A Horse By Any Other Name (Part 22)

One Month after the Summer Solstice (Seventh Moon 1000 ALB) 

Shadow calls back “Hey we got company coming.”  He then prepares himself for battle. 

The sound of an obvious upcoming battle shakes Grotto's melancholy and raises his spirits a bit. He takes a quick mental note of where his party members are and readies his axe. "Abacus, Foil Hat, get behind me for protection!" The dwarf waits with eager anticipation ready to fight a fiend then to fix a friend! 

Niklas takes in the odor of the oncoming animal and runs through his mental animal inventory to see if he can glean any insight into the animal. His equine nostrils breathe in, the pungent odor of a heavy, furred animal fills his lungs but, strangely, there is also a hint of something... sweet? 

Kysek shakes his head. The elficorn whispers softly, “Whatever that is doesn’t sound happy to see us.” He concentrates, thinking his way through the words and gestures associated with a spell that delivers a powerful electric jolt by touch. His horn glows dimly and he can feel his hair stand on end as the energy begins to course through his body. 

Cedron takes up a defensive stance with his staff. He aims the lit end in the direction of the noise. “Gird your loins, ponies!” 

Raven, sword clenched in his teeth, snarls back at the darkness and readies an attack. 

Remaining hidden Drax will simply wait to find out what the situation is, the assassin remains nonplussed, having faced down hundreds of creatures hundreds of times in situations far more disadvantageous than this. 

Ra’ziir waits until the beast becomes visible, sword raised and words of magic readied. 

Abacus, now at the back of the group, whispers, "Everypony, by ready. I am casting a spell." Three glowing balls of light appear before the wizardly pony and begin to float down the passageway, softly illuminating the passage. 

The growl becomes more fierce but is joined by a harsh buzzing sound. The air in the cramped hallway stirs into a light breeze and a pair of dull red eyes reflect the light from Abacus's summoned orbs before a monstrously large bear comes into view. It towers over the group, its head scraping the ceiling above, black and white fur entirely covering its rounded body except for its translucent dragonfly wings. The monster roars a challenge, it's wicked claws gouging deep grooves in the stone walls to either side.

- - - - -

• Cedron: 95% health; Light (79 minutes, 8 rounds remaining)

• Drax: 100% health; Nondetection (lasts until about 10 pm), Undetectable Alignment (lasts until about noon tomorrow)

• Grotto: 94% health;

• Kysek: 100% health; Shocking Grasp (1 round or 1 touch remaining), Half of the Tome has been read

• Niklas: 100% health; 

• Raven: 80% health; 

• Ra’ziir: 80% health;

• Shadow: 97% health; Overland Flight (18 hours, 57 minutes, 7 rounds remaining)