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Fear. It's written clear as day on their faces. They're running, well, more like leaping, trying to keep to the trees as if the leaves are gonna be enough to save them from whatever it is that's gotten them this spooked. They're retreating at full speed. No care for formation. No care for stamina management. No care for even checking if they're being followed. It's a route, as standard of a route as it gets.

[color=8493ca]"No way, no bloody way, this wasn't what we signed up for damn it!"[/color] one of them shouts to his buddy running by his side.

[color=8493ca]"Look, they caught us by surprise but-"[/color] his friend starts before getting immediately cut off.

[color=8493ca]"BUT WHAT!? You heard that THING back there right?!"[/color] the first one shouts even louder than the last. Suppose stealth isn't on their mind right now is it?

[color=8493ca]"Look, I told you it's not a dragon! They're dead! They've been dead for years!"[/color] a third answers, trailing a little bit behind the first two.

[color=8493ca]"Well if it's not a dragon then it's probably something just as bad to make a sound like that. Either way, we're fucking leaving!"[/color] the first one says, the conversation seemingly ending there.

They're all dressed rather similarly. Ragged but effective clothing. Nice equipment from the looks of it. Though they are bandits it certainly seems they've had a bit of success in their time. Still, none of them stand out from one another. Meaning none of them are the leader. Turncoats. Something must've gone pretty bad for them to be having this kind of reaction. Still, they're calming down. Looks like they think they've gained enough distance, or the exhaustion is catching up to them. All three of them land on a sturdy looking branch on one of the larger trees in the area. Taking a moment to catch they're breath. They really do believe they're [i]safe[/i] huh?

Well... They still don't know [i][b]I'm here[/b][/i].

Single shot, an easy target, especially when they're still, sent flying all the way to the chest. As soon as it hits him he's sent flying off the branch tumbling all the way to the ground. If the bolt didn't kill him, the way he landed on his neck surely did, especially with that [i]snapping[/i] sound it made.

[color=8493ca]"LEWIS!"[/color] one of them shouts.

He's in shock, clearly. Both of them are from the looks of it. Good, gives me time. Time to reload.

They're looking around, frantic, both incensed from the death of their friend but also fearful for their own lives. It happened too quickly for them to catch where the crossbow bolt came from and they're still too exhausted to run. Their eyes widen, mouths agape. One of them reaches for his sword but it's already too late.

[i]Another shot.[/i]

Hah, a bit sloppier this time. I was aiming for the heart but I got him in the lungs instead. Still, the impact sends this one flying all the way to the ground as well. The crunch. Hm, must be his ribs that caved in. But I can still hear him, spasming down there like a newborn. From the way it sounds his throat must already be pooling with blood. Good, I don't have to worry about that one anymore. And that leaves the final mark for this job.

He's looking at me. Ah, he was paying attention. His sword's already out too.

[color=8493ca]"Y-you!"[/color] he shouts at me, loud, trying to hide his fear with the loudness, [color=8493ca]"You're with them aren't you!"[/color]

With them? Oh, I see. I can't help it, I start laughing my bloody ass off.

[color=8493ca]"Answer me!"[/color] he shouts.

I would but, I can't stop laughing! It's too funny!

[color=8493ca]"STOP IT!"[/color] he please to very deaf ears. [color=8493ca]"Why are you laughing!?"[/color] he finally asks.

It takes me a moment but I finally manage to regain my wits as I say [color=bc8dbf]"Ah, sorry mate. Just thought it was funny is all. I was wonderin' why this was goin' easier than I thought. Seems like someone else got to the mark before I did."[/color]

[color=8882be]"Mark? Wha- what are y-"[/color] he starts but I'm getting sick of this conversation so I cut him off.

[color=bc8dbf]"Ah who gives a shite. You're gonna be dyin' here today anyways."[/color] I say, putting away my crossbow and bringing out from the strap on my back my glaive.

Two people, both on top of branches. He's got his blade out but he's a ways away from me and I've got the reach advantage. He should know this isn't a fight he can win but maybe hearing the deaths of his friends might be making his [i]sense[/i] take a bit've a leave at this point. He's still tired, his posture's crumbling but the adrenaline seems to be kicking in. That [i]look[/i] he has in his eyes. Fury, determination, drive. A snake backed into a corner. Oh... I see. He wants to take me with him.

Well, isn't that cute?

He takes the initiative. Big mistake. He leaps from one branch to the next but with each leap his balance takes a hit. The branches may look solid but they've actually got a bit of give to them. The slight wobble upon impact is what causes whatever semblance of grace he might have to rot with each advance. Still, he's not thinking about that, clearly. He's only looking at me. I'm sure his entire mind has nothing but the idea of making me fall all the way down to join him and his buddies in an early grave. And I let him keep thinking that. 

My glaive may be positioned ahead of me but I'm not reacting to his movements. That is... until he finally gets one branch too close.

[b][i]A single Cleave.[/i][/b]

It happens in an instant. My feet already rooted down into my foothold on the branch, my arms raise up, back arches, legs fully engaged, taking a deep breath as I concentrate for this single, explosive moment. And then, the glaive swings. My muscles acting like the ropes of a crossbow send the blade flying straight through the branch this bandit was about to land on. It happens so quickly he doesn't have time to process what happened because he still tries to land on that branch... when it's no longer even there.

He looks at me. The anger is still there, but it's now paired with a fresh emotion. Despair. As soon as gravity begins to take hold of him he's well aware of his fate.

[b]Thud.[/b]

And just to make sure... [b]Another thud,[/b] as a crossbow bolt lands square in his back. If he wasn't dead before he sure as hell is now.

Well, I could go back, say they're all dead and take the pay for myself but... I do have standards, professional ones. And I'm sure if I didn't go to check up on the other blokes who made my job easier Garth would be starin' down at me with disapproval if he ever bloody hears about it. Even when you're [i]missing[/i] you're ideals keep making shite difficult for me old man. I hope you know that. And so I make my way through the treeline in the rough direction that the bandits came from. That's when I see them.

Hm, quaint little group isn't it? Much more nicely dressed, that's for damn sure and... No, no now's not the time, you can schmooze off the job Rock.

I let out a sigh. This is going to be annoying but hopefully they're not the type to kill folks who are on the same score. I can get out of it if they are but probably not without a few scrapes. And as such, I make my way down from the tree and lift up my helm as he put a few fingers to my lips and make the shrill whistle that Ash is familiar with. Soon, the sound of galloping hooves makes its way towards me and then, standing beside me, Ash, my trusty and absolutely beautiful grey steed is here. I get on, settling myself into the saddle before eventually calling out to the group, still maintaining a very [i]healthy[/i] distance between us however.

[color=bc8dbf]
"Oy! So you lot on the same score then? Was hired to take these fuckers out but it seems ya' beat me to it!" [/color]I shout to them. Now... let's see how they react.