Battered and Bruised (Finished)

[Kulau]

Kulau was barely swimming at half speed. During the battle with the Raven Shade, he had sustained a pair of puncture wounds and a cracked rib. He had spent the time since then recovering. Still bandaged in his finblade and chest, he was more in the lake for a rehab swim than exercise. It still wasn't comfortable to swim with, and before long he was on the shore holding his rib. It just didn't feel good to swim, and what was a Zora that couldn't swim? Considerably less.

Sitting on the shore, he stared out along the lake, thinking to himself about what he was going to do once he recovered. A couple of messages went out to those who mattered, but he wanted to meet with some leaders specifically once he had fully recovered.

[Fane]

His large sword collapsed into the ground blade first, splitting the soil and separating the patches of grass from one another. Staring at Kulau from the back, Fane simply shook his head in an exasperated look. His friend had fought two....technically three great demons with him, and now sat defeated and battered. Had Fane been there as his friend was there for him, the Raven Shade would not have made away so hastily.

"Kulau. Ya alright?"

[Kulau]

Kulau turned, wincing as he saw Fane approaching. He nodded in acknowledgment, happy to see a friendly face instead of one that wanted to kill him.

"Hello Fane, I've got two puncture wounds and a broken rib. I'm swimming at half speed and in no position to fight. But it's good to see you." Kulau began to stand up, clearly struggling to do so. His wounds were bandaged, making it clear where he was hit. The chest and the fin, with bandages wrapped around. With a broken rib, it was tough to do almost anything without pain.

[Fane]

"No need to stand."

Fane stepped forth, placing a soft hand on the Zora's shoulder. Sitting down next to him, he pulled out a jug of whiskey. Offering it to Kulau, he gazed out over the water and considered his choice of words. "The Raven Shade? What happened Kulau?" He had heard only rumors so far, and that was due to his unique connections through Running the Monster Hunter Guild as well as Black Market goods.

[Kulau]

Kulau immediately put himself back on the ground. It was easier that way, and Fane was kind enough to come down to his level. Kulau courteously turned down the whiskey with a shake of his hand.

"No thank you. But tell me, how do you know of the Raven Shade? From what I understood, this was a very new development. Unless word of him is spreading quickly. He's a menace for sure. Kills without pity." He sighed deeply, concerned for the others in the domain. He hated to see zoras die because he couldn't stop the Raven Shade when he could.

[Fane]

Fane pondered the question for a moment; he was not sure if the truth was the best thing to tell a man in Kulau's position. What could possibly go wrong then? He wasn't sure, and he wasn't to confident if he really gave a rats ass. As his Zora friend declined the offer of whiskey, Fane popped it open and took a big portion of it in one swish. He never had been a drinker, and still wasn't, but his intake of it had increased lately.

"A friend of mine was running through this area around the time, heard about it, told me. He just runs merchandise into Castle Town for Ordana folks and such." Half of his story was true, half was just Fane speculating. He really had no idea where the Black Market Smuggler got his goods and if he was actually in the area, but he had the information, and it was somewhat common knowledge that Fane was friends with Kulau.

[Kulau]

Kulau sighed again. This wasn't looking good.

"You tell your merchant friends to be careful. They'll make easy targets if they're not careful. We must all be cautious, especially at night." He laid back on the grass, breathing deeply, trying not to do anything that would re-injure his rib. He was told not to leave the domain but he couldn't abandon a training regimen, even if he only had to go at 50 percent effort.

[Fane]

"Will do."

Taking another sip of alcohol, he gazed over at Kulau's bruises and injuries. He was beat up pretty bad, and it wasn't exactly a pretty site. The anger stirred in his gut; this Raven Shade had done quite a number on his friend, and Fane wasn't sure if he was strong enough to take him alone. He was close to unlocking a new step in his Demonic pulse, close to making it superior in effectiveness. Perhaps he would await until he was more confident, but he would fight this felon, and end him.

"How strong was the Bastard? An' where did he go after you two squared off?"

[Kulau]

"Pretty strong. Primarily dexterity and magic. I don't know if you could slug it out with him, but he summons wisps that dance around, and he'll fire darts at you. That's was punctured my chest and fin. His melee weapon is a scythe. As for where he went, he headed back towards Hyrule Field. Flew away, he looked oocca, even with the darkness I could tell." Kulau took a deep breath, trying to relax. It wasn't working, the thought of everything was just so stressful. Not to mention the pain.

[Fane]

Fane nodded, listening to strange, wide variety of abilities that the Raven had. He disliked it, and atop all of this he was an Oocca, which meant he had the ability to fly. Fane would not be able to track the Raven that easily either.

"Sounds tough. Your lucky you got away. Know anything about his motives?"

[Kulau]

"He was tough, I managed a few hits but it wasn't enough, although I did have a couple of tricks I didn't get the chance to use. As for a motive, I think he was trying to...purge...was that the word used? He seemed to have major issues with races other than his own. Perhaps he was wronged at one point, I'm not sure." Kulau had to stretch. He felt his limbs stiffening, an unpleasant feeling for him, and one he felt frequently during his medical care and rehabilitation.

[Fane]

Fane stopped and thought momentarily. Standing up, he moved over to his black sword that was forced into the ground. Leaning against it, he took his last swig of alcohol then covered the opening and burped slightly.

"Doesn't matter if he was wrong or not. He's got a death wish. Any weaknesses you noticed? Anything at all." He felt bad about badgering the injured Zora with questions, but Fane needed to know. He was going to hunt the bastard down and kill him, all the information he could assert about the Raven would prove beneficial.

[Kulau]

"I won't for a second attempt to justify what he did. He's a murderer and needs to be brought to justice. He's a crazy one, you may be able to use that as an advantage. Get him to fight with raw emotion, cause him to make mistakes." Now Kulau stood up. He used a lot of his strength to do it, but he could manage. He staggered his first couple of steps, but easily balanced himself out.

"I know you well enough to know you're going to hunt him. I'd rather that the knights handle this, but nothing I say will dissuade you. Good luck my friend, and good hunting."

[Fane]

Fane was preparing to leave, but not quite yet. He had a few other things to clear up as well. Kulau's words surprised him though; he was right. Fane was going to hunt the Raven, and kill him or die trying. Lifting his head he gazed at the sky and the soft, shifting clouds.

"I appreciate it. I have one more question though. Your a diplomat, Kulau, and you still fight like a Warrior. Do your people accept that?" In all honesty the white haired male was rather worried about Kulau and his standing with his people. They were all a prideful group, and he only hoped the best for his friend.

[Kulau]

Kulau laughed at Fane's question, then began to hold his rib cage. "Oh, sorry about that. Most zoras know already, I'm not used to having to explain. I'm the son of a warrior. I follow a warrior's path. My brothers are all warriors. I simply didn't have the strength to become one, and so I began to walk the path of a diplomat instead." The zoras would probably be more surprised if he didn't take up any training. He could hold his own with any of his brothers, but when it came to a fight he was just no good. Battles maybe, Fane knew his prowess in battle, but zora warriors needed to be able to fight.

"I took a path to benefit my people, and have no regrets. I am proud to serve the zoras, as did my father before me."

[Fane]

Fane listened to Kulau, and as he did he couldn't help but realize one standing feature in his story. It sounded like something straight out of a history book about some great leader or soldier. Fane felt as though Kulau was a Zora that would be written in the history books at one point in time.

"You've helped your people in a way that no Warrior could. I respect that." As he spoke, a thought hit him. When they had fought the Jotun, before the Raven Shade, Zora had obtained a spear. Although, he wasn't sure if Kulau kept it or not, he had to ask. "What exactly did you do with the spear from the Jotun?"

[Kulau]

Kulau bowed slightly in appreciation of Fane's respect. Some would have mocked him for not being able to follow his father's path, though they were not zora. He would have bowed more, but ribs.

"I presented it to her majesty as evidence of what had occurred. She deserved to know after all. After, I hung it in my private quarters as a trophy. I m still unsure if I am going to train in its use or simply keep it. Either way, at some point I need to take it to an appraiser to see if it has any latent magic within it." Kulau was sure it had some magical abilities, but they all could have come from the beast, not the spear. He would know in time.

[Fane]

Fane nodded. "A good plan. If it does I wouldn't be surprised, but unlocking that power might be something of a challenge."

Reaching forth, he grabbed the large blade he had won from Greer when the catastrophe hit, and lifted it from the ground. Continuing to brandish it upon his back, he stared at Kulau's injuries with remorse. He felt a mixture of anger and hatred at this Raven, and his loyalty was beggining to kick in.

"If your ever in Castle Town you can always stay at my place. The same goes for the Guild in Ordana."

[Kulau]

Kulau nodded back to Fane. "Your offer is appreciated, but unnecessary. I am provided quarters, being a diplomat to her majesty has a great many benefits. I will visit next time I'm in the area. Ordona I may need to take you up on your offer however, we'll see how the Minish appreciate the presence of an outsider." He then remembered one bit of information about the Raven Shade, something important.

"I almost forgot, I think the Raven is being manipulated, much like the Black Knight we fought. I don't think it's the same being as before, but the magic may be similar. Keep that in your mind. Now I must take my leave and head back to the domain. So long for now Fane." Kulau bowed slightly to Fane, grimacing. After he jumped into the water and swam cautiously back to the domain. Time for a couple more tests to be done.

EXIT[/i][/u]

[Fane]

Fane bowed himself, and grimaced himself at the site of Kulau's pain. "Very well. I must be on my way as well, but I will look into the matter before I locate him. I plan on doing some more research, but the information is vital. He is a Monster, and as the Guild Master...Its my duty to eliminate him, or save him."

Fane stepped back, and assure the latching on his blade was secure. With that, he turned and walked off, heading out to find more information on the Raven. The Oocca, from what he knew, was a dangerous threat to the citizens of Hyrule, and if the Knights weren't already jumping on it then it was his duty to. Besides, as of now his goal was vengence; the Knights would need to make haste to beat him to the Oocca. Fane would not follow regulations like they would. Not this time.

[exit]