LA CACCIA SELVAGGIA [i]

The chariot made of ice hit the crest of a dune, the horses went upwards and gaining height at a shallow angle. The icy path under it took several hits from below the left wheel smashed in half, it regrew and met the road again. A figure stood on the back of the chariot with one leg on top of the back rest, the other on the seat. Arms wind milling, water gushing out of the crystals that adorned the female hollows body and turning to ice. It speared towards the pursuing winged hollow, their onslaught of bala was taking its toll on her. Several scorch marks ruined the otherwise beautiful countenance of her frosted over fur, betraying her belief that she was winning the fight.

The pursuers had attacked without warning and together in formations, they dived and dipped, dodging expertly and providing distractions for eachother. Not only did each one of them match her power level, she had attempted before to go into half-bala speed. The forces following her on the ground had used some kind of anchor ability, which had nearly flipped her entire carriage and sent her flying off of a vehicle, 100ft in the air, at half bala speed. Which was not something she looked forward to doing.

A bala caught her shoulder, she sent up a wave of ice in response, the flying hollow grabbing hold of it and sending it flying back at her. She turned it back to water, it curves around the carriage and as her arm flew out to angle it, her wrists were caught by a bala from below, nearly breaking her wrist and causing her to drop half of the water, with the other arm she brought half the water from the other side around in a half sphere to provide a shield. Bala hammered on the outside and creating large cracks on it. She needed to find a way out, and fast.

A red flash was her only warning of the cero that carved through the ice, smashing into her, a hollow came spiralling through the explosion. Looking like a pterodactyl, his clawed feet reached forwards, clawing inches away from where she had been blasted into the foot well. It screeched "Take us to your queen you bitch! We know you work for her! Spying on our forces were you! Come out here and fight like a real hollow you clumsy git" time seemed to slow down. She stopped scrambling around and her eyes narrowed.

The hollow ripped away a section of the seat, the other hollows were clambering up the sides. "What did you just call me" her voice was low and terrible. The hollow mocked her with laughter "I called you a bitch" the other hollow jeered at her. "No, not that. After that" the hollow grinned, leering in close "I called you a clumsy git". The other hollow laughed, the insult was pathetic, but simple minds required simple entertainment. She coughed politely, cracking her knuckles and jumping up sharply. The hollow stumbled back in surprise. Her hand shot out, grabbing its neck and dragging it in close, ice formed around its body from the chariot, its friends staring on in surprise of the action. "Never, ever, call me clumsy. I am Chyone Omorfiá, The Lady of Frost and you pathetic creatures have no right to insult my elegance." her wrist twisted to the side.

The sharp crack of its neck woke its comrades from their trance of the scene, they jabbed forwards as one, determined to avenge their fallen comrade. She laughed, sinking through the ice and through the bottom of the chariot. The chariot exploded in shrapnel's of ice and spikes, impaling all of the flying hollow who had been inches away from the vehicle. She plummeted down, arms and legs tight against eachother to increase the speed of the fall. Wind whistled past her ears, her hands shot out to the side, a simple boat forming below her. She grabbed hold of the side, laying herself down in it. She waited for the right moment, water cascaded out of the crystals on her body, flowing underneath the boat as they reached the bottom.

She hit the water just before the sand, levelling out and lurching forwards, a wave built behind her, propelling her forwards. The faster of the ground forces ran alongside the boat, gaining on the front. In a daring feat, they leapt into the water. Taken by surprise, the boat hit their combined mass, the boat stopped. She did not. Catapulted off of the front and flew through the air, arms and legs flailing as she struggled to retain control of the flight. A flash of what she hoped was more sand and not a small army in front of her. The horde after her. Army. Sand. Horde. Army. Sand. Horde. Army. Horde. Sand, far too close. Feet. She came to a rest at the toe of what she recognised as a lady.

Her eyes floated up the form of the beautiful lady before her. Recognising the tell tale signs of a vastolorde. Primarily, the fact that she did not look like a lumbering beast with tentacles or fur. She shakily got to one knee, ignoring the pain her body felt from the collision and the dry sand that had gotten into her skin. She knew better than most how important manners could be in this situation. Her head bowed and voice went into a polite, not quite grovelling but filled with respect voice. "Apologies, I did not mean to disturb you my lady. I was pursued to your presence by a band of beasts over a misunderstanding. They seem to think I know where a queen of some sorts resides." She remained on one knee, she knew her life was in the ladies hands and so running or fighting were pointless actions. "If I may be so bold, estimable vasto lorde, may I ask of your or your comrades assistance in dispatching those that follow me. Ere I should die without your presence" Fully aware that those after her had only halted upon sensing the crowd before her.