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Step 1: Capture
Win: 60-100 (-5 for Drakeins, +20 for trying to capture this creature six times before) 45-100
Rolled: 40
Outcome: Failure
Words: 650

Sam was curled up tightly in his cave. The sun hadn't even fully risen, but already tiny threads of light were trickling through the rocks of his home. Slowly, he rose his head to look out. With a yawn, he stood to stretch and grinned. It had been a while since he'd gotten any decent sleep! Even since that loud, angry little creature had set off, Samael had regarded the night much more openly, as a thing to be treasured and preserved and cherished. And only after that thing had finally departed did Sam learn how much he loved, good, peaceful sleep.

Alas, now that he'd had a few days of relaxation, today would be yet another Ayr day; another struggle against the vicious Dactyls. Sam shook the sleep from his bones and walked to the edge of his cave. He decided the flight would be more appealing once he'd eaten, so the Drakein went for a quick hunt and eagerly devoured his findings. Unfortunately, he found he wasn't particularly thrilled to fly all the way to Ayr on a bulging belly... No, wait! Thinking like that wouldn't get him anywhere! With a growl of resolution, he jumped to the sky and headed off.

By the time Sam landed, he was even less eager to move. He flopped on the crags of Ayr, landing in a pile. He groaned and rolled to his side. By the time he realized he didn't feel all that great, he'd already been more than halfway to Ayr! If he tried to fly back to his cave now, he'd never make it! And being stuck in the ocean... Ugh. He shuddered at the thought, and resolved to just lay on Ayr's warm, rocky outcrops. Maybe if he rested for just a minute or two, he'd feel better...

It was the screeching of the nearby Dactyls that kept him from resting for too long. After his last endeavor with the creatures, the sound grated on him even more than usual. Finally, Sam couldn't take it anymore. He sent out an answering roar. It fell silent for a few moments, but the screeching started again two-fold. Samael roared again, the harsh sound echoing amongst the rocks. Again, it was quiet for just a few moments. The Drakein groaned miserably as the noise the Dactyls caused pierced through the air. It's like they were all coming to out-loud him! Snarling, Sam peeked over the edge of his cliff to see that... Yes, they had all flown over to screech their complaints at him.

Curiously, Sam looked out to the crags beyond. As he cast his gaze out, he noticed that there were actually several unguarded nests, all the Dactyls gathered below him to chime in their shrieking. Sam blinked. All he'd have to do was out fly them! If he could out fly this hoard, he'd have his pick of nests! Never mind the fact that his stomach was still churning, and the calls of these beasts were giving him a fearsome headache... None of that mattered!

He slipped carefully from the edge of his cliff, expecting a few seconds head start. Unfortunately, his efforts were not rewarded with such things. The Dactyls noticed his shadow creeping across the rocks immediately. As a group, they darted after him. Sam glanced back only briefly. If so many caught him, he'd be finished... And suddenly, Sam had no inclination to stop at a nest even for an instant. He was too busy flying for his life! In their anger, the Dactyls followed him for miles. Eventually, though, they were too far from their nests and returned, still screeching. Man, if Sam had had a partner for this endeavor, that could've been cake... Still, he flopped down, exhausted, and scrunched his eyes shut, wondering if it had been a good idea to dart around like that when he wasn't feeling well...