[Sea of Grass] Game On (Kavala, Fade)

[Descant Shepard]

45th of winter, 510 AV

Descant had finally decided, today was the day he began his work for Sanctuary, something he needed no training for: hunting. He was an animal, instincts would do most of the work, all he had to do was listen to them. It had been 45 days into winter, he figured he'd sat around taking in his surroundings long enough. After all, Kavala would need his help a lot more being that she was carrying a baby, he understood how taxing that could be, he'd seen her light dim, she couldnt do this on her own. She'd helped him when he needed it most, he would return the favor. Though today, Descant was exactly fond of Kavala. She'd refused to let him eat for three days straight without telling him what her reasons were. But at the moment, he didnt care, they were hunting. They, as in Descant himself, Kavala, and Fade. He didnt want Fade to see him hungry, not like this, he wasnt himself. Recently he'd taken an unexpected interest in Fade, he didnt want her to witness him kill anything, especially while hungry.

The tall grass of the Sea of Grass wasnt as lush as it usually was, being that it was still winter time, everything was still covered in snow. But even though slightly less lush, the grass was still tall enough to hide him from any game he happened to select as his target. But he had to remember that he wasnt hunting for himself, he was hunting for Sanctuary. People were relying on him, but constant hunger pangs still hit him wave afer wave, but he didnt curse them, they helped further his desperation for food, promting him not to fail. He refused to go home without a kill to bring home. Antelope or deer, those were his choices, the only game that had lots of meat and wasnt to big for him to kill. Being a cheetah, his animal body couldnt take much fight like a lion or a tiger's could, but he was faster. He was smarter and faster, and if he could catch his prey's throat, it'd be finished.

He stopped, catching the sight of a deer, female, without any offspring by the look of it. He crouched low and hid as best he could, his fur would be easy to spot, no pun intended, against the powder white snow. He stayed close to the ground, refusing to move, shutting everything else out, the hunger in his belly urging him to move, but he must wait until the moment was right, he got one chance, he wouldnt waste it.

[Kavala]

Kavala walked quietly beside Fade, letting the kelvic range outward on his own. A dog trotted along beside them, escorting the two women. The silkena was a light golden fawn color and had been with her since he was a pup. Kavala normally would have taken more people or horses along, but she hadn't planned on traveling far. Descant was far too hungry to last long.

"I worry about him, Fade. Since the pits, he doesn't want to kill, not a single living thing. But he has to hunt. It's part of his nature. I won't let Ravok steal even that from him." Kavala said to her companion. The Konti walked carefully, heavy now with child though not so cumbersome that she shouldn't be out walking. A weapons belt was strapped over her back which contained her crossbow and throwing daggers. Her blowgun was already put together and carried loosely in her hand, darts at the ready. "It might have been wrong of me, but I haven't brought him anything but water for three days. He's so shy that he hasn't really realized he can come to the veranda and cold pantry and get his own food. I've just... pretended to not notice that I've forgotten each and every day. I'd rather cut off my arm than do that to someone, but hes got to learn he can still kill... has to still kill... or else they've made him something hes not." She said soflty, worried.

She continued walking, trailing after Descant with Fade like the two women were some sort of odd entourage. The dog kept pace with the girls, not quite trusting the big cat with his mistress and her friend. "Hunger will make him sharper, more keen, maybe more likely to actually follow through with it. He's so painfully shy, Fade. I don't know how to help him come out of his skin, make friends, start enjoying life. If anyone deserves to enjoy life, its Descant." Kavala said softly, glancing at the other woman with a worried look. "I keep running into them. Kelvics people have abused. It makes me so mad. What do you think about all of it?" she said softly, then held out her arm, stopping Fade.

"Look... he's got a doe spotted." Kavala grew quiet, not certain what Descant would do. She hoped he'd stalk it and chase the deer down. There was enough meat there to feed many mouths a long time, perhaps most of a ten-day as fat as the deer looked. Kavala was glad. The winter hadn't been too harsh on the animals around Riverfall. They were all fairing rather well since the snowfall was light and the weather had stayed relatively warm.

Kavala didn't want to utter a word though, not to break Descant's concentration or urge him to action one way or another. She hoped Fade wouldn't either, letting the kelvic make the decision for himself what he wanted to do.

[Fade]

Fade walked alongside Kavala and the dog the winter air fresh to her lungs. The Konti seemed ready to take on anything even in her pregnancy, Fade could only admire the resilience the woman possessed.

She thought about Descant and replied “I think time will tell, time always tells. But instinct is a hard thing to shake off, especially if he’s so hungry. Maybe he will understand that hunting is his way of helping feed others, his way to gain respect even of himself, to understand his worth, or part of his worth…”

She fell quite as Kavala quietly stopped her and pointed out the doe, and a well fed doe at that.
Her eyes sought Descant in the grass as she spotted him low and tense waiting, she sought the eyes she’d grown fond of, her lips forming an encouraging smile, a tiny nod. She didn’t care if he didn’t see her, her actions had been so minute she hoped they didn’t distract him, and anyway the doe seemed not to have noticed anything.

[Descant Shepard]

Descant took careful steps, placing them on the soft snow and avoioding twigs or anything that would give him away. He stalked closer and closer, he could already feel the blood..taste it...smell it. The feeling of its warmth as it ran down his throat, savory and delicious. He had to have it. His pupils dialated, he was going in to a bit of a hunger frenzy in his mind. His thoughts raced, he blocked out every thing, every sound, every thing he could see that wasnt the doe didnt exist to him. All that matter was getting that doe.

As the doe turned it back, Descant burst from his place, 0 to 60 in about three seconds. He was really moving, he'd not ever been able to really run like this, but it felt good, to be wild for a change, to feel the desperation of hunger and knowing the only way to survive was to make the kill. He wanted to feel the animal underneath him, squirming, writhing, trying to get free and run. He reveled at the thought, but he had to focus, the doe had already heard him and took of running. Descants paws punded the ground hard, his claws digging into the ground for traction as his back legs shot him forward with every stride. When the does turned, Descant wasnt ever far behind, using his long tail for balance and turning on a dime. His small head cut through the wind like a hot blade through butter, paving the way for the rest of his body to follow.

As he closed in, he speed topped out at 72 miles an hour. He swiped at the back legs of the sprinting doe, causing it to slam onto its side. The doe, it tried to scramble away, but Descant was on her like...well...a cat. His body crashed against hers, his right paw pushed her head against the ground as he sank his teeth into her jugular. He laid his body on top of the doe, assuring that she wouldnt get away now. He turned her head and neck at an irregular angle to cut off the air. His eyes shifted over to Kavala, the dog and Fade. His eyes still dialated. The blood he so desperately craved filled his maw aand trickled down his throat...but he wasnt sure anymore whether this was for Sanctuary, or himself.

[Kavala]

Kavala nodded to Fade, offering her a slight smile. She was certain with Descant being hungry and indeed confined for the whole of his life, running would be no difficult task. She was also certain that he'd kill, for it was what big cats did. There was just too much satisfaction and pleasure out of their hunts and subsequent feasts to do otherwise.

And truth be known, she wanted to feel what he felt. She wanted to know what the cheetah experienced in his first moments of true freedom after a whole life of slavery. So when Descant went into full hunting mode, Kavala closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She opened her senses and tuned in on Descant. Instantly the metalic taste of blood in his mouth hit her. She knew he hadn't even caught the deer yet, but he was thinking about that - wanting that - and wanting the creature squirming beneath him. Kavala's heartbeat increased and for a moment she felt like a cheetah, needful and wanting to hunt. Her heart raced and yet her body grew as still as the grass they stood in. Descant was ready. He was willing. He would kill.

Kavala felt it all inherently through her Konti gift. Descants needs and wants became her own in that instant as she shamelessly followed his spring and the pure joy he felt running all out and calculating just where and when the doe would dart or weave. He had her before she'd ever known he was there. He'd had her before his paws even dug into the turf and he took off using his remarkable speed. He had her the instant he swiped her back legs and she went down beneath him.

Kavala moaned in pleasure, throwing her head back as Descant took the life beneath him by snapping the does neck. He got his blood. He got his victory. And he became infused with the knowledge that it wasn't in fact for Sanctuary but for him and him alone.

"Eat... eat lightly of all the best parts and we'll dress the rest." Kavala said softly, still licking her lips as she opened her eyes and closed down her senses to descants pleasure. There was no blood on her face, no racing heart, and not even a single patch of fur on her. But for a moment she felt like a cheetah and had smiled knowing no one could touch her strength and speed.

[Fade]

Fade held her breath as Descants form darted at an incredible speed bringing down the doe swiftly. He went for the jugular suffocating and breaking the struggling doe’s neck.
Her stomach felt odd for a moment, it was like having a bad case of nervousness. She looked at Kavala to see her reaction only to be quite surprised at the Kontis behaviour. There was something she didn’t understand she decided. Tuning her eyes from the moaning woman to the blood-soaked Descant she didn’t know quite how to react.

But Descants hunger was apparent and he had done what they had all hoped, the predator had emerged. She felt oddly happy for him a smile breaking on her face “That was…breathtaking” She said referring to the sight of the cheetah taking down the prey, she had never seen the likes of it , or even been on a hunt before.
To Kavala she commented happily “I guess this answers all!” She paused then and asked slowly and lowering her voice “Forgive me but is the baby bothering you? You looked…um…well…odd for a moment back then…”

She looked back at the bloody scene and couldn’t help but feel a tiny bit uneasy, that was a great power he had there. And she didn’t know how to relate to it he was the perfect killing machine.

[Descant Shepard]

Descant didnt eat...He shook his head and stepped back as his eyes, his whole demeanor returned to normal. He shifted, transforming in a flash of brilliant light, sitting back, his naked form in the patch of snow. He crawled over to Kavala, reaching to her waist and pulling his dagger from it, he'd asked her to hold it for him just in case before they came on this hunt. He unsheathed it and took it to the skin on the inside of his forearm. He made a two inch cut with a slight grunt. It was a tally. He wasnt going to kill a living being without paying for it himself. He only did it because he had to...but even still, it didnt feel any better. He was going to keep track of the different lives he'd be forced to take.

He looked up at Kavala, letting the blood on his arm trail down to his wrist, to the palm of his hand, and to his fingertips, droplets staining the snow. He stood up and moved past her, past the dog and Fade. he moved slowly though, he had to take it easy, his muscles were in a delicate state right now, he needed to rest. Yes, he was naked in front of two women, but he wasnt embarassed, Kavala had bathed him before, and Fade was going to see him this way sooner or later. He dropped to his knees again after walking only a short distance. He decided just to lie there for a little while..the snow felt good against his nearly over heated body. He took deep breaths and didnt say a word.

He didnt eat because he'd hunted that doe for Sanctuary..and he was sure that someone other than him wouldve like to taste the meat of the best parts of the doe. Regardless of how hundry her was, he wouldnt take from Sanctuary anymore until he'd given something, fully, in exchange.

"So how do we do this, Kavala..bringing it back I mean. You didnt bring a horse...Andd you cant carry it. I guess I could, you'd just have to let me rest for a moment?"

[Kavala]

Kavala refocused on Fade and smiled. She shook her head for a moment and then quietly answered Fade's question. "No, the child is fine. It's Descant's pleasure. He's kelvic and I've a sensitivity to their emotions and thoughts - both animals and kelvics. He took such pleasure in the hunt that it was enthralling to feel such pleasure in one that is used to such pain and abuse. He was a pitfighter in Ravok, you know, before he came here. They have had such dark lives, living in cages and only getting let out to fight for their lives." She said softly, her eyes moving towards Descant again then studying the fallen deer.

Kavala then moved with Fade towards Descant. She knelt down by the corpse awkwardly, took off her almost empty pack, and drew her belt knife. She slit the doe's neck, letting the blood drain then began to meticulously skin and dress the carcass. Next she gutted it, tossing the organs aside giving the liver, heart, and gizzard to Descant. "Eat that. You'll need it. Hunters privilage that you always get the best organs." She said, then skinned the carcass. She left the head as an offering to scavengers, and added the legs to the offering pile after removing the hooves which she'd use for glue. Then, pulling empty burlap sacks from her backpack, she divided the meat into thirds, and put her third back into her backpack safely tucked in burlap. She gave one third to Fade and left the rest for Descant to carry.

"Problem solved. We ready to head back now or do you want to keep hunting? This will feed us for three days or so." She offered, not wanting to take too much meat at once.

[Fade]

Fade drank the information Kavala gave though her “sensitivity” was object of a lot of curiosity she stored it away for a better time.
Descant meanwhile had changed back to his human form, and naked had proceeded in giving himself a cut, another scar for his collection. And what a collection it was, she was unprepared for the countless number of scars that marked his lean body. A shiver ran down her spine as a trickled of blood from his fresh wound ran down his arm and spattered the snow, his action seemed somehow wrong to her…

Kavala in the mean time had set about cutting, gutting and bleeding the carcass, the result were three neat packs of meat. She noted that the Konti had left the head and the legs but not the hooves she quietly asked “What do you need the hooves for?”

Kavala offered the possibility of another hunt to Descant even though Fade thought in unlikely since he looked so tired, she hoisted the sack on her back waiting for his reply.

[Descant Shepard]

Descant scrambled frantically to the organs that Kavala had thrown near him, the scent of the blood coming off them called to him. He slipped and landed on his chest and stomach. He was desperately hungry, his senses focused on just the meat in front of him. Thats all the hunt became about to him was just that small pile of meat in front of his naked frame. He tore into the liver and gizzard, wolfing the meat down, chewing hungrily letting the juices spill down his chin without any regard for how displeasing it looked to the eye. To Descant, though, the freshness of the meat and iron taste of the blood drew him in and sent in into a trance like state, he was purely focused on eating. Thats how cheetahs lived..fast. Catch, kill, and eat it quick...before someone stole it. He had been watching Kavala and Fade, closely. Fade moreso than kavala since the Konti was busy and the pale human wasnt. He'd seens Kavala awkwardly preparing the doe and stuffing the parts into the sacks. His pupils had dialated again as he stuffed his mouth with the meaty inner organs from the doe.

As Kavala had asked him if he wanted to continue hunting, his scrambled backwards, grabbing the heart of the doe and holding it to his chest, still lying in the patch of snow. That heart was all he had, it was his, he truthfully didnt hear her question, all he made out was approach. In his mind, he was trying to protect what little food he had. He stared up at her with a determined yet dazed look in his eyes. He didnt seem to respond to her or any of Fade's looks at him, he just wanted to protect what he had. Like living in the Pits of Ravok, all he had was himself, he protected himself at all times unless securing a meal for himself, he'd take any form of beating in order to protect the unimpressive slabs of meat that were given to them, always covered in grime that covered the floors of the cages he might have shared with another Kelvic. All he saw were two hulking Kelvics trying to muscle him out of a meal as he shivered, naked in the snow.

Maybe he needed Kavala's help a lot more than she thought? Maybe more so than she needed him?