Beist's rope had missed. They had underestimated their strength and thrown the lasso too far, overshooting the target. It was alright, since two of the others had managed to get their ropes onto the horse and Heian had managed to jump onto its back. Everything was going just fine.

That was what Beist thought until the horse suddenly charged straight at him. He flinched for a moment before instinctively taking a lower stance and bracing himself for impact. Oh dear, what am I doing!? I should have just leapt aside! He internally screamed as the horse charged into him.

Thankfully, Beist was incredibly strong. Even for his size and build, which already looked quite powerful, he was stronger than he appeared. He had the strength of one of the strongest of Werebeasts, the bear. On top of that, the horse was being pulled back by two ropes from two of his companions, slowing it down somewhat. The horse rammed into the beast man, pushing him back a couple of feet, but he wrapped his arms around its neck and held it in place.

Both the horse and Beist had a look of surprise on their face before Beist's face changed to a look of pain. The horse's fiery mane had begun to burn his arms. He let go of the horse's neck with a shout of pain and looked at his arms. The burns weren't too severe. They should be healable with his remaining potion, but they were very painful.

The horse recovered from its momentary shock from being stopped in its charge and reared up onto its hind legs in an attempt to trample the beast man. Beist saw this and reached his arms out and grabbed the horse by the legs. Thankfully, there was no fire on this part of the horse. The horse and Beist now looked as if they were dance partners, the horse trying to pull itself from his grasp.

"Heian, please hurry and get your friend under control!" Beist called to the man on the horse's back.

Sarris pitches the idea of drowning the rope, in order to saturate it enough to keep it from burning; it's a good idea, actually. Slowly, Caedes dips his rope into the bog— keeping an eye on the flaming steed as it listens and fidgetes— clearly wary about what's going on around it. He moves slowly, ensuring that he will not startle the beast, and takes the soaked rope within both hands.

Hidden in the shadows, the Changeling flicks his gaze towards Heian; awaiting his signal. When it comes, the horse suddenly bolts; in a quick movement, Caedes swings the rope above his head and throws it. His rope slips over the horse's neck as it writhes, bucks, and fights; at first, it tries to charge towards the ropes— but then it swings off course.

Right towards Beist.

The tension snaps on his rope, and Caedes is pulled forwards, despite pulling back against it. He buries his heels into the muck of the bog, barely able to hold it back against the weight of the massive beast; but, luckily, Beist is just as strong as it. The horse collides with him, but Beist manages to halt it; even as it rears back, he takes it by the legs in an almost comical manner. "Quickly, please!" he calls, "The ropes might be soaked, but I don't know how long they're going to hold if he keeps up like this!"

Sarris also soaks her rope and focuses. When he moment comes, Sarris throws her rope. The rope uncoils as it flys through the air. Water droplets spread through the air. The horse reacts to the other ropes turning into Sarris’ toss and she looped the horses neck.

What happened next was not planned. The horse charged Beist. Sarris, weighing about as much as a wet road apple, was dragged through the mud sliding first on her feet then sitting down as her feet slid out from her.

Sarris let out a string of profanities that would make a Dwarven Sailor blush. She held on not that mattered much.

Despite the uncomfortable position in Beist's grip, Ceeber seemed to calm down, with his mane burning less intensively. Heian risked taking one of his hands off the horse and gesturing on Beist to put Cerber down.

When the horse was back on all fours, he looked ominously at Beist, but otherwise remained peaceful.

-Okay I think patting him is safe now - Heian started to remove the smoldered ropes, even those watered ones were far from being unaffected.

-(Those are not enemies, Cerber. turn the furnance down please)

The mane and tail hair seemingly shrank, the steed was now pettable.

Beist put the steed down slowly once Heian signaled him. He was still a bit cautious of the creature, but it seemed less violent than before. He noticed the intensity of the flames on the mane and tail going down.

Once the horse was back on the ground, it didn't run or attack, so he felt safe enough to tend to the burns on his arms. He pulled out his remaining potion and drank it. The burns weren't too bad since he had thick fur insulating him and had removed his arms quickly, but they still were very painful. The potion was enough to heal them though, so he was relieved.

It was an interesting property of the fire to keep note of. It didn't spread. His fur hadn't been lit on fire, only the skin beneath had really felt the heat. It was like the fire wasn't actually flame, but just pure heat emitted from the creature for self defense. He would have to record such an observation in his notes late. The flames also weren't affecting Heian at all. Was that because he was part demon, or was it some other reason? Another observation to note down later.

With Heian giving him permission, he carefully reached a hand out to the side of the horse's neck and gave it a pet. It still didn't seem particularly friendly, but it didn't object to the petting. Still, even with Heian saying it was safe, he would avoid the fiery parts just to be safe.

After some time of struggling from both Heian and Beist, the fire stallion begins to calm; it's a slow process, still pulling against the ropes at first. Caedes feels the tension starting to lessen and gradually the horse begins to descend back onto all fours, with Beist aiding its journey. He breathes a sigh, loosening his grip on the rope slowly to ensure he doesn't spook the horse.

"So, he's fine now?" he asks hesitantly, offering a glance to Sarris, before looking back at Heian and Beist. Beist was reaching out after drinking something, offering the grand, flaming beast a pat on the neck. Still holding the rope loosely— but not enough for the horse to feel tension— he slowly moves closer through the muck. He ensures he keeps a wide berth between the horse and himself, just in case he risks spooking it. "That wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, although..." His gaze drifts to Beist; but whatever the large beast-man had drank, it seemed to have already healed.

Or, was it just that the horse didn't burn?

"Well, I suppose you seem alright. It looked like it would've burned you."

Sarris pulled herself up and coiled the rope after Heian freed it.

She was glad that the horse was under control but worried about rehabilitating a demonic horse to live in this world. Horses that were preditors would throw most people off balance. As the horse tried to attack them.

She ran her hands down her legs and bottom causing the mud that had stuck to make a squishy splatting noise as it fell. She needed a bath even more so after being pulled through the muck and the mud by the horse.

She looked at Beist and the others and said, "I agree! That was much easier than I expected. No large cats were involved."

Cerber still felt rather stressed beneath Heian, but he could probably get down now. The horse recognized Wood, or at least the words.

Upon touching the ground, he looked at everyone, with his sight stopping at Beist for a little longer.

-Thank you all, I owe you big time. If you ever visit Pale City I'll buy you something to drink, or help with your troubles. Beist, could we talk for a second?

They moved away from the group, with Heian giving Sarris a sneaky wink.

-I heard you're interested in something otherworldly. While I cannot provide any fauna, other than Mahogany and Cerber, which I'm not giving away, any seed that will bud is yours. If you're interested, like others, join me in Pale City

Hopefully Sarris will not get very mad.

"Ah, yes. it did burn me, but thankfully I had another health potion left and the burns weren't too severe, so I'm alright now. I appreciate your concern." Beist replied to Caedes.

Beist leaned down to listen to Heian after moving a little away from the others. He was curious what the man could have to say to him in particular, and was surprised when he heard their words.

"Oh?" He answered with a smile and stroked his beard before continuing. "That sounds wonderful. Well, why wait so long to have a drink together? Why don't we travel together for a short while? I'm heading toward Moonglade right now. If you're going to Pale City, you could catch a boat there. It would be much faster than going by land across nearly the whole continent. I'd love to speak more about this Nether you mentioned and any plants you can tell me about."

He nods, then cocks a brow towards Sarris. “Large cats?” he asks her quizzically, then shakes his head with a soft sigh. “Nevermind; either way, you’re quite welcome.” he remarks to Heian. The changeling offers his attention to Beist next; “That’s good, then.” he agrees, taking a pace back as the beast-man wanders away with the half-demon.

“Well,” he remarks idly to Sarris, looking after the two while they chat amongst one another. “I can’t say I’ve been to the Pale City, but… I don’t know about you, but I have other places to be.” He breathes a sigh, “And, perhaps a bath to take. I’m quite sick of the marsh, in all honesty.” He shakes his head, lifting his mud-soaked cloak, and allowing it to drop as an example.

Either way, he believes he’s worn his welcome.

“If that’s it, Heian,” he calls out. “I hate to rush you, but I must keep going. Pleasure to meet you and all that; ill everything be good here if I make my leave?”

"Normally when I encounter Heian, there is a large cat trying to eat me," she said in a semi-playful tone.
"A demonic horse dragging me through the mud is a step up from my regular encounters with him," she added.

Sarris gave Heian "the Look" as he took Beist aside. Beist was also a friend and he wanted to keep him safe and out of danger.

To be honest, She did not care where they went as long as there was privacy, a hot bath, and she could get her clothes cleaned.

She did have some Elven standards to maintain.

Heian nodded at Caedes, letting him free. Kore stood by the horse, keeping Cerber at bay. Did he actually forget about both of them just to talk about berries with Beist?
"Yes" Wood finally woke up "Thank you, I was... very attached to that horse"
He looked at Beist with a slight hesitation, hearing the offer.
-I probably should at least offer Sarris to get her out of hier, leaving a lady in the swamp alone would make my life a chain of suffering. But after that with pleasure
He smiled and led Beist back to the group.
-Do you need a ride, Sarris? I now have a warm horse, you know

"Of course." Beist replied before he and Heian rejoined the group.

"It has been a pleasure to meet you as well. Where will you be heading now? Heian and I were just about to head toward Moonglade if you'd like to join us." Beist asked Caedes, calling out to them before they disappeared into the marshes.

He wondered if they might also want to join them, at least for a short time, on their travels. It was safer to travel in numbers. Of course, that is if they happened to be headed in the same direction. He didn't know Caedes next location, so it would be entirely understandable if they refused the offer. It seemed Sarris might join them for a while, from Heian's offer.

“I am only coming if there is a bath and a warm meal,”Sarris replied to the men.
“I have mud in places I do wish to speak about,” she said without blushing.

She gave the horse a look and got one back that made her spine tingle.
There was more to this horse than just the fire mane.

“I can fly,” she said picking up her broom and gear.

So Moonglade it is. Heian got onto Cerber, patting its back invitingly.

-Don't worry he will hold you. In a worst case I'll just get down and hop behind Sarris

His new friend seemed to be worried about the animal, but the horse managed to lift Beist relatively easy, while he couldn't accelerate to his full speed, Cerber seemed to be fine.

Together they went west, towards Moonglade, hopeful to take a bath, get some proper bed for night, and, in Heian's case, never show up hier again.