blink once if you need help

Once again, Finwe had wandered away from her friends. It wasn't hard to do, and they didn't mean to do it so often. But curiosity often got the better of her, sent her meandering away until she was in trouble. And out of earshot of those that could easily help.

What was worse, was her sense of direction could, at times, be appalling. Unless she had a map and had paid attention to the route she took, well, therein lied the issue. She hadn't been paying attention and, well, the map was back at camp. Along with her friends that had been ditched in favor of wandering away.

Something had caught their attention and off she'd gone.

But now? Now there was a massive issue. And that issue was dark, disgusting, and chasing her. An unholy shriek came from her as she ran away from the monsters. Darkspawn, apparently. She'd seen them a couple times, but usually they could be avoided. Let others fight and hide, that was the method. But when she was alone? Well, that didn't work so well. So all she could do was run as fast as her legs would carry and pray to whatever deity would fucking listen that help was needed.

Any time now.

Something was not right.  Magnus could hear the voice in the back of his mind screaming an alarm.  He glanced at Jaqueline who also seemed to sense the wrongness around them.  

And then they heard the shriek.  Without thinking, he wrapped himself in shadow, moving through the darkness faster than he could ever hope to move.  

And then he saw her, terrified, running for her life...with darkspawn closing the distance.   Emerging from the shadows, he concentrated on a cluster of them, calling on his magic with ferocity.  His jaw clenched and his eyes narrowed to slits as the group fell to the ground, the boiling blackness that coursed through their veins spilling onto the ground to form a steaming pool.  He could feel rage threatening to burst from his body at the insolence of any creatures foolish enough to attract his attention.

A few still moved, and with the slightest tilt of his head, he unleashed a second wave, stilling them completely.  

He smiled viciously, turning his attention to the next largest bunch and again summoning the power that emerged from the wound on his arm.

Jaq felt the hairs at the back of her neck stand up just as Magnus stiffened.  There was danger. 

Her gloves were on and her blades out in a flash - but by then Magnus had already disappeared.  Her ears searched for a sign of which direction to go, finding it almost immediately.  Though she didn't have the same abilities as he, she could move swiftly and silently.  She did just that.  

By the time she found them, there were already four darkspawn lifelessly sprawled on the ground.  The grin on Magnus's face was malevolent and fearsome, but she had seen that before and already made her peace with this aspect of him.  She faded into the shadows, using her skills to sneak up silently behind one of the stragglers.  This group had been chasing a single terrified person and Jaq raged at that thought. 

She plunged her dagger into one of the creatures, adding a little torque to ensure the blade did its duty.  Her face did not boast of anything as venomous as a smile as she withdrew it.  Instead, she was completely blank, cold efficiency evident in each of her movements.  She stepped back into the shadows, sprinting without sound to reach the next darkspawn and repeat her lethal task.  This time, as she thrust, she met the eyes of the intended victim.  She knew hers did not provide the comfort or compassion that she would have liked to express.  No, right now the only thing Jaq was able to give was death and the comfort that came from slain enemies. 

She looked to Magnus, his blue eyes ablaze as he commanded so much magic, then back to the intended target.  She wanted to say something...but lacked any words that would help. 

Instead, she moved, taking a protective position between her and the abominations determined to kill them.

Finwe hardly knew what was happening. One moment, the nastiest creatures she'd ever encountered were breathing down their neck, and the next it was, well... not so bad. Venturing a terrified peak, they noticed not one but two people had come to their rescue.

Neither of them looked familiar to Fin, but then it wasn't as if the circle of people she knew was a large one. In fact, they had a habit of forgetting about people after a while. Unless she saw them on the daily, weekly, and maybe monthly... what was the point of wasting memory to it?

A whimpering laugh escaped from Fin's lips as they watched the people defend her. Mayhaps she should not have wandered off from her friends.

Manus could feel the toll taken by the surge of magic he felt coursing through his body.  As another group fell, blood bubbling out from any opening it could find, he pointed his left hand toward one of the two left rushing Jaq and the terrified person.  He whispered a word, barely audible above the noise of the fight.    [color=#7CD98A] "Espanto." [/color]

The creature screamed in pain and horror.  It fell to its knees, trapped in some vision that seemed to sap its very life force. 

Magnus's eyes were cold and hard as the creature toppled over, dead.  He no longer felt quite so tired.  

He turned his eyes to the last just in time to see Jaq dispatch it.  She was doing well - but she had always been a good pupil.  

The sound of a distressed laugh echoed in his ears...the sort that was toeing the line between panic and relief.  He eyed its source, noting the slight tremble in their hands from the adrenaline that had lost direction.  

His expression softened as he spoke to them.  [color=#7CD98A]"Are you okay?  Did they hurt you?"  [/color]

It would really suck if he and Jaq were already too late.  Then again, perhaps she was ready for that lesson...

Jaq shifted, reading to launch herself at the two rushing toward them.  Out of the corner of her eye, Magnus pointed at one and he fell.  

She pounced, her blades leading her strike.  They sliced through the leathery skin and sank deep, only to be pulled out and once again thrust inside.  Something deep inside her seemed to rejoice in the brutality.  

But then the creature fell.  She scanned the area around them, finally accepting that the fight was over.  

She glanced at Magnus as he eyed the person cowering a few feet away.  She knew what he was thinking...and hoped it wouldn't come to that.  

She pulled off her gloves and tucked them away before brushing a bit of hair off her face.  She did her best to seem as nonthreatening as she could - at least for someone who had just violently killed a few dangerous creatures.  

[color=#7CD98A]"It's safe for now."[/color]  She said it reassuringly.  Something prickled her mind, and she looked around again. [color=#7CD98A] "Are you out here alone?" [/color] Who the hell would go walking out in these forests alone?  

It took Fin a moment to discern which of her rescuers was speaking. The taller one. Tall, dark, and handsome. As some they knew might decide to describe him. But Fin, Fin didn't care. They were safe and this one and that other one had saved her.

Questions were coming at her and Fin unfurled from her cowardly position. Examining everything they could find on their body, it didn't seem anything had touched her. Thank the gods for that. Umm, Fin trailed off, taking one final twist around to look at their back as best as one could do on themselves. I'm unharmed. Physically, maybe. Mentally... eh, they'd be fine after a day or so.

Finwe chewed on their tongue a bit, fiddling with their hands. I sort of might mayhaps be alone... yes. Looking up again, she gave a slight shrug.

Hauling up to her feet, Fin brushed the dirt off her already ratty clothing. They landed with hands on hips and looked around. Have either of you seen an excavation site? I lost track of where I'd been working and was looking for it when... Trailing off, Fin waved their hands around at the dead bodies.

Magnus watched the young elf try to gather themselves.  Much to his relief, they did in fact appear to be untouched.  At least, as of now.  There was something innocent about them- well, unabashedly naive might have been a better descriptor.  But perhaps there was something he didn't see...something that had kept them alive through what he assumed was years of wandering off on their own.  

He shook his head. [color=#7CD98A] "No, I have not." [/color]

He considered lecturing them but thought better of it.  It didn't seem like the sort of thing that would stick, anyway. 

Instead, he looked to Jaq and gave a tiny nod - knowing her well enough to predict the question she hadn't yet asked.  The girl might be young, but she had a damn fine head on her shoulders for such things.

Jaq smiled softly and their new companion and, out of the corner of her eye, caught Magnus's nod. [color=#7CD98A] "I think I saw a bit of a trail on our way here..if that might be it.  Can we walk with you...just to help you find it?  I'd hate for you to come upon any more of those things lurking about."  [/color]

It was partially true.  It would be a waste for them to have saved this elf just to have them killed a few moments later.  But also...this was an opportunity.  Perhaps there was nothing that could be learned or gained from the encounter...but one could never tell what chance encounter could spin a series of events in a new direction.  

[color=#7CD98A]"My name is Jaq.  That's Magnus."[/color]

Finwe squinted a bit at the tall one. Broody, perhaps. After a moment, she shrugged and focused on the more talkative shorter stranger. Oh, it's probably fine. Finwe waved absently. But I don't turn down help, which way?

But then, no directions came in the immediacy that Fin expected. Ah, clearly one must give out names to forget first and foremost. Where we her manners? Pah. They gave an absent shrug and nod, looking around and focused more on trying to spy this magical, mythical path.

Magnus smiled to himself.  

There were worse things than being all about business...though he still wasn't sure the elf was entirely all there.  

Didn't matter though.  They were looking for an excavation site and Magnus's interest was piqued.  He waited for Jaq to lead the way.

Jaq also smiled and gave a curt nod.  

[color=#7CD98A]"Okay."[/color]  She turned and started walking. [color=#7CD98A]"It's this way."  [/color]

After a few moments of silence - Jaq would have considered it awkward had the elf not seemed oblivious that it was strange to walk in silence this way - she finally asked, [color=#7CD98A]"So...you said excavation site?  What are you excavating?"[/color]

Finwe looked back at the more talkative of the two. What was her name? Jim? Jay? Jam? No matter. The important thing was progress. With a bounce in her step, they followed without hesitation.

Silence never bothered Finwe. They were often left alone to their thoughts and, frankly, no one else tended to listen anyway. So what difference did it make? She'd tried the talkative bit, that didn't get her anywhere and here she was alone.

Well. Not exactly alone any more.

The questions came and their brow furrowed. Swinging her head, she looked at Jam as if the woman were asking the stupidest question in the world. Ancient elvhen ruins? What the fuck else is worth excavating?? Finwe looked back at the broody one for confirmation. Please agree that this question was asinine.

Magnus watched the exchange with amusement, though he was careful not to let it show on his face.  Clearly small talk wasn't something the little elf was interested in (or perhaps capable of).  

It made no difference, really.  They were going to follow the trail and see where it led.  

At the very least, it was entertaining to watch Jaqueline interact with someone so far outside of what she was used to.

Jaq noted the indignation in the reply and clocked the glance at Magnus for confirmation.  

Perhaps their new companion had spent a really, really long time alone.  More likely, they just didn't care if they were rude.  That at least made things more straightforward.

[color=#7CD98A]"Clearly.  Temple?  Town?  Battlefield?  Just was curious about what was out here.  But if you don't know..."[/color]  Jaq shrugged.  She was trying to remember the details of lessons learned so long ago...but all that came to mind was the way her mind had wandered each time Magnus leaned in to point at something in one of the books he had given her to read.  

She kept walking until she came upon the place where she had seen the almost completely overgrown trail.  If it had not looked recently trodden, Jaq might have missed it completely.  [color=#7CD98A]"This what you're looking for?"  [/color]