Returning the Favour

The Two were so close, having made excellent time by wading again through the thickly wooded areas to cut off their pursuers... yes that's right, even with the help of their friends the wolves, Eric and some of his men still chased them, But Aetri kept his cool, He knew just what would be waiting for them... or at least He hoped she would.

More and more the trees became less and the Ice became more, the short grass became longer as they moved, white from the touch of frost that covered them, He was nearly there, so close "AETRI!"

"Aetri... Eric and six survived, please tell me we have a plan." Kara asked nervously, Aetri shrugged, this was a gamble, He just hoped that she was well enough to intervene, it wouldn't be the first time that she saved his skin.

He could see it... a small black shack nestled into the west side of the opening grassy valley ahead "Oh..." Kara said in a momentary revelation, relaxing a little as she realised what He was doing.

Aetri slowed slightly carefully counting the steps of the horse as it descended into the Valley, He didn't want to fuck himself over, it certainly wouldn't be the first time.

He carefully trotted through the short archway, breathing easier when He had gotten to the dark shack where He quickly dismounted, grunting from the newly disturbed pain from his ride.

He helped Kara down, wincing as he did at the pain in his ribs, it was unbearable... maybe He really did overexert himself back there, oh well, it's not like it wouldn't pay off, something that made him smile as the Raiders entered the short low-cut Valley towards them.

"HA, I'VE GOT YOU NOW YOU LITTLE CRETIN!" Eric called, he and his men smiling as they galloped forward, Aetri, being held up by a shivering Kara watched on with a satisfied look on his face, giving the group a little wave goodbye and leaving them puzzled for just a moment before...

"What is he waving at-AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!?" Aetri saw Bjorn suddenly fly off his horse, a spray of thin but deadly sharp darts shooting right at Bjorn's face, two more of Eric's men were next, being violently knocked back by a thick wire that shot out in front of them, sending them flying over as Eric and the others quickly ducked.

"WHAT IS HAPPENING AAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!" ow.... that one got hit by a swinging log, that must of cracked a couple of ribs. Hey, an eye for an eye right?

That just left Eric and one other, both with terrified looks on their faces, still moving forward despite themselves, little did they know that they were in the safe zone, dismounting quickly and running away from the trap-littered crevis "W-What the fuck!?" Eric said, his voice shaky "H-How... who?"

"You really should Leave Eric, or You're gonna wish that those wolves had eaten you," Aetri warned, but that only seemed to anger the broad oaf, raising his sword as He and his other Raider lackeys growled, prowling slowly towards him and Kara

"You, are so, fucking, dead." He proclaimed. Kara trembled, but Aetri sighed, a bored expression on his face as He raised his fingers to his mouth.

"Oh well, don't say I didn't warn you."

Aetri curled his tongue around his fingers, letting out an ear-splittingly loud whistle that echoed around them.

The Raiders looked around, worriedly at first, but then seemed to calm slightly as nothing appeared to have happened "Hehe, get him, Ig" Eric commanded, sending the dark-haired gruff raider towards him.

Aetri didn't move, He didn't scream, He didn't even lift a finger, all He did was watch, and sure a Hell, she appeared.

Ig outstretched a hand to grab Aetri, only to see a curved shining blade glide silently through his forearm, severing so cleanly and effortlessly that Aetri barely heard the metal slice through the bone.

It took a moment for this to register, Ig staring at his stub for a moment before letting out an ear-piercing shriek, clutching the wound which erupted like a volcano with blood.

He didn't scream for long, before He could even run off to contemplate his wound, She had swung around in an arc, delivering a powerful and acrobatic kick right into his jaw, Aetri heard that one, heard the whole jaw fracture as He thumped to the ground

"OH MY GOD!" Kara said, clutching her mouth is disgust as the Dark figure in front of them sheathed her midnight black, eastern blade.

"You called?" The Woman asked, Her lightweight feathered black cloak making her a shadow amongst the stark white of the snow around her.

"Greetings, Black-Crow, do you think that You can get that worm?" Aetri asked, pointing to Eric who stared at Black-Crow in terror.

She rested her hand on her Sword, staring with Her black eyes in complete focus "Alive, or dead?" She asked in her cold and emotionless tone, Aetri rubbed his chin before feeling Kara nudge him

"Ow! alright alright, alive." He said.

Black-Crow nodded, slowly moving towards Eric who apparently knew better than to fight her, attempting to rush away from the Eastern rogue before she could get him.

Black-Crow wasted no time in unleashing her Rope dart, swinging it elegantly and masterly around her arms and legs so that it shot at him, the barbed blade sinking into Eric's shoulder and making him cry out in pain as Crow effortlessly tugged the huge man backwards.

She stalked towards him as the man whined like a girl and struggled, powerless as the dark woman seized him by the throat, wrapping her rope around his neck before casting it up to one of the trees beside them.

Crow was so fast and strong compared to Eric that before He could do anything, He was already being dragged off, the rope tightening around his neck as Crow pulled him up to his tippy toes, leaving him just enough room to so that he was on the edge of being lynched, desperately clawing at the rope around his neck to free himself.

Aetri moved towards him, staring with satisfactory malice as The Huge Raider struggled to stay on his feet "Funny how things come back to bite thee v isn't it Eric?" He said, watching the man go blue in the face

Aetri gestured to Black-Crow who threw him her Tanto, a small curved blade which Aetri drew, cutting away at the struggling Eric's shirt to reveal the dirty skin of his stomach.

Eric squeaked like a mouse as He felt Aetri gently run the sharp edge along his abdomen, careful not to pierce the skin, just to frighten him a little "What it that You and your boys were gonna do to me... oh yeah, a good old Hang, draw and quartering? it sounds very tempting you know... but, I am not unkind, so I'll tell you what."

Aetri's light-hearted tone shifted to a dark scowl "I'm going to tell you something very important, so I want you to listen carefully. The Next time you come near me, or come near Kara, hel if I even see you near this village, then I will not hesitate to cut off your head myself." He growled, seeing the terror in Eric's eyes as Aetri let the sharp edge dance around some more.

"Aetri. Lee would be displeased," Black-Crow said in her quiet tone, Aetri sighed, taking a deep breath to calm his rage. He sheathed Crow's tanto, tossing it back to her

"Hang in there, Buddy." Aetri spat, turning to Crow.

With a simple nod, Aetri had crow free the Raider, The Dark Easterling throwing a Kunai at the rope which snapped, allowing Eric to gasp for air.

"You are hurt, You need rest," Black-Crow stated, helping Aetri rest on her

"Yeah, better get me back to Lee's, She's not gonna be happy but Her stitching is better than yours, by a longshot..." Aetri said

Black-Crow nodded as the Three of them set out to the other side of the Uld outskirts where Lee's Lodge stood.