[Center][h1]Moss IV[/h1][/center] [hr] Her heart was thundering as her feet carried on. She clutched the sword in her arms, now tightly bound once more. It had been a foolish, stupid mistake to leave it unwatched and now, now they paid for it. She grimaced as a dent in the earth almost made her trip. She picked up her pace once more and looked ahead. The thing about being a member of a shorter race, was that your legs didn’t carry you as far as someone who had longer appendages. As such, Teefee, Rahdayo and Zafrina had a substantial lead upon her and several humans ran in front of them. That wasn’t necessarily their fault however. Everytime they began to slow down, she shouted and cursed them to go faster. The humans never did slow, sure they staggered but the gods had blessed them, it seemed, with unnatural longevity when it came to running. But she knew why, didn’t she? Something terrible pursued them in that dark night. Baleful howls echoed behind them, pierced time and time again with a very human scream. Moss didn’t know if it was real or not. In the confusion of the camp, people ran every which way. There had been no order, just chaos. She had said run, hadn’t she? Regret was like a bitter root that one tasted too many times in life. Knowable but never forgettable, even if you didn’t think in the moment. She was stupid, she had caused this mess and now, she had to get as many people safe as she could. She remembered Perry's grief at the loss of Damyl and Pieter's betrayal, who's veins had begun flowing with silver. Coupled with the blood loss, there was no future for him. He and Perry had stayed behind, for Perry could not flee due to a bum knee. She would not forget his kindness. That she swore to herself as the inky black of night swallowed the trio ahead of her. Clouds had rolled in front of the Hand. She was alone and her eyes, unlike the other three, did not work well in the night. Which was ironic since she was born underground. Something screamed behind with sudden violence. She winced as it sent her ears ringing. “Use me.” A quiet voice whispered into her ear. She jumped and spun her head around but there was no one there. “Caress me.” The voice came again with feminine candor. Again she looked but there was no one there. “Wield me!” This time a different voice spoke, more masculine and raging. She fully whirled and came to a stop to listen as she gasped for breath. She slicked the sweat off her brow and moved wet strands of hair back. She knew she couldn’t speak, for fear of what it might bring. But there was no one around her, wasn’t there? Unless… She looked down at the blade and found her hands shaking as they gripped the cloth. “Maseline.” The voice, a woman’s voice she had heard once before so long ago. Soft but reassuring. It came from the sword. “Duck!” The sword commanded. Duck? She fell out of instinct as something sharp sailed in the air just where her head had been. A rush of air followed and Moss felt her body jump into action like a well oiled lantern. With the sword still clutched in her arms, she got on her back and brought the sword up as a shield. And it was well she did, for a creature as dark as the night raked claws into the cloth. She heard a ripping sound and then the thing screamed in pain, before it abruptly turned and ran. She could hear it crashing across the land. Moss blinked. The entire interaction had lasted no more than a few seconds. Her body and mind didn't even know how to react. Should she be afraid? Exhilarated over not being killed? The sword did not speak but she looked it over and saw that where the thing had swung at it, the cloth was torn. Black blood stained the cloth but not the blade itself. The thing was dangerous and she didn't know if she should be more afraid of it or what hunted them. [I]Them![/i] Moss scrambled to her feet, careful not to touch the blade where the cloth no longer covered it and began to run. [hr] Zafrina clutched the handle of her short sword tightly, for if she didn’t, it would shake too much. Her hands were clammy and periodically she'd have to switch holds and wipe her hands on her tunic as they ran. She was sweating profusely by the time they came to a stop to just breathe. She gasped for breath as Rahdayo looked at her, his golden eyes now dark as night. “Are you alright?” He asked between gasps. She nodded her head, “Of course. And you?” He nodded as well, then looked over to Teefee, who was stretching out her arms before touching the ground by leaning over. She barely looked winded. Rahdayo smiled before he looked back at Zafrina. He raised an eyebrow and looked lower. It seemed she had unconsciously placed a hand on her abdomen. She withdrew it and walked past him. That would not be a topic of discussion right now. “Teefee.” She said in a hushed whisper. The cat girl glanced at her with large pupils, she was sitting on the ground, legs straight before her. She had her arms touching her toes. Teefee's white hair caught a beam of the Hand's light, flaring with brightness before it faded to Grey by an obscuring cloud. The cat's ears twitched with what seemed to be impatience. “You seem to be faring well.” Teefee flashed a grin. “Teefee's siblings would play tag for days across the plains. Teefee would never get caught.” She seemed to say with an air of pride. Zafrina just frowned. This was the girl Rahdayo was having relations with? She turned back to her brother, who was staring off into the dark from which they came. Zafrina cocked her ear to listen for sounds. They had found themselves in a low dip in the land, either side surrounded by trees. Like great silent watchers. Sand and pebbles were beneath her hooves. Yet she could only hear screaming very faintly. Far, far away. The humans they had been following were gone, the trio had lost track of them with such little Hand light. She walked over to Rahdayo and followed his gaze. “I no longer hear her.” He whispered. “She said to keep running.” But even as she said it, Zafrina could not hold back the worry in her heart. “We should go back and find her. What if something happened?” Her brother began to walk but Zafrina sheathed her sword and grabbed him by the wrist. “No.” She said firmly. “We can't do that little brother. She's more experienced than any of us. She will be fine. We should keep moving.” Teefee came up and hugged him from behind, leaning against his back as she nuzzled her face into his tunic. Zafrina felt a pang of loneliness at the sight. Foolish at such a time when their lives were in danger. “Mistress will be fine. Teefee knows this.” The cat girl said matter of factly. For once it seemed she was focused enough to know their situation wasn't the time for games. “Come, Teefee thinks we should keep going. Teefee’s hair is prickly. Which means Teefee is frightened.” she murmured that last bit, almost as if she was ashamed to admit it. Rahdayo turned and held her tight in one motion. “Hey now, don't be afraid. It will be alright, you'll see.” he placed a hand on her head and Teefee stood up on her toes to press into it. “And yes, you're both right. We should go.” he glanced at Zafrina, doubt in his eyes. Zafrina nodded. It was the right choice, even if it felt wrong. She had to tell herself Moss would be alright. Yet, try as she might, she couldn’t help but feel it was wrong. She was still shaken up by what she witnessed. Teefee and Rahdayo began to walk. She began to follow but in the moment she took a step, she became keenly aware that it was too late to run. Something descended upon her from above in a silent swoop. With a terrible scream that wasn’t her own, she was pinned to the earth. Her very breath was knocked out of her from the force of the blow. Her eyes bulged as she saw the thing whose claws pressed into her arms. A demon from ancient stories. Sinewy wings flapped, gusting a foul stench that would have made her vomit if she could breath. The thing looked like an overgrown leech. It had no eyes, just a gaping circular mouth upon its flabby head. From the gnashing teeth came pop, pop, pop. The sound of hunger. She took a sputtering breath as the things drool hit her in the face. Then she screamed, trying in vain to free her sword arm. To free either arm. The thing knew enough to pin her. To keep her from being dangerous. That fact alone made the terror truly sink in as it lowered its sucking mouth towards hers. Then something tackled it with a great yell, Rahdayo, freeing her from its terrible gasp. She wasted no time getting to her feet and pulling her sword out. That was her brother! He was rolling on the ground, the creature slightly larger than he, as they tussled. He had grabbed it’s head, keeping it away from his face but the thing’s muscled bulged as it attempted to tear into him with its taloned feet. Rahdayo yelled out in pain as he was cut. Zafrina began to panic, she couldn’t get in a hit in fear of- There! She stabbed her blade into the creature’s neck as Rah held it outward. The blade slipped in like butter and the creature reared back, flapping its wings as it freed itself from Rahdayo, taking her sword with it. It began to sputter, black blood coating the ground as it twirled and spun, gurgling with its terrible pop pop pop. Then it collapsed in a heap, muscles quivering as it grew still. Zafrina went to Rahdayo, who had managed to sit up. She began to look over him as he looked at the demon with a wild look in his eye. He had been cut on the outer part of his thigh, torn straight through his clothing into the flesh. Not deep but it was bleeding. “We need- we need,” she stammered before taking a deep breath. Her nerves, by the gods her damn nerves were frayed. She gritted through her teeth after a moment, “Teefee, cloth!” When the cat girl made no reply she said it again. Nothing. “Teefee?” Rahdayo called and Zafrina looked up to follow his gaze. The white haired girl’s ears were pressed back, almost flat against her head. Her hair was standing up, like the heckles of a dog or her smaller cousins. This would have been intimidating if not for the fact that Teefee only held a dagger, gripped in both hands as she shook violently. There was a wild mad terror on her face that made Zafrina pity her. It was the same terror she had once felt, paralyzing and all controlling. If she heard them at all, she couldn’t react. Teefee’s knees buckled and she collapsed onto them, still clutching her knife. Seeing this, Rahdayo pushed up and got onto his feet. Zafrina didn’t even try to stop him. It was better to keep his leg moving before it stiffened up. It still needed bandaging and then cleaning before any infection set in but… She watched as her brother approached Teefee from the side, dropping to his knees beside her. Teefee, at last, glanced at him as he placed a hand upon her dagger and pushed it down. They said nothing as he placed his other arm around her and pulled her to his chest. She dropped her dagger and clung to him. Zafrina looked away and up into the sky. They weren’t safe here. Not anywhere that was open. She retrieved her sword and noticed her right hand was slick upon the pommel. She prodded her arm and found she too had been cut but there was no pain. Her blood was up, the fire in her veins ready for anything now. She ripped a part of her shirt off beneath her leathers and began to wipe her blade clean, her own cuts could wait. It was stupid to be caught unawares. Stupid, stupid, stupid! A twig broke and she swung to the noise. “Take her and run!” Zafrina called out to Rahdayo. “But Zafrina-” he began to protest but was cut off as a small figure carrying a package twice her height stumbled through the brambles and nearly into Zafrina. She had raised her blade, poised to strike, but had stopped when she saw the all too familiar, and most welcome sight. “Moss!” she exclaimed, lowering her blade. Moss looked as if she had been running for days, and her dark hair was plastered to her forehead. She set the clothed blade down and rested her arms on her legs as she huffed a breath. “Have to keep moving.” Moss managed to say. “Being hunted.” The goblin’s almost glowing eyes fell upon the corpse of the demon they had killed, then she looked back at Zafrina. A look of shock and awe upon her face. “Good.” Moss said, nodding in approval. The praise was welcomed and Zafrina could not help but stand a bit straighter. Moss looked over at Rahdayo and Teefee, who by this point, was crying softly. Moss looked back at Zafrina, an eyebrow raised. “Battle shock and Rahdayo took a cut on his thigh. She’ll be fine but he might not be able to walk for long.” They both made their way over to them, Moss dragging the bundle behind her. As short as she was, the goblin stood at the same height that they knelt and she placed a hand upon Teefee’s shoulder. The girl paid her no mind. Moss said softly, “Teefee, there is no shame in it. We all freeze up and I don’t blame you for it. But you cannot let it consume you right now. We have to keep going.” “She’s right.” Rahdayo murmured into her hair. Teefee’s ears twitched and her head snapped to the side, eyes focused on the silent trees. “Teefee…” She whispered, “Teefee knows what’s coming.” “Teefee…?” Rah asked her. Zafrina looked into the trees, the same as the cat girl, who began to shake again. She noticed the girl turn away and bury her face back into Rahdayo’s chest as red eyes pierced the darkness, peering at them. One pair, another, then another. “Moss…” Zafrina hissed, getting her sword up and into position, going to stand in between the trees and Rahdayo. Moss cursed under her breath and laid the bundle next to Teefee as she took out her daggers. She came to stand next to Zafrina. The red eyes came to the edge of the creek bed, looking down upon them but obscured in darkness. Zafrina felt her arms begin to shake in anticipation and fear. A raspy voice cut through the growing tension, like a rock jutting up through a river. “Gob-lin.” it said, the words sounded forced and wrong. Too much pronunciation on the gob part of goblin. “Give it to ussss.” it hissed. Another pair of red eyes joined them in the treeline. Zafrina could feel her heart begin to beat loud and fast. Could they hear it? She glanced at Moss, the goblin poised to strike with her ever calm face. “How do you know about it?” she asked the things. A deep throaty rattle came. Was it laughing? A tree branch broke, making Zafrina jump where she stood. “We know powerrrr.” It rattled, as if that would explain anything at all. Moss seemed to nod however. “And you hunt it for what purpose?” Deathly quiet, then it answered, “To returnnn.” “Zafrina. When I make an opening, you must run.” Moss said quickly. “Do not look back. Get to the city, whatever it takes.” “But-” “Whatever it takes.” Moss’s words hit hard. With a solemnity she had not known she possessed, Zafrina dipped her head in acknowledgement. “Yes, master.” The beasts attacked, stepping through the trees and down onto the sandy beach. They were as if a human man had been corrupted by some foul runic arts but worse. Too long limbed, with hands that almost dragged upon the ground. Bodies of skin with bone impressions underneath. Wisps of long dark hair tattered around their heads with sunken expressions, hateful and violent. They didn’t look like human men but at the same time they did. Three went for Moss while one was upon her before she could fully react. It struck her on the side as she lifted her blade and pain blossomed as she cursed. It swung again, twitching erratically, aiming for her head. She almost fell backwards to avoid the blow, touching the ground with her free hand to keep herself up. She then kicked out her legs and swept the thing off its feet. It fell to the side with a snarl. Zafrina jumped at it, intending to impale it with her sword, but it rolled out of the way and her sword hit sand. She brought the blade up and staggered backwards as it swept at her with its claws. It snapped its teeth at her, red eyes with but a pinprick of black that moved in the same erratic fashion. Zafrina took a deep breath as it twisted its leg up into the air and over its head and used that momentum to stand. It was unnatural and horrifying but she had already slain a beast, hadn’t she? The demon lunged at her with deadly precision. Zafrina could only hope to weather the blow, there would be no dodging. Claws raked her face causing pain and blood. She managed to deflect its next blow but blood obscured the vision in her left eye. She couldn't wipe it away as another blow came, raking her right arm. It lunged with its head, teeth gnashing. Zafrina dropped low so that it went over her and then brought her head up into its lower jaw. Her horns reverberated from the blow and as the thing became dazed, she swung her sword and sliced its throat wide open. It clutched that cut flesh with a claw as black blood oozed from the wound. The thing sputtered and Zafrina swung again and again and again, cutting it open and spraying its black blood across the ground. When it fell down dead she almost lost her balance and joined it on the ground. Her head felt light as she remained on her feet. She blinked and looked over to Rahdayo and Teefee, they hadn’t moved from where they sat. Her brother had gone very pale and Teefee still clung to him like a lost child. He glanced at her and smiled softly. What did that mean? A loud wet sound brought her senses back to the battle. She turned to see that Moss had slain two of the beasts but still fought the other one. The sound she had heard had been one of the beast's innards, cut wide at the stomach, spilled open. It lay on the ground, crawling toward Moss. Zafrina was amazed that it had any sort of guts at all, being so lean and bony. The other had died from a knife wound to its eye socket. Zafrina noted that her master was slower than she usually was. Exertion was taking its toll at last. She had to move quickly. Zafrina went over to the crawling demon, coming up behind and decapitated it in one fell swoop. She inched forward, testing the distance as the blood about her eye still trickled hot down her face. They were circling each other. Moss glanced at her, and said, “You must go now, Zafrina. This is the only opening you might get.” Zafrina hesitated. She looked back at Rahdayo, who stared up at the dark sky. It began to rain. Thick cold droplets. She shivered as they hit her warm skin. “We can’t make it without you now.” The demon lunged at Moss, she sidestepped at the last moment, and stabbed the thing in the back, leaving a long grisly wound. As it recoiled away, Zafrina pounced and managed to cut its arm as it evaded her. Moss kept up the assault with a well flung dagger that embedded itself into the creature’s chest as it had looked at Zafrina. It turned back to Moss and Zafrina lurched forward. It went on like this for several moments, as the demon grew more and more desperate. Finally, streaming blood from numerous cuts, it swung at Moss with groggy speed. The goblin ducked and used her height as an advantage by ramming her remaining knife into the creature’s neck. It sank to the ground, pulling the knife and then throwing it at Moss. It hit her in the head, pommel side and she cursed. Zafrina got behind it as it gasped for breath and skewered it between the eyes. Gore erupted and it fell over with a dull thud. Zafrina felt her legs give out and she sank to the ground, breathing heavy. So too did Moss, who lay facing up in the rain. Zafrina likewise looked up, hoping to wash the blood from her face and the reek of the demon’s blood from her nose. After a time, her master began to laugh wildly. “I thought they’d be harder to fight.” She mused. “Rahdayo?” "Yes, mistress?” her brother called weakly. “How are you two holding up?” “We’ve been better, mistress. We’ve been much better.” “And you Zafrina?” Moss called to her. “I’m alright.” She lied. She was not alright. She felt weak and beyond tired. Her face stung with pain and she was pretty sure she’d have a nasty scar. Furthermore, Rahdayo wasn’t any better than her. “Let’s get out of this rain.” Moss said, groaning as she got up. “Water might rise if it keeps up.” Zafrina blinked as a droplet splashed into her open eye. She shot up and rubbed at them, before looking out. Her heart stopped as she looked into the trees. Red eyes. So many red eyes. She clambered to her feet in a panic and almost fell as she ran over to Rahdayo and Teefee. Moss had noticed too, curing under her breath. They had been too slow. “And here I thought it would have been easy.” Moss muttered. “Damn it all.” “Teefee,” Rah began to murmur, “You need to run.” The cat girl looked up at him, her hair sopping wet and plastered to her small face. She still looked like she was in shock but her eyes hardened a bit as she shook her head. “Please, for me?” he asked, pleading. Teefee kissed him. Zafrina looked away, back to the treeline. She touched her belly and shut her eyes. A whisper escaped her lips, sad and forlorn, “I’m sorry.” Zafrina opened her eyes. She wouldn’t go down without a fight. The demons came. [hider=Summary] Moss and the gang are on the run and end up fighting some old world enemies. What does it all mean and why is it a cliffhanger? [/hider]