Ravenous Hydra (Lvl Up)

Raging Roar, Draconian Despair

Korra had to hold her hair in place to keep it from blowing into her mouth as Kirin traversed a snowy landscape. Though it wasn't exactly the dead of winter down on the mainland, deep in the mountains snow fell easily and the temperature dropped a lot more from the altitude. Kirin fit in naturally among all of the white, his scales shined brightly with all of the reflection, but Korra was no different with her style of dress that came from the creature's scales and furs. She had to hold her vest closed with her opposite hand to keep the wind out as well though, she was scantily clad normally, and with nothing new to dress in she ended up coming out this far with her usual outfit exposing herself to the elements.

Being carried by Kirin at least provided her with some help, hopefully if Parvati was willing she would borrow some body heat from the Amazoness as well as she glanced back hoping the woman was right behind her on Kirin as well. "Are you doing alright back there?" She asked in a soft concerned voice since she was cold as well, she was worried Parvati was the same. "I probably should have mentioned how deep into the mountains it would be." She thought in hindsight knowing that that would probably allowed for more preparation, but Korra came here so infrequently that she didn't really put much thought into what was needed. "The destination is warm though, it's only just a little bit further." She added pointing ahead with a finger not about to let the wind into her clothes by lifting her hand too high to point it out more obviously.

The destination was perhaps difficult to see in the landscape of pure white with few trees. There was however a small dark spot in the distant white hills that would be easy to miss if someone didn't know exactly where it was. Going by foot would no doubt require gear and supplies, but fortunately Kirin cut out the need for a lot of that with speed and ease of movement as well. "Just a little bit longer okay?" She said biting her lip, thus far there hadn't been any real damage or danger outside of the chill of the mountain. It might make Korra's request for help and comments on the dangers and the gravity of the situation seem a little strange, but Korra's expression was tense unlike her usual mellow and mischief seeking demeanor. As if something grave was waiting for them.

@Parvati Roshan

 

Korra flashed a small but bothered smile from Parvati's reaction, not so much bothered by the reaction, but from the howling wind that made her shudder. She leaned back a bit further into Parvati's body for warmth as Kirin galloped on, the wind from the creature's speed not exactly helping her unfortunate position. It took a short while longer, Kirin's speed was naturally able to get them there quickly. Getting closer didn't make it easier, the dark spot in the snow however was a small cavernous ditch, one that had a dark and steep incline, one that Kirin was initially unwilling to traverse, but after some prodding, the steed stepped forward slipping down into the ditch before stumbling down through soft snow clearly unable to keep it's footing.

Korra slid off of her summon, trying gently to tug Parvati off as well as Kirin fell the rest of the way with an uncomfortable huff, the creature clearly dissatisfied by being forced to fall into the ditch but within, Parvati would feel a very obvious difference in climate, the instant the snow fell down into the ditch with them, it melted almost immediately after cushioning their fall turning into water. Even the water would quickly evaporate in the air even bubbling against the surface before fizzling out. It was evidently hot within the small ditch, so much so that moisture couldn't survive. The tropical climate was likely more Parvati's speed, though Korra was pulling at her top feeling a bit strained by that as well. "This is a bit better right?" She asked Parvati with a small smile that was clearly forced.

The Bard tried to smile, tried to be as silly as usual, but the tension made it difficult for her, this tropical climate was a reminder that was somewhat traumatic for her, it was evident from her efforts to conceal it. In the end, Korra was still a gentle and delicate person who didn't like combat or fighting herself, her memories made her frown a little and she seemed to unconciously inch towards Parvati. She'd try to once more wrap an arm around the girl's hip again, something Parvati warned her not to do again, but if Parvati looked at Korra she'd find Korra looking straight ahead rather then at her, down a dark cavernous hole in the wall of the ditch that led deeper downward into the mountain. Every once in a while a puff of warm air would flow up from that hole melting the snow and brushing past them like a heated breeze. Despite the warmth though, Korra shivered more against Parvati then she did outside in the snow almost needing support to stand.

Kirin on the other hand, was stronger, after recovering from his fall, the creature was clearly on edge as well, but rather then worry like Korra there was a fire alight within it's ruby red eyes, the tension was eager, as if ready to face whatever was before it. Ready to test itself or confront some trouble, ready to meet an old friend again, there were a myriad of emotions going through the majestic steed, all of which might be difficult to discern compared to Korra's worries.

 

Korra stiffened briefly from Parvati's hand, as if it surprised her, her thoughts obviously elsewhere until then, but glancing back up to Parvati, she forced another small smile. She was warmed by the girl's efforts, but she was still visibly shaken, she was having problems dealing with any and everything at the moment. She was practically clinging to Parvati, but even so, she tried to take slow and steady steps down that cavernous cave entrance. The air got warmer but also more moist the further they went down, but Korra's clinging got progressively more fierce as they went down deeper into the mountain. The cave grew dark quickly, almost pitch black as they proceeded, but there wasn't even a single stone blocking the path of that smoothly carved cavern. By the time Korra's nails were practically sinking into the poor girl's skin from anxiety, Parvati would be able to see the end of the cavern was brightly lit. Arriving at it however would reveal a particularly harrowing scene.

Within the brightly lit chamber, the walls and ceiling seemed to stretch a fair distance showing just how far that walk down had been. The hollowed out interior was filled with magma flowing down in two streams along the sides like small rivers narrowing the walk able space within to a wide path the size of a sports stadium. The ground was littered with old and rusted weapons that had been shattered or broken, metal shields that had been splintered, armors with chunks missing as if it were once the scene of an incredible but historic battle... The frightening part, however, was the fact that despite the rust and worn appearance of the equipment, the designs were all modern, as well as the appearances. Parvati might even notice the flag of her people waving somewhere off in the distance, as well as other nations flags either broken or torn up. At the center of the conflict was a single black figure riding a creature that resembled Kirin but was visibly older with a mane that reached it's neck like a beard and 2 spiral horns forking on it's head pointed back like a devil horse. The figure was a man in heroically adorned clothing gripping the creature's reigns beneath it posed as if mid-strike. The figure however, as well as the creature he was riding however weren't moving. As if frozen in time, the pair stood mid-strike pointed towards what was no doubt the epicenter of the battle as every armor, weapon and flag was blown back from the force of an explosion that was at that center point the man was trying to strike.

Korra shuddered briefly at the sight, her grip on Parvati loosening, but not by choice. If Parvati was attentive, she'd see Korra was struggling to stand and was trying to use the woman to prop herself up. The tension turned quickly into an expression of anxiety as she lost a great deal of her physical strength. The sight was always too much for the girl to take in, but she watched it from the entrance to the large chamber as if she'd witnessed this battle herself. "There..." She voiced softly gesturing to the figure of the man who was still standing and seemed as if he was still fighting whatever happened here. "It's still here." She said with a sad smile and tone, but the reason why it might be such an international incident or war inducing tragedy was clear from the flags of other nations that were present as well. Korra trusted Parvati enough to show her this... and help her come here.

"It's hard to stand up... Hehe, it's still hard." Korra spoke with a worried expression as she tried to lean against Parvati for strength. "Sorry... Could you lend me your shoulder for a while though?... Even if 'it' is gone, Hydra still thinks my teacher will wake up." She said in a bleak tone knowing that things will get dangerous the moment they get closer, it would be safer to try and minimize that danger as much as possible.

 

Korra wore a weak smile seeing Parvati's expression gape at the scene as well, she couldn't help understanding, but at the same time, know that Parvati was perhaps misunderstanding as well. "They were eaten." She spoke blankly, answering the thought she knew Parvati was wondering about. There were only scraps of armor, shields, swords and flags but not a single corpse outside of the ominous black figure at the center. "Not in the way you would expect a monster to gobble someone up with teeth and claws though..." She murmured gripping Parvati a bit tighter from remembering. "Everything inside... Was pulled outside and-- And the outsides turned into dust." She said with a very bleak expression but she didn't explain any deeper then that, lest she really start getting flustered and fearful.

Arriving at the figure though, Parvati would be able to notice the man and his steed were both pitch black, as if they were carved from Obsidian or volcanic glass. There were cracks around the man and creature's eyes orifices, but it otherwise remained standing. It was insanely realistic, far too realistic to be a statue as every hair was diligently sculpted and even the man's beard had individual hairs that could be seen and counted. "This was my Teacher... He was the one I wanted to come visit..." She murmured with a sad smile. If Parvati tried to touch it or him, she would tug back on Parvati's arm as hard as she could to try and stop her. "He's the only one... that didn't get turned to dust like the others. Even Kirin's Papa--" She explained glancing down at the creature the man had been riding that was just as frozen and well carved into stone. Kirin approached the sculpture and huffed with a prideful pose as if to say 'He was the best of us' when Korra explained what the steed was.

"He made me stay back at the entrance back there-- Me and Kirin were too small to fight back then." She said, there was a measure of guilt and sadness, as if she felt she should be scattered about in this chamber as ash as well, but she didn't voice that even if it was clear from the survivor's guilt in her gaze. "The only one who survived was Hydra-- He's probably coming straight for us right now to stop us. Hydra was my Teacher's favorite after all... It's been so long, and he still thinks Teacher will wake up." She said with a sad smile knowing that that statue that was once a respected summoner was empty inside, all that was left was the skin that had yet to turn to dust like the bodies around him. "Someday... My song will reach him, but I'm not strong enough to help him understand." She said with a tone that was half sad half frustrated from her rate of growth. Still, she looked up at the statue-like remains, to this day the man and his steed's features could be clearly seen.

 

Korra smiled faintly at the statue for a short while, still clinging to Parvati all the while, as if having a short dialogue internally with the one who taught her magic and music. It was a moment of silence that was somber but also warm, even if they were gone after all, the person was like a parent to Korra who had tried fending for herself from her youth. Though she wanted to stay a little longer, Korra was jarred from her melancholy by a loud billowing roar. It was a monstrous and vicious sound, but the feeling behind it was a cross between rage and hopelessness. Rather then growing fearful though, Korra's faint smile grew weaker, it was clear that whatever was roaring was not what had done the damage here, it was something more familiar to her. "Hydra is here-- We should run." She murmured knowing it was coming to try and stop them from getting near this statue.

As Korra tried to explain, the roaring was joined by a second roaring sound, then a third as if more were gathering to roar as one in fury and despair. In the distance towards one side of the cavern, Parvati would be able to see the Magma parting for a large serpent that was shaking itself free of the fires. As if it were trying to commit suicide by lava, it's head rose from the magma revealing fleshy muscle and even bone in some places as it was joined by other heads that suffered from the same damage because of the magma. Once free from the fiery lava though, even across the vast distance, it's healing was visible to the eye as the flesh was spun back over bones and tendons reconnected. A thick carapace grew once more as skin once more wrapped the bleeding flesh covering the fragile flesh in armor much like Kirin's scales. The heads were big enough to swallow a person head first, or simply eat out their mid-section with a bite but the length was enough to cross a block of houses as nine heads finally shook free from the lava. The body of the creature stepped up with a large clawed hand that was similarly reviving but the body of the creature that supported these heads was the size of a small home. It wasn't like Kirin that was a fast and agile creature, it was clear from a glance that Hydra was a true tank, from it's sturdy carapace that had almost no gaps to it's size.

"Go!" She spoke louder seeing Hydra healing in an effort to deal with them, she tried to softly push Parvati towards Kirin so they could try to get out as soon as possible. The snake monster however wasn't brainless, while it's heavy feet moved slowly, it was closer to the exit due to it's position in the lava. It began dragging it's large body towards that door in an effort to block their past as it continued roaring threateningly at them. Curiously though, despite it having 9 heads roaring in unison, only 7 of them seemed hostile while the other 2 seemed to recognize Korra and simply express sadness and mutual pain from loss.

 

Korra hesitated briefly after getting onto Kirin as well, the steed let out a loud horse-like cry before darting away from the large creature that had writhing heads, but it took up the whole of the walk way with it's size and neck length making getting around it impossible without being able to fly. Instead, Kirin ran back to get some distance first as the amalgam of snakes began waddling forward with it's bulky body restraining their collective movement. "Hydra was Teacher's favorite, he was as strong as a Level 4 Adventurer with Teacher's power supporting him, now, he's probably weakened from not having another magic source to heal with, probably around Level 3 with all of it's heads..." She spoke, but that sort of news was probably scarier then the creature itself. It was a monster that was at least a level higher then both of them combined, Korra sat up on Kirin, trying slowly to stand on Kirin's back like an equestrian using Parvati's shoulder for support so she wouldn't fall. She brought her fingers to her lips suddenly moistening them with her tongue before trying to blow as hard as she could.

She let out a sharp whistle, the sound was sharp, like a cry, but after the first note it grew melodious as she continued whistling out a sharp melody. The song itself, was one that was familiar to her, like Kirin had a song, Hydra also had a song, but it was a song that Korra lacked the tools and power to complete as her teacher had. It was a song that required a wind instrument, one that Korra didn't have, her teacher's Orcarina was burnt black like the rest of her teacher's personal effects and spear. It was the best she could do to use her whistle to try and reach the rage filled Hydra behind them. The song itself was very gentle and bright, Korra had to stop and start every once in a while for a breath though as she glanced back at the snake creature that was still ambling towards them. As Korra's song continued, a few of the heads began to grow less aggressive and hostile, she could reach them, but not all of them. Her power was strong, but not strong enough, instead merely five heads stopped their pursuit leaving only two ambling around angrily and with an intense fury to try and stop them from leaving the cavern alive after disturbing the statue.

With only two heads left, Korra tensed her grip on Parvati's shoulder trying to be reassuring. "It's only two-- We can do it if it's two." She said trying to reassure Parvati, after all, few knew Hydra as well as she did. "It's because it's you-- Because of your magic that we can do it." She said gently squeezing Parvati's shoulder gently to motivate the girl. Hydra was no doubt a scary and frightening creature, it was because she knew one day this creature would hear her song completely and bond with her that she wouldn't have to use a crossbow forever, with this kind of creature backing her, what good would a weapon be? Korra had faith in Parvati though, enough to urge Kirin to turn back towards Hydra who still had 2 heads roaring with rage and hostility eager to tare into the three of them for trespassing. "I believe in you." Korra added once more as she held onto Parvati's shoulder as well. Korra was naturally afraid, but Hydra wasn't the one responsible for this damage, he was as much a victim as anyone else, one that they needed to stop if they wanted to survive.

 

The creature was as aggressive as ever, though when the lightning struck one of it's heads, the force of the strike made the head and neck quake, but the body didn't even slow down a single beat as it kept lumbering forward. It was only fortunate that the body was slow, but when Parvati glanced back to see the beast's head, she'd see that the blast of lightning had stripped away a portion of the carapace causing bleeding visibly. More harrowing however was the fact that the damage had been done was being visibly reversed as the flesh that was burned began to throb and twitch as it grew lively once more and the carapace inch by inch began filling in the hole that was punched in by the bolt that cracked a hole in it's armor. Hydra by nature was a creature that was hard to slay, it was for this reason that the despair ridden summon had difficulty trying to kill itself to be with it's previous master, it was why it managed to survive the devastation of other people being devoured. It's ability to survive was it's greatest strength but also the source of it's sorrow at the present.

Biting her lip, Korra knew lobbing spells at it probably wouldn't be enough, no matter how much fire power they had, it would simply keep healing until they passed out from mind down. Even if it was slow, it didn't need to be fast when there was no way for damage to accumulate on it's body. "We need to sever the hostile heads so it will listen. Can you try to aim for it's eyes to blind it?" She asked with high hopes, all the while, Kirin continued running them towards the wall opposite of the tunnel they entered through. Rather then her crossbow, Korra tried to pull her Lute from her back knowing that her pathetic archery skills wouldn't be much of a help against Hydra, instead she had to rely on the only spell she knew that could cause damage-- She had to rely on Kirin again. "I can cut them off, but I'll need to count on you to burn away the neck stump so it can't grow back quickly... Can you do that Parvati?" She asked knowing that this was the reason she needed Parvati's help and protection, burning the wounds was the only way to stunt it's healing and revival. Even the lightning attack that it was slowly healing from was still a slow and steady process rather then a rapid regrowth.

With her lute in hand though, she started playing a song that Parvati was familiar with, it was Kirin's song, the one she used for summoning the majestic horse. Though it might seem strange that she was trying to summon it again even though it was already here, it was her only method of attack with magic even if she'd end up mind down after using it three or four times. Plucking the strings, the electrical discharge of her spell came from her fingertips darting across the strings as it did with Kirin's hooves crackling softly with the song she was playing to create a rhythm that was more well rounded then it would have been with just the lute alone. The horse seemed ready for the spell though as it lowered it's head trying to focus on the 'Jump' that would come soon. Unfortunately, Korra's chant was the length of the song in it's entirety. It would be a while before she could actually cast it.

 

Korra bit her lip as she tried to play the song as she remembered without hastening it to cast the spell sooner. Watching the Hydra trying to heal it's eyes, it finally slowed, though it wouldn't stop from damage, the monster that it was would stop for nothing and simply aggressively pursue it's prey, it slowed to make sure it's victims didn't escape as it's eyes healed. Though it slowed a bit, it's other heads turned downwards to watch in their places, the wounded hostile heads using the vision of the others to track it's targets, it was still slowing it's pace just in case as it's eyes were slowly forming back starting from the nerves. Seeing that it had slowed though, Korra knew this was a good chance as she continued her song.

"Parvati, we have to jump." She spoke trying to urge the girl down with words since her spell required her hands. She continued playing as she slipped off the side of Kirin slowing to a skid when Kirin slowed to a trot to make sure she didn't fall when landing. Even so though, she continued playing until the final note was struck with a wide sweep of her hand. "Kirin-- Go!" She urged as her summoning spell activated once more and the draconian horse let out a cry trying to match it's foe's roar as it began turning around to charge towards the Hydra. Even if Parvati didn't jump off, she wouldn't be able to stay on much longer when Korra's spell completed, Kirin's body quickly dissolved into a crackling bolt of lightning that shot through the air like a bullet towards the head. The sound of loud roars meeting Kirin's cry could be heard as that bolt met with one of the hostile heads' necks. It was a rough strike from the appearance as the bolt struck like a physical impact instead of the lightning it looked like. Kirin would appear from that crackling veil stamping through the carapace and neck as if he were a blade charging through a blockade to the other side. The large lumbering head fell like a heavy tree crashing against the ground with an incredible weight.

Though it was cut, Parvati would be able to see the stub of the neck writhing and a bulge forming under the flesh, it was clearly preparing to heal much more rapidly then it did from Parvati's lightning strikes that burned it. It's neck hole that had been bleeding for only a flash needed to be burned to have it's healing slowed as well. Kirin on the other side of the creature wasn't perturbed at all after it's charge, being summoned again naturally summoned it to another area, it was the 'jumping' technique Korra had learned from her teacher in her youth, though if Parvati took a glance at Korra she'd find the girl was panting heavily, the spell to summon Kirin always took a lot out of her and tired her, specially when Kirin was already there beside her, but it was the only spell she had that could rip a head from the massive creature. "One-- One more time." She said lifting a hand to her head to wipe her forehead. Her face pale from the exertion, she knew she needed to try again, she began trying to play the lute once more, her pace was a little slower from the strain, but she still smiled to Parvati a moment before going back to trying to finish her song once more.

 

Hydra's body flailed angrily and saddened at the same time as it shook it's heads around violently. Hydra by nature was a creature with unreasonable regeneration ability, but with it's injury burned, the burn would have to heal first before the head could burst free as it wanted. If Parvati watched she would see the burned flesh cracking and writhing as if the head were trying to force it's way through a sealed door. Clearly restrained it still tried to pressure itself out and force the regeneration making the burn crack in places. Though it seemed restrained, that didn't stop it from trying, instead the remaining head finally managed to drag it's lumbering body close enough to strike, glaring down at the pair, it's mouth parted with teeth formed from it's Carapace trying to reach down to grab onto Parvati and Korra.

The sight made Korra's eyes go wide, Hydra's mouth was large enough to swallow a person whole if it snapped down on them from above. Korra didn't want to see that happen to Parvati. With a sharp movement of her hip she tried to bump the Amazoness to one side as Hydra's head came down into the ground scooping up dust and stone as it tore through it in Korra's direction. Trying to brace herself, she lifted her arms up as high as she could to prevent it from snapping down onto her. In doing so she managed to prevent herself from being swallowed up, but the blow of the carapace scraping her arms and it's bottom jaw crashing into her belly thrust her back a good distance. Tumbling, she felt the scrapes on her arms and body every time she hit the ground getting dragged across it from her own weight.

Hydra's size was certainly not for show, it's power like wise was just as terrible as it's regenerative ability. It's only real weakness lied in the reality that it's body was too heavy for it to drag around with it's snake heads making it easy to outrun and without a ranged attack, it could only keep trying to drag itself forward. In this cave where there was only a single exit behind it though, that weakness didn't matter as much. By the time she came to a stop, Korra groaned trying to sit up. Her healing magic wouldn't work on herself, everything felt broken even if she knew it wasn't literally 'broken'. It hurt. Reaching for her loot, her hand shook, half exhaustion, half pain, but she turned towards Parvati with a small smile. "I-It's okay, I can still play-- Just, Just be careful." She murmured trying to play her lute once more, though it was harder to play the Lute after such a blow, she had to hold it against the ground and pluck the notes one at a time with the same finger trying to hurry worried that Parvati might be the next to get hurt by Hydra.

 

Korra forced a pained smile as best she could for Parvati, after all, if she let someone she cared about worry, she wouldn't be doing a very good job supporting them right? Parvati was someone she didn't want to panic or fluster, instead, she forced a smile and continued trying to play her Lute for Kirin's spell. Lightning darted delicately over the strings, she couldn't help trying to quicken the song, but she couldn't go too fast knowing that that would ruin it. She pushed herself up to her feet to join Parvati as well, at least wanting to be together as the lightning struck the head once more frustrating the creature even more thoroughly. It's once cracked carapace had been ripped further open revealing more burnt flesh as it's craggy carapace splintered and cracked deeper like stone or concrete being smashed by a hammer.

With an angry roar, it tried to snap forward once more, that large jaw darting towards them again. Korra couldn't stop it with her body again, but she grit her teeth turning her gaze to the creature's side. "Kirin--!" She shouted as the majestic white creature that had been racing back to Korra since she'd been struck closed the distance in time to receive the blow in stead. The creature's jaw clamping down on the horse's mid section, the snake head almost the same size as the horse's mid section itself couldn't quite get a reasonable enough sized bite to clamp down. Kirin's scales only made that harder as the pair roared and neighed back at each other defiantly trying not to be the first person to give up in that bizarre tug aware of break or eat. Though Kirin began to bleed, the Hydra couldn't quite widen it's head enough to spit the horse's body out, and it didn't seem to have the strength to wantonly throw Kirin about like it might a human.

Though every time it clamped down on the horse, Korra visibly shuddered, she shared exhaustion and pain with Kirin after all, It was like having four blades chomping down at her underarms and hips trying to bite through but not quite being enough. Instead the feeling of being slowly sawed into was what she had to deal with as she finished her song. "Just a little more-- Burn it." She muttered as the last note was plucked. "Kirin-- Jump." She murmured her word as she plucked that last string. Once more Kirin would let out a loud cry, it's body once more turning into lightning. There was a jolt and the creature lost it's physical body leaving nothing to stop the Hydra from advancing. It's head darted forward, getting closer to them but just before it's gaping and drooling maw snapped down on Korra and Parvati it would jerk as the lightning once more rode through the neck region bursting through the creature as it had previously. The head going limp from being dismembered not even a foot away from them. Now all that was left was for Parvati to burn the last bleeding nub before it grew back.