep you alive. However, in a fight, it's bad to let what's going on around you distract you from the female wolf whose jaws are level with your crotch.

With the other wolves also distracted all Fluffy had to do was lunge forward and snap her jaws. It was a move she'd used before on other bounties, mostly just to stun them. She'd found the meat quite tasty.

[Cynical Cat]

Fluffy made her lunge. The pack leader snarled and struck, his claws tearing across the right side of her head, almost ripping out her eye, and smashing her to the head. "Bitches," he roared. "So predictable." He shifted back to wolf form, snapping for her throat.

[Comrade Tortoise]

Mace once again parted his lips, He stretched out his fire-coated hands and from them sprang two beams if white hot fire, focused and heated by winds he commanded into existence around them, striking at the large werewolf, hoping to burn him to ashed before he struck.