Fortuitous

Characters:
Lisowin
Cheshia



Eyes the color of a rich deep blue, fluttered open. Cheshia glanced around and noticed a crisscross pattern very close to her face. Groaning, she tried to stretch her aching legs but it was to no avail. The hunters must have knocked her out in her sleep and dragged her limp body to their camp. She was sore all over from the roughness of the ground beneath her. Lifting her head slightly, she tried to take in her surroundings. The hunters must be off somewhere looking for food because the camp was empty. Looking towards her feet she noticed scratches all along her body. Yes, was definitely dragged here. As her eyes trailed further down her body she noticed that she was attached to a very large boulder. She would have attempted to chew threw the ropes of the net but she didn't think she could squeeze her nose through the small hole. Letting her head fall back to the ground she let out a puff of air and closed her eyes. Stuck...

Only two presences were nearby, slowly approaching from behind her. The emotions that were being projected were of curiosity, while the other was looking forward to something enjoyable. A pebble skittered off the boulder she was attached to. The sun blinded anyone looking up, and the shadowed figure was crouched, looking down at her. A large silver beast barked from next to a tent, his tongue out in the heat of the day. "I agree," Responded a masculine voice. His hood was draped over his eyes, and the only skin visible was the tan parts of his neck and collar. Keeping the cloak around him was a glass pendent of a green and yellow slitted eye.

Attempting to scurry away, she ended up scratching her face, arms, and chest. Wincing, Cheshia looked at the roughened edges of the rope and groaned. She didn't know what or who it was be she seriously didn't want to find out. Between fear and rage she wasn't sure what she should do. She was afraid for her life, but she was equally pissed that she couldn't seem to get herself free. She attempted once again to try and bit her way free but all she managed to do was cut open her nose, causing it to bleed. She cried out in pain as a trickle of wetness came from the cut on her nose. God, so stupid! I should've known. Her eyes traveled back over to the boulder, she just stared at it, and waited.

"Shh Shh, I'm not going to hurt you," His voice was soothing, as he slid down the rock next to the majestic creature, of such he had never seen before. He had lived in this desert his whole life. With such colors the creature possessed, the man had no doubt as to why they had hunted her. His emotions swirled with concern and pity, with having no ill will towards her. "Mirth, come here." Standing at eight feet at his ear tips, the animal named Mirth was an interesting thing, being dog-like, but standing much like a horse and having a tail full of dark green feathers at his haunches. After a moment of rummaging through his saddle that he wore, the man withdrew a small knife. "Now stay still so I can free you."

The beautiful blue globes she had as eyes watched the stranger carefully. When he called someone named Mirth towards him her eyes narrowed. They were two creatures she had never truly seen before. The one grabbed something that "Mirth" seemed to be carrying. As an instant reaction her eyes grew large at the sharp object in his hand. He wasn't yet threatening but she knew it was soon to come. She was still coherent enough to hear him say that he was going to free her. As the sound of those words her body seemed to relax and she allowed him to come near her.

He began to cut through the thick cords that bound her, being careful about his surroundings. Although he had no fear of her hurting him, he still was on alert, Mirth behind him ears up and looking around. The sound of voices drifted over, causing the pair to freeze. Silently, the man slipped back to Mirth, withdrawing twin short swords, well used and sharp.

Her heart began to break as she watched the stranger retreat. What! Why is he leaving? It took her a few moments to hear the voices. The man who was trying to free her pulled out a pair of long sharp objects. Was he going to try and defend himself? Is he crazy!? Growling slightly, she looked down and realized he had cut through a few of the cords, just enough so that she could slide her feet through the hole and rip the cords apart. She would get cuts on her feet but, if she was free she could help. She inhaled deeply and let out a slow exhale. Lay still, wait until the right moment and than break free.

With his hood around his eyes, there was no way he could really see, but he moved as if he could. Several hunters, humans, yelled that there was an intruder, but they balked at attacking him immediately. Mirth snarled, his hackles raised fully, making him look quite fierce. "It's a Lykodine rider!" One man shrilled, backing away. The man that stood between the serpent like creature stood his ground, not moving in the slightest.

"He's just one man!" Shouted the leader, rallying the other fifteen men left. They scrabbled with swords and spears around him, still unwilling to attack. "Two to fifteen, fairly good odds, eh Mirth?" The Lykodine snorted in reply.

The leader scowled, pulling out a crossbow. "Leave here! The beast is ours, we caught it fair and square, now begone!"

Beast?! Anger rose up in Cheshia as she listened to the encounter. Sliding her feet through the hole she forced it apart, ripping the net. Jumping into the air, the Himmel looked down at the hunters and let out a cry. Snapping her mouth at them she growled. She hovered several feet above her saviors, wanting to keep them close. What are these strange creatures, and what is a Lykodine rider? These were both questions she would have to get answered once she was safe.

From under the hood, the Lykodine rider smirked. He didn't have to turn around to see that she had been freed, or to know she was defending him and herself now. Mirth curiously looked back at her however, a grin upon his muzzle as he woofed in appreciation. The wolf-like horse then turned his red cat-slit eyes to the enemy, a warning growl before he pranced forward, the bells draped along his rear tolling. Blades bounced off the armor he wore, as Mirth kicked two men away from himself, then grabbed another in his jaws by the head. Screaming, the man's head was ripped from his neck in a vicious tug. The rider also burst into action, taking on the other side and engaging several men in sword play. With his twin weapons, he juggled both offense and defense in an expert display of skill.

She noticed a guy coming up behind the person with the swords. With the blink of an eye she darted down and lifted the hunter up into the air with her hands. Flying a few feet away she tossed him as hard as she could into the air and smiled when he landed on the ground with a hard thud. Looking down she saw no more movement from him. Turning around she watched with close eyes. She picked out one of the few men left and darted towards him. The hunter screamed loudly and tried running away. Cheshia wrapped her mouth around his neck and lifted him into the air. With a jerk of her head she snapped his spine, causing instant death. Hovering above another hunter she released the one from her mouth and dropped the dead one onto the one still standing.

Mirth cackled in delight, licking blood from his silver fur while Lisowin dealt with the few remaining. When everything went calm, he wiped off his swords and slipped them back into their sheathes, then turned to admire the creature they had saved. "You are very beautiful, and a cunning warrior. You are free now." He smiled at her, his red eyes moving to Mirth as he pat his partner's shoulder affectionately.

Cheshia stared at Mirth in shock. The only beings that had ever been kind to her, had been her parents. Other than that she had been on her own and alone with no one to talk to, and this...stranger just happened along and saved her life. "You saved my life, I am, forever in your debt." Standing on all fours she gently bowed her head, closing her vibrant cobalt eyes. Straightening back up she glanced over at Mirth's companion and bowed to him as well. "Cheshia, is my name." Her smile was soft and somewhat kind as she watched the two strangers.

To the man's credit his awestruck expression did not remain frozen on his face very long. His emotions radiated caution, hesitation, and now a little envy. "You are more magnificent then I originally thought you were." The compliments flowed from his tongue, in pure honesty and without guile. His handsome face split into a smirk, and he bowed his lithe form low, and respectful. "I am Lisowin, and this is Mirth, my friend and bonded." The beast was quite larger then a horse, but still decently dwarfed by the bright creature standing a few paces away. He leaned his neck forward, his nose sniffing at her curiously.

Cheshia smiled and blew in Mirth's face. "Thank you." Glancing around slowly she raised an eyebrow, remembering where they were. "Why don't we venture towards my den?" Standing on all fours she ushered them to the east. "So, I don't see many...creatures around this area, it's kind of why I live here, what are you doing out here?" Her words were soft and slow as she spoke to them. Still curious about what kind of creatures they were, she watched them carefully. They could obviously be trusted, considering they saved each others lives.

Lisowin made a small jump to scramble onto Mirth's saddle before he answered. "I was just about to say the same thing. Although... I have never encountered anything like you before in my travels, we generally keep to ourselves." His face twitched, and his emotions suddenly ran strong of embarrassment, and hatred. "My kind, are a vicious lot with no thought to life or peace. It is because of them we are considered outlaws, and killed on sight." Loosening his grip on his knees, Lisowin mentally pushed those thoughts aside and his emotions radiated curiosity once more. "I have heard legends of long bodied dragons, but you don't really look like a dragon to me."

"I do not look like a dragon because I am not. I am a Himmel. Very rare, are we. I was part of a heard once but often times we slipt apart to create our own lives. That was what I chose." Turning her head slightly to look them over she frowned. "What might you be?" Moving closer to Lisowin she sniffed his hair and shook her head. "You smell funny." She didn't realize she was probably being rude, she was just very curious as to who these two were. Standing straighter she pranced ahead of them a few paces and turned around. Walking backwards she watched them carefully. "And, if your kind are so vicious, then why did you save me?"