Caius was frustrated, no matter how fast he was, no matter what spells he threw at them, they evaded! Like trying to pick egg shell out of raw eggs! Slipperier than any loach! That wasn't fire on their feet! It was clearly grease!!! Aiya!!!
Talvi gave a quick bark, it was enough of a distraction for the birds to look at her.
Littlest leapt off his female owl, launching himself at the female bird! She didn't have time to evade! His paws were outstretched, he just had to hold on! His female owl was right behind him! If one didn't work! Surely his female would be able to catch the female!
Ashton swung himself to the side, rocking Beloved's body into a spiral. As his head passed over the small fox he scratched him under the chin. As the momentum carried his body in a circle his hand was able to grip the small fox by the scruff.
"Yelp!!!" Littlest pawed at the air, scrambling for anything to hold onto! His female owl had flown right past them, she'd rolled, now giving chase with a screech of alarm.
Ashton laughed as he tossed Littlest through a rift. The female owl didn't bother with them as she flew into the rift right after.
Talvi hesitated as she searched the rifts for Littlest. She saw him go face first into the dirt, his bottom in the air for a moment, before he whimpered.
The female owl cooed as her fox turned into a pancake fox. He lay on the ground whimpering, but unharmed. She nudged him with her wing.
Littlest didn't want to do that again… scary! So scary! He curled around his female owl demanding love. He didn't want to play with the birds anymore! He didn't even have any wishes! His female owl was all he needed!
If Father Caius wanted to woo a bird! He should put the work in! Wishes were cheating! Now look at his fur!!!! It would take at least… two baths to fix! And his face! His face was now imprinted on the ground!!! If someone stepped here, wouldn't it be like stepping on his face?!?!?!
The female owl listened as she used her feathers to wipe away some of the grass. She nodded along, that's right. Wooing a mate should be done without wishes.
Caius wanted to smack Littlest, but he was still chasing his Little Snack! Who said he would wish for his Little Snack to love him! Of course not!!!! Aiya!!! That brat had no respect for his elders! Judging him like he was some common fox, or worse! Judging him like a human! Humph!
Talvi continued chasing, but she wasn't as proficient moving through the air as Father Caius. Her platforms were shaky, often crumbling as she leapt. More than once she'd fallen from her precarious perch or missed it entirely. They needed a new plan!
Rahm… was stuck watching them from the ground. He couldn't make a platform fast enough to chase. A new plan would be better than this! Father Caius looked silly chomping on air or leaping in the wrong direction.
Caius snarled, then leapt to the ground. Even if he became bigger, there wasn't a way to catch them! Not to mention, his tails might go out of bounds.
Lucian was ready the moment the smallest fox started whining. He may not understand what they were saying, but such disgruntled refusal was obvious enough. With a ward that would disrupt mana surging through his armor, Lucian leapt at the birds.
Jaxon was half a second behind, the rest of the world was little more than a blur of colors.
Lucian leapt with enough force to be face to face with Ashton, he didn't hesitate to strike out with the wooden sword.
Ashton winked as he let go of Beloved, the sword created a gust of wind that Beloved used to gain altitude. Ashton laughed as he started to fall.
Jaxon didn't miss the opportunity, the ground cracked as he leapt after Lucian. His wooden sword aimed for Ashton's heart. The weapons were enchanted to hit no harder than a light smack. They just needed to make contact.
Caius barely blinked and the humans were already practically on top of his Little Snack. He narrowed his eyes… that speed wasn't human.
Ashton glanced over his shoulder, flipping his body just enough to grip Jaxon by his wrist. Tucking his legs, he kicked Jaxon through a rift. The momentum carried him to Lucian.
Lucian pulled a dagger as Ashton came at him like a bolt of lightning.
Ashton wasn't trying to clash midair, no, he just needed to ground Lucian.
A split second before Ashton could make contact, Devlin sent several dozen earth slates. They reached just in time.
Lucian used the passing slate to dodge out of Ashton's reach, at the same time he slashed as the unprotected back of the youth.
Devlin and two other mages moved the slates so Lucian could use them as platforms. They were too fragile to use more than once, but that's all Lucian needed. "Keep sending more up!" Devlin ordered as Lucian leapt from slate to slate, only his mana enhanced sight able to keep up with the black blur.
Jaxon leapt right back through the rift. They didn't have much time, their bodies couldn't endure the stimulated dragon blood for more than a few minutes.
Ashton originally intended to ground Lucian, but this was more thrilling. Beloved circled overhead, her song echoing over the shattering of more than a dozen slates.
Lucian cursed as once again, Ashton grabbed him, spun, then released him toward another slate. Just as he was going to have Devlin cast a lighting cage, Jaxon came barreling in like a cannon.
Ashton stepping on the passing debris. Thanks to Devlin's active spell, even the debris held firm. Ashton decided to have a little fun with the dragon kin. Unleashing silver flames on both his arms he reached for the approaching Jaxon.
Jaxon couldn't change course now, so he'd just push through! He raised his sword to push the youth toward Lucian.
Jaxon expected his charge to push Ashton, be he felt like he rammed into a solid wall! "Ugh!" The jarring halt sent shockwaves through his body from where his wrist was caught. Before Jaxon could lift his armored leg into Ashton's stomach, he was suddenly spinning.
Ashton turned hard, the flailing Jaxon didn't even have time to fully extend before he was sent crashing into Lucian. Just in time to avoid two dozen arrows of all elements. Ashton felt the spell withdrawal from the slate piece he'd been standing on.
Devlin didn't let up as he sent another lighting bolt at the now falling Ashton. Though… falling wasn't exactly what he was doing.
Ashton tucked, then extended his body so he was diving head first for the ground. He didn't need a terrain advantage, not if they remained this uncoordinated.
Devlin hesitated, he wasn't sure if he should try catching Ashton as he landed… screw it! Didn't hurt to try! He aimed for the approximate area Ashton should hit, tossing two nets, quicksand, and ice!
Lucian cursed as he caught Jaxon to his chest, they smashed through several slates, then through a rift. Before Lucian could take a breath, they were rolling on the ground. Without hesitation he dragged Jaxon up, then ran toward the opening nets.
Jaxon spat out the dust he'd breathed in as he gave chase. Ashton was hurtling toward the ground like a meteor! The nets didn't have the mana disruption on them! They were too large for the small amount of amber sap. One of them had to hold onto Ashton when he hit the net!
Lucian threw his dagger at the youth just as he was about to come into contact with the net! Even with his dragon enhanced strength… he was too late.
Ashton winked with a small salute to Lucian as his body burst into silver white flames.
Devlin stared as the flames passed right through the ground… less than a second later Ashton came leaping out of the ground a few feet away from the nets.
"Keep her away!" Lucian roared as he swung his sword down on Ashton before he could finish jumping out of the ground!
Devlin turned his attention to the female bird diving at them. Her song now an echoing cry of surprise.
Jaxon was a split second behind, swinging his sword from the side at Ashton's exposed side! If either of them connected Ashton would be sent flying into the prepared nets!
Ashton raised his hand to catch Lucian's forearm, jumping he dodged Jaxon's side swing. Ashton gently pushed so Lucian landed a few feet back.
Lucian glared as Ashton tilted his head. Without preamble Lucian charged, swinging as fast and hard as he could manage. Ashton barely moved as he turned or twisted out of the way, his answering song matching the female's.
Jaxon didn't dare get behind the youth, one misstep and he might accidentally hit Lucian! Jaxon took position on Lucian's left, their attacks perfectly synchronized, as one blow missed, a second immediately following up.
Devlin had to refrain from assisting as they slowly pushed Ashton back. All three bodies were a blur of movement. Glancing around, he quickly erected a curved wall of earth. This would help keep Ashton from retreating away from the nets. Now, he could focus on the circling female!
Devlin turned to watch the two mages fire off several arrows, none truly meant to hurt, just keep her away. For whatever reason, Lucian insisted they go after Ashton.
Alexei watched as Lucian and Jaxon pushed Ashton back… Ashton hadn't even engaged them, only avoided. Several times Ashton stopped Lucian or Jaxon's blows… the force of hitting an immoveable object sending shockwaves through them.
Neolani narrowed her eyes, there wasn't much time left of their twenty minutes. They had to move now. "Go."
Alexei darted forward, using the following mana to enhance his speed. Hito was now a palm sized person, clinging to his armguard, waiting for the perfect moment to unleash his mana disruption spell.