Manticore Hunting

[SOFIA BLAKKE]

Sofia turned to find everything else going well, looking just in time to see the second to last large Virus disappear at her teammate's blade. Only one large one remained, and the Beasts were making quick easy work of the smaller ones, cutting through them like fodder. The other claw sent out an attempted finishing blow towards the final large one, just barely missing the neck of the Virus. ...Was that where the chip was? Being able to tell so easily somehow had to come in handy.

She didn't have a clear shot at the neck from where she stood, though, and the thing wasn't particularly close by any plants, either. Debating on what to do, she took control of the desert growth nearest to her, just managing to grab it's back to legs. Even though she couldn't restrain it completely, it still sent it to the ground with a startled cry as she pulled back on its ankles. "Get it now!"

[/color] She urged to the others.[/size][/blockquote]

[Zane Haskill]

Andrew was surrounded in a matter of seconds by minor viruses. A screech echoed out as the bird beast landed behind him. The two locked eyes and nodded, moving to start cutting through the viruses. The group was thinned out rather quickly, but more came to join the fun. About a hundred or so minor viruses remained. Childsplay. Andrew grinned. He would have helped Sofia with her kill, but he was preoccupied. Soon, Sophia and the twin felines joined him and the hawk. The beasts moved with each other rhythmically, and Andrew tried his best to work well with them as well. Soon, there was an opening, and they pushed Andrew toward it lightly. He nodded and ran through, speeding across the sand toward the fallen lizard.

As he ran, he saw Victus near the Lizard, and lung at it. The thing pushed up with one arm and swiped with the other, catching Victus off guard. The virus pinned the beast, and pushed down on him with his claws. Andrew ran at full speed to help, and lunged at the lizard. Luckily, the lizard was busy and Andrew was easily able to get at it's neck. He cut through the things head, severing it from it's body as the chip popped. He looked down to see Victus fading with the beast, his chip was obviously hit by the virus. Andrew sighed, and saw that the Beasts were finishing up the last of the minor viruses, and he sat down. "Never does get any easier... Fighting these things. What's worse is when we lose Civilians... We have to write up a report..." He muttered, looking as the group moved to join them. "Lets hope they take it well... You wanna tell them, or should I?" He asked, an almost sad look in his eyes.

[SOFIA BLAKKE]

Another swarm of minor Viruses arrived, keeping the others preoccupied. Not wanting it to get up, Sofia tried to keep the lizard-like Virus in place, barely managing to keep hold of its back two feet. One of the Beasts lunged towards it, but the thing managed to swing one of its forearms his way, roughly pinning him down with his Claws. Andrew was there an instant later, rushing the help the Beast and dispatching the Virus quickly while it was distracted and held it place. But Sofia realized a moment later, as the large, reptilian body blocking her view faded, that the form of the Beast from before was fading too. The Virus' attack must've reached his chip. All the large Viruses were gone, and the other Beasts, still preoccupied, were finishing off the rest of the minor ones, but the satisfied grin disappeared from her face. One of the Beasts was dead.

She nodded solemnly at her teammate's words. No matter how skilled, the tragedy was a reminder that no one was ever truly safe or invincible. The Beast had clearly been strong, but all it had taken was being caught off guard once, and it had cost him everything. He'd died protecting his friends and his home. That's the way it was when you chose to fight. It could well happen to them, one day. She realized that, as much as she tried not to think about it, but the loss of the Beast made her chest ache even though she hadn't known him.

She bit her lip at her companion's next words, and as the rest of the group began to come over in their direction. For once, there was something resembling sadness in her teammate's eyes. Delivering such news was never easy. Suppressing the lump in her throat, the girl all at once raised her gaze and looked towards the Beasts. "That should be the last of the Viruses for now. You are indeed all very valiant fighters. But...I'm afraid that we must give you sad news. One of your companions, the jackal Beast, died in battle. Me and my teammate witnessed his passing after a swipe from the Virus caught him off guard. He died protecting his home...I wish we could've done more. I'm sorry..."

[/color] It was easier just to spit it out. She tried to keep her voice professional, just like she'd been trained, but there was obvious sadness in it, a slight tremble to the words. She felt disappointed with herself, too. After all, wasn't it the VDF's job to protect civilians? Even with them here, the man had been killed. What good was what they did if they couldn't protect the life of someone fighting for their home and loved ones? The girl's gaze remained downcast.[/size][/blockquote]

[Zane Haskill]

As the small group of beasts approached, Sophia noted the sad looks in the pair of claws faces. She awaited their news, anxiously. When the news came by, the Twins looked at each other, eyes full of sorrow. The hawk put a clenched fist over his chest and looked up, saluting a fallen comrade. Sophia's eyes showed the deepest sorrow out of all of the beasts. This sorrow was quickly hidden, and she cleared her throat. "We thank you for your help. Now, we have a 'burial' to attend to. We request the two of you leave..." her voice betrayed her, though, the sadness ever present in her voice.

Andrew used his scythe to push himself onto his feet and nodded at Sophia's request. He bowed low, showing respect for the beasts. "It was an honor to fight at your sides. You would be valuable allies to the VDF, but I know you're just protecting your home... Be careful." he said, starting to walk away slowly. He turned to Sofia as they walked with a smile. "Just gotta pick up my tails and we can call this mission finished and head back. Drinks are on me." he joked. Knowing that Drinks no longer existed.

[SOFIA BLAKKE]

A sadness flickered in the gazes of all the Beasts, showing deepest in the eyes of the wolf woman before she quickly pushed it away. The masked grief was still audible in her voice, though, making the girl look down as she spoke in an attempt not to tear up. Death was a part of what they did. Soldiers weren't supposed to cry. "Very well... You're companion was a brave warrior."

[/color] She nodded at the woman's words, trying not to show the sorrow in her own voice.

She nodded at her teammate's words as well as they headed off back towards the base in Savette. The man had a smile on his face as he turned to her. Even after all that, he still remembered the tails. She chuckled slightly in spite of herself. Even if drinks no longer existed, the joke brought a slight smile to her own face again. "I think I'll take you up on that offer."[/color] She joked back, knowing full well that it was impossible. "At least we should have some time off once we get back."[/color] She added, feeling slightly cheered up. Even if loss couldn't always been avoided, their job was done for now. Fort Defray was once again left in the capable hands of the Beasts.[/size][/blockquote]