The fire mage winced slightly as the daggers bit against his skin but managed to avoid any serious damage. He quickly summoned more fire around him, determined to burn away Sirus's shadows.
Gwen swallowed but refused to waver in front of her opponent. She was definitely at a disadvantage using a simple hunting knife against an axe… But what other choice did she have? The taunts were easily ignored as she dodged the second swing and made a quick swipe at his exposed side. All she could do right now was try to wear him down.
Corbin spun to face the swordsman, glaring fiercely and willing to do anything to protect his student.
Sirus growled, summoning more shadows around him, using them to conceal his movements so the other couldn't predict exactly what he was doing as he moved out of the other's field of vision, enveloped by shadows as he struck out with another one of his daggers, this time looking to lodge it in the man's casting arm.
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The axeman laughed, swinging at her again as he moved closer, aiming low as he didn't want to lop her head off, just disable her as his buddy (goon #3) came around her back, "Better watch your step pretty thing~" He grinned in a way that would send chills up your spine, brandishing his staff, ready to strike if she got too close.
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The swordsman said nothing, only attacking with a fierce swiftness, aiming to kill and injure.
The fire mage (who I am going to call Drake because I'm unoriginal) kept a careful vigil on his casting arm because he knew it would be an obvious point of attack. When the dagger gave a brief red glint due to his flames, he dropped and gave a sweeping blow in the direction he assumed Sirus was in.
Gwen definitely felt the chills when the other man spoke as she dodged the ax again and quickly got out from between him and the axeman. That was a dangerous position to be in, it was much easier to directly face both of them. “Thanks for the warning, creep.” she glared, wishing she had a different weapon right now.
Corbin matched the swordsman’s intensity blow for blow with the same goal in mind as he attacked and blocked.
(Ahaha nice)
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Sirus grunted as the other swept his legs out from under him dropping the daggers in his hand and taking the moment to shift, landing on his front paws and using momentum to propel himself forward, fangs flashing as he dived for the other's leg, looking to sink his fangs in deep.
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The pair of goons turned with her, looking angry. Goon #1 charged her, while goon #3 moved to come at her from the side, driving her further away from Corbin, who was locked in a struggle with goon #2.
Drake quickly scrambled back to avoid being mauled and threw another fireball at the shifter before attempting to get back to his feet.
Gwen spun out of the way of the axeman’s charge, delivering a swift kick to the back of his knee, and faced the third bounty hunter brought her knife up to block the staff.
Sirus dodged the flames, but not without singeing his fur forcing him to drop and roll to tamp out any further flames as his shadows reformed around them.
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The axeman grunted as the girl hit him, falling to the ground with the unbalancing blow and his own momentum. Though the other man was just as strong, pulling back as she cuaght his blow, swinging to try and catch her in the side.
Drake smirked at seeing Sirus attempt to put out the flame, and aimed a kick at the wolf’s ribs.
Gwen grunted as the pole hit her in the side and stumbled back a few steps. She wasn't going to give up on this fight. The only way she was going back with these goons was with broken bones.
Sirus paid no mind to the strike except to turn his ears back and roll to his feet, Shifting back as he lunged for the other, trying to pull him down to the ground in a fistfight knowing that once he had him down he could either Shift again or draw a dagger.
Of course, Sirus also knew he had to end this rather quickly or they were going to have bigger problems on their hands, the shadows whispering in his ears to update him on how Gwen was doing.
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Goon #2 grinned, lunging in on her to try and strike at her legs as axeman got back to his feet, ready for another attack.
Drake got the wind knocked out of him when Sirus dived at him, bringing them both down to the ground.
Gwen took the moment to attempt to grab the ax on the ground to try to use it instead of her knife.
Sirus Shifted as he landed half on top of the other, bringing himself up across the other's body with his claws digging into the other's flesh. a deep, menacing growl left his throat as he glared down at the man, his fur still smouldering.
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The axeman yelled in anger as she grabbed his weapon, the other goon yelling and rushing her, trying to disarm her quickly.
Drake growled out in pain as Sirus’s claws pierced his chest but he managed to glare back at him. “Hell hound.” he hissed, swinging a fist at his muzzle.
Gwen kicked at the axeman and pulled the weapon away from him and swung it at the other goon, aiming to at least spilt his pole in half.
Sirus grunted as the blow hit him, snapping his jaws at the man's hands as his shadows swelled up to permeate the area around them, even rising up around Gwen and Corbin. But unlike the usual, where his shadows would make it hard to see, the inky blackness appeared more like a mist for the other two, while it blinded their enemies.
(Neither one would notice this, but right now there's a band of shadows around a wrist/arm/ankle acting as a marker They'll notice later because shadows feel like silky soft ice.)
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Goon #2 threw himself back out of the way of hr swing, falling to the ground on his back just as the shadows welled up.
Drake let his flames engulf his hand entirely, simultaneously trying to scare Sirus away from biting him and to provide some light in the unnatural darkness, as he took another swing at his opponent.
Gwen was a bit taken aback by the sudden mist that surrounded her and her attackers, now keeping a much closer eye on them. “Get up and fight.” she said angrily as she refused to attack a vulnerable enemy.
Sirus growled more as the other's hand lit up in flames before rushing back towards his face. He ducked it, but the blow still glanced off the top of his head, singing his ear as he went for his opponent's throat with his fangs, drawing blood but not killing him. Yet.
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Goon #2 Scrambled to his feet with his weapon in hand, but looked confused and unnerved. The same went for goon #1, as both could no longer see through the inky blackness.
"Drake you gotta kill that fucking mutt!!" yelled goon #2, his voice panicked as he moved backwards uncertainly.
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And let's not forget goon number three, who was suddenly blinded in the middle of an even match, and was now desperately trying to put distance between him and Corbin.
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(Think of the shadows as a two-way mirror, Sirus, Gwen, and Corbin can see through it like an icy cold grayish mist. Goons 1-3 and Drake can't, as all they can see is an inky black, freezing cold fog.)
With his throat trapped in Sirus’s jaws, Drake very well couldn't respond to the other's call. He had to figure out a way to get free… Though realistically he was probably already dead. Once a wolf got its fangs around a throat, it was just a matter of time.
Gwen glared furiously at the one who called out and insulted her friend as she swung the axe at him. Though in the back of her mind she was a little confused why the pair were so skittish all of a sudden.
“Don’t strain yourself for my sake, my friend.” Corbin said to the shadows, knowing they belonged to Sirus, as he continued his attack.
(Ok. Just remember that Corbin has to be injured so Gwen and Sirus can go on the trial together. Maybe in the leg…)
Sirus heard him through the shadows, and he took the assurance and allowed the shadows to pull back until they were mainly focused around Gwen and the other two goons, giving her an advantage. As for the man beneath him… Well… Personally, he really really hated this method of killing people. It was nasty, to say the least. Which was why he elected to move a paw to the other's throat and pull back, the shadows dissipating from around them as his magical stamina ran out somewhat. Not that it mattered as he tore out Drake's throat with his claws. making sure he was fully dead before turning to see how Gwen was doing.
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Goon #1 cried out in pain as the axe lodged in his shoulder, striking out with his good arm in fear and alarm as he tried to pull away, making the injury worse.
Goon #3 heard his friends cry, and panicked, backing up a little faster, unfortunately heading toward the angry wolf.
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But even more unfortunately was the situation with goon #2, who was angry and scared over being blinded, and now struck out with a new wildness and almost zero care for his own wellbeing, knowing that Drake and the other would take care of the girl.
(Almost forgot about that! Thanks for the reminder! Also we really don't want a passed out shadow wolf XD)
(No problem! Lol, no we don't.)
Gwen pulled the ax back, a little shocked that she had been able to make such a hit but tried to push that thought aside so she wouldn't be distracted.
Corbin’s eyes widened in surprise at his opponent's reckless lashing out and sped up his own actions to mostly defend but still watching for an opening to end this fight.
Unfortunately for Gwen, her advantage was fading as Sirus reached his limits for the moment, knowing that even the best shadow mage couldn't amplify grass shadows like that for too much longer… Hence why the shadows were slowly beginning to fade away even as he Shifted back to human form, launching a dagger to take out Goon #1, the blade lodging in his throat, leaving goons 2 and 3 to cause more trouble.
Goon #3 had already managed to make it to the edge of the shadows, and with his vision restored, went to help his friend take out Corbin.
Gwen was simultaneously relieved and annoyed when her attacker dropped. She sighed when she saw Sirus’s dagger. After quickly grabbing the knife, she started chasing after goon #3.
Sirus saw Gwen move off, and frowned in worry as he saw goon#3 moving in to attack Corbin, the swordsman keeping the older man's full attention with his vicious attacks, leaving him open to goon #3 as he moved in to try and trip Corbin with his staff.
Sirus was already drawing a dagger to try and take out goon #2, but Gwen moved into his path in her quest to finish off Goon #3.
Gwen’s eyes widened when she noticed where goon #3 was heading. “Leave my father alone!” she called out, not thinking of her words, tempted to throw the dagger at the poleman but she knew she was more practiced with the bow and arrow compared to throwing a knife accurately.
Corbin kept fighting the swordsman but was visibly surprised by Gwen’s cry. By his reaction, it wasn't the first time she had called him a member of her family… Perhaps his reaction was more to the fact that she had said that in this situation, surrounded by enemies and Sirus…
Unfortunately for Corbin his distraction was his undoing as Goon #3 landed a hit to the back of his legs causing him to fall as Goon #2 struck out with his sword, catching him in the shoulder as he fell, the blow yanking his blade from his hands.
Sirus, seeing this happen paled in worry, though Corbin being on the ground gave him the chance he needed to cast a couple more blades into the air, one catching Goon #2 in the throat, and the other in Goon #3's skull.
Corbin grunted as he fell when the pole struck him but couldn't help but tell when the blade caught in his shoulder, dropping his spear.
Gwen’s eyes widened in shock and worry at the attack, running quickly to his side. She let go of the ax and dagger as she knelt next to Corbin but she was too shaken to try to remove the sword.
Sirus winced when he saw what happened to Corbin, the shadows dissipating, leaving him feeling lightheaded in the sunlight. Slowly he shook off the daze then made his way over, "How bad is it?" he asked softly.
