Difference between revisions of "Log:Whispers on the Wind"

21 October, 2017

A group of Changelings go in search of hedgespinning ingredients in the Evercaverns.

Evercaverns

The early morning wasn't the best time to go out. Things were damn near freezing, and the Hedge was even less pleasant. It wasn't until several hours had passed, the sun was hanging high, and things were warmer that a journey seemed tenable. Entering the evercaverns from the real world was easy enough with the Gate located there. However, they're no following the main tunnel that leads to the usual exit. After a bit of looking around they can hear the wind blowing, inside the cavern no less, and from a westward tunnel lit by blue flame.

Ziv has asked the various individuals here for a variety of reasons - because they might know more what they're doing (Nathania) and because they're more or less a trusted friend she'd like to have at her back (C.B.). And in the case of Levi - it doesn't hurt to have muscle, or to have another new Lost learn about how things work alongside you. Not to mention there's a trifecta of Winter Court currently present, and some club solidarity is always good.

Though, at the moment, it might just be that they're enduring the trip rather than really reveling in it. It's like one of those mornings where you determine you absolutely -must- go this thing, but it's also freezing. And Ziv, at least, doesn't look entirely thrilled. She's wearing boots, for once, uncomfortably along with a pair of altered jeans and an overly large hoodie, with an expansive scarf. That, at least, should help keep the cold at bay a little.

"...That's odd," she notes as they've ventured into the cavern - one of the things on her list might be difficult to find at present. A whisper from a cave, a warm breeze, silk from the hedge, and some other material - fur, perhaps? But this probably doesn't lead to any of them.

Nathania brings her husband Glitch with her. He's good in the Hedge--because muscle. She follows Ziv inside. "What's... odd?" she asks, stopping behind the bat and peering around. She's dressed for spelunking, in everything but a hard hat. Her jeans are thick and flannel lined, her boots heavy, and her shirts layered. She's got this. She glances to Glitch, before looking around again.

Glitch tails Nathania like a hooded shadow, not a bit of his skin or face visible under the ragged but heavy winter coat he has on, boots tromping across the trod. Him and the dolly apparently do not want for clothing. When Nathania looks his way he lifts his head enough for the hood to fall back slightly and for her to see his face, a grim and determined look on it, all serious business. But there's a tiny, reassuring nod.

Ziv wants a friend? Ziv has a friend, in the form of one rather perpetually cranky electric Wizened. C.B. trudges along more or less next to her in his more-or-less usual uniform of worn Levis, work boots, messenger bag covered in Leftist pins, and a red and black plaid work shirt. There's a gunbelt slung around his hips that contains two pistols: a Colt M1911, perfectly ordinary, and some sort of Hedgespun flintlock pistol that's blacker-than-black. A chrome megaphone is clipped to his bag, and Yossarian, his papery Hedgebeast Companion of a cat, has his head sticking out of said bag, watching the world through glowing yellow eyes.

He glances over at Ziv, then nods -- looking slightly confused -- at the sight of Nathania and Glitch. "Alright, kid," he mutters to Ziv, taking a drag off his cigarette because yes, he smokes in the Hedge. "Hope you know what you're after so we can get in and out quick. I have pages to write."

Levi is simply dressed. Heavy black leather jacket, jeans bearing her name, boots, and... well, a tank top under her jacket. She looks cold, but she's making do. Oh. And she's also the size of a car. Literally, like a police cruiser standing on end. She's huge. She's also without any weapons or armor- but she's made of rock, maybe she doesn't need either.

"Don't worry. If there's anything dangerous, we have enough muscle to handle it. Just... gotta be careful."

As they follow that wee bit of wind it leads them to another set of tunnels that count five. Light can only be seen from the first, third, and fifth tunnels. However, wind can be heard passing through the second and fourth. With a bit of work, however, they're able to discern that the true source comes from the second, and the fourth is somehow connected. Further inward things become darker, and they can hear the scuttling of creatures in the distance.

"What I mean is... is it supposed to be like this?" It's not like Ziv really comes into the Hedge all that often; it's one of the things new Lost might not necessarily do with any frequency. Even if her frequency is suddenly and dramatically increasing. She doesn't seem to be too concerned about the dark, at least - her eyes gleam in the shadows, probably due in part to the contract which involves the owl feathers tucked into her hair.

Some fumbling, and she takes a jar out of her rucksack, holding it in one wind. A glance is paid aside to C.B., and she comments to him, "I'll try to get you back to your books as soon as possible. I know it's like leaving a kid behind." Her tone might be a bit sarcastic, there.

Nathania nods. "Sometimes," is all she murmurs, before watching Ziv take the jar out. She's silent, button eyes dark in the gloom.

C.B. glances over at the huge sight of Levi, eyebrows raising. "She lives. Levi, wasn't it?" Then he shrugs to Ziv, some of the lightning around him crackling -- he has rather more than usual going on thanks to his armor. "Who the hell knows? Like this place is ever fucking predictable." He squints in the direction of the many tunnels before him. "Which way, chief? Do you even know what you're looking for, exactly?" He's actually smiling a bit, because she placated him with the kid comment. Sarcastic though it may be. "You have no idea. Books aren't children; they're fucking vampires."

Glitch stays mostly grim and silent, though his head lifts at the sounds of skittering further ahead. His hand reaches up to grip at the sword on his back, glove tightening around the hilt as he watches ahead, glancing behind them every so often.

It's an odd sight to see such an imposing figure hunch her shoulders and hide behind the thick, stony fall of her hair. "Hi, CB. Yea, I'm fine. I got a job and a new place to stay. I've been by a couple times to help out. We must have just missed each other. I- sorry." She looks away, wincing at what seems to be perceived disapproval, and trundles after the others, keeping up the rearguard. "I've only seen the woods. So. I dunno if this is weird."

"That's... a little ominous. But I guess that's about par for the Hedge," Ziv squints in the gloom, probably needlessly, but then seems to shudder as she continues to walk in the direction of where the skittering and wind are coming from, her ears occasionally twitching to pick up various sounds. She does give a little nod to Nathania, poking out her tongue as if to taste the wind - and apparently not finding what she wants. She keeps going.

Aside to C.B., she quips, "Well then maybe you should rub some garlic on a stake, and um... penetrate your writing with it... or something." A pause. "Garlic stake sounds good." She glances over at Glitch then, but doesn't really address him - she's seen him a grand total of once, afterall.

C.B. just shrugs at Levi. "Sure," he says. Does he disapprove? It's not his life, is it? Why the hell should he care? At least, that's what his facial expression suggests. He mostly sticks close to Ziv, finishing his cig and, for once, putting the spent butt in his pocket rather than tossing it into the Hedge, because you never know what will toss back. The others he almost seems to be watching, so either he doesn't trust them or he's just plain paranoid. "Ziv? I don't really want to talk to you about penetration right now." He narrows his eyes and squints down the tunnels, almost like he's trying to sense something.

Nathania hugs herself. "I don't like... the blood smell," she murmurs to Glitch. "It's not.... right." She stares toward the light, the Stay Outs, the--everything wrong.

Ziv sniffs a few times at the air, staring in the direction of the blood. Her ears twitch forward, and then back again, as she just kind of... continues to stare at that side tunnel. It might be rather disconcerting, the intensity in which she does so. Then, her head tilts back, and she looks upwards at the four-legged insectoid creatures, watching them carry pieces of an unfortunate hob or traveller back to their lair. Slowly her head tilts to the side, and she finally states, "Not really what I came here for..."

" The ground here might not hold me. It's got me kinda nervous. Is this where we need... to..." Ziv is looking up. Levi peers at her, worried. "Ziv..? What... is up there? Should we be worried?" She looks after Glitch, not sure what his particular outburst is about. The wrongness of th e tunnel? The obviousness of Nat's comment? Who knows.

Tunnels and blood. Who doesn't love that? C.B. looks mighty uneasy himself, and then...he slowly looks upwards, too, at the thing Ziv appears to be looking at. And then his hand is reaching for the strange black pistol by his side. "Oh no, Ziv? You didn't come to be devoured by Hedge creatures?" The lightning zaps around him, like it's dying to act as some kind of enormous bug zapper.

A flicker of a grin is seen from Ziv, along with a flash of sharp teeth. But then she shakes her head at the others, looking away from the ominously marked tunnel ahead. "I think we should probably turn back. I... well. Was looking for silk, a whisper from a cave, and a warm breeze. I don't really think we're going to find any of those here." Her head tilts to the side, dark eyes roaming over to Glitch and then Levi. "These things probably don't... um... Spin silk. But I guess they might." She glances again, overhead, and wonders aloud, "Where do they go?"

Nathania shakes her head. "Are you sure... you want to .... find that out?" she asks Ziv solemnly, button eyes reflecting the light and C.B.'s electricity.

"I still don't see what's up there, but if it comes down, Ziv, Nat- I can stop it if it comes close so CB and... um... Mister Hood can kill it," Levi offers.

Glitch seems to just be concerned about the entire situation they're heading into. He winds an arm around Nathania in a protective squeeze, before letting go and staring up. "I think we've got enough things trying to kill us without going looking for more," he mutters dismissively, but still stays at the ready. "Not my quest, though."

C.B. raises his eyebrows and shrugs. He looks up, too, like he's also wondering where they go, and then briefly pats Ziv on the arm, wandering in a vague circle. "Whatever you want, kid. If they all turn back, I'll go with you. Unfortunately." Almost like he doesn't have a choice or something.

"...Let's head back. I don't think there's likely to be any silk here. And I'm not going to risk people's lives -just- for winter clothes," says Ziv, though the tone suggests she might otherwise do so - under different circumstances. Her ears fold to the sides, and she glances at the others before nodding. Then, to Levi and Glitch, she says, "Unless you two -really- want to fight something; but I don't have any idea what these things are, and I don't think... well..."

"I didn't think... to bring... hedgefruit." Nathania is obviously kicking the hell out of herself mentally.

"I can fight if we need to. I'm just here to help, though, Ziv- I'm following your lead. I don't need to pick a fight when there's more to be done And there might be fights waiting."

Ziv gives another smile - this one nicer - to Glitch and merely nods her head at him. "Let's head back then, and check the other corridors. Since it's... um... my call I guess, we're not going to risk anyone's life over this." Her eyes slide over to C.B., and she considers him as she heads back down the tunnel, commenting, "As... much as you dislike Freeholds... I would've thought you'd think following anyone into danger blindly would be really dumb."

The creatures scuttling inside still pay not mind to the Changelings, and find the way as easy to return as they came. It takes just as much time to find their way back to the main tunnel, although they're no longer the only ones there. Two hobs stand in the tunnel, likely miners made obvious by the picks they have hanging from their belts. They're wearing a leather tunics covered in bits of dirt, and the same is true of their greenish-brown skin. While humanoid in appears from the neck down, their heads are more akin to rats than anything human. "Help?" one asks when they spot the changelings. "Yes, you help!" exclaims the other. "You kill king?"

"I'm not following blindly. I know what I signed up for, which was to help you do something potentially stupid and dangerous," C.B. tells Ziv as they head back. But he startles, briefly, at the sight of the hobs, and then groans and rolls his eyes as he digs another cigarette from his shirt pocket. "Oh, brother. No!" he yells at the hobs, gesticulating with the unlit cigarette. "If you can't kill it, what makes you think /we/ can?" Not like he even knows what the king is, but...he can probably hazard a guess.

Levi stays silent on the topics of freeholds and foolishness. The hobs, though, surprise her, and... well, she looks down at CB and the hobs before simply pointing out, " We're towering rock giants and warriors with weapons. They're miners. I'm not saying we HAVE to help, but. Their comparison, at least, is pretty sound."

Nathania blinks at C.B.'s reaction to the hobs. "How do you know... it's not.. another hob?" she murmurs to him softly. She looks at the pair of miners in the tunnel and shrugs. "What's in... it for us?" she asks, after nodding to Levi.

"Uuuuuh..." Ziv stays quiet on the fact that she does not, actually, have any weapons. Other than her claws, which are reasonably sound in some ways - except that she's a scrawny ass bat changeling. She flicks an ear towards the others, falling silent for the time being.

"No, /you're/ a towering rock giant," C.B. says to Levi, apparently not considering himself a warrior with a weapon, despite the fact that he has at least two. "I'm just some shmuck with a few guns and a big mouth." And lightning, which zips and zaps all around him. He shakes his head at Nathania and says, "You're right, I don't know. Okay," and he gestures impatiently at the hobs, "What the hell are you talking about? If you want us to help, give us some goddamn details."

Glitch lets CB do the talking, though he listens with an interested face. Being begged by Hobs to save them seems a bit more on the level than shoving forward into the death-tunnel. Even if that's where they're gonna lead them. He keeps an eye out, though, lest anyone else interesting sneak up on them while the "friendly" miners are talking. "Killing rulers seems popular these days," he says quietly to himself.

"Round!" the one in front shouts. This draws a bit of curiosity from the other as he whispers, "What round?" Without waiting and answering he grabs his compatriot by his shoulders, and turns him around. He reaches for a bag held on the second miner's belt, and yanks it off. "This!" he shouts when opening up the bag and revealing what's inside. A few uncut gems of various shapes and sizes can be found inside, although nothing normal can be said about them. A few of the redder ones emit a faint glow; a whiter, clearer one has a bit of something black swimming inside; the three blue ones appear to have feline eyes inside that blink and look around every few seconds; and the largest of them all is a yellow gem that can just barely be heard whispering something every time it moves.

Nathania looks to Ziv. "It's your.. expedition," she says quietly, "but I could make.. some very pretty... things with those." She considers, but lets the bat-ling do the talking.

"Whisper from a cave. Couldn't... the big thing be it, Ziv?" Levi murmurs, peering down at the pretty stone's.

"...Huh," says Ziv with several blinks as she looks at the gems. Whether it's because she's interested, or there's some memory it kicks up, or just because 'that's something you don't see every day' is hard to tell. She kind of squints at the yellow one for a moment, and then she goes to put the jar back into her rucksack, once she's realized she's still been holding it. "Um, well, that's a pretty good price" - she glances towards the others as if for confirmation - "But... what's this 'king'. Is it with the..." She starts to make a gesture with her 'hands' and then seems to remember they're wings. Instead she settles for, "Crawling things. The king of those?"

C.B. squints at the gems, and the lightning around him shoots out a little brighter. "First bribery, then who knows what..." he mutters to himself, lighting the cigarette with a match to his bootheel. But Ziv has gone ahead and ask the questions he had next, so he at first he just stands there with his arms folded between drags, staring down the hobs with a cynical, skeptical look on his face. Then he asks: "And what's in it for you, anyway? Is this 'king' blocking the rest of your mining, or what?"

Levi looks back and forth at the others while the Hobs speak. She's so completely out of her element. "Pet the biter too hard and it bites back... sounds like it might have anticoagulant saliva..? And... it likes... big things. Like me. Aaaaand can eat through rock. Is that what you mean? That it can cut through me too? What do you mean only hurt when cutting King stone?" She looks to the others- Levi feels totally unsure of her guesses at what they mean. This is all so -strange.-

"No... I think um... I think this 'king' might be made out of rock. They're saying it's... similar to you, I think..." Ziv's ears are flickering to and fro while she listens, eyes squinting thoughtfully on the two hobs. A few times she blinks, and then wonders of the hobs currently petitioning them for aid. "Is the king... your king? Your leader?"

The hobs both shake their heads fervently. "No. It eat queen. Eat queen when sun is angry." The second shouts, "Very angry!" The first elbows the second in the side to kill the chorus, and continues on. "Not like biters. Biters no bite big things. Only gone things that don't move. Things gone for many days with worms in them. King like rock person." Then it reaches for and pulls out its pick axe. "We cut stone. Cut you stone, yes?"

"So um, it sounds like the... biters... only eat things that are already dead. But there's the big rock person... and I can't understand if they're threatening you, or offering to cut stone for you..." says Ziv, eyeing the two hobgoblins uncertainly. Her dark eyes flicker over to C.B., and then to Levi, as if asking them whether they understand more than she does. Presumably, Glitch and Nathania have to go off to avoid loyalists or something of the sort.

"Huh. I- don't know, either. But if it's big stone, too, I think that's probably good news. Bigger they are..." A weird theory coming from the rock giant, but she says it without a hint of insincerity. "I think- I can probably handle the most punishment? So maybe let me get its attention first before you two get engaged? I should be able to keep it in one spot."

"What the hell do they want us to /help/ them with?" C.B. exclaims, flailing his arms. Yossarian, still nestled in his messenger bag, watches the Wizened impassively. Hands on hips, C.B. furrows his brow and stres over at Levi. "You really wanna go face some big thing down on your own?"

"Errr, well..." says Ziv, after seeming to consider the hobs, with her ears folding to the sides. She gives a faint cough, and then says, "They're asking you if you want them to cut you, I think, because you're made out of stone. I don't know particularly -why-, unless they um... think you're full of gems or something..." Ziv continues to eye the two hobs more dubiously, now. "...and they're offering the gems as a reward for... stony... regi...side."

The first hob points doing the tunnel they've came from, the fifth tunnel down. "You big! You got magicks. You kill King - we give shiny rocks. We give one now for proof," he asays as he pulls out the whispering, yellow gem that begins its murmuring as it moves about. The second has started moving over to Levi, pickax lifted from its belt and raised overhead. "Cut, yes?"

Levi flicks a hand out as the second hob approaches and calmly plucks the pickaxe from its grip, spinning it to offer back by the handle. "No cut. Thank you, but no cut." She looks to CB and shakes her head. "'Want' is a strong word. But I -would- rather let it take a swing at me than either of you. So let me get out there and pin it down, and then you guys can do whatever you do." She looks at Ziv and flashes a grin. "Thanks for the translation. I almost didn't realize what he wanted."

Levi flicks a hand out as the second hob approaches and calmly plucks the pickaxe from its grip, spinning it to offer back by the handle. "No cut. Thank you, but no cut." She looks to CB and shakes her head. "'Want' is a strong word. But I -would- rather let it take a swing at me than either of you. So let me get out there and pin it down, and then you guys can do whatever you do." She looks at Ziv and flashes a grin. "Thanks for the translation. I almost didn't realize what he wanted."

C.B. lets out a long, deep sigh, folding his arms, glancing over at Ziv. "I think this is a mistake, but." He gestures towards Levi. Be my guest, his arm movement seems to say.

"We also don't have to do it..." mentions Ziv with a flick of an ear, even as the other hob moves forward to offer the gem. She does look at it, tongue slipping out to wet her lips, but it seems more thoughtful than desirous or greedy. She turns dark eyes onto Levi, and then gives a shrug of her shoulders, before offering, "We can probably take a look? Though I kind of favor more... traps and things." She considers the pickaxe that Levi took away from the hob. "Might need one of those."

The second hob claws at the air when the pick is taken away, and when Levi returns it he happily holds it close as if a long lost lover. The first still holds the gem there, and when mention of a pick comes it takes a moment. The bag of gems is hastily tied around its belt as he sets the lone gem down. When done he grabs the whispering, glimmering jewel again, offering it along side his pick in the other hand.

"It's for Ziv," Levi explains simply. "I think we can handle it- but if it gets hairy, don't hesitate to bolt. I'm fast. Don't wait for me to start running if we have to go. I'll try to pick you up if that seems faster." She looks to Ziv and shrugs. "I don't need them. If you want to bring one just in case, make sure they're okay with it, I suppose." She watches as #2 cuddles his friend and #1 offers his with the gem, and nods towards him. "There you go. Snag them, and we can take a peek."

"I hope you're not doing this for the jewels. Greed will fuck you up," C.B. grumps. "And don't worry, we won't wait for you. At least, I won't." Though this could totally be all talk on his part. He glances over at Ziv with eyebrows raised. "This is your adventure, chief. Ultimately, you call the goddamn shots."

"I think we should take a look. The hobs are pretty small and light, even compared to me," says Ziv, avoiding the word 'weak' just barely. She reaches out to take hold of the pickaxe, giving a nod of thanks to the hob that's offered it out to her. Lifting it up, she puts it on a shoulder, and then glances back at C.B. and Levi. "I think a trap would be best, most likely, if we're going to do this - at least to cover our retreat if nothing else."

"Aren't the gems for Ziv?" Levi asks, tilting her head. She seems under the impression Ziv's getting all the goodies. She nods in affirmation when CB agrees that he won't slow down, then looks to Ziv along with him. "I don't really know traps. If you wanna set one up before, that's okay with me. I just won't be much help."

Once freed of gem and pick the hob turns on his heel, and with a high-pitched whistle gets the attention of the other hob. As he begins to move the other follow in his wake. The tunnel they're led down is lit by way of lit torches spaced out very generously. While normal sight doesn't work as well with how far the lights are spread out the hobs appear to pass through without issue. Along the way they can occasionally spot various gems, although they're closer to normal than what was already shown.

As the tunnel begins to open up the hobs go to a dead halt. The tunnel forks into two paths, and they point towards the one to their right. "King's bed!" one nervously squeeks. There's nary a scent to pick up save that of ash and dirt. Something echoes from within those halls, as if the wind is blowing rocks around. The tunnel to the left is bereft of light and sound, alough they can steadily feel a low tremor underfoot that comes from that direction.

"I can probably help you with that," C.B. mutters to Ziv as they move along. He moves swiftly, brow furrowed, fists clenched. Tense. Staring in the direction of the "king's bed" he mutters, "Why do I feel like the only trap currently set is for /us/?" Paranoia, man. It'll getcha every time.

Ziv, barefoot again even though it's usually a bad idea, flexes her claws slightly against the ground and seems to listen. Her ears prick that way, and she starts to move forward, nearer to the opening of the tunnel in order to listen more thoroughly. She would've chipped away at some of the rocks at some point, in order to lay a trap out. Her head tilts to the side, ears pricking and twitching. "Well..." she pauses. "If this thing is too big, we should um... probably just head back." It looks like she's trying to get a glimpse inwards, or at least hear roughly how big this thing is.

"Stay on your toes. If we need to leave, every second counts. But we haven't seen it yet." Levi's trying to help the others stay calm. Easy for her to say- she's huge, too. She pads forward a bit, peering down one way, then the others. "... think maybe the king isn't in bed right now, judging by the rumbles. Should we try to intercept him? Try to lay in wait? Could get trapped if we do. If we go to him, we've got a clear path back."

The two hobs slowly go back to the opening they came from. The pick-less hob looks between the three Changelings, silent for the time being. The other, however, continues staring up at Levi. "Kill King?" the first finally asks. The other nods, almost happily at the prospect. "Yes?"

The tunnel to the left is long. Almost disturbingly so. It'd take at least half an hour to traverse its length, and it appears to be more than big enough that three of Levi could fit inside it. The sounds coming from it are always in pairs. It's difficult to make out if it's multiple, individual things down that way or some thing with more legs than all of the Changelings combined. From the other the bat can just barely make out the shape of something down at the tunnels end. It's hard to say how big it is from how far away it is, but she can clearly see more of those rat-like hobs. Dismemembers and strewn here and there on the Earth. From the sound of it, one of them is currently being thrown around while another is the snack of something else or the same being.

From the tunnel on the left the Winter is able to make out shapes, but it's hard to say. The tunnel is very, very long, and big enough that she could fit through with irregular ease. The best she can make out from the sound of the rumbling is that something /is/ down that way, or some things. In the other she can just barely make out what's down at the end. At the opening and a little bit past its opening are the corpses of the hobs, dismembered and torn asunder - meat chewed right of the bone. The smell of blood is faint, and masked by the dirt. However, she can just make out the hints of something freshly dead down there.

"Who's to say we don't go that way and these assholes trigger an avalanche, cutting off the entrance?" C.B. mutters, giving the hobs an uncertain, skeptical glance. Yossarian's ears flick, like he's trying to listen to something down the tunnel. He scowls at the hobs and at Levi in turn, like this is somehow her fault. Which it isn't. Is it?

Ziv's ears flick again, as she looks further down the corridor, before her attention turns over to C.B. and then to Levi. A little bit longer, silence holds, and then she eventually says, "I think I should take a look, first, since I can see in the dark and move pretty quietly... Get an idea of how big this thing is, and if it's something we can take or not." It doesn't sound as if she's, honestly, too terribly certain at that idea. But she at least attempts to sound brave!

"They won't. Look. There's -piles= of them. Eaten by the king. They want to survive. We're their best chance." She looks back to the tunnel with the something in it, grinding her teeth a little before just nodding firmly. "I want to help. We can always run if we have to. But if it's picking on them, I think- I think we can handle it." Ziv's offer gets her attention, and she looks concerned, but- nods. "Okay. I'll wait. Be careful."

Ziv's linking through the tunnel initially draws no attention at first. She's only halfway there as she avoids tripping over a misshappen rock. However, avoiding that has her kicking aside another, and they can all hear the loud echo of something slamming against a cavern wall. "Meat!" something roars from within. It makes itself known quite quickly as it comes to the tunnel to stare down Ziv. As the Beast heard it's about as big as Levi - if a few inches shorter. However, the thing doesn't look anywhere near as pleasant nor as pleased to see the sight of Ziv. "Meat!" it rumbles again, this time causing bits of debris to fall from the ceiling.

The hob is much taller than the ones it eats for dinner at nine feet tall or so. Just a glance at it alludes to the fact that it likely eats people for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. His skin is the stuff of stone, and a shell of sorts can just barely be made out from the "hump" on its back. It drags its knuckles on the ground, and it's just barely possible for the Beast to see the claws that tip its fingers. "I'll enjoy sucking the juices right outta those tiny bones!"

"I don't taste very good," promises Ziv, though her ears flicker back as the thing approaches her. She's not even five feet tall, afterall, so this thing is about twice her size - and she's further away from the group. The pickaxe is still curled in her wings, but instead of immediately swinging at the thing's face she turns and bolts back towards Levi and C.B., so they can possibly see it easier as well as be aware - not to mention she's faster. "It's about... um... twice as big as me!" she yells out to the others, as she runs.

The mad hob so nicely called the King barks a laugh in response to Ziv, and without a moment's though gives chase. It lopes along on all fours as it chases after the Beast. When the hob gets just close enough as it harries its prey it swipes at at her back at whatever its claws can find purchase in. The smell of blood excites it as its eyes gleam in what little light they have here.

Levi stares at the fleam of blood on the claws of the king as it rips past her in pursuit of Ziv, and her lips curl nastily behind her. In her anger, she rushes too fast and gives away her position, but it doesn't matter. Even as the king becomes aware of the mountainous woman bearing down on him, she's already lunging to grip at him, hands implacable talons clutching at the king's form as she jerks him out of pursuit and stares at him, fury boiling in her eyes.

"That. Is. My. FRIEND."

"FUCK!" C.B. calls out, leveling his Hedgespun pistol to the mad hob with slightly shaky hands. The pistol is beautiful and old-looking and the strangest, inky black. "EAT SHIT AND DIE!" He fires out bullets as black as pitch, aiming directly at whatever part of the creature does not have a Levi in the way. His head, his heart? Whatever works. "Watch your grip," Yossarian advises. Yossarian is a very useful Hedgebeast, but in combat, he's mostly just bossy.

It's possible that, at first, Ziv doesn't even notice she's been clawed since she keeps moving - those claws certainly do a lot of damage to her back, and catch on her rucksack. When they tear free a small cascade of items comes out, including a now partially torn plastic baggy of cherry-sized fruit that she'd apparently brought with her. Only a moment is taken for her to catch her breath when Levi rushes past, and then she turns around to swing the pickaxe at one of the King's eyes with as much force as she can presently muster.

"FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!" C.B. fires again, doing his damndest not to shoot either of the other two lost. And really, he'll go for wherever he can, though he's particularly trying to get the fucker between the eyes. If he can do that, he'll be happy...however he manages to hit, this guy is going to be poisoned. And the bullets leave a slow, strange poison that stains black, but slowly fades from sight...rather sneaky. Did some old timey Winter invent this thing?

The mammoth of a hob is initially caught by surprise as the equally massive Levi has her arond him. Bits of stone gives way under the Ogre's grip, but it appears as equally excited by the Ogre's wrestling. It can't quit turn to meet her gaze properly, but it does get an arm around her neck as it tries to wrestle its way free and get a hold of Levi himself. However, the hob's brute strength doesn't match up as well.

Trying to match strength with strength is where the Hob's plan fails. Levi looks huge, she looks powerful, but she FIGHTS fast. It's not power vs power, it's power vs technique, and that first exchange is lost before it begins on that alone. When it predictably goes for the neckhold, Levi twists in his grip, shifting her own to grab his arm and pinion it behind his back as she SLAMS him into the wall of the cave. Literally caught between a rock and a hard place, the impact is... well, crushing, and from the look of the angle of that limb she's got, it's not the only thing about to break.

When one of C.B.'s bullets wizzes past her - and Ziv pretty much definitely knows that with her bat ears - she gives a sudden squeak and skitters out of the way. Attempting to get clear so that the Wizened doesn't accidentally shoot her. At which point, she seems to notice that there's blood steadily dripping down her back.

Yossarian bounds out of C.B.'s bag, trotting over to one of the blushberries on the ground and getting it between his teeth. He then attempts to bring it over to the wounded Ziv, while C.B. tries to shoot again -- and misses, this time. "FUCK! FUCKING DIE ALREADY!" He's gone all beet red in the face and electric -- well, he's been electric, but sparks are shooting out all over as he gets frustrated.

More and more of its substance is shot off by CB, and in the end its blood pours forth freely. Its ichor is black and reeks of tar when the scent reaches their noses.

When its arm is bent the wrong way more of its stone hewn skin crumbles under Levi's grip. Stones and pebbles hit the floor amid the melee, and the roars of the hob ring throughout the caverns. It tries to redouble its efforts again, and in the process suffers even great pain when trying to get a hold of Levi.

Levi struggles with the frantic King, nowhere near close to losing her grip, but increasingly stressed by the whizzing bullets, screaming, and yelping of her friends. Abruptly, she loses her patience and shoves the thing's face against the wall, half-rising and lifting her foot to SLAM the stony limb into the join between shoulders and neck. TWO cracks immediately resound, as both neck and arm shatter, and Levi throws the body to the ground in aggravation, massive shoulders heaving as adrenaline pounds through basalt arteries. She looks towards the others, glances between them, then drops her eyes, the steel in stance and expression melting away with the drop of her rush. "... you're- you got hurt. I'm sorry." She looks towards CB, then, asking hesitantly, "Are- are you alright? Did you get hurt? I didn't grab him fast as I meant to."

"Thanks, Yossarian," breathes out Ziv as the papery-furred Hedgebeast comes over to her with one of the blushberries. She grimaces a bit, reaching down to accept it, before going to pop it into her mouth, where she stands off to the side. This time out of the way, since it's apparent Levi and C.B. have things pretty well handled - all the more when Levi rips the huge hob to shreds. She just stays quiet, eating the berry and letting the magic work.

Yossarian sits on his haunches near Ziv, watching the others. C.B. waves dismissively to Levi with his weird black gun. "I'm fine. You annihilated the hell out of him, Slayer." Sarcastic? Yes, but with a begrudging note of thanks in there. Maybe even some admiration. "You're going to have those bribing little assholes eating out of your palm." He's not considering himself a part of this, apparently. "You doing okay, Ziv?"

The hobs were crouched away in a corner at the tunnel's entrance while the violence ensued before them. When the fighting is done the one with his pickax still in tow marches up to the King, and begins chipping away at the now unconscious King. He shrieks before bringing down the first blow, and the hit causes the now dying hob to twitch involuntarily. The one with the jewels stands to his full height now, and moves over to Levi. It then lifts up the bag of jewels, holding it high with both palms below it. "Here shiny rocks. We cut stone free now. Cut stone, don't sleep forever. Again."

Levi lets out a slow, unsteady breath, laughing just once at being called Slayer. She is... pointedly NOT looking at the thing behind her. She kneels to accept the bag of gems, and nods to the Hob pleasantly, doing her best to keep her emotions in check. "Thank you. I am glad you and yours are safe. Have fun cutting the stones, little ones." She looks to Ziv, still waiting to hear whether she's alright or not, and offers the stones towards her regardless.

"I'll be alright," says Ziv, a little shakily. She hasn't bothered to curl a wing behind her to see how much blood there was, or otherwise try to check the extent of her injuries - it seems to have freaked her out a bit. Crouching down, she starts to collect the blushberries that fell out of her pack earlier, ears flicking backwards. A soft breath leaves her, and she says to her two compatriots, after a glance towards the hobs hacking away at the bigger, dead one, "Thank you for... looking out for me."

A pause is given when she realizes she's still holding the pickaxe, before she drops it a bit nearer to the rat-hobs. The gems aren't taken, as of yet.

C.B. makes a gesture: a sort of OK-sign around his eye, pulled off again. "Be seeing you," he says to the hobs, muttering, "Dicks." No one's offering stones, and he's not looking at them. "Come on, let's get the hell out of here." He's already starting off, Yossarian trotting along after him.