Cealin smiles to Leana, shrewdly, as does not seem surprised at her reaction to the prospect of staying in Doriath. "So I managed to annoy you enough, or is it the presence of our friends the elves that always provokes you to talk about my mental faculties?" he asks maliciously, paying practically no attention to the elves and apparently not much interested in what they might say.

Xoria gives Branwyn a look of mock horror "I'll have to mess something minor up soon then, maybe miss a few inspections and let the troops relax a little" Xoria then smiles faintly "getting a bugle player to stand by your resting place and get him to sound the time should put any promotions out of my grasp for some time" she says with a little laugh and a wink.

Throwing a glance at Leana she smiles faintly "I used to feel the same about human until I spent some time in Dor-Lomin, Humans are rather nice, if sometimes a little strange" turning back to Branwyn, Xoria give her a curious look "I didn't know that, I wonder why, I'd heard though the grape vine he was unimpressed with my side trip, but it was a slight extension of his orders"

"You just annoy me," Leana replies to Cealin, "And I was teasing. Strange how you're always remarking that I have no sense of humor when you're remarkably poor at taking a joke, yourself." Lee glances back briefly towards the elves, but doesn't seem to have anything to say, so simply shifts her weight awkwardly from foot to foot.

Shakes her head at Xoria, Branwyn laughs. "I will remember that! Though I think you can skip the bugler..you have made your point. And I would hate to lose your help, truthfully." She glances once more at the sky and nods towards the west. "Tis time to go on watch." Looking at Cealin and Leana, she adds. "If either of you are scheduled for tonight, please join us. One small group is quieter than each of going alone."

Cealin bows to Leana, "And it gives me real pleasure to annoy you, since you are the best-annoyable girl this side of the river. And though your jokes a prone to make me famous among both elves and humans as the dumbest Haladin ever, I just adore your sense of humour." The scout smiles enigmatically to Leana, leaving it to her to decide how much of what he said is true. On hearing Branwyn's words, he falls silent and looks up at Leana worriedly.

"I am," Leana says, picking up her newly-sharpened axe and putting the stone she used to edge it into her pocket. She buckles the leather straps of the harness about the haft and puts it to the side while she quickly pulls on her leather suit of armor. "I only say you're dumb when you're here to defend yourself, so relax," she says as she puts her axe on her back. "I'll see you around, assuming you aren't on watch tonight, too."

"No, I am not on duty today, and my plans were fro the warmth of the fire and not the darkness of the night." Cealin smiles to Leana, "Unless you want me to come and defend you from all evil."

Xoria snickers slightly at Cealin as she checked her quiver of arrows along with the bow, and longsword she had with her, since she was already wearing her chain mail shirt under the newly aquired gray cloak, Xoria stops her weapons check and looks at Cealin with an arched eyebrow then looks at Leana with a faint smile before turning to Branwyn and smiling widely at the antics of the pair of humans.

Rolling her eyes, Leana shakes her head. "I can handle all evil by myself, thank you," she replies to Cealin. "It'll probably just be another dull watch that only entails staying up all night in nasty weather. Well, it must be done. See you." Lee then takes a few steps out towards the edge of camp and turns to the elves, waiting for them to lead the way out.

With a last touch to sword and bow, Branwyn nods a farewell to Cealin. "Keep the fire going then, and enjoy." With quick strides, she heads out of camp. Once at the edge, she glances at each of those with her, then sets off west towards the sentries posted there, moderating her quick stride to accomodate the Adan with them.

Rising up from out of the tall, dark grass that lines the banks, Finnabair turns and makes her way back along the outer edge of the camp, heading toward the west. Wearing a thinly padded jacket over her leather armour and breeches stained with much wear; a long, slender bow rests on her back, accompanied by a stout axe and a case of arrows. Steady steps carry her quiet through the night, and she slows her steps as Leana, joined by Branwyn after, takes a few steps out of the camp before her, "Good evening.", she says from the shadows, "Are you off on watch? I will join you."

The sun has just slipped out of sight, casting the forest in a dim blue light. The ground is soft, and fragrant with the smell of recently fallen rain, though the shower from above has recently tapered off. The forest is silent, save for the sound of gently rustling leaves in the canopy above, and the calls of the nocturnal animals that inhabit this place. Into this scene enters a small group of edain and elves, making their way westward.

"Aye, we're off to the watch," Leana returns quietly to Finnabair, still adjusting the straps that hold her axe to her back. "Glad to have you along." The apprentice smith then falls silent, absently binding her reddish locks up onto her head as she walks along.

Finnabair follows not far behind Leana and Branwyn, her grey eyes upon the darkening west, "That was Cealin you were speaking with back at the camp, was it Leana?", she asks, leaping over a patch of uneven, rocky ground, "One of the Haladin scouts?", she adds after, glancing over at the young woman and then the forest that lies to the south. The silver birches glimmer in the fading light and the wind sighs mournful through the trees.

Trailing along behind the mixed group of people moving to their sentry positions, is Xoria walking along almost casually, though her eyes are scanning the forest even in the dim light, bow in hand and arrow notched, looking over her group she smiles faintly as she remembers the encounter of Leana and Cealin and looks over at Branwyn to see if she was planning anything apart from the usual.

Branwyn's attention is on the forest before them. It has been too long since she has been to this particular area of the forest, and she is anxious to see how things stand after her absence. Though her spirits are high and the wish to run ahead hits her as soon as they are among the trees outside of the camp, she keeps her pace to what would be a fast walk for the Edain. Pulling the case from her shoulder, she removes her longbow from it as they travel.

As they draw closer to the trees where the sentries await their relief, she pauses long enough for a good look. All seems quiet so far, and she quickly strings her bow before continuing on.

"Yes, that's him," Leana replies absently to Finnabair as she walks behind the elves. She glances up into the trees the sentries are posted in and falls silent, simply lifting her hand in greeting to the waiting guards.

And as the sun is falling from the sky into shadow once more, there is something darker..a host of the black, foul folk moves through these woods looking for chances of battle with the pale-faces again. Their iron-shod boots stomp over the soft ground, several of the figures grabbing at and ripping plants and saplings from the ground. The setting sun only tells them that night is coming on and a few of them loosen their weapons without fear of being discovered. Though jesting back and forth before, the host, on a whole has become a little quieter..now nearing the frontier and place of many previous battles and skirmishes.

At the head of this host is a monster of an orc..none other than the Master Smith of the great Black Hand Tribe. His leather armor creaks with his movements and he reaches to his back to grab his large axe, gripping it tightly as his eyes dart to and fro, looking for the game. He cant wait for the tatse of blood on his lips again and he drives the host with a good speed.

Finnabair nods at Leana's answer and her eyes dart toward Branwyn as she moves ahead of them now, and she quickens her strides to keep pace. Reaching for the bow upon her back, she unslips it from its place along with a single arrow, clutching the two in one hand as she moves westward through the falling night after the Elf. Steps hesitating slightly and brows knit together with a troubled look on her face, Finnabair looks to Branwyn, and then behind to where Xoria falls in behind.

A frown crosses Branwyn's face and she pauses, holding up a hand to signal the others. Once more she scans the area ahead of them, shaking her head slightly before turning to the others. Her voice is too quiet to be heard by any except those with her. "I feel unease, as though some evil draws near to us. I think Xoria and I will flank around the trees, while you both go ahead. With our longer bows, we can still reach as near as is necessary, but I would wish to be sure nothing surprises us." Her eyes go from one to the other as she finishes speaking.

Xoria looks up when Branwyn speaks then nods her head thoughfully in agreement as she casts a glances over her shoulder obviously not at ease with the forest "flank together or you go that way I go this way?" Xoria simply asked quietly her attention back on Branwyn and the groups that were loosely gathered.

Finnabair stops as Branwyn raises her hand to them and listens to her quiet instructions, nodding in understanding to both her and Xoria. Eyes flinting through the fading light in the west, she places the arrow to the string of her bow and looks to Leana, waiting for her to be ready. "We will go quietly, Leana. There is little cover to be offered.", she nearly whispers, "Should trouble come, head for the trees.", she warns the girl, gesturing to the silver forest that lies to the south.

Having been silent while the elves and Finnabair held conference, Leana looks from face to face with some measure of confusion. "I didn't see anything," she begins to protest quietly, but then shakes her head. "Ah, I'm sure I'll figure things out..." She reaches over her shoulder and slides her axe out of its straps. She grips it in both hands and then nods at Finnabair, preparing to follow.

Having come to a good spot with trees on the flanks, Dornalk the Smith draws up the host and silently gives the oder for the archers to set up for attack, having them set their arrows in the ground and what not. The large orc then crouches down and looks out through the woods, trying to see the query, resting his hand on his axe. He calls several of the orcs left to him as a storming force and sends one scout out to see if they cant find anything out there. he then waits and watches for any sign that the plan is amiss, and trying to follow the scouts movements through the trees.

Lethar and another orc come up laughing out of the shadows of the forest to Dornalk's possition. Lethar sees Dornalk "We saw a group of 'Pale-Faces comeing up to our possition from that way, they do not suspect anything!" he points north. "We can take them easyley, from what I saw" he sits down on a rock by a tall tree. He looks around waiting the 'Easy kill'. As he sits he laughs to his partnerin his evil, stinky voice.

Luzgak sits in watch on the side, keeping all that he can in sight. With the mention of the pale-faces, his ears perk and his eyes narrow as he looks for them. There must be no battling for him, so it was important to know where his enemy was. He smells a horrible scent in the air, and it could be nothing but confirming of the other's comment. In order to efficiently report on this battle, all must be seen without the spy being seen. Luzgak begins looking around for a safe place to hide, though still keeping the grounds in view.

Seeing that all agree, Branwyn nods tersely to Xoria, "We go together. I will signal some of our brethren to take the left flank, while we take the right." She glances at Leana with a quick smile. "I see nothing yet, either. But what I feel is what I am acting on...another of the strange things about the Firstborn."

With a final nod to the two Edain, she heads off towards the trees, veering away from the straight path they had been taking to lead Xoria off towards the right of the birch forest they approach. As they pass several trees with Doriathrim in them, Bran slows enough to signal what she wants, but continues on without waiting for them to move.

Finnabair shakes her head and leans toward Leana as the two Eldar move away, "I do not hear or see anything either, Leana, but the Eldar's eyes and ears reach farther than ours and they will warn them first.", she answers the young smith in a low voice, beginning to move slowly forward, left of Branwyn and Xoria, over the flat land. "But do not trust to them alone. Be watchful.", she adds, readying her bow.

Dornalk watches as the two orcs come up to him from the shadows and report the sighting, nodding to them, "Good, yous two, to be seeing thems this early..aahh we soon having battle with them..I can taste their blood again. We is feasting on elf and human flesh tonight." This is met with low hoots and sounds of delight in the anticipation. Grinning, the smith looks back into the forest. Xoria glances at Leana with a kind of blank look then smiles and nods her head to Branwyn, as Branwyn starts to hand out orders waiting until she finishes then touches her forehead with the tip of her bow as she follows Branwyn off towards the right a few steps behind and to the left of her, Xoria's eyes covering the left side of the pair for any movement that doesn't belong.

Leana follows just behind and to the right of Finnabair, head up and gaze wandering the area around them. A gust of chilling wind runs over the land, a low and mournful whisper of sound that tugs a few stray locks of the apprentice smith's hair out of their binding. Irritated, she pushes them back and then replaces her hand on her singled-bladed axe, turning it in order to examine the edge for a moment before turning her glance upwards once more.

Lethar's mouth waters at the sound of human and elf flesh, for it is a delicasy to orcs. he looks through the forest from his seated possition under the tall tree. He says quitly to his friends"This will be a night to remeber, for elf flesh heals the mind and gives you energy beyond belief" the look on his face glimes in hunger and delight. He sniffs the air smelling foul smeels from the 'Pale-faces'.

Looking around and seeing no perfect place...there never was one...Luzgak decides to give up due to lack of time. He finds a nice tree with some highlimbs and thick boughs that still had leaves among them to hide behind. Luzgak grapples one branch and pulls himself up to the higher portion, hand over hand, until he is satisfied that he may see the battle and be safe from the weapons of hand combat. The arrows should also fall well out of his range. It was a good place to look from. Sneaking from tree to tree, covered in a dark cloak is the scout sent by the Smith. His large nostrils are flared as he sniffs the night air for signs of the enemy before moving to a new tree. His sharp eyes also scan the landscape and he thinks he sees something. He moves a few more trees closer and then realizes hes gone to close and can quite clearly see Branwyn's figure coming closer and he knows she saw him as well. As quickly as a rabbit, he turns tail and gives a howling yell as he starts to run back..not very smart as he is running in a straight line.

As they reach the flat area before the birches, Branwyn pauses long enough to pull an arrow from her quiver, as well as to take another good look at what is ahead. A frown crosses her face and she makes her way slowly through what little cover there is until she spys movement ahead. She stops just as an orc hurries out of the trees ahead and to her left, raising her bow quickly. The arrow is loosed even as the orc turns and begins to run.

Finnabair's sure and steady steps are drawn to an abrupt halt as the orch's yowl sounds clearly through the night. "Well.", she says, glancing quickly to Leana, "It would take no Elf to know what that might be.", she says, gripping her bow more firmly as she turns toward the sound, hearing the snap of a bow quickly following it, "Hold a moment, Leana.", she warns, peering hard through the deep shadows of twilight. "There!", she says, following the scampering figure with her finger, scanning amongst the trees. "Branwyn has it. Look for others.", she says, lifting her bow and using the tip of her arrow to sight down along.

Leana stops immediately upon hearing the orc's cry, her gaze drawn in that direction. She glances back towards Finnabair as she speaks, and then nods. The apprentice smith follows the scout's progress through the shadows as best she can, and squints into the darkness. Apparently she cannot see well enough, for she begins to slowly walk off in that direction, her axe still held at the ready as she searches the darkness for the orc's companions.

Lethar heres the yell from the scout, he quickly starts to panic. He runs around like a rat in a maze trying to find a hidding spot. He yells "The Pale-Faces are comming the Pale-Faces are comming, run I do not want to die" the once proud scout is now a coward. He runs into an Orc warrior and says to him"Hide me, please don't let them kill me" but the Orc just throws him into the sand. He quickly gets up and runs into a tree, he falls and looks at the tree, it is just the right size and branches are in the right spots to climb it. He jumps on the first branch cluching the trunk of the tree. trying not to fall. He moves his way up into the tree he finaly gets 30 feet up, where he can see everything that is going on and stops there. He shouts "He is leading them straight to us!" he shouts this down to some of the orcs on the ground and then heres silence.

The scout orc who saw the enemy that has turned to run falls before he gets 10 feet away. He crashes into the ground with an arrow sticking out ofhis back. With his last breath, a gives a bloodcurdling scream before going stiff, removed from this world with the arrow of Branwyn.

The great Master Smith also hears the two cries of his scout and is soon on his feet, large axe clasped in his hands. He starts growling and muttering, "How daring they shooting mys scouts, theys going to pay with theys blood now." He raises his axe high into the air, signaling the archers to set their arrows and then drops it. The archers then send a rain of death into the air, their flight of black arrows soaring in the general direction of the edain and other pale-faces. Looking forward, he makes out a shape crossing his line of sight and he gives a shout starting the charge. One smaller group from the larger breaks off and goes in the direction the scout had taken to try and deal with the person or persons who had sent their brethren to his death. But Dornalk heads for the figure who is slowly walking across his path of destruction..Leana.

Finnabair moves swift but cautious, drawing nearer to the treeline where the sounds of scrambling, snapping branches and shouting hail amongst the darkness. "Leana!", she hisses as the young apprentice hurries ahead, "Be--", and her warning is cut off by the sharp twang of many strings and the whistle of arrows that sail out from the trees at them. With no cover to hide behind, Finnabair sidesteps and lifts her bow, returning the fire with a dart of her own, aiming it into the noisey dark.

Haladin is a language well-suited for cursing, and Leana utilizes it to its full extent as the size of the enemy host becomes clear to her, letting out several choice curse words as her only shield against the rain of black arrows. It proves a surprisingly effective ward, for she narrowly escapes the strike of several arrows that land nearby. Things go from bad to worse, however, when she notices the large orc charging towards her. She is frozen in shock for one moment, her axe still held in a defensive position, long enough to allow the master smith to approach. She shakes her head and looks more clearly at the situation around her, but it is now too late to run.

Though her arrow has hit its mark, Branwyn draws little satisfaction from it. From deeper in the woods she can hear orkish yelling, though it stops almost as quickly as it starts. Making her way cautiously into the trees towards the fallen yrch, her eyes keep scanning for anything else close by.

No sooner does she gain the trees than a flight of arrows drops from overhead. One snags her cloak while another strikes her quiver and sticks there, but somehow the rest miss. From deeper in the woods she can hear feet slapping down hard on the ground and coming in her direction. A quick movement puts her behind two trees grown close together, an ideal spot for an archer and she takes a second to snap off the arrow stuck in her quiver before hanging it within reach. Another arrow is nocked and she waits for the first of those approaching to appear.

The archers of the Dark Lord, set their arrows and let loose another hail of black death, filling the air with the sound of the bowstrings and the whine of the large arrows cutting through the air. Meanwhile, the group that broke off from the Smith continue to the spot where the scout is and reach his corpse then look around for his assailant.

The orc smith closes with the Haladin Leana and he shouts, sending the rest of the group onward to find other marks. He can read her moves and can tell how frightened she is, he raises his axe, not slowing in his stride..an evil grin plastered on his face and brings his axe around in a heavy downward sweep, aiming for her weapon arm. He laughs to himself about the size of her hand-axe while he carries this heavy double bladed weapon.

Twisting slightly out of the way, Leana avoids a blow to her right arm, but receives the blow quite heavily on her left shoulder instead. The battle axe lands so hard that it easily cuts through her leather armor and deep into her flesh and even striking bone. The apprentice smith's mouth opens in a scream she cannot give voice to, for it is the best she can do to continue to draw in a ragged breath. The sheer force of the blow forces Lee down to one knee, and she struggles for a moment to keep from falling. Yet even as the dark stain of blood travels down her left arm, she takes her own axe in her right and swings it towards Dornalk's legs. The resistance is weak at best.

The trees she hides behind shelter her from the second flight of arrows. Sighting through the gap in the two trees she is behind, Branwyn is ready when the group of yrch reach the scout. An arrow is loosed at the closest of the group, and a second one is immediately nocked and released in a matter of seconds.

Knowing she is too close to the group to get away with more shots, she leans the bow against the trees and draws her sword. Only then does she peer through the trees to see if her shots have hit. One of the group is down and not moving, the second is hit in the shoulder. Muttering a curse, she glances around her. Xoria has moved down beyond her and there is no one close enough to help. With a shrug, she darts out from behind the trees and slashes at the back of the orc closest to her as she runs past him. With any luck, she can lead the group in a circle for awhile.

Finnabair's lone dart is answered by a flurry of arrows and through the night one nearly finds her, so close it brushes by her face, slashing a bloody line across the cheek. Shaken, fliching and hunching forward in a vain effort to protect herself, she scurries out of the path of the oncoming arrows, heading for the trees all the same. Dimly, shapes move through the moonless night, back amongst the trees and then suddenly Leana appears just a dozen paces ahead, the Master Smith placed before her with his great axe swinging. Dropping her bow, Finnabair scrambles for her own axe, beginning to rush forward to join the young smith when several of the sly arrows slip out from the trees and and crosses her path, stopping her dead with a curse.

Dornalk tries to bring his weight to a stop from his charge, making it easier for Leana's axe to strike against the orc's thigh, just above the line where his armor stops. The axe pushes in far enough to cut a thin line in his flesh. But this is not wounding him and serves to anger him further as he brings the axe back around, readying for another swing. He watches her movements and decides to attack again, dropping the axe towards the ground and using that momentum to carry it back diagonally upwards, aiming for her side..almost as one would chop a tree down with a hatchet.

Trees are a good deal harder than Leana is, and are hurt less by axes. Dornalk's battle axe cuts easily through Aldawin's cast-off armor and slides neatly between Leana's ribs to lodge within her side. The apprentice smith's eyes widen in shock and she lets out a gasping, strangled sound, the blood draining from her face. Her features seem whiter than paper, framed by the brilliant strands of hair that have come loose again from the strap of leather that bound them. Her fingers loosen around the haft of her weapon and it falls from her grasp, landing with a low thud on the ground. The battle axe slides out again from her side and she follows the path of her weapon, falling to the ground. The only clue that the apprentice smith is still alive is the reflexive cough that wracks her body, attempting to clear the blood from her lungs.

The orc she strikes turns with a bellow and the chase is on. Quicker by far on her feet, Branwyn is able to stay ahead of the pack. Her cloak helps her hide and she darts in close enough to strike at the back of another of the yrch while the first of the group is just starting around the tree she disappeared behind.

Though she hits the creature on the run, still she tries to circle around them, hoping to keep the group in this small area rather than chance running into a larger group. Before she reaches the tree she has chosen for her next hiding place, she lets out a piercing whistle, chancing it as the only way to escape the group. From the trees to east, another whistle answers even as the Marchwarden once more is hidden, albeit briefly.

Falling back from the path of arrows, Finnabair cries out as she sees the orch's axe cut the young smith down, "Leana!", she shouts, dropping low to retrieve the longbow she had cast down, exchanging it for the axe she carries. Desperate, she fumbles for an arrow as she watches Leana slip to the earth, grievously wounded with the Master Smith still looming over her.

Watching as the female adan slumps to the ground, Dornalk is overcome with glee, starting to laugh insidiously..licking his teeth and lips hurriedly. He stands over her, looking down at her with a red haze over is eyes, he walks over to her head..her neck and raises his axe into the air. He holds that pose for a few seconds, laughing and gurgling. As he lets the heavy, massive blade fall, it sounds like the metal whines as it cuts through the air but it is the orc howling in triumph. His axe is aimed for her neck, seeking to sever her head from her body.

Finnabair's nimble fingers take up a dark, fletched arrow from the case upon her back and smoothly it comes forward into her bow. Setting it to the string and drawing it to the full, she narrows her grey eyes on the great figure of the Master Smith, and takes her aim, laying the point squarely upon its expanding chest as it lifts up its axe to deliver another terrible blow on the Haladin girl. Taming her unsteady hands, she takes a deep breath, settling them calmly and then releases the iron tipped dart at the orch.

And so a master of smithing kills an apprentice of that same craft, the axe running swiftly through her throat ... not quite so much as to sever Leana's head from her neck, but more than enough to ensure that she is indeed dead. The blood spurts from a severed artery for a few moments before her heart stops beating, and it pools calmly around the cut. The light that once lit her eyes with such fierceness in all things flickers out and dies.

Branwyn's luck runs out, at least partially. The orc she struck last turned quickly enough to see where she went and as she round the tree, he is too close to avoid. The scimitar slashes out and catches her in the right shoulder and she tries to dodge. It strikes hard enough to cut through the armor but not badly enough that she cannot use her arm. Her steps falter, then catch again as she turns away, running to gain some distance. Slipping through some trees, she pauses to survey first those who are chasing her, then to give a quick glance at the wound.

The chirping of a nightbird startles her momentarily, then brings a grin as she recognizes the signal. The yrch are drawing near and it is time to move again. Knowing there is at least one archer nearby, she darts out of the trees and races for the spot where she left her own bow. She passes those who chase her close enough for them to follow, but not enough for any weapons to reach.

Dornalk notices movement from the side as he stands over his kill..saliva dripping from his jagged teeth, mixing with the blood on the ground. And he turns, almost in a dream-like state and sees Finnabair as she releases the air and he is almost dumbfounded, catching the arrow full in his chest. He roars as the head pierces armor and flesh but stops and sets his axe down, stooping to lift the lifeless body in his hands. With a langour, he opens wide his mouth and tears a chunk of flesh off with his sharp teeth then drops the body to let it lie there and picks up his axe, slowly chewing, a strip hanging from his mouth before swallowing it. If only there were something stronger to drink. He bellows a command in his hideous language and the forward orcs begin to retreat.

Even as her arrow flies true, the Master Smith's axe falls down on Leana, swiftly taking her life and though she blanches at the sight, Finnabair reaches back for another arrow. As the orch bends to take up the Haladin girl, ripping at her flesh, she sets the dart to the string again, aiming with stony eyes on the creature. One breath and she peers down the long shaft of the arrow, centring it so that it might join the first.

Even as Branwyn runs past the group and they turn to follow, the two archers summoned by her whistle begin to shoot. Two of the yrch are wounded before they realize they are under fire from another quarter and with a minimum of words, they decide one elf might be easy prey, but not with hidden archers as backup. What are likely orkish curses are heard as they head into the trees and away from the Doriathrim.

Stopping as she reaches the tree where her bow and quiver still wait, Branwyn stops, breathing hard. A quick glance show the yrch beginning to leave and she pauses there, knowing the two archers will join her shortly. Sheathing her sword, she once more takes up bow and quiver. Cultures breakdown and activity as of Tue Feb 26 03:00:00 2002.

After having dropped the woman's body back to the ground, Dornalk turns back to Finnabair and gives her a dark, bloody grin and begins to slowly walks towards her. He had given the signal for retreat and so all the orcs are going back first to the place between the trees where they first started. The Smith brandishes his blood covered axe and puffs himself up in attempt to intimidate her, leaving the arrow in his chest, not even breaking the shaft off.

Finnabair's second arrow flies and more aware this time, the Smith tries to avoid it but still comes too close and slices across his arm, slicing through the leather and deeply nicking him. It makes him stop a second but he keeps coming.

From within the trees the sounds of shouting and clatter of weaponry come, Haladin from the camp called by the sound of fighting. Two dozen men running through the threes, they see the retreat of the yrch and give them chase with arrow and axe; Finnabair stands in place, watching the Master Smith ignore two of her arrows. Her gaze cold and impersonal, she quickly reaches for a third, bringing it forward to her longbow and drawing in an economy of movement. The dart set upon the advancing orch, she lets her fingers slip from the string and it flies forward.

Branwyn sighs in relief as help from the camp itself arrives and begins to harass the yrch, who seem to be retreating. With the two Doriathrim who have joined her, she starts to make her way through the trees at the northern edge of the birch forest, hunting for stragglers. Having caught a brief glimpse of Xoria in the distance and thus knowing the warden is at least on her feet, Bran's thoughts turn to the two Edain. Yet still she makes her way carefully, for it is not unknown for the enemy to leave behind one or two of their kind, hidden until the unwary comes upon them.

Coming completely to his senses now, Dornalk leaps out of the way of the arrow and stops for a second before retreating..moving quite fast for his size and grabs the body of leana, putting it over his back and holds it as he runs,. using it as a sheild for his hhide from the arrows.

The orch easily avoids the third of Finnabair's arrows, and as she is about to reach for a fourth it turns and snatches up the limp body of the young Haladin, "No!", she cries, hurrying to set her arrow again, but the body of the girl is slung over its shoulder and she finds herself unable to loose the dart and away the creature flees with its prize. The Haladin arrive from behind her, racing past to give the Master Smith chase too, and Finnabair stands there, body stiffly held with her weapon down at her side. As their shouting grows distant with the pursuit, the Beorian ranger stares despondently after them for several moments and then quietly turns, taking up her axe where she left it on the ground and making her way through the trees, returning alone to the camp.