[OP-F1] The Journey begins (Complete)

[Garou 0]

Garou frowned and averted his gaze to his shoddy shoes. "Perhaps that came out wrong... People dying is no joke. But all my life has bored me to death. Sword Art Online gives me excitement like I've never felt before, even if most of it stems from the fear of death looming around every corner. I guess its why people climb mountains in real life with no gear, to feel the rush of adrenaline, the stimulating experience of helplessness that you get by looking Death itself in the eyes..." Garou turned his own back to the older man, looking up at clouds in the sky. "Amtrum, I want to help the other players. I think they need us."

[Amtrum 0]

"No. What they need is someone who is looking for more than just a thrill to feel alive."

He shook his head taking a step away from the boy.

"Perhaps your life has always bored you because you are a boring person. Perhaps this too will bore you in time and you will fade into one of the cities. Or maybe you will die chasing some silly little thrill."

He hoped for the kid's sake it was the former over the later.

"If you are viewing this as all fun and games, a way to feel alive and chase a thrill then they don't need you. You're heart might be in the right place kid, but your attitude is going to get you, and maybe others killed. Don't be so eager to have people rely on you if you are not able to think smart and take a step back. Because your actions will affect them, think about what that effect will be."

[Garou 0]

Anger welled up in his body like lava, pushing up to his throat as all kinds of nasty responses flooded his mind, dancing their way to his tongue. However, Garou managed to choke down his passion and wash the burning sensation inside him away with a sigh. He considered Amtrum's words for a few seconds before replying. "I suppose you're right. My emotions have taken over while my brain must have shut down. I almost forgot how serious this situation is. Maybe I'm just in denial..."

Garou collapsed into a seated position with a second sigh as he looked towards the man who was still in his party. "Are you about to leave? I'm gonna grind some more and hang around this city before I enter really dangerous positions. Get a wolf, learn to play the lute, get nice and ready for this... hell that awaits us..." Garou stressed the word that was opposite of what he described Aincrad as just a minute ago, wearing a glum face.

[Amtrum 0]

"Hey, don't go changing your mind because of what I said. You can think and view this place however you want. But keep in mind not everyone is going to be so happy about being trapped in a world with monsters where we can die for real. But if you really want to help people I'd strongly advise thinking things through."

He wasn't sure if he should leave or not. He could beat these boars on his own. That was pretty clear. But he also needed to find his own friends. But if he left the kid who knows what kind of trouble he would find himself into. The kid clearly had a bit of a hot head. Even if he was keeping a lid on it at the moment.

"I'll stick around a little bit. But I will need to start looking around for my friends too soon. But it wouldn't hurt to get a bit more experience under our belts, maybe some cash as well."

He drew his sword.

"You sure you are ready for wolves? The boars looked like they gave you a bit of a hard time."

He said smirking at the kid.

[Garou 0]

The lad's face darkened as Amtrum said a word that was like poison in his ears.

Friends.

Garou had no real friends to call his own. His classmates were more of acquaintances, and he never really met anyone outside of school. However, he felt destined away from Amtrum. The two seemed to have conflicting ideals, and despite both having some anger issues the two players were very different. He saw the man as an ally, maybe a friend. But he felt he shouldn't join up with Amtrum's group, even if he was offered a place in some guild. Garou would have to find lonely people like himself, maybe form his own guild. But that by no means meant denying cooperation with Amtrum.

Garou got up and laughed. "I was going easy on the pig at first. You know, tricking it into thinking I was weak so I could surprise it." The boy swung out his sword and pointed it with one hand towards the older player with a grin.

[Amtrum 0]

Amtrum felt it too. The two of them were very different people, different values. Different outlooks on life. He had nothing against the kid, but he was rash and impulsive. And in this kind of situation he was going to get someone killed. He'd rather not be that person.

"As long as you don't trick yourself into thinking you are stronger than you are."

He said raising the sword up to point at the kid as well. His blade sliding to the side in an attempt to push the kid's blade away so it was not pointing directly at him.

"And here is a tip from the real world that will probably apply here too. Don't point your weapon at someone unless you intend to use it and kill them. Otherwise you may find yourself the one winding up dead."

[Garou 0]

Garou lost his balance and almost pressed his face into Amtrum's sword. He slammed his front foot down, so close he could smell the weak iron. The boy breathed a sigh of relief as he stood upright again, looking to Amtrum. "I think I get it." He shook out his arms and readjusted his belt as he swung out his sword. "Let's go make some wolf stew," Garou said with a small smile.

[Amtrum 0]

He breathed a sigh of relief that the kid didn't fall on his sword. This kid was going to be in a lot of trouble at this rate. But he didn't die by Amtrum's hand and that was good. His shoulders relaxed and his face broke out into a small nervous smile.

"Well, you can still have fun and stuff. Just keep in mind the gravity of the situation."

He was a kid after all.

"And sure, let's do it. Though I don't have a cooking skill leveled."

If he actually wanted stew.

[Garou 0]

Garou searched the plains until he spotted lupine figures in the distance. He pointed off in the direction and began walking with his sword in hand. "How do you suppose we get the jump on these things? There's no way we're faster than them..." The young purple-haired player shuddered at memories of stories he had heard in the real world. Wolves, desperate for food, attacking and tearing apart passive human beings. The canines were sure and deadly with their bodies, an unholy combination of raw strength, intense agility, and a devilish cunning.

It was time to find out if SAO knew how a wolf acted.

The hard way.

[Amtrum 0]

"We don't have to be faster than them. If we can't get the jump on them, then let's bait them to attack us."

He said moving his sword back waiting for his skill to be ready before looking over at the kid. He wanted to have some fun, then they could have some fun. It was all in the execution of the plan. That was fun.

"Why don't you whistle or something to get their attention when you are ready. And when they charge at us we can strike them down!"

[Garou 0]

The kid nodded sharply. "Mhmm." He scanned the surrounding area once more, noticing a large patch of tall grass about 30 feet away from the wolves. He pointed a finger at it and looked at Amtrum. "There. We slink into the weed and I'll whistle. We'll take them down when they come over." His heart rate began to increase as his forehead started to sweat already. These weren't your average Porky Pig; these were wild, pack-minded hell hounds desperate for food. Without a second's warning, Garou sprinted on the tips of his feet and slid into the tall grass, unnoticed by the prowling wolves.

[Amtrum 0]

Amtrum nodded. He was fine with getting into a hiding spot before they started the fight. It would just get them closer to the action and the sweet sweet experience points. He moved silently past the brush to the hiding spot. Low and concealed he too was uncaught. He gave the kid a quick pat on the back to signal that he was ready as he started to charge up his next skill.

Get it done quick and clean. The less HP they lost the longer they could fight without a break. Though they would need to also keep an eye on their stamina. He would wait for the whistle and when the first wolf came at them he would charge out with his readied skill. Slashing through the wolf leaving a large red gouge in it.

But that was just one wolf and as the kid pointed out, they were pack animals. A second one lunged for him only to have Amtrum's blade catch in it's mouth keeping it from biting him as he tried to push it back. But these things were stronger than the boars. This was going to be a bit more trouble.

"Grrrrr. Come on you stupid thing."

[Garou 0]

Garou gave a shrill whistle, causing the four wolves to look around in confusion. The leader, ears perked, managed to locate the noise and walked into the grass, leading its family. Garou kept low as Amtrum knocked the leader back with a near fatal blow. The older man found himself wrestling a second wolf the next second, forcing Garou to blow his own cover and slash a charged basic sword skill through Amtrum's offender. "SWITCH IN!" The weapon tore into the wolf's neck but it was still barely alive. Garou leaped back as the other two, full-health wolves snarled and lunged at the boy, making him almost dance. "Your turn!" he gasped, looking to Amtrum.

HP: 12

(4/4)

[Amtrum 0]

Amtrum jumps back to let his partner switch in and takes the one that Amtrum had just blocked. Unfortunately the one that Amtrum had failed to kill was now striking. And Amtrum was top of the aggro list. The wolf pounced and ripped it's teeth into Amtrum's arm causing him to stumble back on the ground dropping his sword.

"Get off me you mangy mutt!"

He yelled as he kicked at the wolf to knock it off, scrambling for his sword. His eyes dropping down to look at his arm and the red gashes inside of it. It didn't hurt though, which was almost worse. He knew he should be hurting but he just wasn't... That was going to take some getting used to.

[Garou 0]

Garou almost began to panic. Amtrum was being hounded (pun not intended, but its here, so whatever)) while the two peak condition wolves were flanking him. His gut pulled and his survival instinct kicked in. Garou raised his longsword with both hands to the sky, allowing it to glow a dark purple color. He jumped forward at the wolves and let out a spinning slash skill. "CYCLONE!"

The two wolves leaped back in time and both pounced on him, biting into him simultaneously. Garou cried out to Amtrum who had problems of his own. The by was pinned down. Was this to be his fate? Eaten to death by his favorite animal?

HP: 8 (Max 14)

3/5

[Amtrum 0]

He was having some trouble with the injured wolf still. They probably should have stuck with the boars from the look of things. This was potentially going to get bad. And not to mention humiliating to die so early. No! He refused to die here like this. He swiped out with his sword missing the wolf but causing it to jump back. He shifted to get closer to the kid.

"Get up. Back to back. This way they can't flank us."

He put up a guard hoping to block the on coming attacks that were sure to come.

"We can do this. Stay calm."

The wolf lunged forward again and once more Amtrum missed, the wolf biting his leg.

"Gah!!"

He shook his leg trying to get it off, stumbling back against his partner.

[Garou 0]

Garou aimed a kick at the wolf attacking Amtrum square in the face, between its eyes. It didn't come out as hard as he wanted it to, but it got the wolf off of his fellow party member. Garou went back-to-back with Amtrum and held up his sword as he prepared his purple charged longsword. "We both have two-handed swords, right!? Then lets both unleash Cyclone! Its a basic sword skill, sort of a spin attack!"

[Amtrum 0]

Was it two handed? He had been using it one handed like in Dungeons and Dragons. Both hands clasped the handle of his blade and he closed his eyes as he held it out. Feeling the timer go as his weapon glowed. He nodded with the kid's plan. They were surrounded, it was a good one.

"One. Two. Now! Cyclone!"

He unleashed the attack, not ready for the way it would move and pull at him. The sword dipping and digging into the ground, his body lurching forward. The wolf evaded his blow, but hopefully his partner would do better.

[Garou 0]

The boy flailed his sword around over Amtrum's head and below his belt line with a blood-lusting roar. A weakened wolf leaped over the swing and dug its fangs into Garou's neck. The kid bumped into his partner as he attempted to peel the wolf off, himself howling in falsely-sensed virtual pain. Why? Why here, with a stranger I haven't even known for a whole hour? I don't even get to fight a single boss?

HP: 4

2/5

[Amtrum 0]

The wolf soared overhead and latched onto his partner things were looking grim. His breathing was getting heavier and his hit points had dipped into the yellow. This was not looking good. Sword skills kept missing too. He didn't know what he was doing wrong. But maybe he needed to not just use sword skills?

Shifting away from his partner, twisting so he was facing him he thrust his blade forward into the wolf attacking him and plunged it deep into it's body. The wolf released and let out a yelp before busting into blue shards. One down. Two more to go.

"Don't give up! We can do this! Just focus."

They could do this. They had to.