#fffxivwrite2020

[katalinhunter]

FFXIV Write 2020 - Prompt 11

Ultracrepidarian

West Shroud, many years ago.

"Hey, you said you got all your chores done, right? Do you want to head over to the river for a swim?" Bandi was heavy-built for his age, but most of the boys arouind the farm were. He was still a few summers from his full height though.

Katalin shook her head. "No, I'm not in the mood right now. I'll come back later."

"You sure? There's supposed to be a storm coming through. My grandma said she could feel it in her knees."

The girl just nodded before meandering off the path for a moment and returning with a handful of pixieberries. "I want to go later. Csilla's going to be back then and I don't want to be around to hear her griping." She offered him some of the berries and he snatched them all with a grin, leaving only two behind. "Hey!" Those last two went flying in an arc to hit him upside his head.

Bandi ran a few fulm ahead then stopped and turned around, making a show of shoving all the berries in his mouth at once. "Thggrlf ynn.." he started, then paused to make a series of exagerrated swallows as she laughed. Finally, with red-stained lips, he repeated himself. "I thought you said you did all your chores, why would she be going off?"

Katalin stopped with a sigh and a shrug. "It's always one thing or another. Anyroad, Rael said he'd do them for me."

It was her cousin's turn to burst into a laugh then. "That scrawny Elezen kid? Awww... I knew he was sweet on you."

"He's not, he's just being nice."

"Being nice all the way back to the barn with you. Ow!"

She picked up another stone from the ground, taking aim. "You take that back."

"Hey, I'm just saying. People are already talking about you and-- Ow! Stop it, will you?!"

Katalin turned in a huff. "People talk too much. Besides, I know you've been spying on Sofia."

Bandi sputtered. "I... what? No, she's a Blaze, that would be almost as bad as being with one of my cousins."

"As if. You and your late night excursions. Don't worry, I won't tell a soul. If you behave."

"Fine." The answer was sullen. "You didn't have to throw rocks at me."

"You didn't have to steal my berries either. Look, I made off with some of Aunt Lucia's special batch and hid it in one of the stalls. I'll share and make it up to you, deal?"

"Deal."

They continued their way down the path.

[katalinhunter]

FFXIV Write 2020 - Prompt 14

Part

If you knowingly put yourself in danger, is it on you if you are attacked? She walked along the path, humming to herself as she strolled into the poachers’ territory. It wasn't theirs in any proper sense of the word and the Shroud itself considered them expendable. Some of them had families surely, but if they chose to put themselves at risk, that was on them. We all play our parts.

Of more concern, would they talk or shoot first?

Neither apparently - intent on making herself a target, Katalin had missed the trap and was caught neatly in the net. She could hear people gathering beneath as she squirmed and tried to get a hand on a chakram. "Tch..."

"What do we have hear, a little birdie with its wings clipped? Whatcha up to, birdie?" Others laughed and one of them poked at her with the butt-end of a spear.

"Oh, just out for a stroll like. You should try the view up here though; watching a family of squirrels right now." The chakram was no good, maybe the knife at her thigh. Her fingertips brushed against the leather-wrapped handle but couldn't quite make the clasp yet.

Another nudge from the pole and she started swaying as a new voice chimed in. "Just one rodent staring at another."

"Thought I was a birdie?" That earned her a harder poke and she winced in pain. The clasp was undone now and she could feel the knife sliding free. The blade's edge dug into the leather of her glove as she fought to keep it from falling to the ground.

"Where are the others? We saw you come into our territory and knew that something wasn't right. What are you playing at?" This was the first voice again.

"So you figured the best plan was to lay a trap and cluster beneath me while the rest of my group encircles you? Brilliant..." The knife could've been sharper. It hadn't rated the same care as her proper weapons though and she was having to saw more than she liked. The chakrams would cut through the ropes easily, but, yeah. Saw saw.

There was a brief bit of low conversation beneath her and she heard one of their number scamper off. Well, that was something at least. The first voice again - she decided to call him Alvred. She only known one of those and had never cared for him overly much. Alvred spoke up. "That's enough noise out of you. Tess, swing her."

Swing her? She felt something jab at her back then catch the netting. The swaying from before stopped and she felt herself being pulled back higher into the air - then released and swinging free against the trunk of the tree she was hanging from. The impact was a solid thump, causing her to give a startled yelp. No real damage given her armor, but she had dropped the knife. "Owww! Hells, stop that!"

"Again." Katalin's hand fumbled as she felt herself raised up higher again. She had managed to cut two strands at least, hopefully enough to- thud. The hyur-net-bundle slammed against the tree again, harder this time, and pain shot down her shoulder. She had her prize though and with a couple of careful swipes of the chakram she found herself face-first on the ground surrounded by four poachers; apparently the one had returned.

Well, this was better at least?

"I thought I told you to buy new nets?" "I did, hey, keep an eye on her!" "Like hells, you went out drinking with that money, you and Shaver." "That's shite and you know it, we didn't...  hey, she's moving!" A new voice there; that was probably Shaver. Schaever? Whaever.

She lunged from the ground, catching the fourth under his jaw with her shoulder-plate. He collapsed and she turned with both chakram in hand, seeing an arrow fly by as she did. Huh, guess there was a fifth too. Anyroad... She threw one of the chakram, catching Shaver just under his ribs as she held on to the other, blocking Tess's spear with it. Turn, try to keep the other woman between her and the archer, and where is...

An incredibly oversized blade came swinging at her. Fuck! She used her free hand to force Tess's spear up as she ducked beneath it. Alvred's blade cleanly sliced the tip off, causing Tess to squawk. A crooked smiled spread on Katalin's face as she caught the first chakram on its return, but an impact against her back cut short her enjoyment. Not enough to worry in the moment.

As the two disentangled themselves from each other Katalin moved back in, kicking the side of Alvred's knee and sending him careening towards his partner. With both chakram in her hands she followed, holding them tight as she punched finely honed edges towards Tess. Another arrow finished off Alvred for her, suddenly emerging from his neck as he tried to stand back up. There was a quick scramble and she found cover behind a nearby tree.

Red hair as she peeked from around it. "So, call it a day? Think we're both-" Quickly she jerked her head back as another arrow flew towards her. "Fine, fine..." She knew where he was now, more or less. A jump up into the trees, quick movements, then a flash of silver as her weapons arced out then caught the archer on the path back. Finally they returned back to her hands, dripping red.

There were a couple of pathetic sounds, but all else was quiet in the forest. She reached back to her back where she had felt the impact before, wincing and seeing blood on her fingers. "Bastard, that's what you get." Fortunately the mail had stopped the arrow from penetrating deeply, but that would leave a hell of a bruise.

She walked among the five poachers, finishing them off one by one, thinking to herself. Thought you were supposed to practice dance-fighting? Yeah, but things happened. Always do, the whole thing was a mess. Fights usually are. So, try again? There was supposed to be another group to the west, stealing adamantortoise eggs...