//------------------------------// // 1 - She Witcher of the Wolf. Vengence of the Swallow // Story: Vatt'ghern: Zireael evn'gesaen aen evall. // by Velvet-Fresh //------------------------------// Prologue - Swallow's Return, the fangs of a Wolf. Crookback Bog, home to many necrophages. From ghouls, to drowners and water hags, but it is also was the home of the Orphans and where the Crones once resided. This is where the story begun as a young lady rush through the murky swamp, unyielding as she with a rush of her step became a flash of aura dashing past a snarling drowner. Cirilia hopped over a log, with a shout she cut down a hag that went to close. She didn't stop, no matter even if her boots caked in mud and blood as she panted. She trudged onwards finally making it to the spot where once resides Anna Strenger and the orphans of war, fog seeped throughout the swamp. As she step forward as she readies her sword, the witcher's blade given to her by her father. As she steady herself for battle a Werewolf steps out from the swamp, snarling at her. A puppet, Weavess' guardian. It meant nothing to Ciri as she stared determinedly at the cursed one. "You think I'm scared witch?" she called out into the fog. "Come out face me you coward, Weavess! Come out, it is time for your end!" she teleported in the nick of time as the werewolf lunged at her, she reappeared behind him slashing her sword downward cutting him. She dashed backward sword at ready as she weaved out the way of his claws, counter attacking as she gets the chance. He was able to injure her, she staggered back grunting. She teleported back and away, charging her powers she lunged forth, turning into a aura magic that phased through the wolf, she appeared sword thrust forward, howling in pain he turns to retaliate but she disappeared again. Slashing him from the side as she dodge rolling out of the way with a shout she slashed upward catching the werewolf in the neck causing it to gurgle and grunt as it was sent sprawling to the ground. It twitched as it tried to moved away before expiring. She turned around and yelled out in pain as a flock of ravens swarmed passed her. "Now now dearie, that ain't proper." an echoing stale voice called out as the ravens flocked towards a spot, stepping into view the crone Waevess cackles as she step forward, seemingly confident "It's rude to hurt my pets little Swallow." mocking her as flies flew out of her many holes. Standing back up as she wiped away the mud from her sleeve, Ciri hold her swords to the side. "You have something of mine, and I've come to finish from last time. Took me awhile in tracking you down. But I learned from the best." she paced around the witch, cautiously not lowering her ground, the witch in return chuckled more. "The white one? Well, he's not here to protect you now child. I would not let you escape this time!" Cirilia only smirked in response. "He doesn't need too, he's too busy in Toussaint to even bother with you." She gave a short laugh "Enough chatter time to die." She teleports, appearing to strike at the crone for her to only dodge away "One of us perishes today, and it will not be me!" She claims as she readies to counter only for Ciri to block it causing her to stagger back. "Got you!" the crone then swiped her claws at her only for Ciri to dodge to the side, thrusting her sword stabbing the crone's side. She pulled out and slashes damaging her further before she teleport out of range. "Take this!" Ciri twirled, her creating an aura dome expanding the area around her, and she spun not giving Weavess room to gain her senses as she seemingly appear from 3 angles striking the mad crone from all sides. She swung her sword again with a shout but the witch escaped by diving into the murk below, She looked around too late,as mud splattered on her face she tries to wipe it off her face as she can hear the cackles of her enemy as Weavess took advantage of her state. "Time to become my dinner little swallow." with a vicious snarl she lunge forward, teeth bared claws extended but her hand only inches away from the young woman's face as she twitched. She looked down aghast and in pain as she could only gurgle as Zireael pierced her throat. Ciri blinked away the mud from her eyes giving the crone a condensing glare. "May you rot here forever, say hello to your sisters." with a twist of her blade and a yell she yanked her sword to the side, blood splattering her. She heaved as as the body crashed into the mud. Twitching as blood pooled around its gaping hole before the crone lay limp after spewing bile and blood onto ground. "And one to make sure" she held her sword up and thrust it downward impaling the creature beneath her. She then searched the body pulling a lone wolf head medallion and curiously a gem. Smiling to herself as she sat down on the murky mud cradling it. "Vesemir, please forgive me wherever you are.." she pulled her sword out lashing the blood off and giving it a wipe with a cloth before she twirled it and sheath it on her back. She reached up returning the medallion to her neck. She smiled as she looked around "Now then, what to do with you?" she muttered as she contemplate her next move holding the gem in her open palm. She hold it up onto the afternoon sun. "Does not look like a sapphire or emerald but you may still fetch a few Crowns.. or I can keep you.." she squinted her eyes as a symbol seem to appear within the gem "What the? Let see.." out of curiosity she pull it closer to see it. She felt her powers resonate through it. "Hello there. Now wha-" it grew brighter the symbol becoming clearer, a horn and wings as she can feel the power of her Elder blood course through her veins she cannot pull back as she allow her power to run it's course her eyes started to glow green and in a gust of wind and heat. Cirilia disappeared from this world. The sun was shining brightly in a bright morning. The birds sung their songs as they perch on the trees, only to quiet as they sensed something and they all flutter away as something appear in a green burst of aura, with "Oof." she grunted as she landed on her side, she pushed herself up, looking around the unfamiliar woods. "Where am I?" she asked herself as she walked around, brushing her hand on the trees. Sniffing the air and listening to nature. "I have a feeling I'm not in Velen anymore." she stopped by the tree, hand placed on the bark. "A new world? Well now" she holds the gem back up, she tossed it up catching it and she pocket it. "Shall we have a look around?" She asked herself with a smile, a spark of adventure in her eye as she continue down the path forward.