Indira had just returned to Homewood, after another jaunt to the Barrens. Each trip she stretched longer and longer without the comforts most Nouls had come to depend on. She was starting to feel a little proud of herself. Her experience was growing, as was her confidence in her own gifts. She'd been prepared for just a brief stop back for a few supplies before heading out again, when word of a challenge had reached her. Scoria had some sort of new magical contraption, but in order to earn one you had to prove yourself. And in a big way. You had to take down a cat beast. And prove it.
While some moons ago that would have been far to big of a task for her. Now however, it just sounded like a new way to put her skills to the test. Even if it meant going back to the ruins. her last experience there had been ... lacking. But she hadn't known what she'd been doing at all then. She was more experienced now. She was ready to try again. But first she had to tell her familiar that this was her task alone.
Fleet was busy cropping at some lush grass, enjoying the bounty of Homewood. "Fleet, I'm going to take up Scoria's task. That item could be of great use to us." Fleet nodded, unsurprised.
"I didn't think you'd pass up the opportunity. When are we leaving?" The jack hop carefully selected another shoot to enjoy. Indira chasing after a dangerous adventure was nothing new, after all.
"Well Fleet, that's the thing. I think this is my quest alone. One swipe from a cat beast could be the end of you. And there's supposed to be a whole colony. We can't risk you like that." Indira looked a little nervous. All of her previous adventures had been in Fleet's company.
"I can't argue you out of this, can I?"
---
Indira stood in the Ruins once more. Dilapidated buildings from the Others were all around. She hated this place. Not only had she had her accident here, but it was so sullied with debris from those who had destroyed Vykeli she found it hard to imagine any amount of healing could fix the place. It just wasn't natural, and she didn't like that. But regardless of her own feelings, she was here. Now to get down to her task. Being a lone doe, she didn't want to run into the entire colony of these beasts. They'd easily be able to overwhelm her. She'd need to find a solitary one to take down.
She smiled. Grandfather Tree had granted her the perfect gift for this scenario. She reached into her mind, and found her gift waiting. She focused, and suddenly her vision changed. No longer could she see in standard colours, but in infrared. It was perfectly useful for hunting out another living thing among these ruins. She carefully began her patrol.
The noul stalked close to a former habitation pod, and noted a large, bright mass deep within. Perhaps this was were the colony was hiding. She carefully backed off, making sure to not do anything to alert the group to her presence. She skulked over to a clear breeze way between more ruins. This seemed like the perfect place to wait. She just had to be patient.
Indira did her best to hold still, very still. It was hard. She liked to be out moving, seeing things, not just waiting. The waiting grated against her. Her mind wanted to drift, but she focused on her task. Wait for a long cat beast to exit. Then destroy it.
---
Eventually her patience was rewarded. A large black beast slipped out, and prowled away from the colony's lair. Indira let it get to the far edged of her vision, and then followed as quietly as she could. She let her infrared vision drop, sure she had the beast firmly in her sights. Judging she was finally far away enough from the colony they wouldn't be immediately on her, she charged at her enemy.
The beast turned, yowling. Indira couldn't slow her rush forward, and the beast was far more agile than she. It leaped right over her back, raking with claws as it went. The pain flared hot, but it just made Indira's quest all the more urgent. Destroy before being destroyed. She lashed out with her back hoof, scoring only a glancing blow.
The cat beast hissed, expressing its displeasure. Indira knew she needed to end this fight quickly before the rest of the colony heard a commotion and arrived. She lowered her head, acting as if the clawing was far worse than it was. The cat beast fell for the feint, dashing forward, aiming for her throat.
At the last second Indira thrust her head upwards, impaling the beast on her horn. It let out a startled noise and then was suddenly very still. Something wet and hot dripped down onto Indira's face, and she shuddered. She was the victor, but it certainly wasn't pleasant. She lowered her head to the ground, trying to dislodge her fallen foe on a nearby rock. Scraping the thing off of her also dislodged a piece of pelt. "I guess this will prove myself to Scoria at least ..." For the first time in a very long time, Indira was happy to be able to head back to Homewood.
wc: 906
