The gut-shot beast came charging towards her, faster by far than Khida might aim even a readied arrow. Its sudden proximity was compelling; the Kelvic's posture lifted, poised on tense muscles, panicked instinct warring with guardian's resolve. Only one had run for her -- and that one leaped, its reaching claws falling distinctly short of her perch. She had time, then, perhaps scant but all the more precious for it. Khida looked to the other, but not really; most of her attention stayed on the one that ran... leapt... settled into a circling pace, defeated for the moment.
Yes. She did not have to fly just yet.
The other monster squealed; Khida's attention focused on it just in time to see steel flash, parting limb from body. It was a perfect opportunity as the monster stood seemingly dumbstruck; bow lifted, amber eyes sighting intently down the arrow shaft as though she might pierce the beast with will alone. Not a headshot; that would be an unlikely hit. Center of mass, the broad span of its back -- Khida sighted on that strange, crackled flesh, in the area where shoulderblades bracketed the ridge of the spine. Exhale, and release; the arrow winged forth, faster even than the gut-shot monster now barrelling away from her tree.
More breathing room for her. Khida still had arrows left; now to put them to use.
Arrow six came to hand with careful deliberation; though the Kelvic's pulse still hammered in her ears, instinct's primal urgency subsided for the time being. The predator had shifted its focus, chosen other prey. It sniffed now at its companion's amputated arm, that lifeless flesh in the grass. It was stationary.
Her angle was poor. Crouched as the gut-shot beast was, Khida had only head and shoulders to aim at; and if it stood, she might hit nothing at all, or some other unpredictable part of its lower anatomy. But she could not turn up the chance this moment afforded. She breathed. Studied the curve of the beast's rain-spattered head as pointed to by her arrow. Lowered her angle slightly, so that she might aim for the broadest part of its head, the largest target she could get. Waited just a little longer for a gust of wind to fade...
Just a little...
And released!
...only to see the beast begin to rise even while her missile still streaked through the air.
But she did not have so much time as to waste it fretting over dashed plans. The beasts had done with their little disagreement and now stalked through the grasses, towards the woman who stood with weapons ready, but alone to their pair.
Slow, predatory, anticipatory steps. Slow. Another boon for the archer in the tree.
Arrow seven seemed almost to leap into Khida's grasp, and fitted smoothly onto her bow. She sighted on the maimed monster, watching light gleam off the rain-slicked contours of its back. Took aim low this time, singling out the space just above the curve of the waist. A kidney shot, perhaps even piercing through to other organs if luck blessed her efforts. Released that arrow, and snatched up the eighth without moving her gaze in any way, head and shoulders and spine all rigid and intent upon her chosen target. Her hands tucked the eighth arrow into the very same recently-vacated space and sent it flying hard on the heels of the seventh, on the thought that two arrows had to be better than one.
If the one hit accurately. If the winds did not foul the flight of either. If the monster did not move in a way she failed to anticipate. If.
Two arrows remained. If the monsters continued as they had -- for the most part halting, cautious, suspicious -- she could even put them to good use. Another half-thought prayer encapsulated that hope in a simple plea for luck: Caiyha bless.
Yes. She did not have to fly just yet.
The other monster squealed; Khida's attention focused on it just in time to see steel flash, parting limb from body. It was a perfect opportunity as the monster stood seemingly dumbstruck; bow lifted, amber eyes sighting intently down the arrow shaft as though she might pierce the beast with will alone. Not a headshot; that would be an unlikely hit. Center of mass, the broad span of its back -- Khida sighted on that strange, crackled flesh, in the area where shoulderblades bracketed the ridge of the spine. Exhale, and release; the arrow winged forth, faster even than the gut-shot monster now barrelling away from her tree.
More breathing room for her. Khida still had arrows left; now to put them to use.
Arrow six came to hand with careful deliberation; though the Kelvic's pulse still hammered in her ears, instinct's primal urgency subsided for the time being. The predator had shifted its focus, chosen other prey. It sniffed now at its companion's amputated arm, that lifeless flesh in the grass. It was stationary.
Her angle was poor. Crouched as the gut-shot beast was, Khida had only head and shoulders to aim at; and if it stood, she might hit nothing at all, or some other unpredictable part of its lower anatomy. But she could not turn up the chance this moment afforded. She breathed. Studied the curve of the beast's rain-spattered head as pointed to by her arrow. Lowered her angle slightly, so that she might aim for the broadest part of its head, the largest target she could get. Waited just a little longer for a gust of wind to fade...
Just a little...
And released!
...only to see the beast begin to rise even while her missile still streaked through the air.
But she did not have so much time as to waste it fretting over dashed plans. The beasts had done with their little disagreement and now stalked through the grasses, towards the woman who stood with weapons ready, but alone to their pair.
Slow, predatory, anticipatory steps. Slow. Another boon for the archer in the tree.
Arrow seven seemed almost to leap into Khida's grasp, and fitted smoothly onto her bow. She sighted on the maimed monster, watching light gleam off the rain-slicked contours of its back. Took aim low this time, singling out the space just above the curve of the waist. A kidney shot, perhaps even piercing through to other organs if luck blessed her efforts. Released that arrow, and snatched up the eighth without moving her gaze in any way, head and shoulders and spine all rigid and intent upon her chosen target. Her hands tucked the eighth arrow into the very same recently-vacated space and sent it flying hard on the heels of the seventh, on the thought that two arrows had to be better than one.
If the one hit accurately. If the winds did not foul the flight of either. If the monster did not move in a way she failed to anticipate. If.
Two arrows remained. If the monsters continued as they had -- for the most part halting, cautious, suspicious -- she could even put them to good use. Another half-thought prayer encapsulated that hope in a simple plea for luck: Caiyha bless.
Khida space Common | Pavi
other space Common | Pavi
other space Common | Pavi
