Starting New ((RP Story))
Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 11:15 pm
The familiar hills of Westfall glimmered gold in the evening sun. Staring out his bedroom window, he could see Gambit chasing a coyote away, his bright red fur alight. Two shapes suddenly darted by the fluffy wolf, one blue and the other white. Soon he could hear them enter the house, laughing and yipping.
“Hey dad! Check out the hare Lilac caught!”
He left the room and descended the stairs, nodding gratefully and smiling at the girl. She was panting lightly, brown hair falling randomly around her face and dust covering her from head to toe.
“Thank you Daphne, well done.”
“Don’t thank me,” she said, grinning slyly. “Lilac caught it, so you need to thank her.” He sighed, looking towards the blue fox. It dropped the dead hare on the ground and stared at him, reading him. He really didn’t like that fox. It was good that Daphne had found a pet that she bonded with, but did it have to be that fox? At least Gambit didn’t look like he could stare into your heart.
“Well?” demanded Daphne stubbornly. He sighed again at the determination in her eyes.
“Thank you, Lilac.” The fox wagged her tail and panted happily, but her electric blue eyes stayed trained on him, unblinking. The girl beamed at him.
“You’re welcome dad!” She leaned down to pick up the hare, handling it without a trace of disgust or distaste as she put it down on the table by the fireplace. She wasn’t exactly feminine, though she clearly had the grace of a hunter. Turning, she hugged him tightly. “How’re you?” she asked, her young age clearly showing in her voice. He smiled at her, ruffling her hair.
“Well enough. Did you hear anything while hunting?” She looked up and caught the look in his eyes, nodding.
“A bit. Nothing about the Syndicate, but the gnolls have been active. They’re really organized. People think they have a new leader.”
“Of course. As if the Syndicate wasn’t enough of a burden.” He glanced out the nearest window. Gambit was still chasing anything that moved, keeping himself amused. The fox, alternately, just stared at him. Daphne released him from the hug, then spun to Lilac. “What’s wrong?” she asked earnestly, falling to her knees before the fox. He didn’t question her seemingly random concern; as a hunter, she had a strong bond to her pet. She’d be able to sense emotions that didn’t show.
She turned back to him, looking ever so slightly nervous. Her typically happy, carefree smile was replaced with a frown.
“Lilac thinks she smelled gnoll around the house. Did Gambit find anything?”
He had to admit that the worg hadn’t. Despite being more tolerable to be around than the fox, Lilac had a significantly superior sense of smell. It bordered on unreal. That was why he was so suddenly nervous when he heard that news.
“How recent?” he asked, keeping his voice calm for Daphne’s sake. She looked back at the fox.
“Fairly. She thinks it came last night while Gambit and her were teamed up on that rabid coyote.”
Then sun was already sinking, which worried him even more. It would be night before they knew it. Gnolls weren’t intelligent in any way shape or form, but they had instincts enough to know that darkness was better for attacks. Hopefully the gnoll that had come by was just wandering and had no ill intent, but with creatures as savage as gnolls you couldn’t be too sure.
“Stay inside for now then, Daphne. Send Lilac out with Gambit to keep watch and keep the door open so they can get inside if they see something.”
“Awwww...” the girl protested glumly, then pointed at the door, eyes on the fox. “Come on Lil, go see ‘Bit. Watch out for gnolls.” The fox nodded and trotted out, yipping. He smiled apologetically at his daughter.
“Sorry, but I don’t want you outside when it’s getting dark. Come. You can help me cook.”
Darkness fell around the house. Daphne was sitting by the fire, fletching an arrow and flicking the shreds of wood into the flames. He sat nearby, leaning against the wall and fletching his own arrow. This one was carved with small images, wolves and foxes with long fur that swept up and down the shaft of the arrow. It was frail because of this and could never be used as a real weapon, but he liked it nonetheless. In addition, the fox in the carving didn’t have disturbing eyes.
“Let me see,” Daphne said, moving to sit by him. He handed the half-carved arrow to her and she admired it, looking thoughtful.
“It doesn’t look like Gambit and Lilac, though. ‘Bit is a puffball, but this wolf is slim. Looks kind of like you would, if you were a wolf,” she observed.
“That was the intention,” he responded. She handed it back, looking at her own arrow. Suddenly fully focused, she began carving a pattern of her own into it. He continued his own work.
Two howls cut the silence. They both looked sharply towards the door, staying perfectly still for a moment before getting hastily to their feet. His mind was ringing with the distress signals coming from Gambit. More howls and barks filled the air, along with a drawn out cackling cry. Several more cackles and shrieks followed it. Gnolls had come.
“Lilac!” cried Daphne, looking fearfully out into the dark. After a few chilling seconds the fox appeared, darting inside and standing at the door. She turned towards the darkness outside, snarling and yipping. Howls of rage came closer and Gambit joined her.
He swallowed his fear and turned to Daphne. “Go upstairs Daphne, I’ll keep them away.” The girl shook her head stubbornly, clinging to his arm. “Now,” he demanded harshly. She gave him a pathetic look, then darted up the stairs. He glanced outside, relaying information from Gambit. There had been a pack of four Gnolls, but they had killed one already and chased another away. He was sure the two could take care of the third, and the fourth wouldn’t be hard to kill alone. He let out a pent up breath; one gnoll he could easily deal with.
The two beasts darted out the door and snarls met his ears, along with the pained yelps of a gnoll. Another of the hyena-like creatures appeared in the doorway, but he was ready. A knife imbedded itself in its shoulder and he saw Lilac leap at it from behind, dragging the shrieking creature away.
“Dad! Five more coming!”
That was Lilac’s senses announced by Daphne, he knew. Cursing, he took a few steps back and took his unstrung bow off of the table, stringing it quickly with a familiar hand. He was going to need it now. The fox gave a warning howl, which was drowned out by the laughing roars of the incoming gnolls. It was strange that they were so organized, attacking in packs, but perhaps they had gotten a new leader as people seemed to suspect. They were capable of incredible destruction if properly led.
Time seemed to speed up as a gnoll’s ugly muzzle appeared in the doorway. It was followed by three more, the fifth under attack from Gambit and Lilac. He cursed again, unsure now of how he was supposed to deal with them all. He didn’t have time to think anyway, as they advanced on him. Gambit’s alarms went off in his mind and he could hear the hound approaching. There was also an odd, half-growling whimper. He wasn’t sure where the sound had come from, but it wasn’t pleasant.
The only weapon at hand was a simple fletching knife and a few arrows, but he had no room to shoot. He took the knife in hand, lashing out at the gnolls as they cackled and clawed at him. The angry whimper remained. One of the four gnolls was pulled away by a furious red wolf and blue fox.
He found himself backed into a corner and hissed under his breath as claws landed on his side. The hounds were having trouble with their gnoll, yelping as it clawed franticly at their snouts and legs. Previous fighting had the beasts tired and slow. The angry whimper had gone.
One of the gnolls shrieked and fell, an arrow protruding from its back. Daphne gave him a frantic look, taking her own fletching knife out of a pocket as one of the remaining two gnolls attacking him turned to her. Instantly he forgot about the creature attacking him. The advancing gnoll swiped at her, yowling as its paw was cut, and instantly swiped again with its other claw. It fell into a fervor, lashing madly. Daphne squeaked, and he could clearly see blood on the beast’s claws. Enraged, he lashed out with his own weapon, landing the blade deep in the beast’s back. It turned to him and he took his closest remaining weapon, the decorative arrow. It had a sharp enough tip to do damage. It dug into the beast’s throat before snapping in his hand, the fox carving split in two.
The forgotten gnoll had taken his chance to move. It clawed at his spine, then struck the back of his head with a fist. He heard lightning crackling outside as he fell into darkness.
((Too long.. Continued in next post!))
“Hey dad! Check out the hare Lilac caught!”
He left the room and descended the stairs, nodding gratefully and smiling at the girl. She was panting lightly, brown hair falling randomly around her face and dust covering her from head to toe.
“Thank you Daphne, well done.”
“Don’t thank me,” she said, grinning slyly. “Lilac caught it, so you need to thank her.” He sighed, looking towards the blue fox. It dropped the dead hare on the ground and stared at him, reading him. He really didn’t like that fox. It was good that Daphne had found a pet that she bonded with, but did it have to be that fox? At least Gambit didn’t look like he could stare into your heart.
“Well?” demanded Daphne stubbornly. He sighed again at the determination in her eyes.
“Thank you, Lilac.” The fox wagged her tail and panted happily, but her electric blue eyes stayed trained on him, unblinking. The girl beamed at him.
“You’re welcome dad!” She leaned down to pick up the hare, handling it without a trace of disgust or distaste as she put it down on the table by the fireplace. She wasn’t exactly feminine, though she clearly had the grace of a hunter. Turning, she hugged him tightly. “How’re you?” she asked, her young age clearly showing in her voice. He smiled at her, ruffling her hair.
“Well enough. Did you hear anything while hunting?” She looked up and caught the look in his eyes, nodding.
“A bit. Nothing about the Syndicate, but the gnolls have been active. They’re really organized. People think they have a new leader.”
“Of course. As if the Syndicate wasn’t enough of a burden.” He glanced out the nearest window. Gambit was still chasing anything that moved, keeping himself amused. The fox, alternately, just stared at him. Daphne released him from the hug, then spun to Lilac. “What’s wrong?” she asked earnestly, falling to her knees before the fox. He didn’t question her seemingly random concern; as a hunter, she had a strong bond to her pet. She’d be able to sense emotions that didn’t show.
She turned back to him, looking ever so slightly nervous. Her typically happy, carefree smile was replaced with a frown.
“Lilac thinks she smelled gnoll around the house. Did Gambit find anything?”
He had to admit that the worg hadn’t. Despite being more tolerable to be around than the fox, Lilac had a significantly superior sense of smell. It bordered on unreal. That was why he was so suddenly nervous when he heard that news.
“How recent?” he asked, keeping his voice calm for Daphne’s sake. She looked back at the fox.
“Fairly. She thinks it came last night while Gambit and her were teamed up on that rabid coyote.”
Then sun was already sinking, which worried him even more. It would be night before they knew it. Gnolls weren’t intelligent in any way shape or form, but they had instincts enough to know that darkness was better for attacks. Hopefully the gnoll that had come by was just wandering and had no ill intent, but with creatures as savage as gnolls you couldn’t be too sure.
“Stay inside for now then, Daphne. Send Lilac out with Gambit to keep watch and keep the door open so they can get inside if they see something.”
“Awwww...” the girl protested glumly, then pointed at the door, eyes on the fox. “Come on Lil, go see ‘Bit. Watch out for gnolls.” The fox nodded and trotted out, yipping. He smiled apologetically at his daughter.
“Sorry, but I don’t want you outside when it’s getting dark. Come. You can help me cook.”
Darkness fell around the house. Daphne was sitting by the fire, fletching an arrow and flicking the shreds of wood into the flames. He sat nearby, leaning against the wall and fletching his own arrow. This one was carved with small images, wolves and foxes with long fur that swept up and down the shaft of the arrow. It was frail because of this and could never be used as a real weapon, but he liked it nonetheless. In addition, the fox in the carving didn’t have disturbing eyes.
“Let me see,” Daphne said, moving to sit by him. He handed the half-carved arrow to her and she admired it, looking thoughtful.
“It doesn’t look like Gambit and Lilac, though. ‘Bit is a puffball, but this wolf is slim. Looks kind of like you would, if you were a wolf,” she observed.
“That was the intention,” he responded. She handed it back, looking at her own arrow. Suddenly fully focused, she began carving a pattern of her own into it. He continued his own work.
Two howls cut the silence. They both looked sharply towards the door, staying perfectly still for a moment before getting hastily to their feet. His mind was ringing with the distress signals coming from Gambit. More howls and barks filled the air, along with a drawn out cackling cry. Several more cackles and shrieks followed it. Gnolls had come.
“Lilac!” cried Daphne, looking fearfully out into the dark. After a few chilling seconds the fox appeared, darting inside and standing at the door. She turned towards the darkness outside, snarling and yipping. Howls of rage came closer and Gambit joined her.
He swallowed his fear and turned to Daphne. “Go upstairs Daphne, I’ll keep them away.” The girl shook her head stubbornly, clinging to his arm. “Now,” he demanded harshly. She gave him a pathetic look, then darted up the stairs. He glanced outside, relaying information from Gambit. There had been a pack of four Gnolls, but they had killed one already and chased another away. He was sure the two could take care of the third, and the fourth wouldn’t be hard to kill alone. He let out a pent up breath; one gnoll he could easily deal with.
The two beasts darted out the door and snarls met his ears, along with the pained yelps of a gnoll. Another of the hyena-like creatures appeared in the doorway, but he was ready. A knife imbedded itself in its shoulder and he saw Lilac leap at it from behind, dragging the shrieking creature away.
“Dad! Five more coming!”
That was Lilac’s senses announced by Daphne, he knew. Cursing, he took a few steps back and took his unstrung bow off of the table, stringing it quickly with a familiar hand. He was going to need it now. The fox gave a warning howl, which was drowned out by the laughing roars of the incoming gnolls. It was strange that they were so organized, attacking in packs, but perhaps they had gotten a new leader as people seemed to suspect. They were capable of incredible destruction if properly led.
Time seemed to speed up as a gnoll’s ugly muzzle appeared in the doorway. It was followed by three more, the fifth under attack from Gambit and Lilac. He cursed again, unsure now of how he was supposed to deal with them all. He didn’t have time to think anyway, as they advanced on him. Gambit’s alarms went off in his mind and he could hear the hound approaching. There was also an odd, half-growling whimper. He wasn’t sure where the sound had come from, but it wasn’t pleasant.
The only weapon at hand was a simple fletching knife and a few arrows, but he had no room to shoot. He took the knife in hand, lashing out at the gnolls as they cackled and clawed at him. The angry whimper remained. One of the four gnolls was pulled away by a furious red wolf and blue fox.
He found himself backed into a corner and hissed under his breath as claws landed on his side. The hounds were having trouble with their gnoll, yelping as it clawed franticly at their snouts and legs. Previous fighting had the beasts tired and slow. The angry whimper had gone.
One of the gnolls shrieked and fell, an arrow protruding from its back. Daphne gave him a frantic look, taking her own fletching knife out of a pocket as one of the remaining two gnolls attacking him turned to her. Instantly he forgot about the creature attacking him. The advancing gnoll swiped at her, yowling as its paw was cut, and instantly swiped again with its other claw. It fell into a fervor, lashing madly. Daphne squeaked, and he could clearly see blood on the beast’s claws. Enraged, he lashed out with his own weapon, landing the blade deep in the beast’s back. It turned to him and he took his closest remaining weapon, the decorative arrow. It had a sharp enough tip to do damage. It dug into the beast’s throat before snapping in his hand, the fox carving split in two.
The forgotten gnoll had taken his chance to move. It clawed at his spine, then struck the back of his head with a fist. He heard lightning crackling outside as he fell into darkness.
((Too long.. Continued in next post!))
