Cathy
*Walking down the tracks, you would feel the former-abundant sense of necrotic energy slowly drift off, leaving only a faint sense of danger as you follow what was supposedly the oxen tracks. It took you three about 10 minutes, but you soon arrived at an open clearing where the Ox stood, grazing lazily on some flourishing grass. It was somewhat large, about 7 feet long and 4 feet tall, with horns that were about 1/4 of it's body's length, stretching outwards horizontally. It's deep blue skin would camoflage almost perfectly with the approaching night's darkness, but the stark white of it's horns would give it's location away clearly. However, as you approach the Ox, it would stop eating and would bellow a low, deep cry. You would be able to see it paw the ground, seemingly prepared to charge at you three. If you looked closely, there would be rips in it's coat, giving way to the tan of it's bare skin. It's eyes were bloodshot with red, and its head seemed to shake as cried out towards you three.*
David
*Syele would turn around and dash while she still had some distance between her and the beast. Once she was out of reach for the time being she loaded a rock into her sling and built up some momentum with one of the rocks she took on her previous quest and chunked it toward the Ox's head.*
Carole
*Theron stared at Syele as she shot the rock at the Ox, wondering why the fmck she did that.*

"Why."
Peter
*Mizu would chuckle at Syele's attempt at being helpful. Sure it wasn't going to be very effective considering she seemed to be one more skilled with trickery and possibly healing, but nevertheless it was an entertaining sight. And for Mizu being entertaining was a valuable quality. She would've wanted to see how the group would fare against this monster, but was worried they may flee out of fear considering they didn't want to go in the first place. She would also feel bad if any of them got her considering they followed an idea that she suggested. Thus, Mizu would pick up her spear and point it at the charging Ox's head. It was basically a Calvary unit, making her spear a natural counter for it, but just to be safe she let the blood in her veins expand, increasing her strength and reaction speed. She would then thrust it at the right moment fully expecting the spear to pierce through the Oxe's head before the horns could reach her due to the reach. If she had to move slightly to avoid them though, she was confident in her speed to do so.*

```Mizu cast Turning Feral. 102.5/150 mana remaining. Strength is now 22 and gen speed is 1.9```
Adolfo
"I see you've got spirit young girl, but leaving the fighting to the two of us"
Cathy
*As the Ox began pawing the ground, it's face suddenly was met with a few rocks, which it certainly didn't like. It flinched for a moment, then turned towards Syele, preparing to charge at it. As it was about to charge, however, the Ox noticed Mizu charge her way and slightly turn its head, causing the spear Mizu sent to pierce it's head become jostled within its horns, the force of the strike sending the Ox back a few feet, but still on its four legs. Angered by the attack Mizu had unleashed upon it and further upset about the attack Syele had unleashed on it, the Ox rushed at the vampire Kitsune, horns and skull first. It left a trail of dust behind it as it charged, causing the ground below to be sent flying backwards.*
Carole
`I think it just meant the tilting head made the hit indirect instead of dead on`
David
*Syele maintained her distance for the time being, she was considering that the ox might not had been really about to charge them, but at the same time they could always blame it on the cult.*
Carole
*Theron didn't feel like doing much in this situation... They were supposed to retrieve the animals, not kill them. Since the Ox would be enraged now however, they were in danger of being crushed under it's hooves or impaled by a horn... So he had decided to assist, not wanting them to get worn out in case undead start sprouting out from the landscape covered in necrotic energy.*

*Theron would draw the composite bow hitched to his back, underneath his hooded cowl. Drawing an arrow quickly and precisely, preparing for a shot... Mizu was somewhat in the way, but running a dozen feet to the right allowed him to fire off a shot that would hopefully pierce it's chest.*
Peter
*Mizue was impressed that the Ox was quick enough to to tilt its head at the last second, and she licked her lips in ecstasy. How long has it been since she was able to fight something that didn't immediately get killed from one piercing strike from her enhanced strength and enchanted spear Kyūketsuki. Perhaps this was the shiver she felt down her spine, the shiver of excitement of actually finding a worthy foe. How much blood will be spilled in exchange, how much of it will be hers? Will the two of them paint a delightful red portrait across the landscape. Mizu wasn't one of faith, especially due to being vampire, but she praised the gods of war for allowing her to be here today. She didn't care that they were suppose to bring these animals alive, there was no way she was going to let her source of entertainment escape*
*With that Mizu decided to step it up a notch, hoping the Ox would still be able to keep up with her and deflect her strikes despite the new fighting conditions. Red mist would appear around her in a 10 ft radius as she side stepped the Ox's charge and stabbed forward with Kyūketsuki pointed forward aiming for the head once more for a beautiful exchange of raw force*

```Sanguine Pool cast. 40 mana spent only due to 5 mana regained. 62.5/150 mana remaining. Enemies within 10 ft have gen speed reduced by .5, movement reduced by 15 mph, and are hit with feelings of nausea and dizziness```
Carole
```kso I'm probably gonna be dead for most of the day, brother's birthday party at casino. I'll ping when I'm back.```
Cathy
*The Ox, charging at Mizu, would suddenly be met with a crimson mist enveloping the area within 10 feet. It had charged a few feet too far from where the kitsune had side stepped, but it was still within the radius of the red fog. It could feel it's senses being slowed down by a great multitude, bringing its running speed down to 16 mph, and its general speed to 0.6. Turning its head rapdily to try and get visuals on Mizu, it would eventually be met with an arrow in it's side. It roared in pain and agony, but the torture was not yet finished. Out of the fog, the Ox would be met with a spear strike so fast and vicious, the insides of the animal would be completely ruptured from the inside. The spear ripped through its guts and organs, sinking deep into the Ox's side. When Mizu pulled the spear out, it was covered in small bits and matter of meat tissue, and small bit of the large intestine would begin to hang out of the wound. Red vision now filling the Ox's head, it would begin to buck around, kicking the air and sides around it while flailing its head in all directions. The bucking would be incredibly slow compared to you three's attacks, however.*
David
"Go for the neck! It contains several vital blood vessels!" *Syele yelled out as she suddenly lunged in with the katana aiming for a vertical slash across it's neck before diving back out.*
Carole
`one last p0st from me`

*Theron would hitch the bow back onto his back, as the pair would most likely finish it off now that the bull has gone into a slow and blind panic. He'd simply begin to move in on the soon-to-be-deceased bull... Keeping his hand on his short-sword, just in case they needed the extra help.*
Peter
*While Mizu's face was covered by her mask, her eyes would be crimson red in utter joy of the bloodbath before her. She was so enamored by it that she almost didn't realize the young orinate entering the fray. Mizu would smile, who knew the girl who said she wanted to avoid combat would come charging in. Maybe she couldn't resist the temptation of blood either. To help make it easier for Syele to slash, Mizu would throw her spear at the Ox's head and use her free arms to grab the horns and attempt to immobilize it so Syele can get a clean cut on the neck and perhaps let the flying spear pierce the Ox's head once more. It would be a fun test of strength so to speak to see whose muscles were stronger*
Carole
`but uh... If there's no more combat, you guys can just finish the quest. Wolfe will bring Theron his share or something.`
Adolfo
"Ah, couldn't resist joining? Not that I mind. Come, let us enjoy this blood bath together young one"
Cathy
*Syele, due to the red mist enveloping the area, your senses would be dulled down and slowed as the fog covered your body. Entering your pores and your lungs, it could be almost invisible albeit the taste of blood filling your mouth. The mist also blocked your view, but you could hear Mizu's voice calling from above. Due to the mist obstructing your view, your slash with the katana would not hit the Ox's neck, but it would graze the Ox's leathery hide, dealing additional damage and pain towards it. However, it felt the direction the pain came from, and blindly kicked you in the chest with one of it's back hooves aimed at your midsection, sending you flying towards the ground. During this course of action, however, the spear Mizu aimed at the head of the Ox struck true; a fountain of blood and brain matter gushed through the gargantuan hole it made through the Ox's skull, the spear piercing it's entire head. It stuck to the ground, and the Ox went limp from the waste down, its tongue hanging out as the life fled from its body. Your spear would be stuck in it's head from halfway down, however. As it died, you three could feel a massive amount of negative energy escaping the Ox as well as the surrounding environment, causing the area to feel substantially more peaceful and tranquil, albeit the dead Ox's corpse laid out in front of you.*
Peter
*Three hits huh... Only three hits... Mizu would look down at the Ox with slight disappointment and look at her surroundings. It wasn't nearly as red as she wished it would be. She would let out a sigh. Was she expecting too much from it just because it survived one blow? She would look over to Syele and offer her a hand to get up. At least her toys were relatively uninjured. Mizu resolves herself to just accepting the small amount of entertainment she was able to enjoy today, even how short lived it was*
Adolfo
"Are you alright you one? I apologize, I generally hunt alone and forget my abilities aren't kind to fellow comrades. But it looks like we resolved the necrotic energy in the area. Shall we head back?'
David
*Syele would cast 'walk it off' as Mizu helped her to her feet with the wound glowing a bright yellow. It wasn't instantly healed, but at least it would recover faster than having to deal with it for the entirety.* "At least we dealt with that thing and the area has seemingly calmed down... Hopefully we can just go to the estate and find that second horse now without much trouble." *She'd clearly still be in some pain after getting yeeted by the damn thing.*
Cathy
*Walking back towards the farming estate, you would see a couple of slaves working on the broken fence gate. You could still walk through it, however, and went back to Kren, who was busy nuzzling a golden brown horce face to face. It seemed that once of the horses had already returned, and he spoke to the steed as he gave it various kisses and hugs throughout.*
"Kazeee~! Oh Kaze, how I missed you so!"
"**Neigh,"** The horse says almost objectively.
"I knew you wouldn't leave me for long, I knew it! Don't scare me like that ever again!"
*As you walk towards the man, he would take note of your bloodied equipment, his face shriveling in disgust. He would let to of Kaze, the horse, and inch away from you three. Keeping a watchful eye on all of you, he would go over to a nearby table and grab 3 pouches of silver off of it, tossing it to each of you in turn.*
"Your reward. Ah ah ah, don't come too close to me; I don't want the blood of whatever youve stained on *My* Robes. I expect you have information on Mistress, yes?"
David
"Ah, yes, uh, well it seems an occult order has taken Mistress into the woods nearby to here going... I'd say east. If you hurry, you may be able to alert the local clergy guild and send some of them after it to deal with the situation and save your horse. We're sadly not equipped enough for it. As for your pig, the cult killed it and tainted a patch of land that will also need to be cleansed and your ox was turned into a living necrotic energy source that we had to put down." *She explained rather quickly, while surprised that the horse had somehow returned without injury... Or wasn't even missing to begin with.*
Cathy
"What?! You didn't even bother to go in and check on the forest?!" *Kren would sigh, putting his hand up to his forehead.* "I thought I had hired capable adventures but... Oh well."
David
"In our defense, the horse was likely turned into an abomination capable of killing your entire guard unit or in a better comparison, all three of us." *She lied, she lied like hell in one sentence, but it was still a reasonable defense.*
Peter
*Mizu would shrug, she got what she came for. The payment was just a little extra, but she mostly stuck around to see if Syele would do or say anything else that might entertain her. She smiled beneath her mask at how cunning she was. She wished she could play with the youngling longer, but suspected as a healer she wouldn't really want to hang around being that couldn't be healed and might possibly feed on her. So for now she just enjoyed the time she can spend, figuring after it was over she would head over to the cult location and deal with it herself for some last bits of entertainment*
Cathy
"God's sake, I suppose it cannot be helped. Here, your reward."
*He would then toss you each three bags of gold, 15 within each one.*
"Now don't bother me or my ranch ever again, you failures. Scram!"

**QUEST COMPLETE**
-15 gold gained
-1.2 PP gained
David
*Syele only nodded and then realized she had another letter in her pocket... She'd take her payment and theron's for later... Then disappeared in a fucking sprint toward  .*