The Cougar Hunt

[Makia Ezio]

TimeStamp: Spring, Day 58, 512. 9:00 a.m. The day was warm so Makia decided to sleep in before she went hunting. With this kind of weather, animals would be basking and plentiful. When she did manage to awake, she prepared for her trip: Counted her arrows – 20, tested her bow, and packed her bag with a bit of food. She ate a plentiful breakfast of hot oats and different fruits, knowing she would need the energy for the hunt. She then fed Ezio, her raven, some meat and invited him to join her in hunting. He happily obliged, perched on her shoulder and they both set off toward Sanikas Path. When she reached the gate she chatted with the old Gatekeeper Val for a while and he told her to be careful of some roaming children that were playing outside the gate. She said she would go father down the path to hunt then. As they were talking Makia noticed another Inarta coming down the path. He was well built with bright red hair and colorful braids intertwined within his hair. He was carrying a bow as well and Makia thought she could talk him into coming hunting with her, as a companion maybe. She wouldn’t mind company on a hunt, especially with a fellow hunter. She excused herself from Val and went over to talk to the man. She introduced herself to the man and asked if he would join her on a hunt. The gatekeeper then opened they gate and she slipped through waiting for the man on the other side. Looking around she did in fact see the group of children running around a little ways down the path. I won’t go hunting there then she thought to herself.

[Forah]

It was a rather warm day, so Forah had awoken early to hunt as much as he could during the day, the Chiet was wondering where he should start his hunt when he noticed what he assumed to be another hunter approaching him, she looked roughly the same age as him and about 5 feet tall. He wondered to himself what she could want as she drew closer, he could make out more of her features. She was a rather attractive woman, with shoulder length bright, red hair and deep red eyes. She was standing right in front of him now, rather confidently, though she was an Avora, which was a higher class than himself. The woman introduced herself as Makia Ezio, and explained to him how it would benefit them both to hunt together, he thought about this for a while, and found no reason to object. "Fine," he replied, "I see no reason why we should not hunt together" He stated. "Excuse me for a moment" as he said this he checked his equipment, making sure he hadn't left anything. He pulled his quiver off, quickly counting the Longbow Arrows he was housing inside it's leathery pouch, he counted forty, perfect. Next he pulled off his Bow, imitating drawing an arrow, making sure it was working correctly, next he checked his shortsword was not too blunt, placing it carefully back where he had drew it from. "Well, shall we get going?" He asked, smiling as he did so. Though noticing a lot of noise from behind him, where he had seen some Yasi playing together earlier.

[Makia Ezio]

Makia was delighted when the man accepted her offer. She began walking down the path, towards the children, intending to pass them to hunt further down the path. She stopped and looked back at the man following her, “I didn’t catch your name.” She said, the man had forgotten that part. She fell into step with him and waited for his reply. They were nearing the group of Yasi now. There were about 7 children, a few girls and the rest boys. They were running around, smiling and laughing at the game of tag they played. One a the girls was it and was chasing another boy around, they neared the forest – Makia turned her head sharply to the right when her raven Ezio shrieked right in her ear. She had turned her head to scold the bird, when he flew off her shoulder and toward the running children. She couldn’t understand what he was doing. She tried calling him back but the bird kept flying towards the Yasi, shrieking. They ignored him and kept playing. That’s when she saw what had worried her bird. A cougar was stalking in the shadows of the nearby wood. It was watching the nearing children with interest. Makia panicked and yelled at the children, but it was too late, the cougar sprang from the dark and ran toward the young boy. Now that it was in the light, Makia could see its features, it has a light brown coat, and it was extremely skinny. It was starved, that confused Makia, the game was bountiful, so how could it be hungry? It rushed toward the boy and he realized too late what was coming to him. Makia sprinted towards the animal, and readied her bow. The animal now had its large jaws about the little boy, he and his friends were screaming.

[Forah]

Makia continued down the path, slowing slightly to ask what his name was, he must have forgotten to mention it earlier, he wondered if he had, coming to the conclusion that he must have or she would not be asking now. "My name's Forah, Forah Eache" the man replied, as he wiped lines of sweat from his brow. She seemed as if she was about to reply, but never got a chance due to the fact the Raven that was perched on her shoulder burst into the sky, diving downwards to where the children were playing. Instinctively Forah knew something was wrong, why else would the otherwise peaceful bird launch into the sky in such a manner? He watched several of it's feathers fall down to the ground before turning his attention towards the unfolding scene in front of him, thanks to his knowledge of the surrounding geography, he noticed the lurking shadow behind the children, the shadow that didn't fit. He quickly drew his bow and faced it towards the ground, pulling an arrow from his quiver with his free hand and nocked it, he lifted the bow up in sync with the arrow and pulled the bowstring back, lightening his grip on the arrow and the string as he did, placing his index finger above it and his ring and middle fingers below it, his usual draw method. As the Bird reached the children, a starved Cougar jumped out of the shadows, Makia drew her bow but Forah was way ahead of her, loosing his arrow as soon as he had a clear shot, the arrow whizzed past Makia's head, and he heard her give a quiet gasp of surprised, the arrow flew true and lodged itself into the powerful yet skinny beast's hind back leg, hindering it's movement. The beast quickly retreated, however not before crunching it's jaws around one of the Yasi's legs leaving it writhing in pain on the dust ground.

[Makia Ezio]

Just as Makia was about to shoot the wild animal, another arrow whizzed past her head. She gasped in shock and watched at it tore through the savage cougars hind leg. It howled and let go of the child, running back into the depths of the forest. Makia turned around and saw Forah with his bow at the ready. Makia turned back and thought about following the animal, but then she saw the state of the young Yasi. His leg has been severely damaged and he was bleeding everywhere. The other children were staring at their friend in shock and a few were crying. She ran over to him, her hands hovering over the wound unsure what to do. “Help me over here!” She yelled back at Forah as she tried to lift the boy. “Nen, go back home!” she then told the children. They hesitated but then ran back to the gate. She lifted the boy partially off the ground and started walking to the gate, but she was struggling with the weight.

[Forah]

Makia had ran over to the wounded child, trying to lift him herself, using her authority to send the rest of the children home, "Help me over here" she had asked, Forah sprinted straight over without a moments hesitation, lifting the young boy up from beneath his arms whilst Makia lifted his legs. They both carried the boy down the path, he looked very faint, Forah wondered if he would make it due to lack of blood. As they grew nearer the gate, Forah saw one of the children yank on the metal chain which alerted the gatekeeper Val that someone wanted entrance to the city, they had reached the gate now. "Damn, where is he?!" Forah said, referring to Val, probably taking his time as usual, oblivious to the dire situation outside.

[Makia Ezio]

Faroh quickly helped Makia with the boy and they carried him to the gate as fast as they could, but some things apparently couldn’t be rushed, like the gatekeeper Val. He took his time with the gate, like always, usually Makia wouldn’t mind, but there was an emergency right now. “Damn, where is he?” Forah had said, frustrated. Makia pounded on the gate with her foot and yelled, “Hey Val, can’t take your time today old man! We got a dying kid here!” Ezio cawed in agreement. Makia assumed Val had heard her plea because he came around the corner shuffling as fast as his old legs could take him and opened the gate quickly as he watched the boy with concern. He looked as if he was about to ask a question but Makia answered before he had to. She kept walking as she said, “Cougar attack, we shot it and it ran off. We have to get him to a healer.” They stumbled through the hallway, heading towards the infirmary. When they reached the commons a large, burly man offered to help, took the boy and ran off to the healers. Makia and Forah ran close behind, knowing the healers would still want to talk to them. They reached the infirmary and the boy was hustled away. Makia drew a sigh of relief, we got him here in time, she thought. Then a couple of healers came up to them and started asking questions. They asked they who, what, when, where’s, and whys. Makia answered as best as she could, and the healers thank them and left. Makia sighed again and slumped into one of the nearby chairs. When she looked up a couple of minutes later in front of her was standing Mother Ilish.

[Phoenix]

"A cougar attacked a Yasi?" The disbelief was clear in her voice, one gingery brow arched at the Chiet who had drawn the short stick, stuck with the unlucky task of informing Mother Illish of the situation. On his shoulder perched a dove, the leather thongs on its leg empty, the rolled parchment that had been there held in one shaking hand as it was offered to the Flightleader. "Val told you this?" Again, the skepticism was clear. The parchment was snatched away, causing the Cheit to yelp and take a step backwards. Illish spared the man only a scathing glance before turning her gaze to the message. "Mauled his leg..." Allowing the parchment to roll back up with a tiny snap, Illish slapped it back into the flinching Chiet's hand. "Bring the dove back to Val. Tell him the situation is handled." Dismissed with a turn of her shoulder, the man practically bolted from the room. Illish piled the papers she had been perusing before the interruption into a sloppy pile on her desk, grabbed her katinu and stormed from the office. The Infirmary had naturally been her first stop. Aidara and her crew had assured the flightleader that the boy would survive and most likely walk again, that she needed worry. "Those responsible for saving the child are right in the waiting room, Mother." Keah, the assistant healer, offered this information hesitantly as Illish hovered over the team as they worked on the boy. "She means you're in our way." Aidara bustled over with more bandages, shooting the flightleader a some-what irritated look. "Continue the good work." Unable to keep the smile from her words, Illish left the healers to their work. It didn't take her long to find the saviors; the girl was apparently passed out in one of the chairs, though the boy was no where in sight. Mother Illish waited to be noticed, her hands clasped behind her back and her scowl deepening every chime that passed. "So nice of you to join us." Ah, Illish was in rare form today, sarcasm dripping from every word. Her fierce gaze never left Makia's face as the Avora opened her eyes, a tight smile pressing itself across Illish's lips. "So you saved the boy, eh?" Without really waiting for her to confirm or deny this, Illish continued. "You should have come to me first. I had to find out from Val. Do you realize how serious this is? One cougar attacking a Yasi means that there could be more animals out there, losing their fear of humans. That puts everyone who leaves the city walls in danger." Brisk and short, the words were given no friendly padding to ease the sting. "You're a hunter, are you not?" Again, she didn't wait for a response; the bow was resting right by the girls side, in plain sight. Anyone could put two and two together. "Were you going hunting alone?" Disgust twisted her lips. This time, Illish waited for a response. When Makia told of her companion, Illish gave a short nod. "Yes, that'll do. Find him. You're going back out there." Without any word of explanation, Illish turned on her heel and strode out of the Infirmary. Taller than most Inarta, Mother Illish's stride ate up the distance between the Infirmary and the Courtyard of the Sky. Once there, the flightleader paused and took a few seconds to look around. Across the courtyard were a group of Dek's, strong men that were attempting to move a boulder that was the last remnant of the destruction the Djed Storm wreaked on the their city. "You!" A finger curled, beckoning the nearest man closer. "You are going to help this girl." That was all the explanation that the Dek got when he jogged over. "Don't fail." And Mother Illish turned on her heel once more and disappeared into the crowd of redheads.

[Forah]

Forah had gone to relieve himself whilst they had been waiting for Mother Illish, he had taken his time, as both Makia and Mother Illish were of higher caste's than himself. As he made his way back to the Infirmary he saw her, coming in the opposite direction, as they passed he averted his eyes. Back in the Infirmary he found Makia where he had left her, along with a rather well build Dek, with dark auburn hair. He assumed the deck was here because they had been sent in pursuit of the beast which had attacked the Yasi, eagerly he asked "So, what happens now?" With a slight smile.

[Makia Ezio]

Makia stood up with an excited smile on her face, “We do what she said,” momentarily forgetting that neither Forah or the Dek had been in the room when Mother Illish explained what they were to do, “We hunt down the cougar and kill it.” She nodded slightly at the Dek and took up the leadership position in the group, being the highest ranking. “Forah, go back home, pack for the trip, bring a tent and any other supplies needed, including some food. The Dek will come with me and I will supply him as well as myself.” She turned, then added, “Meet at the gate at noon.” Then she walked away, the Dek obediently following. Entering her small abode, she began throwing items into her pack. She included a small amount of chestnuts, dried apples and ham, along with both water skins and the vial of water additive. She tied her bedroll inside of her tent and connected them to her pack. Heaving all of the items onto her back she turned to the Dek. “Name.” Makia demanded. “Ari,” he replied numbly. “What can you do Ari?” She asked. “With the mission we are going on, Mother Illish has good eyes, I am a tracker. I can track this cougar quite well for you.” He replied, quite proud of himself and clearly delighted that Mother Illish picked him, a worthless Dek, to go on an important quest. “Good.” She turned around again and began collecting more items. “You have a pack and water skin, yes?” She asked rhetorically. “Here,” she handed him some more chestnuts and dried apples, plus her cooking kit, which she would need to provide any kind of edible meal on their trip. The Dek quickly stuffed them in his pack. “Weapon?” Makia asked. “Yes, sort of, I have a small knife.” He replied shamefully. “Good enough.” She dismissed the subject, “Come, it’s time to meet Forah at the gate." With that they headed out. Ezio silently flying above them