-----Sol just watches Garrison's signal in confusion. Did that mean he wanted the Gorian to stay put? Because there was no way he could move both silently and quickly. An elaborate shrug followed as he decided he would remain with the others, at least until he heard something akin to battle.
-----The three hunters continue to angle down the hillock and head in an eastern direction. As soon as they reach the foot of the hillock, they sprint toward the adjoining hill.
-----Lovan frowns after the hunters, curiosity beginning to register on his face. The sounds of swords hissing as they leave their scabbards precedes Strolum saying, "I don't be likin' the looks o' this!" as he draws his weapon along with his companions.
-----Raven disappears around the hill with Rinda just behind him. Just as Garrison is almost out of sight, the woodsman pulls up into an alert stance.
-----Just then, a savage voice is heard to growl something beyond where Raven was last seen. Sol, Sarah and the others can see Garrison heft his battleaxe as he prepares to fight.
-----Sure enough, Raven's voice is suddenly heard though the words are difficult to distinguish. Garrison rushes ahead putting him out of sight behind the hill. The sound of swordplay and battle has begun!
-----Sarah glances at her comrades, and then spurs Marlexana into a gallop in the direction of the fight.
-----Sol's features darken as he scowls at the sounds of battle. He swings himself up into Thunder's saddle and spurs the stallion towards to where the hunters headed. As he clears the rise, the Gorian draws the Lathanian blade free, preparing to charge the first hostile he spies.
-----Leaving the storm priest and the three warriors to scramble behind them, Marlexana and Thunder bolt around the hills taking their riders closer to the sound of battle. Caranip clings almost helplessly to her mistress and emits small squeals of fear with each bounce.
-----By this time Sol catches up to Sarah's steed and quickly surveys now what they gallop toward. Rinda, Raven and Garrison stand in a line facing rushing orcs. Three of the foul ones lay dead at Raven's feet, while one has been felled by Garrison.
-----Rinda struggles with one humanoid when suddenly Raven leaps at it. The hunter's short sword pierces its chest as easily a knife through butter and the orc drops dead.
-----Another orc faces Garrison and swings its cruel sword at his head. The woodsman immediately ducks and pivots bringing his axe across to disembowel his foe. Garrison then stands up in a ready stance as he begins to step across the dead humanoid.
-----Sol and Sarah can see six more orcs advancing on their friends!
-----Giving a whoop of encouragement to his mount, Sol guides the stallion towards the half-dozen orcs. He raises his sword high above his head, preparing to bring it down on the head of the first orc.
-----Sarah reigns in Marlexana and sees the fight. "Six orcs." She mutters, and glances around to see if there is something giving orders in the woods. "Not worth my magic." She decides. Sarah waits for the orcs to be exterminated.
-----With rage in his eyes, Raven looks at the orcs. He moves forward to continue the fight.
-----Sol charges in with Thunder as Raven breaks forth also toward the remaining orcs. As Raven runs, he almost seems like a predatory animal as the hunter keeps up with Sol's stallion. They hit the line of orcs at about the same time.
-----Thunder rears as he pauses between two of the orcs, giving his master an opening. Sol is able to slash straight down to his right bringing his sword down through the snarling orc's head and face. The stallion whinnies triumphantly kicking out with his forefeet. The orc just to their left looks uncertain as it stabs clumsily at Sol missing him by a few safe feet.
-----As Raven nears the first orc of three more, his swords strike out, but at the last second Raven turns the blades so the attack is not lethal.
-----Raven snarls at the orc, "Sweet dreams, cupcake." He bashes the humanoid just above the bridge of its flat nose, knocking it unconscious.
-----Raven then leaps a few paces just before a duo of orcs. In the air, Raven's short swords are crossed and as he impacts with the foul humanoids, he brings his sword arms out so that the weapons slice the orcs' torsos. The twin blades flash like the claws of a huge cat as they rip the orcish flesh sending blood and bits of gore into the air. Raven's forward motion clotheslines the orcs throwing them backwards, but as they hit the ground, they are already dead. The hunter stands up flexing his arms and whipping his hair out of his eyes.
-----An orc rushes Garrison with its sword held high and brings it down toward his head. The woodman parries the dark weapon with his battleaxe and throws the sword toward the ground.