Solo or RP Format Counts as 5 RP growth Points Solo word minimum is 750, RP post minimum is 7
You've heard rumors of a local beast that has been causing trouble, always striking and darting away without a trace. Many have tried to capture it, but with no success. Now that fall is settling in, the community is distressed at the trouble being caused and has asked for your help in finding the beast and either relocating or finding away to get rid of it from the community.
[ A creature is terrorizing the community, but what is it and is it really such a problem? Use the fauna thread to pick out a local beast and tell us how your character found and if they remove or relocate it...or maybe even tame it as their own (not all fauna can be tamed). ]
Cornetified
Sol trudged through the snow with his walking staff leading the way. While Winter had yet to show it's true force, a late night storm covered the ground in a thick snow and left ice hanging heavy on the trees. Years of navigating well worn paths, even in the heart of Winter, prepared Sol for the long journey to his clinic. While he wouldn't be able to easily navigate the terrain for house calls, Sol could get to the clinic just fine. After all, he had his trusty raptrix by his side, even if she was starting to get some age on her.
A recent string of incidents meant long hours for the village's soul healer. He was used to illnesses and accidents through the harsher season, but this was something else entirely. Some sort of creature was hunting roati and their shepherds were taking the brunt of it's claws. Sol had brought the subject up to his husband a few days prior, but without much more information than 'it's eyes glow like a demon!' to go on the investigation hit a wall.
Running his hand over Sev's fur, Sol continued on the path back to his home when a sound caught his ear. It was later in the evening, possibly even after dark, when Sev pulled to an abrupt halt with a snarl. He could sense another's presence near them, but not much more than that.
"Careful," He warned, though that did little to calm her.
Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2023 6:44 pm
On a parallel cause in the mess, Koril had spent that day inspecting one of the fields were an attack had happened, but even he couldn't tell much. Just impressions of claws big enough to seem like they were overkill for roati hunting. Why it was sticking to the small critters was perplexing. It might have been sick and seeking easier prey. Or perhaps it was simply being opportunistic for the coming winter. Maybe it wasn't even from around here! Seeing the wounded shepherds would have been helpful, but he knew he couldn't just follow Sol to work and inspect the patients.
Now he was heading home with his mind still trying to piece together what he had heard and seen for himself. He had been all over Tendaji researching animals. It was frustrating that he couldn't just know what it was, but surely his books at home would have something. Heck, maybe Sol would have some new information as well. Something more than silly demon eyes.
He practically jumped out of his skin when something leapt out in front of him. The spooked parak looked up at Koril's yelp with large eyes and twitching ears before it continued to bound across the path. A nervous laugh escaped him before he could stop himself. At least it hadn't been a roati, right? Still, he didn't hesitate to pick up his pace as he continued on.
Painted Moose
Cornetified
Precious Loiterer
Offline
Painted Moose
Dapper Codger
Online
Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2023 12:26 pm
Cornetified
Despite her age, Sev was still a massive beast and every bit as muscular as she was girthy. When he felt her wings extend her knew she was seeing something that she ought make a bigger impression on which made his spine tense. Magic started to pool in Sol's hand, but apprehension claimed his heart. If able hunters, souls that scoured the lands daily, couldn't take it on what hope did he have? His magic was offensive and without his sight Sol was at a major disadvantage. So, instead of trying to fight it, he pulled himself onto Sev's back.
"Run, girl! Find another hunter!" So long as she didn't fly then the creature might very well follow them and hopefully if Sev did as she was told they could find someone better experienced with fighting. As her massive paws started to tear through the snow so did those of the creature behind them and he could hear it's indignant cry.
Unbeknownst to Sol the scent that Sev caught wasn't a hunter, but rather Koril's. She took a hard right, nearly dropping Sol in the process, and pushed harder through the trees until she broke out onto the ground next to him.
Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2023 4:30 pm
Koril froze when he heard the heavy tromping through the trees. Even on a normal day, that wasn't exactly what someone walking alone wanted to hear! It was more than one creature, he was certain. Both large and in a hurry, and heading toward him.
His hand slapped down to his whip that hung along his thigh. He rarely used it for fighting anymore; more as a precaution than an intention. He was relieved to have it as those thundering paws drew close. One set sounded like..
Sev's appearance earned a squawk of surprise, and then instant concern. He knew this raptrix! Was Sol okay? "Sev, easy girl! Take it easy. Sol, what happened?"
Something else was still coming.. He moved a little closer to the pair with a deepening frown. "Sol?"
Painted Moose
Cornetified
Precious Loiterer
Offline
Painted Moose
Dapper Codger
Online
Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2023 12:43 pm
Cornetified
When Sev instinctively spun around to put herself between Koril and the approaching creature she very nearly whipped Sol off. He lost his walking stick along the way - it was either hold onto it or the rampaging raptrix - though now he was closer to losing his lunch.
The familiar aura of his husband caught up with him almost as quickly as Koril's words. "We found what's been attacking everyone. I don't know what it is, but it's -"
Another loud roar set the hair on the back of Sol's neck on edge. A massive figure stepped out of the treeline and held it's ground against the snarling raptrix. A dusky blue Janarim stared down the three and pulled it's lips back to display it's fangs. The creature's armored hide bore hundreds of scars, some open wounds from the most recent attacks, but most telling was it's left foreleg.
The creature held the bleeding appendage off the ground, but moved as if it didn't have an injury at all.
"What is it? What are we facing?"
Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2023 4:03 pm
"You what?!" Why did it have to be Sol who found the dangerous beast in the woods? Thank goodness he and Sev seemed unharmed! Koril reached to pat Sev's chest and lean around for a look at the approaching beast.
As the janarim came out into the open, Koril felt his blood run cold. His breath was caught in his throat, and he gripped Sev's fur tightly. He was not equipped for this. The janarim was a magnificent beast.. and extremely dangerous when not tamed. Plus, this one was injured.
That's what made him pause. As ridiculous as it was, his fear parted a little to bring forth pity. "It's a janarim," he finally replied. "They're from Oba. It's hurt. I.. I need to..." Instinct told him to take his husband and run, but it also told him to help the wounded creature. He grit his teeth and shook his head. "It's too dangerous. I need more supplies, and someone to help catch it so we can send it back to Oba." He pushed firmly on Sev's chest to encourage her to put more space between the trio and the janarim. Another deep roar from the janarim made Koril's knees weak, his hands slipping as he tried to grip Sev's fur. "Sev! Back!"
Painted Moose
Cornetified
Precious Loiterer
Offline
Painted Moose
Dapper Codger
Online
Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2023 1:42 pm
Cornetified
"It wasn't like I went looking for it!" Now that the creature was so much closer to them it's aura radiated anger and pain in such waves that it clenched Sol's heart. While he couldn't see the Janarim he didn't need to to know that it was prepared to do whatever it took to make others hurt as it had been. He could hear it take a halfstep forward because at the moment Sev snapped her jaws and gave a harsh warning cry.
"Koril." Spirits, his husband's bleeding heart was going to get him killed. For a moment Sol's fear came in the form of worry over what the man would do until his husband, thankfully, decided against anything rash. He felt Sev take a few reluctant steps back, spurned only by her respect for Koril and definitely not the Janarim.
That is until it roared again. This time she gave a sharp jerk of her shoulder, effectively throwing her rider off into the snow before launching herself at the Janarim.
Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2023 10:44 am
Koril was shoved backward as the raptrix went on the offensive. "Sev! No!" He scrambled to get to his feet though his legs were like jelly. Sol was missing from Sev's back, and Koril's panic amplified into a physical pain. He hadn't seen Sol get thrown and could only imagine him on the ground under the battling beasts. If Sol got caught in that fight... He grabbed his whip, but the thick leather felt woefully inadequate in the situation. He had to try something though!
He gave the beasts a wide berth as he ran to get behind the janarim. Mentally screaming how stupid this was, he snapped the whip out to catch the janarim's tail and looped the handle end around a tree trunk. Even just a moment's distraction could give Sev an advantage and let him find where he thought Sol was.
Painted Moose
Cornetified
Precious Loiterer
Offline
Painted Moose
Dapper Codger
Online
Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 12:51 pm
Cornetified
5/7
Thankfully Sol wasn't caught beneath the dueling beasts, but he was still close enough to get knocked around by them. The one time he tried to get his bearings someone's leg knocked into him, causing the hybrid to roll with a hard thud out of the battle. While he could hear Sev's cry of pain he couldn't see the Janarim clamping it's mighty jaw down on her shoulder anymore than he could see the way her claws were tearing it's it's chest plates. The feeling of wind as she tried to take off, if only to push it away, nearly knocked him over again as Sol struggled to stand.
Where was Koril in all of this?! He tried to focus on the auras, tried to pick him out, but in the rush it was so much harder than if things were calm-
Then he heard the snap of a whip and his heart sank. The Janarim cried out in a frenzy and released it's hold on Sev, intent on turning back on the thing that was keeping it from moving. Sev leapt back, finally freed from it's jaws, and moved as quickly as she could to circle around to Koril's defense. If it chose to attack then she would step back in, but with the state of her wounds in that moment it wouldn't have been much help.
Acting as quickly as he could, Sol held up his hands towards what he hoped was only the janarim and released a burst of magic. It was a desperate attempt to cast 'Sleep' and he could only hope Koril wasn't caught in the crossfire.
Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 3:26 pm
Koril could hardly breath as he ducked for cover behind the tree. He was certain he could see his soul leaving his body as the tree shuddered with impact and a set of claws trying to cut through the whip grazed his arm. The whip would only give them a moment... He sucked in his breath and ran for Sev, eyes frantically looking for Sol in the snow. Between the two great beasts, the snow was a frightening shade of red. The janarim had cut right through the whip and spun to face the raptix again with a snarl.
And then, all at once, it was silent. Koril couldn't help pausing to look back as the janarim wobbled before it collapsed to the ground. What the..? "Sol!" There he was, alive and standing! Ignoring his injured arm, Koril rushed over without hesitation to hug as tightly to his husband as he could. "I thought you.." Gods, he couldn't finish that thought out loud...
Now that he knew Sol was alive, he had to get his priorities in order! "How long will the janarim be unconscious? If I hurry, I can get chains from home to restrain it.. but Sev needs healing first."
Painted Moose
Cornetified
Precious Loiterer
Offline
Painted Moose
Dapper Codger
Online
Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 3:41 pm
Cornetified
6/7
Even if he couldn't see the blood the smell of it was nearly enough to knock Sol off his feet. Or maybe that was the pounding in his head? He reached up to touch the back of his hair and just as quickly pulled his hand back with a hiss. There was a knott, but thankfully no blood. With any luck he would heal with some rest.
"Koril?!" Sol wrapped his arms around his husband and held him tight, ignoring the shaking of his limbs. "An hour; we have an hour, but I'll be able when the spell starts to fade. If you need more time I can cast it again." His hands traveled down Koril's sides, trying to be as gentle as possible while probing, but when he found his arm. Sol clucked his tongue, and set to work healing his brave - idiot of a husband. "You should have said something...Sev wasn't the only one who got hurt."
Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 4:23 pm
An hour. Koril's mind spun ahead, estimating how long it would take to look over Sev, get home, and return. He winced at the touch to his arm and smirked to himself knowingly. "I.. didn't notice. Thanks." It wasn't the first time he'd dismissed an injury. Of course, looking at it now, those claw had gotten him pretty good... Not that there was such a thing as a slight injury from a janarim.
"Sev. Come here, girl." He tried to focus on the raptrix instead to get the extent of her injuries while he was healed up. Then.. he could take a closer look at the janarim's leg.
Painted Moose
Cornetified
Precious Loiterer
Offline
Painted Moose
Dapper Codger
Online
Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2023 1:37 pm
Cornetified
7/7
It wasn't his most thorough healing, but Sol did enough to keep the flesh together. The claw marks would likely scar, though the pain should be no more than an ache. "Sorry, but that's all I can do for now. I want to save as much as I can for Sev and the janarim." Whether that was healing for the pair, or a containment spell for one would depend on their quarry.
Sev's hackles were stilled raised when Koril called to her. Her feathers were fluffed, making the massive creature look all the more intimidating, but her wounds gave the raptrix a considerable tilt. It was as if the weight of her left wing were too much to hold on an injured shoulder. When his voice finally got through to her she made a grumbling sort of whine and limped over to the pair. Sol held a hand out, anticipating the moment she inevitably leaned up against them both and slid up to his side.
As soon as his hand ran through thick, bloodied fur a blue healing light escaped Sol's fingertips. "You were so brave, Sev." When she whined he leaned his head down and pressed his forehead against hers. "You both were; so brave and incredibly stupid."
Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2023 2:57 pm
Feeling his own flesh knitting together was always an odd sensation. Once Sol was done, he shook his head and touched Sol's cheek lightly. "No apologies. A few marks are worth knowing you and Sev are okay." He gave Sev a few encouraging pets as well before he turned toward the janarim.
The large beast was unconscious.. but it was still intimidating even to him. He approached it cautiously to give the injured leg a quick look to estimate what supplies he might need.
His ears practically twitched as Sol spoke, and he looked over his shoulder with a bright grin to keep the dropping adrenaline from taking over. There was still too much to do to before they could rest. "You know what they say, it's sometimes hard to tell the difference between the two traits."
