The air was humid and heavy as it entered through Meveha’s nostrils and into her lungs, the air here was different. This wasn’t her first time into the valley, in fact she made regular patrols in the southern plains and eastern region of hills, highlands and mountains; she knew these landscapes well. This was only her second time into the northern region and its jungles, forests and the heart of the Lustrare. For the months that the Ilithian warhosts had spent building their mountain home to the south they had not dared go past the open southern Evergrowth plains. Meveha had larger ambitions than simply creating a stronghold in Ghyran however, she had her sights on conquest, war and revenge. She was known by both the Dawnriders and the Auralan Sentinels to go off on her own to scout regions further off, and today was no different.
Walking towards the village of Oscoda Meveha and Tilari enjoyed the cool breeze that twisted and played with her auburn hair and tickled the skin. The bending trail that ran along the banks of the Huron Creek was seemingly peaceful as the sound of singing birds added to the serene view of the nearly clear flowing creek that surrounded them. The creek, if it could be called that, was more of a river in this part but vastly smaller than the Lustrare. Large water rodents sat on the banks and watched Meveha’s every step ready to burst into the creeks safety. Both aelf and horse looked at ease from afar and they were, but they both were tracking every noise and movement around them, it also helped that high above flew two Scryhawks.
Turning to Tilari the aelf begins talking to her companion as if the horse were an aelf herself,
“It is so hot… it is as if my clothing has become my skin” her face for a moment looks uncomfortable before Tilari gave her a look and let out what could only be a horses laugh.
“You would not think it were funny if YOU had more than just your armor on, and if I had not just poured cooling water all over you” again the horse seemed to laugh mockingly, even nodging Meveha in the shoulder. The bond between the aelf and mare was strong, seemingly being able to read each other’s thoughts and emotions.
As the trees began to thin on the banks Meveha could begin to see what looked to be fields of wheat and other grains, cotton, a large variety of vegetables and what looked to be…giant bugs? She had never seen such things before, giant grubs and they were being tended by skinks no less. This was the first time she had seen a Seraphon farm, her blood began to boil at the sight of the skink but her stomach at the crops, regaining her composure she let out a nearly silent sigh. “You cannot shoot the skink” Meveha thought to herself while lessening the grip on her bow, “Observe and then act, do not let emotions cloud sound judgement.” The words echoed what she and Aerin would always say to one another when a trial would begin to bring out lesser qualities. Signaling to Tilari the mare ducked into the forest as the aelf crouched and moved forward for a better look, then she heard a noise she which she hadn’t, Skaven.
Out from tunnels they burst and from the small forest to the north they charged with their high-pitched chatter and screams polluting the once placid sounds of the valley into the surrounding fields and farmland. Skinks cried out and tried to grab their weapons or quickly herd their animals to safety, but it was for naught as the Skaven quickly overcame all. The calls of the skinks were not in vain however as a regiment of Cold-One Knights led by a Carnosaur began to charge out of Xlakana in the far distance, the reptilian call giving them away. Meveha watching the slaughter from across the river was no more than two-hundred yards away, placing an arrow on its rest she waited to see what would happen. Although she hated the Seraphon it was the Skaven she hated more, she knew that the Seraphon were better in terms of helping to preserve the Mortal Realms. As the Reptilian calvary closed in the skaven began to form rank and from the forest behind them a huge screech let out and then came into view, a horrible abomination of mix matched parts of different animals. Meveha could not recognize all the animals that made the horrible beast, she did recognize the head: a Titanodile. Its powerful jaws snapped hungrily as its six powerful legs propelled it forward, skaven that did not move quick enough out of the way were crushed under its clawed feet.
The Cold-One Knights let out a powerful roar and within moments the front line leapt up over the first line of Skaven knocking over the second and third lines as the second wave of Cold-Ones charged into the first line of Skaven. Though the charge was effective many saurus and their mounts were impaled on large skaven halberds and pikes, it was the Carnosaur and its Scar vet that were seemingly in a losing battle as they struggled to overpower the abomination. Club would clash with twisted warpstone blade, both riders attempting to impale or crush the other, a large roar from the carnosaur lets out as the crushing jaws of the abomination clamps down on its back leg. Meveha against her better judgement takes aim at the skaven beast and says a small chant and her arrowtip begins to glow as the sunmetal is activated. Released the arrow flies straight, small wind gusts try to alter its course but as if it had a life of its own the arrow found its mark and pierced the monster’s shoulder. Letting out a terrible scream and releasing the carnosaur from its maw the angered carnosaur takes this opportunity and slashes the neck of the abomination! In that same moment the aelf comes under fire from a rattling gun, narrowly missing her she fires an arrow piercing the controlling skaven in the eye. Letting out a whistle she begins to run in the direction of Tilari, her horse as if from no where runs from behind her and Meveha grabs her saddle and pulls herself up and quickly gallups away. Looking back behind her shoulder Meveha sees more saurus joining the fight and a pair of charging bastiladons and then a few Maggotkin of Nurgle from the Skaven side. Looking forward she and Tilari ride north towards the Lustrare River where it forks towards the Great Green Swamp, as her southern path was now blocked.
