Closed Hunting in the Dark

[Sahassvanikol]

. . Hunting in the Dark . . Timestamp: 30th of Summer, 513 AV Location: Somewhere in the Jungle Wilds, East of Zinrah Nikol slowly crept along the forest floor, his tongue flicking out and tasting the air as he slithered along. Behind him trailed the forty foot body of his snake form, the form which he spent most of his time in. He was most comfortable as a snake, though he was fully capable of taking his other forms, and often he would travel as a dhani when he needed to bring his weapons, or any other items he had with him. All of his gear was left behind, however, burried under leaves and dirt near the swamp that usually served as his home. Nikol rarely hunted at the swamp, knowing that if he did so it would drive prey from the area as they eventually learned it was a dangerous place to be. That coupled with the fact that he was in a near constant battle to keep the swamp from going stagnant, prey animals rarely came to drink from the dank waters that usually made up the jungle swamp. Nikol was actually not the best hunter in the nest, not by a long shot. In fact, he spent most of his time preventing the death of animals than he did hunting and killing them. It was not that he had a problem with hunting, but as a Phylonurist, he understood that in order for there to be things to hunt, he needed to make sure that other things flourished. It was all part of maintaining the delicate balance in the jungle, and specifically, in the swamp he was tasked to care for. Despite all that, Nikol still wanted to provide for his people. Hunting was one of the few skills he had that could actually contribute to the nest. Thanks to his gnosis, it was a bit safer for him in the jungle than it would be any other Dhani. While Myrian's would not hesitate to kill him, other creatures, the Myrian tigers included, usually left him be. Not that many creatures would attack a full grown Dhani anyway, but he was mostly just safe from the tigers, assuming their Myrian owners were not there to push them into attacking him anyway. And if everything went well, he would return to the nest with food, and he might even earn a few bikka while he was at it. Nikol rarely had use for money, but some sort of income would be nice just in case. Nikol tried not to think about such things. It was dangerous enough as it was, and he didn't need to let worry cloud his senses. He needed to find something to bring back to the next, preferably something large. Hunting for the nest was difficult. Dhani ate a lot, and required a lot of food, but it was impossible for every one of them to sneak out an hunt. Nikol just hoped he would find something suitable to bring back.

[Traverse]

The Jungle thrummed with life. Insects, birds, amphibians were all up and about, searching fro food, hiding from predators, it was simply another day in the thriving mecca that was Falyndar.

And Nikol wasn't the only hunter in the greenery looking for prey. A Marguay peered down from her perch high in the canopy above, watching the massive form of the snake twist below her, knowing she was safe at these heights, the presence of the Gnosis mark calming the feline.

A Laughing Falcon circled above, heading toward the Kandukta Basin where the clearing would allow for the bird to spy smaller prey going to the water for food.

And another snake, almost identical to Nikol in size was curled around the base of a tree, head reaching up into the lower branches to snatch at a slow moving sloth.

They were absolutely disgusting, the smell and taste, and would certainly cause the snake to have gas...but she wouldn't bring such a pittance back to Zinrah, and it wouldn't harm her as she continued her hunt either.

Muddy green scales with yellow greens splotches covered the constrictor's hide, and her tongue scented the air as she heard the tell tale signs of a fellow Dhani slithering through the forest.

But Nikol might not here her as the massive snake emerged from the jungle on his right, body sliding up and over him with a low hiss of greeting.

"If you are going out in the jungle, you would do wisssely to make a bit lesss noisse."

She female slid effortlessly over Nikol's back, tail coiling around her, sizing up the male. One Dhani hunting was quite the danger, two together were nigh unstoppable...but by the way he moved it seemed clear to her that he wasn't used to hunting.