It was like fate had finally decided to smile in their favor; the Gods had heard their prayers and they were there to help.<br/><br/>“Thank the Goddess…” the words a soft whisper as she clutched the pendant about her neck. Even if her own Goddess was not there among the others, Ausan’s faith was not shaken. There was a whole world for her to watch over and protect, so even if she herself was not there that did not mean the Goddess was deaf to their plight. All the maiden cared about was the relief in knowing that finally they were to have the help they needed and now the tides would turn in their favor. There she stood beside her prince with the same annoyed stance that he had taken with their late arrival, even though she was a bit nicer about it. A look was thrown to Sen and though the woman appeared to be injured, there was still that fire within her that made Ausan proud in some fashion. Like watching as a daughter becomes a woman…<br/><br/>At least, that was the initial feeling. When a look passed from Sen to her beloved Prince, Ausan felt a stirring of emotion that she had thought long dead and buried. It caused her eyes to narrow slightly and her fists clench in a silent rage though she made it a point to hold her tongue. The feelings instantly dashed away and pushed deep within to be kept at bay while they faced their current problem. It was her plan at least, but even she was not sure of the full extent of control she would have when it came to Barth. Whenever he was involved, the woman found herself often reacting before thinking, which in some cases ended well. But in others…<br/><br/>The memory was practically destroyed in her mind before it had a chance to take root and fester. That was certainly one thing that she would NOT revisit. Not now, not ever, if she could help it.<br/><br/>When Verana was tasked with protecting their flank and given Borim as a protection detail Ausan  grit her teeth and glared at the Lord Knight, “Don’t fuck up!” she shouted to him with no respect and a full threat. If anything happened to her sister, he would wish that the Tutar had slain him when she got her hands on him. “Fight well, Sister!” she called to the other Maiden, dread in her heart that she would not be there to protect her.<br/><br/>While Barth discussed with the Gods, funny thought when she thought back on it later, Ausan watched as Sen was tended to by one of the immortal beings.<br/><br/>“Make sure you leave a scar,” she said, though the way the male focused she was sure that he words had been missed, though that was of no consequence, for once he was done there was a clean smooth scar there. Bear for the world to see and take note of the badge she earned this day. The young woman turned her gaze to the pair of them, Barth first and then to Ausan and the look she gave was one that was received and understood. Sen was with them in this fight, an admiral notion, and one that she would have normally welcomed, but instead she found her lips moving before she even could think about it. “Now that you’re patched up, I want you to stay back here with the others and hold the line. There is a group of Sister’s there,” she gestured with her sword towards the back. “Stay with them and help them keep the others in line,” she reached over and clapped her shoulder. “No worries, I have his back now,” the tone and smile were friendly, though a part of her felt more like she was staking a claim on territory that was her’s and her’s alone.<br/><br/>That done, she took up a second sword that she found amongst the carnage on the ground and strode over to where the Gods and their Demi-Gods gathered.<br/><br/>“Is that Ausan? The Punching Maiden,” she heard one of the ones in the winged helm whisper to another in matching armor.<br/><br/>“I heard she punched a noble, took his land and wealth and gave it to the people,” the other whispered back.<br/><br/>“I heard, she once punched a tree and turned it into a hut for a family,” another of the winged helmed whispered.<br/><br/>“You’re all wrong,” their Elder God said suddenly which drew their gaze. “She punched a man who tried to put down her people, her beliefs, and her convictions. Now, her Prince leads the army. Politics do not stop her.”<br/><br/>“I want to fly,” she said once she stood before the Elder God of Wind. Her eyes met his with respect, but no fear and there was not even the smallest hint that she would be bowing anytime soon. Last man she bowed down to was Barth and he put a stop to it soon after. “And I need at least two of them to come with me,” she nodded to the Demi-Gods who seemed to perk up at the mention of accompanying her.<br/><br/>“I’ll go!” they said in unison their excitement to be out on the battlefield with the Punching Maiden was one that none of them wished to pass up.<br/><br/>“Those two,” she gestured to the pair with the hair that flowed down from their helms.<br/><br/>“Yes!” the brothers said as they stepped forward their excitement barely contained.<br/><br/>Their enthusiasm earned them a rare smile from Ausan, who then looked to Lady Luck. “I’m going to be out there doing some insane shit. A bit of luck would be nice if you would not mind?”<br/><br/>“Does she know who she is speaking to?” one of the hooded figures beside the Lady Luck asked.<br/><br/>“I am sure she does,” she replied with just the barest hint of humor in her voice. “If the Punching Maiden wants the luck of my dice, she shall have it,” she addressed Ausan with the smallest nod of her head.<br/><br/>At last she approached Barth, “Told you they heard us.” Is the first thing she said to him before she gave him a smile, “Though it did take them far too long.” A roar from the battlefield drew her attention and she looked back to Barth, “I am going to use these Gods to break their line. Push the Drorghans back; kill them all if we can, then you can lead the others into a charge. Use my horse when you come through, he is better than yours and I might not want to walk back once I get way out there,” she chuckled and then just looked in his eyes for a moment before she nodded and went off to start the fun.<br/><br/>“Let’s fly!”<br/><br/><div><hr style="height:2px; width:100%; border:0; color: black;background:black;"/></div><br/><br/>Ausan never thought in her entire life that she would be flying, but there she was up in the air like some bird. The air rushed past her face and she had to squint her eyes to stop the stinging from the wind.<br/><br/>“Pretty amazing huh!” one of the Demi’s shouted to her from the right.<br/>“Just wait until he drops us!” the other from her left shouted.<br/><br/>At the moment Ausan was more focused on not losing the contents of her stomach, but there was a part of her that would remember this moment for the rest of her life. Below, the world looked small, like an ant world with the ants in a frenzy to get to some prized sweet treat.<br/><br/>“Ready?!” the Elder God, shouted from above her head.<br/><br/>A nod had only just been made before whatever magic he had used to keep her in the air was gone and down she dropped. If she had thought the sensation of flight was bad, the sensation was falling was worse. It reminded her far too much of when one of the Tutar would get a lucky shot in on her and send her sailing through the air. Only now, she was falling down, on top of them.<br/><br/>“SPREAD YOUR ARMS AND LEGS OUT! ANGLE YOURSELF LIKE A BIRD!” One of the Demi’s coached her from the right. “IT HELPS WITH THE STEERING!”<br/><br/>Advice taken, she adjusted her body and felt her descent slow to a more manageable speed.<br/><br/>“PERFECT! NOW! PUT YOUR ARMS BACK AND AIM FOR ONE OF THOSE BASTARDS! DON’T WORRY ABOUT HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING! WE HAVE YOUR BACK!”<br/><br/>This was all insane, insane and oddly fun in the same sense. With but a single glance given to the Demi’s who flanked her she tucked her arms back and felt herself fall with more purpose and direction toward one of the lumbering giants that were the Drorghans. Just before she impacted with them, there was the thought that this was insane and she had gone too far.<br/><br/><span style="color: #40FFFF"><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">From the ground amongst the thick of battle, the dice tumbled out. Each side given a chance to be showcased to the Gods above before they finally came to a stop.</span></span></span><br/><br/>There was little time for that as she brought her swords to bare, her decent rapid and nearly out of control though she still managed to somehow dodge the flailing chains and stones and plunge her swords deep into the chest of the beast. The roar of pain tore from its mouth while the impact of her attack pushed him back and to the ground in a large plume of dirt and debris.<br/><br/><span style="color: #40FFFF"><span style="font-weight: bold">Lydia called back her dice just as the large and otherwise deadly chains fell to the ground without once striking the woman that now stood atop the slain beast. <br/><br/>“Insane shit indeed,” one of her Demi’s remarked with a bit of respect, before he drew one of his knives and threw it at a Tutar who rushed them. <br/><br/>“Think what would have happened if she had punched it?” another chuckled as they fanned out from their Goddess and set to work once more in combat. </span></span><br/><br/>The Tutar that had been behind the Drorghan, came to all but a complete stop, their gaze intent on where the Drorghan had fallen still unable to see what had actually impacted one of their own.  One of them points with their spear at the silhouette that stood atop the broken body of their fallen.  The rush of the fall followed by the impact of what should have killed her left Ausan with a sense of being invincible and empowered. Such was the thought and arrogance in her mind that when the spear was thrown from her she only thought to get out of the way at the last moment and noticed something else rather…spectacular.<br/><br/>When in combat, there is always that sensation of moving slower than everything else. The rapid racing of your heart as it pounds in your ears working to slow the world down and make it all feel as if you were underwater. However, this time the sensation was not the same, it was different. As Ausan spun to avoid the spear the world truly did slow down, but for the first time ever in combat she did not slow with it. The ebony spear flew toward her at a normal rate of speed but instantly slowed to a crawl just before she moved out of the way. As it passed by she could even note the small notches in the shaft, tally marks to denote the many that were slain by this very weapon.<br/><br/>Another God must have entered the game, for time appeared to be on their side as well now.<br/><br/><div><hr style="height:2px; width:100%; border:0; color: black;background:black;"/></div><br/><br/><span style="color: #40FFFF"><span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">“Point me and I shall be your arrow!”</span></span></span><br/><br/>Those were the final words they shared and those were the words that Weylyn kept to heart as he touched down on the mortal realm atop one of his dire wolves. The forest was thick with the taint of evil, but now as the Gods intervened the enemy seconded guessed itself and had begun to try and retreat.  Bow brought to his cheek a cruel smile quirked at the corners of his mouth, the coldness of a true hunter had no remorse for the Tutar that he shot square in the back.<br/><br/>“I am your arrow,” he whispered on the winds as another of his arrows was notched and prepared for his next target.