So it seemed. James came to a screeching halt as he realized his sister was no longer by his side. To call out would be a bad idea, giving away his position, in all honesty. "Adlaide..." Where was she...? He heard the shrieks from a few night-folk, followed with wails. A distant howl called them back, though, and, for now, all seemed to be clear. "Adlaide..." Where was she...? His heart raced inside of his chest, and he slowly moved back towards where he'd last seen her. Where was she at...? How could he have lost track of her? He was supposed to be ever mindful of her...

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Ngea heard the shrieks of the night-folk but only turned when she heard James quietly calling out for Adlaide. Had she fallen, Ngea respected the young women for her silence... but the shrieks? Mordecai sounded far away compared to those night-folk wailing.
She turned on her heel then caught James' arm. "Come on James." Her voice was low and cold. "We need to get moving. There is no time to loose. Once Mordecai's back one of us can go back and search for Adlaide..." She paused and turned her head to face the direction in which the wails were coming. "You need to trust in your sister." She added in a whisper before pulling him towards the steep hill.

Adlaide would have given a shout of glee as she heard the creature's wails but she clapped one hand over her mouth and continued to point the crude laser. She could hear Mordecai's howl in the background and knew he would be fast approaching, probably along with another batch of those worrisome night-folk.
She could hear James and Ngea in the distance, but stayed where she was. Stealth was one of her only options right now, first off because it would keep the night-folk from detecting her, but also because it would keep them moving if they didn't hear anything from her.
In the back of her mind she remembered Ngea's cold words. "If you fall... don't cry out. Take your fate bravely... I know it sounds cruel... but it would be better for the both of you that way." She silently thanked the wolfish woman for the words as they had been the inspiration for this crazy idea which was just now working.

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James tore his arm from the woman's grip at that, a deathly glare shot at her. "She's all the family I got left. I can't stand to see her ripped from me." It wasn't that he didn't trust her...so much as he just couldn't bear the thought of losing her. He didn't know what had been said to his sister, but he knew he had to find her. What stopped him was the arrow suddenly shooting by, causing him to whimper. Cut off... How could he find his sister now...? With no other choice in hand any longer, he soon followed Ngea. What if he lost her...? What if he lost everything...? Ngea had Mordecai at least. All he had was Addy...

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Ngea didn't reply. She only turned and darted up the hill, a simple shadow against the rocky surface. This would be the most dangerous part of their sprint, especially with arrows whirring about. A muscle in her cheek jumped and she found herself taking in a sharp and angry breath.
Those folk could be the very reason her father wasn't there right then, shooting arrows at those terrible creatures. Her eyes narrowed and she moved faster guiding James up the steep and rocky hill.

Adlaide heard the arrow rather than saw it, and with that she silently urged the both of them to move along. Settling against the bowed trunk of a massive tree, she was nearly invisible to the approaching enemy. She moved the laser carefully towards the direction where the arrow had come, the shriek which tore from it's throat telling her that she had been right.
In the distance she could hear Mordecai fast approaching, and hunkered down to stay there for a bit longer. Once Mordecai passed she would retreat up the hill, and happily so. Her hands were shaking slightly as she realized what she was doing, either way she only hoped James wouldn't kill her for falling back like that. She'd prove a point though, that thinking things through wouldn't always get you killed.

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No, not necessarily. Only, Mordecai didn't pass though. He was injured, limping along quite heavily and giving a soft growl. He glanced back behind him, snorted a bit. He'd practically mauled all the vampires, but the one...who was following him silently like a shadow. She he didn't kill, simply because she was lost, confused. The poor thing, really... He moved along still, watching as his baby sister took James. Where...was Adlaide? He looked about a bit, frowning softly. Most of the nightfolk were retreating at this point, giving him a chance for a breather.

"Where are we going?" James soon panted. GOodness... This climb was awful, and the arrows were not helping! He glanced back just in time to see one coming straight for him. He managed to move, but felt the blade slice flesh. At least it hadn't stuck...

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Ngea tossed a look over her shoulder. "Up this ridge. There is a safe spot once we get to the top." She snarled as an arrow seared past her shoulder slicing it open. "If only I had my bow..." She hissed through gritted teeth, glaring into the dark where the arrows where whirring. She smelled Mordecai approaching, he was wounded too.
They had to get up this ridge quickly. Maybe then Ngea could plan some sort of defense.

Adlaide sat back nursing the spark back to life. It was slowly dying, and was not being so effective. A lot of them had retreated, but then again there was that one with that bow. Another idea came to mind and she carefully covered the spark moving swiftly towards where she heard the arrows.
Maybe with a little luck she could steal the bow, maybe she'd even be able to learn how to shoot it someday. But first thing's first... she'd have to figure out how to get it. A rock? Nope... that wouldn't work very well. Her face pulled into a frown as she grew within viewing distance of the archer. A very professional archer, pulling nearly seven arrows in the course of a minute. Doing the math in her head she quickly assumed that the archer would be fast enough to pull an arrow and send it flying her way if she did this wrong. From this vantage point she could easily see Ngea and James struggling up the hill. Smelling rather than seeing blood she knew they were both injured to some extent.
Her lip curled back and she started forwards towards the archer, her steps nearly silent as she warily approached. Sure her plan was a foolish one, but chances were it might actually work. Her plan with the makeshift laser worked. Gripping one shard of glass in her hand she took a tiny breath then moved forwards again, sliding behind trees and rocks hoping to continue being unseen.

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So far? She was unseen.... Unheard? The creature glanced towards the sudden noise, the hail of arrows currently ending their reign of terror. Nostrils flared, and the rather feminine vampire licked its lips. Leaping down from the branch that it was perched upon, a smooth and silky voice came forth. "Tell me, what is your name?" Masculine...an elf? Likely it had once been an elf, yes...but elves turned towards bloodlust often lost their way in madness. "Are you the one who has been picking off my brood? I don't take kindly to that...."

Mordecai noticed the sudden ill silence. He paused, glanced towards the noise. What on earth... Oh no, a hunter.... And one he knew well....

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Adlaide stayed hidden, moving as she spoke to hopefully keep from being pounced on. "I'm no fan of telling complete strangers my name. Especially when their shooting at my family." She ducked behind another tree, gently waving the little spark back to life. She wanted to keep the little laser ready.
Her breaths were quiet only barely kept that way by sheer determination. Out of the corner of her eye she continued watching James and Ngea, they were so close to the top now, soon they'd be out of the reach of an arrow. She tipped her head to one side listening for any movements from the strange unearthly creature to whom she was speaking.

Ngea turned her head pausing for a moment to stare down in the dark. Something wasn't right... her heart thudded horribly in her chest. Why had the arrows suddenly stopped? Had the archer left? She couldn't leave James now though, likely he was worried sick for Adlaide and Ngea was beginning to worry as well.
Taking advantage of the clear she moved swiftly bouncing over the ridge and landing solidly on her feet. She glanced around the clearing her eyes narrowed as they peered through the dark. No one was there thank goodness... she returned her attention towards the archer, helping James over the wall like ridge. Where was Mordecai? What was keeping him so long? A low whimper caught in her throat though she forced it away.

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"Ah, so you are family... Makes sense. Newborns often aren't trusted to run on their own feet after they shift. You don't smell from here... Outlander? Come from another world?" The bow was carefully tucked away, he glancing about. Ruby red eyes sought his new quarry, a smirk upon his lips. "Tell me, Outlander, has Mordecai told you everything of vampires? I doubt he has.... You see, the older ones, elders like myself, are stronger, faster, and much more equipped for the world we face."

Mordecai, at this point, slowly crept forward, ears flattened, eyes upon his target. He'd run into this one before....where was his consort...? Where was she...? The pair were often deadly together, and he never dared face them when they were.

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"Ah, so you are family... Makes sense. Newborns often aren't trusted to run on their own feet after they shift. You don't smell from here... Outlander? Come from another world?" The bow was carefully tucked away, he glancing about. Ruby red eyes sought his new quarry, a smirk upon his lips. "Tell me, Outlander, has Mordecai told you everything of vampires? I doubt he has.... You see, the older ones, elders like myself, are stronger, faster, and much more equipped for the world we face."

Mordecai, at this point, slowly crept forward, ears flattened, eyes upon his target. He'd run into this one before....where was his consort...? Where was she...? The pair were often deadly together, and he never dared face them when they were.

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"I've read plenty about your kind. As fast and as well equipped you are, still doesn't change the fact that you guys are down right annoying." She stepped carefully, moving silently against another tree. She began to speak again. "Call me what you will, I could care less." Her brows were furrowed and her heart beat furiously within her chest.
James was safe now... but still she wanted to stay alive a bit longer. She took hold of the small pole which had once made up the telescope. Funny how many things this had been. First a makeshift brace, then a telescope, and now a crude weapon. She moved again, darting about a small boulder and ducking behind it.
This reminded her a bit of a dance. A dangerous dance though it was, the thought made a bit of confidence well up against the terror filled beating of her heart. She could dance, and dance fairly well. She could do this, and if she couldn't still she had still gotten Ngea and James to safety without them getting hurt too badly.
She wasn't about to get cocky, Adlaide's common sense was sharp enough to keep her from such dangerous waters. She swallowed her fear once more then glanced towards the hill. It wasn't that far a sprint from here, she'd had plenty of rest... true the vampire was a little faster than she, but just up the hill was someone she figured could easily out pace even Mr. Elderly Vampire Person. Unless he just planned on sitting back and sending arrow after arrow up after her.

Ngea paced back and forth holding her shoulder with one hand the other hand clasping and unclasping worriedly. She stared at the ground, feet shuffling as she turned in her pace. The sickening feeling in her stomach was growing some, her shoulder ached some... but her mind was out there, on her brother and James' sister. What was happening. Oh how she hated to be on the sidelines waiting to find out what was happening.
She glanced at James, he was... holding up. Not as well as she'd like but, he was at least holding up. "James... you know what I think? I think that Adlaide is still alive. She's probably just figuring out a way to get up the ridge without catching an arrow." It was partly true, she figured the girl was alive... but perhaps she was the only one detaining the archer. Her stomach continued to whirl and churn, what of Mordecai? Was he alright? She couldn't bear loosing him as well...

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"Ah...planning to run up the hill are we? Think your little wolf friend can save you? I'll tell you now...even the two of them together can't best me..." It was time he stopped toying with her, and started hunting. Their queen wanted slaves, and newborns worked wonders for that. Lots of strength, and plenty of blood in them to keep the brood happy and satisfied. He rolled his shoulders a bit, and soon began to stealthily slink about. It was at this time, though, that Adlaide would hear his cry. "Run!!" commanded a strong voice, Mordecai. "Now!"

James gave a soft sigh at this. "The arrows stopped, Ngea...which means one of two things... She's stalling, or she got caught..." He knew this well. He'd always told his sister he'd be there for her, and now she was stuck down there by herself...

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Adlaide heard Mordecai, but she didn't do as he said. He wouldn't have a chance against this vampire person if what the vampire person said was true. She'd rather stick around and help out somehow. Instead of running she simply piped up and stuck her head out from where she had been hiding. "I'd rather fly up the hill thank you! Have you got any wings with all your ancient skills? No? That's a fine pity."
No matter how stupid it was to stick around, she wasn't going to let a already tired Mordecai face this guy alone. She still had her wits, no matter how terrified she was. That and Adlaide had never been very good at listening. Standing straight up she glanced at Mordecai, a resolute and fixed expression on her face. She wasn't going to give up without a fight, she also wasn't just going to leave him all alone to face this... thing.
Several ideas slipped into her mind, but she quickly dismissed them. They were too fool hardy, they relied to much on luck. She needed something that would work without leaving something to chance. Carefully she tucked the piece of glass into her sleeve and took a breath. Sharp glass, a bit of light, and a pole... her arsenal of makeshift weapons sounded pitiful. That and her ally was injured. All together their chances didn't sound all that great. But no way was she leaving Mordecai. First off, she knew what it was like to loose family. Ngea would probably go half crazy loosing everyone all at once. Now was no time for heroics from any side... but still she wouldn't leave him behind.

Ngea's keen senses caught Mordecai's shout. Run. Now. She glanced at James, despair written plainly in her eyes. Whatever was going on down there wasn't good. Not if Mordecai were telling Adlaide to run. She dropped to the ground sobbing softly. She couldn't bear to listen to this... she couldn't go down and help. The chances were too high for them to loose.
She had to stay alive, she was this broken kingdom's only leader and the pitiful humans were the only hope. She covered her head with her arms, ignoring the pain which shot across her back and shoulder. This was growing to be something she could hardly fathom surviving let alone saving the kingdom after all this. She felt hopeless, that much was evident to whoever could hear her silent sobs and see her once strong frame folded up on the ground in a emotional mess.

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"I said run!" Mordecai again commanded. He had the vampire in a rather nasty headlock, but it was clear that it wouldn't last for to long... In fact, about thirty seconds later, the grip was broken, and the rather nasty spat began. Yes, Mordecai was injured, but he was holding his own very well. This vampire was one vampire that had gotten the best of him yes, but that was due to the fact his consort had cheated and come to his aid. She obviously wasn't here now...so where was she?

James, at this point, knelt down and placed a hand upon Ngea's good shoulder. "Don't you go giving up just yet..." he told her firmly. "Life offers you far more than you can realize in a dark moment, but the ways are still there." After all, such was life, was it not? The man then carefully stood up, and looked around. There was plenty of branches, trees, grasses, rocks... An idea struck him, and he soon began to fashion a weapon from these such things. Spears were deadly weapons...but the one he had in mind to build would be more blunt than point.

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Adlaide still didn't run. She had maneuvered around to be behind the vampire when the hold broke. The smell of blood caused her stomach to twist but she shook her head free of the scent. While she hadn't been a fan of hitting Mordecai she sure was a fan of hitting the vampire fellow.
She tripped him once and hit him several times with the pole. The blows at first were half -hearted but eventually grew to be rather sharp and hurting blows.

Ngea didn't look up, in fact she didn't even seem to hear James at all. While he set to work she sat there sobbing for a long while.

(Short... short.... that was short... =P)

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