Eagle slayer wanted part 2 or Meet Riana, people. She's basically epic.

Happens after this log: http://rwmuck.limitless.org/rwmuck/content/eagle-slayer-wanted-part-1-or...

North Path: Old Stone Bridge

/[][]================== Mossflower - Old Stone Bridge ===================[][]\

You stand upon a stone bridge that was made long ago at the hands of beasts long dead. Though the bridge still stands well, a testament to their enduring effort and hard work, it does appear a bit worn. The bridge stretches a long way over the waters of the River Moss and appears to be about ten paces wide to allow for a cart to pass as easily as a beast on foot. On either side of the bridge are thick stone 'railings' about five hands in height, often used by the weary or curious to lean on and gaze at the ever flowing waters of the peaceful River Moss. In the shade the willows on the shore give, you can see that going north would eventually lead you to the Northlands and Send, and going south would lead you to Southsward, Redwall Abbey, and Collinsel.

Snow covers the bridge, and there are many pawprints in the snowy white blanket.

\[][]====================================================================[][]/

Exits: [N]orth off of bridge, [S]outh off of bridge

The day is chilly and clear. The slight breeze whistles through the bare branches of Mossflower Wood. High in the sky, almost higher than most beasts can see with the naked eye, a golden eagle glides, her massively long wings spread out to their limit, her long tail propelling her where she wants to go. Her gold coloured neck and back have a healthy gleam to them. Riana the eagle gazes down at the road, her bronze-eyed gaze searching for some unsuspecting prey. She hardly notices the chill. Her youth and her former Northland home has made her nearly immune to the Mossflower winter chill.

Little did the beasts know that such danger lurked above them, like a shark circling the waters for prey. The camp was small and located not too far from the road. A small fire had been set up around sleeping bags and various bags full of supplies. The trio of beasts here were obviously vermin and obviously not of the peacefull type.

Dylan Locke awoke from his sleep with a stretch and a yawn. The red scaled lizard stratched at his side and buttoned his mouse hide vest over his chest. The bandit leader was slimmer than he had been in several months but he could never fully work off the weight he had gained as lizard king, much of which still stuck to his belly and hips.

Oh what fond memories he had of being king! The food! The gold! The loyal swarms of minions! They didn't speak a lick of English but they were a lot more usefull than the these two.

Trixie and Pickle. Names that inspired such terror to be sure. They were decent enough as bandits but lacked the usual drive that the lizard liked to see in his beasts. Trixie was a brown furred weasel who covered her self in a dark yellow tunic. Pickle was a grey furred ferret wearing a tattered green kilt about his waist and a scarf about his neck. Both worked slowly and lazily as the ferret prepared the mornings breakfast the weasel sharpened her short sword.

Riana smiles to herself as she spots the unsuspecting trio. She's not too fond of lizards--their scales cause her indigestion--but a weasel and a ferret! Ah, now there was good food! She circles lower, but is still at a high enough altitude that is anyone happened to look up, they'd think she was a sparrow. She continues to circle, preparing for her power dive.

The beasts never once suspect that death would come for them on swift wings, nor so literally! "Hey! Pickle! Quit samplin yer own food you lard tail varment!" Trixie pointed her sword at the ferret while he tasted the ladle he was using to stir the stew he was cooking. "Rat meat is a slow and delicate meat to cook. I'm just making sure I'm not over cooking it." Pickle said defensivly, "And I'm not fat! This is my winter coat!"

"Take it from an overweight beast, Pickle. You're fat." The bandit leader prodded the ferret in the side as he moved closer to the stew pot. Dylan leaned over the pot and smiled as he took in the aroma of the food. Despite his flaws as a bandit, Pickle knew how to stew a beast.

"You're one to talk Dylan." The ferret muttered under his breath.

Riana suddenly pulls in her wings and dives, aiming towards Trixie. Her species can reach diving speeds of around 200 miles per hour, but she doesn't go that fast this time. She just stays at a nice, calm, leisurely 170 MPH. She twists and brings her sharp talons on her full-feathered legs to the fore, spreading her wings and hitting the weasel with devastating force. Screeching triumphantly, she goes to bite the already-dead weasel's neck with her wickedly curved beak.

If trixie knew that this was to be her final moment she probibly would not have uttered, "Just remember not to use too much salt this-" before the claws sunk into her flesh. Her demise was hardly painless but it was quick. If only she could see the faces of her fellow bandits as she was carried off. She would have laughed how the weasel leaped into Dylan's arms and shrieked like a wee dibbun. Or how Dylan fell backwards screaming like a banshie and letting loose a steady stream of curse words.

Instead all that remained of the young weasel was her short sword which still spun upon the tip until finally falling over.

Riana has only dragged her victim a few yards away before she turns back to the other 2, screeching like, well, an eagle. She runs, flapping her wings wildly. She takes a leap and goes to land in the middle of the 2 malebeasts, aiming to grab the ferret. The wind from her powerful wingbeats scatters the burning logs and knocks over the pot, spilling its contents everywhere.

The portly lizard tosses the slightly ferret to the side. Pickle scurries away on his back, "no! No! NOOOOOO!" He screams as he flails his arms pitifully before him in an effort to keep the bird from getting to him.

Dylan, rolling to his feet draws his rapier and slashes at the bird in an effort to drive her away. His blade doesn't seem to have much reach though nor does he try to get closer to the bird with out being hit by its wings. "Pickle you fool! Get up and run!"

Riana leaps again and pounces on the ferret, digging her talons into his abdomen. Shrieking with delight, she puts him out of his misery by breaking his neck. Raising her icky beak, she turns a baleful gaze upon the lizard and hisses a challenge. She does not, however, charge him.

Pickle watches in abject horror as the talons sink into his soft stomach. The ferret let's out a terrified squeak of pain, stretching out his paw towards Dylan for help until the eagle ends his life. His body goes limp.

The bandit leader feels the grasp of his blade starting to shake. He cowers before the eagles challenge. Taking one more look at the fallen ferret he begins to cautiously step away until his tail brushes against a bush behind him. At which point Dylan turns and breaks into an all out sprint as fast as his legs will carry him, all the while shouting at the top of his lungs and clutching at his hat with his free paw. "GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" HE can be heard as he runs away.

Riana smiles and shrieks with triumph. Grabbing the dead ferret, she drags him over to the dead weasel and tries to lift them both into the air. Nuts. Too heavy. She drop the ferret and flaps into the air, carrying the dead weasel to her nest. After a little bit, she returns and lands on the dead ferret. After grabbing him, she takes off, flying high into the sky. Shrieking again, she drops the body, dives and grabs it again before it eve reaches the treetops, just for fun. She then flies to her nest and begins her grisly feast.

Thanks for reading! For those of you who are curious, here's where I got the information for golden eagles: [1] and [2]