Solo [Sea of Grass] Hooves of Salvation

[Vanator]

Timestamp: 60th Day of Fall, 512 AV
Purpose: Father/son time; bonding with a Strider

The walls of the Sanctuary and the Fringe Forest had disappeared below the dry, waving grass of the Sea just before sunset the day before. Vanator had told Kavala he would not venture far into the plains, but his sister could see that the native-born grasslander chafed to venture beyond sight of the structures of their home and the Akalak city. She was not so much concerned for her brother, Vanator had traveled Cyphrus for years, but her nephew was accompanying Van. Kavala had taken Cadra and Larik under her wing, the traumatized twins warming up to their aunt far easier than to their father, and she was very protective of the Kelvics.

Larik circled overhead, the eagle's broad wings carrying him lazily on higher breezes that reached inland from the Suvan Sea, the sun casting his shadow along the ground. The Drykas rode astride Peppisa, one of Sanctuary's mares, A Zavian that the horseman found to be a well-rounded beast, reliable and responsive, if not possessing some of the more unique traits of the facilities other breeds. Though Vanator had spent time with Kavala's Striders, hoping, longing to bond with a true Drykas horse, he took to none of them. But his sister had trained a fine stable of animals, and there was no shortage of mounts for him to use.

Behind him, a neatly organized pack and the rolled tent and blankets were securely strapped to the yvas, new supplies he had acquired before he began his short treks away from home. Hanging from the harness was a small arsenal as well, Van's axes and bow, and Larik's khopesh. Larik proved to be invaluable, his ability to soar overhead meant secure travel, and his knowledge of surviving in the grass was greater than his father's. But what Van was hoping for was some time to spend with his estranged son. Both had been damaged by enslavement and the twins had not known him until Kavala brought them to the Sanctuary sixty days ago. Building a relationship had been slow going.

Larik's shrill screech cut through the crisp fall air, drawing the mounted Drykas' attention. The Kevic had spotted something ahead. Whether it was danger or prey, Vanator could not be sure. So he slowed Pep to a halt as the large raptor descended to the earth.

[Vanator]

Larik lighted to the grass and shifted into his human shape, standing next to the mounted Vanator. The Kelvic Denusk seemed excited, speaking quickly. "There is a horse, male, its in trouble. Grass lions have him surrounded." He pointed in a general direction. "South southeast. Four females, One is bleeding from the shoulder, another shows horse bite marks. I don't see any serious injuries on the stallion, other than a few scratches. One male lion is laying about a hundred yards to the south." As the official watch for the Sanctuary, the young Kelvic was accustomed to giving his father detailed reports.

"Can you tell the breed?" Vanator inquired.

"Not sure, its a runner, not a workhorse." The young Kelvic replied.

Vanator looked off in the direction the Kelvic had indicated. A stray horse in the grass was uncommon, usually having lost its rider. Most breeds did not last long alone in the Sea, too many predators. The animal was most likely doomed. Striders usually stuck with the herd, but the Drykas did not know how the djed storm had affected the Strider population. He doubted this one would be a Strider. A strider could easily outrun lions, unless injured or surrounded. Even then, a threatened Strider was could be deadly.

"I want you to take to the sky again, lead me closer. Keep an eye out and let me know if any move my direction, or the male moves."

The Drykas sat up tall, concentrating on the land around him, focusing his energy. There were no traces of the strands of djed that had criss-crossed Cyphrus. He knew the Web was devastated after the djed storm, and though Drykas like Ronan and Sama'el were striving to rebuild it, it would be seasons before the fragmented sections could all be reconnected. He would gain no intelligence from Web here.

Vanator nodded to Larik, and the boy shifted again to his raptor shape and lifted up on the breeze. Van urged the mare forward, taking an oblique course until he was downwind of the location Larik had indicated to help keep their scent from drifting to the lions. The Denusk searched for the horse above the waving grass.

[Vanator]

Soon, Vanator could see the head of the stallion over the grass, to the south. The horse reared, kicking, the top of a lion's head appearing as it retreated from the dangerous hooves. He was a tall buckskin with black legs, his long mane black with lighter brown streaks. A dark stripe ran down his back, and he was easily fifteen or sixteen hands high. Vanator looked up to the circling Larik, then turned the Zavian towards the stallion.

He moved within several hundred yards and dismounted, creating a less visible profile, though the lionesses seemed preoccupied with the horse. He could see the beast's noble head and strong neck, and the way it pranced and skittered within the circle of predators. The Denusk studied the beast intently. He was a Strider, Van knew it, felt it in his Drykas soul, as if he could see Semele's ties to the animal.

The stallion was holding his own, but the cats were going to wear the horse out, eventually getting a solid grasp with tooth or claw and bring the large Strider down. "Thank you Semele and Caiyha..." Vanator uttered in sincere thanksgiving to the goddesses. If he were to succeed in his intent, Vanator would pile the offerings before the goddesses in the Sacred Circle.

With another glance to the circling Kelvic eagle, Vanator slung his quiver over one shoulder, his battle ax from a strap over his other, and then slid his bow from its yvas-mounted case. Drawing an arrow and laying it to the bowstring, the Drykas began to creep towards the stand-off, crouching to conceal as much of himself in the grass as possible, leaving the Zavian mare behind. As he crept closer, he could hear the growl and snarls of the lionesses, the snorting and labored breathing of the Strider. Vanator paused. He could not take out four lions, for even one would be a deadly challenge.

Glancing skyward again, Vanator could see that Larik was following him, keeping a sharp raptor's eye out for any predator that may detect his father. The Drykas moved forward again, slowly, keeping downwind of the animals. Soon, he could even hear the lions and horse shuffling in the trampled circle of grass they had created. Crouching lower, Vanator watched as the cats circled and lunged and swiped at the dancing stallion. His plan was full of holes, resembling more the foolish schemes of a few years ago, when he went with his friends to Din to retrieve a stolen bow, or when he and Hex stole a glassbeak egg. But Vanator felt an affinity with the beautiful beast. Both were part of this land, both of them leaders who had lost their families. Vanator had been given a second chance, and he was going to help this Strider to have his.

The injured lioness came into view. She was keeping back, unwilling to receive another hoof strike. Already wounded, he would let her be. Another she-cat drew up behind the buckskin, fangs bared, coiled to pounce on his haunches. But the Strider saw her, and with a powerful kick, his hoof caught the beast square in the head with an audible crunch of its skull, dead before it could make a sound. But the distraction gave opportunities to the other lionesses, and two of them launched at the strider.

Van raise the bow, unwilling to hesitate any longer. The Drykas took a quick, dirty aim, the moment too urgent for careful targeting. If the lions got a grip on the Strider, he was already dead. Vanator let the arrow fly, whispering a prayer to Zulrav that the breeze would not carry the missile off course and into the horse.

[Vanator]

Vanator's arrow skimmed across the top of the grass, finding a target. The iron head sank into a lion's haunch, causing it to growl loudly and dig at the arrow with its teeth. The other attacking lioness landed on the Striders back, but the stallion bucked and hopped, flinging the cat from his back, but its dagger-like claws rent at his hide as it slid off. Seeing an opening in his assailants, the Strider bolted, clearing the gnashing teeth of the lions and quickly making a large circle to put distance between him and the lions.

The uninjured lioness disappeared into the grass after the Strider. The two wounded cats lingered, searching the grass with amber eyes and the air with their snouts. Vanator hunkered down further, finding himself holding his breath. The lions began to slip into the grass, towards him. Lowering the bow to the ground, Vanator slipped the ax from his shoulder as his left hand closed into a loose fist, already beginning to summon djed to the edge of his skin, ready to produce res.

The cats were close, he could hear them sniffing the air. Vanator's heart thumped so hard he could feel his pulse in his ears. Suddenly, a blur dropped from the sky. Larik brought himself out of a dive, zooming over the lion's heads, dropping and lifting up again. The eagle frustrated the lions, who snapped and snarled at the persistent bird. Vanator broke into a run, circling around the cats and into the clearing of trampled grass. The Strider was no where to be seen.

One of the pursuing lions heard the Drykas move, and bolted around to chase. The cat burst through the grass into the clearing. Vanator spun, his left hand flung out, already pooling res forming a transparent greenish sphere in front of him. With a thought the Drykas ignited the ball of res and propelled it at the lioness. Still learning to manipulate his new magic, the projectile was not a true firebolt, but the cloud of burning res terrified the lion and singed its head before it quickly dissipated. Howling and dragging its burn face across the ground, Vanator charged, raised the battle ax and brought it down across the cat's neck, nearly severing the head and releasing a fountain of blood that rained down on them both.

The screech of the Denusk eagle brought Vanator's attention around, seeing Larik circling low over the grass. The second lion, Van's arrow still protruding from its hip, limped into the makeshift arena. It began to circle the human, wounded and all the more deadly for it. Larik passed overhead, but Vanator waved him off, not willing to endanger his son any further. The lion made a swing at Vanator, who leaped back to avoid it. The claws raked across his mailed chest, the sharp tips snagging on the metal rings of the armor, flinging the Drykas aside. Vanator rolled, coming up in a defensive crouch that wobbled immediately. He had twisted his ankle.

The Kelvic eagle dived again, Larik desperate to help his father. As the screeching raptor clawed at the lions face, Vanator hobbled closer. The cat took a swipe at Larik, forcing him to flap out of reach. But Vanator was ready, and as the cat drew back its leg to strike, Vanator hacked into its shoulder with the batte ax, causing the predator to falter. The lion's other leg slammed into Van's back as it struggled for balance, trying to pull the man to its maw. The Drykas, too close to bring the ax to bear, began to desperately smash the butt of the weapon's haft against the lions head and face. He dropped to his knees, a burning pain in his ankle, the hot breath of the cat on his face. Vanator's arms ached, the tips of the lions claws penetrating the chainmail links at his back to dig into his flesh. With a final shout, Vanator bashed the end of the heavy handle between the lion's eyes and it released him, slumping to the ground.

Vanator sank to the ground next to the dead lion, hunched over, drawing in deep gasps of air. The grasslands had grown quiet. Maybe the Strider got away, maybe...

Larik screeched again, but Vanator never saw the last lioness lunge out of the grass behind him. It shunk her claws into his armored shoulders, its fangs digging onto his back, straining the metal circlets of mail as he felt the teeth begin to sink into his flesh. The force of the attack threw Vanator face down, defenseless, and the lioness clawed and gnawed at him, beginning to penetrating the armor and opening his flesh.

[Vanator]

Larik was beside himself, pulling at the lion with his talons and beak. But the cat was determined to kill Vanator as it began to tear and shake him, the chain mail coming apart in its mouth, its claws already breaching the links and sinking into his shoulders. The Drykas did not hear the thunder of hooves over the snarling lion and screeching eagle. Only from the corner of his eye did he see the buckskin stallion break into the clearing, charging at the man and lion. As if caught in an angry surf, Vanator was flung over and over. All he could see was flailing lion and dangerously close hooves. He landed on his back in the grass with a thud that sent waves of pain through his body so strong it blinding him momentarily. But Vanator could hear the shriek of the lion and the angry snort and neigh of the Strider.

Then Larik was kneeling next to him. "Vanator..." Though Cadra was beginning to refer to him as father, Larik was still warming up to the idea. "Can you move?" Van nodded slightly. He just wanted to lay there for a moment, to catch his breath. Looking up, he saw the Strider standing over him, one hoof pawing lightly at the ground next to him. Larik looked at the stallion, then back to his father. "I'll go get Pep."

Van stat up, his head aching, the lacerations in his shoulders and back sending sharp pains through him. He struggled to get off his shredded shirt, then the chain mail shirt and padded vest. Both would have to be taken to Riverfall for repair, the lion had punched several holes in the mail. The Strider did not leave him, but leaned down, his wet nose snuffling at Vanator's sweaty hair. Van slid one hand up to pat the Strider's muzzle. The animal did not balk, and the man slid his hand further up the horses strong jowl. With a strained effort, Van shifted to the side, reaching up and placing a hand on either side of the stallions neck. Fingers grasped long, thick strands of mane. Still the Strider remained still, his head lowered. Vanator began to pull himself up by his grip on the animal, until he could stand, leaning against the large Strider.

Van's hands caressed the horse's withers and its back, both bleeding from claw marks. "Bring the pack." Vanator instructed as he saw Larik appear, leading the Zavian mare. Larik complied, also bringing the waterskin. The Denusk men pulled out the bandages and astringents from the small first aid bag the healers of Sanctuary had assembled for them. Van knew several of the gashes on his shoulders would need stitched, but he thought he could reach them, using the techniques Elem had taught him. As Larik cleaned and anointed his father's wounds with a clear ointment, Vanator washed and applied medicine to the Strider's injuries. The animal protested at first with a loud snort and a shaking of his head, but a soft pat and reassuring words in Pavi seemed to console the stallion, and he allowed the Drykas to smear on the suave Kavala had given supplied specifically for horses.

[Vanator]

The healing balms were pungent. Vanator did not know what Kavala put in them, but they made his eyes water. But he did feel the anesthetic effect as Larik applied it to his wounds, and the Strider did not seem to object either. With some instruction from Vanator, Larik was able to bandage and bind up his father's injuries.

"Where is the male?" Vanator asked the young Kelvic, almost forgetting about the lurking lion.

"Gone."

"Lets skin the one's whose hides I didn't ruin." Vanator did not help Larik, unwilling to open his wounds any more. When they stopped for the night he still may need to stitch some of them. Besides, the eagle Kelvic was a good hunter and adept as skinning prey.

Van continued to lean on the Strider. The beautiful stallion stood strong, easily bracing the Drykas. Vanator's hand reached up to the Strider's neck, caressing it, feeling the the warmth of his skin.

"Thank you." He muttered. Patting the strong neck. The stallion turned his head to look at the human. There was no humanesque response from the animal, only a long glance from his large brown eyes. Vanator had bonded with several Striders in his life. Zura was his first, then came Backlash, who held the soul of his dead wife Tamar, then Nyx, who was killed when the Zith took him. He was raised with Striders, and he knew them well. This one was from a Drykas herd, the faint discoloration from wearing a yvas pad almost faded out from a summer without it. The stallion had been out here for awhile, without a rider and alone. Vanator already sensed an affinity between the himself and the Strider. Van would not call it a bond yet, but horse and man understood each other. It was a start.

Vanator limped over to the large pack, digging until he produced an apple. He lifted it to the Strider's muzzle, the horse readily taking the offered fruit and munching on it greedily. Van slid down to the ground with a moan, the horses nuzzling each other in greeting, until Larik had two fresh lion hides.

The Kelvic helped his father to his feet, and the men repacked the bag and rolled up the hides to attach to the mare. Van collected his damaged armor and found his bow and packed them as well. Making his way to the buckskin Strider, Vanator stroked the horses forelock. He looked into the stallions eye, seeing intelligence, and patience. "Come home with me." He asked. The horse nickered. Van would not attempt to ride him, neither he nor the stallion were in any shape for that. But as Vanator mounted Peppisa, The Strider followed. Not behind, like a pack horse. The Stallion moved about, first one side, then the other, than ahead, but always near Vanator.

Larik took to the skies again, and the men and beasts set a course for Sanctuary.

[Jackalope]

Van

Award

Skill	XP Earned	Lore Earned
Riding	+1	Working with Larik
Stealth	+2	Staying Downwind of Grass Lions
Shortbow	+1	Sort of a Spell: Firebolt
Observation	+1	Saving a Strider
Reimancy	+1
Battle Ax	+1
Medicine	+1

Injury: Sore ribs for a couple days
Twisted ankle, tender for 2-3 days

Inventory: Mail needs repair, can't offer full protection around bitten area

Witty Remark Here

Good work, Santa! Looking forward to more of your threads in the Sea of Grass! If you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade, please send me a PM and we can figure it out.