[M] Tales of the Highland [IC]

[Rothwell]

Morgan didn't slow his run at the sight of the interlopers obstructing his path. He continued his headlong charge bellowing a war cry as Duncan kept pace at his right side. An arrow whistled past his left ear and took one of the attackers in the throat courtesy of Hamish who'd slowed to fire. Morgan took the two directly in front of him; swinging in wide arcs to knock enemy blades clear, and finished his charge by slamming his shoulder into the chest of the one of the men, knocking him to the ground.

Duncan engaged the third man as Hamish rushed to catch up to the melee. Morgan wasted no words, striking with such ferocity that the man still on his feet had no choice to backpedal at the flurry of steel. It wasn't long before he overextended a parry which left him open. Morgan swung; the man screamed as his insides became outsides.

Hamish arrived and engaged the rising man as Duncan locked blades with the third. Morgan had no qualms about teaming up on the cowards who'd attacked their home.

[ElizabethStark]

Working alongside another? Perhaps that was not what was destined to be. When Finley and Morgan and the other two men broke into a sprint toward the town, Malyss stood there for a second... witnessing all the carnage from a distance. He looked at the handkerchief from his pocket. He had to return it, and perhaps he ought to help out the men who laid down their swords against a fey. He commanded Sable into a heel. She would prove useful here.

Malyss began his sprint forward and came across several dead bodies and several men fighting their pathetic battles when abruptly a sword came flying in his direction. Malyss dodged it and came around to bring his hatchet at the man's neck and it dug halfway in; with his unbeatable strength he yanked out the hatchet and continued onward when another man went to strike him but Sable was faster. The bloodhound grabbed at the man's wrist and shook her head biting into the flesh with ease. Malyss flipped his hatchet around and brought it down on his head, splitting it into two.

From the distance, Malyss could see his potential companion, Morgan - alongside Finley and the two other men. It was three on four, them being on the short end of the stick. Quickly, from behind, Malyss gouged his hatchet into the side of one of them and sliced open his side. Blood came splurting out. It was five versus two now.

[Rothwell]

Severely outnumbered and hard pressed by their opponents the remaining men fled for their lives. Morgan spat on the ground before resuming the run to his home.

"The Connolly clan" Duncan supplied, speaking to Finley and Malyss as he breathed hard from his exertions. "Bastards have been eyeing up Kirkcaldy for ten year now."

"No time!" Hamish hissed, taking after his companion.

[Highland Sniper]

"When will this all end!" Finely cried and ran after the others, stopping only just long enough to shoot at another Connolly before rushing to catch up with everyone else.

This is exactly what she got away from a few months ago. She forced back tears as she continued to run with the others.

[ElizabethStark]

Malyss wasn't one to familiarize himself with clans and their rivalries. He continued onward with Morgan and Finley until he came across Nether Street and remembered Margaret Campbell and her daughter. He wasn't sure he'd ever see the four individuals again but he couldn't let that little girl end up hurt even further.

"I have some unfinished business," Malyss said as he plunged his hatchet into the cheek of another enemy, slicing his mouth open, "May we meet again if fate permits." And he hurried down the street of Nether.

[Rothwell]

Morgan spared Malyss a nod as he continued on. Hamish and Duncan broke away shortly after; both men had their own families to look to. The remaining pair turned into Kinnikier Road a moment later, and into a scene of battle.

The Blacksmith felt his heart lighten, just a little, as he noted the men standing shoulder to shoulder against the invading Connollys. There, his father, next to him, his uncle, and around them, various friends and neighbours standing together to protect what was theirs. An arrow cut through the air and plunged itself into an unwary clansmen's ribs, Morgan followed the trial, and saw his Mother standing there with a bow in her hand and a relieved smile on her face.

"Where's Molly and the bairns?" He called.

"Safe and sound in our house!" She called back. "Now quit ye questions and help your da'!"

Morgan didn't need telling twice. He hefted his sword and charged into the fray.

[Highland Sniper]

AS Malyss made it to the Campbell house, it was in flames. Margarete was crying at the side of her house.
She looked up as Malyss approached, "Oh, Blaik... Megan, she... she's trapped inside!" she said pointing to the burning house, "Please. She's all I have left."

Other men still fought around the area. But it seemed the men of the town were holding their own, the numbers of attackers dwindling. yet, there were preoccupied with the attackers.

====================================

Finley ran after Morgan. She figured he was running to family, and had met some of them. She didn't feel like being anywhere else.

She ran behind him all the way, and started shooting as they got to the lines of men. All likely relatives and close friends. She feel in behind them, using them as the bull headed buffer they were as she rained down more arrows.
And as the enemy dwindled, more defenders joined the fight before the Connollys finally broke, turned tail, and ran.

Finely let loose another arrow into a fleeing man's back and knocked another before stopping, lowering her bow, and let out a breath.

Soon, men and women were running too and fro, rushing to put out the fires that the Connollys had started.

[Rothwell]

Morgan watched the men fleeing, shouting curses alongside his father as they disappeared into the smoke.

Noah O Boyle, old warhorse that he was, stood tall despite the gash running down the side of his arm. He clapped his son on the shoulder as Helena, his mother, came to join them.

"Yellow bastards." He intoned. "They fell upon us not half an hour ago. It's good to see you boy."

Morgan pulled the older man into an embrace.

"Scared the Hell out me, you did. Are you alright?"

"Just a scratch. Your mother's given me far worse."

"Quit your tale spinning you foolish man!" She cried, pulling her husband to her. "Let's get you sorted out and that 'scratch' taken care of. Morgan, there's fires to quench."

Morgan nodded and went to aid the people on fire duty. The blacksmith had to make a conscious effort to stop his knees from buckling from emotional and physical overload. He found a relieved looking Finlay with her bow still in hand.

"If this isn't the maddest day I've ever had I'll head to my house, find my hat, and eat it." He declared.

[Highland Sniper]

Malyss rushed into the flaming house, frantically searching for the girl said to have been trapped inside.
Shoving burning pieces of wood aside before he found the girl, pinned beneath a pile of wood and unconscious.

He worked to get the wood off her as the building buckled...

====================================

men and women rushed to and fro, searching for buckets and anything that could hold water. Rushing to the wells and rushing to put out the various burning buildings around the town. And more people were rushing in to save family members presumed to be trapped inside, and keepsakes. Four were already a lost cause, and five others would be in-salvageable if action wasn't taken.

Shouts for bucket lines and water rang out over the roaring flames as wounded were escorted to be treated by those not working to deal with the fires.

Looking around, wondering what to do, Finely rushed out of everyone's sight and turned into a fox before coming back out.
She hoped they'd just take it as a blessing from some fey, and not pursue the supposed fey go give thanks or worse.

She rushed around and attempted to use her arcane powers to move the water. She felt it move, but didn't see it. It never got out of the well.
She focused, trying to calm her nerves in this stressful situation and concentrate.

[Rothwell]

Morgan joined a bucket chain and yelled at Finlay to do the same. The Blacksmith snatched up a full container and began passing it to the man in front. The timbers of the burning home crackled like laughter.

"Finlay! We need to- oh." His brow furrowed as he cast around for his hunting companion. But she was nowhere to be found.

"Come on Morgan! Get more water!"

Spitting a curse. He did as he was told.