Hey There Little Red Riding Hood

Fangorn Forest

You seem to have come amidst the deepest part of the wood. It seems to close in upon you as you walk along, keeping your path tight and every footfall seems to be dampened by the stuffy air. Amazingly, the forest is so thick here that nearly all light is blocked from sight. There seems to be no definate path through this thick, damp wood. There seems to be a concentrated patch of light off to the side of the area. Perhaps LOOKing at it might help you through this dark wood.

[Grijit(#21369)]

Always it is dark in Fangorn. It is difficult to believe that it is truly midday.

Unsettling sounds and smells surround the senses, causing most who even dare enter here to remain on edge.

Unnatural as it may seem, there are figures clad in armor here, of what appears to be tall men walking along side a large wagon. Half a dozen in all, perhaps, it is difficult to tell in the darkness, with the gnarled branches that seem like twisted limbs reaching out to grab unsuspecting trespassers.

There is a trespasser here, a wild figure moving slowly through the trees. A wild thing it must be, moving through the trees making too much noise--a large thing of brown, snorting, huffing. A mare, brown.

And atop the mare, a young woman of no more than 17, blonde hair tangled with leaves and twigs down her back, her skirt torn in places, cloak on her back. And her eyes glazed, wild.

[Grijit(#21369)]

At first, one figure lifts his nose into the air as the others go on their business, a tall Uruk-hai clad in ring mail. Grijit turns his neck sharply at the faint sound of a twig snapping. He lifts his hand as if to signal the others to stop talking.

The horse--for it is now close enough to make out--snorts and stamps nervously. No fool this beast is--it smells the foulness of the orcs on the wind and protests. But its rider has firm control of the reins, and patting the horse\'s neck, the blonde leans forward and whispers something inaudible in the animal\'s ear. Still unaware of any danger, the girl keeps riding, though after a moment she lets the horse have its head and they start to move toward what -should- be the forest\'s edge.

[Gunnk(#22523)]

Walking at a brisk pace, the captain of the wolf riders, sniffs the air and lets out a slight growl as the wolf in front of him does the same. The wolf has a leather strap around his neck which is attached to a long black leather leash with studs. \"Easy boy, I smell it too...\" Grumbles the captain, \"Aight Boy, We ain\'t alone.\" He says aloud to his party memebers. \"Be on yer watch.\"

[Grijit(#21369)]

\"I heard it from this direction.\" Grijit points to the west. \"Was too loud to be rodent. I think big game comes.\"

Something akin to a smile appears on his face that is more a snarl. \"I will go have a look.\" Then adds, \"By your command, of course.\"

The \"beast\" continues to trample and snort, making its twisting progress through the woods. And as it moves near the orcs another sound can now be heard: a girl crying quietly. \"He should have been here. I know he is here...\"

[Gunnk(#22523)]

Abruptly the Captain stops in his tracks and lifts his right hand into the air and then closes it into a fist. The rest of the party stops in there track when suddenly the wolf being lead by the Captain lets out a grueling howl. \"Shhh boys, we\'re close...\" Suddenly The Captain lets go of the leash and the wolf erupts into a burst threw the woods, barking and howling. \"This way!\" Shouts the Captain as he points toward the direction of the wolf.

Grijit races after the wolf, all pretense of stealth gone.

The brown mare snorts in fear now, rearing as it smells the wolf. And then it bolts. Through the trees, limbs reaching out and lashing at the horse\'s rider, the beast, panicked, races. Its rider stays seated, but that seems to be about all the control she can manage.

[Gunnk(#22523)]

The wolf is dead on the heals of the horse when suddenly it lunges in the air and chomps at the hide of the horse, howling with the thrill of the hunt as it does so. Hot on his tracks are The Captain and his party. \"Get\'em Reddy!\" Gunnk readies his spear from its holster on his back. \"Looks like meats back on the menu boys!\" Shouts the captain with much zeal in his voice.

[Grijit(#21369)]

Cutting through the twisted brambles, Grijit breaks off from the pack to try and head off the runaway horse. Eyes riveted on his prey, he stops, skidding a few inches against the side of his foot, kicking up debris.

An unarmed female.

In one smooth motion, he scoops up a large stone, tossing it in the air once. \"Take her down alive!\" He yells, then taking careful aim, he throws the stone as to frighten the horse into heading straight into the arms of the \"welcoming party.\"

This is no war horse, trained for battle and ridden by a seasoned warrior. No, this is a docile mare and a frightened young woman as its rider. The stone does its trick--the horse veers in fright, rushing right toward the welcoming party as it is.

But the girl, though white face with fear, is not going to give up without a fight, it seems. As the horse turns, it is clear she is carrying a spear, and this she now launches toward Grijit, not having the skill to turn to attack the wolf snapping at her horse\'s heels a moment earlier.

You blindly attack Grijit with your Spear...

[Combat(#13388)->Heregyth]

Grijit parries your attack with his War Hammer!

[Gunnk(#22523)]

Red fang misses his first attack, but the wolf seems determined to get his meal. Quickly keeping up with each twist and turn of the horse and its rider the wolf moves swiftly through the forest lunging himself onto a downed tree which he uses to propell himself into the air with his mouth wide open showing his blood stained fangs, his sharp claws emited hoping to land into flesh.

Red Fang slashes at Heregyth with his claws.

...and he misses!

[Grijit(#21369)]

It is as if Grijit saw the attack coming long before the spearhead came swinging towards his face. He lifts up his weapon, easily deflecting the blow from the pale faced girl, and for a moment, the sparks from the impact lights up his face so that the girl could see the horror that lunges out to get her, to drag her off her horse.

Would she ever forget the horrifying smile that greets her in that flash?

\"Welcome to our happy home.\" He says, in the darkness.

The girl screams, transfixed for a moment by the horrible sight of the orc\'s face. And that is her undoing: her attention distracted, she doesn\'t see as the horse runs through a section of low-hanging branches. A thick branch strikes her midsection, knocking her backwards and out of the saddle, aided by the orc\'s attempt to unseat her as well.

With an ungainly thump, Heregyth lands on the ground, the horse taking off in terror without her. Terrified herself, the girl goes limp, fear overcoming her as she passes out.