Quest Falling Prey (Zach)

[Vanguard]

Falling Prey

42nd of Fall, 518 A.V.

Half Past the 8th Bell


Clouds blanketed the sky to create a thick overcast, concealing Syna from the mountains of the Unforgiving. At the edge of the Alpine Wilderness a man crossed the threshold between forest and mountains. Though one wouldn’t be able to tell the difference without an extensive understanding of the area surrounding Lhavit. The gradually increasing incline would be felt as one ventured away from the city of skyglass. Through the remaining patches of the strange fog that had been plaguing the city the mountain peaks loomed. And silence lingered over the land.

Zach Grasswind was out hunting alone. Trekking through lands far different from those of his home. A cooling breeze rattled the branches of the trees surrounding the Drykas and brushed some of the fog aside. It had taken him past the bells of Morning’s Rest to venture as far as he had. With the increased threat of Zith attacks, few hunters had dared to come this far for game, making it more ideal for any aspiring hunter who wasn’t afraid of danger. Though the farther he went from Lhavit, the quieter the woods grew.

The presence of animals to hunt did not seem to be in short supply. Tracks were available to follow. Signs of disturbance to the local brush could be seen. Whether they belonged to the any of the wild game that Varda and Lomki offered, Zach couldn’t be sure without looking more closely. The silence wasn’t relentless. Yet the Horned Larks were hesitant to sing their morning songs. Zach would experience an unsettling sensation of being watched. The harder he listened the quieter it seemed to be. Until at last the silence was broken by a single animal cry.

A high pitched sort of “Yipe!” drifted between the trees. Determining the direction would be difficult. No second cry followed. No other animalistic sounds to indicate a struggle. It had been merely an interruption to the silence. The unease of being watched wouldn’t dissipate. Zach wouldn’t be aware of any creatures other than Zith in the local area that would hunt a man. And there was no sound of their heavy wing beats to indicate one’s approach. He could do multiple things in hopes of finding game in the area. There were tracks to follow. An animal cry to track down to it’s source. A possible predator to locate before it has a chance to claim him as prey.

What would a hunter from the Sea of Grass do? Turning back was another viable option. Though Vadra and Lomki would not be too pleased. This was what he was paid to do after all. Caiyha’s domain was not one to be taken lightly. Nature was to be respected and feared appropriately. And the hunter was out of his natural element as well. The forests and mountains stood in silence, unmoved by any breeze. The stood there, like totems of the world, waiting to see what the man, living a life he hadn’t expected to live, was going to do.

[Zach Grasswind]

Zach's breath puffed out before him in an imitation of the fog that had been clinging to Lhavit for as long as the Drykas had been a resident. This early the air was cooler, and Syna's light was dulled by an omnipresent cloud hanging low overhead. He had trekked alone on the path that led out of the city, hoping for a bountiful morning hunt. As he went, the trail starting to feel familiar to him now, Zach could tell that he was getting used to it. The inclines and valleys didn't bother him quite so much anymore, his breath remaining relatively unhindered as the path grew steeper.

Bells passed as he pressed on much farther than he - and many others - had done in recent times. He had finally decided that it was time to take the hunt farther out, growing restless in the forests closer to the city. Besides, it was almost guaranteed that the prey would plentiful where he was headed, especially when he cast his eyes to the ground ahead. He could see tell-tale signs here and there of the passing of creatures - a snapped twig on a low bush, a mark where an animals footfall had slipped a little. He was satisfied that he was on the right track.

The fog cleared a little as he went, and Zach let his mind start to fall into thoughts of the hunt that lay ahead. As he began to focus himself, an odd sensation settled over him that he couldn't immediately place. His skin prickled, the little hairs raising along his forearms and he slowed his steps considerably to make his passage quieter. He noticed it then. The quiet that was all around him. It wasn't silence, but there was a distinct lack of the usual sounds one might expect out in the forest. The larks did not sing, rabbits weren't hurrying through the undergrowth and he could hear no rustle of feathers from a bird taking wing.

Zach stopped dead as he realised what it was that he felt. Although he could not hear another soul around save for the wind, someone, or something, was watching him. He was not alone. An uneasy sensation crawled down his neck at the exact moment a cry pierced the sky. It was not a human sound, and Zach whipped his head in the direction he thought it had come from. The noise had echoed through the trees so it was difficult to pinpoint the source. All he could reliably tell was that it had come from ahead.

The hunter had no idea what lay in store should he venture onwards, but that was what he chose to do. He was reasonably sure that the noise had not been a predator, at least not a large one, and he would never stop wondering what creature it was if he turned around now. The trees loomed around him as he stepped through, placing himself into this world that he was still not quite accustomed to. At least he didn't outright hate it anymore.

Zach stepped slowly and carefully, trying to keep his footfalls from making noise that would scare anything off. At least that was what he was telling himself. The awful feeling of watching eyes had not gone away and he didn't want to attract anything else unnecessarily. Was it the creature he had heard that was watching? He thought it unlikely as the sound had not been that close. Cautiously he drew his bow and rested an arrow along it.

He scanned the paths ahead as he crept along, eyes searching for those little hints that something had previously taken the same route. He picked out isolated tracks here-and-there, and the odd disturbed branch or trampled twig. Still the silence enveloped him like an uncomfortable coat and the hairs on his neck stood on end under the gaze of this unseen force. All he could do was move forward to look for his prey and convince himself that he hadn't made a mistake in coming out here.

[Vanguard]

Falling Prey

Though the sound of the creature was difficult to place, it was clear that it had come from the northeast. Towards the Unforgiving. So it was that direction that Zach took as he stalked through the woods. His eyes were constantly moving across the ground and over the brush for tracks. Where a few chimes ago there seemed to have been plenty there were now none that he could see. No trails to follow. That didn’t stop the man from the Sea of Grass from venturing further. Climbing the gradual slope to the higher elevations that had been masked by the forest.

For some time he travelled in the direction of the noise. The forest canopy disguised the exact length, though it would feel like bells had passed. They hadn’t though. Zach would still feel eyes from something unseen on him as he wandered tree after tree. Mile after mile. Then at last, there was something that caught his eye. Zach had nearly missed it but the coloration contrasted the environment too much. He would find a metal snare, one normally used for bears and other large predators that had its sharp teeth clenched shut. In the metal maw was an amputated animal limb covered in white fur.

It would appear to be a paw, similar to a canine’s, except there was more white fur on the pad of the foot that what Zach would’ve seen from any dog or even a wolf. Clumps of white had been stained black with dried blood from where something had chewed through the entrapped limb. No rancid smell emanated from the severed limb but flies were already beginning to swarm around the exposed innards. Zach would notice a small trail of dried blood leading east.

Pursuing the trail would be easy for a hunter. Even one unexperienced with hunting in the woods. A creature missing a leg had an unbalanced gait. Leaving a footprint with a deeper impression than its counter parts. And it was after a bell of following the tracks that Zach saw another living creature. One covered in a pure white fur coat, hobbling on three legs. It was smaller than a wolf yet larger than a cat. The animal stopped and looked back directly at Zach, long pointed ears pinning back for an instant before it took off as fast as it could in its condition. When the hunter took his next step forward there was a snapping sound. One that didn’t resemble a twig breaking.

Something enclosed around his foot and pulled it up off the ground. So high into the air did it go that it took Zach off his feet to hang upside down, ten feet off the ground. From upside down he could see the white fox hobbling away and out of sight towards the mountains. The rope was wrapped tightly around the hunter’s ankle and would cause an uncomfortable pull on his leg. The blood rushing to his head would become disorienting as he swung back and forth from the momentum of being snared. It wasn’t until he came to a near complete stop that the unusual silence of the woods broke.

A laugh of utter amusement echoed between the trees. It came from behind Zach. From his ariel position he would see another hunter, one dressed in green with short cut blonde hair and a well-kept set of facial hair. “Seems I caught a big one,” the hunter said only to be followed by another laugh. “Hang up there for a tick and I’ll get you down.” The man laughed at his own jest as he sauntered over to the nearest tree. The man set his bow against the wooden trunk and started working a rope that had been concealed in the branches.

The man didn’t let Zach fall back to the ground, but struggled to slowly let him down. When Zach was on his feet again the man approached with his bow in hand. “Sorry for getting you in my trap. Had been hoping for a deer. But I ain’t seen one all day. Nor hardly anything else.” The man held out his hand to the Drykas. “Name’s Gerard by the way.”

[Zach Grasswind]

As Zach moved through the forest things slowly changed. The trees thickened around him and the scant tracks he had been picking up disappeared completely. The one thing that didn't change was that feeling. The eyes. The hair on the back of the hunter's neck continued to prickle as he felt that gaze upon him. Undeterred, he pressed on, ignoring the small, rational part of his mind that was shouting at him, telling him that he was being an idiot. There was no turning back now. He had already made that decision.

The only thing he thought he knew for certain was that he was moving towards the strange call he had heard and not away from it. Deeper and deeper into the forests and mountains of The Unforgiving. His grip on the bow in his hand was tight as he tried to keep his footsteps quiet. From the corner of his eye he caught something bright and white. It was rare to find flowers in this dim world from what little he knew of the forests.

He stopped stalking forwards for a moment to examine it. As soon as he turned his head to see it better, he immediately realised it was not a flower. The cold metal of a hunter's trap glinted in the weak light filtering through the trees. Within it's teeth there was a single foot, clad in the most beautiful white fur he had ever seen. He crouched down, swatting away some of the flies that were already buzzing about and peered a little closer. The underside of the foot also had fur on it, a curious thing to see. He stood quickly and swept his gaze ahead, wondering if the poor creature was still nearby. It must be in terrible pain if it was still alive.

There was no more white to see ahead, but now that he was aware of it, Zach could see the spots of dark blood leading away from the trap. He followed it as closely as he could, aided by the deep impressions the animal had left in its wake. On and on the trail went, and the hunter was amazed that the creature had travelled so far while severely wounded.

He alternated his gaze between the ground and the path ahead. These forests were harder to navigate than the ones nearer the city. The trees were closer, grabbing at him as he passed, and he had to split his concentration between keeping the trail and not tripping. Zach had no idea how much time had passed, but it felt like an age. He flicked his eyes to scan the trail and froze as a bright white creature moved ahead. His breath caught in his throat. Slightly larger than a cat, the animal was definitely canine with its pointed ears and nose. Was that one of the misty foxes he had been told about on his first day as a hunter?

He noticed the animal had a leg missing - it was clearly the unfortunate creature that had found the trap. It noticed him then, and tried to run away, clearly hobbling in pain. Zach instinctively went to step after it, not even looking where he was going anymore. There was an odd noise as his foot fell, a noise he had never heard before. With barely a second to register what was happening, Zach felt a vice-like grip round his ankle before he was flipped upside-down and hoisted into the air. His bow fell from his hand, the forest spinning in his vision.

Through momentarily blurry eyes he saw the little creature hurry away into the mountains ahead. A disgruntled noise left him then, and Zach tried to reach his ankle and scrabble at the rope wrapped around it. The dizziness and momentum of the swing made even moving his arms difficult, and as he huffed in protest a laugh split the silence of the forest around him.

Blinking and glancing around as best he could, Zach's eyes came to rest on a fellow hunter. He couldn't keep his brow from furrowing, clearly not sharing in the man's amusement as his fellow cracked another laugh. All the same, he was appreciative when the man managed to lower him with as much dignity as the situation would allow. Zach managed to slip the rope off his foot and he retrieved his bow from where it had fallen before turning to the hunter.

He grasped the proffered hand and gave him a nod. "Thank you for that. Nice to meet you Gerard, sorry for disturbing your trap. I'm Zach." He paused to stretch his ankle, rotating the foot slowly, and swept a glance round the trees ahead. "No, I haven't seen anything all day either." That another hunter, one clearly more experienced judging by the clever trap, had not had any luck clearly meant that something was amiss. Zach was also reluctant to let on about the little white fox he had encountered. He didn't know what the man's intentions might be if he knew of it. "I've had a weird feeling ever since I set foot in this place this morning. Something's up." He looked back at the other man. "You seen or sensed anything odd today?"

Zach was itching to get on up the trail after the little creature he had spotted. If it was a misty fox, he knew that he couldn't hunt it, but no animal should have to suffer as needlessly as the poor thing was currently. All the same, he wanted to know if this hunter had any information that might explain this feeling he still couldn't shake. He rested his expectant gaze on the fellow before him.

[Vanguard]

Falling Prey

Gerard waited for Zach to unbind himself from the snare. Once the Drykas had done so, the older hunter pulled on the rope, hand over hand, to take it from the branch it had been draped over. Then he followed the remainder of the line to around the other side of the tree to unfasten it from the counter weight of rocks he had used. “All morning. That’s how long something’s felt off. I’ve been around checking all my traps and haven’t caught so much as another hunter with any of them.” The man smirked to himself. “Don’t know if it’s just bad luck… or…” The old hunter gave a glance to the canopy. “Or if there’s something really nasty out there.”

The old hunter came back with one end of the rope in hand and wrapping the length of it around his elbow and back to his hand in repetitive loops. “I’ve been out here since before Syna took to the clouds like a naked maiden with a blanket. Not one animal seemed to come out for water. Can’t be the Zith. I was out here the last time they were a more active threat, and it was nothing like this. Damned weather… damned gods…” Gerard continued to grumble to himself for several ticks. A fresh breeze rolled through carrying a few wisps of fog with it.

With the presence of the other hunter Zach would’ve felt more at ease. Though it seemed that there was no game to be had within this section of the forest. The mountainous regions of the Unforgiving were not far and were known to provide decent game. If one were wary enough to not fall prey to the mountain lions and other predators of the region. Any hunter knew that outside and exposed to the natural setting of Mizahar, humans were not as dominant of a species as they thought they were. Gerard finished wrapping the rope and came over to Zach’s side. The hunter was holding out a small open back with the ends to dried meat strips hanging out. “I’m getting a bit hungry. Go on and have some. As an apology for catching you and taking you off your hunt.” They were strips of dried venison about eight inches in length each. Gerard took one and bit off a piece whether Zach accepted the offer or not.

“I’m going to do another round of checking on my traps. Watch yourself out her Zach.” Then the hunter wandered off through the woods, leaving Zach on his own in the silence again. When the other hunter had been out of sight for a few chimes, the Drykas continued on after the wounded creature he had seen before. Once he had reoriented his sense of direction, Zach would continue northeast. The slope would gradually increase and the ground would begin to harden. Trees were still present but the ground was getting rockier. The occasional dollop of dried blood shimmered on the ground and the remaining brush.

It lead the displaced hunter to the beginning of a beaten path. One that lead into the higher reaches of the mountains. A three pawed set left fresh tracks to follow, though there was no other sign of the creature he pursued. Should Zach continue to follow, the air would get thinner as he hiked for miles up to the steep slopes of the mountain, where only the wildlife would traverse their beaten path. The forest would fall behind him and the uneasy sense he felt all morning would be left with it. Silence in the mountains would feel more natural, and Merlins could be seen riding the thermals in the sky above.

As Zach walked the mountain path, the comfortable whistle of the breeze would be overpowered by a single noise that echoed from peak to peak. Another "Yipe", similar to the one he had heard before. Zach could not see the source of it, nor pinpoint where it originated from. After the echoes faded the sounds of rocks falling on rocks could be heard from both ahead of him as well as behind.

[Zach Grasswind]

Zach nodded at the other hunters words, more to himself than to the man though. They had both been having the same feeling. The Drykas wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not, but it was somewhat comforting to know that he hadn't been going completely mad. "...or if there's something really nasty out there." The hairs that ran along the back of Zach's neck rose again and he shuddered lightly, sincerely hoping that the the hunter's words were just fantasy.

He met Gerard's gaze as the man came back around the tree, rope gathered neatly round his arm. Zach's brow furrowed slightly as he continued to speak. It sounded like the older man had been out here since the dawn, earlier than Zach had been and at a time when animals were usually incredibly active. It was mighty unusual for neither of them to have seen any of the usual creatures, even in passing.

Zach blinked his thoughts back to the present and gave his head a quick shake in acknowledgement of the man's words. "I haven't seen or heard a single trace of the Zith. It's something else, I'm absolutely certain of it." That odd feeling was still lingering with him a little, although the presence of another had seemed to dampen it slightly. However the fact still remained that neither of them had seen a single living thing. Well, there was that poor little fox...

The Drykas purposefully shoved any thought of the fox to the back of his mind as Gerard held up some food in front of him. Zach recognised it as dried meat and he gratefully pulled a strip from the bag, a somewhat rueful chuckle rising in his throat at the older hunters words. "What hunt? There needs to be animals to have a hunt!" He quirked the corner of his mouth into a smile and inclined his head slightly. "Thanks though, I forgot to eat anything since I got out here."

Zach raised a hand in a farewell as Gerard made his excuses to leave. "Good luck Gerard." He watched the man disappear down through the trees, eyes fixed on the hunters back as he chewed on the remainder of the dried meat. As the shape of the hunter receded, the feeling of wrongness came creeping back to full strength. The eyes were still about. Zach sighed internally, and peered at the trees around him. He was fairly certain that he had come from the general direction that Gerard had just wandered off to, so he would want to continue on in the opposite direction surely?

He turned to face what he felt was uphill. Zach knew that the mountains themselves were not far away now. Other hunters had spoken of their triumphs there so he knew that there should be creatures to hunt. He also knew that he was much more likely to be hunted himself by the large predators that were said to roam the peaks. And that little fox... He was absolutely certain that the beautiful, injured creature had headed in that direction.

It took him a moment to be completely sure of where he was going, but he soon found himself heading up an ever increasing incline. As small stones grew into small rocks, and then larger ones he was confident that he was heading for the mountains proper. He still held his bow loosely by his side so that he would be more prepared should he need to engage anyone. Or anything... for those eyes were still watching. He cold feel them.

Something shining on the ground would occasionally draw his eye, and after a couple of times Zach stopped needing to inspect it any closer to know that it was blood. It could only be from that fox, and the fact that it was still wet told him that the thing hadn't been moving very fast since Zach had found himself held up in the snare.

As the forest gave way to a beaten path, the shimmering blood appeared to peter out a little, only to be replaced by tracks. Three-pawed tracks. He was going the right way. Zach squinted ahead up the ever steepening incline into the harsh, cold mountains before him. He turned up his collar and pressed onward. He felt drawn to continue, he couldn't help but progress even if the back of his mind was telling him to return to the safety of the city.

On and on he hiked, the air getting chillier and his breath getting harder to catch. The rocky terrain was new to him, and occasionally his foot would slip slightly. Zach could feel the muscles in his legs straining as they adapted to the new landscape. Glancing upwards, the sight of a bird overhead almost stopped him in his tracks. An animal... life. As his eyes took in the form of the Merlin he realised that the eyes had gone. No more were they watching him. He didn't know when that feeling had passed, but he had an inkling that it had stayed under the dense, dark canopy of the forest behind him.

As cry echoed off the peaks around him, Zach did come to a halt. That same noise, the single shout he had heard before. Was it the fox? He couldn't think what else it might have been, for it was in the trees first, and now it was here. The sound had ricocheted around him in such a way that he had no idea exactly where it had originated. It sounded like it was on all sides, but he knew that was impossible.

He could only go one way, so he decided that way would be forwards. He knew what was behind him - the forest and it's eyes and it's wrongness. Zach had no desire to go back there right now. He eyed the mountains ahead. The Drykas was not made for hills and rocks and mountains. Mustering all the steely determination he could, Zach continued to step along the rough path he had been following, occasionally detouring to pull himself directly up over a ledge or similar formation.

As he went, Zach continuously scanned the surrounding area for signs of predators, and signs of the little fox. Finding the creature was the only thing in his mind now. He knew it was ridiculous, but he almost had the notion that it wanted him to find it. The path led him on and so he would follow for now. After all, would a severely injured animal not choose the easiest path too?

+1101

[Vanguard]

Falling Prey

The beaten path changed underfoot from compacted dirt to an endless blanket of rocks. Giving each step a well-defined crunch, for they were not many sizable stones. Most of them were similar in size to what Zach would find along a riverbed. Smaller than the palm of his hand yet significantly larger than pebbles. His rocky route followed the curvature of the mountain, leading the young hunter into the shadow of the peak. And in the shade he could see the fringe of the massive expanse of the Unforgiving.

To count the number of mountain tops would be similar to counting the number of trees in the woods. Earth peaks large and small, sharp and blunt, scattered across the horizon and over the lands of Kalea. A land that remained imposing even after weathering the wrath of the Valterrian. Imposing, yet beautiful to behold. The canvass of colors ranged from the dullest browns of the earth to the colorful yellows and oranges of trees changing their leaves in the spaces they could grow between the mountains. Low hanging clouds of white and silver brushed against the tallest mountains. And the winds whistled softly to complement the silence.

When Zach cast his eyes down on the path he found great difficulty in finding the signs he was looking for. No more droplets of blood could be seen with ease. The few he found had coagulated and were close in color to those of the rocks. Yet he could still find the single heavy step that left the smallest of craters in the rocky surface. It allowed him to continue on with confidence at the may once again find the white furred fox he had seen earlier. The slope of the mountain he stood on was growing steep and the path even narrower. It seemed that Zach could gaze down its length for miles as the path twisted in submission to the swelling of the lands.

Leaving the only one course to be followed.

The groaning of his leg muscles would be appeased for a little, for the path now took him across the incline rather than up it. It was no Sea of Grass. Striders would not wish to traverse such a route. The footing would be unsure and there was no grass to graze. It was harsher and more demanding on the body. Not a place for a horse to be. Not even Wirren.

A strange formation in the path came to view in a mountain’s shadow. Where the slope was slanted heavily the path appeared to have worn away. Down towards the bottom the foliage grew thicker and obscured the contents of the valley from sight. Yet Zach would be able to notice that there had been a recent rock fall from the slope above the path. The footing felt less secure as his heavier steps would slide down and inch or so before his weight found stable ground. His approach to the place on the path that had caught his eye would be slow. And when he was there…

Once Zach crouched to examine the disturbed rocks it would be too much. The path would give out from under his foot and the hunter would lose his balance, pitching him down through the heavily grown foliage. Tumbling, tumbling, tumbling the hunter went. Crashing through thick brush and bouncing off the hard surface of the Unforgiving. There was nothing with the strength to stop his fall to grab. So down he went as his eyes would catch glimpses of the sky, earth, sky, earth, sky… rock.

Large boulders had set themselves in his path. Zach’s momentum was too great to control his direction with any amount of success. He was able to only graze a few of them. Until one that lay flat with the incline, rather than protruding from it, lay in his path. The hunter bounced off the off the boulder hard. Impacting with his left shoulder first. Intense pain would shoot up to his neck and down the length of his arm as his shoulder dislocated from its socket. Then the ground vanished as the hunter fell over ten feet into the opening of a cave.

Loose dirt angled at seventy degrees or so absorbed his fall as Zach slid down fifteen feet to tumble across a natural stone floor. Somehow he had managed to keep hold of his bow during the fall with a grip that would make a person think that the bow was his lifeline. It was dark in the cave. The only light came from the opening that rested well over twenty, perhaps even thirty feet above his head, which he just came through.

The silent howl of an expansive cave echoed in his ears, as well as the sound of a throaty growl. When Zach looked around, he would see the white furred fox not ten feet away from where he fell. The creature stood on three legs with a fourth that was covered in dried blood at the end where it had been gnawed off. It stood close to what seemed to be the only way out besides up. The cave passage had been nearly blocked by large rocks that left no gape for the creature to slip through.

Over a chime the hunter could watched the creature give him a threatening snarl before it turned and tried to jump up onto the closest surface available in order to climb over the obstruction. It was too great of a distance for the creature. The first half of its body would reach but with only a single front paw, it could not managed the rest of the climb, and it fell back down to the ground. In despair the creature got back up and moved to a nook that put as much distance between it and the hunter as it could. Ears pinned back flat to its head.

It would snarl and it would snip, but it was scared. Zach would be able to see that he couldn’t get out the same way that the two of them had come in. And the opening to the cave passage was just large enough for him to slip through. He could put the poor creature out of its misery, or he could approach and attempt to save it. Despite its apparent size the Misty Fox was a lean creature underneath all the fluff. It would not be so difficult to hold it in the crook of an arm. That was if he could get his shoulder back in its socket.


Rolls to MakeAnimal Husbandry over 45 or get bitten by the Misty Fox.
Medicine over 65 to get Left Shoulder back into its socket successfully.

[Zach Grasswind]

Zach had never seen mountains before he had arrived in Lhavit. He thought he had seen mountains on his way up to the city gates, but oh how he had been wrong. Of course, what he had observed had been mountains, but up here in the untamed, vast emptiness... These were mountains. The Drykas paused for a brief moment, arrested by the sheer expanse of the vista surrounding him. He had been so focused on the track before him, setting one foot in front of the other, that he had not looked ahead properly to see what was out there.

And now that he did? If he wasn't already short of breath thanks to the thin air, the sight would have taken it away. The peaks rose and fell into the distance, each painted with trees of different colours and some topped with cloud. He imagined that not many people had ever had the chance to see this landscape. Zach almost wished that he had been better at painting so he could remember the sight forever.

A frigid gust of wind shocked the hunter out of his thoughts and back onto the path before him. Having rested his legs for a brief moment the muscles had cooled and protested at being put to use again, but he slowly warmed as he started to move once more. Small, weather rounded stones occasionally rolled away from his feet as he went, trudging along the never-ending path along the mountain.

Zach returned to alternating his gaze between the path ahead, and the ground at his feet. The occasional tracks he had been seeing became less and less common, and eventually he lost track of the blood spatters all together, not realising that the colour had changed up here to blend in with the ground that it fell upon. There was only one way he could reliably move however, and that was along the path. Periodically he would stoop to peer closer at the ground as he went, relief sparking when he would spot a small impression left by what could only be the little fox.

All notions of a hunt were lost from the Drykas hunters mind as he fixed his gaze on the single winding path ahead. There was only one option now and that was to see his decision through. He had no idea what the end of that would actually entail, but he hoped that he would reach it before he found himself stuck out here with no chance of return.

As the path stopped heading upwards and instead started to snake across the side of the mountainside, Zach hesitated. He had not even realised quite how high up he was. This tiny mountain path was no Lhavit street, streets that were safe distances from the edges of the Peaks. This landscape was just about as alien as it could get for him, and now he fully understood why the Lhavitians found the idea of horses so amusing.

Zach shook his head once and stepped forward. And stepped again, and again. Eventually he pulled his thoughts away from the sheer side of the mountain below and focused on moving forward. Always forwards. His brow furrowed as he eventually came across an abrupt change in the path ahead. He slowed his steps as he approached, noticing that the path seemed to peter out somewhat. He glanced down first noting the dense foliage below, and then up to see that part of the mountainside appeared to have fallen down onto the path he was traversing.

As careful as he tried to be with his approach, Zach's feet still slid beneath him, the soles of his feet gliding over loose stones. Still, he made it to the place he had been aiming for, and crouched to examine the rockfall closer to try and discern what options he might have.

It was at that moment he felt it. One foot went first and the Drykas was too slow to stop the other from following. Instinctively he tightened his hand into a vice grip around his bow, holding his most prized possession tight against his chest. Zach's mind emptied as he fell, the world spinning around him in flashing colours of grey, white, green and brown, over and over and over. He felt things hitting him but the pain didn't register, so shocked was his mind at the reality of what was happening.

It felt like he had been falling for an eternity when an impact so sudden and so hard jolted his mind into sharp awareness. Pain flooded his body, lights popping behind his eyes as he felt his shoulder snap in a way it was never designed to do. Before he could even clear his vision, Zach felt himself tip forward again darkness surrounding him as he fell through the floor of the mountain.

Dirt and small stones scraped at his skin as he landed and slid, finally, to a stop. For a few chimes Zach lay where he was, not daring to move lest the mountain throw him off again. Slowly, he cracked open an eyelid to find himself in near-darkness, lying on the ground in some sort of cave. His bow was still clasped in his hand, miraculously having survived the fall. Zach glanced up at the cave roof to see the distant opening he had clearly entered through.

A growl sounded from somewhere off to the side, and without thinking Zach leapt to his knees. Pain lanced through his shoulder and the hunter hissed through his teeth. His eyes darted round the dimly lit cave and came to rest on the snow white fur of the little fox that had led him here in the first place. Without taking his eyes off the creature, he carefully tested his shoulder. The pain was incredible, but he managed to discern that it thankfully wasn't broken, but dislocated.

For a couple of chimes Zach watched the poor fox try to put distance between them, clearly scared by the presence of the hunter. He remained still as it tried to leap up to a ledge without success, its ruined foreleg proving useless in the situation. As the fox resorted to stuffing itself into a small nook, Zach's eyes finally fell on the other exit to the cave. He would need to pass the fox to do it, and he had no idea how it would react if he moved any closer. The hunter hoped that the small pack he carried with him had fallen somewhere nearby too. He knew he would at least need the water he kept in there soon.

His eyes fell again onto the Misty Fox, snarling quietly at him from its corner. The little creature had made it this far with its injury, so there was clearly life in it yet. If the fox would allow him to, Zach would try to help it in some way. He had limited supplies with him usually, but the most immediate matter to attend to was his shoulder.

Not taking his gaze from the fox, even for a moment, Zach lowered himself back onto the ground till he was lying on his back. He didn't really know what he was doing, but there were vague recollections from various hunting injuries collected by his friends over the years back in Endrykas. At the very least, he assumed he would need to have the back of his shoulder supported to have any chance of success, and the ground was the closest thing to hand. He didn't fancy wandering off inside the dark cave to find a suitable wall. He bent his elbow out at 90 degrees from his body, and began to rotate his shoulder upwards so that his hand approached the top of his head.

The pain was incredible, like nothing he had ever experienced before, but he could feel his shoulder trying to slide back to where it should be. Zach clenched his teeth and continued to move his arm, hoping to hear the pop of the joint slotting back into place. All the while, the growls of the frightened fox sounded in his ears and Zach could only hope that he would have the pair of them in less trouble as quickly as possible.

+1382

[Vanguard]

Falling Prey

The cave itself smelled damp though there was a little dew along the rock surfaces that Zach could in fact see. There were no stalagmites which left the cave floor to be rather smooth and free of obstructions. It was not difficult for Zach to find a location on the ground to be able to lie flat on his back. The Misty Fox watched with a pause to its growls. The bared teeth it had shown disappeared as its jowls relaxed, though the ears were still pinned back.

Muscles stretched, and ligaments pulled during the gradual rotation of Zach’s arm. The stories the hunter had heard from his fellow Drykas were not unfounded. Though his application of it lacked the sudden force required to pop the shoulder back in. As it was, he only managed to cause himself more pain and discomfort. The closer his hand got to his head the more discomfort and resistance he felt. Ultimately, Zach was unsuccessful. The shoulder wobbled with each motion that wasn’t made carefully. Perhaps deeper in the cavern was a vertical surface that could be used. Either way, the first method he tried did not seem to be making things any better.

When the hunter finally stood up the Misty Fox ducked its head nervously. The white furred mammal no longer bared its teeth but was shifting its gaze around as though looking for a means to escape. Yet as Zach approached the small creature did not bolt but watched his approach carefully. It was afraid but could sense that the hunter did not mean it harm. Though his shoulder was dislocated, it was clear the Misty Fox was not going to be making it out of the cave on its own. For at least the first obstacle, Zach was going to have to assist in getting it through.

It shuddered at Zach’s touch. Soft white fur would not disguise it from Zach’s hand as he tried to make the creature more comfortable with his presence. After a few wary sniffs the fox ceased its shaking and did not offer much struggle against the hunter. Despite the appearance of all the fluff, the animal was lean of build. Although not exactly light, it was not so heavy to give the hunter any difficulty in carrying it with one arm. Not to say the climb over the rock pile wasn’t awkward. Zach would lift the white furred fox up onto a surface it couldn’t reach on its own before attempting to climb up after it.

Doing so with only one good arm was difficult, but Zach managed to get them both over. The opening at the top was narrow yet wide enough that the fox was able to slip through on its own. It was more of a squeeze for the Drykas. Wet rocks pressing in on both his chest and back as he shimmied through. On the other side the cave was darker except for some bioluminescent moss that gave the cavern an eerie green glow.

There was more moisture in the air down here and the echo of water dripping on water rang through the area. Stalactites hung low from the cave ceiling which appeared to be about twelve feet high. The cavern was even wider than that with more of the same smooth floor rolling away at a slight decline. The fox itself was hobbling ahead, though it gave pause to look back at the hunter. The ears were no longer pinned back against its head, but upright as green light reflected off its eyes. From its stance and the way it stared it almost seemed to be trying to say, “Well, are you coming?”

[Zach Grasswind]

Zach screwed his eyes shut as tiny lights popped into his vision. He could feel his shoulder trying to move in the right direction, but ultimately the resistance was too great for the joint to slot into place as it should. With a hiss of pain through his teeth, Zach slowly let his arm fall back to his side and rest on the floor of the cave. Clearly there was a technique that he was lacking and couldn't remember from watching the healers in Endrykas.

He lay there for a few moments, eyes drifting up to the unreachable hole in the cave ceiling. He took a chime to catch his breath again after the pain had quite literally taken it away from him. The Drykas could feel the cold of the hard, stone floor creeping in through his clothes, although mercifully it didn't seem to feel too damp.

When the sharpest sensations of pain had ebbed slightly, Zach pushed himself into a seated position, gaze flicking back over to where the fox was still stuffed into its corner. The little animal had fallen silent, its ears pinned to it's head in a show of fear that he recognised from the dogs his father used to breed. Slowly Zach rose to his feet, noticing the nervous twitch of the fox's head. He secured his bow somewhat awkwardly to his back and moved to approach the animal.

As the hunter crept closer, he was relieved that the fox stayed put. Trying his best to recall what information he could about dogs - for the fox seemed to be acting somewhat like one - Zach crouched before it to make himself appear less intimidating. He hesitated before holding his had out flat toward the animal, trusting his instinct that it wouldn't bite him. He let the fox sniff at him, noting that the animals quivering seemed to stop after a short while. At that point, Zach slowly pressed his hand into the soft fur between its ears.

After a couple of chimes, both hunter and fox seemed more comfortable with the situation, and Zach was fairly certain that the creature would let him help it now. Still keeping his movements slow for now, Zach stood and quickly surveyed the first obstacle. There was no way he could get them both up at the same time. He gently scooped the Misty Fox up with his right arm, holding it at his side. Underneath the fluff that made it appear somewhat round, the animal was actually somewhat skinny but the weight of it led him to believe that the little thing was made of muscle.

Slightly awkwardly, Zach climbed up onto a knee-high rock that would make it easier for him to get the fox up onto the ledge. Resisting using his left arm to balance was difficult, but after a wobble he managed to find his footing. The fox appeared to understand what was going on as it wasn't wriggling around, and Zach managed to ease it up onto the higher ledge. The animal disappeared from his view with a flick of the tail, and Zach sighed as he realised that had been the easy part.

He examined the face of the wall before him for somewhere he could put his foot for some leverage. There was a very slight depression in the stone just above his knee and, slightly precarious in his balance, the Drykas pressed the toe of his shoe onto it. He reached up with his good arm, gripping the top of the ledge as best he could. He bounced once on the ball of his left foot before springing himself up and forward. Zach pressed his weight through the foot that was braced against the wall, and pulled himself up through his right arm. He let go of the ledge to throw his forearm onto the top, the upper half of his body now resting atop the ledge. With an awkward shuffle, the rest of him followed, and Zach was finally and securely atop the small ledge.

The fox had not gone far, and as he looked it headed off through the small opening that would lead them onwards. Zach squinted at it for a moment before removing his bow once more from his back. He wasn't about to crush it against the stone after it had survived falling down the side of a mountain. The tunnel was just wide enough for him to shuffle through sideways, the wall occasionally bumping his shoulder and causing him to wince in pain.

As they came out the other side, his eyes took a moment to adjust to a space that was even darker than the first. Odd bits of glowing light dotted the cave and it took him a moment to realise they were plants. He could hear dripping water that almost sounded like it was falling into a pool. The white fur of the Misty Fox stood out in the darkness like a beacon, and a small smile twitched at the corner of the hunters mouth as the animal looked back at him. It was alert and unafraid now, and from the slight tilt of its head Zach could tell that it was waiting for him.

He stepped forward to follow the fox, and the little creature turned again to trot ahead of him. It appeared to have adapted fairly well already to three paws, although the Drykas was sure that it still had to be in pain. He could feel under his feet more than see, that the cave sloped downwards as they went. Eyes scanned the dimness ahead and he could barely tell where the space ended. But he followed the fox, as it seemed to know where it was going, and it appeared that they were now an odd little team..