Epocheia

[Sparrow]

A clucking is heard followed by approaching footsteps. Soon a nine foot tall bird, closely resembling a mononykus but with stronger wings steps through the brush. It tilts its head side to side carefully looking at the surroundings. Sparrow has a ‘so stupid it just might work expression’ as she looks up at vines hanging from a tree above.

[FoxTrott]

Ericken and Vince watched the raptor-like creature with interest. Ericken noted Sparrow's odd expression, and raised an eyebrow.

[Sparrow]

Sparrow nods to Steve as he looks down from the tree.
Steve nods in response and pulls down a few vines and ropes them around his arm.
Sparrow looks up at a low vine and quickly pulls it down. This catches the creature’s attention and it turns to her and screeches. As it lunges forward at her, Steve drops down on top of it, landing on its head. Quickly he catches its muzzle in several vines and pulls them tight causing its to snap shut. The creature thrashes around trying to throw Steve off. Sparrow runs out of the bush, loops a vine around one of its legs then weaves around the creatures legs, before pulling the vine. The vine tightens and trips the creature, it still thrashes and kicks its legs trying to get free. Steve lets go but pulls the vines to keep it from getting up. Sparrow quickly runs up and puts a hand to its neck, just under the lower jaw. Immediately the creature stops thrashing and lays still, it makes low annoyed clicks.
Sparrow and Steve sigh.

[FoxTrott]

Ericken's head was titled to the left in an obvious sign of confusion.

"Well, you said you're hungry enough to eat a cow," Vince said, walking over to Ericken and patting his shoulder, "There's a much bigger bird. Though I doubt we're going to eat it."

"So..." Ericken stepped out of the bush, brushing the stray leaves off him, "What was the purpose of that? Um."

[Sparrow]

“Well earlier you mentioned a horse. These are used the same way.” Sparrow explains.
Sparrow gets up and walks over to the creature’s legs and untangles them, then takes a few steps back as Steve releases the vines. After realizing it can move again the bird stands up and shakes ground debris off itself. The veins that hold its muzzle shut remain and act like reins.

[FoxTrott]

"You mean... you eat them?"

Ericken was elbowed by Vince in response. "An unorthodox mode of transportation, but..." Vince shrugged. "Whatever allows us to get out of here."

[Sparrow]

Sparrow grabs the reins and tugs them lightly, causing the bird to lower to the ground on one knee.
“Hop on then.” she says to them, stroking the bird’s head lightly.
Steve looks around incase of an ambush.

[FoxTrott]

Vince confidently got on first, surprising nervous Ericken. Ericken managed to clamour on behind him after a few tries.

"Are you an ostrich-riding expert?" Ericken asked, sitting with both legs on one side.

"Used to ride horses," Vince explained quietly, "So I know how to get on."

"Oh."

"And I also know you're riding like a girl."

Ericken readjusted himself.

[Sparrow]

Sparrow hops onto the bird, just behind its neck. Steve jumps on also, but sits facing the opposite direction just before the tail.
“I’ll keep a look out back here.” Steve says calmly.
“Alrighty then.” Sparrow replies.
“I know you don’t like high speeds, so we’ll go at about half.” she says then cracks the reins.
The bird stands and changes direction according to the reins. It makes a small whistle before bolting. It takes clearer paths and runs at about 35mph.

[FoxTrott]

Ericken clasped his arms around Vince's torso, trying not to fall off. Vince gritted his teeth, more so at Ericken than the speed.

"Are we not that far from, um, whatever the place is?" Ericken asked. His eyes were closed, his face buried in the back of Vince's jacket.

[Sparrow]

“We’re not to far from the incline, that’s the only thing we need to worry about I think.” she replies.
“Uhhh, may have spoke to soon on that one. We got a problem back here.” Steve says, trying to keep a calm tone while inching back slightly.
“What kid of problem?” Sparrow asks.
“One that may make you want to speed up for.” Steve says, his voice grows more panicked with each word.
The bird tips its head back and squawks in fearful surprise.
“Why? What is” she peers back,
“Holy Flimflam!”
The bird takes off at a higher speed even without the order after a roar is heard from behind.

[FoxTrott]

Vince's firm grip and Ericken's even firmer hug were the two things keeping them from falling off once the bird sped up.

"I have an idea of what's behind us, I'm not looking," Vince grumbled. Ericken moaned.

[Sparrow]

“Dodge left!” Steve calls from the back.
Sparrow tugs the rains and the bird follows. Just barely avoiding a jet spray of pale green fluid.
“There’s the incline.” Sparrow says looking up at a nearly vertical cliff.
“But there’s no way we can scale it without being caught.”
There is a shrill roar from behind, the creature from earlier has attacked the other thing.
“Well that’s lucky...” Sparrow says cheerfully.
“Get ready the incline is harsh.”
The bird leaps onto the cliff side and begins slowly making its way up, getting faster as it gets a feel for climbing.

[FoxTrott]

At Steve's call, Ericken ducked, bringing Vince into a duck with him.

"You don't do that to somebody who's riding," Vince stated. The two straightened up, but held onto the bird tight.

[Sparrow]

After several minutes the bird hangs nearly upside-down to get over the last few rocks.
The sound of fighting can be heard below.