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[dadication]

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[gr1m]

A bolt embedded in to the ground right by the hunter's boot, making it clear without words that his position was known; the gorgon had said the next wouldn't be a warning, but that was-

"You need to leave. Now."

Movement, which was the gorgon having left the spot he'd positioned himself in, but it wasn't towards the alcove the hunter had put himself. Instead it was moving deeper in to the cave and leaving that 'warning' as the last words said.

The change in the air was something had crashed within, a trap set off, and Gabriel knew exactly where within the system it had come from but not what had set it off. Better to be rid of the hunter and let him go on his way to whatever job and take care of whatever possible intruder himself.

[dadication]

The bolt wasn't unexpected, and it was more surprised it had taken this long to earn one. He crouched down to snatch the bolt out of the ground, touching along it as if the ammunition would give him a sense of the owner. His thumb ran over the tip of the bolt, but he didn't feel and smell poison. It was of good enough quality to stay together.

The crash was something he heard as well, and that was probably his cue to simply leave. With the gorgon on, he stepped out of his little alcove and looked in the direction that the monster had head, and he moved to leave the gorgon and whatever was here to kill each other off.

Except... he didn't. Something kept him here, and he grunted at his own express stupidity. This was definitely going to get him killed.

He slowly made his way in the direction of the the sound that had echoed in the chamber, using his 'sight' to follow the tracks of the gorgon as his guide. Those impressions would fade soon enough, but he was used to the limitations of his senses to know when to use them and when to simply memorize what direction he was heading in. He sheathed his sword for a crossbow of his own, loading it as he walked.

He wanted to see what had come and decide if it was worth his time to step in.

[gr1m]

He didn't care for what was behind him as he ran, going down the twisted pathway and overturned mine carts that remained as if they weren't even there. There was a heat to the air, pulling his hood down low to shield his own eyes as flame went across one of the paths and he ducked below it.

Went high on the system of wood, rails and platforms that at least allowed him some advantage as the creature roared from all three heads. Already putting a bolt through one of it's eyes as he kept moving far quicker than the armor he wore had any right to allow.

"Gods dammit, I thought something was in the area." Chimera, of course. This was what he'd been scenting in the air recently, and maybe it was stupid luck it had wandered in to the old mining system rather than back out in to a village. Lost maybe, trying to find some way to the next. It stunk of human blood, there was no need to guess what it had been up to at all.

[dadication]

Jack followed along, listening and scenting the air as he cast a spell over his eyes to allow his sight to spread further. It was a good thing that he did that as he hopped over one of the tipped over mining cart and found himself coming into the fray when the chimera gave a roar of pain from a crossbow bolt puncturing one of its eyes. Of course, it had many more where they came from, and all the remaining turned upon the gorgon.

It had clearly been killing in the forest or even one of the small villages nearby. It didn't seem hurt or underfed from what he could see, but it was now determined to eat whatever was in front of it. Appetites were never sated with one of those, and with the gorgon there, it clearly had its next meal lined up.

As it moved to slash at the gorgon with a massive lion paw, Jack shifted around the corner and fired his own crossbow bolt into the eye of the sheep head. It roared with pain and thrashed as it gave a bit of ground. "Momentary truce, nothing more," he called so the gorgon didn't get the wrong impression.

[gr1m]

"I'm not about to pay you for it either!" So there'd be nothing to gain from the hunter not simply turning an running, and he still wished he had. Been better off in the long run, no doubt.

A hand moved under his cloak, grabbing a different bolt than the ones he'd been using, never remaining still as he loaded them up. Watching both where the hunter was and where the chimera was going as being two eyes down just had it more pissed off than anything. Still swift on his feet he shifted out of the way of the snapping dragon head and fired a bolt edged with something right down it's gullet.

The creature choked for a moment and likely turned to breathe fire and all that came out was a load of smoke. Smelled of sulfur and whatever that particular crossbow bolt had been to put out that fire, so at least that was down.

[dadication]

"You make a lot of assumptions on how I conduct my business," he shot back, but it didn't seem worth the argument either. Chimeras were usually a group hunt because they were difficult to tackle, and they had many skills to use and couldn't exactly be caught unaware with that many heads.

Even with the bolt down the throat, it seemed angrier than ever and launched at the gorgon always on the move. Jack shouted a word and swung out a hand, firing a bolt of lightning from his fingers that hit the creature in the shoulder. It's scorpion tail lashed out, catching him in the shoulder and knocking him down. He rolled before the poison claw could hit him, bringing him further into the fray.

"Are you always at range? I have a sword, so I can cover you as you reload."

[gr1m]

"As you do with any of mine, consider us even." Coming to assumptions and any other things either of them knew simply from how others went about their business. Most operated the same when it came to fighting monsters; either to be rid of them for any potential danger, or because the reward was tempting enough.

Did make note of the magic, and doubted that was the only spell known. Did position himself as several bolts were fired at once that tore through wing membrane and went directly in to the chimera's side. Seemed stuck there as well, directing attention away from the temporarily downed man and back on himself. Lion claws catching his cloak enough to tear through the ends of it before he was ducking through a natural rock formation to come out on the other end.

"I've blades, but right now this may work well enough between us." Him going at range even as a distraction while the hunter went in close and away. Pull in and out like so.

[dadication]

Jack pulled his blade which seemed to hum with a magical energy and glowed a faint blue as he moved in, brushing passed the gorgon. He put enough trust in the other monster to not just put a bolt into his back for taking the forward position, which he hoped was not a mistake on his part. He wouldn't live to tell if it was misplaced, and right now, he had to concentrate on the massive creature filling the mine hole.

He pulled a knife and flung it at one of the other remaining eyes, but the creature snapped it out of the air before moving to crowd him for a strike of claw and wing at the same time. He dove forward to avoid both, putting himself between its massive legs. His sword arched upwards to tear into flesh in the chest and arm pit of the creature.

It tried to hop away, ramming itself against a wall in its withdrawal, but its tail swung under and knocked him into the nearby rocks defensively. It would at least give the gorgon and clear shot.

[gr1m]

There was no bolt in the hunters back, but instead several more littering the chimera's hide from flank to neck. He'd moved on to the ones actually laced with something, but with a creature of this size he knew it would take several to do anything, but at least it might lend some edge in their favor.

It was only once he saw the hunter go down did he draw his own blades, two swords with strange symbols engraved deep in the metal that glowed. He ducked in low and even moved in to dig both where the hunter had cut deep, one to anchor himself against the beast as it reared on it's hooves.

The other sank in deep, driving straight for the chimera's heart to rip through it, sending it falling backwards, ripping swords free and letting himself land on his feet. He didn't relax until it had stilled and he could sense no more life in it. He glanced towards the hunter then, crossbow picked up and folded to hang harmlessly under his cloak, but swords still in hand.

At least he moved in to check if the hunter was conscious, and could already smell the blood on him.

[dadication]

Jack had hit the rocks and hit the ground, but he was rolling as his magical vision cut out and his ears rung. The chimera had scored a hit with the tail more than just a blunt blow, and the stinger had opened his thigh enough to cause bleeding that would need some help to heal.

For him, he floundered a bit, by now used to his blindness when the magic cut out but with a massive creature like a chimera, it was hard to tell where it was until he heard the body drop heavily. He slumped over, ears ringing and consciousness fading despite himself. The glow of his sword went out as his consciousness left him.

Some poison from the chimera had managed to enter his system but not bad enough to kill him. Enough to cause him pain and fester his wound some. His last thought was that he would die from a gorgon, which seemed fitting given it was a monster that had robbed him of his other life anyway.

[gr1m]

He did debate, briefly, leaving the hunter here to simply rot, the snakes curled with his hair ruffling amongst it a bit as a few came to peek out from under his hood at the unconscious man. Little hisses before his own swords were sheathed and the hunter was hauled over shoulders after temporarily tying that thigh enough to not lave a trail of blood.

There was a walk to some upper part of the mine that wasn't man made, hidden amongst twists and turns, that spread out in to a larger opening that was rather homey.

Gabriel laid the hunter out on a flat stone that was warmed by something underneath it, using it as he removed clothing carefully to better check him over and better get access to the wound to his thigh. Cleaning and rinsing all he could, something in a bottle used to flush out what poison he could there before wrapping it with a concoction to at least let it heal cleanly enough.

Was moved to a bed after dressing the man in some temporary shit and loose slacks, tucking him in for warmth and getting down some liquid that would help fight against the poison in his system. Checked on him now and again.

A fire was lit, the entire place warm with something in a pot cooking. sitting back in a chair, whetstone going across one of his blades after going over the rest of his weapons. A waiting game then.

[dadication]

Jack came awake with a sense of groggy surprise. He honestly wasn't expecting to come back to consciousness, and there was a touch of disappointment when he realized that he was warm, cozy and comfortable. That was not a state that he was used to being in, and his sense of time was all over the place. How long has he been out? Where was he?

He remained silent and simply listened. A fire crackling merrily, metal on whetstone, something cooking, and there was a presence that he could acknowledge was at least familiar enough that he knew who had taken him prisoner. Except... his hands and feet weren't bound, his clothing was fresh and clean and he could tell that his injury had been treated.

That was beyond unexpected. Hadn't he been threatened with death? Some days that's all he wanted.

He slowly lifted a hand from the furs he was covered in, touching his badly rended face, old scars from forehead, over nose and down to his chin and cheeks. His eyes hadn't been spared, but he had used magic to at least reform the look of them, though they were pale blue when he bothered to open them. "...why?"

[gr1m]

The clear blindness was the only reason the hood stayed down, which meant the snakes that coiled among his hair were watching. Hissing softly the moment the hunter awoke and pressing close to his hair as if he wasn't aware himself just through their eyes alone.

"If you didn't come back, and whatever Guild you are a part of caught any wind of you being nearby, it'd be far more trouble than I care to deal with." As if this man coming by twice hadn't been trouble enough, still slowly sharpening the blade, never once pausing as he worked by fire light.

That was only a fraction of why, but he wasn't going to admit it was at least some repayment for following to come see what had caused him to simply tell him to leave and turn in to the mines. To actually help fight when he had every reason to turn and leave whatever happened to fate.

The snakes still watched, settled about his shoulders and a few curled over the top of his head. "Move too quickly and you won't remain upright, gave you something to counteract the chimera poison. Likely still in your system enough to be an annoyance."

[dadication]

Ah yes, the Guild. That was excellent motivation to keep him alive, but it was just as easy to move his body as well. All the same, he supposed that he was forced to be grateful as his eyes stared unseeing at the ceiling. He didn't have the strength to magically give himself sight, and a part of him just plain didn't want to. This was fine.

He could hear the snakes, wondered what they were saying. He swallowed hard and shifted a little in the warm bedding that he was settled into. He didn't hear anyone else, so he expected that the tale of being alone here was true or at least true enough to this part of the cave system. He rubbed at his face with the heel of his hand, but otherwise, he didn't try to sit up.

He knew better. For one, he could smell whatever had been put on it. For two, this was definitely not the first time he had been poisoned and had to recover from it.

"You could have treated me down next to the chimera body," he pointed out. "Is this... where you live?" His fingers moved to touch things, exploring with little touches so he could build a picture in his mind.

"What's... your name?" He figured he should ask to say a proper thanks, even if part of him was still sorrowful that he was still alive.

[gr1m]

"Easier to carry you here than carry everything I needed from here to there." He'd deal with the chimera body later as well, because he couldn't leave it there to just rot. Who knew what all could be attracted in, given what various parts of one could be worth or be used for.

The furs an blankets were... soft, very soft. The bed itself was also large enough for at least three men, but that was more for his own comfort than anything. The frame of it smoothed down and strong. There was a nearby stand that had a few objects on it, one being a well worn book and the others just carved and rounded out stones in various shapes; mostly animal.

The whetstone stilled for a moment, clearly the intention had been on ignoring the first question, but the second had surprised him as even the snakes of his hair had gone silent. Just the sound of the fire, and whatever was in the pot above it simmering. "This is where I live, yes." Something more wary in his tone than anything else, "... Gabriel."

[dadication]

"I suppose..." he murmured, not certain he had an argument to make about that, since he had no idea how far he had been carried in the first place. He supposed he would find out when the poison had been neutralized and he could move again. For now, he settled for allowing his fingers to explore, but the bed was so big and expansive that he didn't even reach the edge.

No, that involved slowly turning over onto his side, letting his arm stretch out just to feel the softness under his fingers. Many of his old scars were on display where the clothing didn't cover, and it occurred to him that this gorgon had seen the vast expanse of scarring that marred his body. He had given up long ago being embarrassed about it. The savage attack that nearly killed him was just one of the many stories his body told.

"Ah," he murmured when the wait for answers came with a sort of reluctance from the gorgon. He imagined that was a good survival tactic; it was definitely something he could relate to. He generally ended up burying things after all, coming by when he needed supplies rather than hide them in caves and other places people and creatures could find.

He didn't actually have a place he lived. "So you have no need to move around. I suppose the mine shafts give you plenty of options to slip passed things coming your way. Plus all the magical traps." He sighed and closed his eyelids, but his head lifted a touch at the name. "Gabriel? That's a rather human name." He rolled to his back again, spreading his arms out around him. "My name is Jack." Only fair to reciprocate.

[gr1m]

"This is only one." It was the closest one that had what he'd needed to treat the poison and wounds that the hunter had suffered. It was also at least comfortable and a place he could cook up some of the meat he'd hunted in to a stew easy enough for the man to eat as well. Would need to eat to further recover from the blood loss and all.

There was a hissing of snakes, letting them move in to the waves of his hair or simply coil as they pleased. He had no need to move around, but he still did. He'd only be here for a few weeks more until moving on to another place that he'd established.

His nose wrinkled a bit. "My father named me, he was human."

[dadication]

"I suppose you'll pack up and be off when I'm gone," he remarked. It was dangerous for a hunter to know where a monster lived after all. For all his good intentions, there were others far more interested in eliminating every monster that existed no matter how peaceful they were. He only went after the jobs where there was conflict and lives being lost.

He was just relaxing back into this big bed, letting his body rest. He could already tell he'd have a few bruises and aches from being slammed around, but that was fine. Pain was a good way to know that he was still alive.

"So... your mother was a gorgon? How does that work given your father couldn't even look at her?" It sounded strange and different, but if Gabriel was here, clearly they had sired children. "Do you have... siblings?" Now he was just getting personal, but he couldn't really help it. He was curious.

[gr1m]

Surprising how talkative the man was being, honestly. "I was going to be doing so in a few days anyway. My territory is large, and travel makes it difficult for others to catch on to me." It had always worked once he'd gotten something more stable to hide himself.

He stood, letting the whetstone down to where he kept it and put away the sword as well. Lifting the lid of the pot caused a very delicious smell to fill the air, stirring the stew a bit.

"A gorgon's mate is always human, and he wore a blindfold." Hunters drew out gorgons by targeting their mate and offspring. "No."

[dadication]

Jack didn't exactly... have people to talk to. Or monsters for that matter. He didn't get a lot of conversation given his own strange appearance and constant travel. Besides, he couldn't see, so sometimes talking was all he could do, even if there was no one to answer.

He slowly dug his elbows into the bed and pushed himself up. He knew he wasn't at risk from the gorgon's snakes, even if he could hear them. The smell that wafted over to him made him sniff the air to try to identify the ingredients involved.

"Always, huh?" He murmured before turning his head to 'look' elsewhere. He knew how gorgons were hunted, how their offspring (younger the better so their sight wasn't strong) and their mates were used to draw them out. He'd come to an assumption that gorgons were quite loyal to their families, since none seemed to survive if the mate died.

"You must be one of the last handful that exist."

[gr1m]

"Always." Simply how it was. "He wore the blindfold so that he could stay with her and help raise me," and had loved her deeply. There weren't many memories, but that was one that had stuck in happier times.

He was spooning some of that stew in to a bowl, having cut up some of the deer and rabbit to make it nice and meaty along with a few vegetables and herbs he'd collected as well. There was also a little pork to help make it just a little more fatty. Figured it would be better to make it something hardy.

"I wouldn't be surprised." Gorgons were very loyal to their families, and losing a mate was heartbreak. They always remained with one for as long as they lived and... well. "Think you could eat, or am I going to be eating this myself?"

[dadication]

Jack hummed softly, thinking that over, trying to remember what it was like to be happy with a family. The way that Gabriel spoke came with a sort of softness but also sadness, so he could already imagine that the family ending was about as happy as his own. "And I suppose all gorgon offspring are gorgon themselves."

He managed to sit up, but he sagged where he sat, hands falling into his lap. He was enjoying the smell of food. Aside from inn food, he couldn't remember when he had had something where it had had opportunity to simmer for hours.

"High price on your heads, though if you're actually alone... you're not easy to hunt," he murmured and forced his shoulders up so he wasn't practically sagging into his own lap. "If you're offering a meal, I can eat. You're under no obligation to. I have rations."

[gr1m]

He survived with a few scars of his own, but his mother had hidden him away quickly before going back to fight at his father's side. Still didn't save him from seeing what had happened. "Yes," for the most part. It was rare for one to be born more human.

Very rare.

The bowl was set on the table near the bed along with a spoon to eat with, moving around the bed slowly. "I've been alone, and a meal is being offered. It will do you better than rations," far more filling with a few things added to simply promote healing.

[dadication]

That seemed answer enough, and he knew that more would be prying far too much. Most tales such as theirs ended in sadness. In that way, he had noted that they were similar enough in that regards. Children in this day and age didn't seem to receive any more than suffering, but oh well. That was the way of things.

He shifted closer to where he heard the sound of a bowl set down, taking it slow. He reached out with questing fingers, touching the edge of the table first then feeling for the bowl itself. He managed to pick it up after that, pulling it to his lap.

"Being alone is better for survival in these parts," he replied with a sigh. "It smells good." He felt for the spoon and then lifted some to his lips, sipping it experimentally, testing it more for how hot it was. "Definitely better than rations."

[gr1m]

He lingered and watched, just to make sure there was no chance of Jack dropping the bowl and spilling any on himself. Once he had a hold of the spoon and all Gabriel turned away and moved back towards the fire so he could help himself to a bowl.

"You can eat slow, I recommend it just to make sure it agrees with your stomach just in case that poison lingers enough to have your stomach easily unsettled." It tasted good, seasoned just right as if he'd been taught by someone who knew how to cook. Things he'd picked up and managed to remember.

Did have to knock a snake head or two away from his own bowl as he was spooning it up. "You can rest as long as you need as well." Not going to be immediately kicked out just because he was awake now.