WC - 2091
Eyes closed and head down, Syqvara sat on a small boulder doing her best to think about everything that had happened so far. There was so much in such a short amount of time that she wasn't even sure where to start her thoughts. Nor what she should think about each thing. It was borderline frustrating to her. Giving a sigh she'd lean her head back and take a deep breath. Sy needed to empty her mind and just listen to the sounds of the spirits, it would help her in the long run to better process things. However, her peace of mind was disturbed when she heard growling and snarling coming from the forest just behind her. Blinking her eyes she'd sit upright and turn her head to look. There was nothing in her immediate view so she wondered if it was simply some animal hunting. It wasn't until she heard the cries of what sounded like pups and the hissing that she became a bit worried. She even cast a questioning glance at her familiar; Elyam. Had he heard it? She guessed so since he had his heard up and looked alert to what was going on. It was rare for her to see him like that and also a bit concerning.
Deciding it was best to investigate, both for her curiosity and worry, the red head got to her feet and rounded the rock she'd been using as a chair so that she could follow the sounds. The scorra hot on her heels since he hardly left her alone. Each snarl made her ears twitch and she would slow her pace to try and figure out just where the commotion was coming from. Sy had to be careful, stepping over fallen branches and making sure to avoid betting snagged in any brush. She also didn't want to alert the animals to her presence in case it was just a territorial scuffle. Then again, being quiet was a lot easier said than done with her familiar not caring what he stepped on or even bumped into. With her feet bare she stepped on things and felt the ache of the object pushing up into her skin. A few times she hissed and had to stop completely to listen in and make sure she hadn't made herself known. Those moments were followed by frantic swatting as Elyam gave inquisitive pecks at her shoulder, almost as if asking why she'd stopped.
All in all the search took about five minutes on her part since she had stepped on quite a few rocks and was trying to get her flightless familiar to be quiet. Finally, when she came within sight of what was going on, Syqvara made sure to keep her person hidden by hiding behind a tree. Sy made sure Elyam was hidden as well before she did anything else. Leaning over she watched what was happening and wanted to gasp in mild horror, a reaction that got her another peck on the shoulder. It wasn't that she didn't know that nature could be cruel, it was just that the pups were so small and now in danger of being another beast's lunch. Her bright green eyes filled with sorrow at the thought but she remained rooted in her spot. The fight between the poscuta mother and the witu raged on, scratches and bites, with even more hissing and growling. Syqvara saw that the mother was bleeding badly and the fight would likely be over in a matter of minutes. Leaving the pups defenseless and easy pickings for the hungry witu. It was something she couldn't watch. Wouldn't watch. Despite knowing that it was all part of the circle of life, Sy didn't want to view it's darker side.
So she hid behind the tree once more, shielding her eyes from what was going on. It didn't, however, save her ears. She could still hear the fight for survival. Even her scorra could tell that it bothered her a little, so he brought his head close to her cheek and rubbed against it gently. He was doing his best to offer comfort and she loved him for it, but she could still hear the fight. Closing her eyes tightly she did her best to shut out the sounds and when that didn't work she turned her back on the scene and went to walk away. Who was she to interfere with nature? Syqvara seemed determined to ignore what was going on, to push it from her mind and forget that she'd seen the whole thing, but there was a shrill cry from the poscuta. From the sound of it it was the end of the fight. Sy flinched at the noise and stopped dead in her tracks. Could she ignore that? Her hands balled into fists at her sides as she tried hard to thik of what was the best course of action to take. Walk away and leave the poscuta for dead or turn and defend them and possibly end up hurt? That last thought seemed to appall her. Was she really so concerned about her own safety? Did she matter more than the family that was going to be eaten?
“Spirits forgive me.” She uttered as she lifted her eyes skyward. She could see the sky dotted among the leaves of the forest trees and that was enough.
Another cry from the mother that was defending her pups and Sy quickly looked around for something she could use as a weapon. All she found were a few branches and a rock. It wasn't as if she would get lucky and there be a knife just laying around. Though she'd have thanked the spirits if they had provided such a thing for her. Without farther adieu she picked up the rock in one hand and a large stick in the other. Testing her grip on each she turned to face the area where the execution was taking place. It might be too late for Sy to save the mother but the pups would have a chance if she stepped in. Elyam tilted his head oddly at her as he looked from the large stick she held to her face. Even though he had nothing to give him expressions like a person, she knew he was asking what she was going to do with her makeshift weapons.
The leafling didn't bother to answer her pet as she walked forward, making herself known to the witu. It growled and arched it's back at her as she was now the main threat. The mother poscuta was on the ground, breathing heavily and bleeding out.
“Elyam, protect the pups.” It was an order and the scorra knew it. He moved over and stood guard as Syqvara got closer to the predator. It made the bird uneasy but he didn't want to upset his owner by not listening so he stayed still. The red headed girl threw the rock at the beast, hoping that it would scare the witu away and she wouldn't have to do more than that. Unfortunately that was not the case. It was hit by the rock and shook itself but continued to growl at her. It was only a small blessing that they were in the trees and not out in the open where the creature could blend in with the tall grasses. When the growling got louder the witu lunged at her, teeth bared, and Sy had to react quickly. Swinging the large stick she slammed it into the side of the beast's head, knocking it off course and saving herself from having a bite taken out of her.
The witu hit the ground and roll, getting back on it's feet quickly and shaking off the hit it had taken. Elyam wanted to move, he lowered his head and eyed the predator wishing he could growl to make his opinion known. Syqvara let out a breath she hadn't known she had been holding and moved away from where the pups were. If she could manage it she wanted to get the witu away from the poor things. She cast a glance over at the poscuta mother, only she couldn't tell if she was still breathing. This moment of distraction was taken advantage of and she soon found herself on her back with a full grown witu trying to bite at her face. It was just pure instinct that had saved her, having moved her hands, and the stick, up to defend herself. Now she was in a wrestling match with the taloned beast. Sy couldn't help the cry that came from her, she had never truly fought anyone or thing. Unless one counted knocking a few men over the head with a basket to protect someone. That was by far different than this situation.
Grunting she pushed with her hands and did her best to get her legs up underneath the animal so she could add in more force. The witu went for her again, trying to bite her face, and Sy turned her head away to avoid any close calls. When she felt the moisture of the beasts nose against her cheek her heart stopped for a second. It was too close for comfort! Way too close! In a last minute effort to be free of the struggle she twisted her body and pushed once more to that the witu would have to roll away from her to stay on it's feet. And she succeeded in getting free but before she could get to her feet it was on her again. This time sinking it's teeth into her thigh and shaking it's head, trying to tear a piece off. Sy let out a scream of pain then swung almost blindly at the animal with the stick she held. A few good thwacks with it and her leg was released. Moving away the red head did her best to baby her wound but she knew the witu would only come for her again now that it had tasted blood.
Panting now from the pain she would eye the beast again. This time with resolve in her eyes. Syqvara hadn't really wanted to hurt the creature but now it was personal. This predator had actually hurt her, drew blood even! So when the witu came at her again she gave all she had in one quick jab to the throat with the end of the stick. It hit home and made the witu choke. She could hear it wheezing as it shook its head and backed away. Sy had hurt it but not enough to kill it. She stared, waiting to see what it would do next and if she needed to strike again. After a moment of deliberation the witu decided it was in its best interests to simply walk away from this one. As it left Sy relaxed, though she gave a wince when she moved her thigh and felt the burn of her would all over again.
“That's gonna scar.” She said off hand.
Getting up she'd make her way over to the small litter of pups and her familiar. Elyam lowered his head to sniff at the blood on her leg and she patted his neck gently.
“I'll be alright boy, lets get these pups somewhere safe.” Syqvara was doing her best to appear as though the wound didn't bother her, but really she wanted to move quickly so they could find a healer that would make sure there was no infection. Who knew what weird diseases witu carried in their mouths. Leaning down she picked up the pups and held them close, though she now had an arm full of baby poscuta. Giving them all a soft smile she'd do her best to keep them warm as she leaned a little on Elyam. Her pace out of the forest would be much slower than it had been on the way in only this time she didn't care about the noise she made, it was her injury that made things slow.
On the way out she noticed that the pups were snuggled up against her and it made her wonder.
“Elyam, do you think we can keep them all?” Tiredly she looked at her scorra. He looked at the babies in her arms and then at her before he went back to looking ahead. She took that as a yes, even if it wasn't. Sy couldn't just let the pups starve or go without a home.
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