No Ordinary Hunt (solo)

[Wing]

Timestamp: 35th Day of Winter, 505 AV
Location: Somewhere in the Sea of Grass

The wind whipped over her body causing her thin layer of fur to stand on end as she floated across the winter sky. Wing was not alone, and was accompanied by a flight of Zith numbering around twelve in all. The cool air of the season felt good to Wing. They had left Din just a few bells ago and Wing was thoroughly enjoying herself. She hated being in the colony, and would take every opportunity she could get to leave even if she wasn't the best of hunters. Perhaps the only time she actually wanted to stay in the colony was on the rare occasions that they brought back slaves who weren't immediately eaten. Wing loved studying the other races and was actually beginning to learn the basics of their language. It wasn't a skill the Zith of Din particularly valued, but she was proud of herself every time she learned a new word.

So far their hunt had been uneventful. It seemed there were no Drykas or Akalak running about the plains that night, and Wing's fellow Zith were beginning to lose heart. There was discussion of going after a glassbeak they had spotted earlier. It wouldn't be enough to satisfy them all, but at least they wouldn't have to return home on empty bellies. Wing couldn't really argue. Glassbeaks were more trouble than they were worth, but so far the plains seemed devoid of all other life. Finally it was settled upon and the flight began to turn and head in the direction they had seen the large bird. Wing was not looking forward to the encounter. She wasn't worried about the bird, there were to many of them for it to pose a problem, but what she was worried about was the sharing. Zith did not share. There would be fighting, which likely meant Wing was going to be left with nothing but scraps.

As she turned in the sky with the rest of her brethren Wing saw something in the distance that made her freeze. She almost forgot to continue beating her wings to keep her aloft, and after a quick recovery she squinted her eyes to get a better look. Yes.. It was fire. Campfires, and more than one! Campfires meant campers, and probably a lot of them! Elated that she wouldn't be choking on feathers that night, Wing worked furiously to catch up with the other Zith and when she was close enough shouted out in her people's language.

"Stop! Look over there! Fires!"

[Wing]

The other Zith did stop and turn in the direction Wing was pointing, spotting the fires which they had missed earlier. The flight quickly changed direction and headed for the camp. As they drew closer and were able to make out more details Wing could see it was a caravan, a word she had learned from the slaves which meant a group of people called merchants that transported useful things from one colony to another. They were usually well guarded, but as she circled overhead Wing could see only one armed man sitting next to the fire. There were a couple others talking to him and several people sleeping on the ground. There were also a few tents which probably had people in them. All in all, it looked like easy picking for the large group of hungry Zith.

All the Zith dove at once, silent predators swooping in for the kill. Wing could already taste the meal she was about to have. When she was close enough to could begin making out the beads of sweat on her sleeping target's forehead, too close to pull back, the armed man looked up and shouted something Wing could not understand. The man across from him jumped to his feet and spun around, launching a pair of previously concealed daggers from his hands. Wing swerved left, but the Zith next to her took the dagger right in the forehead. The Zith crashed into the ground, driving the dagger further in and ending his life. Wing came to a crash landing nearby, but luckily the man with the daggers had turned his attentions to another Zith.

The sleepers were also awakening and the one nearest Wing leapt to his feet when he saw what was happening and pulled an eating knife from his belt. "Stay back you monster!" Wing understood most of what he said but had no intention of staying back. Her eyes quickly scanned the area and she could tell her fellow Zith were doing well, and the little knife the man had wasn't much of a threat. Wing wasn't the best fighter but this plump and juicy little man looked even less of a fighter than her. She took a step forward and he waved the knife threateningly. Wing smiled and came closer. "You die today." It was the first words in common she had ever spoken to a non-slave and from the look in his eyes she knew she had them correct. The man turned and tried to run but Wing lunged and flew forward, grabbing the man with her clawed hands and carrying him into the air. The man cried out as Wing lifted him higher. She could smell the blood from the wounds where her claws punctured his back and it made her mouth water. Wing rose higher before dropping the man and coming down after him. To his credit he managed to rise to his knees and swipe hopelessly with his knife. Wing easily sidestepped, then raked him across the chest. The man wailed in pain and Wing slashed once more, slitting his throat. She would have feasted right then and there, and had every intention to, but a cry of pain from one of her fellow Zith distracted her.

Turning her attentions back to the battle she was met with a wholly different sight than just moments before. Most of the campers were dead, but many Zith were among them. The man who had thrown the daggers was still alive and was easily fighting three Zith at once. Also the armed man she had spotted on their arrival was still standing, Zith bodies all around him. Distracted though she was, Wing could not help but notice the looks on her fallen kin's faced. Joy.

[Wing]

The thought of running crossed her mind, just flying away and abandoning her kin, but for reasons she didn't understand Wing remained and continued to fight. She joined with the Zith fighting the man who had thrown the daggers, he was now wielding a long curved blade. The Zith to Wing's right lashed out and the man deftly dodged back then planted his foot firmly behind him, lunging forward and thrusting the curved blade into the Zith's chest. Another slashed at him from behind, raking his back and leaving long bloody streaks in his flesh. The man growled and spun around, his blade slicing a wide arc which Wing only just barely dodged. The attack ended when it sliced through the stomach of the Zith who had clawed his back and Wing watched the light go out in her eyes in an instant. Now there were only two of them facing the skilled combatant.

The warrior turned toward Wing and sliced a path across the chest. Wing hopped back but still was cut, though not nearly as bad as she would have had she not moved. The other Zith punched out with a clawed hand and hit the warrior in his ribs, then slashed with his other hand at the warrior's face. The skilled swordsman, un-phased by the claw marks that appeared on his face, spun around and grabbed the Zith by the arm. He pulled the Zith toward him and onto the blade of his sword, taking another life. Wing took his distraction as an opportunity to attack and jumped upon the man's back, her sharp claws raking his shoulders and chest. The man struggled to throw her off but Wing bit down on his neck eliciting a cry of pain from the warrior. She beat her wings as hard as she could, lifting them off the ground. The man struggled against her trying to cut her with his blade and Wing got a few nicks but nothing serious as she lifted him higher and higher. When they were a good twenty or thirty feet in the air Wing let go.

The man fell and crumpled to the ground and Wing was right behind him, diving after the man and embedding both sets of claws as she landed on top of him. Wing tore away at his body with her hands and feet, shredding away the man's chest and groin. She continued long after he was gone, engulfed in the rage of seeing her entire flight wiped out. It was supposed to have been an easy hunt. Wing had joined up with the largest hunting party of the night so she wouldn't have to get into too much trouble. They should have been able to easily wipe out the caravan and have a feast, and even have leftovers to bring back to Din. Why was this caravan so heavily protected? Why were they able to kill her entire group? To be fair the Zith had managed to wipe out nearly all of them as well, but Wing did not think about that. When her rage had finally run it's course Wing looked up from the bloody mess beneath her. All the Zith were dead except her. All the people from the caravan were dead except for one final opponent.

The man's gaze held her frozen in place. She could not attack, she could not run. Without words he had commanded her to stop, and she could not disobey. Wing knew she had no hope of defeating the man; she would die that day. Oddly enough she was overcome with a sense of peace, or better yet, of bliss. The very same bliss she had seen on the faces of her fallen kin after the man took their lives. Wing felt no fear as he approached her, his sword dripping with Zith blood, and knew she was ready to die. The more she accepted it, the more she gave in to his stare, the better she felt. In her mind the moment of death would surely be a pleasant thing, just as it had been for the others. But death did not come. When the man reached her he seemed to study her for a while, examining her and letting his magic do it's work. When he sheathed his sword Wing was his and without being asked she followed him as he left the scene, pausing every so often to collect this or that from the bodies littering the ground. From that day on Wing followed him, and came to call him Master.

[Baku]

Thou has written, and thou has completed, so I award thee the following.... Wing: +3 Flying, +4 Observation, +1 Rhetoric, +1 Intimidation, +2 Hand to Hand, Lore: The Thrill of Getting Out, Learning From Those Captured, The Practicality of What to Hunt, Better Prospects, Assessing A Caravan’s Strength, Not Everything is As it Seems, Crash Landings, Picking Out the Runt of the Caravan Litter, The Intensity of Battle, Compelled to Stay, Greater Foes, Using One’s Natural Abilities to One’s Advantage, The Wild Rage Within, The Last Two Standing, Meeting One’s Better, The First Taste of Hypnotism Additional Notes: An interesting look into Wing’s past, and how she picked up Hypnotism. I’m intrigued to see a continuation of this.