From Sand to Sea [Open]

[Locke]

Locke had met Kyle in the village of Arras, near the edge of the vast desert. Now, the two companions were beginning their journey to the Western Isles, traveling north across the desert and then taking a ship to the Isles themselves.

The journey had began on a smooth note; they had set out that morning and had not seen anything but sand all day. Their pace was quite reasonable, and the weather was bearable. Altogether, it had been quite the pleasurable day. However, with evening fast approaching, Locke knew the dangers that the desert hid... Not only would the temperature drop, but there were also the scavengers that emerged in the dusk to swarm and hunt down unsuspecting prey... Hyena-like creatures, with tough hides, and oversized vultures. The best deterrent was a strong fire, but one could never tell. It was better to make a fire ring around and keep watch in shifts.

"Kyle. Night is coming, and the desert can become a dangerous place. It would be wise to make a fire, preferably a ring of fires, in order to ward off the creatures of the night. The warmth will also keep us from becoming chilled once the sun goes down. We should probably camp soon."

[Kyle]

It was a slow day, filled with nothing, nothing, and. . . oh yeah, more sand. Traveling through the desert was more boring that he'd anticipated, but it was a good thing he finished his hat, it kept the sun out of his eyes and his head relatively cool. It seemed that the sun was beginning to set and he was wondering if they would just continue through the night or not, he could still go. After all what could be in the desert? Besides giant spiders. That thought sent a chill down his spine. Then Locke said that they should stay there for the night as it got dangerous, and that they should make fires. With what?

"Uh, did you see any tinder or such around here or something?" It would be quite hard to make a fire with out something to feed it. If only his dog was here, it could keep him warm and it was great at alerting people. Just thinking of it made him sad.

[Locke]

As Kyle expressed his doubts, Locke smiled with genuine mirth. "The desert holds many secrets, Kyle. Behold!" With that, Locke moved to one of the many nearby cacti, wrapping his hand in tough hide from his satchel before punching it with all of his force, drawing a bit of energy from his stone to augment the strike. His jab punched clean through the cactus, and with a few more hits, Locke was able to fell it. Taking a sharp piece of bone out from his robe, he bent over it, humming as he cut the tough and dry outer skin from the cactus, and revealing a fibrous interior, like a husk, with water glimmering on it. Sucking on the husk to extract moisture, Locke gave a satisfied "aah" before turning to Kyle.

"If we can light this and two more like it, we should be able to have enough light to stave off the beasts. Do you have a means of lighting this?"

Locke turned away, leaving the cactus skin with Kyle, and beginning to fell another one. They had to hurry. The vultures would be waking about now... And the hyenas were no doubt on the prowl.

[Kyle]

He just stood there in awe as Locke proceeded to PUNCH, not chop with a tool, but PUNCH a cactus to the ground. How he did it without getting hurt flew right past him, Locke even felled it in a couple of blows. Maybe his dad was right and he was worthless if others could just punch cactus down like that, there was no way he could himself after all. Then Locke walked over and handed him the skin of the cactus. WHY?!?! He stood there holding it, needles digging into his flesh as Locke went after more cactus. So he was supposed to set it on fire? Would it light? Does cactus burn like that? Apparently so, as he set it down into a little bowl that he dug and brought out his pieces of flint and steel, clacking them together at a sharp angle, and the cactus caught fire, yet it didn't burn fast like paper. It just sat there ablaze.He then went to spread out what he had left an equal distance in a circle.

"Yeah, I've got one ablaze."

[Locke]

"Good. Good."

Locke quickly finished up knocking down two cacti, taking the fruit from one and putting it carefully on the ground. Taking off his satchel, he unburdened himself before breaking and lighting the other husk chunks, forming a ring of flame, with a smaller 'campfire' at the center. "This should protect us fairly well. We should still keep watch in shifts; first, I think it wise that we eat."

The manakete opened the satchel, removing the strips of rabbit, some tough-looking, twisted green material, and a bone skewer and a few cactus fruits. "If you would like, I have a sweet treat for a 'dessert' of sorts." Locke gave a small smile as he speared the fruits and gently toasted them over the fire, sealing the sweet juices inside. As the night cooled, these warm, succulent fruits would be a welcome treat. Locke also began eating, chewing the rabbit and gnawing on the green twist as he sat cross-legged by the fire, relaxing and idly drawing in the sand. "Today wasn't so bad, hmm?"

[Kyle]

They had finished setting fire to the ring of cacti and all seemed to be going well. Locke picked a fruit from one of the cacti and began roasting it over the fire and offered some.

"Um, no thanks."

He had a thing about people cooking his food; only he could cook food for himself. Too many thing could happen if he ate someone else's food. For one he could get poisoned. He didn't see Locke put anything in it but just cooking it might unlock a poison. Even though he didn't distrust the man he just couldn't accept it from him.

Kyle then took out some strips of meat and began to eat those instead while drinking water from his flask.

[Locke]

"Hmm? Oh, that's quite all right. More for me!" Locke finished up his rabbit and green foliage material, then slid the skewer out of the flames and took off the toasted fruits. He bit into one, allowing the succulent, warm juices to soothe his dry throat and fill him with contented warmth. "Ahh." The fruits were delicious, and he quickly finished them, licking his lips and then putting his victuals away in his satchel and burying the bag, except for the top of the strap, in the sand. The sun was sliding behind the horizon, the cacti and small brush casting long shadows over the expanses of sand and the rolling dunes. It was a beautiful sunset, and a beautiful place, if you liked the desert.

In the fading light, the fires crackled merrily, the flames dancing like lively young couples at a ball, as they glowed with warm, soft light. But these fires were much more than a creature comfort, and Locke knew very saliently their great importance. The ring could not break; otherwise, it would be like being in the arena with a very vicious animal. Locke recalled his first encounter with a desert hyena, back when he was only three hundred... The brutish animal had mistaken him for a human, and attacked with the assumption of an easy meal. Locke responded by shifting into his draconic form and obliterating the cretin. But he was much more wary now; after all, he couldn't just transform around Kyle. That would be bad.

So Locke lay down on the sand with a bit of trepidation, his hands pointed skyward as he traced the constellations and determined their relative position. They'd made good progress. It would still be a little while, but after maybe a week more of walking, they'd be at the northern edge. It was an ambitious pace, but Kyle seemed quite fit and up for the speed. Locke himself was feeling exhilarated and fresh.

Off in the distance, an eerie sound akin to a yelp rang out, followed by a low howl. Locke sat up abruptly, his face still calm and stony, but his eyes narrowed. "Hear that, Kyle? The beasts of the night are arising from their dens. Their paws will flutter over the sand, and the leathery wingbeats of their compatriots will mark the symphony of the desert. It is beautiful to behold. Such a shame they are crude brutes, though."

[Kyle]

He just sat there and listened to the sounds of the desert while staring off into the darkness. He just expected it to be silent at night but instead there were many sounds that he did not expect. The sounds of predators. He just sat there, there wasn't much else he could do at a time like this, he didn't want to write in his journal in front of Locke, it was too personal to write in front of others. He also couldn't practice his archery out here, there would be too great a chance to lose arrows. He listened as Locke began talking. He felt no beauty from these sounds; beauty to him was the sheer stillness that only a forest can bring upon. This was just. . . off. It didn't feel good at all here.

"Beasts like that just need to be put down." He had nothing against the animals; it was just that they presented a danger. He had a dog of his own after all and he would harm those that would hurt it, so it wasn't from alack of like for those canine species. "Who has first shift?" HE really didn't care who had first shift he only cared that Locke stay awake for his, falling asleep could, no WOULD be bad.

[Locke]

"Hmm. Maybe you should take first watch; I'm feeling a little groggy after eating. If you don't mind, of course."

Turning away from Kyle, Locke moved a bit farther from the fire, near his satchel, and removed his outer cloak. Laying down directly on the sand, he draped the cloak over himself, leaving only the toes and soles of his bare feet visible. Even his head was covered by the cloak.

Underneath, although Kyle couldn't see, Locke was not asleep. Although his breathing was regular, it was shallow, and his eyes flickered back and forth beneath their closed lids. He couldn't afford to fall asleep. He didn't even know if Kyle could defend himself from the vultures and hyenas.

As Locke worried, minutes slipped by, and, unbeknownst to the manakete, he fell into a restless slumber. As he rested, one of the fires furthest away from the two began to dim as it burned through the last of the cactus. Soon, it would become a smoldering husk, a veritable "OPEN" sign for the creatures of the night.

[Kyle]

As he assumed the first shift, Locke went off to fall asleep. Kyle then got up and began pacing around the ring of fires, he needed to make sure there was no way to breach them, like any good look out should do, or so he thought they should do. It was all quite boring really, until one of the fires that was furthest away began to dim. He had an extra piece of cactus that he planned on studying earlier, but survival was a bit more important to a little knowledge to him. He took the piece and threw it into the one that had dimmed; it would last for a bit, but not likely until morning.

He looked around inside the ring, but alas there was no cactus. The only one he could see that was visible was outside of the ring. it would be dangerous to go out and get it. . . especially since he wouldn't be able to get it down that fast. He then devised a plan. He picked up his bow and arrows and began taking shots at the base of the cactus, many of which were missing and sticking into the sands around the base. But some were able to connect to the cactus, weakening it a bit to make it easier to take down if the need should arise. But as saving arrows was also important just in case something happened he just continued to pace around waiting for his shift to be over; keeping a close ear on the sounds of the desert that seemed to grow louder over time.

[Locke]

If Kyle had stayed near to the dimming cactus, he would have seen an almost indistinguishable shift in the darkness beyond... A slight glint of fire on a golden iris... A nearly inaudible growl...

But now, now it was too late. As the young man was shooting at the cactus, one, then two fires were abruptly extinguished, a small spattering of sand opening a gap in the ring. And then it began... A soft murmur, then a louder growl, and then a vicious snarl as the beasts of the night began to enter, apprehensively, keeping away from the fires. It was as if they were boxers, entering the ring, against the champion. There were three beasts, their mottled fur glowing in the flickering firelight, and their golden eyes gleaming with vicious, brutish anger. There was no logic, no reasoning in those eyes... Just hate and primal bloodlust.

The beasts charged, all three moving toward Kyle as a pack, their paws moving across the sand, until, near the central campfire, there was an explosion of sand and a flurry of movement as Locke burst to his feet, his bare toes curled and fingers formed into fists, as he stood stoutly with his back to Kyle. The human couldn't see, but Locke's eyes were narrowed, almost slits. There was a uniquely reptilian sheen to them, as the manakete smiled at the three beasts, exposing two lines of serrated fangs.

"Kyle... Prepare yourself to fight," Locke said, his voice sounding unnatural and grinding as he spoke the phrase, raising his fists. Indeed, the beasts were mustering their courage yet again, beginning to snap their jaws and inch towards the two. With a yell that seemed strangely like a roar, Locke lunged and grabbed one of the beasts, wrestling it to the ground as it struggled. The hyena buried its teeth into Locke's arm, grinding its jaws and puncturing the manakete's still-soft skin. With a hiss of annoyance and pain, Locke retaliated by sinking his fangs into its neck, resulting in spurts of red blood that seemed black in the dim light. Thankfully, Kyle couldn't see this barbaric finish, and Locke rose, throwing the corpse outside of the ring with a grunt. The other two beasts had moved beyond him, toward Kyle, and he moved back to assist the young man, if necessary. As he ran, the campfires illuminated splatters of dark blood all over his robes, and cast a glare on the drops of blood dripping from the many punctures on his arm.

[Kyle]

Crap, even though he put fuel in one fire it wasn't enough. A little bit later another two of the fires suddenly went out and almost immediately three lupine creatures moved into the circle on the attack. They hopefully wouldn't be getting a meal tonight. No, they wouldn't at all. At least out of him, he didn't know how or even if Locke could fight.

As one of the beasts lunged for Locke the other two lunged for Kyle, he barely had enough time to draw two arrows to fight up close with. He sidestepped the first one, the snapping jaws coming within inches of his arm, and delivered a swift kick to the throat, sending it back a bit wheezing for air. He had just enough time to get the arrows between the mouth of the other creature and himself. The momentum of the creature was too much to hold up however, and they fell to the ground, The creature still gnashing at the arrows.

"N-not today." He muttered as he threw his knee up connecting at the point right where the rib cage ended, supposedly the weakest point, with enough force to flip it over and off of him and the sudden force made the creature let go of the arrow. He then threw his legs into the air and kicked, also pushing off the ground with his arms, which propelled him off the ground and unsteadily onto his feet and he readied himself for what the beasts might do next. He looked over to see if Locke was okay, but there was blood everywhere, the creature that attacked him was dead so he wasn't able to see if he had the injuries or if it was the beast's blood. That, and he had to focus on the beasts so they wouldn't kill him.

[Locke]

"Hrrrargh!" Locke gave a loud roar as he charged toward Kyle, his feet flying over the sand as the gap closed quickly. Seeing two of the beasts attacking his companion, Locke got angry. Very angry. Finally withing range, the manakete loosed a vicious hook into one of the beasts, sending it to the ground nearby. Locke then grabbed at the creature, managing to get his hands around its neck, but allowing one of its hind legs to claw a deep gouge on his face. Snarling, Locke squeezed the creature and snapped its neck, throwing the dead thing to the ground and stomping on it, eliciting a crunching noise as its bones shattered. "Kyle! Are you okay?!"

Suddenly, Locke heard a noise. A leathery flapping noise... Two vultures were descending, brought on by the scent of blood. And they both went straight for Locke. One of the creatures dove, talons outstretched, while the other circled, its large, batlike wings flapping quickly. Locke ducked, and as the bird overshot him, he turned and tried to grab it, but missed. The vulture turned and then began viciously pecking and clawing at the manakete, who dropped down and rolled, again letting the bird's momentum send it past. This time, Locke jumped up and kicked out, hitting the bird squarely in its chest and sending it into the central campfire, where its wings and oily feathers caught fire. The dying bird uttered harsh screeches as it roasted, filling the air with an awful stench.

[Kyle]

What was this guy made of? It was all Kyle could think as Locke ran towards him and killed one of the beasts attacking him, but not without getting a gouge out of his face by a claw. The display that Locke was showing provided just enough of an opening for the other beast to attack. The beast jumped onto him, knocking him to the ground, the only thing separating the beast's gnashing maw from his jugular were his arms and arrows. Not a formidable defense under these circumstances. The beast was huge and was easily able to keep Kyle pinned down under it's weight, but it wasn't enough.

Twisting his wrist at an awkward angle, Kyle positioned an arrow with the tip facing the beast's jaw and shoved the arrow forward, penetrating the soft tissue in the lower jaw of the beast through the hollow cavity in the snout, causing it great pain and blood to start flowing from it's mouth and nose. With this injury the beast jumped off of him, in the process leaving a blood drawing cut above his right eye, and bounded out into the desert. The arrow still in the wound.

That brush with death just left Kyle laying there, unable to move, as the cut above his eye slowly leaked into his right eye. After a bit he stood up the pool of blood running down his face, effectively painting the right half of his face red. His head was still swimming as various thoughts appeared too fast for him to think, as he finished standing and noticed that there was only one thing left there and it was attacking Locke. But he just couldn't make himself move to help, his bow was on the ground a bit away and he only had an arrow. The arrow. He threw the arrow at the other vulture thing hoping that it would distract it enough for Locke to kill it. he was no longer in a position to fight himself.

[Locke]

Seeing the final beast bearing down on him, Locke sucked more power out of his stone, his eyes narrowing into slits and his skin becoming overlaid with a very faint scalelike sheen. Thankfully, Kyle was behind him, so the boy wouldn't notice the changes. As Locke readied himself, an arrow came flipping end over end toward him, and the confused manakete let his gaze drift as he became distracted.

The vulture took that opportunity to latch onto Locke, its claws piercing his arm as he raised his arms to defend himself. Filled with strength, and in nagging pain, Locke had no time for games. Yet the huge bird had other plans. Beginning to flap its wings, the beast started dragging Locke up into the air. His other arm flailing, Locke managed to snag the arrow, which he used to stab the beast repeatedly until its wings ceased beating and both tumbled about three meters back into the sand.

Locke didn't move for a while. Sucking power from his stone, he let himself rest and regain his breath and composure. Standing up at last, the manakete grabbed his satchel, opening it, and removing a few skins full of plants, some soft camelskin, and tough tendon string. Moving over to Kyle, the manakete dropped the arrow in front of him, then assessed the boy's wounds. He would need some attention.

"This... is yours. Sorry, I think I broke it. Now, you need medical attention. If you can trust me, I'd like to bandage your wounds for you. I've done this many times before, so if you would allow me to, I can help you heal your cuts. If you don't want me to, that's fine... But I urge you to act sooner rather than later. Your face is losing blood quickly. I don't want you to become too weak, Kyle."