He plunged his dagger into the beasts back. The spot just below the ribs, perfect place to pierce a kidney. More than the kidney, the nerves there as well.
The creature couldn't move, couldn't call out. It stood there, clearly in horror at it's failings. The look was plain on it's face. Surprise. Fear. Both overshadowing the burning hatred that it had previously been sporting.
And again, there was the surprise as Caynin twisted the blade. Probing the beast with the thin metal. Attempting to keep him frozen in place.
The creature couldn't move, couldn't call out. It stood there, clearly in horror at it's failings. The look was plain on it's face. Surprise. Fear. Both overshadowing the burning hatred that it had previously been sporting.
And again, there was the surprise as Caynin twisted the blade. Probing the beast with the thin metal. Attempting to keep him frozen in place.
It wasn't as if Caynin enjoyed it. No. But nor did he hate it as well. It was simply using his blades for what had to be done. This creature was just one of many he was tasked with ridding on this dark and silent night.
Silent was the best word for it. Not once did one squawk a warning to those nearby. He was cold and calculated about it. Preferring to keep it quick for both parties. More so for himself to keep from having a repeat of times past.
Times when he wasn't so skilled and had been tricked, had been easily tracked, and had come near death himself. No, Caynin shook his head, narrowing his eyes in determination. This wasn't the place to remember those burdens.
The giant bird twitched. He was taking too long. And with that Caynin brought his second blade to meet the feathered flesh on the opposite kidney.
It couldn't have been pleasant. Caynin knew this as well. But it wasn't something he regularly thought about. It wasn't something he wanted to think about. Keeping his heart cold was the only way to complete the mission at hand.
Without even the second to think about the action, Caynin pulled his first dagger out of the beast, allowing the hot redness that had been pooling inside the creature to spill to the ground.
Quickly he twisted the blade in his hand, flipping it into a downward position. Sinking it smoothly into the hunched things back again. This time next to the spine at its shoulder level.
With nothing more than a quick flick of his wrist, the bird toppled over. Its eyes slowly glassing, still wide with that terror of knowing his end had come. It had come so quick that the look never left its face.
It never even had time to anger at the audacity of Caynin for coming into the camp the creature had made, for slaying it right where it worked and close to where it slept.
Caynin wouldn't have noticed either way. There was one thought he could afford. That was making things as quick and clean as possible. One wrong move this deep in enemy territory would certainly mean Caynin would meet his end.
And one much longer than the merciful way he was killing off their kind.
He peered around. If he remembered correctly there was a patrol that came through the area. Coming across the body would put them on their guard.
Letting out a sigh he slide his daggers into his belt and hefted the bird thing up, using its underarms as an anchoring point to drag it out of sight.
It had been a rather long night of this. Silently slipping through the shadows. Around the piles of bones. Sometimes into their personal quarters. Placing his weapon into the most vital of places.
Making sure they'd never utter a word of what he was sure they didn't even understand. It didn't matter. It was work. They didn't have to understand. He almost didn't himself.
"They're trying to call forth ancient spirits." Or something like that was what the blood elf had originally told him. Not that you could trust a blood elf. But more akin to him than any other race, he accepted the story and set out to collect the satchels of dust the elf had claimed they'd carry.
The claim was half right. Some did, some didn't. But again, it wasn't the point. It was a job. It needed to be done. And if dust was to save the torn world out here, well... dust was what he was going to collect.
Dropping the body on floor he took another breath. They'd be finding out soon enough he'd been here. No one could hide so many bodies without someone figuring out what was happening.
He tugged on his hood and pressed against the corner of the room, sliding easily into the shadows once again. When one didn't want to be seen it wasn't hard not to be. And Caynin was more than a bit decent at this, despite what a certain priest would claim from time to time.
"Speaking of..." He thought to himself. She had said she'd meet him in the area, yet she hadn't shown yet. It was like her to be late, but she'd scold him for taking care of things so flawlessly without her assistance.
He tiptoed outside, making his way to the next camp. She'd be along soon enough. Unlike him, she put emotion into this job. She hated, she angered, she felt pain and compassion, no matter what the enemy was, she felt. It was her way, and Caynin knew that.
It was probably the only thing that kept her going. It was something he admired.
The scream filled the night. Caynin stiffened. It was something rather terrifying to hear. His blood ran cold as he recognized what it was. It wasn't one of the bird men, no, it was a scream he'd only heard a few times before. She was in trouble.
Willing himself to move faster than most would think possible, he sprinted towards the next camp. Luckily it sounded like it was close.
And sure enough, there she stood, leg poised and shoulders hunched, protecting her hands while she moved her fingers in some sort of ritual. Darkness growing between them.
Her Goddess was a gracious one. It was difficult to see, but the attackers enraged beating was reflecting off a shield around her.
Caynin wasn't willing to see how gracious Elune was, three other birds were running around in terror, clawing at their own ears. This was the scream he had heard. One that summons fear and clouds the brain.
He took all of this in in a moment. And knowing what he was against his first target was that directly on his friend.
Repeating the same moves he'd been doing all night, his dagger slashed at the beasts side. No need to be clean when the entire camp knew of her presence. He ripped through the flesh, matting the feathers with blood as it poured freely.
The thing didn't even glance over it's shoulder at Caynin, too focused on breaking through the shield protecting Terista, the priestess. Then it squawked. It stiffened, as if it had been hit with something large and unseen.
It stuttered for a moment then simply toppled over onto its back. Caynin side stepped quickly, avoiding the beast as it fell, dead. He looked down out it, curious as to what just took place, then heard Terista repeating the tongue he'd learned long ago to tune out.
It wasn't the language, it was the sound it made. It dripped with darkness, but yet seemed so welcoming. Yet he saw the devastation she wrought with the darkly sweet words. To not care when killing, he had to learn to ignore them. Else he find some sort of comfort with each fallen foe.
She shot her hands out again, the darkness that she was holding there shot towards Caynin. Blinking he opened his mouth to ask why as the shadow passed through him, the heavy shadows tugged slightly at the edges of his mind, but did no more. It wasn't directed at him.
He turned, remembering the other three, and realized they were fast approaching, one twitching as the pool of black absorbed its self into the beasts being.
Caynin rushed forth, slicing at one, then the other. Determined to keep their attention on him. It wasn't that he was trying to protect her... okay, he admitted that was a thought at one point. But in his mind, if any were to fall tonight, it should be one that clings to nothingness, not one that exudes everything.
He dodged to the side as a spear lunged towards his midsection. At the same time the clang of his dagger sounded as he easily parried the pole-arm another swung at him.
He moved with such speed it was a blur to the birdmen. Slash her, stab there, duck, dodge, prick, tear, clang! A perry. They were no match for him. He smirked slightly, impressed with his own excellence. An act he shouldn't have thought about.
Silent was the best word for it. Not once did one squawk a warning to those nearby. He was cold and calculated about it. Preferring to keep it quick for both parties. More so for himself to keep from having a repeat of times past.
Times when he wasn't so skilled and had been tricked, had been easily tracked, and had come near death himself. No, Caynin shook his head, narrowing his eyes in determination. This wasn't the place to remember those burdens.
The giant bird twitched. He was taking too long. And with that Caynin brought his second blade to meet the feathered flesh on the opposite kidney.
It couldn't have been pleasant. Caynin knew this as well. But it wasn't something he regularly thought about. It wasn't something he wanted to think about. Keeping his heart cold was the only way to complete the mission at hand.
Without even the second to think about the action, Caynin pulled his first dagger out of the beast, allowing the hot redness that had been pooling inside the creature to spill to the ground.
Quickly he twisted the blade in his hand, flipping it into a downward position. Sinking it smoothly into the hunched things back again. This time next to the spine at its shoulder level.
With nothing more than a quick flick of his wrist, the bird toppled over. Its eyes slowly glassing, still wide with that terror of knowing his end had come. It had come so quick that the look never left its face.
It never even had time to anger at the audacity of Caynin for coming into the camp the creature had made, for slaying it right where it worked and close to where it slept.
Caynin wouldn't have noticed either way. There was one thought he could afford. That was making things as quick and clean as possible. One wrong move this deep in enemy territory would certainly mean Caynin would meet his end.
And one much longer than the merciful way he was killing off their kind.
He peered around. If he remembered correctly there was a patrol that came through the area. Coming across the body would put them on their guard.
Letting out a sigh he slide his daggers into his belt and hefted the bird thing up, using its underarms as an anchoring point to drag it out of sight.
It had been a rather long night of this. Silently slipping through the shadows. Around the piles of bones. Sometimes into their personal quarters. Placing his weapon into the most vital of places.
Making sure they'd never utter a word of what he was sure they didn't even understand. It didn't matter. It was work. They didn't have to understand. He almost didn't himself.
"They're trying to call forth ancient spirits." Or something like that was what the blood elf had originally told him. Not that you could trust a blood elf. But more akin to him than any other race, he accepted the story and set out to collect the satchels of dust the elf had claimed they'd carry.
The claim was half right. Some did, some didn't. But again, it wasn't the point. It was a job. It needed to be done. And if dust was to save the torn world out here, well... dust was what he was going to collect.
Dropping the body on floor he took another breath. They'd be finding out soon enough he'd been here. No one could hide so many bodies without someone figuring out what was happening.
He tugged on his hood and pressed against the corner of the room, sliding easily into the shadows once again. When one didn't want to be seen it wasn't hard not to be. And Caynin was more than a bit decent at this, despite what a certain priest would claim from time to time.
"Speaking of..." He thought to himself. She had said she'd meet him in the area, yet she hadn't shown yet. It was like her to be late, but she'd scold him for taking care of things so flawlessly without her assistance.
He tiptoed outside, making his way to the next camp. She'd be along soon enough. Unlike him, she put emotion into this job. She hated, she angered, she felt pain and compassion, no matter what the enemy was, she felt. It was her way, and Caynin knew that.
It was probably the only thing that kept her going. It was something he admired.
The scream filled the night. Caynin stiffened. It was something rather terrifying to hear. His blood ran cold as he recognized what it was. It wasn't one of the bird men, no, it was a scream he'd only heard a few times before. She was in trouble.
Willing himself to move faster than most would think possible, he sprinted towards the next camp. Luckily it sounded like it was close.
And sure enough, there she stood, leg poised and shoulders hunched, protecting her hands while she moved her fingers in some sort of ritual. Darkness growing between them.
Her Goddess was a gracious one. It was difficult to see, but the attackers enraged beating was reflecting off a shield around her.
Caynin wasn't willing to see how gracious Elune was, three other birds were running around in terror, clawing at their own ears. This was the scream he had heard. One that summons fear and clouds the brain.
He took all of this in in a moment. And knowing what he was against his first target was that directly on his friend.
Repeating the same moves he'd been doing all night, his dagger slashed at the beasts side. No need to be clean when the entire camp knew of her presence. He ripped through the flesh, matting the feathers with blood as it poured freely.
The thing didn't even glance over it's shoulder at Caynin, too focused on breaking through the shield protecting Terista, the priestess. Then it squawked. It stiffened, as if it had been hit with something large and unseen.
It stuttered for a moment then simply toppled over onto its back. Caynin side stepped quickly, avoiding the beast as it fell, dead. He looked down out it, curious as to what just took place, then heard Terista repeating the tongue he'd learned long ago to tune out.
It wasn't the language, it was the sound it made. It dripped with darkness, but yet seemed so welcoming. Yet he saw the devastation she wrought with the darkly sweet words. To not care when killing, he had to learn to ignore them. Else he find some sort of comfort with each fallen foe.
She shot her hands out again, the darkness that she was holding there shot towards Caynin. Blinking he opened his mouth to ask why as the shadow passed through him, the heavy shadows tugged slightly at the edges of his mind, but did no more. It wasn't directed at him.
He turned, remembering the other three, and realized they were fast approaching, one twitching as the pool of black absorbed its self into the beasts being.
Caynin rushed forth, slicing at one, then the other. Determined to keep their attention on him. It wasn't that he was trying to protect her... okay, he admitted that was a thought at one point. But in his mind, if any were to fall tonight, it should be one that clings to nothingness, not one that exudes everything.
He dodged to the side as a spear lunged towards his midsection. At the same time the clang of his dagger sounded as he easily parried the pole-arm another swung at him.
He moved with such speed it was a blur to the birdmen. Slash her, stab there, duck, dodge, prick, tear, clang! A perry. They were no match for him. He smirked slightly, impressed with his own excellence. An act he shouldn't have thought about.
Too slow on the sidestep, too slow and too greedy he was. Into his ribs the spear pierced. His breath caught. He felt his chest grow warm. "Not now..." He thought to himself.
In a somewhat desperate, angered retaliation Caynin twisted away from the spear, wrenching it from his body. He spun, daggers outward, slicing them across the throat of the one that struck him. The thing dropped its weapon, thudding softly on the ground.
And with eyes slightly hazing, Caynin turned towards the other. The bird squawked in some sort of delight, eyeing Caynin's wound. Caynin lowered himself and lunged.
Burying his blade to the hilt in the beasts stomach. Looking up at the bird, he saw the delight drain from its face. It gurgled what was meant as another chirp, sluggishly attempting to push Caynin away.
It failed it's attempt. It was too late anyways. Slowly Caynin pushed the thing back towards the ground, allowing it to fall off his dagger from gravity.
Another thud from behind him reminded Caynin that Terista was near. He slowly turned, knowing already what he'd fine. Her with a faux cross look on her face, but her eyes, they gave so much away.
And there she stood, glaring at Caynin, as she usually did.
"I was fine on my own. I never asked for your help." She barked. Something he was used to hearing. And readily believed. She was always standing at the end of such ambushes, appearing healthy and unharmed.
"I know." Caynin spoke, raspy. He met her gaze, no matter how cross she could sound, her eyes were always saying 'thank you'. "I don't know what I'm going to do with you." She finally said, walking towards him.
Placing her hand on his ribs she muttered a few words, the pain subsided. He knew the gash was gone. She'd done the same thing for him several times as well.
"Next time I'll let you take care of it on your own." He smirked. Something she was used to hearing. Caynin tugged on his mask and faded back into the shadows.
"Moths to a flame..." Terista grinned, winking at where Caynin was standing moments ago.
"Someday I'll have to teach you to be less noticeable." He quipped, the smirk growing on his face as well.
In a somewhat desperate, angered retaliation Caynin twisted away from the spear, wrenching it from his body. He spun, daggers outward, slicing them across the throat of the one that struck him. The thing dropped its weapon, thudding softly on the ground.
And with eyes slightly hazing, Caynin turned towards the other. The bird squawked in some sort of delight, eyeing Caynin's wound. Caynin lowered himself and lunged.
Burying his blade to the hilt in the beasts stomach. Looking up at the bird, he saw the delight drain from its face. It gurgled what was meant as another chirp, sluggishly attempting to push Caynin away.
It failed it's attempt. It was too late anyways. Slowly Caynin pushed the thing back towards the ground, allowing it to fall off his dagger from gravity.
Another thud from behind him reminded Caynin that Terista was near. He slowly turned, knowing already what he'd fine. Her with a faux cross look on her face, but her eyes, they gave so much away.
And there she stood, glaring at Caynin, as she usually did.
"I was fine on my own. I never asked for your help." She barked. Something he was used to hearing. And readily believed. She was always standing at the end of such ambushes, appearing healthy and unharmed.
"I know." Caynin spoke, raspy. He met her gaze, no matter how cross she could sound, her eyes were always saying 'thank you'. "I don't know what I'm going to do with you." She finally said, walking towards him.
Placing her hand on his ribs she muttered a few words, the pain subsided. He knew the gash was gone. She'd done the same thing for him several times as well.
"Next time I'll let you take care of it on your own." He smirked. Something she was used to hearing. Caynin tugged on his mask and faded back into the shadows.
"Moths to a flame..." Terista grinned, winking at where Caynin was standing moments ago.
"Someday I'll have to teach you to be less noticeable." He quipped, the smirk growing on his face as well.
"Someday." She agreed.
Caynin readied his poisons, coating his blades. He was ready to use his daggers to do what must be done, coldness surrounding his heart, the burden he must bear.
In shadows he's hidden, in stealth he does wait. His mind set to kill, without joy, nor with hate.
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