Scholar

[Condensation she/her]

16 minutes ago, xinoehp512 said:

The creature flowed through the forest, moving as though the trees and branches weren't even there. While Trylle may have been faster, the concentration expended on dodging gave the creature just enough of an edge to keep pace.

It spat fiery venom in Trylle's direction.

Trylle ducked quickly, the venom splattering a tree trunk. She narrowed her eyes and picked up the pace.

[xinoehp512 he/him]

From the sides, the further rustling of leaves could be heard. Other creatures were barely visible even as they joined the hunt.

[Condensation she/her]

Trylle couldn't tire as a being stuck in time, but she would certainly be at that point if she could. She imagined her reactions if she were human - pulse increasing, muscles cramping, breathing heavily - and was suddenly glad that she wasn't human. She noticed an old tree she had noted especially earlier and smiled. She was almost to the waterfall.

Quote

Just realised that even if they did catch her, they couldn't eat her. Only kill her.

 

[xinoehp512 he/him]

Suddenly, a snakelike creature jumped at her from in front.

Quote

Why not?

 

[Condensation she/her]

Quote

Her skin's still rock-solid if you burn it...

She dodged aside, dodging a tree as well.

[xinoehp512 he/him]

The creature screamed, putting on a burst of speed until it was nipping at her heels.

[Condensation she/her]

Trylle sped up as well, pushing herself farther and farther. She'd almost made it....

[xinoehp512 he/him]

All of a sudden, an arrow whooshed over Trylle's shoulders. The creature behind her let out an urk as the projectile embedded itself in its chest.

A few moments later, it exploded.

[Condensation she/her]

Trylle ducked and looked around for the source of the arrow.

[xinoehp512 he/him]

A man stepped forwards from behind his hiding spot. He was tall and athletic, and he held a bow in one hand.  His eyes seemed strange in some undefinable manner.

He sized Trylle up for a few moments. "Ah," he said. "You're the new team."

[Condensation she/her]

Trylle paused. "And you are? Quickly, these creatures are after me."

[xinoehp512 he/him]

The man glanced around. "It looks like they're gone."

And indeed, it seemed that the creatures that had joined the pack hunt on Trylle had faded away into the underbrush.

"I'm Apollyon, of the Archeons," he said by way of introduction. "You would be?"

[Condensation she/her]

"Trylle. You... saw me running, didn't you."

[xinoehp512 he/him]

The man blinked. "...yes. I did, in fact, witness your hasteful movement."

[Condensation she/her]

"Well... I'd tell a thumper, but somehow I don't think you'd believe me."

[xinoehp512 he/him]

2 minutes ago, Condensation said:

"Well... I'd tell a thumper, but somehow I don't think you'd believe me."

The man frowned. "Have you become disconnected from the translation matrix?"

[Condensation she/her]

"Translation matrix? No, I don't think so. But it might be outdated enough that the translation matrix wouldn't work on it."

[xinoehp512 he/him]

The man frowned. "What does it mean, then?"

[Condensation she/her]

"You know, tell a lie. Some things from the 1800's stuck."

[xinoehp512 he/him]

"The 1800's...?" Apollyon looked at her quizzically, then shook his head. "But why would you lie?"

[Condensation she/her]

"To protect secrets. Why else would someone lie?" Trylle rubbed her forehead. Times like this, it was easy to imagine getting a headache again. "Listen, that's not the point. All I need to know is that you won't share what you saw with anyone else."

[xinoehp512 he/him]

Apollyon frowned. "Why?"

[Condensation she/her]

"Because my team can't know what I am."

[xinoehp512 he/him]

"...you don't want them to know you're a fast runner?"

[Condensation she/her]

"Kind of. They think my magic's purely defensive - well, except one. But he can read minds, so it doesn't count."