Hunting by Numbers(Hunting Party)

[Hania]

Nothing like a Myrian woman taking charge to set the mood. He wondered if one of the women would challenge Syep to see who would lead the party. He’d never worked with Siiri before but he’d heard the talk, and the news had always been good. It would certainly be a privilege to work with a more experienced leader, and team. But as pleased as he was with the hunters that would be joining in on this venture he was even more content with the actual mission. It wouldn’t be the usual run down and slaughter he was so used to performing in groups. There would be a stalk first, then the kill. As far as he was concerned it was the way every kill should be made, to watch the target, test it for weaknesses, the quality of the prey, what would be most the efficient means of slaying it. This would be fun.

Though his fun might be ruined if Koa and the kelvic couldn’t keep their differences apart. Any stupid bickering once they were well out of easy travel back to the city might cost someone their life. And the deyhan, he didn’t want to start thinking about that pale creature just yet, his mind wasn’t ready to contemplate the taxing idea of her purpose in accompanying them. Yet she was there, big pack and all. There was no doubt he had misgivings but in the end Caihya and the jungle would determine what kind of being she really was. Hania turned his mind back to the parameters of Syep’s plan. It was logical and concise enough to where this didn’t seem like such a big undertaking. Kisthkin, he’d never seen one up close before. Heavy, strong in the arms and legs; if it was him he’d take the arms out of commission first.

Hania was still lingering at the back of the group quietly thinking to himself when he heard his name called, and position assigned. Point, or in this case he was point guard, exactly where he wanted to be. He completely ignored the part where he would eventually have to switch with Syep, he hated being stuck in the middle almost as much as he hated outlanders. Inherently dangerous as it was he found that it was the danger of Point was what he longed for. The closer to death, the more he felt alive. Perhaps it was a twisted view on the world but he couldn’t stop the rush of excitement it gave him. More importantly though he would be part of a key element that preserved everyone’s safety which he knew was the priority, and just as fulfilling. Spear in hand he trotted past the others and into the fronds before him. He was slightly concerned with how well Siiri would be able to move through the thicker vegetation with that pole, and hunk of metal on her back, but he kept his lips together. He found a comfortable distance ten feet behind his new leader, and slightly to the left, which he croaked out for good measure.

[Satu]

Distrust and Skepticism swam in the air. Judgments flew around the group, towards her and her companions. So rampant were these feelings! Did the others not notice? Ignorant ones, oblivious of the dance of emotions swirling around them, she thought. At one time, Satu would have felt pity for them. Now, she was filled with Contempt! Unknowing! Unaware! That is what they were. Turning her head at an angle, she breathed in the Doubts they had of her, the Konti Deyhan. She was amused, what did she care of their games? The Jungle was out there! It whispered to her even now, low and incessant. Lit with excitement the Konti looked at the path ahead. Turning back for last minute instruction, Satu was confused, “A false hunt of the Kisthkin?” How strange this Malediction of Seyp’s… Only later would they truly hunt the massive beast. Seyp was odd and the Konti looked deeply at him. She felt his Heart, calm and cool, and it questioned her still. She cared not! That Myrian was the reason she would be free in the Jungle. And strangely, he would even compensate her to enter it… though she did not understand the means by which he would pay; Oni had never explained to her the particulars of the invitation. One thing Satu understood at a deep level was the stalking of the Alpha Kisthkin. It was true, if you wanted to learn something, it must be from a Leader. She nodded and a tremor in her neck surfaced, hidden by the movement. Followers were Weak! Followers had nothing of value; it was the Leaders that showed the way, only the Strongest. As if on cue, Siiri spoke then while Satu watched incredulously. The Myrian simply did it, without fanfare or conflict; she spoke the words that assured herself Leadership of the group. Wheels turned in the Konti’s mind; Siiri was a Leader, with Control and Command at her fingertips! Oni also, was a Leader… The Konti’s thoughts clicked into place, and braids bounced abruptly as she turned to observe the others while Siiri spoke. They wanted to be led! Had they not just given their unspoken consent! Seyp… and the others simply followed. People needed a Leader, wanted one. Had not Drainira said the same? An idea began to blossom and thrive in the fertile soil of Satu’s simple mind. She would learn this thing! She would learn to lead the Lost and the Unfortunate! She would save them! Satu said nothing at first, as if she too were a follower, harmless and compliant, willing to listen to instructions. But when Siiri told Satu to be silent, her breath came out audibly. Siiri was wrong! The HeartSeer’s gaze drifted to the mass of trees around them and in a quiet, yet compelling voice, Satu replied, “The Jungle hears All, Siiri. And Sees All. Do not assume it can be easily fooled by silence…” Taking her proper and designated place in the formation, Satu was ready as they led her into the jungle, and willing to say no more. But as Miharu passed close to her, Satu whispered. “Do not think you are the first I have seen of your kind. Of the wolf and the human. I have known another. Much larger, and whiter than you…” And she accused, “You are small to him!” Walking a few steps further, the Konti felt a push into her shoulder from behind. Instinctively, Satu knew from the quality of emotion behind the shove that it was the woman called Koa. But this time, the manner was not threatening. Satu turned smoothly to face the woman, offering the often hot-headed Koa, and her bald companion a glorious smile. Koa was a predator, a very emotional one and when the HeartSeer was near the woman, she felt those very same emotional vibrations devour and enslave her warped Konti Heart. Satu felt vital and alive even in the remembrance of it! And with the jungle and the rain, Satu felt doubly pleased. It was one of Satu’s more lucid days. Iridescent scales shone opalescent in the wetness as streams of water enveloped her. She was entering the Jungle!

[Miharu Mindi]

Miharu growled and snapped at Koa's hand when the woman dared to try and pat her cheek, but she kept her feet where they were instead of stepping forward to actually try to sink her teeth into the woman's hand. Her bondmate had given an order, after all, and she wouldn't let this stranger force her to disobey her alpha.

She listened to Siiri's instructions, and before the woman even finished speaking she tugged at the knot of her sari and, before it could expose more than a glimpse of pale flesh, her body shimmered and burst into a spinning miasma of golden lights, and in the next blink the sari fluttered to the ground and only the great wolf remained. She was sleeker here than she'd have been in Taldera - but then, she'd shed most of her winter coat on the trip here. Whipcord and muscle and shining white fur only relieved by the stripe of black that touched the tips of her ears and traveled along her spine. The scars that had marred her shoulder as a human did so as a wolf as well, interrupting the smooth flow of fur.

I will walk point with you, she said to Siiri over their bond, and left her clothing behind to step up beside her bondmate. And then she continued on, black nose to the ground as she began acclimating herself to the scents of the others. They were jumbled in her human nose, though just as strong as the wolf's, but in her true form they were much easier to sort out. Each had some scent that identified them as clearly as if they'd each worn a different color. Seyp smelled of bones and dust. Koa of lemons and the tickling scent of a spider's silk. Pua carried the scent of wood and feathers in his skin. Hania carried the scent of jungle trees and night sky, and she knew he would blend in best of all, besides Siiri of course. The white ghost smelled all wrong, though - of salt and sea and things that did not belong in the jungle, just as Miharu knew that beneath the accumulated scents of Myrian life that she'd been careful to acquire, she smelled of freshly laid snow and pine needles. It was in her blood, and for a moment as she sniffed a little closer to Satu she felt a flash of kinship, and reconsidered her earlier thoughts.

And then, as Miahru went to move past her and take her place as Siiri dictated, the salt-girl hissed an insult to her for no discernible reason! Her lips rolled back in a silent snarl and she snapped her teeth in Satu's direction, but she made no other move towards her. They were on the hunt, and one did not bicker with a packmate on a hunt.

When this is over, can I eat the White One? she sent to Siiri as she slithered into the forest and disappeared beneath the shadow-dappled leaves.

[Pua]

Bunnies! Pua thought to desperately to himself as Seyp began informing the group of their prey. You want us to bring back a couple of cute, furry little rabbits, he silently pleaded. His unspoken hopes dissolved with a sigh as he was informed it was Kisthkin that he would have to hunt. Pua had come across them once or twice in the jungle before, but had never experienced any direct contact with them. However, he did know that they were not cute and most definitely not little. He pushed is internal griping aside as Seyp outlined the Kisthkin in more detail. Primate was good. As a general rule, primates shared a similar organ structure with other humanoids, which meant he wouldn't have to worry to much about discovering vital points to send his bolts at. The pack mentality of the creatures would certainly prove troublesome though, as the bone man's little hunting group didn't have the numbers or appropriate weaponry to keep them at bay once the apes were riled up. Pua had know worries about observing the creature first, to him that just seemed good tactics going into a disadvantageous assault. If Seyp wanted to make notes while that happened he was more than welcome to.

Siiri's charge to step to the fore was, if not unexpected, at least no surprise. It didn't really bother Pua, who had no really drive to lead. Idly he thumbed at his malachite earring, remembering past events. Siiri's rules too were nothing new to Pua, just a mere reiteration of proper warrior behavior. Any scout would behave as such. It seemed that the Snapping Jaws warrior intended to pair him with the groups other female. He glanced over at her as she stood alone radiating arrogance. She didn't lack spirit, he'd give her that much. He let the others trail off ahead of them as he ran a critical eye over the young warrior's odd weapon, but decided to reserve judgment until later. After all, his own crossbows were an exotic sight in Taloba, and he knew how effective they could be. In all he was content to let her be for now, and simple go about making sure most of the group made it back. Bonding could be done at camp. The woman Koa, it seemed, had other plans. "Oh? Me let you down?" he inquired, also in Myrian, wiping off the water beading on his hairless head with the hand not casually grasping the crossbow's stock. "And just how is that," he vaguely gestured in the direction of Koa's weapon, "going to stop a charging boar? Tickle it into submission? Well at least you think I'm handsome. You're...Thank you for the compliment." He baited her with a wink. "I'll take the left, and do try to keep up." With his position slightly ahead and to the left of her he doubted she could see his cheeky lopsided grin. Maybe this trip wouldn't be so dull after all. As the group moved into the forest, Pua's let his eyes dance from shadow to shadow, the tangled mass of scarring under his left bracer always itched when he returned to the jungle, a constant reminder that he wasn't always the top of the food chain.

[Seyp]

Seyp paused in his steps as he looked back to Siiri, listening to her taking charge, as he had expected her too in the long run. A slow nod was given to the warrior of the Snapping Jaw as he began to move to the place she had instructed for the formation. “You have the lead then, Sirri. We’ll be heading west for about two miles, before turning northwest and traveling in that direction.” Seyp then replied to Siiri. “The closest troupe was spotted close to ten miles outside of Taloba. Provided they haven’t been disturbed too much both other predators or other hunters, they should still be somewhere close to that area.”

Seyp then slowly looked to Koa as she made a remark about Caiyha’s possible wrath. “There are others to replace the Alpha within each troupe. However, if Caiyha wishes to strike me down for such, then that is my fate and I will accept it fully on the groups behalf.” Seyp replied before looking back forward. “You complain much for a Myrian.”

Seyp then fell into line next to Satu, his head tilting slightly as he gaze traveled over his frame, observing her stance and body language. She held a certain confidence and experience within her that Seyp found intriguing, and he drew curious to learn of her history, and what possibilities her bones could provide in his practice. In the end, however, Seyp’s eyes moved forward once again as she made her declaration about the jungle. His hand slowly slipped into a side pocket of his pouch, pulling free a strap containing five throwing daggers. He began strapping them to his belt on the opposite side his chain hung. Her poke towards Miharu came next, eliciting a negativity from the Kelvic now as well. Already Satu was proving to be as much of the wild card as Seyp had anticipated.

A push to the Konti’s shoulder came from behind from Koa, as Seyp finished tightening the straps of his throwing daggers. He soon began to wonder if a physical altercation within the group happened, whether it would be a result of Koa’s words, or Satu’s. In the end, it was nothing more than a curious itch, and he then just looked to Siiri as she then began leading the way before falling into pace behind her.

[Siiri]

Siiri intimately heard Miharu's words through the bonds they shared and she couldn't help but chuckle at the girl's spirit. Still, she did not want the Kelvic distracted, especially since she was still recovering from her recent injury. Her reaction time to danger might be a split second too slow already without her mind wandering off to dwell on the taunts from the rest of the group. Ignore that one, she advised Miharu regarding Satu. Myri has her eyes on her, or, if not Her, then at least watched by someone else I cannot stand up against, for now. She seems favored at the moment. We'll just see what she can bring to this hunt.

The Myrian had caught a glimpse of what the Konti could do in their confrontation days before. The cuts from that affair were still fresh on her flesh in fact. She clenched her left fist, feeling the tightness of the bandage that covered the wound where Satu's poisoned weapon had stabbed through. It still stung but it was a trivial thing for the warrioress now, hardly registering in her consciousness. She bade her bondmate to focus on her scouting duty for now, though she was unable to resist imparting a mental caress at the girl before she herself concentrated on what she was doing.

About a hundred steps ahead of the main group, Siiri had been using her spear to prod the foliage ahead of her to ensure than no beast lurked behind it when she paused for a moment to listen to her surroundings. They had covered the distance of about a mile or so and she thought she noticed a slight shift in the sound made by the falling rain – it seemed louder, as if its impact was more forceful than if it simply splattered on the jungle floor. They've been traveling due west...

Madini, Siiri cursed, realizing what it meant. Seyp had wanted them to travel west, which was nearer the Basin. The surrounding area would be flooded – the sound she noticed was actually raindrops falling unimpeded against a broad body of water. That only meant they were near the flooded areas. Crocodiles and water serpents would be abound, and who knew what else lurked in the depths of the Kandukta Basin? She made a slight adjustment to the path they were forging, immediately going northwest to avoid the Basin's waters.

They were on dangerous grounds, and she knew it. The summer rains masked a lot of things, from the scent of both predator and prey, to the trails left by those that traversed the jungle. The incessant rainfall obscured and blinded, the racket it made deafened but the most sensitive of ears. Worse, the weather and its effects allowed the infernal Dhani to slip through the Myrian blockade set around Zinrah. Summer was the season where one was most likely to encounter the bastards in the wilds as they grew confident, being able to sneak around more effectively in their snake forms. While Siiri wanted nothing more than to slaughter any Dhani she might run across, she had to admit that the snake people had the advantage in the rain. With the current conditions, a single Dhani could pick off half their group before anyone noticed what had happened.

Deciding not to endanger the group by splitting them too far apart, Siiri signaled Hania and Miharu to slow down so that the rest of the group could catch up with them. Cupping her hands on the sides of her mouth, she gave the howler's cry, informing the others of their location as well as telling them to assemble near her. She kept herself alert as she waited, taking note of the lay of her surroundings in case they were ambushed and had to make a stand while the others made their way to their location. Such things always occupied the warrioress' mind whenever she was in a new environment as it helped her formulate strategies for all sorts of combat-related scenarios.

[Koa]

Koa merely threw Pua a mischievous grin. It wasn’t that she was always so arrogant and rude, she mostly said such things to get a kick out of people’s reactions. The better to get them in a fighting move. Battle is what she itched for. As much as the female warrior loved her people and her city, she longed to shed blood outside of her people’s boundaries of Falyndar. After all, what lay in wait out in the various lands of Mizahar but many other races to conquer and annihilate from the face of the world?

The thought made Koa smile as she trudged along, keeping her glaive close, and her eyes peeled on the shadows of the forest looming all around them. The mud was becoming thicker in some areas, and the Myrian found herself twice having to change her course to avoid potential pits. The deyhan and the maledictor were still in view of Koa, but Siiri and Hania had disappeared into the massive foliage ahead. No matter, as whatever attention she would have given Satu was overwritten when she noticed they were heading into flooded lands. There was a pause in apprehension until Koa heard the familiar call of the Snapping Jaw’s. She turned and trekked along the path towards the location of Siiri and the rest, quick with her steps, making sure there wasn’t enough pressure applied to sink her legs into hazardous mud pits.

Once Siiri had come into view, she slowed, only to turn her head at the sound of splashing in the distance. Water disturbed, hisses and thrashing. A hand gripped tightly at her weapon, the other on balled into a fist, teethed gauntlets exposed and ready for a strike, as if she expected something to charge through the ferns, but there was nothing! At least, for the time being. Koa turned to glance at Siiri.

“We shouldn’t linger here long. This place isn’t safe, even for a meeting. Do you think the Kisthkin would really opt to settle in the west?” She said quietly, jade eyes locked on their surroundings, scanning. “I don’t see how they’d thrive in the flooded, Dhani-infested shithole that this is.” As if for emphasis, she raised her nose up to the sky, inhaling. “There’s no scent of anything. Just rain, more rain, and the sounds of the forest. This is not the perfect hunting conditions… It will take us weeks to find them unless Mother Caihya is kind and brings one upon us…”

[Satu]

“Your Heart seeks...” Satu said cryptically to the tall man next to her. Her gaze, focused on the path ahead did not stray to see his reaction, though she was intrigued by Seyp’s interest in her. After a time she said, heavy with intent, “What does it find, Myrian? What does your Heart see when it looks this way?” She sensed Curiosity in him, but could not fathom what fascinated him so. Why did he study her? He was not a HeartSeer, nor a daughter of Avalis. Why did he do it? “Do you seek the Heart’s hidden secrets? …For it is only when you see that treasure clearly, that you see the world expanded...” They walked on, Satu in her bubble of self centered thoughts. The air was heavy with moisture, and the rains coated and protected them from the heat of the jungle. Seyp traveled next to her, Siiri and others ahead, and behind. The group’s emotions registered as a distant ongoing song that she rather enjoyed, while intermixed within its notes were the sounds of the jungle foliage they brushed against, and the never-ending music of the rain drops. She did not listen for predators, and she was not aware of the surroundings. Unexpectedly, the sound of an animal punctuated her reverie and caused her to jump. Monkey? She did not know, but Satu looked up and around. Not sure where it hailed from, she followed Seyp’s lead through the trees. And then she heard it, Water! Now alert, the Konti’s interest was great. Where was it? Satu tried to see, but trees blocked all sight. “Oh, praise the Goddess!” She exclaimed. Rain was good and beneficial, but it was not enough to sooth a water-dweller for an extended length of time. How long had it been since she had been submerged in its liquid embrace? “Surely, a little rest would be fitting!” Satu called to Seyp as she pulled a little ahead of her companion with a faster pace. To swim again! To truly move freely! And breathe water into her dry gills! “Hurry!” She urged, “Hurry! There is water!” But once the troupe was assembled altogether again, Koa advised leaving quickly. “Leave?” The Konti questioned, and a dark frown began to form between her eye brows, as she looked from one face to the next, “We have just arrived! And the water is here…”

[Pua]

It was a pity, but it did not appear as if Koa was going to rise to Pua's bait. Firing her up surely would have proved an entertainment in the tenseness that always accompanied Myrians as they trudged through the Jungle that surrounded their home. Well, there was still plenty of time left to ignite a fire under her, he was just going to have to work harder at finding which way to push her. In the meantime, he returned her grin with a broad smile of his own. While he was facing her he took the opportunity to scan the darkness over her shoulder, looking for any movement that might be their only warning of an attack. Pua had nothing against Koa's perception, it was the Jungle that he didn't trust. Respect, love, and enjoy, but never trust.

As the party continued on, Pua noticed the ground beneath his feet slowly grow soggier. Instead of assuming more care in placing his feet, as his partner seemed to be doing, Pua moved closer to the trees. Some of the older trees within the forest had roots that grew as thick as Pua himself. using the roots as stepping stones enabled Pua to travel safely and still keep most of his attention on his surroundings instead of what was right under his feet. Pua was about to offer Koa some unsolicited advice when Siiri's howler's cry echoed through the foliage and brought a temporary halt to the party.

Skipping along the roots, Pua arrived within sight of Siiri right on Koa's heels and was only mildly surprised when she immediately started to whine. Pua himself withheld comment, though he had no wish to fight any snakes, natural or otherwise, either. Their small profiles and erratic movements made hitting them with his crossbow a show more of luck than skill. Instead he turned his attention to the white dreyhan. "White one, this is one body of water that doesn't give up those that enter, and entering is not always voluntary," He offered. Clearly, whatever her purpose, she had much to learn still about surviving this jungle. Turning to Siiri he called out, "What's the plan Boss Lady?"

[Hania]

He’d found himself a nice little raised root to perch on while Siiri and he waited for the others to catch up. It wasn’t that the rain, or mud made by it, bothered him he just didn’t feel like continuously freeing his sinking feet of it as he waited. Fingers wiped away the lingering drops of water that hung, irritatingly, on the tips of his eyelashes. They had traveled too straight in one direction for the basin was close, but it was hard to avoid that particular obstacle during the rains. He glanced at the ground, poked it with the butt of his spear and frowned. He couldn’t even tell where he’d left the indent it was so wet. Tracking would be relegated to the foliage alone.

Not one to simply squat around on tree roots unless he had to Han took the spare time to shimmy up the tree he was using as a seat. The water’s edge was closer than he’d estimated, and a quick survey of what land he could see from the first rung of branches hinted that their detour would be a healthy one indeed. More time spent getting to where they wanted to go meant more time taken away from their survival expectancy in the jungle. He glanced behind him, pale white skin and blond hair painfully obvious to his mismatched eyes, and they were already handicapped with that one’s presence. Things would get interesting...one way or another.

“Cultivate some sense, Painted Eyes.” It was the first time he’d spoken the whole trip, that it was a crack on Koa made him wary of how his opinion would be taken, and how the group viewed him as a whole, but he wouldn’t say something that wasn’t like him regardless of the result. “We’re after glorified monkeys. Monkeys don’t like to swim if they can at all.” Han slipped back down the tree to take up his previous spot on the elevated root. “It’s not how they gather food and I wouldn’t expect to see one here to begin with. They will be higher up,” he pointed towards the two higher areas that created the gap of the northern pass, and the two others below those, “where they can see things coming at them I would guess. How we get there is another matter. Any hill will be a hard climb in this mud…”

That, it seemed, was as much as he was going to put into the conversation at the present time because he turned his attention to searching for the sound of a rather loud plunk somewhere in the distance. The consultation had already taken too long in his mind and he was itching to get back on the move. A dhani might not attack them outright, but if it spotted the group it might follow them and take it's pick of prey while they slept. The other part of his drive to keep going was to silence the deyhan before she had a fit over not being allowed to go swim. Outsiders were too moody and undisciplined; like spoiled children.