How Do I Wind Up In These Situations?

[Kender Bard]

Divria looked up at the darkening skies as she knelt in the middle of their camp. Arcan, as always, had balked at getting too close to civilization and so they were on the edge of a woods that bordered a meadow. Divria was ever thankful for her Ice sign, and the Fire signs of the boys, as it allowed them all to stay warm and dry even without as much in the way of equipment. They had a neat circle of snowless and iceless space to pitch their tents and a blazing fire was kept crackling and hot.

Arcan would normally be at work at a task or resting, but now he paced around, restless and making agitated sounds. Divria turned her attention to him. "Why are you so worked up?"

"Something in the air," Arcan growled. "I can sense it." He sniffed the air, as if he were a Beast. "Smell it."

"I just smell campfire smoke," Divria protested. But she did agree that something seemed off. The hair on the back of her neck was standing up.

[tuo]

Tevran slipped back into the campground stealthily, looking over his shoulder again in mild paranoia. "We need to put the fire out, before it's smoke gives away our position." He said even as he moved over to the fire to use his Fire sign to snuff it out.

[Kender Bard]

Divria jumped at that, feeling nervous, and Arcan began to pace around even faster. "What's wrong, Tevran? Is there something dangerous nearby?" Even as she spoke, she rose and began to help break down the camp. After a moment of staring at her, Arcan joined in.

[tuo]

Tevran nodded as he eyes the remaining smoke with concern before pitching in to pick up camp. "Yes, there are some.." He pauses for a split second, hoping to cover his hesitation. "Monsters not far from here, and there are signs of a larger concentration in the area as well."

[Kender Bard]

"What kind of monsters?" Divria asked, bewildered. Monsters?

"The kind that will eat you if you don't shut up and do as you're told," Arcan growled at Divria, but there was a hint of fear there. Just a bare hint; Arcan had no doubts he could handle himself and Tevran could too, but he always had a nagging concern now that Divria could be harmed. He dropped what he was holding and put his arms around her, starting to pick her up.

Divria had learned to put up with a lot of bizarre behavior from him but this crossed a line. "Put me down!" she snapped at him.

Arcan did so, dumping her (carefully) on the ground next to the firepit. "Stay there, so I can watch you," he said and resumed packing up the camp, glancing over to her and around for threats periodically.

"Stupid," Divria scowled. She ignored him and looked at Tevran. "Are they far enough we can just travel? It's getting late. I'd hate to be in the woods at night."

[tuo]

"They should be yeah." Tevran responded and cast an eye about for anything critical that might be missed by the other two before giving a satisfied nod. "I doubt they spotted me but it's still best if we don't linger near them too long."

[Kender Bard]

"Done," Arcan declared and he helped Divria back up to her feet. "Let's fly."

"If we're trying to avoid notice, won't flying be rather conspicuous?" Divria asked.

[tuo]

"She's right actually." Tevran stated before moving to lead them away from the 'monsters'. "At first at least we should avoid flying until we get some distance." He glanced over at them. "But be ready to fly just in case."

[Kender Bard]

"I wish we could stay and fight," Arcan said with a frown as he followed his brother. He kept one hand in Divria's, half guiding her and half dragging her.

Divria breathes a little harder as she works to keep up with them. "Well I'm glad Tevran has more sense than you ever will."

Arcan couldn't really argue with that; he'd conceded as much more than once. "I'm braver," he muttered, though. Divria snorted softly but squeezed his hand.

Once they'd made some distance, Arcan began to slow and look around. "I think we're safe now. Why don't we-"

A large looking lizard darted out from under a bush at them, bursting into flames as it did. It made a low and menacing sound.

[tuo]

Tevran acted quickly at the sight of the flames rising from the lizard and tried to quickly grab and fling a knife at the creature, but in the cold, the old wounds on his hands/fingers were to stiff to properly carry out the motion and instead he drops the blade with a curse.

[Kender Bard]

Divria skittered back and Arcan moved protectively in front of her. The salamander demon paused at the sudden movement but breathed a line of fire at the group once recovered. Arcan released what little bit of elemental energy he'd managed to tap into in that moment and deflected the flames with a short blast of wind.

[tuo]

Gritting his teeth and ignoring the ache in his right hand, Tevran clenches it to touch his fire sign and begins to chant quickly in order to try to pull heat from the creature rapidly and to gather it over his fist for both the warmth and as a potential weapon, though he isn't sure how useful it would be against THIS monster at least.

[Kender Bard]

The flames came to Tevran, reluctantly, but they felt wrong, as if he'd stuck his hand in warm oil. Slimy and disgusting.

The salamander scuttled at Tevran suddenly, opening a mouth full of wicked pointed teeth. Arcan jumped forward and onto its back briefly, stomping it to the ground, and then hastily hopped off, singed.

Divria retreated behind Tevran, pressing her signs together and awkwardly chanting.

[tuo]

Tevran grimaced at the 'feel' of the flames for lack of a better term. Unsure if his wind sign would have an appreciable effect on this monster, he reached for another knife quickly but not as sudden as his previous attempt so he could actually follow through with the throw without cramping or anything.

[Kender Bard]

The demon turned its attention at Arcan, snapping at him as flames licked out from between its teeth.

Divria thrust out a hand, focusing as she formed a wall of ice between Arcan and the demon. She began to arc the wall down and around, planning on trapping the demon, but she did so slowly enough that Tevran would have a chance to get an attack in.