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Step 1: Capture
Win: 60-100 (-5 for Drakeins, +20 for trying to capture this creature eight times before) 45-100
Rolled: 9
Outcome: Failure
Words: 667

Even though his last attempt had ended in failure, it still got Sam thinking. Maybe he should try to use his magic a little more. In a rocky place like Ayr, it was perfect! The only issue last time had been how quickly he'd become magic-happy... But if he was a bit more patient and observant, maybe it could actually serve him well. He should probably only try to cast small magic too, instead of chucking huge boulders at unstable cliffs. Maybe more creatures would make it out alive that way. Nodding to himself, he scaled the cliff face, obsidian claws digging neatly into the rock. Tiny pebbles fell where he pulled his weight up, but nothing was quite as disturbed as it had been earlier.

He settled neatly on the edge, his long tail wrapping around him and covering his claws. he tucked his wings and stilled, appearing no more than a statue amongst the gray rocks. At least, he would if his eyes weren't moving. The large, green orbs darted this way and that, carefully and silently picking up every detail he could find. There was a nest in the cliff below him, but the young-looking Dactyl guarding it didn't seem to have an egg; maybe she was just preparing for one. To his right, on the towering rocks before him, there were two more nests; one settled on a stray outcropping branch, and the other tucked amongst the stones. Neither seemed particularly stable to Sam, though the creatures didn't notice or didn't care. He decided against both of those, lest the eggs go tumbling down like last time.

Sam sighed and shook his head, a wave of boredom washing away the statue-like pose he'd held. It was much easier to determine the nest he wanted when he was moving, but he really didn't want to alert the Dactyls to his presence. Even if they knew he was there, maybe they'd blow him off if he didn't cause a commotion for a long enough period of time. Rolling his shoulders, Samael continued his survey.

Directly in front of him, there was another nest. It was pretty low to the ground, though. They'd see him before he could get too close. It needed to be easier to access than that. Or maybe... it didn't? Sam stared at the nest a little longer, wondering if it held any eggs for the taking. Well, even though he couldn't see that far, he didn't have much else to lose. Wanting to shrug, but restraining himself, the Drakein focused on the nest and its single occupant. The Dactyl was perched delicately in the nest, eyes closed, completely unsuspecting.

It would've been nice if Sam could get her to leave the nest, though he doubted that would happen. Instead, he carefully started molding the smaller stones that held the bottom of the nest. At hearing the nearby rustling, the Dactyl's eyes popped open, but she didn't move. Concentrating hard, Sam gently plucked the stones from the cliff, pulling the nest with them. The Dactyl puffed up, but still didn't budge. Sam huffed, but held his focus, lifting her and her nest slowly towards him, especially careful now not to budge. She drew ever closer, carefully hiding the contents of her nest from him the whole way.

Eventually, the stones were within catching distance. And still the Dactyl hadn't moved from her nest or screeched in alarm. Sam was both proud of himself and frustrated with the would-be mother. Unable to contain himself any longer, he reached out a heavy paw and batted her. She opened her mouth for a screech, but Sam crashed into her before she had the chance. Stunned, she fell to the rocks at his side, unconscious.

With wide eyes, the Drakein gazed down into his treasure. There was no egg in the nest. Sam groaned and let the stones fall, taking the nest with them to the valley below. Like usual, a lot of work for nothing.