Thursday, August 17, 2017

Iagothal: A New Menace (2/4)

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[ 95] Nymaya: Iagothal: A New Menace (2/4)
Tue Feb 24 01:48:30 2015
To: All Verminasia Reklah Ashtiel
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With the barest pressure of her heels against the gelding's flanks, the horse nudged forward and they began to follow a barren game trail that ran parallel to the creature's path. 

Over the sound of the horse picking its way through the brush she listened, casting her senses out.  The darkness was more complete beneath the trees but she could still sense it moving, its bulk and strangeness impossible for her not to notice.  Occasional splashes and droplets of blood dotted the ground, drawing her gaze unerringly.  She was certain anyone could have followed its sloppy and destructive trail. 

She heeded every warning the horse lent along the way but in the long hour that passed, nothing attacked and the trail changed disturbingly.  The broken trees and limbs disappeared upward, drawing her gaze to the sky.  It could...fly?  A wry quirk of her lips belied annoyance with this newest occurrence.  She didn't slow in its wake though, still drawn on by the blood trail and the stench - she didn't carry a bow and quiver full of arrows for the cosmetic appeal.

Rapidly going over new tactics, the edge of the forest rose up ahead.  The gelding didn't need to be stopped, it paused of its own accord just past the break and stomped at the ground with a snort of warning.  They'd caught up with it. 

The urge to dismount settled on her but even as muscles tightened toward that motion, she stopped cold - heeding a gut instinct.  A sound buzzed by her ear.  Insect?  The season was entirely wrong for insects.  Alarms began to sound within as a veritable swarm of flies engulfed them, biting flesh wherever it was bared.  The horse swiveled its ears and flicked its tail, snorting and shaking its head as it grew more annoyed by the second.  Ignoring the flies, she slipped down from the saddle deftly and made a cautious trek further into the clearing.  An icy lake lay lower along the countryside and in the far distance the shadow of mountains arose into the starry night sky.  It was while she gazed toward those majestic peaks that a dark blot caught her attention.  It weaved through the sky, blackening the stars.  Its shape reminded her eerily of the lesser demons she had seen from afar, even down to the flexing of its massive wingspan. 

Disturbed by its appearance and somewhat concerned that it might, in fact, be a legitimate demon she hesitated in her reach for the strung bow at her shoulder, drawn instead to watch the creature.  She was, thus, not taken by surprise when she realized that its shape was falling fast - directly toward her.  It had drawn its wings in and was diving through the frigid air, outstretched claws reaching forward. 

(cont.)

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