Two - Epic
This is the second session, but I'm too tired to write up the first right now...
I did this one first because it's clearer in my memory... It's from today. It doesn't make as much sense without the first half, but are you really going to read it anyways?
I open my eyes at the sound of waves breaking gently on a beach nearby, and I realise that I’m laying in the sand. I prop myself into a lounging position and stare out at the setting sun’s light reflecting on the waves before me, and so I make myself comfortable before I begin to question how I got there...
Out of the corner of my eye I spot someone approaching me, and as she gets closer I notice that even the setting sun pales in her brilliance. Her hair falls in long golden locks over a white dress, and she is adorned all over with angelic feathers - in her hair, at her chest and waist... I think I notice a pair of wings extending from her back even.. ((Alex is freaking out because he apparently recognizes the description))
Once she reaches me, she circles me before stopping before me. Had I been standing, I most likely would have bowed before such regality.
She gracefully set herself down beside me, “I don’t believe we’ve met.”
Still stunned, I remain speechless.
Her, “I see. Do you know why we’re here?”
Me, “Not really.. I’m.. Kaleb.”
Her, “I know why I’m here, Kaleb.”
Me, “Why..?”
Her, “I came to find you.”
Me, “Me? Why am I here then?”
Her, “Yes, you, you’re dreaming.”
She proceeded to tell me that she had come looking for me because I was chosen, I had something... something about the mind. Ironically, my mind was reeling from the information, and I stuttered over several half questions. She told me that I was in danger, and needed to run, but that she needed me.
Strangely enough, my wit had returned somewhat at that moment, and I replied that we barely knew each other. She laughed, and told me that she would like to, but that I was awake.... And then it was all gone, and the pain returned.
I rolled over and moaned, opening my eyes to find Kraven suddenly bolt upright. Disoriented, I suddenly realize my hunger and reach for my bag, which had been placed nearby at some point. Mechanically I fumble in my pack until I find a piece of dried Fluffinuff from days earlier. ((A Fluffinuff being a rabbit-like creature with wings for ears))
Finally becoming re-oriented, I realize that I have no idea how I got to this actual, very real place.
Me, “What happened..?” I ask, ignoring the fact that Kraven appears breathless as he stares off into space.
Hearing me brings him around abruptly, “You were knocked unconscious, I carried you here.” he remarks offhandedly.
I notice that the scarf that held back my hair was now tied about my chest and soaked with blood. Somehow the blood has stopped flowing, despite the looseness of the scarf.
Kraven pulls out some of his own rations and we sit in silence. The sun hasn’t come up yet, and I estimate it to be around 5 in the morning..
Me, “We need to get out of here.”
Kraven, “Yes, we really do.” He agrees.
Surprised, I ask “What? Why.....”
Kraven, “It’s creepy here.” ((Kraven had his own, very different, dream sequence))
Me, “It’s dangerous.”
Kraven, “That too.”
Suddenly a faint scream pierces the silence and Kraven abruptly starts packing his equipment. Confused, I do the same, and find that despite being rendered unconscious the previous day, I can stand and walk easily. ((yay for me gaining a new level! We both roll good listen checks here))
Without a word Kraven takes off at a run in the direction of the scream, so I follow him.
Me, “What are you doing? Why are we running?”
Kraven, “You heard that, we should help them.” ((Kraven recognizes the scream as one of his party from the day before, but says nothing))
Somehow I get the feeling that he’s not saying anything, but I let it slide.
After running for about 10 minutes we end up where we first met. Kraven stops and looks around the area. Expecting trouble, I pull out my bow and notch an arrow.
We both scan the area for anything out of place, and when the coast seems clear, I turn my attention to Kraven, who is kneeling to pick up a silver piece from the ground. I follow his gaze and notice several sets of tracks leading away from the clearing.
Once again, Kraven leads the way. ((He knows something))
Me, “What are we doing?”
Kraven, “I think my friends are in trouble.”
A minute later we hear a piercing scream and see bright flashes of light through the trees. We slow down and approach cautiously. In the distance I notice a pair of forms lying on the ground, and realize they are Kravens female companions; but what catches my attention is that the mage that rendered me unconscious the previous day is madly deflecting powerful blows of magic from a pair of red robed mages easily identified as elite fire nation. ((Kraven knows exactly who they are - they're the elite of the elite from the fire nation, this bad boys gaurd temples and the like, and they mean business))
As we watch, the outmatched boy is quickly incinerated, as well as the trees standing beyond him.
Frightened out of my wits, I duck behind a tree out of their sight, but still so that I can see what’s happening and put away my bow.
Kraven stands stunned, barely concealed. ((he actually performs a roll-check to see if he can contain his anger o.0))
I can tell that the two fire nation mages are having a conversation, but only Kraven, who was closer could hear what they were saying. ((The two elites converse about finding and killing Kraven, who they realize is missing, but who they're really looking for is me, Kaleb - it's unclear why))
I feel a presence over my shoulder, and hear Kraven’s voice whisper in my ear “We need to get out of here.” I take note that he is still standing a distance away and surmise he used a spell.
The two of us slink away, and I’m impressed at how quiet Kraven’s footfalls were.
In the silence I hear Aldona’s voice whisper in my ear “You’re going to be all right..” and I feel a surge of confidence.
As soon as we’re out of ear shot, “We need to get out of here, we need to run and hide.”
I start to move, but Kraven grabs my arm, “Wait” ((we might have run for a short distance first, not sure))
He makes a series of motions that seem very familiar to him, and a wide glowing disk appears hovering before us. “Get on”
I can see that he’s barely containing his anger, so I hasten to get on the magical disk.
Once he’s aboard we start to whisk off through the trees, gaining altitude... But before we get very far both of us loose our balance and fall off and hit the ground 5 feet below. The resulting crash was sure to alert the two mages, so we both scramble to get on the lowered disk again and fly off into the forest, eventually clearing the treetops.
Out of breath and quite shocked, I concentrate on keeping my balance. A fall from this height would really hurt. Kraven is obviously concentrating on keeping us aloft, so I stall my many questions.
Unfortunately, Kraven decides to keep flying, and flying.... and flying. Nearly half an hour later I venture to ask, “Where are we going?”
Kraven, “Away.”
Me, “We could head into the mountains. They’d never be able to follow.”
Kraven looks very nervous of the prospect, “There’s nothing in those mountains, and we’d have to rely on flight to even get around.”
Me, “Ah, right.”
Kraven, “Besides, I don’t want to end up in the barrens.”
Me, “I meant to the south. Many animals live there, so we could survive.”
Kraven looks intrigued that I know the area, “It’s still dangerous. We’ll head west.”
Me, “Fine, let’s just go around the mountains and into the forest to the south. I know the area.”
Neither of us speak for the remainder of the day. The fatigue of remaining still starts to get to us both, and Kraven seems increasingly irritated as the time passes into hours and hours.... And eventually the sun passes midday and into late after noon. ((Kraven casts the spell maybe 4 times or so during the day, we're both too confused to really stop and think about our next steps))
It was ten hours before we sat the disk down, and Kraven collapses against a tree, exhausted. We both rest for a time, and feeling the atrophy wear off my body, I declare that we must be far enough away and that I was going hunting. Kraven barely looks up, but nods anyway. ((Kaleb passed through the area a few days earlier))
I spend the next two hours weaving through the forest a ways away, and I go over the events of the morning in my head, and ponder the strange dream I had... I say a prayer to Aldona and concentrate on her memory as I go... Soon after I spot a deer and make the kill quickly and cleanly with my bow. ((It took a while to find because my survival roll sucked))
Thinking it would make more sense to cut and clean the deer back with Kraven, I check the blood flow and hoist the smallish beast over my shoulders and head back.
I’m about 30 minutes into the hike when I feel Kraven’s presence by my shoulder again, and hear his whispered words “Where are you? We need to get out of here.” He sounds more annoyed than worried, but I hurry up anyways. ((he does a listen check and 'senses' the presence of the ship, which is powered by magic and can be felt by those attuned to magic itself and familiar with airships - like Kraven))
As I dash through the tree with a deer over my shoulders I hear Aldona’s voice clearly in my ear, spurring me on “You will be safe, don’t worry brother.” ((her voice seems to come more frequently lately, somethings going on...))
Within 10 minutes I’m back where I left Kraven, “What is it, what’s going on?” I ask.
Kraven, “Airship, they’re searching for us.”
Me, “What? Aww... Ok, well... help me put this into a tree.” ((What else was I supposed to do with it?))
Kraven looks at me strangely, “What, that doesn’t make sense.”
Me, “Look, if we leave it here, they’ll know where we were. If we put it in a tree they might think it was a mountain lion or something.”
Kraven, “That still doesn’t make sense.”
Me, “You haven’t spent much time in the forest, have you?”
Kraven, “Uh, no?”
Me, “Exactly, just help me.”
Kraven summons another disk, and I drop the deer onto it..
Kraven, “Why don’t we just take it with us?”
Me, “Oookay, on that?”
Kraven nods, and heads off in a random direction. ((Turns out he had a place in mind - the academy, the only place safe from the Fire Nation))
I shrug and jog after him. ((we travel for a while as the light lessens into evening))
After a bit of running Kraven gets increasingly worried. A light suddenly shines through the thick canopy, setting us both on edge. We can’t be seen, but Kraven is even more agitated, setting me off.
I pepper him with questions. “Who are you really? Who are they? What did you do? Why are they following us? Who are you working with? What’s going on? Is there something happening that I should know about?” I barely pause between each one, but Kraven doesn’t seem to be paying attention at any rate. ((I'm kind of annoyed at Kraven for keeping things to himself, our lack of communication as we RUN FOR OUR LIVES is concerning..))
“Shut up” he says off handedly
I pace around with agitation and Kraven starts moving off again. His silence is starting to get to me.
Aldona’s voice is, again, clear in my head “Fly away. You’ll be safe if you fly.” ((what a weird piece of advice, I get the impression she wants me to go somewhere))
Barely thinking, I exclaim “Fly...? FLY?”
Kraven looks at me, “What? Why should we fly?”
Me, “Trust me, we can get away.”
Having no better idea, and again appearing to know more than he’s letting on, Kraven dumps the deer on the disk into a tree and we both climb on.
As we approach the tree tops I realize what I’ve suggested. A distance behind us a large air ship looms over the trees. ((But Kraven knows where he wants us to go, even if it is a ways away))
Somehow I barely have to concentrate on keeping my balance, and Kraven seems to have similar skill. I notice him casting a second spell as he keeps us flying, and he suddenly shines with an increasing brilliance. I realize that he’s somehow gotten prettier... ((We both roll awesome balance checks and he casts a spell that increases his charisma in preparation for the flight - the disk seems larger than last time))
I pull out my bow and notch an arrow as the airship pulls closer, and I wonder if I really have any hope of hitting anyone on board. Somehow though, I feel confident and an inner strength seems to well up within me. ((Both of us roll insanely well during the next little while))
I let fly my arrow and quickly loose another. The sound is like nothing I’ve ever produced from a bow, the first arrow screams off to hit a mage in the middle of a spell - right in the face, and he falls over the railing. The second arrow hits another in the shoulder, also casting a spell and also sending it over the railing.
Kraven gets the idea and pulls out a crossbow, letting the bolt streak across the sky to slam into, and -through- a mage’s neck to hit another in the shoulder, sending it sprawling into yet a third mage, who falls over the railing. ((he did such high damage, and aimed so well, there was no way that he only killed one person))
I notch and let soar a couple more arrows, which make hits, but at this time the enemy mages are sending fireballs our way, and several archers have let arrows fly in our direction. I have never felt closer to my sister as she stood guard over our souls that evening, every fireball and arrow missed by a large margin as Kraven spun us like mad over the tree tops for close to an hour. ((again, the dice seem to like us, me especially))
Suddenly I notice a shape rise in the distance, and as it comes closer I notice how very, very, VERY large it is... It could be a roc.... Kraven is too busy avoiding enemy fire to be paying attention.
I notice it appears to be a firebird, as it flares up in flame... but it comes closer, and I recognize the spell and the form that it carries.... A man that I admire very much, Noah commands the spell and flies towards the airship pursuing us doggedly. ((Noah is someone I looked up to the entire time I was at the academy, and though I wasn't a student, I received special classes and lessons from him, giving me the edge in certain confrontations. Incidentally, Noah was the only student who was permitted to stay after the age of 19, and is the only other source of teaching and knowledge at the academy besides Librarian Yu))
At this point the ship is nearly upon us, how we managed to stay ahead of it is anyone’s guess... but Noah comes streaking through the sky and ignites large portions of the ship as he lands on deck. From the angle we fly at I can tell that Kraven barely sees anything, but I see the large bouts of flame streak over the edge and hear the screams of pain that follow... ((Epic!!))
Within a couple minutes the ship has slowed to a near stop and suddenly bursts into flame. I watch in awe through the entire thing and wait until no sign of the ship can be seen.
I turn my attention to our heading, and realize that we’re heading towards the academy. In truth, I had noticed when we were on the ground, but I had barely given it a thought.
We fly for yet another several hours, out onto the plains and into the night. Too scared to set down, and too anxious to really think clearly.
Kraven’s strength suddenly gives way, but he manages to slow our decent so that we don’t crash. The disk disappears close to the ground and Kraven slumps unconscious to the ground. Already spent, I pick him up and carry him partially over my shoulder - just barely and start trekking. ((Neither of us have really eaten this day))
Only a moment later Noah suddenly appears before me. I must have been to exhausted to have notice his approach, but I’m overjoyed that my hero is safe.
He wordlessly takes Kraven from me and we continue on.
Noah, “How did you know to come to the academy?”
Me, “I just had a thought..” I half-lied
Noah, “Now, you wouldn’t lie to me, would you?”
Me, “Of course not...”
Noah, “Has anything weird happened to you lately?”
Me, “Too many things have happened in these last few days...”
Noah, “Hmm.... I had the strangest dream the other night.” He pauses, “I noticed Aldona isn’t here.”
Me, “Yes... she died two years ago.”
Noah, “It was her wasn’t it? She told you to come.”
Unable to deny it, I realize that Aldona did point us in this direction, “Yes... I’ve been hearing her.”
Noah, “You’ve been praying to her, it gives her strength, which in return she gives to you. What else has happened?”
I explain to him the dream I had the previous night with the angelic princess, and recount the events of the day. ((Noah is like family to me, so... I feel no real hesitation in telling him *everything* As Mike put it, "He's like the insanely hunky cousin you would totally do if he came on to you." -Ok Mike, incest is not cool, but I get the idea))
Noah nods as he listens, and we close in on the academy gates. “You need to speak with librarian Yu.”
I did this one first because it's clearer in my memory... It's from today. It doesn't make as much sense without the first half, but are you really going to read it anyways?
I open my eyes at the sound of waves breaking gently on a beach nearby, and I realise that I’m laying in the sand. I prop myself into a lounging position and stare out at the setting sun’s light reflecting on the waves before me, and so I make myself comfortable before I begin to question how I got there...
Out of the corner of my eye I spot someone approaching me, and as she gets closer I notice that even the setting sun pales in her brilliance. Her hair falls in long golden locks over a white dress, and she is adorned all over with angelic feathers - in her hair, at her chest and waist... I think I notice a pair of wings extending from her back even.. ((Alex is freaking out because he apparently recognizes the description))
Once she reaches me, she circles me before stopping before me. Had I been standing, I most likely would have bowed before such regality.
She gracefully set herself down beside me, “I don’t believe we’ve met.”
Still stunned, I remain speechless.
Her, “I see. Do you know why we’re here?”
Me, “Not really.. I’m.. Kaleb.”
Her, “I know why I’m here, Kaleb.”
Me, “Why..?”
Her, “I came to find you.”
Me, “Me? Why am I here then?”
Her, “Yes, you, you’re dreaming.”
She proceeded to tell me that she had come looking for me because I was chosen, I had something... something about the mind. Ironically, my mind was reeling from the information, and I stuttered over several half questions. She told me that I was in danger, and needed to run, but that she needed me.
Strangely enough, my wit had returned somewhat at that moment, and I replied that we barely knew each other. She laughed, and told me that she would like to, but that I was awake.... And then it was all gone, and the pain returned.
I rolled over and moaned, opening my eyes to find Kraven suddenly bolt upright. Disoriented, I suddenly realize my hunger and reach for my bag, which had been placed nearby at some point. Mechanically I fumble in my pack until I find a piece of dried Fluffinuff from days earlier. ((A Fluffinuff being a rabbit-like creature with wings for ears))
Finally becoming re-oriented, I realize that I have no idea how I got to this actual, very real place.
Me, “What happened..?” I ask, ignoring the fact that Kraven appears breathless as he stares off into space.
Hearing me brings him around abruptly, “You were knocked unconscious, I carried you here.” he remarks offhandedly.
I notice that the scarf that held back my hair was now tied about my chest and soaked with blood. Somehow the blood has stopped flowing, despite the looseness of the scarf.
Kraven pulls out some of his own rations and we sit in silence. The sun hasn’t come up yet, and I estimate it to be around 5 in the morning..
Me, “We need to get out of here.”
Kraven, “Yes, we really do.” He agrees.
Surprised, I ask “What? Why.....”
Kraven, “It’s creepy here.” ((Kraven had his own, very different, dream sequence))
Me, “It’s dangerous.”
Kraven, “That too.”
Suddenly a faint scream pierces the silence and Kraven abruptly starts packing his equipment. Confused, I do the same, and find that despite being rendered unconscious the previous day, I can stand and walk easily. ((yay for me gaining a new level! We both roll good listen checks here))
Without a word Kraven takes off at a run in the direction of the scream, so I follow him.
Me, “What are you doing? Why are we running?”
Kraven, “You heard that, we should help them.” ((Kraven recognizes the scream as one of his party from the day before, but says nothing))
Somehow I get the feeling that he’s not saying anything, but I let it slide.
After running for about 10 minutes we end up where we first met. Kraven stops and looks around the area. Expecting trouble, I pull out my bow and notch an arrow.
We both scan the area for anything out of place, and when the coast seems clear, I turn my attention to Kraven, who is kneeling to pick up a silver piece from the ground. I follow his gaze and notice several sets of tracks leading away from the clearing.
Once again, Kraven leads the way. ((He knows something))
Me, “What are we doing?”
Kraven, “I think my friends are in trouble.”
A minute later we hear a piercing scream and see bright flashes of light through the trees. We slow down and approach cautiously. In the distance I notice a pair of forms lying on the ground, and realize they are Kravens female companions; but what catches my attention is that the mage that rendered me unconscious the previous day is madly deflecting powerful blows of magic from a pair of red robed mages easily identified as elite fire nation. ((Kraven knows exactly who they are - they're the elite of the elite from the fire nation, this bad boys gaurd temples and the like, and they mean business))
As we watch, the outmatched boy is quickly incinerated, as well as the trees standing beyond him.
Frightened out of my wits, I duck behind a tree out of their sight, but still so that I can see what’s happening and put away my bow.
Kraven stands stunned, barely concealed. ((he actually performs a roll-check to see if he can contain his anger o.0))
I can tell that the two fire nation mages are having a conversation, but only Kraven, who was closer could hear what they were saying. ((The two elites converse about finding and killing Kraven, who they realize is missing, but who they're really looking for is me, Kaleb - it's unclear why))
I feel a presence over my shoulder, and hear Kraven’s voice whisper in my ear “We need to get out of here.” I take note that he is still standing a distance away and surmise he used a spell.
The two of us slink away, and I’m impressed at how quiet Kraven’s footfalls were.
In the silence I hear Aldona’s voice whisper in my ear “You’re going to be all right..” and I feel a surge of confidence.
As soon as we’re out of ear shot, “We need to get out of here, we need to run and hide.”
I start to move, but Kraven grabs my arm, “Wait” ((we might have run for a short distance first, not sure))
He makes a series of motions that seem very familiar to him, and a wide glowing disk appears hovering before us. “Get on”
I can see that he’s barely containing his anger, so I hasten to get on the magical disk.
Once he’s aboard we start to whisk off through the trees, gaining altitude... But before we get very far both of us loose our balance and fall off and hit the ground 5 feet below. The resulting crash was sure to alert the two mages, so we both scramble to get on the lowered disk again and fly off into the forest, eventually clearing the treetops.
Out of breath and quite shocked, I concentrate on keeping my balance. A fall from this height would really hurt. Kraven is obviously concentrating on keeping us aloft, so I stall my many questions.
Unfortunately, Kraven decides to keep flying, and flying.... and flying. Nearly half an hour later I venture to ask, “Where are we going?”
Kraven, “Away.”
Me, “We could head into the mountains. They’d never be able to follow.”
Kraven looks very nervous of the prospect, “There’s nothing in those mountains, and we’d have to rely on flight to even get around.”
Me, “Ah, right.”
Kraven, “Besides, I don’t want to end up in the barrens.”
Me, “I meant to the south. Many animals live there, so we could survive.”
Kraven looks intrigued that I know the area, “It’s still dangerous. We’ll head west.”
Me, “Fine, let’s just go around the mountains and into the forest to the south. I know the area.”
Neither of us speak for the remainder of the day. The fatigue of remaining still starts to get to us both, and Kraven seems increasingly irritated as the time passes into hours and hours.... And eventually the sun passes midday and into late after noon. ((Kraven casts the spell maybe 4 times or so during the day, we're both too confused to really stop and think about our next steps))
It was ten hours before we sat the disk down, and Kraven collapses against a tree, exhausted. We both rest for a time, and feeling the atrophy wear off my body, I declare that we must be far enough away and that I was going hunting. Kraven barely looks up, but nods anyway. ((Kaleb passed through the area a few days earlier))
I spend the next two hours weaving through the forest a ways away, and I go over the events of the morning in my head, and ponder the strange dream I had... I say a prayer to Aldona and concentrate on her memory as I go... Soon after I spot a deer and make the kill quickly and cleanly with my bow. ((It took a while to find because my survival roll sucked))
Thinking it would make more sense to cut and clean the deer back with Kraven, I check the blood flow and hoist the smallish beast over my shoulders and head back.
I’m about 30 minutes into the hike when I feel Kraven’s presence by my shoulder again, and hear his whispered words “Where are you? We need to get out of here.” He sounds more annoyed than worried, but I hurry up anyways. ((he does a listen check and 'senses' the presence of the ship, which is powered by magic and can be felt by those attuned to magic itself and familiar with airships - like Kraven))
As I dash through the tree with a deer over my shoulders I hear Aldona’s voice clearly in my ear, spurring me on “You will be safe, don’t worry brother.” ((her voice seems to come more frequently lately, somethings going on...))
Within 10 minutes I’m back where I left Kraven, “What is it, what’s going on?” I ask.
Kraven, “Airship, they’re searching for us.”
Me, “What? Aww... Ok, well... help me put this into a tree.” ((What else was I supposed to do with it?))
Kraven looks at me strangely, “What, that doesn’t make sense.”
Me, “Look, if we leave it here, they’ll know where we were. If we put it in a tree they might think it was a mountain lion or something.”
Kraven, “That still doesn’t make sense.”
Me, “You haven’t spent much time in the forest, have you?”
Kraven, “Uh, no?”
Me, “Exactly, just help me.”
Kraven summons another disk, and I drop the deer onto it..
Kraven, “Why don’t we just take it with us?”
Me, “Oookay, on that?”
Kraven nods, and heads off in a random direction. ((Turns out he had a place in mind - the academy, the only place safe from the Fire Nation))
I shrug and jog after him. ((we travel for a while as the light lessens into evening))
After a bit of running Kraven gets increasingly worried. A light suddenly shines through the thick canopy, setting us both on edge. We can’t be seen, but Kraven is even more agitated, setting me off.
I pepper him with questions. “Who are you really? Who are they? What did you do? Why are they following us? Who are you working with? What’s going on? Is there something happening that I should know about?” I barely pause between each one, but Kraven doesn’t seem to be paying attention at any rate. ((I'm kind of annoyed at Kraven for keeping things to himself, our lack of communication as we RUN FOR OUR LIVES is concerning..))
“Shut up” he says off handedly
I pace around with agitation and Kraven starts moving off again. His silence is starting to get to me.
Aldona’s voice is, again, clear in my head “Fly away. You’ll be safe if you fly.” ((what a weird piece of advice, I get the impression she wants me to go somewhere))
Barely thinking, I exclaim “Fly...? FLY?”
Kraven looks at me, “What? Why should we fly?”
Me, “Trust me, we can get away.”
Having no better idea, and again appearing to know more than he’s letting on, Kraven dumps the deer on the disk into a tree and we both climb on.
As we approach the tree tops I realize what I’ve suggested. A distance behind us a large air ship looms over the trees. ((But Kraven knows where he wants us to go, even if it is a ways away))
Somehow I barely have to concentrate on keeping my balance, and Kraven seems to have similar skill. I notice him casting a second spell as he keeps us flying, and he suddenly shines with an increasing brilliance. I realize that he’s somehow gotten prettier... ((We both roll awesome balance checks and he casts a spell that increases his charisma in preparation for the flight - the disk seems larger than last time))
I pull out my bow and notch an arrow as the airship pulls closer, and I wonder if I really have any hope of hitting anyone on board. Somehow though, I feel confident and an inner strength seems to well up within me. ((Both of us roll insanely well during the next little while))
I let fly my arrow and quickly loose another. The sound is like nothing I’ve ever produced from a bow, the first arrow screams off to hit a mage in the middle of a spell - right in the face, and he falls over the railing. The second arrow hits another in the shoulder, also casting a spell and also sending it over the railing.
Kraven gets the idea and pulls out a crossbow, letting the bolt streak across the sky to slam into, and -through- a mage’s neck to hit another in the shoulder, sending it sprawling into yet a third mage, who falls over the railing. ((he did such high damage, and aimed so well, there was no way that he only killed one person))
I notch and let soar a couple more arrows, which make hits, but at this time the enemy mages are sending fireballs our way, and several archers have let arrows fly in our direction. I have never felt closer to my sister as she stood guard over our souls that evening, every fireball and arrow missed by a large margin as Kraven spun us like mad over the tree tops for close to an hour. ((again, the dice seem to like us, me especially))
Suddenly I notice a shape rise in the distance, and as it comes closer I notice how very, very, VERY large it is... It could be a roc.... Kraven is too busy avoiding enemy fire to be paying attention.
I notice it appears to be a firebird, as it flares up in flame... but it comes closer, and I recognize the spell and the form that it carries.... A man that I admire very much, Noah commands the spell and flies towards the airship pursuing us doggedly. ((Noah is someone I looked up to the entire time I was at the academy, and though I wasn't a student, I received special classes and lessons from him, giving me the edge in certain confrontations. Incidentally, Noah was the only student who was permitted to stay after the age of 19, and is the only other source of teaching and knowledge at the academy besides Librarian Yu))
At this point the ship is nearly upon us, how we managed to stay ahead of it is anyone’s guess... but Noah comes streaking through the sky and ignites large portions of the ship as he lands on deck. From the angle we fly at I can tell that Kraven barely sees anything, but I see the large bouts of flame streak over the edge and hear the screams of pain that follow... ((Epic!!))
Within a couple minutes the ship has slowed to a near stop and suddenly bursts into flame. I watch in awe through the entire thing and wait until no sign of the ship can be seen.
I turn my attention to our heading, and realize that we’re heading towards the academy. In truth, I had noticed when we were on the ground, but I had barely given it a thought.
We fly for yet another several hours, out onto the plains and into the night. Too scared to set down, and too anxious to really think clearly.
Kraven’s strength suddenly gives way, but he manages to slow our decent so that we don’t crash. The disk disappears close to the ground and Kraven slumps unconscious to the ground. Already spent, I pick him up and carry him partially over my shoulder - just barely and start trekking. ((Neither of us have really eaten this day))
Only a moment later Noah suddenly appears before me. I must have been to exhausted to have notice his approach, but I’m overjoyed that my hero is safe.
He wordlessly takes Kraven from me and we continue on.
Noah, “How did you know to come to the academy?”
Me, “I just had a thought..” I half-lied
Noah, “Now, you wouldn’t lie to me, would you?”
Me, “Of course not...”
Noah, “Has anything weird happened to you lately?”
Me, “Too many things have happened in these last few days...”
Noah, “Hmm.... I had the strangest dream the other night.” He pauses, “I noticed Aldona isn’t here.”
Me, “Yes... she died two years ago.”
Noah, “It was her wasn’t it? She told you to come.”
Unable to deny it, I realize that Aldona did point us in this direction, “Yes... I’ve been hearing her.”
Noah, “You’ve been praying to her, it gives her strength, which in return she gives to you. What else has happened?”
I explain to him the dream I had the previous night with the angelic princess, and recount the events of the day. ((Noah is like family to me, so... I feel no real hesitation in telling him *everything* As Mike put it, "He's like the insanely hunky cousin you would totally do if he came on to you." -Ok Mike, incest is not cool, but I get the idea))
Noah nods as he listens, and we close in on the academy gates. “You need to speak with librarian Yu.”