Amidst everything that was happening on top of the hill, for some unexplained reason Liam's ears twitched to a sound that only his subconscious seemed to hear. Something told him to look over his shoulder, and so he did...and what he saw shocked and horrified him. It was Woden, crumpled in a broken heap against a tree not too far away. He was bleeding profusely, his wounds deep. For what seemed like forever, Liam could not speak... He felt as if he was in a nightmare in which he could not scream. Finally, he found he was able to move again, and before he even realized what was going on he was stumbling down the hill and toward his friend. "Woden...!" Somehow, his voice came back, and ignoring the searing flare that shot through his leg and shoulder as he moved he collapsed beside the fay stag. Tears trailed down his cheeks as he nuzzled the wounded stag, his entire body trembling.

"Oh, Woden...please tell me you're alright..." he whispered, doing his best to give comfort but not knowing what else to do. Ishibaba had turned when Liam cried out, and rushed down the hill in a panic. Woden...what was he doing here? How could this have happened to him?

(Gah...somehow this got cut off from my last post. >_O; )

The healer looked over Woden with a grim expression on his weathered face. It did not look good, not at all... "Woden, I need you to stay still. Do not move," the elder said, trying his best to sound calm, but the very state of the fay's wounds forced with voice to waiver. He crushed up a few red flowers into a paste beneath his hoof, and he gently began to smear it only the more minor gashes. He would need Nekumbra to dress the deeper wounds. "This should help. Do not fret, just stay still...your wounds must not open further," he continued, his heart breaking as Liam could only helplessly nuzzle the monarch stag. Why must the good suffer for evil's deeds?

When the one named Nathaniel arrived and spoke up, the elder turned to him and gave a deep bow. "Yes...please, do whatever you can. His bleeding is too heavy to stop otherwise," Ishibaba replied in a hushed voice so as not to frighten Liam.

A voice... Woden's voice. Liam lifted his head and looked down at Woden with bewilderment, awe and hope in his misty eyes. Did he...did he really just speak? "Woden..." Liam whispered, pressing his lips to the fay's shoulder and squeezing his eyes shut. He didn't want to upset the monarch stag with his tears, but he just couldn't stop them. Having those he loved get hurt...it was too much for him to bear. Seeing Woden in this state was a shock; Woden was always happy and bounding around without a care in the world. And now...

Poison... Liam's eyes snapped open again in terror, and he shakily kissed Woden's cheek out of impulse. "Gods...yes, stay still. Everything will be alright, Woden...I promise," he managed to whisper, and then looked up at Ishibaba and Nathaniel with pleading eyes. There had to be something they could do, and they didn't have much time...

((Are we ready for the big fight? Don't want you guys to feel rushed if you're not ready ))

"Woden, oh gods!", Nekumbra cried and ran to his friend's side.

She listened, understanding that he was suffering from a poison that ran through his veins. Nekumbra tried to think of any way she could help. Her fangs were venomous as well, though it wasn't very potent for larger deer like him. All it would do was make him numb and sleepy.

If all else..., she thought, I could ease his pain...

[[...I'll have to go for a while...since it's currently half three in the morning lol...]]

Something…shifted. Woden realized something had changed. The poison…it seemed to be receding. He concentrated on fighting it. Sharp stabs of pain lanced through him but as he concentrated the poison was loosing its hold. He tried to transform and new levels of pain arched through him. But he was making headway.

Ah, but his wounds were on fire, some magic was effecting him, he realized now. Something that was helping him to fight the poison. Despite the pain, he kept up a steady pressure, urging the transformation upon himself. He felt wings, he felt his hooves become talons. Suddenly the breaking point was reached and he shot up and into the air, his spread wings catching the air. He was Raven and he was free of the pain. He had transformed at last.

He called out in exaltation.

Nekumbra sniffed the air, and her blood went cold. She could tell they were here, surrounding them.

And at that moment, the rock hounds revealed themselves. Nekumbra was right - there were 30 of them around the group (5 of each variety, assume purple-eyeds haven't cloaked yet).

But where was Iugulare and Anirapio? She couldn't spot them.

"Get ready, everyone! They're here!", Nekumbra spoke, but as she did, she felt some strange vibrations in the ground. She didn't think fast enough to move, and at that moment, Iugulare sprung up from the ground underneath her, striking at her and infecting her body. She let out a surprised howl and began to struggle, her underbelly burning from the virus.

Iugulare pulled in close and spoke, "You didn't think we'd give you such an easy fight now, did you?", and looking over to her friends, who had all looked surprised and horrified that she had already been captured, Iugulare spoke to them, "I'll give you a choice. Let us do what we please to Nekumbra and we won't kill you today. She isn't much of a friend anyway. You've seen what she does to your fawns, and here is the perfect opportunity to seek your revenge.", she sneered here, and then continued, "Or stand your ground and die by our paws. I could care less either way, Nekumbra is going to die regardless."

Anirapio had easily gotten past the webbing Nekumbra had placed for her, and landing by the fallen spider-doe and Iugulare, she was prepared to eat her old ally.

Nekumbra, crying and writhing, shouted something to her friends. Something that they would not expect.

"Save yourselves! Forget about me and run!!"


((At this point, it's entirely your choice whether you want to continue to fight or not. Nek's already been captured, and considering there are thirty rock hounds vs six already-injured deer, it may seem like an easy choice to leave Nek to her fate. In fact, that's kind of what I would like you guys to do, but I don't know your characters well enough so I'd rather you make the decision. You won't hurt my feelings (or Nek's) if your deer decides to flee, and the rock hounds won't pursue if you choose to do so (and you'll get the opportunity to come back after what has been done to Nek if this happens).

If you guys decide you still want to fight, we can continue to do so, but we will need more deer to join in and help.))

Erza grunted as a reply then ran into the fight. Since his sister had gone there was nothing left for him. Why die as a coward?

Fighting like Nathaniel had told him to, he never stayed with one opponent too long. He was just a flailing whirlwind of black and green, hooves and antlers. Often, he just broke legs or threw rock hounds before heading on.

It was obvious they were out numbered so he bellowed fiercely hoping to attract some attention to them. He heard the dragon, Anirapio hiss you in his mind and realised she must have recognised him from their last fight. He cursed inwardly then caught a rock hound on his antlers and threw it at her.

"No. No! I won't let anyone else go!" He yelled at her, adding "Not after Z..." under his breath.

He looked around. Nathaniel's traps! He laughed quietly which attracted the attention of the nearest rock hound. An orange alpha that was quickly advancing on him. Instead of running head first into the wolf, he ran away from it causing it to sprint after him.

When they were close, Erza leapt the patch of flowers. He felt an explosion of energy behind him but didn't see what had happened to the rock hound - he was already moving.

He came close to the infectious stoat and the dragon trying desperately to keep his stomach contents. They were so wrapped up with Nekumbra they didn't even notice him. It was terrifying to be near them, but since he had nothing left to live for he slammed his front hooves down and Anirapio's tail.

The dragon roared and turned.

Fully healed now by transforming into the raven, Woden stood once again in the warrior stag form, guarding over his injured comrades. When Iugulare appeared with the dragon and a hoard of the undead wolf creatures, he braced himself for battle. To his dismay the horrible hoard had already captured Nekumbra. He could fight better now he was sure, now that he knew what to avoid. If he went through transformations fast enough he could avoid the paralyzing effects of the poison…but there was so many of them. Liam was still badly injured, many others of the deer who had stood against the initial onslaught where injured as well. They were in no condition to fight. Woden knew there was no way to protect all of them, rescue Nekumbra and battle the grisly hoard that swarmed around them. With despair he made his decision, he would help the wounded to safety.

“I will be back for you spider-doe!” he shouted to Nekumbra. He nodded gravely to the two deer who were choosing to stay and fight. "Nathaniel, how far back should we move so you can use your magics against the foe?"

Woden nodded in understanding. “May the Twin God’s look after you Nathaniel,” perhaps this one’s magic would at least protect him. But the other deer, Ezra, he saw naught but an aggrieved heart throwing his life away, “Erza, don’t sacrifice yourself for naught, bravery does not mean fool heartedness. Help me with the wounded, I could use your assistance. I too would like nothing better than to crush this evil hoard but we need to regroup.”

"Ignore them, Anirapio! Rid us of this traitor among us, there is no need to wait!", Iugulare spoke to the dragon. Though angry at Erza, she turned and looked down to Nekumbra.

"You should have done what you were told. Not for Iugulare, not for me, but for yourself. You were my best friend, but if eating you will put me one step closer to saving my world, then so be it.", the dragon spoke, who seemed just as pained as Nekumbra was that this had to happen. "Goodbye, my friend."

She lifted the infected spider doe up and shoved her into the chest pouch. With Nekumbra's last breath, she screamed at her friends one last, desperate time, "RRRRUUUUUUNNNNN!!!!"

The rock hounds closed in around the stoat and dragon, making it difficult for any of the others to get close. They could see Anirapio's belly churning, as Nekumbra struggled...then it ceased and compressed in. Anirapio savored every moment of draining Nekumbra's body, though at one point she swayed a little from ingesting the spider's venom.

Through the tip of her tail, the dragon released Nekumbra's body - shriveled, thin, motionless. "We're done here.", Iugulare spoke, and seeping into the ground, she disappeared. Anirapio took to the sky, though her movements were wobbly due to the toxin that now had infiltrated her veins. The rock hounds, pleased to see their master's victory, scattered and fled into the Forest.

The deer looked toward the top of the hill, toward the fallen spider doe. She wasn't moving, she wasn't even breathing. They understood now why Nekumbra tried to tell them to run.

The fight was over. Iugulare and Anirapio had won. And Nekumbra was dead.

((This isn't the end. I have a plan))

Woden watched in horror as his friend Nekumbra met her grisly fate. He watched the evil hoard leave then picked his way through the battlefield, solemnly approaching the spider doe’s broken body. “I am sorry, friend,” he said bowing, “Your bravery and strength to overcome will not be forgotten.” Silently he collected flowers and adorned them on her antlers and body, busying himself with the rituals of death. She would be properly cared for.

He began gathering kindling. It would be used to build a perimeter of bonfires around the body. He would hold vigil and watch over her, guarding her so her spirit should have unencumbered passage to the Otherworld. As he gathered twigs, he hummed low and soft in his throat, a song to warn off soul stealers and to provide directions for the newly departed soul to follow, over the waters and to the islands of the dead. He knew the traditions well. He would perform them for his friend.

Woden stepped forward and nuzzled young Liam, whose broken heart echoed his own. “Let us tend to our wounded as we tend to our dead,” Woden offered his shoulder to Liam, the young stags wounds looked angry, “If you feel up to it, you can help me with the funerary preparations. Perhaps you would like to sit next to Nekumbra and hold vigil over her? I shall collect fuel for the bonfires. It is right that the fires should burn through the night,” he said looking at the sky, a few stars where becoming visible.

He looked back down to Liam who looked so ragged and tired, Woden tried to remember that he had not had the healing of transformation as he had, “Yes, I think that would be right, sit with her. There is a plant that will help with your wounds, I will fetch some for you.”

((Actually I'll do the resurrection scene as soon as Woden lights his bonfires. Would you mind writing that part, SightHoundLady?))

Liam watched Woden prepare the funeral pyre, feeling fascinated despite the sorrow that ate at his heart. It was a wonder to watch Woden do such things, and with such precision and wisdom. The young stag's respect and admiration for the fay could only grow stronger. Liam's nose tingled at the pleasant scents of sage and lavender, the combination proving to be very comforting. The heat from the bonfires was not unpleasant; he welcomed the warmth. Strangely enough, as Nekumbra's body was burned he felt oddly at peace.

Looking up at the monarch stag, Liam nodded solemnly. "Yes...she shall be safe, now. I...I am comforted now knowing that she will indeed be at peace. She cannot be hurt anymore," he replied softly, closing his eyes with a shuddering sigh.

Erza sat up. Though everyone else had been watching the spider doe he hadn't. His thoughts had been... elsewhere.

Now he was looking at Nekumbra, he could hardly believe believe his eyes. After seeing her killed by the alien dragon, she should have been dead. Properly dead.

He sighed - he could hardly be surprised, though, her once-enemy-but-now-not Quad had come back form ashes right in front of his eyes too. He shook his head. It had been a long day.

He went up and nuzzled her with extreme care.
"I'm glad your alive..." He said softly.

Maybe this was what Hex was talking about?

Woden stared in amazement when he saw the spider-doe moving. He was tired, perhaps his eyes were playing tricks on him, he’d seen corpses do unsettling things and make movements like unto life when upon the funeral pyre, kicking out in grisly semblance of life. But his eyes had not deceived him. The doe was alive. He leapt up and attacked the burning wood with his hooves and antlers, tearing it away. He was burned by the flames but he paid no attention to the pain. He was intent on snuffing out the fires. Fortunately it had not built up enough to reach Nekumbra where she rested. When he made his way finally to her side, he was dismayed at her poor condition. She looked wretched. Dehydrated, emaciated, as if she’d be starved for months. He kneeled down beside her and in her ear he whispered, “We are here for you Nekumbra, rest easy now. The enemy is vanquished and you are alive.” They had to get her to the pond. She could drink and they could cleanse her wounds there.

Nathaniel wandered the forest for a time not changing back. In times like this he was unsure of where he shoud go. Should he go home to his tower? Should he go to his place in the human world, wehre he spent most of his time, or should he remain in the forest, and go to a paritcular place? He was unsure so he simply wandered, not bothering to change back into a deer yet.

He eventually appraoched the pond, and saw the body...except it wasn't a body, it was breathing. It was alive. Nekumbra had somehow...returned from the dead? He was surprised, he had not seen anyone here survive death before, but he had seen it in other cultures. He approached, a smile coming back to his face. He had not yet failed.

"Seen you looking better," He said.