The ambush was flawless, but it was not always so simple and quick to usher a being into Dira's arms. The boar were tough, especially the grizzled old male. Razkar's arrow found its mark in the females side, and by the red froth he knew a lung was pierced. She floundered and reared back to run-
-and Urap's spear skewered her like... well, a pig over a spit.
The impact of it knocked her on her side and she lay there, kicking feebly, squealing through froth and bile and blood. The rear female was already a pincushion, spear and arrow in either side, the former swinging around wildly as she turned in confusion and pain-
-before another arrow smacked into her neck and blood fountained onto the mud.
An almighty squeal that was more rage than pain, and Razkar's head snapped to the male. His beady, furious eyes were fixed on Ayatah now, an enemy he had finally found and could focus on. Even with three arrows in him he was still dangerous, head and tusks lowered, stubby but powerful legs churning towards her-
Panic seized him. Not the fear of combat or a wild beast. He knew what that felt like. This was... ice. Not just cold, but a solid, frozen lump in the pit of his soul, at the sight of someone dear to him in harm's way. Without thinking he swung his bow around, arrow already notched, and let fly.
Just as she did.
As one, the two arrows slammed into his head and neck and he finally went down. The Myrians closed quickly, unsheathing daggers and short axes and ended the pigs' suffering with quick, precise blows. Razkar walked to the panting, bleeding male, fat tongue lolling out, and jammed Ayatah's dagger into his brain.
"Go on to the next world, and find peace."
The jungle didn't even seem to notice the passing of three of its children. There were the squawks of surprised birds, but the insects barely slowed and as soon as the last, pitiful squealing had ended, the birds resumed their song. Six Myrians stood around for a brief chime, eyes sliding from the bloody boars to each other... and fierce satisfaction was plastered over their dark faces.
Well, mostly dark faces, Razkar thought, and turned to the paler Ayatah. Unconsciously checking her for injuries, once he knew she wasn't, he allowed himself to relax... because they weren't done yet.
"Alright, you know what to do."
Mayura spoke and grunted as she pulled hr spear from the carcass of the rear pig. She and Urap would use their long weapons as poles to carry their kills, much like Razkar and Ayatah did with their tiger yesterday. But they, like then, would have to find...
He blinked, and his woman was already searching for an suitable limb on the jungle floor. Razkar smiled softly with quiet pride and went about pulling the arrows from the carcasses, flicking off gore and blood and fur and restoring them to quivers. Nothing would be wasted out here; the jungle was not forgiving of the slothful or careless.
A chime later he turned to rustling and found Ayatah dragging a limb from the floor, perfectly long enough to carry their kill. Urap and Telio were keeping watch, eyes keen for enemies or predators seeking to claim their spoils. Mayura had finished binding the feet of her pig, and her eyes flicked to Ayatah.
It was a small gesture, but Razkar saw it. Even under the half-light from the canopy a hundred feet above them, he saw the odd little grimace, the eyebrows shoot up and down quickly, and the slight nod. She was quietly impressed.
Razkar bent down and continued his work. It hid his smile very well.
-and Urap's spear skewered her like... well, a pig over a spit.
The impact of it knocked her on her side and she lay there, kicking feebly, squealing through froth and bile and blood. The rear female was already a pincushion, spear and arrow in either side, the former swinging around wildly as she turned in confusion and pain-
-before another arrow smacked into her neck and blood fountained onto the mud.
An almighty squeal that was more rage than pain, and Razkar's head snapped to the male. His beady, furious eyes were fixed on Ayatah now, an enemy he had finally found and could focus on. Even with three arrows in him he was still dangerous, head and tusks lowered, stubby but powerful legs churning towards her-
Panic seized him. Not the fear of combat or a wild beast. He knew what that felt like. This was... ice. Not just cold, but a solid, frozen lump in the pit of his soul, at the sight of someone dear to him in harm's way. Without thinking he swung his bow around, arrow already notched, and let fly.
Just as she did.
As one, the two arrows slammed into his head and neck and he finally went down. The Myrians closed quickly, unsheathing daggers and short axes and ended the pigs' suffering with quick, precise blows. Razkar walked to the panting, bleeding male, fat tongue lolling out, and jammed Ayatah's dagger into his brain.
"Go on to the next world, and find peace."
The jungle didn't even seem to notice the passing of three of its children. There were the squawks of surprised birds, but the insects barely slowed and as soon as the last, pitiful squealing had ended, the birds resumed their song. Six Myrians stood around for a brief chime, eyes sliding from the bloody boars to each other... and fierce satisfaction was plastered over their dark faces.
Well, mostly dark faces, Razkar thought, and turned to the paler Ayatah. Unconsciously checking her for injuries, once he knew she wasn't, he allowed himself to relax... because they weren't done yet.
"Alright, you know what to do."
Mayura spoke and grunted as she pulled hr spear from the carcass of the rear pig. She and Urap would use their long weapons as poles to carry their kills, much like Razkar and Ayatah did with their tiger yesterday. But they, like then, would have to find...
He blinked, and his woman was already searching for an suitable limb on the jungle floor. Razkar smiled softly with quiet pride and went about pulling the arrows from the carcasses, flicking off gore and blood and fur and restoring them to quivers. Nothing would be wasted out here; the jungle was not forgiving of the slothful or careless.
A chime later he turned to rustling and found Ayatah dragging a limb from the floor, perfectly long enough to carry their kill. Urap and Telio were keeping watch, eyes keen for enemies or predators seeking to claim their spoils. Mayura had finished binding the feet of her pig, and her eyes flicked to Ayatah.
It was a small gesture, but Razkar saw it. Even under the half-light from the canopy a hundred feet above them, he saw the odd little grimace, the eyebrows shoot up and down quickly, and the slight nod. She was quietly impressed.
Razkar bent down and continued his work. It hid his smile very well.