(Broken Cycle) Back on the Street

[Rhodes]

As his own magic fails, suddenly something happens - the wolves turn on each other.

It was the best chance they were going to get.

Rhodes backed away slowly, trying to move into the undergrowth.

escape?

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2020-04-30 16:34:49	Rhodes rolls 3 to Endurance: Str+Stam (10 Again)	4, 3, 1	failure
2020-04-30 16:34:20	Rhodes rolls 2 to Flee! Dex+Ath (unskilled) (10 Again)	1, 8	1 success
2020-04-30 16:33:46	Rhodes rolls 6 to Sneaking away - Dex+Stealth+Spec (10 Again)	5, 6, 5, 1, 8, 3	1 success

[Saber Sloth]

Sonnie is in her element!

Strength, speed, her swiftness through the trees. She wasn't above them, but oh, how she moves. Under, over, through. Her muscles flex, keeping Titania safe and secure, while her tail keeps her balanced.

Poetry in motion she easily makes it to the Trod.

The Fairests behind her, slower, not as coordinated, but they too follow the Steepscrambler.

In her rush, Sera managed to collide with a pointed, threatening branch, it scrapes her arm. Blood rushes out, staining the tip of the branch, and the ground below as the blood drops, but the Nix makes it to the Trod!

For Rhodes, he lags behind, the Dread Lord did not run, people ran from him!

Sera takes 1 Lethal, but can keep running!
Rhodes needs to make another Strength+Stamina roll to catch up!

[Titania]

Despite the wind - and the exhilaration - and the hair falling all over her eyes, she still manages to turn around and catch a glimpse of the two Monarchs.
Sera was safe, but the Autumn king had been left in the dust.
She tugs on the monkey's neck, her lips coming uncomfortably close to her ears, and she whispers: "Slow down, we need to wait for the Autumn King". Sonnie was really the talking horse she had always wanted. Weeeeeeeee!
Luckily, she didn't have her riding whip with her. Already, she's barely resisting the urge to pull her tail.

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2020-05-02 14:40:34	Titania rolls 5 to Perception (pen) (10 Again)	3, 7, 7, 3, 8	1 success

[Sonnie Wu]

Dust was thrown up into a cloud as the Monkey skidded to a halt upon the trod, like a motorcycle hitting the brakes. Falling to a knee, leaning on her staff, she let the Bright One off her back. She panted heavily. Normally, the Beast wouldn't be this winded from a run, but she'd been packing an extra 100 pounds (110? 115?) on her back. The terrifying thought of hob wolves on her heels didn't help, either.

She was also drained on another level. Sonnie's Glamour reserves were low. She felt lethargic and weak, like she'd been hungry for too long. That was something she'd need to deal with once she got home. This was not a good time to scrounge for Glamour fruits.

"I... I'm sorry... I didn't... didn't mean to. It all just... just reminded me of... of..." She spoke between breaths, her face more red from embarrassment than exertion. "I'm sorry." Keep it together, Monkey.

The hanging head is pulled up to look for the Nix and the Flowering. Thankfully, here came Sera, bleeding but intact!

Where was Rhodes? It appeared that the Autumn King had lagged behind. Shit, couldn't any of these Unicorns run worth a damn?

Sonnie pushed herself back to her feet, wiping her wet eyes with a sleeve. She peered back the way they had come, watching and listening carefully. Not simply for the Ashen Monarch, but for the Briarwolves. Just because they reached the trod, didn't mean they were completely safe.

If he didn't appear in the next few seconds, she'd have to go back for him, too, and Rhodes would probably enjoy the piggy-back ride a lot less than Titania.

Perception!

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2020-05-02 15:34:43	Sonnie Wu rolls 10 to Wits 4 + Comp 2 + Contract 4 (10 Again)	3, 9, 5, 9, 2, 9, 6, 4, 1, 10, 7	4 successes

[Seraphina]

A sharp intake of breath as the pain hit her and her other hand grabs her arm. Stealing a quick glance, she winces, but keeps going.

It was fine. Small scratch. She’s bled more than that before.

Spotting Sonnie and Titania, stopped, she slows as she gets closer, hand still on her wound.

Breathing heavy, she was in shape, but running sucked, “What’s up?” looking around, and not seeing Rhodes behind her.

Shit! Panic appearing on her face, where was he?! She walks a few steps back, looking around. There was no way she wasn't going back for him.

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2020-05-02 15:57:48	Sera rolls 4 to Rhodes?(Wits+Comp)-1Clarity (10 Again)	8, 6, 7, 4	1 success

[Rhodes]

2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2020-05-03 09:14:43	Rhodes rolls 3 to Keep going? Str+Stam (10 Again)	5, 7, 10, 9	2 successes

I am not suited for this...

The Dread Lord bundled through the underbrush, left behind by the more althetic women.

He was breathing heavily. This was more he had ran in some time.

I didn't want to narrate any futher in case!

[Saber Sloth]

They see Rhodes, huffing and puffing. Coming not to long after them. He's undamaged, save perhaps a stitch in his side. Which brings the cut on Sera's arm into sharp relief. The blood slithers from the scratch, and falls to the ground.

From behind them they hear a howl, one distinctive, echoing sound.

Sonnie knows, deep in her bones, what this means. It's victory. A dare, a taunt to any and all who would think challenge the wolf!

Soon, more wolven cries join with the alpha's.

The Trod's behind them, placed and inviting. The safety of the Tavern just steps away...

[Titania]

She takes a breath of relief when the other two reappear.
It was reassuring to know that they had made it. Though, it was going to be a short lived victory. They had survived this hunt, but that didn't mean the Freehold was out of danger.
"E-everyone is safe"

[Sonnie Wu]

Steadily, she caught up to her breathing, an advantage of being in shape. Sonnie's heart rate, however, was not dropping anytime soon. Not with those damned wolves out there. The reappearance of Rhodes was a relief, but those howls in the distance were not.

"While I think we should talk about a freehold gym class for you all, we should shelve that for later. Sounds like the Butt-Sniffer Squad settled their differences. They'll be tracking us again." She turned and started moving along the trod, in the direction of the Tavern. Her sense of exhaustion had her using her staff as a walking stick. "Least we got a head start. Hopefully, we can get inside before they close the gap."

The Beast gave Seraphina a sidelong glance, "I dunno how you got them to turn on each other, but that was awesome! Hope you can do it again it needed."

Sonnie kept one eye on Titania, making sure the Bright One didn't fall behind again, "Are we ever really safe in the Hedge?"

[Seraphina]

There was obvious relief on her face when she see’s Rhodes approach.

Hearing the howls, she knew they had to keep moving. Standing still wasn’t safe.

Looking to Sonnie, “Excuse me? I kept up, and I’m at the gym every day.” But this wasn’t the time for that discussion.

As the Beast starts to move again, Sera waits for Rhodes, walking beside him as they made their way to the Tavern. Her hand tightens on her arm, flinching slightly from the sting, trying to apply pressure, because she was sure she heard that somewhere. If you were bleeding, you applied pressure. Right? Maybe?

“I can certainly try again if needed. Truth be told, wasn’t sure it would work, but desire is a thing in wolves as well.” But it bought them time, which was what they needed.

“Lets just get out of here and regroup.” And get a band aid, and something warm to drink.