Private rp with Wingfeather

[wingfeather]

Lockian had spotted the distant figures a little while after Cassidy had, he nodded at her advice. Taking down his bow he strung it before replacing it, then he loosened the dirk which was sheathed at his side to be sure it would slip from its scabbard smoothly if it was to be called upon, not that he knew what the short blade would do in a fight, but one thing was for sure... it was a weapon, and after all it was double sided and the hilt was thick and of a good length. Quite honestly he would have preferred to keep his bow in hand but he knew that people generally did not take too kindly to those who seemed of an aggressive nature, so just keeping it strung and within easy reach would have to suffice for the moment, and his draw speed was fast... hopefully fast enough. He dropped back from his position slightly ahead of the wagon so that he was beside Cassidy. 

[mainehorse]

"Well, well, well, look what we have here boys." One of the men says as they near Cass and Lockian. The one on horseback brought his mount to a stop just behind whom Cass assumed must be the leader of the band. Brigands, just as she had thought they might be. Cass lets go of the wagon, prepared to draw her weapon if it turned out a well placed threat wasn't enough to get the band to back off. There were five brigands, meaning they were outnumbered. It would be best to avoid a fight if possible. Confidence was key, since it was easy to tell when someone made a threat they didn't feel they could back up. "We're just passing through, not looking for any trouble. I don't want to hurt you, but if you provoke me then I will fight back" she warns, her left hand hovering over the hilt of her sword in case she needed to draw it at a moment's notice.

[wingfeather]

''Aye, and I right beside her,'' Lockian said quietly turning his arm back and resting it on his bow for a quick draw if need be. He assessed the five silently, hmm only one horse, that must mean they were not very wealthy which meant low-grade weapons, unless of course they were hiding everything and were actually a feared wayside band, it was sometimes hard to tell with these sorts of fellows. Lockian heard low growls coming from behind the wagon, he did not dare turn and look, he didn't need to anyway, he knew that Grettir would have his hackles raised and bristling around his neck and that is lips would be turned up in a nasty snarl. He also knew that the dog would attack immediately if the men should attempt harm on his master, although what a dog could do against an armed man Lockian didn't know.

[mainehorse]

The man at the head of the group, like the leader scoffs slightly in reply to the two as he drew his sword. "And what the two of you planning to do against five armed men? That's an impressive blade you've got their lady. But I doubt you know how to use a greatsword" he mutters as he sizes up the two of them. The man appeared to be an archer, so if they managed to get up close then their chances were good. Bows were more effective from a distance than they were up close. Although he could see a sheathed dirk on his person as well. But dirks were generally side arms, not the main weapon. With the loose fitting tunic that Cass was wearing, she just looked scrawny since it concealed the wiry frame well. As a result, he doubted she could fight. Such assumptions could be deadly when picking a fight since they resulted in one underestimating their opponent. He turned his gaze over to one of his men to give the order to attack, taking his gaze off of Cass just long enough for her to swiftly draw her own weapon and disarm him. His sword fell with a thud to the ground just as he gave the order to his men to draw his weapons. That would buy them time against one of them at least.

[wingfeather]

Lockian swiftly drew his bow and set and arrow to it, he hardly took aim before releasing the shaft at a man closer to him, it thunked into his neck felling him with a gurgling scream. But he didn't have time to pull another arrow before the range closed and the brigands were too close. Throwing his bow down he advanced upon the next nearest man with dirk drawn. True this was not a weapon for war type combat but it was a weapon nonetheless and he was going to use it as best he could. Lockian chose his next target, or rather they chose him, advancing with a short sword, yet swiping it at him rather clumsily. He was on the defensive for most of the time with his inferior weapon but slowly he was gaining the upper hand with skill alone.

[mainehorse]

Cass brandishes her sword, blocking an attack from one of the men who had taken the opportunity to come at her while their leader fumbled to try and pick up his sword again. Five against two was hardly a fair fight, but still they were gaining the upper hand somehow. The horse that had been with the men had fled as the acrid scent of blood reached his nostrils, spooking him. Where it had gone off to though was not the leading concern at the moment given that everyone else was locked in combat. By now, the leader had gotten his sword back and was rushing to join the man who was locked in combat with Cass. Either this would end with the brigands choosing to yield, or things could get messy since combat rarely ended without injuries on both sides.

[wingfeather]

Sweat was pouring down Lockian's face as he labored to parry the blows of the sword, he was loosing energy fast, as his recourses were draining from the extra effort he had to put in because of his shorter blade. The man tried an overhead blow suddenly which Lockian caught with the edge of his dirk, it was a standoff, but at this point Lockian didn't know if he could make it since he was pushing upwards and that took a lot more effort than downward energy. He was able at this time to get a look at his opponent through the wet hair clinging to Lockian's face. There was no doubt about it.... he could expect no mercy of this man. But he didn't know how much longer he could hold the sword lock. By this time Grettir had already jumped into the fray and was at the moment viciously trying to gain a neck hold on a particularly brawny one.

[mainehorse]

Cassius had one of the two men on his back, the tip of her blade hovering just above his chest. She could end him there and now should she have pleased to. But there was a better use of his vulnerability in this moment than to land the final blow. She glares at the captain, her mismatched gaze hardened with anger. There would be time later on to discern the severity of any injuries they might have sustained, but for now it was time to try and end this battle. She could tell that Lockian was starting to tire nearby. And if she was being honest, she was starting to as well. "Call your men off. Now." She growls. The threat was implied without her having to say anything directly. She had one of his men at her mercy. If they backed off now, then injured as they were, they might yet survive. "Okay... okay. I will, just let him up." The leader says. "Not until you call them off." Cass replies. She wasn't a fool. If she let him up too early then the fight might yet wear on. The leader nods slightly, whistling to get the other's attention. "To me. Now. This fight isn't worth risking our lives further" he says.

[wingfeather]

Lockian blew a sigh of relief when the fight was finally called off, ''thank goodness,'' he muttered underneath his breath, ''Grettir desist,'' he called loudly to the dog. The wolfhound pricked his ears and jumped off the man, he was still snarling but was wounded in many places bleeding freely, especially from a sword slash from at his side. Lockian drew in a breath at the wounds covering his dog but he could attend to him yet... not till the terms were said. He himself had a few cuts, aside from a few bruises he had gotten a long slash going down the length of his arm and a couple spots breeding at his shoulder, nothing too bad, but they would still need attention. He glanced at Cassidy, she was definitely handling the situation well, it almost seemed as if she were in her element. She seemed like she knew a lot about these sorts of things....

[mainehorse]

Cass sheathes her sword again, as the group of brigands began to gather. An opportunity perhaps. To be a mounted archer, Lockian would need a horse. And wounds could be dealt with while they waited. "Now... your horse. A fine gelding by the looks of it. Would make a good warhorse with proper work to keep him from spooking. Bring him here and then you'll be free to go" she says. How easily it seemed she fell into this role... she wasn't sure how to feel about that. She still had no way of knowing what her past was. But apparently she must have had a knack for intimidation. The leader nods, gesturing for his men to set out with him to go and find the horse. As they vanish into the distance, Cass turns her mismatched gaze over to Lockian, looking him over to discern how badly he was injured. She would worry about her own wounds later. "Those will need to be disinfected and bandaged, maybe sutures as well depending on how deep they are" she mutters, making her way to the cart to get the first aid supplies.

[wingfeather]

Lockian looked Cassidy, hmm that was good thinking, he though, now they wouldn't have to lug that heavy cart any more, granted that was only if the horse was cart trained but chances were, it wouldn't be too hard to break it. Lockian didn't feel very comfortable with leaving the remaining brigands unguarded but followed Cassidy to the cart anyway though he kept a wary eye on them, definitely would not do to show fear. ''How did you fare through the skirmish,'' he asked trying to asses her wounds, ''good thinking on the horse by the way.'' Once they had gotten all the medical supplies he spoke again, ''I'll have to tend to Grettir first, before myself,'' he told her looking back at the dog who, though still standing, didn't seem like he could take much more.

[mainehorse]

Cass turns her head slightly to look over to the dog before turning her gaze back over to Lockian. "I can go ahead and patch him up if you'd like. That way you can tend to your own wound. Some of those look pretty bad. He can probably rest in the cart afterwards until we find a place to make camp" she says pausing. "I figured I might as well take the opportunity, not only will it make travel easier, but you'll need a horse if you want to be a mounted archer" she says pausing. "Battered... bruised, probably bleeding in a few places. But nothing fatal as far as I can tell" she says. She would need to wash off the blood to fully be able to access the severity of her injuries. She wasn't entirely certain how much of it was her own and how much came from the brigands. But she didn't feel lightheaded or weak from blood loss, so that was at least good. Though until her wounds were closed she'd probably continue to loose some blood.

[wingfeather]

Lockian shook his head, ''I can't tend to myself until I know he's alright.'' He looked up suddenly in surprise, she used this opportunity.... for him, to get him a horse? ''Thanks, that was... that was quite considerate of you,'' he said gratefully. He looked her blood crusted wounds over again, she was probably a little worse off than she let on but he didn't say anything. Lockian advanced towards the wounded dog and kneeled beside him. After getting the dog to lie down he began searching the wounds of with his hands, his face became graver with each new wound he checked over, ''he does not seem to good Cassidy,'' Lockian said in a low voice. The dogs eyes normally alert and curious eyes were only half open now and his breathing was getting shallower. 

[mainehorse]

Cass makes her way over to where Lockian and the dog were. She kneels down beside them slowly and reaches forward slightly to press a cloth to one of the dog's deeper looking wounds. The movement causes her to wince as a sharp pain rips through her shoulder, leaving behind a dull ache even afterwards. But she brushes it off just as quickly, ignoring it to focus on tending to the injured dog. An old habit? Perhaps, and perhaps not. She had no way of knowing at this point. Her brow was furrowed as she used both arms to place pressure on the wound, in an attempt to stop the bleeding, or at the very least slow it down. "Aye... I'm afraid so" she mutters, still applying pressure to the wound. She didn't want to say it... but he looked like he was fading. There wasn't much else she could do in the moment aside from try to stop the bleeding. But the dog's breathing was quite shallow at this point and growing more so with each second that passed. Usually when that started happening, whether person or animal, it meant they were on their way out already.

[wingfeather]

Lockian took the dog's head in his lap and began stroking it, Lockian began breathing hard as he tried keeping himself in check, he didn't know what to do with himself at this point. His hand went from the dog to his own forehead then back to the dog again. Honestly at this point he was very glad he had been wounded so that at least he could feel something... pain. He could feel a sense of despair creeping up his back and the back of his neck switch from stifling hot to freezing cold in a second as Grettir's breathing only became slower and shallower no matter what Cassidy tried. He shook his head suddenly as the dog released his last breath, ''he's gone,'' Lockian said simply. Standing up he lifted the limp body of his dog gently in his arms, ''I need to find his last resting place,'' Lockian said to Cassidy without looking at her. Then quickly went over a hill to find a suitable burial place.