[The Northern Pass] Chasing Shadows (solo)

[Naar]

19th of Spring, 512AV [The Djed Storm had raged across Falyndar for what Naar counted as a better part of an hour. He and the rest of the Fang had been out in the jungle when it struck and they’d all concealed themselves under cover so that they could stay safe. No one used those exact words but all of them accepted the fact that they didn’t want to be out in the storm that was spreading out from beyond the borders of Falyndar. Naar watched what was happening from beneath the foliage of a tree with mixed feelings of dread and excitement wondering how all of this had occurred. That was all days ago.] [Naar crouched down by a trail with Aila standing beside him, the others were elsewhere tracking through the jungle as well, looking at the dirt and the hasty footprints that were left in them. Naar was no tracker but even with his lack of skill he could tell that heavy footprints had been left in the dirt and that whoever had made them had made absolutely no attempt to cover them. Whoever made the tracks had been running away but there was no indication of what they’d been running from. Shaking his head Naar looked up at Aila, the scout, who shrugged her shoulders back at him; Aila was a capable tracker despite her youth which is what had caused Naar to look at the footprints to begin with. Not that he questioned her skills but he was intrigued.] [Standing back onto his feet Naar would follow the trail awhile longer. Aila alongside him. It didn’t take long for the trail to go cold. Naar and Aila traded another set of looks but then continued through the jungles again towards an unknown destination. It was agreed that all the members of the Fang would eventually rendezvous with one another as they moved closer to the Northern Pass. Looking up now and staring through a small break in the foliage of trees Naar had some idea that they were getting closer to the Northern Pass but with eyes turning front again he didn’t have much to say about it. Aila knew everything that he did anyways.] [Footsteps came slowly as the two of them moved ahead though. One foot over the other. They were trained to move swiftly and silently, at least in their natural environment. Naar always stayed close to the trees as well, moving around them, and using them as a natural sort of camouflage that he could blend against with minimal success if he paused suddenly. It was just enough that anyone looking but not looking for him might overlook him completely. Glancing towards Aila occasionally he made sure that her movements were never rushed as well so that their position would be compromised. You never knew who was watching you.] [Pausing. Naar raised his hand and signalled Aila to stop and find cover. Both of them respectively sucked against a tree and hid themselves as best they could. Naar listened. Waiting to see if what he’d heard had been a trick played on his senses by the mind. Nothing else happened but Naar continued to wait. Breathing easily while his eyes peered from side to side and in all directions as though he were looking for something specifically. When he was satisfied he’d signal to Aila again and the both of them would move back closer to one another and begin trekking ahead once again.] [At one side of them a bird was heard cawing. The Bird flew overhead moments later before disappearing into the jungle where it would land on the branch of another tree. Naar turned his head to watch it briefly before his eyes went front again. The Warrior was holding his Bagh Nakh in the palm of his right hand, he had been the entire time actually, its claws extending between his fingers several inches at the ready to strike. Aila carried a spear with her which she was capable with. Naar couldn’t shake the feeling that the jungle was watching them right now but no matter where he looked he couldn’t see the eyes that he felt on the both of them. The Jungle was alive though and full of all manner of horrors as well as beauty.]

[Naar]

[Aila signalled Naar before crouching lower. The Warrior couldn’t tell if she’d seen something but they had been walking awhile longer with no signs of life. When Aila crouched Naar did likewise and then the both of them waited. Naar breathed easy, quietly, but his body was tense and ready to strike. Waiting Naar would share a look with Aila who seemed to tell him that something was ahead of them but Naar couldn’t see anything as hard as he had tried to make one what she was looking at. Moments drew on and the patience of the Warrior started to wear somewhat thin; he’d started to think that the Scout had made a mistake and that they were looking back at a ghost.] [Naar went to stand but he felt a hand reach out and take him by the forearm. Halting his progress almost instantly. Aila was looking back at Naar irritably when he turned his head to see what she was doing. Then it happened. Looking ahead again Naar would hear the crunch of foliage before the Herbivore made its way into plain view. It either hadn’t noticed the both of them or hadn’t cared but regardless the animal came into sight. There must have been others nearby but none of them could be seen except for this one. Nodding his head then Naar felt somewhat embarrassed though it barely showed and as he and Aila waited there, crouched, he admired the animal. It was of decent size and would have been good eating but that was not the reason they were here right now.] [Letting the herbivore pass. Naar and Aila remained crouched until it was gone but then the two of them would rise up and continue ahead again. That was the plan anyways. Naar felt the press of Aila’s hand on his again and looking at her she pointed him towards what she had seen. It was out of place on the bark of a tree nearby and with one raised eyebrow Naar began moving towards it. Blood! The tinge of blood on the tree was unmistakeable the closer the both of them came to the tree. Naar recognized it almost instantly and broke the long silence between the two of them...”Not very old.”...he didn’t think the blood had been there very long, maybe it belonged to the footsteps they’d seen, and Aila hadn’t disagreed with him.] [Looking away from the tree Naar saw other small patterns of blood though. It wasn’t just on the side of the tree. There were a few small speckles across blades of grass that littered the jungle floor as well and they stretched out in a direction. Nodding to Aila he began to follow the trail with her in tow behind him. Naar thought this must have been the work of an animal but he wasn’t sure exactly what kind of animal yet. Definitely a predator of some kind. It made sense that whatever had been killed was drug off somewhere and that was where the trail would lead the both of them.] [Naar didn’t need to rely on Aila to track this mess through the jungle. The Blood left an obvious trail that anyone novice or inexperienced could follow it without difficulty. Naar only paused to think once that it may have been left this way on purpose but soon pressed the thought from his mind completely. Sniffing the air once as he moved ahead the Warrior noticed a particularly coppery scent on the wind which meant that they were getting closer. Aila noticed it too. It stunk like death the longer the both of them followed the trail of blood that was leading them towards an unknown conclusion. Yet even so the both of them continued to follow the trail of blood.] [Naar only looked to Aila once ensuring that she was not afraid. Of course this was needless. Myrians did not fear death. They were a Warrior race and Myri herself abhorred cowards. There was no place for them in the society of the Myrians as they could not contribute. Naar had felt fear in his heart, he was not immune to it, as had the others but they had conquered that fear instead of allowing it to conquer them. Onwards.]

[Naar]

[Up ahead the trail of blood grew cold. Naar and Aila walked for a short distance more and the crimson that littered the ground with speckles disappeared. Yet the stench of death remained there was no denying this. Annoyance cross his features before Naar looked at his companion who was equally puzzled. Neither of them understood how the trail could just go cold so quickly despite the linger sense that it had not disappeared at all abounding in both of them. Naar had just about motioned for Aila to fan out when the solution to their puzzle made itself obviously clear.] [Drip. Drip. Naar felt something land on his shoulder. Wiping it away quickly with his left hand he’d look to see crimson paining his palm and he looked up. Aila was already doing the same. There it was high above them in the trees looking down. It was a body of some sort but out of reach for either of them even if Aila tried to use her spear to prod it. Obviously some predator had killed it and drug it higher. At this distance Naar easily made out the shape of a man but beyond that he wasn’t sure. He couldn’t tell if it was Myrian or someone else. Curiosity was there though.] [Glancing at Aila the look that Naar offered seemed to have said it all. Aila shook her head first but Naar was insistent by nodding in return. It must have looked a bit comical what for the lack of talking and all but eventually Naar convinced Aila to climb up into the tree and fish the body out. Naar wasn’t a climber after all, at least not a competent one, so Aila was the obvious choice to climb up into the tree and knock the body out of the branches and onto the ground. Naar stood back while she placed her spear and pack aside, carrying an extra knife or two on her person so that she was never unarmed, and watched as the Scout moved to the tree and began to climb up into it.] [Waiting as she progressed higher towards the body Naar turned his head so that he could continue to observe the surrounding area. While Aila was in the tree Naar would be their eyes and ears on the ground in case of predators or any disturbances that may occur. Naar sensed nothing beyond what the both of them already had though and soon, hearing a branch break above him, he leapt backwards as the body of the deceased came falling out of the tree to thud lifeless on the jungle floor. Looking up at her Naar would see Aila shrugging her shoulders once before she began to climb back down. At least she hadn’t pushed the body onto him. Naar kept watch until Aila was out of the tree and then crouched near the body so that he could inspect it more closely.] [As soon as he’d crouched down next to the body Naar could tell that it wasn’t Myrian. It was too small. Using a hand he placed over the shoulder of the corpse Naar would roll it over so that he could see its features and begin assessing them quietly. Male. Not Svefra. This man must have been from Kalea. Naar thought as he looked him over. The clothing on the corpse was tattered and there were no identifying marks. This man was likely part of a group that had fallen victim to another Myrian Fang or another one of Falyndars dangers. No matter now though as he was dead. Naar and Aila had been tracking a corpse. Looking up at Aila, who had come to stand next to him, Naar remarked...”Just another dead man.”...before rising to his feet so that they could be on their way.] [Little did the Warrior know that while he and Aila had been tracking this trail of blood they had also been followed by a more devious hunter than either of them. Naar was on his feet when he heard the growl coming from behind him but by the time he turned his head it was too late for him to do anything about it. Gritting his teeth the Warrior expected the worst and silently cursed himself for falling into this trap. Aila screamed.]

[Naar]

[Naar couldn’t do a thing about it. Neither could Aila. When the Warrior turned his head something large barrelled between the both of them and knocked Naar prone. Grunting as he fell flat on his back Naar dropped the Bagh Nakh he had been holding onto and tried to clear the stars from his eyes by beginning to blink vigorously. When he looked up from off his back his vision was still blurry but he could see Aila struggling against something. It hadn’t hit her as hard as him but now that he was momentarily incapacitated it worked hard to finish the Myrian woman before Naar could recover and from the look of things it was close to being successful.] [Elbows thrust underneath him Naar pressed himself up and climbed onto his feet just as Aila went down. Now his vision was clearer and he could make out the animal that was on top of her. A large feline. Not a tiger. It was a Jaguar. It clawed at Aila but she was holding it back with her spear while the beast straddled her body and went in for the kill. “NAAR!”...he heard her scream as he came up to his feet and rushed ahead. Leg muscles tensed as Naar rushed ahead and without thinking the Warrior lowered his shoulder and barreled into the Jaguar atop Aila sending it rolling off her as he came into contact with it. She was alive. Naar had saved her.] [There was no time for celebration though. The Jaguar was coming at Naar, swiping with its claws, shortly after he’d struck it. Naar leapt back quickly barely avoid a rake from those deadly claws and then he was on the defensive completely. The Jaguar pursued the Warrior back until he lost his footing, tripping over a vine on the jungle floor where he hit his back again, and then it leapt to pounce on him. Looking to the side as he fell though Naar saw Aila and called out..."Spear!”...which the Scout recognized instantly before throwing her weapon to him. Naar caught it just as the Jaguar took to the air spurned on by its powerful leg muscles.] [Naar caught the spear in his hands and sat up at the same time. Swinging the Spear ahead at an angle, its butt coming around back behind his side in the process and pressing into the ground as support, he braced it firmly as the Jaguar came down on him. Using the weight of the animal to impale the spear into its body as the big cat leapt there would be a sudden jerk before the Jaguar went still as death overcame it. Naar was breathing heavily by then and releasing the spear he fell back again where he’d catch his breath over the span of a few moments. Death had come close to taking him but the Warrior yet lived and he was grateful panting out a quick...”Dira. Bless you for withholding your touch.”...as he knew how close he had come to meeting the Goddess just then.] [Naar was looking up again when Aila came back into view and helped roll the Jaguar off of him. She’d taken a cut to her thigh that needed to be cleaned but that was all and amazingly Naar went unscathed except for the bruises that came with being bashed into initially. Giving her the Spear back, after yanking it out of the Jaguar corpse, Naar would rise back to his feet before telling Aila...”It is a good weapon.”...he was much more serious once again but his words carried a certain appreciation with them that they might not have had before this encounter. Inhaling a deep breath once again Naar would find his Bagh Nakh on the ground and fit it into his palm again before moving to the corpse and crouching down next to it.] [Like he’d done with the body that fell out of the tree Naar examined the Jaguar. Looking at it he couldn’t detect anything strange about the creature but nonetheless he’d have said...”Ever since the storm the animals have become more aggressive. It’s strange.”...though that was all as he had no answers for this behavior. Aila said nothing because like Naar she did not have the answers for any of this.] [The Bagh Nakh in his right hand though Naar would take the paw of the Jaguar in his left hand before bringing the claws down over it. Raking them hard. Ripping away at the flesh until he could claim one of the Jaguar claws as his own. He’d hold it up closer to his face and look at it closely. It would make a nice addition to the necklace of claws that he wore around his neck. Aila looked on.]

[Naar]

[Naar cut a second claw off the paw of the Jaguar before handing it to Aila. She had helped kill the animal. The danger was the same for both of them. The Scout took it when it was offered to her and Naar nodded once with some esteem seeing as how they had made the kill together. Naar had slain the beast but only because Aila had held it off and then thrown him her spear. It was a short and brutal battle. A true fight to the death. Now it was over though and Naar, tilting his head backwards, looking up through the foliage of trees once again towards the sky would take a moment to contemplate the next move.] [They’d found what they were looking for so he reasoned they may as well meet with the rest of the Fang. They were on the Outskirts of the jungle surrounding the Northern Pass right now. The Gateway into Falyndar and back into Kalea. Naar was intrigued by being so near. It was almost time to leave the Fang though none of them knew that this is what he desired. In the Northern Pass he would leave them and travel into Kalea where he could seek out the destiny that he desired. That was neither here nor there though.] [Nodding towards Aila he climbed back onto his feet and said...”We’ll take the beast to the Fang. Meat for the night and a sacrifice to Queen Myri.”...even the brains and organs of a dead animal would be sacrificed to Myri via ritual cannibalization. The Jaguar had been a skilled hunter and it deserved the respect of being properly sacrificed before its body was used fully in all manner of ways for weapons and food, maybe even a pelt. Aila agreed of course.] [There was another matter before they could leave though. Looking at Aila he said...”Use some water to clean your wound.”...the Scout nodded then and took some of her drinking water, using it to clean her wound, while Naar watched. He remembered what had happened when he failed to clean his own last season and didn’t want Aila to risk infection. It didn’t take any time for her to complete the minor medical treatment on herself.] [Naar bent down then, crouching actually, and took the Jaguar into his arms before heaving it up over his shoulder and standing back onto his feet so that he could back it through the jungle with Aila. He felt the burn in his limbs beneath the weight of the beast almost immediately but the Warrior was strong bodied and carried the load admirably. Now that he had the added weight of the Jaguar his footsteps came a little louder and it was more difficult for him to hide them but this wasn’t a huge issue for Naar. Alert to the surrounding area when he heard something he would pause, ready to drop the corpse, and wait to see what it was and whether it would pass. There was no trouble.] [Later on after Naar and Aila had rejoined the Fang the Jaguar was carved up. Its meat used for food and its organs devoured. Naar ate the heart and brain of the beast as a sacrifice to Queen Myri herself and secretly took an eyeball which he offered to Dira for sparing him this day. The evening wore on and all was well.] [They were camped in the Northern Pass now. Naar, looking at the trees around him and the slope of the land, knew the direction that lead towards Kalea and he heard the call of that land singing out for him but he would not leave yet. Keeping his own counsel Naar sat at the edge of the fire that was built and extended his hands to it so that he could warm them. Thoughtfully he wondered what kind of challenges he would face outside of Falyndar. He had already managed to survive in the most deadly place on Mizahar which made anything he might face outside of the Jungles seem so much smaller to him. This was no time for an ego though.] [Taking his Bagh Nakh once more Naar would find a stray branch not yet in the fire and begin to carve across its surface with the claws. Dragging them over the length of the wood and then back again. Slicing away the bark and then portions of the excess wood. Soon. He thought to himself.]

[Rage]

GRANTING OF XP Naar Tracking - 2xp Stealth - 2xp Observation - 2xp Unarmed Combat - 1xp Spear - 1xp Bodybuilding - 1xp Lores: [Stealth] Using foliage to cover one's presence [Observation] Recognizing Bloodstains [Observation] Effect of the Djed Storm on the wildlife Items: 1 piece of Jaguar claw 1 Jaguar Eyeball Notes : Send me a PM if I missed anything.