The huntress regarded the wreckage sombrely. The cart had been smashed into by something large but the pony that had pulled it was in the worst shape. It had been shredded, so much blood, so much exposed flesh that Azira couldn't believe that a single creature could cause so much damage. She'd heard talk of previous attacks though so she guessed it must be their prey or something like it. If it had the time, she supposed it would be able to shred the beast in such a way. She had no idea how long ago the attack had taken place but she knew that animals usually ate their kills as they shredded, whereas the pony looked like something had just mauled it because as far as she could tell no part of it had been eaten. It was difficult to tell for certain. When Zhol announced that the pony was still warm, she couldn't suppress a shudder as horror and excitement thrilled through her. Whatever had done this couldn't have gotten far.
The teen looked around carefully, searching for the one thing that was missing in the vicinity of the cart: the driver's body. Whoever had driven the cart would have to be nearby. They would have been in the cart when the attack took place and if that was the case, they wouldn't have gotten far before they found themselves meeting a similar fate to the pony. She began to walk around the site of the attack, looking outwards from it as she searched for signs of the dead driver. She imagined she'd find a blood trail, or blood somewhere at least, and perhaps the body if it hadn't been moved.
A movement in the corner of her eye had her gaze darting to it, hand twitching towards her bow in the split tick before she realised it was just Turrin waving for them to come look at something. Her body relaxed although she remained alert as she approached. The print that the Endal had found was large and highly noticeable and she wondered how she had missed it initially. Too busy looking for a corpse.
The foreigner had only invited Khara and Azira over, that much had been very clear, but it made sense. Azira was the hunter and Khara the tracker so it was important that they both see this. The human track earned a raised eyebrow from the Avora. The wagoner had gotten further than anticipated although they could still be dead. Turrin had a point though: this beast didn't seem normal. Her thoughts turned to the unnatural monster they'd encountered during the previous winter but she pushed it from her mind. It was a beast track, nothing monstrous at all except in terms of size. She wondered what sort of a situation they were getting themselves into now.
The man's proclamation that Azira take charge if he died--the prospect of anyone dying was not a happy one--and that Khara take over should Azira die left the huntress staring at him. Surely he couldn't be serious. Her eyes moved to Khara, intending to make eye contact and share a look but her gaze only lingered for ticks before she looked somewhere at the level of Turrin's knees and nodded her agreement. He moved past her, heading back to the group. It didn't seem as if he'd expected any sign of assent from her. To him it was an order, he was an Endal and she would just have to obey. That was the way things were and were supposed to be.
The huntress was quick to follow him, not looking at Khara again as she returned to the group and found Turrin reprimanding Brandon for whatever he'd said. Her eyes moved from one to the other, settling on the stranger as her head cocked to the side with almost bird-like curiosity. What had he said to offend the Endal? Brandon must have made some personal comment about him to prompt such a reaction. It interested her that someone else was willing to take a crack at the half-Myrian. The corner of her mouth twitched upwards before her expression became more serious as she listened to Turrin's plan of action. Her eyes were thrown up and she mouthed the word "expert" after the man did, shaking her head slightly. She wished he hadn't said that. Khara and Zhol knew that that wasn't true--they'd seen her incompetence in the past--but perhaps they'd put more faith in her because of Turrin's words, the same went for Brandon. She hoped nobody decided to be overly reliant on her, especially as she wondered what they were supposed to do if they were attacked from the front. If they were attacked from behind, they'd have time to get into position but from the front? Could Zhol use reimancy fast enough? Azira doubted she could nock an arrow and shoot in time if the beast came out of nowhere.
The girl's head moved to the trees as the crashing started. She stood frozen in place, listening intently and quickly judging that whatever was coming couldn't be their prey. She nocked her bow all the same, making slow, deliberate movements as she focused in the sound's direction. It couldn't be the beast, it wasn't making enough noise but if it was smaller and running then it had to be running from something. Maybe it was running from their prey, maybe not. The arrow was pointed downwards, the string drawn back ever so slightly as she prepared to raise and draw when necessary.
A man came crashing out of the trees, sprinting for his life until he practically face planted. The teen winced slightly but the man was back up, adrenaline spurring him on as he warned them about the bear--if that's what it was--heading their way before bolting towards the city. Who was he? Where had he come from? Surely, he couldn't have been the wagoner.
This isn't the time for questions without answers. There's something nasty coming this way! she snapped at herself. Her grip on the bowstring tightening briefly as if assuring herself that she could keep ahold of it. She rolled her shoulders, flexing the muscles to free them of tension before she had to take a shot. She nodded along to Turrin's instructions, ready to make a move before the last part and his meaningful look caught her attention. She regarded him coolly for a tick before rolling her eyes and moving to a point behind him. They had better things to be doing than this, especially her as she wanted to strategise quickly with Khara.
She waved the scout over to her to murmur a few words to her, hoping that the other would agree with her or offer some helpful suggestions. "Remember when we took down the moose?" she asked, the Nari flowing from her quickly, perhaps too quickly for the non-native speakers to understand. "I think we should aim for the chest again, hope that that's a weak spot. Perhaps we should also try to shoot at the tops of legs, not as far as the shoulder but high enough that we're likely to hit something, either leg or chest. Hopefully slow it down a bit, what do you think? I don't think trickery is an option and even if we had the time and rope, I doubt it'd work." She jerked her head towards the ruins of the cart to add some credence to her point.
"We could take up position a few foot behind to the others and a bit to the side of whichever end we take so we're at a diagonal to the group. That way we can step out to the side more if we need a better shot and avoid hitting the others. Does that make sense? Anything you want to add or change?"
If the Chiet didn't protest then the Avora would take up position a bit to the left of the group, a few feet behind them, her bow ready to be raised as soon as the oncoming animal made an appearance.
The teen looked around carefully, searching for the one thing that was missing in the vicinity of the cart: the driver's body. Whoever had driven the cart would have to be nearby. They would have been in the cart when the attack took place and if that was the case, they wouldn't have gotten far before they found themselves meeting a similar fate to the pony. She began to walk around the site of the attack, looking outwards from it as she searched for signs of the dead driver. She imagined she'd find a blood trail, or blood somewhere at least, and perhaps the body if it hadn't been moved.
A movement in the corner of her eye had her gaze darting to it, hand twitching towards her bow in the split tick before she realised it was just Turrin waving for them to come look at something. Her body relaxed although she remained alert as she approached. The print that the Endal had found was large and highly noticeable and she wondered how she had missed it initially. Too busy looking for a corpse.
The foreigner had only invited Khara and Azira over, that much had been very clear, but it made sense. Azira was the hunter and Khara the tracker so it was important that they both see this. The human track earned a raised eyebrow from the Avora. The wagoner had gotten further than anticipated although they could still be dead. Turrin had a point though: this beast didn't seem normal. Her thoughts turned to the unnatural monster they'd encountered during the previous winter but she pushed it from her mind. It was a beast track, nothing monstrous at all except in terms of size. She wondered what sort of a situation they were getting themselves into now.
The man's proclamation that Azira take charge if he died--the prospect of anyone dying was not a happy one--and that Khara take over should Azira die left the huntress staring at him. Surely he couldn't be serious. Her eyes moved to Khara, intending to make eye contact and share a look but her gaze only lingered for ticks before she looked somewhere at the level of Turrin's knees and nodded her agreement. He moved past her, heading back to the group. It didn't seem as if he'd expected any sign of assent from her. To him it was an order, he was an Endal and she would just have to obey. That was the way things were and were supposed to be.
The huntress was quick to follow him, not looking at Khara again as she returned to the group and found Turrin reprimanding Brandon for whatever he'd said. Her eyes moved from one to the other, settling on the stranger as her head cocked to the side with almost bird-like curiosity. What had he said to offend the Endal? Brandon must have made some personal comment about him to prompt such a reaction. It interested her that someone else was willing to take a crack at the half-Myrian. The corner of her mouth twitched upwards before her expression became more serious as she listened to Turrin's plan of action. Her eyes were thrown up and she mouthed the word "expert" after the man did, shaking her head slightly. She wished he hadn't said that. Khara and Zhol knew that that wasn't true--they'd seen her incompetence in the past--but perhaps they'd put more faith in her because of Turrin's words, the same went for Brandon. She hoped nobody decided to be overly reliant on her, especially as she wondered what they were supposed to do if they were attacked from the front. If they were attacked from behind, they'd have time to get into position but from the front? Could Zhol use reimancy fast enough? Azira doubted she could nock an arrow and shoot in time if the beast came out of nowhere.
The girl's head moved to the trees as the crashing started. She stood frozen in place, listening intently and quickly judging that whatever was coming couldn't be their prey. She nocked her bow all the same, making slow, deliberate movements as she focused in the sound's direction. It couldn't be the beast, it wasn't making enough noise but if it was smaller and running then it had to be running from something. Maybe it was running from their prey, maybe not. The arrow was pointed downwards, the string drawn back ever so slightly as she prepared to raise and draw when necessary.
A man came crashing out of the trees, sprinting for his life until he practically face planted. The teen winced slightly but the man was back up, adrenaline spurring him on as he warned them about the bear--if that's what it was--heading their way before bolting towards the city. Who was he? Where had he come from? Surely, he couldn't have been the wagoner.
This isn't the time for questions without answers. There's something nasty coming this way! she snapped at herself. Her grip on the bowstring tightening briefly as if assuring herself that she could keep ahold of it. She rolled her shoulders, flexing the muscles to free them of tension before she had to take a shot. She nodded along to Turrin's instructions, ready to make a move before the last part and his meaningful look caught her attention. She regarded him coolly for a tick before rolling her eyes and moving to a point behind him. They had better things to be doing than this, especially her as she wanted to strategise quickly with Khara.
She waved the scout over to her to murmur a few words to her, hoping that the other would agree with her or offer some helpful suggestions. "Remember when we took down the moose?" she asked, the Nari flowing from her quickly, perhaps too quickly for the non-native speakers to understand. "I think we should aim for the chest again, hope that that's a weak spot. Perhaps we should also try to shoot at the tops of legs, not as far as the shoulder but high enough that we're likely to hit something, either leg or chest. Hopefully slow it down a bit, what do you think? I don't think trickery is an option and even if we had the time and rope, I doubt it'd work." She jerked her head towards the ruins of the cart to add some credence to her point.
"We could take up position a few foot behind to the others and a bit to the side of whichever end we take so we're at a diagonal to the group. That way we can step out to the side more if we need a better shot and avoid hitting the others. Does that make sense? Anything you want to add or change?"
If the Chiet didn't protest then the Avora would take up position a bit to the left of the group, a few feet behind them, her bow ready to be raised as soon as the oncoming animal made an appearance.
Nari | Common
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