[Carolyn] Vara, we'll leave Paul to you!

I nod and dash away. It was dangerous to leavethe two of them alone with the antelope but it's also the least dangerous way to make sure none of the group dies. Save Paul and assist Carolyn and Adis as soon as possible.

I hate this sort of thing. There's no time to waste so I'm rushing in blind, more or less. The only way for me to get up is... a tall ironbark tree, who's tip comes down almost to the surface. Even though I have an elf's dexterity, it's still quite tall and taking me a while. It's a good thing I was sent. The other two would have taken far too long.

As I nimbly climbed the tree, a thought kept running through my head. My plan caused this. My plan failed. I should have scouted more. No. Noone had found a stranglevine here before. We couldn't have expected it. No, it was our fault. We failed to spot it. I failed to spot it.

I had climbed high enough to reach the longer branches, branches that crossed over to other, shorter, trees. I leapt and caught the branch. As I hung there swinging to get enough momentum to pull myself up, sharp pain ran up my hand and I let go. I crashed into the branch below, although not hard enough to cause any real damage. Catching onto this branch, I glanced over my hand and the branch above.

Not poison, thankfully, but a cat. Sleek with a coat of shades of black. Not exactly a jaguar, but large enough to be very clearly a predator. And very clearly a threat. It kept it's eyes on me, unmoving even as I regained my footing on this lower branch.

[Vara] Shoo. I haven't got the time for you cat.

The words only seemed to provoke it though. It's muscles tensed and it leaned forward, clearly about to leap. It seems it wont give up. I sigh and start muttering a spell.

Mother of Darkness, Mother of Shade

I beseech you, Come to my aid

The monsters of the dark shall not give me fright

For I am the hunter on this night

Shadow Cloaked

Shadows in this tree darken and gather around me. My form begins to grow hazy at the edges. My weapons too covered themselves a purple black ichor. I put power into my legs and jumped towards another branch. The cat saw my movements and jumped to catch me but caught only the shadows trailing behind. I threw some needles towards it as it fell. A howl rang out as it hit but I spared no time for it. With my abilities, the poison will be painful at worse. It won't stay down.

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I looked ahead at where paul was still struggling. The stranglevine still had a strong grip on his wing, and the nymphs nearby only strengthen it's grip with their magic. The pain must be interfering with his magic casting as he's only stabbing into the vine with his dagger.

I need to hurry. The shadow cloaking increased by speed a little, with how much shade there is in these trees, but it seems the cat isn't much slower. It's caught up to me in no time and if I keep going, all I'll do is lead it right to Paul who can't defend himself.

[Vara] Tsk. You really dont know when to give up. I hate to do this, but this is the fastest way I suppose.

I quickly changed directions and dashed towards the cat. It did not seem to expect that as it was in a position to leap towards me and couldn't quickly get out of the way. The only choice it had was to be hit by my sudden dash. It leapt towards me as I was in the air and we collided. I got close to it and stuffed my leather armored arm into it's mouth. I felt the claws come out, scratching at the armor on my back, sometimes piercing through and cutting into my shoulder and sides.

[Vara] Sorry but I'm in a hurry

I ignore the damage it's causing and pierce my dagger into it's soft underside. The scratching and biting intensified for a moment but started to fade after a few more stabs. I managed to push it off and started to head back towards Paul.

The nymphs themselves seemed to have little combat power since they ran away from me as I approached. The stranglevine was a little more difficult but I threw a bottle of acid at it's base while dodging it's attacks. The attacks were straightforward but quick, easily dodged by me as long as I know they're coming.

Soon I had Paul in my arms and we were hurrying back towards the fight.

[Paul] You're pretty bloodied and beaten up. You should get some heals back in town.

[Vara] You know that's pricey. I'll get Carolyn to heal me up once we rest. Besides, I dont want to hear that from you.

[Paul] I guess you're right. It looks like the fight's about to end. Want to give the finishing blow?

[Vara] You bet. Speed us up if you can.

[Paul] Of course I can.

Come winds, show us your might

We seek not the joys of flight

But make us fast and true

Like an arrow to pierce our enemies through

Accel

And we sped up. Faster and faster until the beast finally hit our trap and flew up into the air. We pushed off from the branches and dove towards it. Even if Paul says this isnt flight, we flew. We slammed into the beast with our shoulders and my daggers found purchase between the scales under it's fur. The three of us landed with a crash, shaking the world around us. The leaves and dust settled and we saw that the momentum from the impact had allowed my dagger to pierce it deep, deep enough to wound it's heart. But to make extra sure I send another dagger through it's eye and into it's skull. We can't have this thing getting up when we dont expect it. 

[Carolyn] I knew you'd get him out Vara

[Vara] Of course. Are you guys injured ? 

[Adis] Nothing serious. The plan worked out pretty well. 

[Carolyn] I'm pretty drained of mana though. Wide area terrain changing magic is hard. Paul you ok? You'll last till we get back to town? 

[Paul] Yeah. I'm just feeling a little hot right now. I'll be ok. 

[Adis] That's good. Don't push yourself. We'll be on our way. I expect there's a few G rankers that would help us carry this thing out for free so we just have to make it that far.

[Vara] Free or a drink and a story at any rate. Well it'll be worth it. Even with the healing I suspect we'll have a good deal of income left over. 

[Paul] Yeah. I can make it. 

Although as he says that, Paul collapses on us. I manage to catch him but his body is starting to burn up. 

[Vara] He's burning up! We need to go, now.

[Adis] Vara! Go on ahead. See if you can get some G rankers or their guards to come meet us part way to help with the antelope. Carolyn, you're the strongest so Im sorry but you'll have to drag it along yourself until help comes. Ill carry Paul and enchant you with some magic. 

[Vara/Carolyn] On it.