[color=gray] [center] [h1][color=lightgoldenrodyellow][b][u]Rust[/u][/b][/color][/h1] [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVfcjmqdTxw&ab_channel=MichaelFitchett](Mood Music)[/url] [/center] Auriel clenched her jaw when the bandit leader kept them organized. Their simple plan of dividing and conquer didn't work, and now Auriel was outnumbered. If the man in charge of this group was so keen, it made Auriel wonder about the true leader's cunning. Was Rayla Winters perhaps too big to chew for the budding heroes? Auriel smacked one of the bandits away, a simple strike to divert his momentum while she focused on the real threat. The group leader. She went for a strike but was surprised to see the tip of her spear get deflected to the side. She gasped when he went for the riposte. She was wide open. Auriel heard a clang, and saw Cole's blade intercept the leader's. She breathed easy for a moment, and felt a rush of adrenaline surge through her body. Of course, Auriel hadn't been in a proper fight since the battle against the horde. She had gotten rusty, and allowed for her confidence to overwhelm the reality that her keen edge wasn't as sharp as before. Auriel glanced left and saw that other bandit she had tripped up making another move on her. She brought her spear to face him. Then Fer appeared and struck him with the pointed end of his shield. She looked him over, and saw something different about him. Was it anger? There wasn't any time to think on it, she nodded her appreciation for the assist and turned to face an as of yet unchallenged bandit. She could see both of the heroes out of her peripherals on either side of her. Something welled up inside of her, a feeling of belonging. This was where warriors bonded, on the field of battle. There was a connection to be made when lives were at stake. Auriel felt it. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow][b]"Let's finish this quickly."[/b][/color] Auriel said to the heroes. Auriel clutched her spear tight, and felt ready to reclaim her talent with the spear. [/color]