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Post by Francis Bonnefoy on Dec 7, 2011 18:31:48 GMT -5
For a while, only the last sputtering crackles of the dying fire accompanied the roar of Francis' thoughts. He sank down onto the ground, staring at the embers blankly.
Gunshots and snarling jolted him out of his reverie. He glanced wildly around, trying to locate the source. Whoever had fired those shots, or whatever was snarling they seemed to be getting louder...getting closer. In that split second, Francis decided that it would be much worse for him to be discovered and jumped to his feet.
Arthur. He needed to find Arthur.
Francis stopped himself from calling out just in time, in case the gunman or the animals would hear him. Still holding onto Arthur's cloak, he sprinted off in the direction Arthur had gone.
Only a few more paces...there! Francis pushed himself to run faster and caught up to Arthur.
"We have to leave!" panted Francis, clinging to Arthur's sleeve. "Where is the way out?"
He kept an ear out for the approaching newcomers.
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Post by Cpt. Arthur Kirkland on Dec 7, 2011 18:36:54 GMT -5
Arthur tenses up, but doesn't look towards Francis either. There's instead a large click as the gun reloads, stretched out in Arthur's hand. He growls.
"Well, that's lovely, but they're right here."
In front of them were three snarling wolves, and in an instant, Arthur pushes the other out of the right as they pounce towards the two, Arthur leaping up onto a branch. Rather impressively, it looks like he's dealt with this before -- or rather, he knows how to use forest to his advantage in such a way.
He aims and starts firing at the wolves in questions, his eyes hard again.
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Post by Francis Bonnefoy on Dec 8, 2011 11:36:36 GMT -5
For a moment, Francis gazed up in barely-concealed awe at Arthur, marveling at his efficiency and cat-like grace as he leaped up to the tree. But he was rudely jerked out of it as soon as he heard Arthur fire, and Francis flinched.
Trying not to panic, Francis looked around frantically for his own avenue of escape. The wolves were closing in on a circle, and bullets were raining down all around him.
He found a slight opening between the wolves and made a mad dash for it, dodging trees and branches. But he knew he couldn't outrun the pack, and so found a tree with a thick, hollow trunk. He dove in, hitting his shoulder hard. Cursing, he curled into himself and tried to catch his breath, listening in for the sound of the approaching wolves.
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Post by Cpt. Arthur Kirkland on Dec 8, 2011 11:56:08 GMT -5
There's more shouting on Arthur's part and more gunfire, in the direction of the wolves, which were clearly getting closer to Francis. By the heaving of the trees, it sounds like Arthur's moving across the trees, right until he's sitting on a branch on the tree Francis' is hiding in.
After a bit more shouting, the gunfire ceases, and the howling of the wolves stops.
Silence.
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Post by Francis Bonnefoy on Dec 8, 2011 12:17:42 GMT -5
Francis huddled in the hollowed trunk as the wolves raced past, shutting his eyes and hoping that they wouldn't find him. And Arthur...Francis prayed fervently that Arthur remained safe up in the tree.
The frantic pounding of his heartbeat soon drowned out the wolves, until the snarling and howling eased into still silence in the forest. Francis didn't unfold himself until well after everything turned quiet. He silently counted to five minutes until he deemed it safe to venture out.
Checking to see if the coast was clear, Francis crept out of the trunk as stealthily as he could. Arthur - he needed to find Arthur, make sure he was safe.
But just then, there was a sharp crack beneath his foot, where a twig lay in half. Before Francis knew it, he heard the hungry growl of a rogue wolf and he was pinned down on the ground. His chest was stinging horribly and he cried out, trying to push the beast off him.
The wolf was heavy, but adrenaline gave Francis the strength to shove it off and stagger away/ When he clutched at his chest, he found his hand covered in blood.
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Post by Cpt. Arthur Kirkland on Dec 8, 2011 12:30:14 GMT -5
The wolf in question yelped, before snarling and padding around, aiming to launch itself back at the male.
However, mid-leap, Arthur came from nowhere, launched at the wolf and in return sending them both away from Francis. Like a cat, he jumped off the wolf and rolled away, firing at the wolf desperately as he does so.
The wolf eventually cries out and is silence, and Arthur remains there for a moment, laying awkwardly on his side. His eyes are wide and he's panting.
Immediately, he looks over to Francis, and throws himself to his feet, running over to the older man.
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Post by Francis Bonnefoy on Dec 8, 2011 15:11:47 GMT -5
Francis had not realized that his cuts were deeper than they appeared. He pressed his hands against them, but the blood continued to flow out at an alarming rate. Weakened and wounded, Francis fell against a tree, gasping as his legs gave way.
His head was spinning and his sight was beginning to become fuzzy. Yet he could still see the pirate hurrying toward him; even with impaired senses, he could recognize Arthur anywhere.
Francis blinked hastily, trying to keep himself conscious. He was losing blood fast.
"Arthur..." He squinted at the other, trying to check if Arthur was injured in any way. "Please be all right..."
He concentrated on the pirate, hoping that was enough until they could get proper help.
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Post by Cpt. Arthur Kirkland on Dec 8, 2011 16:21:12 GMT -5
Arthur stops, looking and kneeling down by the other. He watches the blood, calculating eyes looking at the chest for a moment, before he sighs heavily, particularly at Francis' concern for him. He was fed up of it.
"Time to repay that debt, I suppose." He remarks, looking down at Francis. He positions himself, before sliding his arms under the other and lifting him up, bridal style. He sighs and starts to carry him through the forest, back to his mansion.
He mutters quietly to himself.
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Post by Francis Bonnefoy on Dec 8, 2011 20:06:27 GMT -5
If Francis was less direly injured, he would have complained about his undignified position in Arthur's arms. But with awareness slipping and sliding away from him, all he could do was press himself against Arthur's chest and concentrate on Arthur's scent and the feel of his body to keep himself conscious.
Francis wasn't even sure what was happening now - where they were in the forest, where Arthur was taking him, or how far until they could find anyone. He tried to breathe evenly, but when that didn't work, he turned to bury his face on Arthur's shoulder.
"You're not hurt?" he mumbled. "The wolves didn't touch you?"
Somewhere in the back of his hazy mind, Francis decided he would kill Arthur if it turned out that he was injured as well and helped Francis instead. Figuratively, of course.
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Post by Cpt. Arthur Kirkland on Dec 9, 2011 14:53:41 GMT -5
Arthur just looks down at the other, and sighing.
"Shut up, you're wasting your energy by talking." Is all he says. He isn't hurt, except for probably a few bruises and scratches from being thrown about by the wolves.
Arthur is quicker than he realises, and within about fifteen minutes he's arrives at Francis' manor, persuaded his way in, been led to the room and laid Francis on the bed, disappearing as he collects some aids and such from the maids.
This git best be grateful for this, he can't help but feel.
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