<div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">I really owe all of you guys a huge apology. I should have told you all I was taking a short unofficial hiatus instead of just leaving you all hanging like this for two weeks. I've been trying to sort out some inconsistencies and loose ends in my life, which I'd rather not go into detail about. Needless to say, I'm back and I'll try to keep up with everything much better now once I get a stable daily schedule worked out for myself.<br/><br/>I'm breaking this update into two posts. The second one will be up once I return from class today.<br/><br/>**EDIT: ...on second thought, make it tomorrow morning. &gt;&lt; I'm still adjusting to things, and the inspiration I had earlier just sorta... left... Sorry guys.</div></div></div><br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Allie wrote:</cite>"I hold no enmity towards you. Please surrender, and I will ensure that you receive fair trial in court."</div></blockquote><br/><br/>Pryah could hardly believe what she was hearing. This little brat was actually telling<span style="font-style: italic">her</span>to give up? To just act like she had already lost? The nerve! In no stretch of her mind was she out of commission just yet. She was still topped up on rage and energy, sentiments hardly dampened by the little tumble she had taken because of the tiefling’s pesky spell. No, this battle was far from over, and it wouldn’t be until she had crammed Alyssa squirming down her throat.<br/><br/>Muscles tensing, the furious tigress braced her arms beneath her large frame, preparing to heave herself back to her feet and into the pursuit of her prey. Her eyes were full of bitterness as she lifted her head to spit forth her refusal of Alyssa’s offer.<br/><br/>That was as far as she would ever get.<br/><br/>With her attention focused on the tiefling, she was completely unaware of the equivalent of a speeding brick wall bearing down on her before it was too late. She had but a second to register the two wolves upon her before she had the lights beaten out of her. The back of Eruin’s first tentacle almost knocked the stripes off her pelt, leaving her gasping for air even as his second tentacle struck just barely off its mark. She lifted her head involuntarily to spot her attacker only to raise her jaw straight into the lupine’s next blow, the wooden shaft jarring the bone within with a resounding<span style="font-weight: bold">*thunk*</span>. The black of unconsciousness had already filled her vision even before Rea’s powerful yet poised jaws clamped down on her form, the lack of lethal damage a testament to the control the wolf had over her body (if not her appetite).<br/><br/>In the span of ten seconds, the once-combative tigress had been reduced to an battered, bruised, and all around mangled rag doll in Rea’s maw before being unceremoniously dumped onto the deck.<br/><br/><div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">Can someone say… roadkill?</div></div></div><br/><br/><br/>The misfortune that had befallen Pryah was thankfully out of the human boy’s sight as he scrambled to climb the ship rigging. By this point in the fight, Tau had little more than adrenaline to give his body the strength he needed to brace against the slick metal surface, the soles of his shoes threatening to slip from their perch with each passing second. The trauma of seeing the tigress beaten until the orange of her fur turned blue would have likely broken his concentration enough to undo all the efforts he had already managed. It was to his fortune the observation deck had managed to block out the spectacle.<br/><br/>Gritting his teeth, the young boy turned his head upwards, where Isarr’s face could be seen poking over the railing. He was aware of the cougar’s lips moving, managing to make out some of his beckoning and reassurances, but his ears were largely filled with the roar of the water against the ferry’s hull and the sounds of the ongoing battle below. Then, he spotted the feline extend an arm down to him, just out of reach as Isarr shouted at him to give one last push. His chest and shoulders burning with the strength he attempted to muster, Tau extended his fingers upwards, close enough to barely touch the cold pads of Isarr’s own…<br/><br/><div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">Tau Will Save vs. Hold Person: 1d20(11) + 2 = 13; failed</div></div></div><br/><br/>It started as a strange sensation that seemed to penetrate the back of his mind, like a sound so subtle one couldn’t be sure they were hearing it. However, to his horror it quickly became apparent he was being subject to something far more dangerous. In the midst of his reach, the energy he had put into his muscles abruptly vanished, the human finding himself unable to grab for the cougar’s hand, let alone maintain his grip. Then, the locked-up sensation travelled down to his legs and feet, keeping them from pressing down against their holds, and against such an unforgiving surface there was only one option.<br/><br/>“Tau! No!”<br/><br/>The boy felt the cold misty air rush by his head as he fell, his now-helpless form sliding down against the steel frame before hitting the deck with a loud crack. The fall wasn’t quite high enough to seriously injure Tau, but past the initial jolt it was the least of his concerns. He was on the verge of panic, deeply aware of his own vulnerability as he lay in a heap on the wooden floor. He wanted to lift his head to see what had happened to him, pick himself back up, get into a position where he could defend himself, but as hard as he tried he found his body ignoring every command his mind gave.<br/><br/>Cursing, Isarr gazed down at his young compatriot as he lay heaped against the observation deck. Although it was clear Tau wasn’t hurt, the cougar was just as aware of the danger he had fallen into. He was a sitting duck, in the perfect position to be mutilated by the German shepherd’s swords or mauled by the gargantuan wolf’s teeth. He was going to die, and no one was in a position to help… except…<br/><br/>The cougar’s decision was made in a heartbeat. Vaulting over the railing, he aimed for the deck right alongside the paralyzed human’s body, spreading his arms to control his fall. As his feet struck the deck, he pushed his center of gravity forward and tucked his head against his chest.<br/><br/><div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">Isarr Tumble Check to avoid falling damage: 1d20(20) + 12 = 32; pass</div></div></div><br/><br/>Isarr’s agility was nothing short of impressive. Curling up into a small ball, the feline diverted the force of the impact through his roll, ending up on his hands and feet just short of the railing dividing him and the swirling sea below. However, he hardly took a moment to pride himself as he rushed to Tau’s side, slipping his arms below the boy’s while bending down to speak into his ear.<br/><br/>“You’ll be alright! I’m going to get you out of here!”<br/><br/>The cougar’s voice was a godsend to Tau as he felt his body dragged along the floor. It seemed so strange to the direction of his vision determined by the power of another as his head was lifted up off the floorboards. Even so, he knew he was in the best hands he could possibly be in his current situation, and even though the reality of what he had gotten himself into was apparent he couldn’t help but feel a little hope…<br/><br/><div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">Tau Will Save vs. Hold Person (for his turn): 1d20(10) + 2 = 12; failed</div></div></div><br/><br/>Grunting, Isarr strained to pull his friend down past the observation deck, stopping only by the time the ship’s engine came into view. Breathing heavily, he cast a nervous gaze around his surroundings, at the tall steel walls on one side and the turbulent ocean on the other. Just down the deck, he could hear the sounds of the battle still raging below, the fighting and the mysteriously powerful music the female feline had weaved. He couldn’t deny it: they were trapped. With Tau incapacitated, there would be no way the two of them would be able to make it to their raiding craft, and from the state of his companions it was unlikely the conflict would end in their favor. Their options were growing thin…<br/><br/>“Are you alright? Don’t worry, kid. You’re going to get out of here alright.”<br/><br/>The human nodded mentally, wishing he could show his confidence more directly to the cougar. Even so, he could see it clearly in Isarr’s eyes, something he had never seen in him before: worry.