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[center][color=659EC7][b]MENTIONS:[/b][/color] [color=DCDCDC]Everyone[/color][/center]
[color=DCDCDC]As the sun continued to arch over their heads, so did the grassline. Each blade had become so tall that they furled above her head and her eyes could no longer see the mountains of Midgar. It was disorienting; she could hardly tell where she was going, but her determined chocobo continued onward. Its strong, clawed feet crashed down upon the roots and crushed the grass beneath its steps. Even Goug’s chocobos, who also had to lug behind a heavy wagon of supplies, had little issue keeping up with the rest as the moogle hummed a song from her homeland. Though the party was slowed by the steady change in terrain, it was thanks to their mounts that they kept a somewhat steady pace. 

The aroma of wet earth teased Neve’s nose, and she drew in its scent. Here, the land was lush and vibrant to the common eye. There was something else, as well. Something that probably only she could pick up at this point. A sour stench on the upwind. One might be able to shrug it off as rotting grass or a creature on the brink of death. Neve knew that it was different. Her hackles rose and her expression tightened as she shifted her eyes to the sea of grass to her left. A dark whisper swept across her ears. 

The chocobo picked up on the disturbance only a few moments after she did. Her bird stopped straight in its tracks, flared its wings, and let out a half-frightened, half-angered wark.

Blades of grass thrashed violently as black-pelted beasts tore out from its depths. Medium-sized and with stout, lemur-like forms, each member of their pack of more than a dozen bore beady red eyes and gnashing fangs. The creatures swiveled their heads to and fro, their rounded ears pinned against their skulls as saliva dripped from their maws. They were manic things, taking in the sight of their caravan with hungry gazes. Neve’s blood ran cold and froze her to her saddle. 

Goug squealed behind her. [b]”Blightbeasts!”[/b]

The creatures– the Blightbeasts– took the initiative. They darted forward in a terrifyingly organized unit. Neve was so stunned that she almost didn’t notice that a pair of them had clambered over her poor bird’s flank with long, spindly forearms. Grimacing, she turned to grab her staff before the creatures could so much as touch it. Already, the creatures had sunk their teeth into her chocobo’s feathers. Blood welled up beneath their oversized talons. Her chocobo cried out again and thrashed beneath her. Caught off guard, she was sent crashing to the ground. Pain razed across her arm at the poor landing. The agony was like wildfire; Neve whimpered as she attempted to haul herself to her feet, either way. Even she knew that staying on the ground was a death sentence. Head still spinning, she cast her horrified glare towards the three beasts that surrounded her. They chittered as their mouths frothed with bloodlust. Neve grit her teeth and raised her staff towards the one that strafed a little to her right. Her staff glowed as shards of stone ringed around its frame– in an instant, the pointed ends slammed straight into its sides and spilled its black blood. It screeched in pain, but it shot towards her in a mere heartbeat. It seemed that her attack had only served to make it angry, and she cursed herself as it sank its teeth into her ankle. The other two gripped the hem of her muddied robes with fangs and claws alike, yanking her as their arms stretched upwards to grab her injured arm. Neve snarled in fear and raised her staff to slam it down upon one of their heads with a loud [i]thump[/i]. It yelped and rushed off in a frenzy to wreak havoc elsewhere. The other two howled in fury as she clubbed the other on the side of its skull. Her feet fought to keep her standing. For the first time in forever, Neve wished that she was adept at the blade like the others.[/color]