Faenkon stabbed at the grabbing tentacle in order to free himself. After all he wouldn't be much help to the group if he was eaten by these monsters. Once getting himself free he would finish the creature of with his rifle to eliminate the threat.

Talis looked back over his shoulder and smiled when he saw that the little Saurid and Avrielle were safe before looking back down at the rest of the group. Sword stayed at the ready but he didn't see any danger approaching them as yet. With a nod he studied the enemies, hoping that he could see some sort of weakpoint, and if so, he would then call it out to the group so they could focus their attacks.

Alo's aim shook in the moment when even battle didn't bring focus. After firing at the beast again, not even looking if it hit he smacked the side of his helmet hard with his palm three times giving himself a harsh rattle, to silence his thoughts. His ear rang for a moment from the force.
"Get...NO! Damn it!" Were the only words he could manage, they came out unbid and of instinct.
He shook his head and took aim once more hands trembling, which he forced to keep still by punching the stone twice with his left hand. He shook the hand roughly and held onto the weapon once more, weapon still swaying making an accurate shot a challenge.

Still the thoughts and voices lingered, his mind processing them even while he tried to ignore them. There weren't many people who's voices Alo could name familiar to him and he didn't want to think of...her. Not now. Then the thought of a painless peaceful mind teased him, luring him like a warm bath while he himself was freezing limbs going numb. The urge to just dive into the waters filled him and in his mind eye he was already falling in.

A heady laugh trilled off the Saim-Hann girl's tongue, her bright blue eyes found Onvar, and though the Avenger was doubtlessly concentrated on his combat, she flashed him a wide grin. "Watch me!" she informed him, and then she holstered her shuriken pistol, forgoing it entirely as she brought her spear about in a crackling display. She brandished it in front of the sand-star from before, intent on completing the kill, using the shaft and blade of the power spear to prevent its attacks, before she lunged forwards with the shaft, putting her foot forwards to lean into the thrust, seeking to pierce the sand-star.

Adrenaline pumped through Vella's veins, but when wearing her mask she took upon the deadly calm aspect of her Shrine, the Dark Reaper made no sound other than the clicking of her launcher's missiles going out through the barrel. She obliterated one of the sand stars from afar but now the things were almost on them. Removing clamps from her armor and no more anchoring herself, Vella began slowly walking backwards, after all her weapon was best utilized from a distance. She spotted the sand star grabbing Faenkon and she aimed towards its outstretched limb in order to cut it off and protect her squad mate, before once again opening fire on the center mass and hopefully taking out another of the creatures.

Faenkon reached out to stab the sand star, swiftly countering the pull of the muscles as the tentacle contracted. He severed the limb and the rest contracted as it died, ichor spraying in a dull arc over the sand. The smaller sand star swerved to avoid the foundations of one of the ruined buildings, its body half-exposed as it writhed around the stones. Vella sighted at the sand star even as it died. Flawlessly, the Reaper switched targets to the smaller star. A missile streaked out, hitting dead centre. The creature exploded in a shower of sand and rocks, flashes and sparks of electricity looping out as it did so. Faenkon was swift to dodge, but the flying shrapnel showered among the group, bruising the unarmoured form of Firnweth and striking Avrielle on the temple. She reeled, but caught the ruin she stood on to steady herself. The little saurid made a sound of alarm and its feather crest flattened as it hung onto her shoulder. Talis moved to shield her, blocking the rain of stony debris by holding up his tough leather coat.

Maesanai was focussed on the kill. She used her spear to block the strikes of the sand star, avoiding the blows neatly. It was a dance, almost; the war-dance of the Wild Riders, the drums of battle the beating tattoo of her heart as she joined the melee. Next to her, Onvar took a shot at it, severing the back arm as it looped over the main mass.

Alo shook his head, fighting his own private battle. A tentacle snaked past Maesanai's guard and swiped him around the ankle and unbalanced him, causing the Dire Avenger to fall. He hit the ground hard, one hand still gripping his shuriken catapult. The jolt shook his body but it steadied his mind, and he was able to focus. The sand star bore down on them both and he managed a shaky shot up at it at the very instant the Saim-hann girl impaled it through the centre.

The last of the creatures was still twitching as Lysandriax moved to shoot it, slicing off the arm near its body but before she could land the final blow, there was a shot from above.

"Sorry, my dear," Iktomi said, bowing slightly somehow even as he soared, "you'll have to claim the next kill."

The dead sand stars darkened the sand with blood. The smell was sharp and not too pleasant. The saurid stayed aloft, possibly regarding Avrielle as some kind of tree sanctuary, but it stared alertly around. Faenkon and his drone could not see signs of any more, but overheard, dark shapes were circling closer.

"Scavengers," Lysandriax said, offering Faenkon a hand to his feet, "shouldn't bother us, but let us leave them to their natural ways."

Talis could tell that the sand stars' smell meant that they would not be good eating. He could see, from his lofty viewpoint, that the small ruined settlement continued past the outer ruins to a small square. One larger building retained a roof, but everything else was open to the weather and the ages. Snaking vines scrabbled up the stones in the small shaded areas, and an old well sat in the middle of the square. Most likely, it was dry or full of sand.



@kanila @DaKaptin @Wata @Colapse @Kalle @BlackNecron @BadDo9 @Casavay I am sorry for the delay!

Talis held up his jacket for a few moments more to make sure that the combat was over. Once all the sounds died down, he sighed and threw it back over his shoulders, going to grab the pack he had dropped and also threw that over his shoulders, looking over at Avrielle and the saurid. "You two okay?" he asked to make sure, waiting for an answer before going back to the edge. The smell caused him to make a face, and he shook his head before yelling down at those on the ground level. "Hey!" he said, getting someone's attention first. "There's a building with a roof over there." he called, pointing in the directions with the ruins. "Also, don't try to get any of their meat. That would not be good eating. Not at all."

Maesanai felt the sand star slacken as she thrust the blade of her spear through the center of its mass. A satisfied smirk grew on her face as she simply swiped her spear to the side and let the sand star fall off like a sack. Then, she turned her sky blue eyes on Alo, and offered one hand to him. "I apologize for that, the beast's limb came through my guard and reached you," she admitted. The Saim-Hann girl had lost her grin now.

Alo laid still a moment, the world coming back to view and his mind accepting reality again. His eyes focused on the figure of Maesanai above him. He stared at her a moment leaning on his elbows before taking her hand to stand up.
He slowly removed his helmet and looked at Maesanai, single tear running down his cheek before his hair fell over half of his face. He tried to make sense of everything, staring into her blue eyes, blatantly soul searching in front of her.

He turned the helmet around in his hands and turning his gaze onto its features. After an uncomfortable silence the helmet was dropped like it was a meaningless redundant weight. Winterheart tore all charms and imagery he could of his shrine from his armor and dropped them at his feet.
It didn't matter anymore, Il-Kaithe didn't matter, Avengers didn't matter, his life wasn't supposed to go like this yet here was hating everything he was.
He picked up his rifle, glanced at Maesanai with an empty expression and walked away, towards the ruins Talis had pointed out.

Avrielle nodded, though her attention was caught by Alo as he suddenly started to tear the insigniae off his armour and dropped his helmet to the ground.

"I am fine," she said, looking concerned, "the little one here is -" she glanced at the saurid, who seemed to be using the little Eldar as a handy alternative to a tree in terms of higher ground. It peeked around her helmet and looked at Talis quizzically, as if too many stimuli had confused its ability to be scared of the unknown Eldar around it. She carefully attempted to pick it up and transferred it to Talis' shoulder instead. It allowed the transfer, sniffing at the young Exodite's face. Its feather crest was flat and it seemed a little calmer, though still wary. The radiotech jumped down and walked towards Alo, concern apparent in her posture.

Lysandriax held out a hand, stopping her by gesture but not main force. She shook her head.

"Let me," she said, gently. "See to the wounded if you know how." Avrielle hesitated for a moment, then turned to help Faenkon and check him for any injuries, looking back over her shoulder to Alo as he walked. Luckily the Ranger was only bruised. He would be sore for a while, but he'd faced much worse in the webway. She looked up at him and Onvar, then to Firnweth.

"Is everyone else all right?" she asked, still distracted by what had happened.

"I will scout," Iktomi said with uncharacteristic brevity, taking a long, looping glide from the top of an arch to go and overlook the roofed building Talis had pointed out. He looked down at Alo, but his expression was hidden by the shade cast by his Felarch's hat.

Vella felt the ebb of her War-Self as Khaine's Mask slipped away. The training of her Shrine slipped into place, allowing the nature of her civilian persona to come to the fore once more. The transition was smooth. She had mastered the Dark Reaper, and for now, it was at her service as she needed it. This was the way of the Path, its point and its essence. This was mastery of the Self. She breathed deeply, feeling the familiar transition take place. Her armour flexed, untensing as the anticipation of blows eased. The counters and sights of her Reaper Launcher faded into the background of her helmet display. Threat sensors chimed a note as they went offline. Where the War-God once walked, now stood a Child of Isha once more. She could see Lysandriax walk out of the shadow of one of the ruins as she took in her surroundings anew.

The Corsair woman nodded in passing to Maesanai as she walked by. "Well fought, Wild Rider," she said, as she walked on her way. She stopped a few paces away from Alo, allowing him space. She stood on the balls of her feet, ready to respond if he should lash out, but she kept her hands by her sides.

"Winterheart," she said, softly, "speak of it to me, if you will. I have travelled a long time. Seen much. I left the Dark City. I know loss. I know sorrow. And while none of that explains your pain to me, it will surely help me to understand it. And one in my position is not swift to judge."



@kanila @DaKaptin @Wata @Colapse @Kalle @BlackNecron @BadDo9 @Casavay