Olidosapux (Flashback/Solo)

[Massacre]

Olidosapux Timestamp: Summer 28, 493 AV Location: Taldera (Southern Part of the Northern Reaches) It was rare that Massacre's tribe ever ventured as far north as they were now. Though it was summer the young Zith could still feel the chilly winds coming from the lands of ice and snow further north. But the elders had guided them there, and so that was where they were. Massacre was a full fledged hunter now, ready to take on the biggest game, but he had no idea what to expect in the strange cold lands north of the Suvan Sea. Massacre and his two hunting partners were flying relatively low to the ground, scanning for tracks. Human prints would be best, but the tribe was hungry and anything would do. And that was when he spotted it. A strange print, much like a hoof print, but it was massive. Larger than any hoof print Massacre had ever seen. Signaling to his kin to stop, they all landed and examined the print. It was larger than their own feet, and deep in the ground. Whatever it was it was large and heavy. "What do you think?" One of his partners shrugged and after a moment they decided to follow the tracks and see what manner of creature it was. The tracks were all so deeply impressed that they were able to fly and still follow them without any difficulty. The creature had covered a lot of ground, and after a while the group began to spot other sets of prints. Whatever the things were, there were a lot of them. With so many tracks altogether the group was able to fly higher and follow the mass of tracks from above so they could see farther away. It wasn't long before they spotted the creatures. An entire heard of them, massive things with large horns on their noses. The creatures were almost like cows, only twice as large and some larger, and they were grazing on the grasses, shrubs, and bushes in the area. The Zith could hear their footsteps even from the air.

[Massacre]

Massacre signaled to the rest of the group then swooped down and landed near a tree to the side of the herd. "Just one of those could feed the tribe for days," he whispered in the Zith tongue, "We should try to separate one from the herd." The other two agreed and Massacre quickly explained his plan. "Arri, you will frighten the herd. Drop things on them and make loud noises until they scatter. We will catch the one who leaves the herd." All three Zith nodded to one another and took to the sky. Massacre and his hunting partner Blood circled the area while Arri gathered up large branches to chunk at the creatures and try to scare one away from the herd. When she had gathered enough the Zith headed to one side of the pack and began hurling branches into the animal's midst and shouting, but it wasn't working. The things were too dim witted to notice. Finally a branch hit one of the creatures in the eye, eliciting a painful sound from the animal's mouth. This alerted the other animals who also started making noise. It was strange to watch but eventually the whole herd began to call out and scatter. One of the creatures took off and the rest of the herd immediately followed in the same direction. It didn't look as if any of them were going to stray, though there were a few slower ones in the back. Massacre signaled his partner and pointed at a large male that was lumbering along at the back of the herd and went into a dive. Claws outstretched, Massacre swooped across the animal's back and slashed through it's thick hide. The swipe didn't seem to do a whole lot, the creature hardly slowed and just kept running. Behind Massacre was Blood who slammed onto the creatures back and dug in with his claws, riding it as he slashed at it's neck. The creature moaned in pain and slowed, starting to buck and trying to throw Blood from it's back. Another one of the thing's spotted the Zith and began to charge in his direction, seemingly unaware of the fact that the Zith was perched on the back of one of it's own.

[Massacre]

Massacre watched and tried to shout a warning as the large thing rammed into it's kin, knocking both Blood and the beast he was riding to the ground. Blood was pinned beneath one of the behemoths while the other was still trying to gouge him with it's massive horns. Massacre swooped down and landed next to his pinned hunting partner, trying to pull him from beneath the creature before he was trampled by the other one. Arri quickly joined him and both tried futilely to pull the Zith free but he wouldn't budge. Luck was with them, however, and the fallen beast was still alive. Slowly it rolled off the battered Zith and back to it's feet, but it had the trio in it's sights now as did the second creature. Both snorted and lowered their horns, charging at the Zith. Massacre and Arri tried to pull Blood out of the way, but were forced to abandon him as one of the beasts trampled right over the Zith and they had to dive out of the way to survive. Massacre hit the ground and rolled back to his feet just in time to dodge the second beast who was coming right at him. The creature seemed confused by it's miss and looked about in front of it as if searching for Massacre's body. Seeing it as an opportunity Massacre ran and leaped on the creatures back. The claws in his feet sunk in gaining hold while he slashed at it's back with his hands.

[Massacre]

The other beast seemed satisfied with it's kill and ran off to catch back up with the herd, but the one Massacre was riding was furious and jumped and bucked until the Zith was hurled from it's back. Arri was there to replace him in an instant and as Massacre climbed back to his feet he watched as the creature tried the same trick on the female. Taking it's distraction as an opportunity not to be ignored, Massacre ran forward and slashed at the monster's face. It let out a cry of pain, both from Massacre's attack and from the Zith on it's back, and turned it's head toward the Zith bashing him in the chest and sending him flying back. As Massacre climbed back to his feet, body aching, the beast turned toward him and began to charge. Arri was still on it's back trying to distract it, but the beast was intent on killing the thing it could actually see. Massacre turned and ran, heading for the tree he and his kin had landed next to earlier. The beast followed and when Arri saw where they were headed the spread her wings and leaped off the animal's back. Massacre ran, something he wasn't used to doing for long periods of time since he usually just flew, and the olidosapux ran after him. It was nearly upon him, but he was almost to the tree. The Zith's legs ached but he pushed them harder, closing the remaining distance to the tree. At the last instant he turned and the lumbering beast, unable to match his agility, crashed right into the tree imbedding it's horn in the thick trunk.

[Massacre]

Massacre did not hesitate to attack while the beast was distracted. He darted forward and sliced it across the throat with his claws, it's blood pouring out onto his hand. The beast let out a pained moan and Massacre swiped again this time across it's shoulder. In one last desperate attempt to defend itself the creature lurched and broke free of the tree, turning toward the Zith and trying to gouge him with it's horn. It was too weak, however, and too slow and Massacre was able to dodge the desperate attempt. Mercilessly he slashed the creature across the eye with one hand and reached under it's neck with his other. His claws dug into it's throat and he squeezed. The creature moaned in pain as Massacre's long sharp nails dug into it's throat, puncturing his lungs. And then he tore them out. The beast shuddered and then fell to the ground at his feet. Massacre stared at it for a moment before turning in search of Arri. She was bent over Blood, who was somehow still alive. Massacre walked over, looking down at the fallen Zith. He was Arri's mate, but it didn't look like he would be for much longer. Though he still lived, his bones were broken and he wouldn't be able to fly. Even if they brought him back and he managed to survive, his wings might never work again. "Arri. Go and get the tribe. I'll guard him and the monster." Arri did not respond at first, and Massacre started to speak again when she looked up at him. "Don't let anything happen to him." Massacre started to respond but held his tongue, instead simply nodding. Arri was not from their tribe originally. The harshness of death was familiar to all Zith, but to the Ith'rasa it was even more so. They were warriors, all of them, and to live as a cripple was something none of them would wish upon another.

[Massacre]

After Arri left Massacre knelt next to his fallen hunting partner. The request was unspoken, but Massacre knew what he wanted. He placed one hand softly on Blood's chest, the other on his throat. "You did good, brother." Blood nodded and Massacre ran the sharp claw of his index finger across the Zith's throat. Red liquid gushed out and he made a gurgling noise for a moment before the life left his eyes. Massacre sighed. Blood was the third of his kin he had seen die before his eyes. While death was an ever present part of his life, it always saddened him when one of his own died. All the other races saw the Zith as mindless and uncaring savages, but amongst their own kind they were not so. Blood would be mourned, but his death helped to feed the tribe. Without him the trio would have failed at taking down the beast. Massacre stood watch over both corpses, ready to scare off any scavengers who might try to steal them. When he saw his tribe in the sky, now only twenty six of them, he stood and waved them down. Arri was the first to land and ran to her mate's side. "Noo! What did you do!?" The rest of the tribe landed behind her and looked at the body. Upon seeing the crumpled legs and broken wings they understood immediately, but Arri did not. "You killed him," she roared and charged Massacre with claws bared. Massacre ducked an attack by the less skilled Zith and tried to grab her hand when she swung again, but ended up with a gash across his arm. "Arri, he had to die. He couldn't fly. How would he keep up?" "I could have carried him," Arri shouted in a high pitched note that would have sounded like a screech to a non-Zith. She attacked again and this time Massacre did block it, grabbing her arms and shoving her down to her knees. "No, Arri! It's what he wanted. It is our way. Accept it." The rest of the tribe looked on in interest, while a few examined the Olidosapux. They did not interfere, understanding it was best to let things run there course. Arri stopped struggling once her knees hit the ground and instead openly wept. Of all things this shocked Massacre the most. He almost wondered if she had been raised by humans, so surprised he was by her tears. In the end he just shoved her away, turning to show off his kill. Blood would be buried and remembered, but he would not be mourned long. He had died providing for the tribe, and such was not a death warranting sadness. Furthermore, Massacre had proved his devotion to the tribes ways, and that was cause for celebration. The night became a funeral feast, only Arri not joining in the festivities, and once again Massacre was the Zith of honor. END

[Growl]

Appreciation Time! Name: Massacre Experience: +1 Tracking, +2 Hunting, +1 Tactics, +3 Unarmed Combat Lore: Finding Footprints, Hunting in a Group, Being Charged by a Wild Beast, Watching Your Hunting Partner Get Trampled, Finishing Off a Zith for the Beasts, Fighting Arri Additional Notes: The experience should be pretty straight-forward. You got the tracking for following the animal tracks in the beginning. The hunting for hunting the beasts, tactics for planning out with your hunting partners how best to kill them, and unarmed for fighting with your claws. Overall, a great thread. Keep up the good work, and feel free to pm me with any questions or concerns.