A note for 'Blaze' Whiteclaw

[Blaze]

She had dismounted when she saw he was going on foot. It was a good idea and she was upset with herself she hadn't known already. Her mind wasn't clear and that was bad. She and Mushal slinked along behind Rook at an easy pace, letting him keep the lead. When they sank behind the boulder and peered over both Blaze and Mushal listened carefully and she caught herself admiring the way the rogue prepared for the hunt. When he was done talking she looked at Mushal and made a series of hand gestures, then ruffled his ears and the tiger sprinted off into the darkness to circle around.

"Wind blows across the entrance of the cave, making it somewhat noisy inside. With luck our attack might not be noticed initially." He said. Blaze nodded, again thinking he was quite wise in this area. She pulled out her bow and an arrow and set her jaw. When Rook faded into nothing she whirled around and positioned herself from behind the rock as she notched a bow ready. With any luck, she wouldn't have to use it at all. Them she too faded into the shadows and waited for Rook to begin.

[valrae]

For almost a minute, nothing seemed to happen as the sentry worked it's way closer and closer to the rock that was Blaze's hiding spot.

But as soon as he passed beside a large jutting stone that shielded him from the view of the three guardians at the cave entrance a strange look crossed his face.

By then the garotte wire was already around his neck, and Rook faded in with one foot planted on the dwarf's back, yanking back and sawing viciously with both arms, a hard sneer set on his face. The Dwarf managed two more steps before it dropped like a puppet with it's strings cut. Rook knelt by the corpse a moment, then faded out again.

Oblivious to the fate of their comrade, the three by the cave kept chatting amongst themselves, the Troll arguing with the humans about something in broken Common. Suddenly the three stopped and all looked off to the side, as thought they'd heard something. A moment later the Troll keeled over in the dust. The two humans whirled again, looking around in alarm. Rook appeared at the back of the leftmost one, smashing the pommel of his blade into the base of his skull, under the edge of his helmet. The warrior stumbled forward, stunned and unable to do anything but vainly try to shield his head as the rogue hammered his blades in between the joints of his armor.

The other Twilight shouted in alarm and went for his weapon but was momentarily stymied as the rogue circled around in his attack, using the body of his target as a shield, and giving Blaze a clear shot if she needed one.

[Blaze]

This was it. Her breath caught in her throat and she felt her body tense in eager anticipation. She was sure Mushal was growing excited as well in his own way. There was no turning back now, they- she was going all in. It would be over soon.

Blaze came out of the shadows and instead of shooting, drew her hand sharply through the air in a downward motion. It was then Mushal lept out from behind an outcropping and pounced on the remaining target. The human's eyes went saucer wide. There was a breath of a struggle before the large orange tiger severed his jugular with one skilled bite. By then Blaze had her bow put away and both her dagger and a very large imposing looking sword out as she ran over at the ready.

[valrae]

Rook heard the screams from the other human as he finished with his, the armored warrior succumbing to blood loss and the poison burning it's way through his veins. As the guard stumbled forward, shield and sword drooping, he reversed his grip and shoved his blade through the man's neck. Not delicate but merciful, in his estimation. Better to lose blood pressure and black out than to die burned out from the inside by rogue poison.

He glanced at Blaze as she ran over.

"So far so good," he said over the groan of the wind in the cave's mouth. "The Troll lives." He inclined his head to the unconcious caster in the dirt. "Leave her be unless you cant avoid it."

His head quirked to the side as he caught sound of movement from inside.

"Hm. Maybe not as good. I think we were heard." He sheathed his blades and drew his crossbow, snapping the arms out. "Here comes the fun, then. The cave branches off a few dozen yards in. Wait here. You're the distraction. When they turn the corner and notice you, I'll jump them and we'll catch them in the middle. After that, you may need to help me, depending on how many there are."

Without waiting for a response he plunged into the darkened cave, fading again from sight as his footsteps quieted, leaving only the low howl of air moving in the cave entrance.

[Blaze]

Blaze glared at the troll female then to Rook, thinking that leaving her alive was very foolish. She turned her attention back down the tunnel as he spoke and nodded briefly.

While he was gone she pulled out an ice trap and laid it down carefully. First one to step on it would be a frozen block. She looked to Mushal who was watching her very attentively and signed for him to move off to the side out of sight. Once he was gone she coughed loudly and stared into the caves darkness, daring someone to appear before she turned her back and stood over a dead body to make it look like she wasn't paying attention.

[valrae]

Only a few moments passed before the faint noises coming from the split in the tunnel grew louder, and a Tauren stepped heavily around the corner, dressed in red leathers and accompanied by an orc female and a human, both armored and carrying weapons. Immediately the Tauren fixed it's eyes on Blaze and grunted throatily in his native tounge. The two warriors saw her a moment later, drew weapons and charged.

The Tauren brought it's hands together, the space between it's furred palms beginning to flicker with strands of lightning. Rook appeared behind it a moment later, using on of the beast's horns as a handhold as he yanked it's head back and drove his knee into the back of the Tauren's skull. The caster grunted angrily and lost it's spell, but shook the Rogue off it's back a moment later as it whipped around. Rook retained enough of his balance in midair to avoid slamming into the wall of the cave, but almost didn't avoid the Tauren's staff as it swung at his head. He managed, just, to sink under the heavy wooden rod as it crashed into the rock wall.

The rogue scuttled forward on hands and knees, striking out at the Tauren's legs as he tried to get behind it again. The beast grunted loudly and stomped it's hooves as it turned a circle, trying to crush the night elf. Not feeling very much like being flattened, the Rogue opened space between himself and his foe, getting off a snapshot with his crossbow that sank into the Tauren's side.

The Tauren merely grunted and tore the bolt out, snapping it in two between it's fingers and flinging it back at the Rogue. Rook gave the creature a wry look and shrugged nonchalantly as the broken bolt bounced off his leg. He stood balanced, poised, able to move in any of a dozen directions in a fly's twitch. He was sure, though, that if he closed the distance, the Tauren would have some sort of nasty magic waiting for him...

...He'd just wade into it if he had to, but he'd prefer to wait for an opportunity that didn't include the risk of getting his face scorched off, if possible...

Blades at the ready, he flicked hie eyes to Blaze to see how she was dealing with the two warriors headed her way.

[Blaze]

You'd have to be deaf not to hear the clambering warriors coming her way, yet she stayed where she was, staring down at the body before her. It wasn't until she heard the hollow sound of the trap snapping to life that she immediately ducked and swung around with her sword and dagger at whoever was left. Turned out it was the human, who was staring at his comrade who was now an orcsicle. He was just out of reach of Blaze's initial attack, and came at her again with a growl. She grinned under her mask and parried his attack then jumped and spun around calling upon magic to root his feet to the ground.

Dancing backward, she barked out a sharp sound and Mushal was upon the warrior grabbing his attention off her. She rolled her shoulders and pulled out her bow, taking aim and launching a barrage of arrows at the poor fool who was trying to deal with a tiger that was bigger then he was. It didn't take long to put him down. Blaze looked to Mushal to assess his wounds then called upon Elune's power to help heal him. Just in time, as the ice trap faded away freeing the orc.

Mushal was right ontop of her, although the orc didn't give him much attention her eyes narrowed on the night elf. Blaze pulled out her sword and dagger again a ready snarl on her lips as she bared her teeth. Stooping low she prepared for the orc to barrel into range. Once she did, Blaze let loose with poetic dancing and whirling with such skill it rivaled some rogues. It took a couple tries before the magic took hold and this one was rooted to the ground. However as she backed up from her, Blaze was sliced with her swords a few times over the thigh and shoulder. Superficial at best, Blaze drew her bow and ordered Mushal to finish her off.

When the female orc fell she darted her eyes inside the cave to see if she could find Rook. Wasting no time she gestured for Mushal to dash ahead of her while she ran behind. She called upon nature magic once more and made her feet run swifter as she bolted into the cave. Soon as she saw the massive tauren she glanced at Rook, then continued her blind run at the beast, dropping a trap at his feet. Moments later a batter of angry acid spitting snakes appeared and began to hammer their wrath on the tauren. His spell casting would now be very hindered.

[valrae]

The Tauren looked up as the second of the warriors fell, and that was all the chance Rook needed. He dashed in and jammed his elbow harshly under the beast's chin, at the same time lashing out with one of his blades. The leather armor parted in strips before the rogues' razor-keen weapon and the beast roared in pain and anger, striking out blindly as the wounds of the rogue's weapons and the searing sting of the poison in his blood maddened him.

A moment later the snake trap burst and the serpents added their own venom to the mix, overwhelming the Tauren with the sheer weight of toxin. It staggered to one side and fell, chipping it's horn as it struck heavily against the rock wall. Rook delivered the coup de gras a moment later, as he had for the cultist outside.

His quick eyes flicked to the entrance, taking in the two dead warriors, and the troll still laying unharmed. He smiled, looking back to Blaze.. A few dings, but not much the worse for wear. "Good, good. That's why I love you. " he said offhandedly, grinning.

Voices were rising throughout the cave. Questions and angry shouts in half a dozen languages. Rook hesitated a moment, then filled his lungs and shouted in Common with both hands against his mouth.

"INTRUDERS! WE ARE BESIEGED! THEY HEAD FOR THE ELEMENTAL ROOM, THEY'RE AFTER THE CRYSTALS! IN THE NAME OF THE OLD GODS, STOP THEM!"

He dropped his voice and listened, hearing some answering shouts of acknowledgement amid the ones of confusion. He smirked.

"Elementals are that way." He pointed down a passage to the right. "We're going this way." He pointed left.

"With luck most of them will miss us as they go the wrong way. Come with me, sunshine, we're nearly there. See? It's easy."

He sheathed his blades and hurried down the passage on the left.

[Blaze]

"Good, good. That's why I love you. " he said offhandedly, grinning.

Blaze could feel her cheeks begin to burn and she pressed her lips together into a tight line. The shout broke her out of it and she looked around immediately crouching low as she too listened very carefully nodding absently as he continued to speak.

Sheathing her own blades she motioned Mushal to be quiet then followed quickly behind the rogue.

[valrae]

So far, so good... The Rogue's plan seemed to be working and as they progressed further into the tunnel the only sign of the enemy they encountered were fleeting glimpses from down some distant tunnel or other. Once one came a little too close for comfort and Rook had put a hand on Blaze's shoulder and pulled her into the shadows for the moment it had taken for the threat to pass. The rogue seemed to know the cave, and to know where he was going.

A few more minutes of furtive travel down the passages and the tunnelabruptly widened into an echoing, torch-lit chamber. Black water spread out around the edges, and in the center a wide flat ridge of stone protruded out into the subterranean pond like a raised path, wide near where they were, but tapering to a high narrow point towards the center of the room. At the end point of the stone half-bridge was a chest. Largely unremarkable it was made of a dark, dense wood and was heavily laquered. It's sole unique feature seemed to be a mythril band just below the lip, etched with deep black runes and the hammer-and-sunburst insignia of the cult.

Rook's breath stilled as he saw it, but a moment later his eyes narrowed. Something was wrong. He tensed.

Where were the guards?

"Blaze-" But before he could finish the sentence a clear, Danassian voice rang through the hall.

"Well well well... Look what the Crow has drug in..." The sound seemed to come from everywhere at once, echoing and bouncing off the walls and ceiling.

"I must say. I didn't expect to see you here... But then... I didn't really believe you'd just roll over and die, either.... You've made quite a mess, though... I'm not surprised. That's all you've ever really been good at, after all."

Rook backed up to Blaze, putting his hand on her arm. "We're in trouble. Put your back up against a wall and stay there." There was an odd tightness to his voice, different from the tension that had tinged it earlier. He was scared.

"If he shows himself... Shoot him. Even if I'm in the way. But do not get close. Don't let Mushal get close either."

"And I see you've brought a playmate with you. SHE looks durable... I bet I can have some fun with her, before she gives out."

Rook gave Blaze a look he hoped was reassuring. "I'll find him. Don't worry."

He smiled tightly and disappeared.

The Voice laughed. "Ahh... And now we play? Finally. You know I've waited for this..."

[Blaze]

Mushal and Blaze shared a growl at the strange voice. She planted her hand between the tigers shoulder blades as she looked around, not even giving a second glance to Rook's hand on her arm. She did as she was told and pressed her back to the wall.

"And I see you've brought a playmate with you. SHE looks durable... I bet I can have some fun with her, before she gives out." Blaze snorted angrily and narrowed her eyes. She could endure quite a bit, but the owner of this voice would never know.

Rook gave Blaze a look he hoped was reassuring. "I'll find him. Don't worry."

She took a breath to protest but it pittered out as Rook disappeared. The fool, she thought bitterly. While the voice laughed Blaze shot off a flare to cover the distance around her and planted another ice trap a foot out from her. Nothing would get close to her without her seeing it. Carefully she took out her dagger and looked around. Mushal's hackles were raised a ready growl in his throat.

[valrae]

"I'm glad you came, Crow, I really am." The voice rang again from the ceiling and walls.

"This way I'll get to kill you myself, instead of just watching the archmaster do it... Some wishes do come true."

"Our little black Crow... Or... Hmm. What are you calling yourself now, I wonder? Gull? Jackdaw?" Laughter.

"But the real answer is Sybrian Blackwing, isn't it?" Laughter echoed again. "See? I know too. If I had the figurine in my hands now, I could say your name and end you... But of course I can't open the chest either... It's a bit ironic, don't you think?"

The echoes of the voice died away and the cavern drifted into silence, aside from the crackle of the burning flare.

Long seconds passed.

"I've found you, Sybrian."

Sparks flew as four blades met, and both rogues faded into view, ducking and weaving and striking as they spilled out of shadow. Rook was on the defensive, already bleeding from a deep gash across his collarbone, face scrunched up in an mixture of pain and fury. His opponent was taller and thinner, sharp-featured and guant with light blue skin and ash-grey hair. His mouth stretched wide as he pressed the attack, two full-length swords glowing as they hammered away at Rook's defenses, steel whirling faster than any weapon that size had a right to move. He stepped to the side, always, moving to keep Rook's body between himself and Blaze, using him as a shield.

The rogue's swords flicked past Rook's guard again, opening a wound on his shoulder. The blood that sprang from it seemed to bubble and boil as the poison settled in, and the night elf cried out in agony in spite of himself.

[Blaze]

Blaze didn't understand who this Crow was, or understood anything else. It didn't matter. All she needed to know was who the enemy was that had to die, and that much was perfectly clear.

When the sparks began to fly she went rigid and pulled out her bow, notching an arrow. She could see Rook had been hurt already, and by the looks of things would be hurt again. His opponent was marvelous in skill and cunning. Growling she couldn't get a clear shot, and she didn't want to trust her bare average marksman skills in an instance like this.

He had warned her not to let Mushal get close either. Part of her wanted to let the males fight to find the victor among themselves and let it be that. But if the enemy won she would get a lot more closer to him she feared then she wanted to. Live or die, make your choice. She peered down at the tiger at her side and lowered enough to rub her nose to his. She whispered, "Be careful." and then set him loose upon the other rogue. In another time, another place she may have let them settle it alone. This happened to be neither and she had to try. She couldn't stand by and let Rook be hurt.

Mushal burst from Blaze's side with a loud snarling growl, and half the power of a charging kodo. His green eyes narrowed in on his target and he barreled right for him his saber canines looking to clamp down hard on a nice meaty thigh or arm.

[valrae]

The Twilight Rogue's head snapped up as the tiger rushed in and his lip curled into a sneer. He planted a boot in Rook's chest and kicked him backwards then Vanished with a flash of light and a hollow pop. Rook kept his feet and looked with confusion and horror between Mushal and Blaze for an instant.

"What? No no no! You can't-"

The Twilight reappeared a moment later behind the tiger, his hand arching downward viciously, a long nail-like shiv in his hand. The crude weapon was coated with a powerful poison, Rook knew. It was this rogue's signature. A toxin that would travel through the bloodstream, paralyzing whatever it touched, from muscles to organs. Once it got inside a living thing, it was just a matter of time before the heart and lungs would sieze and stop, unless it were counteracted. The toxin was rare, as was the antidote. He had a dose, but only one. He'd hoped to avoid the possiblilty of more than one of them becoming afflicted by it by being the only one within it's range...

He watched helplessly as the Twilight attacked, going for his crossbow but knowing that even if he hit, it would be too little too late, unless the tiger managed to squirm out of the way.

[Blaze]

"Elune!! Aid my arrows to fly swift and true!!" Blaze's voice rang out loudly in clear Darnassian as her eyes flashed and her hands came alive with a bright glow. Arrows flew at the careless rogue at double their normal speed, the powerful arcane shot was almost immediately followed up by an arrow meant to slow him. Mushal took that chance to spin around and leap to the side from the attack. Then came the steady shot, all the power she had in her arms, and still the arrows flew.

That was all Blaze needed. She didn't admire the enemy so much anymore. He had given up his elven shield, and forgotten about her. Now he'd pay the price.

[valrae]

The Twilight rogue Rook knew only as Kestrel flickered and seemed to be in three places at once, somehow evading the worst of the hail of arrows, though two found their marks, pinioning his left shoulder and snicking across his side, leaving a trail of blood. The Twilight Rogue grunted, his eyes catching on Blaze for a moment. "You've earned yourself a painful end!"

If anything, the speed of Kestrel's blades increased, flashing into near-invisibility as the hammered away at both Rook and Mushal at once in wide-sweeping arcs, practically chasing the other elf across the stone floor as the rogue skipped backwards, trying to prevent Kestrel from using him as cover again, and to keep Blaze's sight picture open. Sparks appeared like fireflies where their blades met.

Mushal's claws opened rents along Kestrel's back, and with a snarl the rogue turned and flung a handful of powder into the tiger's face, a mix of ground pepper seeds and ash and a dozen other different things, meant to burn out the senses for a short while, to blind and disorient for a few moments. The best way to fight hunter pets was to not fight them. Then he turned his attention back to Rook.

Rook was tiring. He'd never been a match for Kestrel, not on his best day, and this was pretty damned far from that, exhausted from two days of travel and no sleep. So he fell back, conserving his strength, concentrating on giving Blaze the shot she needed. Even so he was being driven hard and he felt himself flagging... His one consolation was that Kestrel had already dug deeply into his bag of tricks... Eventually things would devolve into a simple slugging match, and with Blaze here that meant they had the advantage... The question of whether he'd survive till Blaze brought Kestrel down was another matter...

His eyes widened in shock as he fetched up against the wall of the cavern, out of room to run. His image flashed and vanished, but Kestrel's swords plunged forward and Rook reappeared a moment later impaled on the tips, his face contorted in agony.

Kestrel laughed in triumph and turned his eyes to Blaze, but when he jerked his swords they did not come free. He looked back see Rook's hands gripping the crossbars of both his weapons.

"Whoreson!" Kestrel spat furiously. The weapon chains that kept him from being disarmed him now shackled him to his swords. He couldn't move until Rook let go. Instead of pulling again he rammed the weapons forward into the other rogue. Death had a way of loosening one's grip...

Rook's eyes unfocused at the pain as he sank to the floor, but he kept his hold on Kestrel's weapons. He looked for Blaze across the room, but his vision wouldn't reach that far.. He concentrated on keeping his hands closed as tightly as he could, hoping Blaze would understand what he was doing.

Now. Now.. Now...

[Blaze]

Blaze grit her teeth as Elune's magic faded away. Seeing Mushal in trouble she called upon the magic again, this time to heal her friend.

Everything was happening so fast, Kestrel was painfully fast, and her arrows were lacking the speed most hunters possessed. Now was not the time to think about her own weakness, but the enemies. Mushal was dusted and he staggered about helplessly pawing at his face as his eyes watered and burned with a wrath of a thousand stinging bees. The end to this was upon them all. Just what end rested on the huntress' shoulders.

Snarling she marked Kestrel preventing him from vanishing from her sight, then notched a special arrow. Her one true gift. Slight though it may be, it had saved many a life for the short time that it lasted. Perhaps this time it would help to end a life.

When Rook became impaled Blaze went cold, and the color drained from her face. It was all she could do to fight to keep herself standing. Rook. "YOU CANNOT DIE!" she screamed her hands trembling. Focus Blaze.

With a mighty howl Blaze let fly her special arrow. It sliced through the air perfectly and struck home in Kestrel. In the pained silence a loud snore broke out as the rogue was suddenly put to sleep. Sweat beaded down Blazes forehead into her eyes. This was it. As she jumped from her place and ran over she threw off her helm and pulled out Kael'thas' glowing blade and her dagger. Live or die, live or die, I'll make your choice, Blaze thought as she came upon Kestrel blades at the ready.

[valrae]

Kestrel's furious glare turned blank as the arrow struck in the center of his back and he sagged on his feet, eyes still half open but not seeing anything as he wallowed in the arrow's trancelike sleep, heedless of the onrushing huntress' footsteps.

((kill him if yeh want. ^^))

[Blaze]

Blaze was not merciful, and slashed across his throat before following through with a stab of her sword, and another stab with her dagger to the heart. His blood strayed up over her face to which she paid little mind, and she did not stop until the rogue was dead.

((Didn't want to take too many liberties.))

[valrae]

((No, it's cool. You did it perfectly.))


Rook grit his teeth and whimpered as he pushed against the blades as Kestrel toppled over at last, to prevent them ripping out of him as the rogue fell. The dead cultist and his two swords clattered to the floor in a messy, unmoving heap.

Rook looked blearily up at Blaze, a slow smile spreading painfully across his face. "Thanks, sweetheart. ...See.. I had him right where I wanted him." He blinked slowly, looking down at his wounds. One was just below the collarbone on his right, and the other had pierced through the muscles of his left flank. With the steel out, both were bleeding copiously.

"I won't lie, though.. this hurts.. quite a lot. I think I need a little help." He blinked again, continuing dreamily. "Oh good. ...going into shock. Listen... In my belt pouch on the right there's a red vial and a green one. I need both of those.. My arm doesn't seem to work right now. If I pass out just dump them both in my mouth, and then bind the wounds... Pretty please. I should be fine after that." He let his head fell back against the stone, smiling up at her.