Banished Pt. 19

"Okay. Let's do it, then."

I nodded.

"Get Jordan prepped. I'll go organize the hunting parties," I said, but as I turned to leave, Leanna intercepted me.

"Nate. C-can I go with Jordan? I... I feel a little out of sorts out here with... without..." she began, rubbing her hands together nervously as she tried to convey her feelings.

The only people she'd really gotten comfortable with apart from me were Jordan and Cameron, huh?

"It should be fine," I said, shooting Casey a quick glance, and as she gave me the okay, I turned and headed outside.

I decided to leave Bianca on sentry duty, but as I headed over to tell her what was up, she actually came to me excitedly with a suggestion of her own.

"Hey Nate! Those branches over there are pretty close to where that hill is. I was thinking, Lucia and I could climb up there and work our way up into the branches above! It'll give her a better range for surveillance. What do you think?"

"That's a fantastic idea," I said, ruffling her hair affectionately, and she grinned, much to Lucia's chagrin.

"Lucia's idea too!" the girl said, but even as I ruffled her hair, she folded her arms and pouted.

"We'll make use of it when we can, but for now, stay on the ground," I said, and Lucia grinned at Bianca.

"Byaka's idea was stupid~!" she sang, and Bianca tried to lunge at her.

I chuckled at the two, before heading back to the main group.

"We're going hunting, aren't we?" Francesca asked, and I nodded, smiling a bit.

"Before we do, though, there's something I wanna test out."

Francesca eyed me carefully.

"What is it?"

"Do you think you mind going a round with Iduma? No weapons, just pure grappling," I said, and she bit her lip, a slightly excited look in her eyes.

"You want to skill mirror my grappling?"

I nodded, and she smiled.

"Okay, let's do it."

We explained the matter to Iduma who seemed somewhat perplexed by the whole thing.

He agreed nonetheless, though perhaps chalking it up to a 'crazy God ritual' or something like that.

As the bout commenced, however, I noted that his followers were looking on with serious expressions.

I kept my eyes on Francesca, however, but as the fight began, I realized that Iduma was truly no match for her, as she repeatedly pinned him.

"Do you mind if we try something?" I asked Francesca, and she shrugged.

"Sure."

"Take off your armor," I said, and she grinned at me.

"I see."

She did as I asked, but even so, there was a look in her eye, as if she was doubly determined to prove a point, and while Iduma's strength seemed to serve him much better without the strength boost of tier-two armor for Francesca to rely on, her skill seemed to outstrip his by a country mile, and as the bout came to an end, there was an almost sparkly eyed look on Iduma's face.

"She's really something, huh?" I asked, and Iduma shook away his stupor, turning to me.

"Athánatos; forgive my indiscretion," he said, bowing. "I just fear my polemarchos is beginning to look more like a queen."

I snickered at the comment, and Francesca blushed a little.

"Well, now for the fun part," I said, as I began to strip away my own armor, and Francesca stared at me, her eyes lighting up.

"You're gonna fight me?" she asked, and I nodded.

"I'm more of a 'hands-on' kind of learner," I replied, and she grinned.

As we got ready for the bout, I noted the Accalians seemed doubly interested, and Blair was now moving in to watch.

"Can you call it?" I asked Blair, and she shrugged, as we readied ourselves.

"Go!" she yelled, and I darted in, aiming at Francesca's leg.

To my surprise, however, she turned, and aimed a kick at my head, and as I got my arm up to block just in time, I shot her a questioning look.

"Can't go letting you just grapple me when you feel like it," she said, and I snickered in response.

"Fair enough."

I made a more measured approach this time, looking out for another kick, but as I got too close, Francesca extended a hand, keeping me at an arm's length away, and as I tried to slide in, she leapt away, but as I transitioned back to a my standing stance, she dove in quite suddenly, catching me in the stomach, and knocking me over.

I took a sharp breath in as I felt a little winded, but she didn't give me room to breathe, immediately wrapping her legs around my own right leg, and locking me into place with her hands, and I yelped a little as she began to apply pressure, tapping the ground quickly in submission.

"Two out of three?" I asked, and Francesca quickly nodded, but as soon Blair got us started, she was onto me, lunging at me.

I got ahold of her this time, however, and lifted her off the ground, turning and slamming her down as I twisted, and I smiled as I saw that the impact had winded her.

I turned, trying to grasp onto her right arm, but she got her feet up in time, so I aimed a few jabs at her ribs, which gave me the opening I needed to get into her body, and wrap my arm around her neck.

She managed to get an arm between me and her neck, however, but as I locked her movements down with my legs, she tried in vain to twist for a bit, before finally slumping back, and tapping me on the arm.

She took a deep breath in as I released her, grinning at me.

"Guess it goes to the final round then, huh?" she asked, and I nodded.

I was focused as we prepared to start the bout, but there was something about the look on Francesca's face that unsettled me.

It was as if she looked relaxed; like she wasn't even getting into gear for the fight, but as we got going, I realized that it wouldn't be as easy to get hold of her this time.

She kept me at an arm's reach, and a few times, when I tried to move in, she kept me at bay with a well-aimed kick or shove.

We kept at it for a while, looking for openings, until I tried to bait her with what felt to me like a properly weighted roundhouse, but I was on my back before I even saw her move.

I wasn't really winded, so as she tried to get ahold of my leg, I was able to twist into a move favorable position, but as she slipped around to my back, I quickly found myself movements becoming restrained as she coiled her lithe, flexible limbs into place, and by the time she began to put pressure into my right hand, pulling it over my head against the joint at my shoulder, I quickly tapped her on the arm, ending the bout.

"Jesus; you're a sneaky little bugger," I said, and she grinned.

"I finally beat you too!"

I shook my head at her.

"Beat me? You kicked my ass; but honestly. If any of our previous fights were armor or weaponless, you'd have won then too," I countered, and she shrugged.

"We aren't going to always fight opponents who are similarly skilled or equipped. I need to learn to win no matter what, right?"

I smiled at Francesca.

"Sometimes I wonder why an amazing woman like you ever even looked twice at me," I said, and she blushed, but the moment was interrupted by Blair making a gagging sound.

"Seriously. Do all of you fall for this sappy BS?"

Francesca, however, merely shot the girl a teasing smile.

"You talk a lot of smack for a girl that stares at Nate's ass every time he turns his back."

"Oh please. Don't confuse a panther on the hunt with the rest of you fawning little bitches," Blair shot, and Francesca merely shook her head.

"Let me know how that works out for you," she replied, and the two went their separate ways.

I followed Blair, however, who kept her eyes directed away from me.

"Not afraid of ruffling feathers, are we?" I asked, and she shrugged.

"Gotta break a few eggs to make an omelette, right?"

I shook my head at her.

"I don't dislike that attitude, I just hope you have the awareness to understand who you can and can't use that approach with," I said, and she looked up at me.

"I'm sorry?"

I bit my lip.

"Francesca and Bianca might be fair game, but there are a lot of people here who don't really have the capacity to deal with that kind of... bravado, if you catch my drift."

She studied me.

"I'm not sure I do," she said, and I took a deep breath in.

"Like, let's say Leanna, who has a bit of a hard time dealing with her own anxiety and schizophrenia, or, I dunno, Lucia, who's... a child."

Blair eyed me, trying to glean as much as she could from my expression.

"I don't mind you getting into the competition, or asserting yourself," I continued. "But just know who your competition really is, yeah?"

She scoffed.

"So, what? Are you like the protector of weaklings now, or something?"

I shrugged.

"Call it whatever you want. I'm just keeping the peace and trying to make sure that no-one ends up taking on more than they can shoulder. For people who aren't like us, this is a pretty big adjustment, and some aren't taking it as well as others," I explained, but Blair merely shook her head.

"Now I understand why everyone around here is so fucking soft. 'Papa Nathan' is coddling them till they probably can't even take a shit without someone wiping their ass."

I snickered a little, considering that I'd practically done that, but as Blair eyed me, a wicked smile creeping across her lips, I quickly caught myself.

"You're a sick fuck just like me, arent'cha? What happened to you? This world was pretty much designed for people like us. No social conventions to navigate. No hierarchies telling us what we can and can't do. You and I could have a fucking ball with this if you'd forget these scrubs and just cut loose. What's holdin' ya back, Natey boy?"

I shrugged.

"I'm kind of interested in putting down some foundations of my own. You and I might be the same animal, but don't think for a moment that we're anything alike," I replied.

Blair laughed, shaking her head.

"Or, maybe you are. You know, I was kinda thinking to just bail on your sorry ass the first chance I get, but now I'm thinkin' maybe I'll stick around a bit. It might be worth it to see what happens when this little 'good boy psychopath' play of yours goes sour."

Blair caught Francesca's eyes on her, and she shot me a playful look, resting a hand seductively against my chest, before turning and sauntering off, and I shook my head.

Part of me wanted to keep her away from everyone she could hurt... but another part of me wanted to bend her to my will, and revel in the glory of her complete and total submission.

But I knew what a mess that could turn into, so I shook the thought aside as I headed over to Francesca's side.

"Are you thinking about multiple squads?" Francesca asked, and I shook my head.

"Maybe we could do several hits with a larger, but more specialized squad?" I asked, and she nodded.

"You, me, Blair, Bianca?"

"Lucia too. And maybe a few Accalians," I added.

"Shouldn't we keep Lucia on watch?"

I shook my head.

"We're moving the current captives while we do the hits," I said, and she nodded.

"I see."

When Casey was ready, she sent Molly out, and when the main group was ready to start moving, our hit-squad headed off into the woods west of the cave, but we made it no more than half a mile when Iduma signaled to me.

"There are many foes," he said. "Three groups."

He indicated the directions, and I frowned.

"Guess they've been waiting for the right moment to strike, huh."

"Nathan!"

Lucia tugged at my arm, then pointed to the southwest, and I raised an eyebrow at her.

"Someone went that direction?" I asked, and she nodded.

I clicked my tongue in annoyance.

"Come with me," I said to Lucia. "Francesca, keep a close eye on our prey, but don't engage. I'll come find you after I finished dealing with this."

She nodded, though her expression seemed a bit uncertain as I scooped Lucia up and took off.

"Do you see them?" I asked, and she tapped my shoulder, pointing me in the right heading.

We ran for a little under a minute when she held up a hand, and we came to a stop.

I crouched down behind some shrubs, and as she indicated the direction, we began to creep through the forest towards the group, until I started hearing some conversation.

"We're so close. Why didn't fucking danger sense go off?"

"Maybe that's how they've been taking us out? They're blocking it or something."

As the group came into view, I noted a man stroking his beard.

There was a spear on his back, and both his allies were equipped with swords that weren't drawn.

Could I take them all down without killing any?

I activated my tracking ability, and found the group was just a little way east of us, but close enough that moving there might alert our quarry, so I made a decision.

I focused on conveying to Casey my need for help, and as I felt something through our connection, I nodded, turning to Lucia.

"Stay close."

I drew my hunting knife as we darted in, and I went straight for the man with the spear.

He got a hand on his weapon as he saw me, but I was already on him, and I stabbed into his arm, before wresting the spear from his grasp.

One of the others quickly struck with a sword, but I easily parried with my arm guard.

I moved in and jabbed an elbow into my attacker's face, and she cried out, dropping the sword as she fell to her knees.

Then I turned to Lucia, who was engaged with the third, and I noted just how easily she was navigating her fight.

She was amazing, wasn't she?

Not even Jeannie or Molly could fight this comfortably against an armored enemy while wearing none.

I quickly moved in, and her opponent, sensing that the battle was lost, raised a hand in surrender, so I disarmed her, then stood over them, while Lucia made off to fetch some help from the main group.

Jeannie and Nolan quickly made their way over, and after stripping the three of their armor, we herded them over to the others.

"Nate, what the fuck are you doing?" Casey asked as soon as she saw me, and I raised an eyebrow at her.

"A group came over to ambush you-" I began, but Casey shoved me as soon as she got close enough.

"Yeah, and we could've handled it. Why the fuck would you leave the hunting team?"

I bit my lip.

Truthfully, I didn't really trust those that we'd left with this group in combat, but it wouldn't be advisable to say that out loud.

"I was just worried, and the main group has Francesca. I just thought-"

"That the rest of us are useless?" Molly asked, and I bit my lip nervously.

"Go back to your team!" Casey said, and I let out a sigh.

As we headed back to the main group, however, Lucia hugged me tightly, and patted the back of my head.

"I'm not upset," I said, but she continued doing it nonetheless, and I didn't really feel like complaining because it did feel nice.

I caught up to Francesca about four minutes later.

"This is further off than I left you," I said, and she nodded.

"There's more than two groups now," she said. "Iduma says it's about fifteen otherworlders."

"Fuck me; that's no hunt, that's a battle."

"Athánatos, if I may?" Iduma asked, as he stepped forward, and I gestured to him to continue. "The enemy seems to sense our presence."

I clicked my tongue in annoyance.

"Any idea how?"

He shook his head, and I nodded.

"We should strike," Blair cut in. "Fifteen is doable at their skill level, but if they're meeting up, that number could double within the hour."

"I don't see us taking fifteen captives," I replied, and she shrugged.

"As good a time as any to see if this really makes them any stronger."

I cursed under my breath.

I hated being wrong, but if we'd taken them down when it was just six, and let Casey's group handle the three on their end, we'd have nine captives, and could have probably gotten another six on the second pass.

Guess I fucked that one up...

"They aren't attacking, though," Francesca noted, and I nodded.

"They seemed eager enough to do it earlier too."

Blair let out an exasperated sigh, and I clicked my tongue in annoyance at her.

"Patience," I chided, but as I tried to figure out how to proceed, Iduma signaled to me.

"The enemies are moving, Athánatos. Spreading out."

I let out a sigh, then nodded.

"Let's hit them, then. Maim and disarm, but for the love of god; no limb severing or outright murder?"

Francesca nodded, readying her spear.

We made a beeline for the westernmost leg of the enemy ranks, but as we descended on them, they seemed to be completely caught unawares.

"They're here!" someone called out in a panic, and Blair scowled as she jabbed her axe-butt into his face, sending some teeth flying, and a spray of blood.

Francesca disarmed and pinned one of the others, while the third quickly surrendered.

I gathered up the weapons and ordered them to stay put, when a wave of six otherworlders charged at us.

We had enough bodies to meet them one on one, but I moved ahead of the group, attacking one while goading another into trying me.

But as the second man attempted to charge me, I merely sidestepped and send him flying with a shove.

The Accalians secured him as I turned my attention to the other warrior, pressing him back with my halberd and eventually pinning him, back first to a tree trunk.

He made a desperate lunge at me and I deflected it easy, knocking him off his feet and aiming my halberd at his throat.

"Disarm them, quick," I said, but it seemed as if the others had backed off.

"Nate, something feels off!"

The call came from Francesca, and I turned to see her readying her spear.

Didn't she usually sense monsters that way?

I mean, without armor, there was no way she could be reacting like that to an otherworlder, right?

Not to mention, I felt nothing.

"Gather them up in the center. Iduma, have your men tie them up," I barked, as the rest of us got into formation.

"Nathan, there!" Lucia said, and I adjusted our formation to face the direction she'd indicated.

But they came in hard.

Three were charging at us, and I noted immediately that their armor wasn't the standard low-grade T-one stuff that everyone seemed to be wearing.

"Shroud them!" the man at the lead shouted, and I gasped as all of a sudden, everything went black.

But in my mind, I followed the trajectory that he had been charging in, and as I crouched low, then stabbed, I heard a groaning cry.

There were a few flashes, then suddenly, light returned, and as I looked around, I spotted a girl lying on the ground, blood gushing out of her neck, but more worryingly, two of our newly acquired captives had been butchered, and the man who'd slain them grinned at me, before turning and running in the opposite direction.

I glanced around, making sure that everyone was alive, before turning and giving chase.

Bianca fell in beside me, and I nodded my approval.

As we ran, however, I noted that the man seemed to be casting glances at us while he ran, almost as if keeping us in check, and I cursed under my breath.

He's fucking faster than speed three!

I considered giving up the chase, but just as I did, he pulled up to a halt, so we did too.

But fuck me, if this wasn't bad.

We couldn't get away if he somehow turned out to be better than we were.

"Stab him in the arms and legs," I said, and Bianca nodded as I extended my energy threads to him, then activated my ability to hold him down.

"Fucking, piece of... fuck!" he screamed, and I felt my nerves explode with pain as he began to struggle against me.

He was pinned, however; on his knees and unable to do so much as get to his feet, and Bianca wasted no time, stabbing him as I'd requested.

"Ahhh!" he screamed out, and I released my hold on him, darting to his side and relieving him of his weapon of choice; a sword with a slightly curved blade.

"If you can talk, now is a good time to do it, because I doubt we're taking you alive otherwise..."