Post by dom on Dec 5, 2009 16:51:33 GMT -5
Calculations ran through his mind at lightening speed as booted feet carried him lightly over the stone floor of the long cavern he was currently running through. The long cave was dark, the lack of light serving to aid the Klaviss Angel as he went, his gaze remaining straight forward as he silently ran. His hood had long ago fallen away from his head, his long mane of hair billowing out behind him as he went, the cascading lockes whipping in the air as he rounded a corner at break neck speeds. But what was it that had Saeren-Nin running in the opposite direction so quickly? What was it that had the legendary assassin fleeing?
It was just then that a howl split the silence of the cavern, the long and ominous note ringing throughout the hollowed cave. And along with that howl came the chatter and snarls of more Outsiders. A small pack.
And they all were after him.
Pressing himself tightly against a cavern wall, the dark clothing of the Angel causing him to seamlessly blend in with the darkness, he watched. However, his hiding place carried with it a second advantage, that of a waterfall above pouring down on him. The rushing water masked his scent, rendering the Hunters at a disadvantage. As he watched those almond shaped eyes slowly narrowed, looking out upon the group of six as they made their way through the cavern slowly, noses twitching as they tested the air hunting.
Hunting him.
Cold and merciless eyes watched as the group inched closer and closer, none of them able to get a trace of his scent; the freezing water that poured down from above coating the assassin hid him as well as he could have hoped. Grunting and chattering in whatever language that monstrosities spoke, Saeren watched as they parted, each moving out to comb the cave; searching out their lost Angel.
As they broke rank and split into individual teams Saeren let a smile grace those lips of his that remained hidden beneath the thick scarf; they were playing as well as he could have hoped. Watching as the smallest of the group approached too close to the waterfall, Saeren watched with the eyes of a predator, his prey edging closer and closer with every passing second.
And this was the worst part, the seconds before the kill. Watching waiting, preparing. If he went too early he would miss his chance for a sure kill and a quiet one at that, if he went too late the thing might catch onto him and end his game of cat and mouse before it had even started. No, timing was everything. So there he stood, eyes unblinking as the freezing water rolled over his frame, his mind erecting a mental block to the chill that was settling in over his body. To him all that was real was this monstrous creation and himself. All that mattered was ripping the soul from this being. All that mattered was the kill.
And then it happened, just as the Beast was raising it's snout to the waterfall and taking in a whiff.
Crunch.
Erupting from the waterfall in a wave of fury and anger, the assassin ripped the dagger from the side of the creatures snout, the beast trying to let out a snarl, however, the moment it's mouth opened to emit such a noise, Saeren-Nin had driven the blade inside the opened maw and through the back of it's throat, the blade tearing through the spinal cord and killing the beast instantly. Pulling the weapon from the Outsider's mouth, the blade coming loose with a twisted sucking sound, the Angel slid the weapon back into it's sheath at his side, those almond eyes scanning the darkness to ensure none of the others had heard him.
However, as he scoped out the playing field, Saeren saw the largest of the small hunting party, the Howler from before. The Beast stood a good forty feet away, it's hungry eyes starring down the angelic assassin. Looking back at the Howler, Saeren let his left hand slide up to his shoulder, undoing both the clasps there causing the cloak to fall to the ground. His movements where slow, precise, he wasn't going to risk setting the Howler off before he was ready. Oh no, he wouldn't do that. You didn't survive in the kind of field he worked in for as long as he had by being stupid. Then in a single motion of practiced perfection he tore the scimitar from it's sheath at his back, the blade scarping as he drew it, the noise all it took to set the Howler off.
And it charged.
The thing came lopping towards Saeren, it's feet driven with supernatural ferocity, it's eyes maddened. The Angel simply stood there, his body relaxing into a combat stance, something that felt as natural as drawing breath. Almond eyes starred forward as the Howler came closer and closer, his body prepared, every muscle on high alert, every nerve ready to react in a heartbeat. Twenty feet. Fifteen feet.
Ten feet.
Swinging the scimitar up in a completely vertical slash, the Angel watched as the blade tore upwards, ripping a gash along the Outsiders stomach. Spinning the scimitar loosely in his left hand, the assassin easily ducked a wild slash from the Outsiders paw, and moving with practiced precision and speed, attacked again. The blade sliced out, nicking the tendon at his shoulder, causing the creatures left arm to go slack. However, as the Beast was distracted by such pain, it wasn't prepared for the booted foot that struck it in the side of the knee as the Angel threw a roundhouse kick. Falling upon it's broken knee, the Beast looked up at the Angel with rage and malice shining in it's crazed eyes.
Saeren decapitated the creature without a second thought.
Slamming the blade back into it's sheath, Saeren grabbed the soaked cloak from the ground, and throwing it back on, was once again off at break neck speeds. He ran with a calm determination, his legs pumping with a fluid and powerful stride as he put more and more distance between himself and the creatures that ran along behind him. Pushing his body to it's limits, he smiled to himself; directly ahead was a drop off. The beasts behind him drew closer and closer; and seconds before they would have had him Saeren-Nin jumped.
The drop was more than one hundred feet.
Extending his arms above his head, his body formed itself into the perfect diving position and after a few seconds hurtling towards the surface, slipped into the water with the slightest of splashes; the beasts above starring in confusion and anger.
And one hundred feet below Saeren pulled himself out of the freezing water, his almond eyes looking up at them. His face blank, his eyes empty.
He had won for now.
It was just then that a howl split the silence of the cavern, the long and ominous note ringing throughout the hollowed cave. And along with that howl came the chatter and snarls of more Outsiders. A small pack.
And they all were after him.
Pressing himself tightly against a cavern wall, the dark clothing of the Angel causing him to seamlessly blend in with the darkness, he watched. However, his hiding place carried with it a second advantage, that of a waterfall above pouring down on him. The rushing water masked his scent, rendering the Hunters at a disadvantage. As he watched those almond shaped eyes slowly narrowed, looking out upon the group of six as they made their way through the cavern slowly, noses twitching as they tested the air hunting.
Hunting him.
Cold and merciless eyes watched as the group inched closer and closer, none of them able to get a trace of his scent; the freezing water that poured down from above coating the assassin hid him as well as he could have hoped. Grunting and chattering in whatever language that monstrosities spoke, Saeren watched as they parted, each moving out to comb the cave; searching out their lost Angel.
As they broke rank and split into individual teams Saeren let a smile grace those lips of his that remained hidden beneath the thick scarf; they were playing as well as he could have hoped. Watching as the smallest of the group approached too close to the waterfall, Saeren watched with the eyes of a predator, his prey edging closer and closer with every passing second.
And this was the worst part, the seconds before the kill. Watching waiting, preparing. If he went too early he would miss his chance for a sure kill and a quiet one at that, if he went too late the thing might catch onto him and end his game of cat and mouse before it had even started. No, timing was everything. So there he stood, eyes unblinking as the freezing water rolled over his frame, his mind erecting a mental block to the chill that was settling in over his body. To him all that was real was this monstrous creation and himself. All that mattered was ripping the soul from this being. All that mattered was the kill.
And then it happened, just as the Beast was raising it's snout to the waterfall and taking in a whiff.
Crunch.
Erupting from the waterfall in a wave of fury and anger, the assassin ripped the dagger from the side of the creatures snout, the beast trying to let out a snarl, however, the moment it's mouth opened to emit such a noise, Saeren-Nin had driven the blade inside the opened maw and through the back of it's throat, the blade tearing through the spinal cord and killing the beast instantly. Pulling the weapon from the Outsider's mouth, the blade coming loose with a twisted sucking sound, the Angel slid the weapon back into it's sheath at his side, those almond eyes scanning the darkness to ensure none of the others had heard him.
However, as he scoped out the playing field, Saeren saw the largest of the small hunting party, the Howler from before. The Beast stood a good forty feet away, it's hungry eyes starring down the angelic assassin. Looking back at the Howler, Saeren let his left hand slide up to his shoulder, undoing both the clasps there causing the cloak to fall to the ground. His movements where slow, precise, he wasn't going to risk setting the Howler off before he was ready. Oh no, he wouldn't do that. You didn't survive in the kind of field he worked in for as long as he had by being stupid. Then in a single motion of practiced perfection he tore the scimitar from it's sheath at his back, the blade scarping as he drew it, the noise all it took to set the Howler off.
And it charged.
The thing came lopping towards Saeren, it's feet driven with supernatural ferocity, it's eyes maddened. The Angel simply stood there, his body relaxing into a combat stance, something that felt as natural as drawing breath. Almond eyes starred forward as the Howler came closer and closer, his body prepared, every muscle on high alert, every nerve ready to react in a heartbeat. Twenty feet. Fifteen feet.
Ten feet.
Swinging the scimitar up in a completely vertical slash, the Angel watched as the blade tore upwards, ripping a gash along the Outsiders stomach. Spinning the scimitar loosely in his left hand, the assassin easily ducked a wild slash from the Outsiders paw, and moving with practiced precision and speed, attacked again. The blade sliced out, nicking the tendon at his shoulder, causing the creatures left arm to go slack. However, as the Beast was distracted by such pain, it wasn't prepared for the booted foot that struck it in the side of the knee as the Angel threw a roundhouse kick. Falling upon it's broken knee, the Beast looked up at the Angel with rage and malice shining in it's crazed eyes.
Saeren decapitated the creature without a second thought.
Slamming the blade back into it's sheath, Saeren grabbed the soaked cloak from the ground, and throwing it back on, was once again off at break neck speeds. He ran with a calm determination, his legs pumping with a fluid and powerful stride as he put more and more distance between himself and the creatures that ran along behind him. Pushing his body to it's limits, he smiled to himself; directly ahead was a drop off. The beasts behind him drew closer and closer; and seconds before they would have had him Saeren-Nin jumped.
The drop was more than one hundred feet.
Extending his arms above his head, his body formed itself into the perfect diving position and after a few seconds hurtling towards the surface, slipped into the water with the slightest of splashes; the beasts above starring in confusion and anger.
And one hundred feet below Saeren pulled himself out of the freezing water, his almond eyes looking up at them. His face blank, his eyes empty.
He had won for now.