[b]Aramir[/b]

Aramir winced as she scrambled up the mountain, at first at the sounds one of her companions were making behind her. She desperately wanted to look back and tell whoever it was to be quiet, but couldn’t lest she start making the same mistakes. Then the Roc started screeching and presumably attacking. Aramir didn’t dare look back as she finally stopped concentrating on moving as fast as possible as quietly as possible, and just ran up the mountain side, and prayed that there wouldn’t be the flap of powerful wings indicating  that very sharp, freshly bloodstained, claws were about to come down and slash into her.  Auriel and Liam, with their longer legs and surefootedness, easily outstripped her to the carts. Aramir had to scramble up the plateau, more than a little out of breath. As it turns out, running full tilt for your life up a mountain is tiring. She only vaguely registered the flash of light behind her, lifting her head up to scan the area.  To her surprise, there were actual live animals in the nest. They were corralled by torn up earth, away from where the carts were. They were surprisingly calm, given the situation. Bones, unsurprisingly, were scattered here and there. 

Before Aramir could even begin to wonder how they were going to get the carts undamaged off the plateau, she spotted someone else among them. “Hello? We’re here to get the carts you’re hiding behind! Care to help us and not become bird lunch at the same time?” She called to the person.

[i]Althalus and Grey vs Eternal hunger[/i]

The elf watched Leith leave and run away, before turning her wrapped head towards Grey. "Good. Now I don't have to bother stopping Althalus, at least I assume that's the man with the toy over there, from running. It's always more fun to have two meals that fight back rather than two that do and one that doesn't." Her voice, while muffled by the rags, was surprisingly young. "Come on you big ox. Arm yourself and prepare for battle. I'll even let you have the first move." She twirled in a small circle, giggling. "Afterall it's not nice to-" 
 
[i]Crack![/i] 
 
The sound of the crossbow firing interrupted her. However, the bolt just missed her, nearly brushing her clothing as it whistled by. Althalus stood staring in surprise, Leith's instructions memorized and rune put safely away. [i]That shot should have been straight through her stomach. I've made longer shots under worse circumstances with ease...how did I miss?[/i] He frowned, remembering Lucilia's brief description of the mages. "Be careful Grey. She has something up her sleeve. I should have killed her right then and there. I'm all for just leaving her to dance and giggle all by her lonesome, but turning our back on her so we can deal with them,"  Althalus jerked his head towards the group behind them, not daring to take his eyes off the girl, "seems like a lethally bad idea. Go get her, I'll shoot her again while she's distracted. The girl continued twirling and giggling.
 
Althalus desperately wanted to look behind him when he heard yelling and fireballs, but resisted the temptation. [i]Remember: Taking your eyes off your target is a good way to lose them or to get killed. Sometimes both.[/i] His old mentor's voice echoed in his head as he loaded the crossbow one more time, muttering the phrase that had started all his new problems. "I hate mages."