Flashback [Solo] Phoenix Tears

[Ascen]

Timestamp: Fall 8th, 509 AV Location: Northern Wastes The sky looked a bit dark with the clouds lingering over the land of Taldera. White sheets of snow covered the land as far as the eye can see. Snowflakes continue to fall down from the sky like white dots that only seem to cast a faint fog. A fog that makes it difficult to see much at a far distance in detail other than large shapes of trees or even large clusters of ice. The claws of icy wind continues to dig into the furs of many creatures as the snow hares were just recently climbing out of their burrows. Trekking through the snowy ground was a small group of hunters with two riding on top of dire polar bears. Every two hunter had an emblem of a different hold that they belonged to, but they seem a bit wary too. After all, their task was to find the source of why their Woolys have migrated so early and in a fewer numbers too. At first it was thought of a predator hunting these poor creatures down and angering the Frostfawn Hold members a great deal. Considering that the Frostfawn treat the animals like family and thus cherish them as such. Ulfgar Frostfawn, a Vantha hunter who hails from the Frostfawn Hold, keeps a firm grip on the reins of his horse while gently rubbing his other hand alongside the horse’s neck. Turning his head over at the rest of the group, Ulfgar spoke under the Vani tongue. “How are you all holding up?” After all, Ulfgar can’t help, but be curious and concerned about his group considering that they’ve been traveling for a full day now. Following these tracks of the migrating Woolys was an easy task with Theon Frostfawn being the group’s main tracker. However they’ve been following these tracks for a while now and so far they’ve found two corpses of Woolys that have been torn and gutted out until little remained. Even the bone was cracked into the marrow, if not that then there was a lot of bones being crushed and splintered by something with a powerful bite and teeth. Choco Wintervine, a female hunter/doctor who hails from the Wintervine Hold, spoke back as she was in the middle of the group. Practically serving a role as a healer or in this case a corpse inspector so that they can determine what was the cause of death. Though with the bodies they have came across so far hasn’t been very fruitful other than something is very hungry. “We haven’t seen anything in the past three bells now. The tracks are getting thin and i believe there’s a storm coming up soon. We’re not going to find whoever or whatever is doing this I’m sorry.” Ulfgar scowled at the thought of what Choco was implying of turning back, and Theon was close enough to see the disapproval on Ulfgar’s face. “She’s right you know. I mean we can continue for maybe a bell or two, but if we don’t see anything i think we might want to take up on our Choco’s advice.” Ulfgar looked at Theon as the man’s eyes turned a light pink with a tint of red added to it. Hence the color that Ulfgar is holding back his anger for he is quite short tempered here lately because of the killings. “You too Theon? Gods, if I hadn’t known any better I’d say we make a turn at one of these tracks that branches off.” However the only problem is that the group can easily lose their track back to home as well. With the clouds in the way it’s hard to tell of what direction they’re going. Theon would sigh as a cloud of steam rolls off from the tracker’s lips. “You know we can’t do that, it’s surprisingly easy to get lost especially if there’s a storm brewing in....” Theon took a moment and looked at the back of Ulfgar almost in admiration. Mostly because Ulfgar could stare down a damn sabretooth and not even flinch due to his bravery and lack of fear. Some say that could be Ulfgar’s flaw, others say that can be a gift too. “We can look into these tracks for about one bell only. After that we need to start heading back. Okay Ulfgar?” Some of the members of their group was grumbling as their backs and rumps was aching and sore from being on horseback for so long. The two polar bears especially are starting to become rather exhausted from carrying the two hunters on their backs. However Ulfgar nods his head in agreement, but he can also relate to what the rest of the group was feeling. After all it’s generally a bad omen that if a sabretooth was to show up or even hunted in this area the whole group would be in great danger already. Without further argument, the group branched off from the original tracks to a single track. They were faded, so it was hard to tell what it was other than it definitely wasn’t a human. For one, humans don’t have hands or feet shaped into a paw unless they’re a Kelvic, but Theon doesn’t believe it would be a Kelvic. Additionally, the tracks gradually became more clearly that these tracks indeed belonged to that of a Talderian Sabretooth and that sent an unnerving chill on everyone’s spine save for Ulfgar. “We best come back out here with a larger force. If it’s a sabretooth then we’re going to need more men with Inartian made bows at our side in order to take it down.” However Ulfgar doesn’t seem to be paying to attention to Theon’s words as he oddly was staring up at the sky. Choco came up next to him and clapped on his shoulder to try to get his attention. “Hey, did you hear Theon or no Ulfgar? Or has your hearing finally went away?” Ulfgar just blinked once and never took his eyes away from the sky. “Have you ever heard a bird make such a beautiful yet oddly weak call?” Choco and Theon was confused at Ulfgar’s strange question. Both of them actually thought that he was crazy as Theon responded. “What call? None of us heard a thing except you talking nonsense and this wind that’s picking up now.” It was at that moment that they finally heard a weak and faint call of a bird over the blowing winds. Actually neither of them would have heard the bird if the wind wasn’t blowing against them and the wind was actually carrying the bird’s call louder and further than it normally would allow it. How on earth Ulfgar was able to pick it out over the voices of others and the wind itself remains a mystery as he simply said that he heard the call. “I must answer the bird’s call. It doesn’t sound too far from here.” Ulfgar ranted as the group looked at this Vantha with uncertainty written on their faces. However the hunter seemed determined and didn’t even wait for the group’s consent before he resumed into trotting towards the direction where he heard the call. “Ulfgar wait! Don’t run off by yourself!” Choco called out to Ulfgar, but he doesn’t seem to heed her words. So Theon straightens himself before speaking almost in a tired tone. “We’d best follow him then. He’s not going to change his mind otherwise until he gets to this bird or whatever it is.” Choco lets out a hefty sigh before the group ends up following the mad man.