[center][h1]Flint and Coraline[/h1][/center] [center][sub] just shortly after the main group[/sub][/center] Flint and Coraline made it to the castle not long after the others entered it. It was dark, and the moon was ominous behind the tall dark trees that surrounded the old church, as if it blanketed the air around them, making it darker and heavier than it really felt. Flint shivered. "Well... charming place." he said to Coraline as he pulled his bow into his left hand. He noted the horses left behind by the main group and guided his horse over there as well, slipping off his steed quickly and silently, leaving the horse unteathered, as he always did. He took a few steps towards the church when Mishka pawwed at her nose. [i] I don't like the smell from there... do we have to go in?[/i] she whined as she crouched low to the ground, her ears down as well. "Don't be a scared y cat." He said looking down at Mishka. Mishka glared up at Flint and stood up straight again. [I]I'M NOT A CAT![/i] Coraline looked up at the structure. The churches to the far east were quite different. Despite them being devoted to the same deities, the architecture was always a product of the land. She felt a shiver run through her spine, making her clench her teeth, [color=steelblue][b]"Well I can assure you this place is filled with magic. I can feel it."[/b][/color] The knight climbed off of her horse and stepped up to the doorway to the church. She drew the long sword at her side and slowly stepped in. The door creaked and groaned as she pushed it. As she exhaled, she could see her breath. Coraline looked back to Flint, [color=steelblue][b]"You can use your bow in tight corridors, yes?"[/b][/color] A weak gust of wind blew by, taking some leaves and blossoms with it. Coraline couldn't help but notice that things seemed to be grayer outside. Dark magic had its effect on places and Coraline had seen plenty of it, but the sight always made her uncomfortable. [color=steelblue][b]"Stay behind me."[/b][/color] she stepped fully into the dark church. Flint looked at Coraline as she mentioned the place filled with magic. He only nodded as they made their way to the dark church. Once inside Coraline asked if he could use his bow inside. "Yes I can." Unlike most archers, Flint had learned to how to fight in close quarters, with his bow, and even shooting within five feet if needed be. As they slowly walked through the main chapel of the church Flint looked around for signs of battle, having found none it made him slightly uneasy. It was strange that the main chapel was left perfectly alone. The fact Coraline said "Stay behind me." Was a slap to his own pride. He was the one who was supposed to say that to the pretty women. He took a breath about to say something about it, but realized... she was the one with the sword, It only made sense. He found a torch on the ground and lit it, handing it off to Mishka, as she held it in her mouth, He could not hold it for it would hinder his ability to even fire a bow, and had trained Mishka to do this for him. Despite it being low to the ground, it gave off enough light for them to see within ten feet. "Well this isn't creepy..." he said softly just loud enough for Coraline to hear him. He pulled an arrow from his quiver and knocked it easily, but did not pull the string back. They came to the fork in the road, the stairs, crumbled now had a plank in place to make it up the stairs. Mishka sniffed around and mentioned [i]Emiliah went left, Fenros and Alltia went downstairs, Marcus went left, and Elizabeth went up. [/i]Remembering only those scents. He then said to Coraline. "The group split into four groups here. Most likely to clear the church room by room." He looked at the ground to see if there was any other clues...of course there were not any. "Where did you want to head to first?" Coraline looked to the paths laid out ahead of them. [color=steelblue][b]"Necromancers prefer secluded and secure spaces. We should head lower, below the church."[/b][/color] Coraline didn't waste any time, in fact, she didn't even wait for Flint to try and argue it. She felt that if he was as good a hunter as his family was out to be, she wouldn't have to worry about his positioning. Coraline took a deep breath and headed deeper into the tainted church. [color=steelblue][b]"Flint, tell me what your friends look like before I make any hasty decisions."[/b][/color] Flint raised his bow slightly to be ready, He doubted that there would be anything left if they were following Fenros...he was usually pretty good at clearing witches dens by himself. He looked at Coraline as she asked what his friends looked like so she didn't accidently kill them. "Um....Not dead?" He said with a slight chuckle. "Fenros, my brother looks like a bear with a massive sword, and a white wolf with him. Pretty hard to miss. Emiliah is a tiny girl with a big spear, and bigger attitude with brown hair, Elizabeth has blonde hair and carries a whip." He didn't want to talk much about her... " Marcus, well he has a gotee, short blonde hair and usually carries a shield and sword." [hr] Alyssa smiled from the alcove, soon the trap would spring and she'd finally be rid of the 'hunters of Seren's folley'. None of them noticed the runes she'd secreted amongst the rubble, she'd successfully masked the scent of her own blood from the damnable wolves the Digards kept as pets. As the last hunter made their way inside she completed her spell. Darkness gathered around the ruined cathedral. It continued to darken untill the old stone ediface could no longer be seen. With a scream from the pit and a whiff of brimstone light filtered back into the area. The cathedral though? It was no longer there. [color=0054a6]"Surely Lorelai will favor me if I continue what she started."[/color] Alyssa sighed as she stepped out into the fresh air. She gazed around the now empty field. With a chuckle she continued towards the castle she'd recently heard about. [color=0054a6]"Murder my family? I'm fine with that, but try to kill the Dragon at your own risk foolish hunters."[/color] Alyssa let out a wry laugh. [color=0054a6]"Poor Digards, their infant god has no power in the inferno."[/color] She twirled manicly as she walked [color=0054a6]"There are older things in the darkness than men or gods, they speak to me, and I command them."[/color] Alyssa stooped and removed a ruby coin from her pack. She placed it in a ring she'd made of salt. [color=0054a6]"Charon, you've your offering now. Make sure they don't make it out would you?"[/color] She laughed again. "The lesser demon's should serve, but I do like to be sure after all." "Oh sweet sister, soon we'll meet. I just want to stand in your shadow, and feel its chill in my heart once." Alyssa sighed. "Then you'll do with me as you wish." With a grin she disappeared into the treeline. [hr] As they moved down they found their first corpses on the ground. Already killed.....again. their bodys ripped in half as if with a cleaver, or skulls bashed in. "Definitely my brothers handy work..." he said softly. Coraline took a moment to inspect the corpses. She heard Flint mention her brother and clenched her teeth, [color=steelblue][b]"I see your brother isn't exactly an advocate of a clean kill."[/b][/color] Coraline stepped further into the room and looked around. [color=steelblue][b]"I'll admit, your friends are quite thorough. But just in case, we should alert them to our presence instead of stumbling upon them in the dark."[/b][/color] Coraline looked to the wolf holding the torch, [color=steelblue][b]"Would your brother recognize your hound's howl?"[/b][/color] Flint smiled slightly, not seeing her clench her teeth. "Fenros is more of a brawler/warrior rather than a Knight. He is a freak of nature when it comes to his strength, and uses it to his advantage. Besides his sword is not the best to use down here." He said as an after thought. Which would make sense for the more crushed skulls than cut bodies. When she mentioned having Mishka howl to gain the attention of their fellow hunters he thought about it for a bit. He was one who didn't really annouce his presence, being more for the silent surprise type. But he didn't have the advantge here, and most likely the way was clear. So he looked down at Mishka and took the torch from her mouth, "Not my brother, but his wolf would. You heard the lady, let Alltia know we are here." He didn't bother with the fact that Alltia would inform Fenros, who it was exactly...or how Mishka understood what they were saying. Mishka took a breath and raised her head, A loud howl came from her throat. Flint should have been used to it, but with his hightened hearing from his curse, and that they were in tight corradors. It was painful to hear as it pierced their ears. After she stopped, a few moments passed, maybe thirty seconds of silece. Then, another howl could be heard, it was eriee and far off in the distance. Flint actually understood the howl, and Mishka didn't need to translate for him. "They are in the deep catacombs Currently fighting." He said as he moved forward after giving Mishka the torch again, He raised his bow and readied himself as he passed Coraline taking point. They came to corners and splits in the hall, Mishka would tell him which way to turn. Coraline ran after Flint, so much for a formation. Her armor had weighed her down and it didn't help that she had been travelling for far too long. The darkness of the corridors and the growing gap between the two of them wasn't helping things. [color=steelblue][b]"Flint!"[/b][/color] she called out, [color=steelblue][b]"We need to stick together! Don't run too far ahead!"[/b][/color] she wasn't sure if he had heard her. "It is too late," came a voice from the shadow as a hand reached out from wall itself, gripping onto Coraline's shoulder, holding tight enough to cause the metal to screech and collapse in the shape of a claw print . "He, or rather you, are already gone," And the world started to spin droping until the corridor vanished and a room with dusty red curtains covering every wall appeared. "And I want to play a game," Before Coraline could react, she was taken away. She looked around the room and studied the curtains before hearing the voice talking of a game. She clenched her longsword's grip. She wasn't as fearful as one would normally be in such circumstances, magic had a weakened effect on her and she was expecting a lot of it. [color=steelblue][b]"Then I hope you're a good sport with losing."[/b][/color] Coraline spoke out to the ominous voice. Flint turned around as he felt a cold breeze, and the fact that Coraline said don't run too far ahead. He didn't think he was, he was walking slow for her to stay up. He felt a sudden chill down his spine when he did not see her behind him. He pulled back his bow and yelled "Coraline!?!?" He heard only his echo before continue "Where are you?!" He started to back track where he came from, his bow at the ready the entire time. He stopped when he knew he passed the last spot where he saw Coraline. "Damnit!" He cursed as he lowered the bow and lessened the tension on the string as he spun around again. He then wondered if he should look for her, or continue down. He calmed his breathing and stood there, in silence as he tried to hear Coraline's footsteps. He heard nothing. Cursing himself again he turned and began to run towards Fenros. Mishka running ahead of him to sense any danger, which there was none. Of course, because Fenros was well..Fenros.