There's movement off towards the roof of the inn... Something most people never would have noticed, a flicker of shadow. But Chago isn't most people and he catches sight of the creeper. The spiders have been forgotten, or maybe this is the one that went after Genny in the first place. It's really hard to tell them apart. Maybe one tastes better than the other ones.
Chago gives a small nod to the comments from Shova and sends them on with a flick of his hand as he starts to hunt. Then motion catches his eye and he locks on it, a grin splitting his face in a sharklike expression. One hand lifts and wipes some blood from his face to flick it up into the air with a touch of power, throwing bounce at the sluagh above with the intent of lobbing the poor fellow high and letting him fall to land in reach.
The creepers are NOT having a good day. He arches back, shooting more of those dang darts, a brace of three. They clear his wrist sailing at Chago just before Chago's bunk catches him grabbing him mid center. It is possible to sluff off a spell, but Chago’s spell is stronger than the creeper’s resistance and throws him up, and then down, where he bounces with an unhappy squelch. In a normal person something would be broke. In a creeper...hard to say.
Not a good day at all. Chago lunges to the side as the creeper goes up, narrowly avoiding the next burst of darts and then dives back out when the body bounces, charging for the landing place from that and starting the same flurry of tooth and fist to rip the body to shreds, just in case it's not just a body. That's three.
A moment later the door of the inn opens and Genny stalks out, limping slightly and dragging a creeper behind her. Well...at least what's left of it. It looks like someone with hooves may have stepped on his head. A deadly dance happened inside.
Chago's head jerks toward the sound of the door and of hooves. A throaty growl rumbles and he takes a step toward her, eye tracking to the remains of the creeper before he gives his head a hard shake. "Wagon." he snarls out. "This way." And then he turns and starts toward where the other two went. He makes no effort to wipe the blood from his face as his Gauntlest self clean by eating the bits of flesh and blood coating their sharp edges and barbs.
Genny smells of booze and blood, both of which cling to her, brain matter on her hooves and tangled in her fur. She's breathing hard though not so much from exercise as the holding back of some of the worst she's brought out in herself. The problem with Pan’s magic. His people aren’t immune to it, just strong. She nods, limping in the direction he gestures, leaving the body behind for someone to find tomorrow when the chaos comes to an end.
"That's two." Chago growls, spitting to the side as he stalks along. "He tries again, and I don't give a rat's ass, I'm ripping him a new one too. Even if she ain't ready. I'm starting to get real sick of it." He shakes his head again and then missteps a bit from the lingering toxin and the sudden movement while walking as his adremaline fades with the fighting over. Oh yeah... poisoned. Almost forgot.
Genny nods with a grumble. "I've been tryin' ta be patient since we did get some help, but feckin' hell, enough is..." She pauses, seeing him misstep. One hand shoots out, catching him under the armpit before he can wobble too much. She frowns, her gaze going a little unfocused. "Poisoned." Her gaze runs across him until she finds the spot where the fletching caught him in the first place. None too gently she pulls him out of the sight of the main doorway, so the spiders don't decide to turn this way. She lowers her lips to the wound and sucks at it, glamour flowing as she does. Her power is a decidedly different feel that Kiersten, earthy and real and strong. Where Kiersten could delay the poison, Genny sucks it out.
Brave satyr, grabbing a redcap that's just been riding Dark Passions.Thankfully, Chago catches himself before doing more than clenching hisfists again in almost instinctive reaction. "The mulas had poisoned bolts. One outta probably a dozen shots hit. Ripped up three of 'em though. Sorry about the spiders. Hope they didn't give ya much trouble." As his head clears from the poison, his grip on his temper and aggression grows as well. "Did ya get us anything, or is this gonna be a hard ride?" Yeah, probably going to be hard, but he's got to hope, right?
She gives herself a little shake wiping the darker poison touched blood off her lips, though it still clings to other parts of her skin. "It's gonna be fine. Did that first. There'll be boxes out by where the cart thing is. Some flexible stuff...mostly ingredients and army food...stuff which will keep us moving."
Chago grins and pauses to grab Genny and pull her to him for a sudden kiss. He licks her lips as he holds her there and then grins as he lets go. "Thanks babe. You hurt any other places you need to worry about?" he ask then. After all, any lingering poison on her lips should be safely and even more fully removed now. He may not stand up to it off a dart, but eating it is a totally different situation.
She groans softly at the kiss the after affects of her own music still singing through her. Her nails dig into the back of his throat, leaving scratches behind as they reluctantly release each other. "I'm good. He missed me in there...hit the innkeep, but na exactly my problem." A grin touches her lips and she moves towards the back. "Let's get the hell out 'f here."
Chago nods. "Just like them spiders then. Good distraction." His lips curl into a grin and he digs his nails into the fur of her thigh, down near her knee, pulling his hand away before it lifts toward her sore hip with a low growl. Yep. He's still feeling what she stirred too, and he does still like pain to a rather uncomfortable degree.
"Maybe we should make sure the Wonder Twins both ride up front for a while."
She turns back to him, pushing hard against him in a sudden movement. Sore or not pushes her hip into his touch, not like his preferences have ever been a problem for her, especially when her blood is up. Her hand returns to the side of his face, gripping hard. "Mmm...damn good idea."
Chago's grin widens and his fingers dig in enough to feel her react, but stop short of adding more damage to her healing hip. He has gotten that much better than he used to be back before he met her at least. Then he nods and turns her to push toward the wagon, picking up his own pace.
Once they're getting closer, his voice lifts. "You two better either have that wagon loaded or be in the back putting on one hell of a show for us to explain why not!" he calls ahead. "Time to go!"
The surge of pain brings another thick groan and she leans her head back, bearing her throat for an instant, something she ONLY does around him. She rubs into the touch but has the good sense to stop as he pushes her towards the wagon.
Kiersten and Shova look up as they come around the corner, the two loading boxes onto the cart. Apparently the things Genny arranged. Shova wrinkles his nose. "Dried fish? Hard tack? You expecting a siege?"
Chago growls softly and stalks right toward Shova as he grumbles about the food, or as the 'cap takes it as such anyway. One hand lifts to wipe his maw and holds his bloody palm toward the satyr's face. "We been attacked TWICE just getting this damn far. Wannabe Baron Buttmuncher can't afford to let anyone know his precious key to power ain't in his pocket anymore. It was one thing when you two were just goofing around, but he knows he’s on borrowed time. You're damn right I expect a siege. If we're lucky he'll settle for that since I just ripped three of his pet freaks to bits and Genny stomped the head in on number four. Maybe he ain't got a good way to sneak in and assassinate us anymore once we're in the caves."
He snaps his hand away the, slinging blood along the side of the wagon. "Change of plans on getting folks too. Soon as we can make contact, I'll hold it open. You tell 'em to get ready as soon as they can and we'll bring 'em right away. Right after we get there, or right after we have to camp. Whichever comes first." he tells Genny, any more interesting plans forgotten in the reminder of things they need over things they want.
Shova blinks as he gets chewed out by the bloody and angry redcap. Apparently, this is not the time to ask question, even when you're not really disagreeing with anything in particular. He takes the very smart path and shuts his mouth, finishing packing stuff into the wagon without further discussion.
Kiersten is working on the animals, keeping them between her and the grizzly sight that is Genny and Chago. She's seen too much blood since encountering the pair of them.
Genny nods, glancing back behind them and frowning. "Get on." She snaps at Shova and Kiersten. "Anythin' that ain't in doesn't come. Those spiders 'r movin' this way." She pulls herself up, nodding to Chago. "Soon as we land, we'll do it." Not that the more interesting things won't be done later, but she understands priorities.
Chago doesn't exactly follow her orders. He's the best fighter and in the best condition so he stays out, grabbing boxes and shoving them in until everyone else is ready and then he grabs the back and shouts "GO!" even as he's still pulling himself into the wagon. Yeah. Still doesn't get it all, but even one or two more boxes is a bonus. Maybe later he, or more likely Genny, can explain to Shova about the temper and snapping and all. Later though. Right now, he's trying to look back for those spiders while getting in and settled.
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Kiersten pulls herself up on the driving platform and Shova joins her there. She's look out and he's controlling the team as they get to much rougher territory and don't need her knowledge of the ins and outs of the town so much.
As they pull off one of the spiders takes steps their way, but a screaming boggan is easier prey and they're away before anything else comes after them.
Genny crouches slightly where she rides, pulling boxes further forward and properly arranging them for a rough ride, using the tie downs to keep them in place.
While Genny crouches and works on the boxes, Chago also crouches, leaning on the back of the wagon and hunting for pursuit, be it spiders or creeper backup. Whatever. His hands flex slowly, opening and closing with sharp cracks of those Gauntlets as he begins to slowly fight down that bloodlust he's been riding since the hunt began.
"Need a hand?" he asks once he's calmed enough to think of it.
Genny looks up, cocking her head to the side. "Just give that barrel yer leanin' against a shove."
Chago nods once, sharply and then turns to the barrel, taking a moment to pop his neck before bracing and pushing it where she can tie it down as well. Once it's in place, he lifts his voice. "You two okay up there?" he calls to Shova and Kiersten.
After giving them time to answer, he adds "Kiersten! You know if Baron Jerkoff has anymore creepers? Or if his little pet creepers wear his colors?" After all, that's four sluagh bodies and some wild spiders back there to cause all kinds of havoc. Especially if they trace back to the Baron.
Shova calls back leading the cart around a rocky outcropping. The fuzzy beasts are slower than the horses, but much more sure footed and pull together better. "Fine as can be expected." In other circumstances he might have brought up a need for sleep or other niceties, but he's not about to mention it now. He does open low lanterns on the front edges of the cart so they can sorta see where they're going.
Genny ties off the barrel and then pulls out several hanks of thick jerky, passing them around.
The sidhe woman looks back and shakes her head. "I don't know. I...there were always rumors that he kept a stable of 12 elites, but this is the first time I've ever seen thm." She glances away from Chago and Genny quickly, looking a little green in the dim light.
Chago nods and takes his share of the jerky. "Thanks. Ain't much that tastes worse than creeper. This'll help kill some of that." And then he glances forward. "Twelve huh? Christ complex much? Gotta have his twelve deciples?" Not likely the reason, but anything to mock the current acting baron. "Well, I guess Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are all taken care off." Then he pops the jerky into his mouth to simply hold and suck on for flavor and to let it soften like a non redcap might need to. "Or maybe Matty, John, John the second, and John thre unflushed. The three I got all tasted like Shell men's rooms."
Of the other three, only Genny really seems to get it, her lip turning in a smirk. "Creepers taste kind like worms. This is saltier at least. Either way it means only eight more 'n then the last supper." She says those last two words with weight. In her mind it's a forgone conclusion that sooner or later the Baron is going to be dinner.
Kiersten shakes her head, sucking on the jerky and peering into the darkness. "Folks should take turns sleeping. If we go most of the night, we'll be close."
"Creepers kinda reminds me of Max's cooking. Slimy. Chewy. Covered in red sauce... well, by the time I'm done they are anyway." he jokes with a wink at Genny. Inside joke for the other's obviously. He reaches up and pulls off his hat to wipe his face on it, smearing the blood onto the red material and brightening the color of his cap noticeably as the blood is cleaned from his skin.
Then he shucks the vest and tosses it to the back of the wagon, barely not tossing it totally out and moves to settle down. "Wake me if anything seems screwy then." he says before laying down where he is and curling in against Genny's side, nuzzling his face into her fur.
Genny shifts slightly so he can be more comfortable. Just like he didn't protest having horns near his nether regions she isn't bothered at all by having that mouth so close to her legs. One good chomp is all it'd take, but the trust is absolute. "Mmmhmm..." She strokes his hair and neck as he dozes, keeping a sharp eye out on both their surroundings and on the other two.
Hours go by and she makes them swap up who's driving so they both get some sleep, but the satyr stays awake and watchful. She did her stint at sleeping before. Now she sings softly as they travel, a hint of glamour in the song meant to keep them uninteresting to anything which comes by.
Normally, Chago would be a bit grumpy about sleeping through his turn at watching, but normally he'd have taken the first watch unless there was a reason not to also. She's gotten a lot more rest the last little while, even if not as pleasant as his most recent chance considering her injuries and all. Add to that the poisoning he faced, even healed. Sleeping was probably a good thing for him and he's smart enough to realize it when he begins to wake.
Unlike some, he wakes quietly, listening before moving and taking stock of where he is and what's around. "How much farther to Starbucks?" he mutters without opening his eye, likely the first sign he's awake to anyone but Genny.
Her tune slows as he wakens, a few moments before he actually speaks. She can tell just in how he lies there whether he's coherent or not. They've spent though time together for it. Her fingers continue a soft track along his neck. "Couple 'f hours. Shova managed a pathin' which cut off a bunch 'f the travel." She gestures absently towards the goat who is fast asleep at the bottom of the cart. "We'll be there 'bout the time the sun's up." And it's that nice predawn grey already.
Chago nods and stretches before sitting up and putting Gauntlets back on. Like was said earlier, even he isn't silly enough to sleep in those things. The vest is left for now though. He's not shy about showing off tats and piercings. Or scars. "So... you and me do perimeter checks and see how deep the caves go? Then they keep watch while we bring in backup so that we can wash up, cook something, and then you can sleep?"
Genny nods, "I think so. Ideally, there’ll be a chamber we can clear fer them ta load ta, then deal wi' the rest. Unless there are too many creepy crawlies ta deal with easily." She rolls her neck, stretching with a little pop. "One 'f those boxes back there has half dozen pots an' pans in it, an' there's sleepin' rolls. Nothin' fancy, bu' we'll manage fer a bit."
Chago nods his head. "And whoever comes can bring us anything we want from back there." he points out quietly. "I know I want my Court outfit. Gotta look the part when Uncle comes and confronts me." That brings a wide grin. Moving carefully, he gets the basically ruined vest and works with it until the dried gunk on it has broken from it enough to be wearable again, if one doesn't mind the appearance. "No need for good clothes until we've taken care of things, right?" he points out as he slips it back on, and adjusts his cap. Looks like the legends of soaking the hat in the blood of victims is at least partly true too, since the color is more vibrant today and none of the gore he wiped off with it shows.
Genny nods, having cleaned most of the gunk off of her outfit, such as it is, and hooves. She's in rather desperate need of a good fur soak, scrub and brush, but it's just going to have to wait. "Though once we're on top 'f things I want a soak an' food, na necessarily in that order." She glances at Shova who stirs and then rolls over, covering his eyes with his arm. "I think these two 'r gonna work out. Least til' they go back, an' even then we're in good shape. Few folks at the tavern I met who have some potential too."
"Hope they don't hold a grudge about the spiders then." Chago says with a small snort. "I let 'em loose to try and scatter the creepers outside. Worked too." D'uh. Kinda obvious there, huh? Then he nods and glances at her hooves. "Yeah. Soaking and cooking. Both are kinda important. Your fur gets much stiffer and we could use ya for a brillo pad."
"What they don't know..." She pauses as he continues and both eyebrows arch, one hand shooting up and giving him a love tap right on the back of the head. Moody satyr. The other hand brushes ineffectually at the dried blood. "Thank ya ever so much, Captain Obvious.”
Thump goes the hand. "What?" goes the redcap. He takes a moment to fix his hand right and replay the last bit. "Oh. You know what I meant. The creeper blood, not all of ya. Heck, I used ya for a pillow. Most of the fur can't be that bad, right?" Then he catches his lips with his teeth a moment as he stops again, clearly catching up mentally to the hole he's digging orally. "Look, once we got things we gotta do handled, I'll help ya wash the blood out okay? Even help clean your hoof and brush in some of that stuff ya like so much." Like that's a hardship for him. He likes spoiling her.
Moody or not he does know the way to a girl's heart. Pampering. Even a girl like Genny can't resist it for long. The storminess leaves her eyes and she settles back again, fingers still rubbing the dried blood out. While not nearly so vain as some the satyr does still value her ability to turn heads, his in particular and recovering from stupidity and covered in blood isn't always the best of looks. Then again...redcap. She reaches up again, this time just tugging his hair playfully. Mood swing. "All right then. Pretty damn sure I can live with that."
She calls it pampering. He calls it an excuse to have his hands in some interesting places. "Probably be a decent time to fill you in on the stuff I learned while Finding our gizmo too. That did get packed careful didn't it? I still plan to give it back to her uncle sometime." he admits, even if 'give it back' is not exactly the most accurate description of his plans. Not when that phrase doesn't usually invoke insertion of large objects in small openings.
"Yep." She leans over and taps a wrapped box. "In there. Kept safe from touchin' anyone til yer ready fer it." Yeah, there's some anticipation in that phrase. Can't really blame her considering everything. Genny yawns, looking forward on their path. "Almost there..."
Chago nods and flicks a glance forward. "Good." he mutters before turning to much closer things and taking a few moments to twist and stretch, loosening up, just in case. "Shova. Kiersten. Be ready for anything. Trouble always comes in threes, so I'm expecting t'be stopped again.”
Then he licks his lips and shifts to better look ahead than that first glance. "Unless that troll is there, I'm putting the head of whoever is in charge on my gates and there ain't gonna be nothing else left of 'em." Poor redcap if there's no last contingent from the Baron to deal with. He sounds almost like he's looking forward to it.
Genny nods, her expression echoing his but with less ferocity. Pretty Satyr snarl versus Redcap Chago snarl? No contest he wins. However the sum total of the pair makes Kiersten look a little green and Shova moves back up with the elf, sliding an arm around her shoulders. A soft snort greets that and Genny moves to scoop a whip out of one of the boxes, apparently something else she acquired as hers went missing a while back.
The wagon slows and there's no one openly standing in their way, then again it's not like there are impressive gates or anything here. It's only a large open cavern in the side of a hill now.