Quest Never a Regular Hunt (Soharaa, Quzon)

[Traverse]

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55th of Summer, 515 A.V.

No one was sure what had caused the Akila to group in numbers so large, nor be so aggressive to take down an entire Myrian fang, theories sprang up like wild fires, but died out just as quickly, but a solution had to be found.

The answer came in the form of a hunt. Hunts normally had an element of aggressive fun, but after the funeral in front of Myri's Temple, most were seething outwardly or within, and only sought to take down and avenge their brethren before the hounds had a chance to kill again.

Three Fangs were charged with finding the pack and destroying it, ordinarily so many might have been scoffed at, but Myrians did not take threats lightly. Each fang would be moving independently of one another covering a wide triangle of land tot he East of Taloba where the attack had taken place. Along with the fangs, 6 Mengintai Scouts would be moving between them, communicating between them and collecting information, as well as aiding in the search. In this way a net of people was to be created in order to eliminate piece by piece the lands in which this new pack of Akila must call its home.

The fangs amassed 2 miles to the East of Taloba, the 6 Scouts and three Tokoh going over final plans before each would depart its separate way. Fae and her Iron Fang was to go tot he South East and slowly curve upwards, Yolotli was moving straight East and barely wavering, and third Tokoh by the name of Miseri was moving in a North Easterly line. The fangs chattered and speculated among themselves, everyone eager to get going, and the familiar thrum of the jungle joined the chatter.

After another 5 chimes or so the group broke apart and the Tokoh's returned to their respective fangs.

Soharaa

Fae was perhaps the most cheery of the amassed Myrians, somber when observing the funeral, but today she seemed as lively as ever, insulting the fang mates when summoning them over, and giving everyone too rough, but good natured slaps and punches as the formed up.

"Alright we're heading South East for a fun trip through the jungles. The Mengintai will check in with us every few days to check our progress and give us any information the other fangs have gathered. We're going to be marching all day and into the night, and I want our focus on distance at least for a while. That being said, Janumb I want you focused on any traces of the hounds, I don't want us running over any trail that could lead us to them, so you'll be out in front most of the time."

The male gave a mocking salute "Aye aye oh fearless leader." Most everyone else rolled their eyes. Fae shook her head, but the smile was still there, and she gave a look around her fang's faces. "If there aren't any questions, MOVE OUT."

And out the Iron Fang moved.

Quzon

Yolotli scooped up a Riamm from the forest floor, a lime green fellow who chattered happily and snuggled into her neck as she began to speak.

"You all know what you have to do. Keep your ears perked and eyes open, the scouts will keep us informed, and we are going to make good time straight East."

Not particularly wordy, but then again the Tokoh knew how to get her point across with less.

In less than five chimes each fang was off on their own paths, and Mengintai scouts? Well...if they were there no one could see them.
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[Quzon]

There were many who believed old hounds never learned new tricks. It was denial so thick, refusal so resolute, that only an overwhelming truth could shatter its facade. It was the simplest truth which was most often forgotten. And that truth was the jungle is no place for the weak. The fauna of Falyndar knew their roles within Caiyha’s domain and played them to perfection.

Quzon witnessed the remains of the fallen as they were burned before Myri’s Temple. He had given them a warrior’s farewell by lowering his head and spoke aloud to himself. “Fallen, yet not forgotten.” It was the only sincere prayer he could offer. They had died preforming their duty, and further words would have been hollow.

Quzon had a love for the mysterious, and nature was always happy to entice his curiosities. He longed to find its hidden strengths, to know what caused the Akila to gather, or kill a beast on his own. After volunteering to hunt down the Akila Hounds, Quzon prepared all of his equipment in advanced. He armed himself with his hand-axe, his chakram that he wore around his neck, and hunting knife that he kept in his right boot to be used as both a weapon or tool. Besides his weaponry, he also brought along all the equipment he needed to camp and hunt.

Once Yolotli ordered for the hunt to begin he slid on his backpack and marched off with his fang.

[Soharaa]

It Finally Begins It finally came. Soharaa had been patiently waiting for this moment- this period of time where she could finally prove her worth. This mission which they were on would be the stepping stone to full respect within the Talobian army, and maybe even the city of Taloba. Of course, there was another reason why Soharaa was so ready for this moment. The Myrians had been gravely insulted by this wild dog attack. They who were more powerful both in numbers and alone were taken down by some low pups. Soharaa, nor anyone who named themselves Myrian, would not stand for this great insult or let this threat live. She wanted to get started, she wanted to take back the pride of her race, and she wanted revenge for all the Myrians who had fallen to these pups. Within the time to come, Soharaa will destroy every Akila hound which her eyes set upon, this she promised herself. For now, she waited. Her Tokoh leader had gone into a meeting with others to decide their best plan of action. Soharaa and the rest of the young Iron fangs had to wait outside until the Tokoh were done planning. She was trying to be as patient as she was when she heard that their fang was going to join the Akila hunting party, but when her mind raced to her spear penetrating one of those dogs skulls, she would suddenly become too impatient to sit in one place. For a while she spent her time circling her fang members and hoping that Fae would come out from her meeting. When that moment finally came, Soharaa was maybe the most excited one to see Fae walk to them. Although, she did not show her excitement because she did not want to look weak, but she was happy on the inside. Her fang leader said, after giving everyone in the group a light wake up slap- "Alright we're heading South East for a fun trip through the jungles. The Mengintai will check in with us every few days to check our progress and give us any information the other fangs have gathered. We're going to be marching all day and into the night, and I want our focus on distance at least for a while. That being said, Janumb I want you focused on any traces of the hounds, I don't want us running over any trail that could lead us to them, so you'll be out in front most of the time." "Aye aye oh fearless leader." Janumb responded, and everyone else shook their head at him. A proper reaction given by everyone to whatever Janumb said. Soharaa didn't like him, mostly because he made a lot of jokes about her sexual physique, but others, like Fae, saw good things in him. And even Soharaa could admit that he was the best tracker among the team. If only she could beat the wittiness inside him out, then he and her could be good friends. "If there aren't any questions, MOVE OUT." Fae ordered, and everyone followed. Inside her head, Soharaa screamed with great excitement. 'It begins,' she though to herself over and over again. 'It finally begins!'

[Traverse]

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Two days passed. Upon the second night a scout visited each fang to gather reports from the Tokoh. Upon the third morning, just as promised, each Fang was visited by a Mengintai scout reporting from the other fangs. They appeared as quietly, and as unobtrusive as they had left upon that first day, and bearing little news...yet.

Quzon

As far as any of the fang could tell, there was no trace of the hounds, at least not yet. Yolotli kept her crew at a brisk and rigorous pace, their biggest breaks involved sleeping, and once the previous day a short hunting escapade that brought fresh meat to intersperse their rations. Apart from that the jungle had revealed no secrets to them.

The scout arrived about a bell after they had broken camp and set into their march, just as true daylight began to reign over the jungle. She was a slight thing, small by Myrian standards, though perhaps that worked well with her type of work. She gave warning of her approach with a trilling bird call, and Yolotli gave a cawing cry, signalling everyone to pause where they were.

At first the scout began to speak to Yolotli alone, but Quzon could see his Tokoh raise her hand and gesture the female over to rest of the fang. "They should all hear it from you." The female nodded, running a hand along tightly braided hair for a moment before continuing.

"The Northern fang has found nothing, as we know you have as well, but the Iron Fang to the South East has found Akila tracks." Even as bodies tensed and fires lit behind eyes the scout raised up a hand. "As far as my fellow Scout and their fang's tracker can tell, it is a normal sized pack and not the one we are searching for, but if you wish to join them just in case, we will set the Northern fang on a different more southerly path in order to cover some of your ground, and ensure we did not miss them."

Yolotli pondered this for a moment, then glanced at Xoco. "I will allow the fang to decide as a whole, we may be joining for nothing but we may not be." The scout pursed her lips, but said nothing.

"Well I say we go." Said Xoco. "It may be for naught, but if it isn't they could die just like the other fang."

Momoztli shook her head. "But what if we miss the large pack entirely? The way we are positioned now there is little chance of missing evidence of their passing, and whatever they have found down there doesn't sound like a dozen or more Akila hounds. I say we continue on our route, join them if they find more."

"I agree with the healer." Tepin said. He got a sour look from Xoco, which seemed to bring a hint of a smile to his lips. "If we miss the big pack chasing after the first sign of dogs..." He let the thought end there.

Teyacapan slid a whistle out of her belt and blew a long trilling note. It was the sound to re-group and join numbers, and she gestured in a Southerly direction.

"Want to get a look at those tracks for yourself, Pan?" Tepin asked, and the mute scout nodded.

That was when all eyes fell to Quzon. Yolotli gave a smirk. "Where we go is up to you half-breed, you're our tie breaker."

Soharaa

Janumb had found the tracks on the morning of the second day, and the fang had veered only slightly off their intended course pursuing them. It had put a fire in everyone's step to think that the Iron Fang would be the one to find the great pack first, and with the scout coming in the evening to gather reports it all seemed to be lining up nicely.

However, everyone's initial excitement faded as the day continued, when Janumb confirmed more than once that these tracks could not have been made be more than three, perhaps four hounds. That was an average number of the creatures to band together, and nothing close to the numbers that must have taken down an entire Myrian Fang.

Fae did not want to take the chance of veering from the tracks which might inevitably join up with more of the same kind, so the fang's progress slowed from a steady unrelenting march to Janumb's pace of tracking, which was good, but not overly fast. The fang members fanned out keeping an eye out for more paw prints in the soft soil, but by the time the Scout found them that evening, they were still on the old trail of the few Akila Hounds. Janumb and Fae gave the report, both of them more serious than usual, and the scout nodded and moved out.

That morning when he returned a few bells after they had begun following the tracks again, Fae paused and the fang circled around the lanky male scout with long black dreadlocks.

"The middle fang, Yolotli's, is making a decision on whether to join you or not based on the information you have given us. One of us will guide them to you if they do, if not they will continue on their route in search of evidence of a larger pack. I will travel with you today, try to speed up the tracking process." Fae nodded and gave Janumb a mocking glare.

"Yes, perhaps you could show our famed tracker a thing or two." Janumb rolled his eye, but had no snappy reply, clearly eager to work on tracking instead. He and the Scout set off into the lead, and once again everyone fanned out in search of anything that could point to this set of tracks leading to something more promising.
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[Quzon]

It seemed to Quzon that they had been traveling for several days, though it really had just been two. He marched through the jungle while wearing his boots during the first day, yet decided to go barefoot on the second. He enjoyed the feeing of the earth under him. There were brief moments when he closed his eyes to focus towards feeling every grain of soil that moved subtly beneath him.

It was one of the only small comforts he allowed himself during the constant pace at which Yolotli tasked the fang to keep up. Each night ended with him sound asleep with his hand axe in his grasp, his legs sore, but not exhausted. And although his sleep was sound, it was very easily disturbed. Quzon's emerald eyes snapped open at the slightest sound of a voice.

On average, it was Tepin’s loud voice which had awoken the Half-Breed before falling quickly back to sleep. He’d only wake up if he heard danger, Yolotli’s voice, or Xoco relaying his Tokoh’s orders. Once the command was given, Quzon had awoken immediately and put on his boots for the day before breaking down his tent.

The group did not get far into their march before the sound of a small bird caused Yolotli to halt the entire fang. When the made herself known he listened intently to everything the petite Myrian had spoken, and suddenly found himself at the focus of everyone's attention soon after. He stood tall while he lost himself in his thoughts for a chime. He had the look of a man who didn't fear much. His stature was slightly above average, and he had a broad body that looked as though it could dish out some punishment. But this was all used to appear imposing in front of everyone.

He considered what each of his Fang-mates had to say, making sure they knew he took their words seriously by locking eyes with all of them one by one.

"Tepin is an idiot." Quzon flung the abrupt insult right at his fangmate when there eyes locked. "Although, I agree with both he and Momo." The Haf-Isur smirked before glancing away from Tepin. "It seems unwise to alter our course due to a few tracks. Regrouping with Fae's fang to the South would force Miseri's fang to lose ground in the North to carry our burden. As we are now, we stand a better chance of learning the packs location. We can regroup with the others once the beasts are found."

[Soharaa]

Two Days Passed It was a long march that Soharaa had to go through. She and her team needed to trek through the dangers of the jungle just to kill the wild band of Akila's. While they moved, they had to also keep their eyes open for signs of a Ya'Tago and any other dangerous creature. They were hungint Akila, but were prepared to deal with any monster. The first day was filled with marching. Soharaa enjoyed the walk through the jungles but begged for some action. She came on this journey to fight, not to go on a boring walk with her fang-mates. When Caiyah's sun began to slowly fall, Soharaa agreed to lead a small group through the jungle on a hunt for food. This would be the only action she got on day one, and she would accept that. Although, if day two did not show any promise then she may become angry with her group. Some of them, maybe even most of them, annoyed her to no end. They returned to the camp site, capturing a few snakes and other tiny creatures to cook over the fire. She, along with another member of her group, then took first watch as Leth's moon began to rise from Mizahar's soil. Day two was surprisingly more exciting than day one. Janumb had found a set of tracks that were Akila, and had started on them while the rest of the group ecstatically followed behind them. Soharaa was the one who kept close to Janumb the most. Despite how much she hated him, she paid close attention to how he tracked the hounds and what specifically he looked for. Everyone was happy and proud that Janumb was the one to find tracks; unfortunately, that pride turned into tiredness when the tracks ran long and were found to be nothing but a regular number for a pack. A man with dreadlocks offered the idea of Yolotli's pack heading towards the Iron fangs in order to help with the search, but Soharaa spat at that idea. They would be nothing but foolish to come towards us! Soharaa thought. Foolish, foolish, foolish! And if they come, I will tell it to all their faces of how foolish they are! The Mengintai offered to help with the search, which Soharaa agreed was a very good idea. As they once again began to follow the tracks, Soharaa stayed close to both him and Janumb as she did before.

[Traverse]

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Quzon

Yolotli gave a nod as to Quzon's decision, Tepin's nose curled at the insult, but he wasn't so foolish as to start any trouble at such a serious time. Xoco seemed pleased for the male to be put in his place once more. "I think your decision is wise, half breed, we will continue on, if the Iron Fang does find more tracks we will make haste to their location, until then, move out."

The female scout disappeared as silently as she had come, with only a nod and promise of more information soon. Teyacapan merely shrugged and when they started moving resumed her normal position out in front to scan the ground before her less observant fang mates might ruin any evidence of the prey they sought.

Tepin sought his revenge that evening when just before dusk truly settled in, their priority became food vs. the tracks of Akila. Quzon was not far from his fang mates, bird calls, and insect chirps a constant so that everyone knew where everyone else was as the darkness encroached, and then out of nowhere, Tepin barreled into the half isur. It was obviously a source of frustration to the male how Quzon's heritage toughened his skin and made harming him harder, not to mention his constant jeers and belittling comments seemed to bounce just as ineffectively off of the half isur's stony exterior. That being said, Tepin was many things, but when it came to causing other people pain, he had a single minded determination, and had slowly come to figure out how he could take advantage of Quzon's natural biological differences. In this case it was using his own weight against him as the burly male dive tackled Quzon's legs, aiming to send him toppling, and even if this failed, his own recovery was swift, upon his feet with a gladius to Quzon's throat whether her was standing or upon the ground.

"Coward, insulting me surrounded by the females, your strange stone skin gives you cause to think you're better than me I think, when you're just a maggot under Myri's heel. I would ask you to apologize and say all is forgiven...but I know you won't, so I think I should just teach you your lesson G'iib-tah."

It took more force than normal to break through Quzon's skin, but Tepin wasn't a gentle sort, and in only a tick a thin vein of crimson appeared on Quzon's neck.

Soharaa

In the growing darkness Fae called a halt to the fang's slow progress. Everyone formed up save Janumb and the male scout, who had gone ahead following a promising trail of the tracks, for even if these were not at all related to the larger group, they would make a good meal.

Titan had started a fire, and was conversing quietly with Fae over the speed and route they were to take the following day, Silence had climbed a nearby tree and was keeping watch from above when the trilling call of alarm came muffled from a distance away. With nary a sound she landed upon the ground, and the entire fang was tensed.

Another call rung out, a call for aid and everyone was running, Titan barking commands.

"Fan out, weapons ready, everyone keep the person on your left and right in mind and do not lose them!"

If Soharaa had sought action she was now to have it, Takut on her right Sindoa on her left as she made her way through the jungle. It took them ten chimes to find the source of alarm, Soharaa the third to reach the scene just behind Fae and Titan. The 2-3 Akila hounds they had been tracking earlier had formed into 5. Janumb was pinned against a tree by two, two arrows in one of them, his longbow keeping their snapping jaws away. The male scout was lying upon the ground, blood running out of a huge hole in his legs where flesh, muscle, and tendons had once resided, hacking and slashing not truly effectively at a single hound. One, the largest of the group and perhaps the alpha leapt immediately at Fae, who Titan shoved out of the way, grunting as his flesh was marred by the sharp claws of the canine. The last one accounted for gave a desolate howl and surged straight for Soharaa.
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[Soharaa]

Battle Tactics Fae had decided to have the others rest. Soharaa was not as eager as the others were to stop searching with fresh trail; however, after a compelling argument Soharaa had agreed to let the two trackers do their job while she relaxed. Titan had begun a fire and Silence had begun to climb the trees. Soharaa admired Silence's grace as much as she admired her style of fighting. She watched as her third-in-command fang member swiftly mounted the tree trunks like a monkey with clear elegance. She noted every twist and turn that was made, hoping to use those movements herself when she wanted to climb. When Silence was out of sight, Soharaa walked among the others. The fire had started to light up the area around her, its embers gently burning her skin. This was a good burn which she had grown to love over the years. She could still remember the first time she ever smelt the smoldering smoke of a fire while it ate away at sticks. It was the time when she was nearly seven and learning what it meant to be a warrior. Her mother and father took her and her brother out to go on their first hunting trip. When night came her mother had built a fire while the rest collected wood. They sat near the tiny flames, soaking in the heat and roasting the meal they had worked so hard to catch. Her mother sung a beautiful tale of Myri while her father accompanied her mother with drumming. Her mother was a great singer, and each time Soharaa heard her mother's tune she would feel as if a thick layer of fur was wrapped around her. After the song, her father and brother put on a play about the ghost of a great male warrior. She laughed at how foolish they looked when they danced rather than acted out every fight scene. When their fun was done, they all laid close to each other and ate their fill until they could not move fast in the morning. A long time had past, and Soharaa is now at the age of nineteen, a full warrior of the Taloban army. She has no time for the silliness which she enjoyed then. Instead of listening to song, she sharpened her spear. The metal tip was beginning to to turn rugged. To make sure that it was sharp enough to puncture and kill an Akila, Soharaa smoothed the blades surface with a polished rock. Her father had collected this rock near the river of Taloba, giving it to her with clear instructions on how to use it. "Wet it with water first," her father said. "Make sure that there is especially water where you will be rubbing it. Move it across your blade in a circular motion, and make sure that it is sharp but not too sharp. Rub it too sharp and it will chip away when in use." Soharaa did as her father said, wetting it with water, which she collected from the pond with her waterskin, then rubbing it softly along the blade so as to not brake the blade or make it too sharp. When she was done she found the spearhead's sharpness to be just the way she liked it. "As good as the first time I got you," Soharaa said while remembering the time her mother had helped her pick this weapon. It was another special memory of hers because she had spent it with her mother. She thought about how they argued at each other about which weapon suited her and nearly laughed at how silly it all seemed now. Soharaa would have made a hardy laugh if it were not for the people that surrounded her. Each of her fang member had gone off to do their own activity. Near to Soharaa were Sindoa and Takut. They both were gawking at something that Soharaa could not see, Takut's wide back blocked her view. Their probably looking at an animal of some kind, Soharaa told herself, remembering how they loved to pet the friendly creatures of Caiyah. They were good with animals, and Soharaa would allow them to be near her Myrian tiger if she ever got one, knowing that they would treat it with gentle kindness. Soharaa tried to listen to them talk, however, some screams were made just beyond where Janumb and the scout had headed which stopped what everyone was doing. As her named suggested, Silence had jumped from a tree and landed on the ground with little sound. Takut and Sindoa were to their feet, along with the rest of their fangmates. Titan and Fae were in front of them all, Titan barking out orders as though he were in charge. Soharaa made sure that her spear was firmly in her hand, her knife in her scabbard. Everyone fell into a war formation as they crossed the jungle forest. When they arrived at where the screams originated, every fang was nearly shocked to see the scout on the ground, leg bloody and nearly helpless, and Janumb stuck between a tree and two Akila hounds. There were five of them in total. Five dogs that first crowded around Janumb and the mengentai. As the rest of the group made their presence known, two of the hounds turned from Janumb and to the group. "Ready your poisons!" Soharaa said to Sindoa. Next to her she could have sworn to hear the painful screams of Titan; however, she could not look to see if this was certain. Heading towards Soharaa was one of the five Akila hounds, and if she averted her eyes then she would be dead. Soharaa focused at the task at hand and drew her knife. With a mighty roar she ran towards the hound, not allowing it to take the advantage of momentum against her. The hound was a very fierce foe, so Soharaa had already planned out how she would attack the creature if one came charging against her. As she ran, she became very low to the ground, maybe even lower than the hound. She planned that this would make the hound leap to strike her. In that moment of leaping she would thrust the length of her spear towards it as if she were using it as a shield. The blade of the spear would not meet the hound, however, the blade of her knife would. She had planned on using the body of her spear as protection while she plummeted her knife into the Akila hounds neck, weakening it and causing it to lose breath. Soharaa knew the risk of getting close to a hound, but she needed to take it. At her level there was no other way of avoiding any outcome that would befall. Her only true wishes were that her spear would not break under the hounds weight. But even if it did, she would burn the spear in a hero's funeral. So, prepared to lose everything, yet nothing at all, Soharaa acted on her plan.

[Quzon]

As the day progressed, Quzon remained a proactive member of the hunt after his vote decided the location where the Fang marched. When Tepin charged at him like a raging Tskanna, Quzon took a single step to his side to brace himself. Boot heels pressing into the soil underfoot in a way that made muscles and tendons strain. His posture had grown hunched and haughty, bending forward to keep his center of gravity low to refrain from falling. When Tepin's body impacted against him, Quzon shifted his feet wider than his shoulders width to position himself into a low wrestling stance.

When clarity began to overtake his instinct, Quzon knew he needed to fight back. There were few things in the world that could bruise Quzon’s ego after a lifetime of being punched, taunted, and even cut. But wrestling had become his favorite sport after the short time he spent in Sultros with his father. It was one of the only things that kept him connected to his Isur heritage. So the thought of being tackled to the ground did not sit well with the Mixed-Blood. Quzon fought against Tepin with all of his might even trying to swing his hand down in a heavy hammer fist to bash the bottom part of his fist against any portion of Tepin's body that he could reach.

Any further action Quzion prepared to take was abruptly halted once he felt the tip of a sword press into his throat. Cold green eyes regarded Tepin, and Quzon wore a demeanor of unshaken stone. "I am better than you for many reasons. The main reason being that I do not attack my allies while on a hunt to avenge the deaths of fallen allies. It defiles the meaning of our hunt. And I will not apologies for calling you an idiot because you have proven yourself to be one through your actions." Quzon could feel the blood trickling down his neck as stared Tepin down. This is a waste of my time. So if you are going to hit me then stay you blade and hit me like a real warrior, Kotakbil." His jaw clinched as every part of his body braced for any type of attack.

[Traverse]

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Quzon

Quzon could see that it was taking much of the large Myrian's strength to hold Quzon's own musculature at bay, the thin trickle of his blood running down hardened skin. Tepin's face curled in a cruel sneer at Quzon's logical retort. "You are nothing, half blood, noth-"

A sharp bird trill cut through the forest, signalling that someone had made a successful kill, and for all to re-group at camp. Tepin paused a moment, then withdrew his blade, wiping it upon his belt and spitting on the ground at Quzon's feet before making his way back to camp.

When Quzon made his own way back he was greeted by the enticing smell of fresh meat already being cooked over a small fire. Momoztli was turning the corpses of two Agouti, while Teyacapan continued skinning a third, Xoco plucking the feathers out of a male curassow. The second in command of the fang gazed suspiciously between Tepin and Quzon for a moment, clearly noting the slight injury on the half breed's neck, but said nothing.

Yolotli sat on a large rock, sharpening her Kris. Once everyone was settled comfortably she spoke. "We'll eat and turn in early, get as much rest as you can, because we will wake before dawn on Teyacapan's call and make good ground tomorrow. Everyone will take a shift, Tepin after you have eaten you will take the first one, then you will wake Xoco. Then I, then Quzon, and last will be Teyacapan, understood?"

Everyone professed their understanding of the plan, and the fang ate silently together once the food was cooked, Yolotli adding some dried fruit from her rations to the meal. Shortly after everyone found a place to get settled in and rest.

Soharaa

The beast seemed not to be deterred by the spear or the woman that stood fiercely before it. Soharaa could see the bulging musculature of the hound, a perfect killing machine in the jungles of Falyndar hurling towards her. She was thrown off balance by the initial force of the Akila, feet sliding into soft loamy earth, feeling her muscles complain at the strain as her spear pushed against chest and neck of a snapping snarling maw. Her dagger came in towards the now somewhat exposed chest and cut a deep gash there, opening up the flesh and feeling hot blood pour of her hand, and down her arm.

The Akila Hound snarled in pain and fury, and that was when Soharaa's balance gave out, she tumbled onto her backside, the Akila's bulk suddenly upon her. Faster than she might have thought possible the Akila reared back, disgustingly huge mouth opening to reveal teeth capable of crushing bone, but just as it set forward into a lunge a double bladed axe buried itself in the back of the Akila's neck, instantly killing the beast whose weight and leaking fluids collapsed in a mangled heap upon Soharaa.

Windoa, arrows already coated in toxin had fired two shots into one of the Akila accosting Janumb, paralytic agents working fast as the Akila snarled and whine and collapsed onto its side, its front right leg and side going numb, Janumb taking out a dagger and finishing off the job. The second harassing the injured scout was dispatched swiftly with Silence's Katana, her form appearing swiftly from around the tree to drive it in between the canine's ribs, removing it and then perforating them again in a killing blow.

Fae, saved a mauling from her second in command, recovered swiftly, standing, and drawing her long sword in one smooth motion. Titan was at war with the massive Akila, each vying for dominance as the male trapped wrapped his arms around the creatures neck, and pushed its face into the dirt, losing his grip for the Akila only to rip several shallow wounds in his chest with its claws. Fae gave a cry, Titan shoving the Akila off of him and scrambling backwards on his hands as their fang leader sent the full weight of her longs word down upon the alpha's neck. It was not enough to full decapitate the creature, but the head did hang off at a strange and grotesque angle as the Akila gave a singular growl that was cut off with its life.

Fae wiped her sword on the foliage and turn to assess the fang, everyone present, though not all having participated in the fight. Takut and Xira helped Soharaa up from under the Akila remains, and Nara made her way straight to Janumb to see the extent of his injuries, while Fae checked on Titan. Soharaa had gained her own battle scars in the shape of three puncture marks that went deep into her left shoulder from where the Akila had tried to pin her down for a final blow. Titan had a chunk of flesh missing from his left arm, and several long shallow cuts, but Janumb was the worst off. His left leg had been shredded by Akila claws.

Fae went over to her scout, the look of concern plain upon her face. Nara, took charge of the situation. "Someone find me a clean source of water, get your water skins filled and bring them to me, Windoa flatten down those ferns there we need to get him on a clean surface, Fae, Silence, get him over there, try not to jostle him."

Janumb gave out a wail of pain as the two females lifted him, Nara pulling out a few vials, and clean bandages, as well as collecting moss off of a nearby tree which she clean with her water skin before using it to sop up some of the blood. She tied a chord tightly around Janumb's knee to try to cut off circulation and prevent him from losing anymore blood.

Fae and Titan stood together, and Silence joined them, the three talking in hushed whispers.

After only a few moments Titan and Silence went a short way into the woods and returned Titan carrying the form of the deceased scout sent to help them, and Silence dragging the form of the fifth Akila hound, who the scout had managed to kill before. Everyone paused in what they were doing to let the death of their guide fully sink in. Fae pursed her lips together, glancing between him and a struggling Janumb. "Soharaa, Takut, Xira, collect wood for a funeral pyre. Nara and Jade tend to the wounded, the rest relocate our camp here and skin and cook the Akila hounds."

Though they had had a victory, the mood around the clearing was exceptionally somber, Fae standing in the middle of the quiet and quick work everyone was doing, finally settling on skinning her own kill.

After about a bell, the three of them had collected enough dried leaves, and fallen branches, clearing an area around the makeshift pyre to ensure no fire would spread. Everyone save Nara and Janumb came to stand around the pyre, as Windoa bent to light the kindling. It took several moments, but soon a harsh crackling began that consumed all around it, including the form of the scout nestled within the wood and foliage.

"His name was Komac of the Tempered Steel" Called Janumb hoarsely across the clearing. Fae nodded and spread her arms apart.

"We here were strangers to you, Komac, and you to us, yet still we were bound as comrades in arms, as Myri's children. With your last breaths you took your enemy into Dira's arms just as it took you. Dira will guide you back into the body of a Myrian where you can grow strong and serve our Warrior Queen, and proud people again. You served the name of Tempered Steel well, Komac."

A moment of silence followed this, then Fae spoke again. "Everyone take their fill of food, eat well. Titan, Soharaa get your injuries cleaned and dressed by Jade or Ricoli. Those injured, and Nara will not keep watch this night, you will all need your rest. In the morning two of our number will be tasked with returning Janumb to Taloba and alerting the military of what has transpired here, the rest of us will continue onwards, for I believe we all have seen this night what kind of threat has been encroaching on Taloba, that we must halt."

Everyone was silent, the sound of the pyre burning the music to which they all ate, and then slept, its fires dulling as the night progressed.
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