Tasting Flesh

[Atl]

Timestamp: 14th of Spring

Midday found him in the thick of Falyndar's lush jungle, working through the canopy Fik, a fellow scout in his Fang. They where several bells away from Taloba on orders to scout deep into the jungle. Much had changed after the storm of the north passed, the jungle routes they had extensively mapped swallowed up by the jungle in the course of a single day, women and men had been blinded or vanished into thin air, and many other changes had occurred, more than they even knew about Atl reasoned. The jungle didn't frighten him though, but as ever he remained wary for to not be meant to die.

His eyes flickered to a movement just a few feet away from him, and instantly his body tensed still, only having to glance at Fik's upraised hand to realize what it meant. They were where they needed to be. How the man knew that, Atl could only guess, but this was not the place to waste words. While day seemed safer than night, it was no less dangerous, and he kept listening for the betraying sounds of a predator as he slid down from his perch onto the forest floor. Not far from him, Fik landed and started towards him, going past him to the base of a massive tree, its roots snaking around a moss covered boulder.

"Here" Fik spoke pointing to the large rock before scaling it, looking down at Atl when he had reached the top. "This will serve as a marker. We will need it to reestablish the trails through the jungle"

Atl simply nodded, recognizing the truth to the claim. Without places like these, it would be hard navigating the jungle, even for a myrian. Fik through something at him, and he caught it in his off hand, only looking at it after taking a moment to consider the older myrian. "Clear a patch of ground" Fik stated simply, his own eyes preoccupied with the contents of the bundle he'd previously kept tied to his back. Eyeing the thin reed mat clutched in his hand only briefly, Atl moved towards a relatively flat patch of ground without question.

The preparations were quick an simple, with a few swipes across the jungle floor clearing the ground of debris, followed by placing the mat over the cleared patch of ground. Light footsteps behind him betrayed the approach of Fik and moving aside Atl watched on as the older myrian pulled out a sheet of parchment and began sketching in the place. Taloba was in the unfinished map as well as the few of other places they had dropped by that day, the parchment quickly running out of room with the addition of the new marker. Perhaps Fik carried more. He hadn't really been spoken to of the specifics of the mission, and it wasn't his place to question the orders of those in superior positions. They hadn't gotten as far as they had by leading poorly after all.

"This will serve well for our maps, at least until the rains come and most if not all of these markers will be covered" The older myrian mused aloud as he rolled up the parchment and stored it away in a waterproofed leather casing.

"Come"

[Atl]

"Recognize this?" The older myrian spoke, crouching near the ground. Atl shifted slightly to see what the myrian was speaking of, and noticed the taut thin vine threaded almost invisibly a foot above the forest floor. It disappeared on both sides into the dense undergrowth framing the bare patch of ground.

"A trap" Atl replied, taking the moment to kneel by the scout, and see if he couldn't follow the vine back to what it might unleash. The person was experienced, that much he could tell by the mud riddled with leaves that was smeared over the spiked branch that had been bent all the way back for a powerful swing. Had Fik not noticed the vine, he could have walked right past the branch and not realized he'd narrowly avoided death.

"As far as those I've seen, this one is rather basic" He added, examining the tension and strength of the vine. It had flaws riddling its surface, though the vine keeping the branch back was much sturdier. Before he could react, Fik slashed through the vine, and Atl lurched back in an attempt to avoid the deadly branch.

Something whistled above his head, but it wasn't the branch. From his perch flat on his back, he could see a thick needle vibrating where it had stuck into the narrow trunk just behind him. Its length was covered with a black lacquer, some deadly poison no doubt.

"The clever set traps within traps" Fik spoke while he helped him up to his feet. Shaking of the dust that had clung to his clothing, Atl studied the needle before turning back to the older myrian. "Thought to test your reflexes. Don't want you getting fat on me"

He opened his mouth to utter a jab back when a he heard a noise behind him, and dropping down into a crouch he held his weapon at the ready. Fik already had his bow strung and drawn. How'd he do it so quickly?

Out of the dense leaves burst the antelope, nearly knocking Atl over as it thundered past. There was a twang of a bow string and the creature jerked, tumbling to the ground, stirring up dust as it thrashed before going very still. Following Fik's lead, he crept closer to the creature, noticing the arrow head protruding from it's neck, black eyes glassy. He whispered a prayer to the goddess of nature before looking towards Fik.

"Seems like our fang mates will eat well tonight"

"So they will. See to the antelope. We make for the camp, and then Taloba in the morning"

[Atl]

Sinking his teeth into the juicy flesh, he bit off a mouthful from the side of antelope he had been portioned with. Around the camp, his fang mates talked and laughed, others standing motionless on the parameter as they stood guard. He'd have his turn when most of them went to sleep, for out here eyes were needed at all moments. For now he enjoyed himself, talking with Fik and Bim concerning himself with nothing more than sating his hunger.

The excursion had been more than informative, though he'd knew he'd have to have to keep picking the path or risk forgetting exactly where to travel when it mattered. It needed to be ingrained within him, be apart of every fiber of his being so that when he was traveling the path, he could pay more attention to what was going on around him then where he was going. Things like that kept you breathing longer. Which brought memory of the trap back to mind.

"That trap, how'd you know?"

"Because I set it"

[Atl]

Relief and wariness flooded him all at once at those passionless words. It was like had said I could've killed you twice, a dangerous line of thought. He knew his brothers and sisters would not hesitate a second to end him if they thought him weak, to make the blood line stronger for it. If Atl wanted to continue breathing, avoid being shamed, and attain his goals, he needed to adjust the balance. He needed to prove his usefulness.

"I'm stronger for it" Atl spoke simply, hiding his concerns in an unaffected voice. He'd do better next time. It was a simple as that.

"Don't bother adding another trap to the mix. An experienced soldier rarely needs more than one as you've realized today" His voice was cold as his spoke the bitter truth into the night air. Be careful Fik's brief look spoke, and before he could reply the older scout was disappearing around the bend, off towards his own camp.

Truth was life. It was his burden to carry in the massive jungle that was his home. He'd meet the foe like he had all others, head on with wit and improvisation.

[Atl]

Relief and wariness flooded him all at once at those passionless words. It was like had said I could've killed you twice, a dangerous line of thought. He knew his brothers and sisters would not hesitate a second to end him if they thought him weak, to make the blood line stronger for it. If Atl wanted to continue breathing, avoid being shamed, and attain his goals, he needed to adjust the balance. He needed to prove his usefulness.

"I'm stronger for it" Atl spoke simply, hiding his concerns in an unaffected voice. He'd do better next time. It was a simple as that.

"Don't bother adding another trap to the mix. An experienced soldier rarely needs more than one as you've realized today" His voice was cold as his spoke the bitter truth into the night air. Be careful Fik's brief look spoke, and before he could reply the older scout was disappearing around the bend, off towards his own camp.

Truth was life. It was his burden to carry in the massive jungle that was his home. He'd meet the foe like he had all others, head on with wit and improvisation.