Closed A wild Chase

[Shiress]

19th day Winter 512 Shiress collapses against a tree, sliding down to the ground, she pressed her back against its trunk, her heavy breathing creating small, quick vapor clouds in the cool air with every exhale. She pulls her knees tightly to her chest as she gazes upward to the last bit of light being lifted out of the tree tops as night begins its journey across the land. Her face, scratched, streaked with dirt, and tear stained, stiffens as she tries to regain her composure. She draws in a deep breath in an attempt to slow her pounding heart, she wipes lingering tears and dirt from beneath her deep green eyes She is being pursued, but she doesn't know who or what was tracking her, hunting her. It had been many days since she last saw the torch lights of Sunberth fading off into the distance. Following a caravan of merchants had payed off with a hand out of food here and there. Though, it did crush her own idea that she was competent in the skills of camouflage and stealth seeing as she awoke to find rations had been laid about her and she didn't hear or see a thing and this was on more than one occasion. She broke off from the caravan as they turned away from Syliras only hours earlier and now she finds herself hunted? Had she been followed and tracked since she left or had someone from the caravan slipped away and now stalks her? Has someone or thing picked up her scent and is now about to ambush their prey? One thing was for sure, what ever was tracking her was closing in and she could not linger in any one place for very long. A loud crack brought her wondering mind to attention, her eyes widened as her heart jump in her chest. Shiress slid slowly up the tree, moved around to the farther side, sliding her hand across its bark as she peered around. Another crack, this time closer, forced her from her perch. She darted toward a clearing between the trees pushing low lying branches aside. Fear engulfed her for she now could hear her pursuer tearing through the trees behind her. Her feet pounded the earth as she pressed forward hoping what ever this danger was could be outran long enough to bring her close to Syliras

[Vile]

Vile Circled over the bronze woods, silently gliding through the wind. Flapping his wings every five minutes to stay aflight. His prey was near, he heard it. But then it went silent, Vile scorned the thought of someone getting away from him. Whoever he was chasing was hiding now, somewhere.. Somewhere below him, if his prey had still been running he would of heard the movement, especially in this forest, he grunted with frustration. A birds eye view was pointless now. The forest was still. He needed to descend, to search on the ground. Or atleast, below tree line. Maybe he could startle his meat into running with the thunderous sound of him landing hard onto a tree branch. Sturdy enough to support him, and then, if not scaring his meal-soon-to-come he would listen. And keep a sturn eye on his surroundings. Now that the idea was pushed into a plan, all vile needed to do was fold his wings a bit. He Flapped his wings once more, harder than before. Causing a noise of air being pushed away, like a door closing against a heavy wind a loud !Shoosh! Then, closing his wings against his body. Falling, the coldness of the wind freezing his face. Some Twenty feet from the tree line, he released his wings, slowing him down almost in a instant. It hurt, but nothing he can't brush off after killing his score. To avoid his wings from tearing, he folded them again to pass through the rugged branchs, then extending his sharp claws on his feet. A branch was beneath him. He landed on the thick branch with some force. It would almost seem like the entire tree shook. The other branchs swinging violently, and the one he perched on. Almost breaking by the sound of it, the speed of such a hasty landing does such things. But he wasn't focused on what he caused,but what others caused. Every sound, every imprint. Every abnormal movement. The sheer intensity of the hunt would make what seemed Five minutes. Five hours, even Vile had to admit his heart was pounding, differently than other victims. They always scatter and run and cry and hide in idiot spots, and all these amused Vile. But never gave him excitement. Vile wrapped his wings around him like a shadowy cloak. Protecting his body from the occasional brush of wind, the cold icy chill that his fur can't repel completely. Then, a noise. Not like the occasional crack or two caused by the average winter-dwelling rodents. It had to be larger, it had no grace so it couldn't have been a deer. Or something similiar, Vile smirked with a sense of sadist pleasure. He extended his wings and darted forward, he had to flap a lot more than how he would in a clearing. But he had to also be careful, small branchs. Which he simply brushed aside and broke with both his wings and hands were no problem. But if a sturdier or thicker branch caught his wing. He would have to continue on foot, something he is not acustomed to. Viles smirk grew wider, he could almost smell whoever he was chasing and decided to make game of it, shouting out to the running prey, his voice dark and rich, speaking in common. "You can't outrun me! Give up and accept your demise!" He laughed, not like a laugh you find in a tavern, or a laugh given by a torturer enjoying his field of work. It was something else, something like out of a horror book. It was loud, cruel, and smooth. There was no cackle or Ha's in it. It was like a song, a single evil note, repeating over and over again. Vile was surely enjoying himself...

[Shiress]

Shiress tore through the forest floor, her long hair flying wildly, side to side behind her. She pushed forward fearing the falling sun and the unknown evil that pursued her. She raced past huge, ancient trees, under enormous limbs and jumped weather thrown branches that covered the forest floor. Her lungs begged for air and her body ached for rest. She stumbled, catching herself with her hands, her feet never loosing pace, but her backpack, containing her every possession, was flung off her. Quickly turning, she breathlessly stamped to her backpack throwing it's spilled contents frantically back inside and slid it over her head. She just caused herself precious time she feared as she sprinted forward. A loud, male voice thundered through the forest and passed her ears causing Shiress to stop sharply, stumbling a bit from the abrupt stop. "You can't outrun me! Give up and accept your demise!" said the nefarious toned voice. It sounded close as if its maker hovered around her, unseen. Shiress shuddered and gasped as a dark and wickedly playful laugh followed. She swung around, slinging her hair around her head slapping her face. She darted toward a huge tree, placing it between her and the voice. She slowly Peered past its bark her breath escaping her mouth in thin vapor clouds as she stood staring down a line of trees. "Im being played with" she whispered as she rolled around the tree frantically looking about her surrounding, her eyes seeking any form of refuge. A line of low lying branches and young trees shadowed a think layer of undergrowth forming a natural cave like mound. It was just off to the left, maybe 6 running steps away. Seeing this, Shiress impelled herself toward the nature made cave. She disappeared deep into the underbrush pulling fallen limbs, leaves and earth in after her closing the opening. She sat silently, panting. She pulled the buttons apart on her coat and tugged on her shirt until it was stretched out in front of her. Grasping her shirt with both hands she ripped off a large portion that extended from her side to just below her bust leaving most of her abdomen exposed. She placed the ripped fabric across her mouth muffling her heavy breathing. She sat motionless and stealth. She heard nothing but didn't dare move. A sound echoed around her eyes to widen a hard, quick gust of air disturb the earth outside her refuge. A brief silence soon gave way to popping and snapping coming from the forest floor. Her eyes closed tightly as a single tear escaped. Her breathing cut off, her body hardened and became motionless as if she were a lifeless mass. She dared not move, breath or even think...

[Vile]

Vile continued to race through the branchs, his speed picking up with every second. He felt confidence, and a right to be so. He kept close attention to his surroundings: Especially the ground. As he flew over the earth, just below the treeline. He could hear his victim, running and fumbling. Although very faint and muffled by the speeding winds screaming past his ear. Then, his eyes widened. A large crater in the snow of the cold bronze woods. It wasn't deep, more wide. And oddly shaped, Vile stopped. Landing down with a soft thud, but otherwise silent, like a piece of ice landing into snow. Making a sound from the impact and nothing more. Vile examined the crater for a second, he kept his wings half-unfurled in case he needed to take flight soon. He knew immediatly the prey must of fell, or droped something. Or just trudged for a second in the blanket of snow. Vile stopped his breathing, he needed to hear, listen. Everything was silent, and there wasn't any recent tracks.. or human tracks.. Except the ones beside him. He coould easily tell they were human, two large for a rabbit or deer, to small for a larger animal, he didn't know much of tracking. But it was obvious it was human, or humanoid. But he could be mistaken, for all he could know it could be the tracks of a two legged rabbit. But he had to make sure his prey wasn't hiding around. It wen't to quite, he took steps. foward in the direction he was originally flying towards. Then, turning over to his left and walking again, then after fifty steps turning left again. Almost making a box, if he hadn't grunted with frustration. Vile shook his head as he examined the area once more. Eyeing every detail, a large tree, a couple shrubs. A couple branchs forming a mound. He took care with his investigation, and wen't from shrub to shub. Young Saplings and baby trees. There was about Six leafless shrubs, ten saplings and four Almost-Grown trees. All that remained was the Thick hill of branchs. He creeped over, a breeze came through causing him to shield most his nude body with his wings. His midnight fur sticking out sorely when compared with the snow, he took deep rugged breaths. Winded from his flight, he lurked over, constantly listening for the slightest peep. His mellow predatory eyes gleaming as he walked forward. Each step making a anonymous crunch, Vile had a strange grin, almost as if he knew immediatly the meat was there. He stopped, four feet away from the mound. Staring at it with intensity, it was a obvious place to hide. If 'hollow' inside, he shifted his feet. And took another step, Now three feet. Another, two feet. And another, One foot away. Vile lurched forward and peered in. His blue eyes like darts. Then, standing up straight. The grin wiped off his face, he let out a yell "You can't hide forever! I'll wait, i can wait all day for a snack!" He chuckled again, shorter than before. And started pacing around, light on his feet. Keeping wary of any noises, aside from the occasional crack or crunch. He paced around, almost in a perfect circle. The snow pushed aside making a trench, Vile was toying with her. He was pretending he lost sight of her. And crouched down acting frustrated, facing towards the Mound of branchs. Everything had gone silent. For the time being...

[Shiress]

Shiress, still unmoving and motionless, sat slightly shivering beneath the heap she found refuge under. The only sound for some time being her own heart beat pounding her chest as if it too needed to escape. Her eyes still fastened tightly together. Her mind blank as she listened closely to her surroundings. A thud caused her body to jerk, then a lurking silence. Shiress opened her eyes, but saw nothing but darkness in her natural, earth made cave. The sound of footsteps widened her gaze as she desperately tried to contain the sound her breathing. Slowly, crunching earth filled in around her making her heart pound her chest, almost painfully. A short quiet was invaded by a dim light entering her refuge followed by a young, male face with piercing blue eyes that darted around her, but failing to fix on her huddled body. He moved in closer with the tip of a black, silky and relaxed wing barely visible through the piled limber and forest debris. The face withdrew abruptly and the Zith seemed to have not detected her. "You can't hide forever! I'll wait, I can wait all day for a snack!" Chuckled a familiar, evil voice. Shiress tightened in fear as she still struggled to contain her involuntary gasps for air. Her heart pounding deep within her now battered chest. A few more footsteps were, then silence fell about the forest. Day's seemed to have passed as Shiress lingered, still unmoved and silent, in her small asylum. Bitter cold forced it's way in riding on the wings of a winter breeze passing through limb and shrub that surrounded her. Her eyes fixated on the opening as she looked for any movement, any sign of impending doom. Her breathing slowed as she pondered the thought that the pursuing zith had thought his prey lost. Giving way to this thought her body loosened and her heart slowed. She drew in a deep breath as she pulled away what was left the makeshift door and hesitantly peered out. seeing nothing she emerged looking about her. The late evening light barely visible atop the tree canopy. The cold air stinging her face as she shifted her body to a standing position. Quietly she took in her surroundings. Shiress, feeling satisfied that her predator had gone away to look for more attainable prey, stepping over a thicket of small limbs and brittle leaves trying to keep her steps quiet. Stiffly, she moved across to the opening, her eyes slowly taking in the darkening forest. Not a sound heard, even the animals that usually adorned The Bronze woods seemed to have fled the area. Her awe of the silence was snatched away with by the sound of steady, deliberate breathing. Every finger on both hands spread open with the realization that she had been wrong. She knew she had to turn, she knew she had to face her hunter. She had been wrong dead wrong. She had been deceived by the zith and his vigilance for the hunt. Her eyes moved across the ground in front of her, grazing it for a weapon, her weight shifted slightly as she began to turn to finally look in the eye what had been hunting her. Shiress shifted her feet around slowly, fearing what would fill her sight. A dark figure sat before her. A fallen branch burdened and bent beneath him. She saw a spark of blue fade into a slight black come from his fur as the creature it self stood. A toned, rippled stomach gave way to a plump, rigid chest as her sight meandered to a shadowed face. The towering zith consumed her small stature. The only visible color seemed to be his eyes, a deep blue, vivid and glistening, they seemed to glow as they glared past a hidden expression. The zith stepped forward sending Shiress a step backward. His face coming into form as he stepped into an abandoned slit of light left from the falling sun. His hair gently adorned his broad, thick shoulder's. His expression hard and unmoved. Shiress, instantly intimidated, lifted her arms out in front of her, visibly shaking. Her mouth opened with a well intended scream but fear took hold and nothing was heard but a replaced pull of air. "PPlease ddont" she muttered, her deep green eyes staring into his as she took a slow, deliberate step backwards. A smile emerging across a hard glare. The sound of a weighted limb hitting the forest floor instantly took the color from the Zith's eyes and at the same time Shiress turned with a jerk, her hair flinging out behind her. Her effort only being short lived as despair consumed her, she could hear the enormous wings barreling her hunter toward her. Still running, her eyes closed as she sensed impending doom.

[Vile]

Vile sat paitently, his breath was heavy as he waited. Waited for the prey to emerge. He grew bored within time and started a game of how long he could brandish his claws before getting bored from that. Minutes passed, maybe a hour. Then, he saw her. Crawling out of her make-shift home, unaware until the last second. She froze as soon as she saw him, Vile grinned and stood at his full 6'2" His muscles intimidating and the scar on his side, slightly visable from the angle the woman was in. He took a step forward, she replied with a step back. Throwing her arms in front of her. "PPlease ddont" he heard her say, Vile didn't listen. He just grinned, a evil sadistic grin. And stomped his foot into the ground preparing to sprint at her. She darted backwards and ran, expected. Perhaps Vile was wrong about her being different than other prey. She did the normal routine afterall, ran. Hide. Begged. Ran some more. But he didn't have the time to ponder thoughts, the real hunt had begun. He started running after her. After a minute he started flapping his thunderous wings, they flapped three times before he gained flight. In which case he flapped several more times before catching up and being directly above his prey, his shadow covering over her like a veil of darkness. In seconds time, Vile was now just in front of her. Technically, he predicted that by the time he fell in front of her. She would be under him, now it was time to put his plan in motion. Vile stopped flapping, and folded his wings. His body dropping fast down back to the ground, his claws extended. Sharp, they would maim her, but not kill her if they didn't gash into something important. Like her neck. It was just a matter of hope and luck his plan would work, his predictions would work. OOCSorry if its short(er) and you choose if you wanna get pounced or if Vile just lands behind you. (Or in front of you)

[Shiress]

Shiress slid to a stop as the large zith planted himself in front of her, gazing at her. Her breathing labored and quick. " He's playing with his prey" she thought as she transitioned her weight from one leg to the other frantically trying to search her mind. Search her mind for a way to survive. Her eyes faded, the flash of a memory steeped in her mind of the thugs attacking her in Sunberth then transitioning to her day's of being whipped, beaten and abused. Told by her owners the ways her family died, how they begged for mercy and how she hoped they were lies. "NO" she screamed, adorning the tree tops with her voice. Her fear and lost hope gave way to fight and anger. She bent to the ground picking up anything her hand felt lying about her. Hurling them toward the still, listless figure. Rocks, sticks and pieces of earth flew from her fingertips "I will not be ended this way" she screamed. Her hand brushed against a thick limb lying cold and heavy at her feet. She wrapped both hand around it and with a slight leap she flung it through the air landing the zith's face. Shiress charged the dark mass before her striking with both hands to his thick, hard chest digging her long fingernails deep into his fur. Her shoes pushing away dirt and digging deep into the ground. Her body pushed by anger mingling with fear. Spinning around, now slightly behind the creature, her hands grasping tight to the limb that she plucked from the forest floor. Slinging it for the creatures head again, landing it against the side of his head. Rage filled her eyes. "Go find one willing to die, you filth" she grawled to the Zith...

[Vile]

Vile stared at her, his prediction didn't work. He simply landed in front of her, it didn't matter. She was dead anyways, Vile lifted his right arm backwards preparing to strike, when suddenly she blurted out "NO!" Vile stopped, seeing as what she would do next. Non-moving. Then the rocks flew. The clumps of snow, the frozen leaves and, after a moment dirt. It didn't really hurt him, he covered his eyes to avoid getting clumps in them as she bombared him with various items and objects of nature. He pondered when she would stop. "I will not be ended this way!" She shouted, then something hit him. She aimed for his face, but he was covering his face with his hand. It hit him, his hand which smacked back in turn. He growled in some pain, it felt like his pinkie finger broke. He couldn't move it. He tried to keep up with her, but she was all over the place. Scratching his chest, then twirling behind him and.. AGAIN! He got hit by the same log or.. Whatever it was. This time on the side of his head, the blow was enough to cause him to stumble. Other than that, it was harmless. She was tired, not enough strength for a strong blow but netherless, the weight of the object was enough to cause harm. He was slightly dazed from the blow, but no double vision. Or drunken brawler-sight, the world just a little blurry. His eyes werent mellow anymore. They were sparked with anger, he had enough with his little fighter. "Go find someone willing to die for you zith..." She mocked him like she was winning. He yelled with ferocity as he reached out for her neck, claws sharp and dark like Black steel. He had no mind to slash open her throat, he wanted to squeeze her neck till she suffocated or her neck snapped. Thats what he wanted, thats what he was aiming for. A suffering for a death.

[Shiress]

Shiress twisted the stick in her hand, a willingness to live merged with sheer terror formed rage in her. A rage to live. She had just watched him take every blow, only dodging one's to his face. Her eyes darted about him, learning him. She looked for a weakness, somewhere on his huge frame that would yield to pain. But she had pondered too long. His arm fell from his face as his hands formed fists. His head turned toward her slowly and viciously. Her heart raced as she watched his fury build in his eyes. He stood staring at her, almost daring her to try to get another hit in. He straightened his body which seemed to grow 6 more inches. Shiress looked away from his face, watching his shoulders for a hint of a moving arm. One sway, one slight tilt and she would act. With a loud, deathly growl, he lunged for her. Shiress tightened her hands around the limb. She took a slight step back to strengthen the thrust of her weapon. But the earth deceived her. She had stepped back into a shallow hole hidden by the snow. Her ankle collapsing beneath her. Her body twisted in an attempt to stay upright, but it failed. She had lost all control and she knew it. She heard him stomping toward her. The very wind seemed to be stalled out, moving slow and deliberate past her. The trees felt as if they stared down at her waiting along side her. Her eyes moved upward finding the face of evil as descended upon her... OOCVile, she's all yours! Anything goes as long as she remains alive

[Accolade]

Shiress

Experience

Skill	XP Earned
Running	+ 1 XP
Stick Fighting	+ 1 XP
Observation	+ 2 XP

Lores

•	Lore Earned
•	Engulfed by Fear
•	Fighting a Zith

Vile

Experience

Skill	XP Earned
Observation	+ 2 XP
Detection	+ 1 XP
Unarmed combat	+ 1 XP

Lores

•	Lore Earned
•	The Art of Pacing
•	Giving Chase

Notes :

Interesting thread there guys. Keep up the good writing.

The Sylir has spoken

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade, please send me a PM and we can figure it out.