Howling in the Dark

[Kol]

3rd of Summer 514 A.V.
Falyndar Jungle

The canopy was always different at night, the way the jungle sounded and moved. Creatures that were awake during the day disappeared, hiding from the beasts that waited for Syna's favor to fall. A tall warrior crouched, creeping along forest floor. His weight brushed against fallen twigs, sounding the occasional gentle crack of a breaking branch. Behind him was another figure, much slighter, but even more quiet. The shadow stuck loyally to his side; brother and sister sneaking carefully in the dead of night, deeper into the clutches of the wilderness. Shrieking caws and chirping radiated in the distance, some sounds closer than others. Kol listened carefully, deciphering whether each call was animal or human. It was unlikely any Myrians would be communicating this way, but he always kept his ears open, prepared and ready. Such were mere personality traits of the male.

Reaching out a large hand, Kol grabbed a branch, lifting it up so his younger sister could slip underneath it, undeterred. He had a harder time making out the girl's expression, but even in the dim moonlight that streamed through the treetops, Kol thought he saw a smile on Dahlia's features. They were training. Dahlia's trial by jungle was in a mere three days, and in no way did Kol plan to let his little sister fail. His other two had received his help and had passed, Dahlia was to be no different.

Sneaking at night is vital. To be able to go undetected... crucial.

It was no secret that during their clan's trial by jungle, one was only given a two days to return home after being abandoned in unfamiliar territory. Anything could happen in the jungle, and Kol had not been given much help, being the first born. He didn't want his siblings to have the same uncertainty. And so he had spent a good portion of his time recently, when he wasn't spending his evenings at Leth's Glow, to assisting Dahlia in what to expect and how to make it back to Taloba in time. Once she completed this test, she would be marked by Myri, a true Myrian. Then she would be free to pursue her fascination with medicine and work towards apprenticing under Traya at the medicine house.

Kol held up a hand, indicating that Dahlia was to stop walking. A pit was slowly forming in his stomach. The jungle had grown more quiet, but there was little evidence of anything being out of place. Kol took another few, tentative steps forward, conscious to where his feet were being placed. Dry leaves would make sound, loose rocks could cause you to tumble. With light feet, he waited. The hairs on the back of his neck were raised, and he craned his ear, concerned that even the crickets had gone silent. Kol's jaw hardened in concern, and he looked to the canopy, searching for unfamiliar shadows. But not once did he say a word. After all, that would ruin the purpose of stealth, would it not? Long stretches of blanketed silence weighed heavy in the air, and Dahlia edged closer, easily becoming anxious. Kol shifted his weight so that he stood protectively in front of her.

Nothing.

Dahlia let out a long exhale, and her tiny hand raised to rest on her brother's arm. 'It's okay,' was what she was trying to say without using words, 'Easy, Kol.' The familiar gesture was comforting, but unfamiliar, causing the male to nod after some time of hesitation. Listening to your instincts kept you alive. He would have to instruct his sister of that fact the moment he got a chance and was confident in their safety. Kol looked down and over his shoulder at the girl and tried to smile, raising a foot to continue their trek.

When he turned his attention forward, a pair of glowing eyes watched him from the darkness, ground level and bright, the body hidden by whatever foliage it crouched in. Kol's stomach dropped and he took a step back, shoving Dahlia backwards. Hand resting on the whip that hung coiled at his side, he prepared to equip it, but froze at the sound of a blood curdling howl that rose from the monster's throat. A unison of shuffling, and then on cue, a dozen pair of eyes illuminated and were glaring at the Myrian pair.

Akila hounds.

[Kol]

His voice was a strained whisper, a cold grip of understanding sinking into his bones while he assessed the situation, "Dahlia," Kol didn't know what to say, his stomach dropping, "Ready your weapon." The bushes around them began to shift, the hounds on the side sneaking and moving closer. Dahlia shot Kol a panicked look, one he saw all too well in the night. She scrambled to removed the glaive from her back, awkwardly holding it in front of her. It looked out of place in her hands, and he could sense her fear.

His eyes flickered to the side and he turned, catching a glimpse of one of the akila hounds beginning to poke its head out from the foliage, hoping to catch the two by surprise. They were going to flank them from the sides. More eerie heckling radiate around them, sending a panic inside the siblings. One of the bushes moved and Dahlia stabbed at it, missing the animal within. A fearful screech jumped from her throat, and Kol yanked her back, throwing her in the opposite direction of the glowing eyes.

"Run!"

Kol spun on his heels, leaping backwards in time to dodge the same hound he had spotted emerging. Sharp teeth snapped as they missed his leg, and the Myrian shot off in the other direction, after his sister. The whipping of her ponytail swished back and forth violently. Kol stayed behind her, pushing her to increase her speed. The hounds were in hot pursuit and they would catch up. Closing the distance would be easy for the pack, if they didn't find a way to deter them. Four legs were faster than two, but perhaps they could be outsmarted.

Kol's footsteps were no longer attempting to be quiet and he tried to gather his scrambled thoughts in order to think tactically. The hounds had attempted the element of surprise and were now invested in a chase. They will want to lead us. Kol knew that any good hunt was about manipulating your prey until you could take it down. He would have to keep that in mind as they ran. What would they do? What could they do? His whip would be little use in this situation, his dagger a death wish. Close combat was out of the question. Was it possible to hide?

Legs rising and falling, pushing him further, roots and sink holes were hard to avoid but few of his worries. Trees blurred past, and more than once, he felt the tickle of a spiderweb being destroyed by his race to survive. Boots falling heavily to the jungle floor. Move! Move! Kol tried to keep a close eye on his sister, but also on what their predator was doing. A urgent sense of protectiveness kept his mind speeding. Jumping over rocks and large branches that had fallen, vines caught his feet, sending him sprawling into the ground, the uneven terrain smacking into his chest. He saw Dahlia hear his fall and begin to slow, but with authority not often used, Kol shouted at his sister, already rising to his feet,"Don't stop running!" His tone sounded furious, outraged that she would even consider the idea of helping him. But it was a very real fear that if she did, a hound's jaws would find her. Kol would not allow that to happen.

He rose to his feet. The hounds would be reaching them soon, perhaps in a matter of chimes. They're malevolent howling kept his blood running cold, and he caught up with his sister. Dahlia said nothing, her quick breaths and current situation keeping her terrified. Kol shared that, taking into account it could be the last emotion he ever felt.

[Kol]

Think, Kol! Think! Wildly, the desperate Myrian looked around, his adrenaline flowing full force. They're coming. Tall trees, untamed brush... Kol pushed past all of it, thorns and branches digging into his skin, catching onto the whip at his side and in his thick hair. Dahlia jumped over a fallen tree, its trunk so thick that it came up to Kol's waist. Kol ran towards it, jumping and throwing out one of his hands so that it planted firmly on the trunk. Using the momentum to his advantage, his arms balanced him and pushed his weight forward, his body swinging over the wood and his feet landing on the other side of the obstacle. Dahlia looked over her shoulder and called out to her brother.

They could run no longer. They would be taken down if they didn't change their tactic. "Dahlia!" The girl skidded to a stop, running to her brother. Both were tired, trekking across Falyndar terrain at full speed easily exhausting. Kol grabbed her arm and ripped the packs they each had off their backs, pulling back his arm and chucking the bags into a tree. They fell down a few branches, but both snagged and hung faithfully from the tree tops. "You're next."

"What?" Confusion. Fear. Acceptance. Kol took his sister and pulled her close, thankful that she was on the smaller side and squatted, wrapping his arms around her legs and rising. She was easy to lift, but getting her high enough to reach the first branch was a struggle. He grunted, struggling to get his palm underneath her boot and push upwards while she tried to grab a sturdy support and pull herself up with a glaive in her hand.

Kol was breathing heavy now, the yips and howls of the akila hounds closing in. Dahlia had managed to yank herself into the tree, nearly dropping her weapon in the process, but when she got positioned, she extended a hand to her brother.

"Here! Take my hand!"

He ignored her. She wouldn't be able to help him without risking falling out o the tree herself. Kol shook his head, dark hair beginning to obscure his vision. Kol took some steps back, running at the tree full force. Once he reached the base, he began planting his feet along the trunk, hoping his speed would grant him aid. Quickly his plan failed, leaving him falling at the loss of momentum, scrapping his palms as he grabbed at the bark, hoping to reach onto the next branch. Even with his long reach, he came up short, fingertips barely brushing the goal. He reared back again, pushing himself harder as Dahlia screamed his name in fear.

"Kol! Please! They're coming!"

One step, two step, three step, four... The rush of trying to scale the tree began to fade and he felt himself falling again, shooting his hand out. Barely, he caught himself by the fingertips, and he threw up his other arm to catch the wood in his grip. Dahlia gasped and a hope sprung inside him. He tried to pull himself up, his weight not aiding in the process. Muscles strained to bring his full weight to safety, the hounds breaking into their line of vision once more. Kol pulled, lifting higher. He struggled to keep breathing, trying to swing his leg up onto the branch. As the other leg hung, a hound attacked, sharp teeth closing around his angle. Powerful jaws pieced through the protection of his boots, white flashes of pain pulsating from the wound. The animal refused to let go, its jaws a force to be reckoned with. Kol screamed out in agony, nearly falling to the ground. He kept pulling, his adrenaline and stubborn personality refusing to let him die so easily. The other hounds were trying to reach Dahlia, jumping and snapping, unable to reach her.

With his free foot, Kol tried to kick the hound off his ankle, but the teeth only ground deeper. He could hardly see straight. If the animal kept biting, it would begin to dig into bone. This is it? This is how I die? Kol felt his grip slipping, supporting himself and the size of the animal becoming increasingly difficult. Myri. Sucking in a deep breath, Kol only looked upwards, their packs danging above. He kept trying. He had to. For Dahlia.

Sharp yelps sounded, contrasting with the growls and howls. The lock on his ankle eased up, and then another sound, followed by his release. Eyes widening, Kol gave one last pull, reaching the safety of the treetops, his bite mark throbbing and bleeding. Looking over at Dahlia, Kol noticed his blood on his sister's glaive, the girl continuing to still try and stab at the akila hounds. They jumped back, snapping. The one the had been clutching his leg was limping, and bleeding from the shoulder rather heavily. It growled.

They would probably need to climb higher. Kol shot a look of thankfulness to his baby sister. She was going to make a great Myrian.

[Kol]

Warm blood began to fill his boot, soaking the inside with a wet sensation. He grimaced, his breathing ragged from the work out and pain shooting through his leg. Dahlia remained crouched on her own branch, stabbing down at the hounds, deterring them from jumping higher. Kol watched her, then stared at the beasts. One of them had a mouth stained with blood -- his blood -- so fresh that it appeared black in the dark lighting of the jungle. He hated that creature.

"Dahlia, let me see your glaive."

His sister stopped mid attack to look up at her brother. Her attention flickered to his injury and she held out the weapon, extending it long ways so that it would reach between them. Kol wrapped his hands around the handle and tried to position himself the best he could. Putting most of his weight on his uninjured leg, he leaned forward, holding the weapon like a spear.

His eyes watched the one who had bitten him, and the Myrian gave a sound that sounded like a challenging growl. The Akila hound snarled back, howling and trying to run up the tree and sliding down, much like Kol had done. Kol poised his weapon, taking deep breath to block out the pain. His eyes strained to find a clear shot in the dark, but when the hound started to run up the tree again, Kol shot out the weapon, the blade cutting at the dog's face.

An animistic sound of agony and Kol shot out again. The second hit was less successful than the first, but he got his message across. The Akila hound pulled back, the others snarling and refusing to give up on the hunt just yet. Kol held the weapon back out to Dahlia.

"Thank you," he grumbled through gritted teeth. His leg was throbbing but it felt like the bleeding had slowed. They would need to get back to Taloba soon, and the trek back would be a bitch.. It didn't seem that the animal had done any permanent damage, but if an infection set in, or he let it go unattended, things could get serious, fast.

Kol shifted so that his back was pressed against the tree, his legs elongated on the rest of the branch, his injured one crossed over the other. Craning his next, he looked to see where their bags had ended, tossed upwards in desperation. It didn't take long before Dahlia was following his lead. His message was clear - Get comfortable. We're gonna be waiting awhile.

[Kol]

Bells passed before anything changed. Kol bled silently and slowly, the warm, sticky liquid caking the inside lining of his shoe and staining the dark leather that he wouldn't notice until the next morning. Dahlia sent worried glanced in his direction that the male was all too aware of, white teeth flashing in forced, reassuring grins to ease his sister's stress. In reality, the wound looked more brutal than it was, but he knew the young girl wouldn't be appeased until she would be able to see for herself. So the two siblings sat in silence until the hounds gave up, begrudgingly racing off at the scent of a potential kill. When the dogs had finally left, Kol was surprised to find he had nearly dozed off, eye lids heavy from such prolonged stillness. Straightening up, he scanned the jungle floor, looking over immediately to see that his sister was still in her rightful place. Dahlia was gazing out among the trees, more alert than even he. She seemed more relaxed now, almost enjoying the peace and gentle sounds of cricket song.

"I was going to wake you up, you know. I was afraid you'd fall from the tree."

Kol thought about protesting stubbornly, insisting that he was meditating, but after focusing on the pain as he usually did, he found the throbbing in his ankle had lulled him into further fatigue. His sister had caught him and he would have to deal with it. Kol took a deep breath, his broad chest rising and falling in decisive action and he began to twist, reaching up to grab the branch above him. His leg protested momentarily, but he pulled higher, his biceps flexing from the exertion. Up his torso went, careful to not place too much weight on his injury when he pushed off of his branch and yanked himself to the next. His size and fresh bite made it a bit trickier to maneuver through the branches but he spotted his goal.

His bag which he had chucked skyward in the flurry of escaping death hung tauntingly, testing his mettle. Kol continued the ascend, calling to his sister in a heavy whisper, "Get your things if you need to. Keep your eyes open." Gingerly he tested putting weight on his right foot. Pain shot up his leg in warning, but it was maneagable. Jaw locked, he tried to push off with it to plant his other leg, but his foot slipped. The blood that had seeped through the boot made his sole slick and the grip unstable. Kol gripped harder at the branch in his hand as he slide, dangling by one hand as the electric jolt made him nearly smack downward and tumble to the ground.

After taking a few moments to recover, he grunted softly as he re-situated himself. The second attempt lead him to be much more conscious of his weight distribution, now paying attention to his own footing as well as the strength of each branch. The last thing he needed was to make the same mistake for his backup to break under him. After climbing for a few more minutes, the bag sat within arms reach. Kol steadied himself, balancing on his tiptoes as his fingertips brushed against one of the shoulder straps. He wobbled momentarily and re-centered himself.

Again.

His second try proved more fruitful than the first, his fingers hooking, giving him just enough grip for him to pull it free and slide it onto his back. Very carefully, he began the fun journey of getting out of the tree and then back to Taloba. He offered his sister one more lesson, remembering how they had gotten into this mess in the first place. Slightly out of breath and tired, when they were back on the floor, Kol looked to Dahlia, slinging an arm over her shoulder when tried to walk. She had slid right underneath him, offering help her brother was too proud to requet. Kol tried to shrug nonchalantly as his sister took some of his weight. They limped forward together, both fiercely protective of each other. Brother and sister. Bonded.

"Always trust your instincts, Dahlia... Always."

[Voodoo]

Your Powers Grow

Kol

Experience :

Observations: +5
Stealth: +1
Socialization: +4
Running: +1
Planning: +3
Endurance: +1
Acrobatics: +1
Weapon - Glaive: +1
Climbing: +2

Lore :

Fauna: Akila Hounds
Planning: Hiding in a Tree
Dahlia: A Good Listener
Getting Aid from Family
Instincts are Crucial to Survival
Kol and Dahlia: Bonded in Blood and Sweat

Loot :

Kol has suffered a bite wound to his left ankle. It will require some medical care to heal quickly, but will heal on its own without medical care. Infection is likely unless it is cleaned daily for being exposed to wild animal saliva. A scar will most likely form where teeth came into contact with the skin.

Comments :

This thread is well deserving of the Monthly thread. It was an extremely enjoyable read. Congratulations. Questions, Comments, Concerns? PM me.