Quest The Third Voyage (Xen)

[Traverse]

67th of Summer, 515 A.V.

When Xen had volunteered to go one what most were calling a suicidal mission, he had been directed to meet upon the 67th at the end of the Western Tunnel, the one that extended far past the ruins above Zinrah and was the safest of the three exits out of Zinrah. This was the tunnel two parties had left from in search of game to bring back from the nest. One had left before Spring had ended, the second had left at the beginning of the season in search of them...and neither had returned. The order to send more had come straight from Tanabis herself, and though no one disagreed with the Queen's decision, it was clear most of Zinrah's residents weren't willing to put their life on the line when both parties had included seasoned hunters and trackers.

When Xen emerged from the entrance, two guards standing within to protect the secret ivy covered tunnel, he immediately noticed two other figures.

The first was a Constrictor in Dhani form. His scales were a bright luminescent green that transitioned to yellow, or perhaps just change as the light hit them...it was hard to be certain. They popped brightly with the black marks that defined the shape of his scales.

A flick of the tongue was all this fellow needed to identify Xen's presence, and he turned and offered a respectful bow, speaking in snake tongue. "I heard we were being joined by a Viper, but I wassn't ssure if it wasss merely a rumor. I am Hassoralanor, Nor iss fine if we are to be travelling companionss."

The second Dhani gave a derisive hiss. She was jet black, and massive. She was in her serpent form, coiled around the base of one of the massive jungle trees, and as her coils tightened around it, it almost seemed to shake under the sheer force her muscles could bring to bear.

"You made usss wait, Viper, we're lossing precious daylight prattling on." And that was the only introduction she would give. Nor gave a shrug, but couldn't particularly disagree with the female's observation, and with that the massive black Constrictor began to move through the jungle, Nor not far behind. If Xen wanted to discuss plans or strategies it was going to have to wait for them to break for the evening...if that was happening.
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[Xen]

The Queen, Tanabis, called to the entirety of Zinrah for the willing. She needed those, or a few, who would accept her mission possessing a high level of difficulty. The possibility of death was high too; nigh certain, as the sun rise. Yet, Xen donned his armor and toke up his blade and shield upon hearing Tanabis's call for arms. He knew the dangers and heard the stories, but when someone as powerful as the queen issues an order to every person and all individuals under her power, it meant that she needed help and wanted answers. So, he stepped up to undertake what was now The Third Voyage.

In his hand a holy, silver pendant rests; it held the visage of the jackal: a symbol of Dira—Divinity—which presided over death. Xen decided to wear the ornament, for the moment was appropriate. He did not worship any god, but did place his faith and trust in the divine. In his belief that the gods smiled upon good endeavors, Xen remained steadfast and attentive to moments of crisis, where the divine could be watching. Xen grips the holy pendent within his hand as his eyes close, and then places the object into his pocket. He opens his eyes once he steps from The Western Tunnel in acceptance of what Dira and Fate held in store.

Xen was anticipating the arrival of more of his kin; however, was fooled. He walked alone in the tunnels in complete silence, hearing only his own steps and the beating of his heart. Xen should have felt disappointment and rage towards the cowardice of his constrictor brethren, who did not answer. Instead, he solemnly stands in place where ten or more warriors should have stood. Xen's behavior stems from his understanding of why so many did not appear: it was because they were afraid and had too much to risk and lose.

“ The rumors are true this time, Nor. I'am Xen,” Xen gave a brief introduction and nods once in the females direction, as she did not appear to be in the mood for idle chitchat, and silently follows behind the two constrictors. The question “ Just the three of us are going? ” manifests within Xen. He understood that there were those unwilling to risk their lives for the nest, but this was a surprise—unanticipated. Their numbers would decrease the chances of being detected, Xen knew that much, it was only that he found a three man...dhani...team a bit different.

“ I'll observe and see what these two have planned, ” Xen thought as he mentally and physically prepares himself for the struggles lying ahead.

[Traverse]

The first day and into the night was a silent one, focused only upon making a directly westward march towards the coast of Falyndar. No one even knew how far out the other parties had made it, but the female who kept a long lead on Nor and Xen throughout the day seemed confident in where precisely she was headed.

When dusk fell she paused only to briefly introduce herself. "I sssay we keep moving, but fan out and ssee if we can catch ssome game"

Nor nodded. "Sssoundss good with me, if we don't find anything we keep making head way, if we do we resst to digesst."

"You're clever for a male, Nor." Though her tone held the disdain any male Dhani came to know in a century or so of growing up with females, her mouth opened slightly, curving into a massive smile. "I am Resslentalyir, essteemed viper companion. Taylir iss fine." Sarcasm practically dripped out of her maw, but she gave a half respectful nod and they continued into the night.

It was Nor that found two Okapi foraging about two bells later, and together the three of them took the mammals quite handily. Though Taylir was the standard haughty Constrictor female, she listened to suggestions and tactics, and praised both Xen and Nor after they had taken down the beasts, despite claiming an entire Okapi for herself...naturally. Nor, was very flexible with his sharing though, and let Xen have his fill, Taylir crushing the foliage to create a small clearing in which they could rest.

"Who wantss to take firsst watch?" She coiled around, pushing her upper body so she could get a better vantage point at the jungle around her. "I doubt whatever took down the partiess isss thiss close to the nest, but we might ass well get into the habit."
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[Xen]

Xen did not particularly enjoy the silence of the first day and night; it was like the quiet that blanked a city before a storm appeared to cast it into ruin. Which is why he kept his machete-sword drawn at all times, literally, even resting with the weapon closely beside him. Xen did not trust keeping his blade sheathed during the entire time he was traveling through the jungle with Nor and Taylir. Experiences within the jungle taught him to keep his main weapon drawn while his secondary, like the dagger tied to his waist, remained in wait.

Xen was especially quiet and attentive to his constrictor companions, for they did not appear to be as cautious and nervous as he was. Xen assumes the two were confident in their physically strength, which he definitely knew was true in Taylir's case, but he wasn't entirely sure of Nor, who was the most lax of them all. Xen felt he was somewhat familiar with Taylir's personality—it was only Nor that he was unable to grasp an understanding of.
“ Ugh, I hope she isn't like this the entire mission, ” Xen thought as he looks at the female. The chimes made sure to make themselves as long as possible to ensure Xen realizes and acknowledges the reality of his partnership with Taylir.

She was going to be his companion for this quest.
And it was going to be so, until all this was over.

“ Heh, nice to meet you, Taylir, ” Xen grins, but turns his head slightly to avoid being seen doing so. He found the esteemed part of what Taylir said a little odd, and her massive smile only made it weirder. Xen then quickly returns to his alert and cautious state of mind once he feels as though the moment for introductions was over—it was time for the group to find the thing or being responsible for the deaths of their kin—it was time to give the dead their retribution.

When Nor found them some prey to hunt later on, Xen could have hugged the giant fellow. He doesn't do so, obviously, because of various reasons surrounding embarrassment and personal space. Nor's deed and their teamwork made Xen appreciate him more, and that appreciation grew when Nor offered some of his catch and allowed Xen to eat his fill of it. Xen was happy and verbally expressed his thanks, but a feeling of dread began to rise within him. He did not want a person, willing to share a meal with him, to die out in the jungle—that even included Taylir, and her haughtiness.

“ I'll keep watch, someone has to be the muscle around here, ” Xen jests and then flexes his left arm. He felt that there was a need for a little comic relief, despite the dread and anxiety he felt. “ Plus, I may have eaten too much, ” Xen continues the rest of his statement in his thoughts.

[Traverse]

For Xen's efforts at humor he got a blank stare from Taylir, and a light chuckle from Nor, who was reclining in the lee of a tree. The massive Constrictor began carefully coiling herself up to rest, her tone holding all the authority of a Dhani Queen when she spoke. "Good, you can wake Nor when it iss a third through the night. I will take the lasst shift, and will wake you both when it iss time to move."

Once again Nor did not argue with Taylir's commands, he merely gave a nod of thanks to Xen for claiming the first shift, and settled himself on some of the flattened foliage to sleep.

Xen's watch was unexciting. Nothing disturbed the peaceful nighttime music of the jungle, no predators, no sorcery, no creatures that could wreak doom upon veteran Dhani hunters. He did not get a chance to wake up Nor, because the male Constrictor woke up himself to relieve Xen.

"Get ssome ssleep, I suspect Taylir will drive uss jusst ass hard tomorrow."

When Xen did let consciousness fall away from him, her dreamt a a strange dark dream of coiling shadows and growls he could not identify.

"Up Males!" Though her voice was just as loud and demaning as the night previously, when Xen woke bleary eyed from his slumber, he would noticed Taylir has shifted into Dhani form. She was still massive from tip to tail, but not so much so, and presently she was scenting the air with one ebony arm pressed against the earth. Nor moved toward Taylir.

"May I take the lead today? I have...ssome sskill with tracking." There was an undercurrent to his tone, something that almost sounded like disdain, and Taylir's head twitched toward him. There was a long pause, then she nodded.

"Lead on, male." And the party of three set off once more at a heightened pace through the thick jungles of Falyndar.

It was midday when they paused for a break at a small pond, most likely filled by the Monsoon rains, which had miraculously abated these past two days of travel, but surely would return at any moment. Nor slid over the edge of the pond, thick with reeds and shrubs all clamoring to set their roots into the water filled banks.

"Taylir, Xen, do you recognize thesse trackss?" The female made her way over swiftly, to peer at the marks in the much at the edge of the pond, peering intently at an object. If and when Xen made his way over to join the others he would see many smudged and damaged tracks, but several that were quite clear in the muk. They sunk deep into the soft wet earth, and were quite large, not the size of a Tskanna print, but not small, the mark showed two triangular impressions that came off of the otherwise circular print.

"Too big to be an Okapi..." Taylir began.

"Thesse sstreaks here, it almosst lookss like claw markss..."

"What creature thiss big only has two toess?"

They glanced at Xen to see if he had anything to say, both contemplating the tracks intently. "It lookss like it walkss on all fourss..."


.

[Xen]

Xen stood with his favored weapon upon his shoulders, watching the still darkness and listening to the brush that surrounded him. There was nothing, but the ever present jungle insects, and the occasional gecko, or frog, looking to consume those insects he saw.
“ Good to see the bugs are in good spirits, ” Xen thought as dozens of insects flew in front of his face and around him. He wasn’t particularly fond of being harassed by the small and winged wildlife this night since he took on watch duty. So, his previous thought was filled with a great deal of sarcasm and a little bit a frustration.

Xen couldn’t have a predator or some abomination attack him, or one of his companions, while he was busy slaying biting flies and mosquitoes—that sort of disaster was greatly unwanted. So, Xen only swatted the bugs flying around him when they grew too unbearable and proceeded to diligently look-out for danger. “ Still nothing, ” Things were definitely unexciting.

“ If only the bugs would grow eight feet tall and vow their hearts to me! Then I could use them to wipe out all the myrians and give Zinrah the peace it needs, ” Xen thought absentmindedly before good guy Nor approached him.

“ Thanks Nor! ” Xen was glad he chose to be lookout first, because now he could rest with two veteran warriors keeping watch over his blindspots! Xen lays his back on a batch of thick undergrowth and relaxes his body with his weapon in his arms. Then sleep quickly fell upon him, causing his consciousness to fade. However, his dream was not pleasant at all! There were ominous shadows moving about in a place he could not identify—was this the jungle? And strange growls that chilled his bones.

Xen’s eyes open at the same time Taylir called to him and Nor!

“ .... ” Xen quickly stood up with his weapon drawn, but he did not say anything. He simply stood in place with a restless expression. “ That dream was a premonition of death! ” Xen exclaimed in his thoughts! He was too disturbed by his dream to see the exchange between Taylir and Nor, but he did sense some tension between to two for a moment before they all started moving through the jungle again.

“ I’m not familiar with these tracks… could it be a monster? ” Xen bit his tongue after he spoke those words. He wished he hadn’t said such a thing; especially, with Taylir and Nor already unsure of this creatures identify.

[Traverse]

oocApologies for the delay in my response, Xen. I saw your note about being on hiatus, so take all the time you need for a response

Ordinarily such a claim would surely be met with disgust, insult, or perhaps even laughter. Despite this, their response was thoughtful silence, Taylir speaking first.

"It would take much to kill thosse who have not returned to Zinrah. We must assume they are dead, and for ssuch a great number to die when most likely it isss not a horde of Myrian monkeysss who overpowered them with their numbersss..."

"Then indeed it could be a monsster, or fiercely intelligent creature we are not familiar with."

"Ssurely it cannot be jusst one?" Taylir mused softly.

"That doesss seem unlikely."

The party's' thoughts were interrupted by the sudden cacophony of rain upon the natural umbrella of foliage hanging above them. It took but a tick for the water to breach the canopy and begin drenching their heads and shoulders with large fat droplets born by the Summer Monsoons. Nor growled softly.

"It iss going to be difficult to track with all thiss rain."

"Do not whine male, we know what the trackss look like becausse we have never sseen their like before. Thiss creature iss large, their trackss will be deep wherever it leavess them, we will find them again. For now, we move."

With that they continued their journey, a long wet day ahead of Xen and his comrades.

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[Xen]

Xen´s knowledge was limited when it came to identifying tracks, and he could only vaguely remember the ones he´s seen before. But he still desperately searches for a more liable answer, one that was better than his ´it could be a monster´ one “ Judging by Nor and Taylir´s responses I could be right, ” Xen thought as he watches his comrades converse amongst themselves. He was about to say something else in an attempt to make a better claim, but a downpour interrupts him, dousing him in heavy rain.

“ Great...thanks for interrupting me, but at least the rain will mask our approach, ” Xen´s thoughts were filled with both displeasure and relief. The rain would make his and his comrades journey through the jungle more difficult, and also, mask their movements and scents. Yet, it would be the same for the enemy as well. The rain was a double edge sword that always seemed to add a more dramatic effect to situation. Xen saw that Nor wasn't particularly happy with the rain either, which shows him just how noisome nature could be, even for the most experienced of hunters and trackers, at times.

Xen decides to sheathe his machete-sword and then follows behind his comrades. The rain would wreak havoc upon his weapons blade, so he chose to sheathe it. Xen knew his action wouldn´t keep the moisture away from his weapon, but he needed to shelter it somehow and keep it from slipping from his hands. So, Xen traversed the jungle with his hand still upon his weapon, hoping that his decision was right.

[Traverse]

The rest of the day was one wet slog. Taylir often ventured ahead, but both of Xen's companions took a slow pace, not wanting to miss any tracks on their way through the jungle. Nor stayed close to Xen, knowing he was the junior of the group when it came to tracking, he talked quietly to the viper as they traveled through the underbrush.

"Normally when tracking you have an idea of your prey and their habitsss, a tiger leavesss claw marks on trees to mark their territory, peccariesss enjoy wallowing in mud. With this creature or creaturesss we cannot assume anything except what we have learned, it hass watered itsself recently, and obviously calls its home this section of wilderness, a place far from Myrians, and mosst any ssentient life in Falyndar, from there we try to find anything we can about it."

"All well and good, male, but it obvioussly did not help our veteran comradess." Taylir hissed off to the side, sheets of rain slipping over her sleek scales.

"I think we have caution on our ssside." Nor argued. "Dhani are a notoriousssly prideful breed, I would hope we would not fall prey to the sssame vanity asss our fellowss surely did." He gave a long stare at his female companion, and she hissed thoughtfully, then slithered off. Nor chuckled softly. "Let me know if you sssee anything out of the ordinary Xen, however sssmall."

Then, to aid in the hopes of finding any sign of the monstrous unknown they followed, Nor separated himself from the Dhani Viper, though was always within earshot should Xen have need of him.

For the most part, as much as Xen wished he could help, he saw nothing out of the ordinary, especially with the torrential rain. His range of vision was small, though he could almost always see Nor's bright yellow and green scales, and sometimes the shadowy visage of ebony out of the corner of his eye. Apart from that the foliage was shaking, dripping and soaked. Tiny rivulets and rivers ran by him as he made his way through the forest, and with everything drenched and muddy he began to doubt the comment before that the monster's print would be deep enough to not be wiped away from the rain.

At some point, Xen realized he had not seen the flash of either Nor or Taylir in his peripheral vision for some time, so focused was he on finding anything to solve the mystery of what had happened to the Dhani that had come before them. If he paused in moving he would hear nothing but the rain and the muted sound of bird call and insect noises. He could continue examining his surroundings closely, or if he had fallen behind, hurry to keep up with his comrades...the choice was his..

[Xen]

Xen was overflowing with regret. The rain was seeping into his armor and getting in the clothing underneath. He felt nothing but deep displeasure towards the soggy and sticky sensations upon his skin. Wet hair wasn't particularly pleasant either! Xen wished he had assumed his dhani form before he left and undertook this journey with Nor and Taylir. It was an unwise decision to wear armor on this rainy day, or was it simply misfortune? “ Mistakes were made... ”

However, he remained diligent and did not reveal his discomfort to Nor and Taylir. The last thing his companions needed was someone distracting them with their complaints. So, as many tough guys would do, he rolled with the punches and endured. Xen appreciated Nor´s presence in this party; he gave the tense and rightfully dangerous situation a light atmosphere with his teachings. Xen also enjoyed Taylir´s presence as well, but the huntress was stubborn and much more stern than Nor.

Yet, probably due to his own personal biases, he liked Nor more.
Xen quietly listens to Nor as he spoke. The veteran constrictors knowledge would certainly be helpful and life saving in the future. He looks around for the fine details certain beasts would leave behind, but could see nothing due to the rain. “ I can agree to that, Nor. ” Xen looks to the side and pretends to whistle as to avoid any of Taylir´s death stares.

Time went on for Xen....

“ This is the worst situation I could get myself into! ” Xen didn´t need to think upon his next course of action. He simply reacts and moves forward! Xen presses on through the slosh and mud, but occasionally glanced at the ground. The rain water was beginning to accumulate and form into small, flowing rivulets. He sees the threat of a potential flood potentially happening, if things go south. However, finding Nor and Taylir was a bigger priority to him. There was a super predator lurking about in the nearby jungle and he was separated from the group.

This had misfortune written all over it! Xen goes into the direction where he last saw Nor as he would be easier to spot in the jungle. He enters a half crouch and speed walks to his target, trying to be stealthy, quick and unnoticeable as he possibly can.
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