There was, perhaps, too much to think about as his chosen path took him from the city he had come to in desperation to the coast. Made worse by that near-consuming exhaustion he was still battling, Sable's mind was no longer his own with the way it wandered from one thread to the next aimlessly before he found that he could not remember what had happened for greater periods of time. There was only darkness when he tried to think back, a consuming maw of nothingness that served to add to his concern over his... present state.

Not for the first time, the question of how much longer he could endure this hounded him. How long before he simply collapsed... only to wake up. How long until his mind turned against him... rather than just straying against his will. How long until, as he had been warned, insanity claimed him? Or sickness? How long until his strength failed him in all ways and he simply... withered away?

Steps faltering, Sable came to a stop and finally looked at where he found himself. Wintered gaze blinking under the weight of the early morning sun, the breeze that came from the ocean carrying strength enough that he had drawn his hair back and tied it off with a leather thong some time ago—something that was... one of those he could not recall and simply assumed—and the scent of salt and fish filling the air, he realized that he was at one of the fishing posts that littered the beach, not a dock in sight, though there was no want for boats that were moored, beached, or off in the distance, testing where ocean met sky on the horizon.

It was peaceful, even with conversation that drifted from various fishers and a few others that had set up stalls and a few ramshackle buildings to sell what was needed or purchase what was caught. There was nothing that could overwhelm the sound of the waves crashing against the shore, the sound lulling and enrapturing, a tease for weary minds and those that longed for what lay beyond.

He was not one for the sea, for the ocean and where the currents may take him, but it was something that Sable could appreciate. More so when the trance of simply finding somewhere comfortable and closing his eyes for a time was nearly captivating. But he was not here to try and find a cure for the exhaustion that settled deep within his bones. He wasn't here for much anything, truly, but to walk and think. To consider what to do... next and what he might do to pass the time until he might have that cure.

What focus he had reclaimed to do just that was soon shattered much more pleasantly by a clicking chirp that came from above him, however, and as Sable turned toward its source, he caught a flash of blue scales before there was a sudden weight on his shoulder. Celeste had been enjoying the wind beneath her wings, drifting and diving with them as she circled around him, her distance ever-changing, but her companion always within her sight.

"Have you been enjoying yourself, little one?"^[1] Sable asked her gently, running a nail along the underside of her chin and taking the flap of her wings as affirmation.

...the whisper of a smile that had grown from his fondness for the small drake disappeared as he heard a shout. The scream that cut through the air around them had him turning, eyes frantically scanning for where it had come from. When more shouting and cries of alarm came, the words broken and disjointed, Sable was finally able to see a people beginning to flee, grasping desperately for their things and for each other.

It was as he drew his crossbow and started in the direction people came from that he heard 'attack,' 'run,' and 'harpies.' The sand attempting to slow him as he ran, his gaze turned from eye level to the sky, and there he saw the shadows of six winged creatures.

"Do not take to the air," Sable commanded Celeste as he drew closer, two bolts pulled from his quiver and drawn back as adrenaline already began to course through his veins.

---

[1] Language Used: Draconic (denoted by red)

Crescent Coast, a picturesque beach that stretched beyond what the eye could see. Edward Thane, student of the Arcane Academy, walked along the coast. Edward had been tasked with investigating rumors of Harpy activity in the area, as reported by local fishermen who swear to have seen them flapping around the edges of the shore. Edward eagerly took the quest, not only to honor his sponsor Miss Kamille, but to break out his favorite sundress, collect sea shells and sketch the shoreline. Selfish? Maybe, but Edward was still doing his part while having fun at the same time. It was simple efficiency!

However, a scream broke his concentration, and looked over to see six large humanoids with wings flying around one end of the beach. Well, the vacation was over, but now the real fun began!

Running over, Edward looked around at the chaos, trying to find a good place to start helping. Spying a man with a crossbow, he figured that was as good a place as any and ran over to him.

"Hi, I'm Edward Thane. I'm with the Arcane Academy, I have mostly midrange spells, and yes it's a dress I think it looks nice, and I don't see a reason why I can't wear it."

As Edward introduced himself, a harpy with long red hair let out a horrible screech as she dived down at a stall, talons outstretched as the owner screamed and took cover underneath.

He had expected that a few outside of himself might take up arms or magic to either defend themselves or assist those that were attempting to flee before the harpies descended, but he had not expected that it would take so many... words to do so. Not when there was danger to more than just themselves present, the shouting and chaos from the bystanders making it quite clear now was not the time for introductions.

"Sable," he heard himself say, the heft of his crossbow familiar as he wielded the well-crafted instrument with one hand. "Guard of Eclipse City." The mention of a dress went unacknowledged. It wasn't a concern of judgment for him so long as they didn't trip over its hem should they have to run and leave themselves open for an attack.

Raising the weapon, Sable felt talons digging into his shoulder as Celeste found purchase to cling to him while he took aim. He had been tracking one of the closest harpies, though his attention split between all six of them as he waited for an opening... or to intercept one that swooped down towards one of the innocents, and as one started to dive, the former hunter was easily able to switch targets, sighting down the length of his crossbow, anticipating where it would be next, and pulling the trigger.^[1]

Two bolts cut through the distance between him and the airborne harpy, and with a shrill cry that tore from her throat, they lodged in her chest, her dive faltering with that impact. With a cloud of sand, the thing crashed to the ground, wings bent awkwardly as she scrambled onto her feet, feathers scattered around her as another scream ripped free from her when she tried and failed to extend them.

"Fall back and make for the treeline!" Sable called out to the person that had been in the stall and all those that were around him, his voice rising to a commanding volume as he reached into his quiver for more bolts. "They cannot dive between the branches!"

Being so close to the water as they were, it was quite the distance to cross to make it to the cover of the forest, but it was better than having everyone running in every direction. It would make it easier to keep the harpies at bay if they were not separating themselves to give chase.

Of course, there was still the matter of the harpy that was now... grounded, its fury clear on its face as it screeched and made towards them, its clawed hands outstretched.

---

[1] Item Used: Heavy Crossbow with Light and Dual Shot Enchantments

Edward nods, his gaze turning serious as he began mimicking Sable's actions. Edward watched as the man sent two bolts sailing through the air into the diving harpy, knocking it out of the air. As it landed on the ground in a heap, Edward nods at the hunter

"Nice shot! Alright everyone, you heard the man, get into the tree line! We'll hold these overstuffed turkeys off!" Edward shouts as he shuts his eyes in concentration. The second two came within range, Edward held up his hand, his eyes glowing a fierce blue. Around his hand, three orbs of light formed in a triangular pattern. At the top, a brilliant red orb crackled with the sounds of fire, towards the bottom left, a sapphire orb of chilling magic across from the last, a pearl of white that howled with stormy gales.

"Tri-Beam![1]" Edward shouts, causing the rays to fire. The red orb became a streak of light that caught a harpy with a short sandy hair in the leg, causing her to screech in pain and plummet into a stand, cracking the boards as she hit, causing Edward to wince. He was definitely gonna be paying for that...

The Blue orb flashed out and hit a harpy with similarly blue spikey hair in the wing, covering it with frost and sending it tumbling into the sand.

The last orb sent a high pressured gust of wind at the wounded harpy. How ever, this did little to affect her progress as she snarled, picking up the pace towards them.

"Damn! Should've figured Harpy's wouldn't care much for wind damage..." Edward mutterd

---

[1] Spell used: Tri-beam. Does Fire, Frost and Wind Damage to an enemy or can be split amongst multiple enemies.

It was moments like the one Sable currently found himself in when one could only react to what was happening, responding in like, in opposition, or not at all... for better or worse. With adrenaline coursing through one's veins, their heartbeats thunderous within their chests from the intensity of all that was happening, each second became a precious amount of time that needed to be used to the fullest, that couldn't be taken for granted as everything in that moment moved at a pace that could either joined or succumbed to, the line between one or the other precarious and not always well-balanced despite the way it could cut someone down with its knife's edge.

For Sable, it was instinct. He had heard people in need, had seen that there was danger, and had responded to protect, defend, and end the threat that was present. Crossbow carried easily in one hand, his skills as a hunter ever-aiding him as he watched the creatures fly and fall to either his attacks or Edward's magic, reaching into his quiver and retrieving more bolts from it was as natural as breathing.

He knew when to pause, to still his mind and his body in the space between a final exhale and the trigger of his weapon being pulled. He could tell where one of his targets would be in the next few beats of their wings, screams of rage, or swipes of claws. He saw the openings as if they were laid bare before him, telegraphed and revealed, a sixth sense almost to know where best to pierce and bring an end to their lives.

Yet it was not the lessons learned in his youth, lessons that had been instilled for over half his life, that he relied on when he drew five bolts. It was something he had taught himself, had learned because defending a city and its people was far different from trailing after beasts through forests and across the plains. In one, there was only one target that you needed to anticipate, prey as it usually was, and in the other, there could very well be an army to face off against should something shift and become hostile. As people and beasts were wont to do.

There were only six here and now, though. Three that were still managing their flight above them, while two others had been forced to the ground by Edward's magic. All were enraged, screeching with voices that were a harrowing combination of avian cries and humanoid screams, and the one Sable had shot down staggered back from... something connecting with them before they recovered and lunged towards the one that had caused the ruin of its wings.

Sable was prepared, though. Five bolts, six targets, one that raced towards him, two that were recovering, and three that had startled to circle him and the other man. Drawing back on his crossbow's string, the first that was fitted into the groove found its mark in the crippled harpy's throat as he dodged its first slash of claws and brought the end of his weapon under its chin, and pulled the trigger.

In a splatter of blood and visceral matter, the bolt pierced through its skull, the tip of it visible at the top of the thing's head before it collapsed on the ground without a sound and breath.

Another two bolts were fitted into the groove along the top of Sable's crossbow, each movement fluid, not a single moment wasted as he pulled back from the body and sighted down the length towards the next. Fire having caught his eye, he tracked the second of those that had been brought down as it stood and used its wings to extinguish the flames on its leg before it could spread further, and as it succeeded, brandishing its wings and raising them to take to the sky once more, Sable exhaled... and released.

Its screech became a gurgle as one of the bolts impaled it between its ribs, tearing through one of its lungs, while the other buried itself in its chest, finding its heart and seeing to it that its attempts to pull it out were in vain.

The last of Sable's bolts were then turned on the last of the harpies that had crashed into the sand, the ice locking its wings and making it impossible for it to extend them or fold them. It had managed to break its arms free, though, and its gaze found Edward, a sickened cry tearing free from it as the other man was now at risk of being charged.

It only managed one step, but the ice interfered in its favor this time, the first of Sable's bolts finding a thicker chunk and glancing upwards to pierce its shoulder, the second only connecting with its hip.

"On your left!" Sable called out to Edward in warning of the harpy that was still trying to free its wings even as it recoiled from Sable's attack, hissing and spitting in rage, moments away from attempting to race towards the other man once more.

---

Skill Used: Volly Shot (Description Available in Character Inventory)
Ammunition: 23/30

As Edward tried to ready a spell for the harpies still in the air, the twang of Sable's crossbow drew his attention back to earth. His stomach caught in his throat as he watched the grizzly deaths of the two harpies. He knew they couldn't just ask them to stop harassing people but...He was not prepared for the reality of the situation.

Sable yelled at Edward, snapping him out of his stupor to find the last of the wounded harpies running at him. Time slowed as Edward cast a second Tri-Beam, this time all three beams meeting at a point in the center of the harpy. Whether it was due to the harpy's compromised physical state, the close range or Edwards power in that knee-jerk moment, the spell tore a hole the size of an apple through her sternum, causing her to tumble into the sand.

Edward looked at the dead creature, tears welling in his eyes. He didn't, he wasn't trying too, it was trying to kill him. Edward's mind was a maelstrom of guilt, confusion, shock and horror at the bloodiness of the scenario. This wasn't supposed to happen! The heroes in his books never shot through the skull of a monster! Bards don't sing about heads rolling off their owner's shoulders! Stories didn't bleed!

A cry from behind him caused him to whip around, a girl had tripped as she ran across the beach. In that moment, Edward remembered this wasn't about him, or the harpies or the blood, it was about the people. The people looked to him for safety. as a harpy dove at the girl, it collided halfway with a large slab of stone that rose to meet it as Edward ran, grabbing the child and running her over to her mother in the tree line. Turning around, he watched as the harpy stood up, its ankle twisted at an odd angle.

"I'm so sorry, but I can't let you harm these people. Not while I can stop you."

Sable was familiar with blood. He was a friend to death. Whether it was peaceful or violent, he had been a witness and harbinger of both. As a hunter. As a guard. As a man who could not protect the one he loved. Gruesome did not have him reeling back in shock. The blank stares of those that no longer held life within their gazes did not have him freezing in place.

...not that he was immune by any means.

With the first harpy he had slain, he had flinched as its blood splashed across his face. When the creature raced towards Edward, a spark of lightning-like anxiety had lanced through him with the knowledge that he would not be able to load his crossbow in time to intercept it. As he watched the remaining harpies circle them, he was gripped with the concern that neither he nor the other man would be able to hold their attention long enough for everyone else to escape.

...but he had been taught and had learned early on how not to be a slave to it. For better or worse.

Closed off and distant to it all, to the emotions that threatened to rise, Sable loaded two more bolts into his crossbow. His first choice of target shifted, though, when he saw another one of the harpies dive towards a little girl, colliding with a wall that... appeared in its path; and as Edward saw to it that she made it to the trees, Sable took aim.

Both bolts cut across the distance and pierced the thing from behind, one connecting with its spine while the second found its mark at the base of one of its wings. An air-splitting shriek tore free from it as it pitched forward, its leg buckling from the weight placed on its already damaged leg, but it was still alive, even as its damaged wing fell slack at its side.

---

Ammunition: 21/30

Edward took a deep breath and readied another Tri-attack. This was his third, and was starting to feel his fortitude fade after the back to back casting. Steeling himself, he fired another spread shot. The fire beam went up to an airborn harpy, catching her in the chest and reduced her altitude, but still managed to fly. Her compatriot wasn't so lucky, as she caught the frost beam to the face, screeching as she fell down to the ground. The half dead harpy on the ground got the last blast, and like the other harpy it only served to blow her back. However, this time she was being blown back into a wall of solid stone with a bolt sticking out of it. The impact caused the bolt to pierce all the way through, and with a cough of blood, the harpy slumped over dead.

Edward shook his head and said a silent prayer for the poor creature. In that split second of sympathy, the smoldering harpy pitched down and dug her talons into his chest, causing him to cry out in shock. Landing on his back, Edward was forced to stare into they eyes of the thing. Feral, animalistic eyes with no pity or remorse. These things may look human, but they were far from any humanity that came with it.

Growling, Edward looked over at Sable "Heads up! I'm about to trap this one, be ready."

Taking a deep breath, Edward grabbed onto the things Talon and sank into the ground, the Harpy screeching in shock as it's leg went down with him. Edward proceeded to swim a ways through the dirt and stone, popping back up near Sable.

"Tada! Thank you, thank you, I'll be here all day."

It was a truth that he did not care for, one that would likely haunt him all his life, whether he was a guard or a hunter: it was impossible to protect everyone. No matter how fast he was, no matter how efficient, precise, or accurate, how keen his senses were, or how expert his tracking—no matter how strong he was in ability, Sable could not keep everyone... safe. He could not keep them all from coming to harm.

For all the bolts he had, for how quickly he could reload his crossbow, two of them notched as the string was pulled taut, it would not always be enough. There would be a cry, a shout, a scream of pain, some that were silenced, others that were merely in surprise at the sudden spike of pain they were forced to endure, and all Sable could do was react.

And so, his reactions became punishing. They became retribution and vengeance. He could not go back and change what happened, the attack that connected with or ended someone, but he could make them pay for it.

As he did now, the callout unneeded because he had been watching, because he had already been lining down the sight when Edward cast his spell and disappeared beneath the sand. The harpy's screeching and thrashing doing nothing to aid it in freeing what portions of its leg had also been submerged beneath the ground the last of its ilk's cries, Sable had sighted down the length of his weapon and pulled the trigger.

The last of the harpies was silent by the time Edward appeared at his side, crumpled over on itself, its leg now awkwardly straight compared to the rest of its body. Dead like all of the others, each one's blood now seeped into the sand and stained it crimson.

In the distance, the sound of alarm bells, of a horn being blared signaled that some sort of response to the attack had finally been mustered. Too late, as they would soon find out. Or eventually find out, given how far away they sounded. At the very least, they'd be able to assist the people that remained and were cautiously emerging from the trees they had fled to, their eyes, like Sable's, on the sky for any other shadows that were carried on wings.

For now, there were none.

"...you fought well," Sable said after a moment, continuing to scan for any other threat, his crossbow still at the ready, but he'd give the other man some credit for his assistance. As was earned.

Edward let out a sigh of relief and half fell, half sat on the beach. Wincing as he touched the gashes in his chest, he took a meditative pose, ready to work on healing himself up a bit. Before he did, he heard Sable's compliment and smiled.

"Thanks, you as well. Hell, without you I think I'd be hiding with everyone else. You were the real hero back there, those beasts didn't stand a chance. Thank you for your help, really." he says, looking from the man back to the shoreline. The sun was still high, causing the ocean to glitter like a plane made of sapphire. Smiling Edward leaned back on his elbows.

"You know, without the screaming monsters and constant threat of death, it's actually a pretty nice spot. I think I'm gonna hang back and rest for a bit, try to close these wounds a little. You can go ahead and...do whatever it was you were doing before the attack." He says with a nod.

Shutting his eyes, he began to meditate, letting his mind wander as the energies of the universe went to work knitting his wounds shut. Sable was an amazing fighter, he'd definitely include his aid in his report to the school about the fight with the harpies. He'd also see about getting a few more offensive spells when he was able, Tri-Beam was affective, but he needed variety or he'd be seriously hampered next time.

Sable clenched his jaw against his... disgust at the word hero, the suggestion that it applied to him one that twisted a knife buried within his chest from so long ago. It was all he could do to no immediately snap his correction at Edward, knowing that such a reaction was... improper and irrational. The man simply could not know how wrong they were to call him as such, how much blood from failure coated his hands and littered his body with scars. Their ignorance was innocent, and even in the thralls of fading adrenaline, Sable was still in control of himself to not react on instinct akin to a wounded animal.

"...I am no hero," he said with practiced calmness, his voice devoid of any betraying emotion. "Just a guard who happened to be in the area while off-duty. I could not stand by and do nothing."

A sharpness digging into his shoulder had him suppressing a wince as he glanced over to see Celeste crawling her way back onto his shoulder, the look in her intelligent eyes making it quite clear that his discomfort was intentional and pointed. She often had something to say when it came to his regard and remarks about himself, her forms of protest wordless as she always was but heard regardless as a silent roar.

"...and if I am not mistaken, you sprang to action at the same time as I did. Not afterward," Sable went on to add, acknowledging the small drake by running his nails along the underside of her chin but not giving her any pleasure in correcting himself. "Do not mitigate your own involvement. Respect it."

Icy eyes drifted from the sky to the man that was now seated in the sand, looking them over and satisfied to see that their wounds were not an immediate concern. Not for the first time, though, he found it... regretful that he was not skilled in any means of healing beyond a bit of field dress, and because he was not anticipating a fight of any sort, his medical supplies had been left in his room. He would see to it that he didn't make that mistake again.

"It is... peaceful, yes," he heard himself agree, his gaze shifting once more and resting on the line of the horizon that stretched out impossibly far across the sea. "Although, I shall remain. The guards will likely want a statement on what happened, and... I would like to make sure they arrive in case more harpies should come." He didn't need to add to the guilt he already carried by dismissing himself moments before a threat returned.

Crossing his arms, Sable stood stalwartly in the sand. A guard first. A protector always.

But he was not a hero.

Edward opened an eye at Sable, taking in the strangled anger behind the man's eyes. He wouldn't press the issue further. Shutting his eyes again, Edward sighs as the claw marks shrank into minor cuts. Stretching a bit, he heard Sable's remark about his own involvement and smiled. He did help out, didn't he?

Edward looked back to the man and his eyes grew as he noticed Celeste climbing onto Sable's shoulder. He was about to gush over it when a woman ran over and hugged Edward, startling him

"Thank you so much! I was afraid I was going to lose my little Anya, but you stopped it in the nick of time!"

Edward blushed and smiled "Hey, it's alright mam. I was just making sure no one got hurt."

"Aye, and a fine job ya did lad! Yer welcome at my tavern any time, first drink on the house" A burley gentleman laughs as he claps Edward on the back, nearly bowling him and the woman over.

More people crowded around Edward and Sable thanking them for their aid. For Edward, it was amazing. Not only the sense that he managed to help so many but the feeling of finally being able to apply his skills to do so. Sable may not like the term, but today, Edward was a hero.