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Peralian cursed under his breath as he struggled to get out from underneath the heavy weight. His curse got even more blistering when he heard something else approaching. He slithered out from underneath it finally, scrambling over to grab his fallen staff and whirl to see what had made the sounds he’d heard. The soft crunch of snow greeted him…. As did an empty landscape. Frowning, he bent down to grab his bow, unstringing it and slinging it along his back. His nose wrinkled when he saw the blood staining his cloak and shirt. Guess I get my messy side from Mother, he thought wryly having heard (and seen) the bloody messes his mother made when fighting. He crept towards the soft crunching sound; it lead him over the hill and into a snow filled pit. A pit that was very hard to walk through as his legs sank up to his thighs. Instead of trying to walk, he began to wade, muttering silently to himself as he sought to get out of the sinking snow. He sighed with relief when his feet hit the more solidly packed snow. The crunching stopped and he held still for a while until he heard it start up again. Something is eating, he thought to himself; but what? There’s really nothing but snow here! Maybe another predator? He smirked; something he could attack and ambush instead of the other way round!
He looked at his shirt and smiled; he had wanted to try and use blood magic... but hadn’t risked it while on Ayr and near Yrral... but Yrral wasn’t here! He took a deep breath and reached out to the small amount of power within the blood that stained his clothing; it wasn’t much, but it was enough to allow him to manipulate the blood. He grinned as it came off, leaving only a faint stain behind. What a nice way to clean my clothes, he thought to himself; and keep the scent off... well... mostly keep off the blood scent that would attract predators.
He slipped tot eh top of the hill and looked down; seeing a small fluffy creature with long twining horns sitting eating some pale grey green plant. From it came the crunching sound; well, guess there’s plants out here after all! Peralian thought with amazement. The creature had dug a small hole in thr snow to expose the plant. His hand tightened on his staff as he motioned with his free hand, forcing the floating blood into a shrap spear head and speeding it down at the fuzzy creature. It looked rather edible and he wanted the pelt as well. It looked very soft and warm!
He grinned as it hit and sliced through the neck of the animal. With a chuckle he slid down to retrieve it, finding it to be larger than he’d thought. And heavy enough he would beat well tonight.

Growls on either side of him sent chills through his spine. His blue eyes widened as he saw the hidden shapes of the hunting Bykaldtra. He’d taken their kill! But, it’s mine now, he thought as his eyes narrowed and he muttered a word of power, the word to bind a shadow to his will.

“Durbatulûk.”

The shadows cast by the hill he was in darkened about him as he filled it with power, bending it to his will. It was far easier to claim a shadow, he found out, than it was to claim the blood. The hill’s shadow flexed and tendrils lashed out at the two large canines that were growling at Peralian. One dodged, moving with such speed that it took his breath away for a second. The other one’s paw was caught and Peralian focused on it. Better to kill one and then deal with the other than to have his spell weaken as he tried to focus on the free one only to find himself facing both! He thought as he started to move up the hill slope, wanting to have at least some more space between him and the creatures. His hand stuffed the kenghura into his bag as he waved his staff.

“Thrakatulûk krimpatul.”

He spoke the words of binding and the firani orb attactched to his staff glowed with black power for a second before he channeled more power into the shadow. The black tendrils that ensnared the bykaldtra writhed and began to slither up the leg and about the body. Already annoyed, the bykaldtra became panicked as the slimy ethereal power began to constrict. Its growls became yips, yips that increased in shrillness and frequency as it was slowly squeezed to death.
Peralian smirked and looked around, trying to find the other one. Worry replaced the smug satisfaction he’d had only a moment ago. Where had it gone? It was no where to be found… He looked around and saw only snow and shadows. He heard only the sound of wind and the dying whimpers of the one bykaldtra. Had the other fled?

He turned to go when he heard a twang of a bow string. Whirling his eyes widened as he saw the bykaldtra in midair. It had approached him silently and pounced without him noticing! But before he could do more than bring up his staff and try to defend himself, an arrow smashed into the bykaldtra’s face. He stumbled back and cursed his luck as he found himself buried once more beneath a dead bykaldtra. What was it and him getting hit by these things that died in midair? He was grateful casue they were dead but still! He heard footsteps approaching and wondered if the savoir had seen him use blood magic to kill the kenghura.. hopefully not! He knew it was almost a forbidden magic and really didn’t want to explain…..