Thread: Life's Journey (The_Gladiator & darkangel76)

Taurean could feel Rhonwhyn settle back against his chest, her hand unconsciously returning to his thigh. This one needed a lot of touch comfort, he thought to himself, but he did not push her away either. He could feel her tension still thrumming through her body and could imagine the look of disgust on her face as she threw the arm overboard. Smart girl it wasnt the first time Taurean found himself complimenting her in his head for her good work. He could really only devote a bit of his attention to what she was doing, for the much larger concern was the trials mother nature was throwing up before them in clouds of mist and spray, a foggy cloud that heralded sharp rocks and eventually the plunge of the water fall. Brandon struggled to keep them on course with his single remaining oar, but knew this was not going to end well. Then came her words, halting, almost choked off with her fright and concern. Again he had to admire that she was not as nave as she looked, as she admitted she knew well what she heard up ahead. Thin lips almost kissed her ear so close did he lean in, to speak into her ear so she could hear him over the rising drone of the waterfall. I have no pretty words for you, and wouldnt know how to give them if I did. I deal with truth. I cannot feed you a stream of false platitudes I can only say, dying was not on my list of things to do tonight. Was there the slightest trace of humor buried in that blunt statement? If so, it was sardonic and buried deep and yet to a perceptive ear, still there. It was little hints like this that suggested to an observer that the assassin was more than he seemed. Taurean closed his mouth and gritted his teeth as they jounced against more rocks, riding the crests and troughs of every single wave. He wedged his oar against a rock and shoved, trying to turn the boat towards one of the looming banks. There was one chance to evade their pursuers, it was a cave system surrounding these falls that few knew about. The trick would be getting to them alive and unharmed. The huge rock in the middle of the waterway split the river into two different waterfalls falling in tandem, and was very beautiful, unless you were about to go over them. Ironic, everything beautiful is also so lethal, it was true for Shyra, his ex-lover, and now was going to be true from this waterfall. The boat striking the rock in the center probably saved the boat from going over the falls, but as it struck the bot smashed into so much kindling and the current swept Taurean and Rhonwhyn into the frigid water. Taurean was able to take a gulp of air before the current pulled him under. His left hand clamped around Rhonwhyns wrist locking them together. He figured the priestess could swim, at least to some degree, but this was not an ideal condition to leave things to chance. The half-elfs legs and free arm churned as he paddled hard against the current, which smashed them rapidly into the rock. Taurean swore and hung on to the rock with his free hand knowing it was only a temporary measure. He needed those precious seconds to tell Rhonwhyn what to do. They were still not out of hope yet. Taurean knew the pool at the bottom was large and deep They could probably survive just giving in and going over the falls assuming they cleared the spray and thundering water, which would surly pummel them to death. Taurean had no doubt he could clear the rocks on his own, his lithe grace and athletic ability would grant him at least that, however nor could he abandon the priestess to die on her own. Taurean really wasnt sure why either, he certainly did not owe her a damn thing, and it went against his survivalist mentality. He supposed it had to do with the fact that he had never given up before, had seen captives delivered no matter what the circumstances, even if she was a rescue rather than a captive, his own code of honor, such as it was, still held true. Taurean reeled her into his chest, Grab on, rap your arms and legs around me, we have one shot at this and one shot alone. If this doesnt work we die, got it? I need you to hold on, and for god sakes dont hinder my arms and legs. He guided her hands to straps on the leather armor, designed to hold weapons or tools, but which could serve as hand holds too. He waited for her to grab hold before he remotely would consider letting go. Did she even have a concept of what he planned? It sounded foolish even to him. Trying to turn a life threatening fall from a cliff into a death defying high dive into a pool, something that was trick enough on a good day, but while carrying another person? Brandon could feel his grip on the rock slipping, gritting his teeth he fought to hold them, a testament to his strength despite his slender appearance that he had held on this long, as he fought to buy them a few more precious agonizing seconds. The sound of the slap sounded loud in the silence of the night time forest. The harsh contact of skin on skin sounded a second and then a third time before a soft moan of protest came to slumbering lips. Shyra Lath let her fingers linger on Malic aka the weasels cheek where she had just slapped him repeatedly to wake him. Eyelids fluttered over brown eyes. They gazed up at Shyra, squinting in the glow of the torch that Chron, the bald human enforcer held beside Shyra. He closed his eyes and groaned again sliding back towards sleep, the drug a powerful pull. However the ruthless Shyra was having none of that and Malic earned another slap. This time it drew a reaction as his hand darted up to catch her wrist as she drew back to hit him a 5th time. Im awake for fuck sake, stop hitting me. I know, that one was for being dumb enough to get shot, youre lucky I dont gut you like Taurean did to that pisswhit Grennen. Malic looked Confused. Taurean? The black heart is here? Why is he here? Why did he kill Grennen? His speech was slow, still sleep fogged, however his eyes were clearing, and he slowly sat up. That my dear is a good question, but were going to find out, the 4 of us. Malic could only nod, his hands rubbing at his eyes, his night vision ruined by sleep and the glow of the torch. Finding them would be more difficult now that they had had some time to get a head start on them, but none of the others would have been able to track them like he could, so wait for him to wake they had been forced to live with the knowledge that Brandon and their priestess prize had slipped from their grasp. Maybe well get lucky and something else in this forest has killed them. Malic muttered as he slowly got to his feet, having no idea how close to the truth he really was.