The Hunt (IC)

[Dufflepud]

Nyla stumbled upon the scene, only to find the moon beast dead, and a new sangheili had arrived to join the group.

"I apologize, brothers, for my abscence. As I ran with you, I tripped and fell into a ravine, and it took my quite a while to climb out. You must not have heard me fall." Nyla examined the moon beast more closely.


"Good catch, brother," Nyla said, directing his statement at the newcomer, "May I ask your name?" Nyla was by now standing in front of the sangheili, who was built like a wraith, and carried a significant amount of weapons.

[Huka]

"Til 'Muramee, dear brother of the Hunt." The young Sangheili answered with a short respectful bow and he looked at the fallen Moonbeast for a moment. "The kill is not my own, Sorsa is credited for First Blood, I merely stopped its lingering existence."

Taking a step about, he looked at those present and said, "As I give my name. I wish to know your names as well, noble Hunters."

[kartoffelfogel]

"I am Legra 'Dreneree, of the Kaidonate of 'Drener, here in the world of Templar's Rest." Legra said, his announcement rumbling from his throat.

"Like you, I am a soldier of the Covenant on leave, but unlike you, I am a native of this world, and have played, hunted and lived in the forests of the Obelisk." He gave a sweeping gesture, his mantle accentuating the movement.

"As you may have noticed, our friend here" he said, indicating Sorsa. "...is a Xirsas. Sorsa 'Xirsasai." he said, emphasizing the ai. "Of the Intervention Lance. And since I do not recognize the name, and it is rare for a Sangheili of his age to be a swordsman, I can only assume that Sorsa is a Special Operator."

"Xiga 'Rthinee, our young companion, was Sorsa's intended hunt-partner. Although I now think that you, Til, would do better with Sorsa."

"And mayhap Xiga will go instead with our rather dirty but erstwhile comrade, Nyla 'Kutolee."

"Now! We have been introduced, and already have a kill to our name, and have not even entered the forest proper! Let us go--to the Earthbridge!"

OOC: Next post by Legra will be in the Earthbridge. You may post about your conversation on the way there.

[Huka]

Til felt proud to be amongst such proud warriors, he knows that this hunt will be worthy of a war poem of his own. To strengthen his pride, he was given the upmost honor of being the hunting partner of a Warrior of a direct Swordsman bloodline and a member of the revered Special Operations branch of the Covenant military.

"Thank you, Legra. I will not fail in my given position." Til said with renewed energies that one of his age would possess, but he looked to Sorsa for approval, "Well, if you approve my assistance of course."

[Spartan 999]

"Yes, Legra." Sorsa said,cocking his head slightly. "Very astute. I am indeed Special Operations, but I earned my sword through shear skill." He then turned to Til, looking him over.

Sorsa then grinned, mandibles spreading slightly. "Of course, Til. I look forward to teaching you a lesson or two about hunting." At the last part, a twinkle in his eye showed that he wasn't neccesarily being serious.

[Huka]

Til grinned as well, "I look forward to it, Swordsman."

[Dufflepud]

Nyla turned to Legra, speaking, "Although I fell behind earlier, I hope it is not too much to ask to hunt with you from now on?"

Nyla stopped to pull his Atlatl from his hip, grasping a yaomitl in his off hand, before trudgiong off along the overgrown path to the earth bridge, with the other sangheili.

"On my homeworld of Rapturous Lumination, we often hunted by slowly fanning out a good hundred paces to encircle a number of beasts, before closing inon them and leaving them nowhere to escape. I propose a similar tactic near the Earth Bridge."

[kartoffelfogel]

"Aih. In the Blessed Peninsula that would work. But the Earthbridge is narrow, you understand. That, and there is a path in the middle of it, chock-full of hunters. I think a straightforward sweep will function better."

Legra mulled over the plan a bit.

"Aih. Well, the Earthbridge is not the only hunting ground. Mayhap we catch a few there, and then try the Blessed Peninsula, or the South Abyss?"

[Huka]

Til walked along his fellows with little to speak about, he thought of tactics and possible weak points on the moonbeast. Walking a little behind Sorsa, his hunting partner and current mentor.

The beast was covered in protective scales, but like most reptiles, it had unprotected skin especially vulnerable for his spears' piercings.
He was lucky to kept the last one distracted as long as he did. If a bit longer, he would have been flung aside, and perhaps worsened their situation.

He was determined to ractify his rashness. Looking at his spearhead, he thought. He will accept nothing but to be a asset to this hunting party. Anything less is a liability and he will meet the head of his spear before being that.

"Where do you advise we should go, Legra?" He asked.

[kartoffelfogel]

Legra grunted at Til's question. He had already answered that question repeatedly, but it appeared as if the gods had willed him to answer it one more time.

He was about to do so, when he suddenly paused. Ahead of them could be heard a large group of people marching. The heavy thuds of Jiralhane feet, the light scratchings of Kig-Yar, and the steady lope of Sangheili.

"This is where this forest path intersects with the main one. They merge to allow a steady stream of people through the Earthbridge."

He quickened his pace. He could hear the movements, and the trees ahead of him were slowly giving way to a view which he knew from experience, was magnificent.

"You see, most people consider the Earthbridge to be just a path. And so they do not hunt there..."

He was now close to the edge of the natural terrace that formed the edge of the forest path. It would have a glorious view of the main path...

"...and because no-one hunts there, that is where the moonbeasts hide."

The curtain wall of vegetation was brushed aside by Legra's javelin. He burst forth, and stood at the edge of the terrace.

And below him, the path, easily two dozen paces wide, now crammed with hunters. Its length and breadth were filled to full capacity. And, as if to set a marching beat, the words--

"Tooth and talon!"

"Fang and claw!"

"Tooth and talon!"

"Fang and claw!"

Legra beckoned frantically for the others to follow him. He then bellowed, from his vantage point, the traditional hunter's cry, relishing every word...

"Tooth and talon!"

[Huka]

Til got out of the underbrush of the forest to see the gathering of hunters. His hearts pounded to the rythem of the constant chanting, normally he wouldn't as excited to see so many people.

"Competition is going to be difficult on this hunt." He said, mostly to himself due to the loud chants overbearing his own voice.

"Tooth and talon!"

"Fang and claw!"

They all bellowed so loud, he felt his very being shake. He looked to Legra as he too was taken by the hunters' fervor.

[kartoffelfogel]

Legra dimly heard Til say something, but he could not hear it.

He stood for a moment more, taking in the sights and sounds of the hunters, before turning to his companions.

Here, on the forests bordering the Earthbridge, could the ba'knwa be found.

"Now, truly, our Hunt begins!"

[Spartan 999]

Sorsa kept silent, gazing out into the darkness. He saw a shadow moving on pitch, and he knew it was a moonbeast retreating to a better vantage point. "Yes," Sorsa mumered, loud enough for the others to hear. "The Hunt awaits. And I will not be one to ignore the call."

[Huka]

Turning around after barely hearing Sorsa say something, he stepped back to his hunting partner, and looked about in the forest.

"What is it another moonbeast?" He asked quietly, just in case there is one out in the shadows.

[kartoffelfogel]

The tell-tale signs of the moonbeast could not escape Legra's experienced eye. Although he himself had never hunted before, he had watched and seen the ba'knwa as a child. They commanded respect...

...and a fierce jolt of adrenaline.

His hunter's instincts kicking in, he flashed a quick gesture to Sorsa and Til: The beast is mine. Feel free to try to take it from me.

He quickly loped into the undergrowth, his javelin flashing in the last of the moonlight as he passed into the shadows.

The beast was large, but also young: and adult moonbeast would not have made the mistake of passing near hunters. It was also going for higher ground, apparently: a good strategy, as a hunter would have to climb up a series of ledges, and it could simply skitter down them with ease. Moonbeasts were superb climbers.

He raised his javelin. The other Sangheili were comrades before the beast was sighted; and they were friends after; but during the hunt?

The only law was fang and claw.

[Huka]

Huka laughed heartily at Legra's unleashed eagerness as he watched the hunter speed after the Moonbeast. With the look on his face, trying to stop Legra was the last thing on Huka's mind. Then he looked to Sorsa, "Perhaps we should wait for his return, or follow in case he might need some help?" He asked, close enough for the larger hunter to hear him.

[Spartan 999]

Sorsa glanced at the smaller Sangheili, mandibles parting slightly. "Agreed. It is not a good idea to lose the map this early into the Hunt."

[kartoffelfogel]

Deep into the hunter's fury that was the birthright of those that had spent their childhoods watching their fathers bring in game, Legra acted without thought of any consequences of his actions, save bringing down his quarry.

His javelin now hovered over his head, held aloft by his arm. He pursued his prey in the fierce birthright of all Sangheili.

The beast was scared now, fleeing.

Legra roared.

His javelin swung back--

The moonbeast screamed.

He threw--

--and missed.

His weapon thudded deep into one of the soft trunks of the local trees that propagated the forest. The moonbeast halted suddenly, a little way past the tree. Legra froze likewise, facing the creature. He was about halfway between it and his javelin. If he could recover the weapon, he could bring it down. If it got to him before he made it, he would be clobbered to death by the ba'knwa's spiked tail or stabbed deeply by its claws.

He stood there, facing the creature.

It leapt.

He leapt.

His herculean effort allowed him to grab the javelin's polished wooden handle just as the beast pounced on him. It brought him down with a crash. Still holding the javelin, he roared in its face, struggling to get away from it before it could use its claws. The beast snarled, leaping back, only to raise its sickle-shaped claws.

Not easing his grip, Legra began to slowly tease the javelin out of the tree.

The moonbeast attacked again.

Legra flew out of the way, desperately holding onto his weapon. The creature missed him with its claws, but managed to strike him hard with its bony forecrest. Legra went flying, but as he did so, he did not lose his grip on his weapon--the shaft snapped, leaving a short, splintered pole in Legra's hand.

The beast raked its claws down his torso. His armor shielded him--a moonbeast's scales are stronger than its claws. Sensing its failure, the creature raised its limb to deal another blow to his unprotected forearm.

Legra snapped his mandibles at the moonbeast, seeking to bring his fangs to bear.

The creature slashed down his forearm, the claws biting deep, hitting bone. Legra, in his pain, reacted instinctively, stabbing his splintered spear into the creature's eye.

The moonbeast collapsed, dead. Legra got up, his arm bleeding profusely. He sat down on his kill, and awaited the arrival of his companions.

[Huka]

After some difficult traveling through the forest, Til and his mentor looked for Legra, following numerous tracks. Fresh still. Climbing ledges and through more forest, Til looked around with little relent, his muscles straining from the earlier climb.

Then he heard the indistinctive sounds of a fight. "I hear him!" He said excitedly, hoping to see Legra in action. With his partner already in direction of the fight, they took flight.

Rushing with his incredible speed, Til followed the sounds of roars, hisses, and a sudden snap. Rounding a tree, he heard a sound of pain. He wondered if it was Legra or the moonbeast.

Finally he slowed to a halt when he saw their guide, sitting on the fallen moonbeast, victorious, with a hand over a bleeding arm, and a shard of his javelin jabbed into one of the moonbeast's eyes. He looked at Sorsa and back at Legra with a twitch of his bottom mandibles.

"Fortune has come upon you, Legra. You slain a Moonbeast single-handedly. It is a shame I couldn't see your truimph firsthand." Til said as he looked at the dark blood that pooled from the beast's eye. "Don't you agree, brother?" He asked gleefully to Sorsa.

[kartoffelfogel]

Legra looked at the chaos around him.

"I wish I shared your good cheer, my friend. But although I have taken down a moonbeast, I fear it is my first and last."

He raised his arm.

"I have no javelin, as mine broke in the fight with the beast. And even if I did, my javelin arm is slashed open. Although it scabs over, it will not be fit to kill moonbeast. If only I had brought a sword as well..."

[Huka]

Quickly looking at his new friend's broke arm, the wound was noticable, but he wished for Legra to fight on for glory.

"Don't say such things, Brother. You may lost the honor of blood but you gained the glory of slaying a mighty beast, and many more to come. Our god-given technology will restore it to usefulness. No wound may stop us until we are dead. What do you want us do for you, my friend? This hunt is far from over." He said with determination.

[Spartan 999]

Sorsa pulled a hilt from his back, and pressed a button. There was a shwinging sound, and a single blade extended out from the hilt. He handed it to Legra, and said: "Luckily for you, I always carry an extra curveblade on hunting trips. And fear not, you can still help us. Your other arm is perfectly functional."

Turning away from the other two Sangheili, Sorsa scanned the area for other possible targets. Slight movement far away; the moonbeasts retreating further into the jungle.

[kartoffelfogel]

The workmanship on the blade was beautiful...

A curveblade...

Legra carefully tilted Sorsa's sword slightly, letting the sevenfold moonlight play over the blade's surface. He held it in his right hand, his swordhand. It felt excellently weighted, if a bit bottom-heavy, but that was simply a matter of preference; the blade was not made for someone of Legra's stock stature.

Nearly invisible lines marked the sword's telescoping blade, which allowed it to spring straight from a hilt. The hilt and blade were elegant but not ornate, and the blade was supple but not yielding. It was a fine weapon, the likes of which he had never seen before, as curveblades were an almost sure sign of...

"Friend Sorsa, speak truthfully; just what level of Special Operator are you?"

[Spartan 999]

Sorsa pondered for a moment, before folding his arms and clicking his lower mandibles in a shrug. "I am a Special Operations Officer, promoted by the Prophet of Conviction after my...heresy...during the events of Glorious Exaltation. I was also the commanding officer during the raid on Gods Praetorian, and the one who killed Guza 'Jian, commander of the heretics." His head tilted to the side slightly. "Does that answer your question, Legra?"

[kartoffelfogel]

Legra froze, the blade still in his hands.

"I should not have asked..." he said, his calm masking the jumble of thoughts running through his head. "It is a rare honor to be able to wield a curveblade, even a metal one. I thank you, Officer Xirsasai."

[Spartan 999]

"Any time, Legra." Sorsa said, seeing that Legra was wary; he put a massive hand on the other Sangheili's shoulder, trying to be reasuring and non-threatening. "You may keep the weapon if you wish: I have several others, and I don't mind making others."

[Huka]

Til smiled, he enjoyed to see the effects of brotherhood. Sorsa's curveblade was more modern than his curveblade. Pulling it out from his back, he compared Sorsa to his own. His was more handmade; a simple blade with a hilt made from hand carved wood and pieces of chitin. Don't look like much, but this blade have skewered many obstacles in his previous hunts, to the point his blade was discolored with blood.

Every chance he had, he checked its sharpness and durability. This blade was forged from pieces of his own armor, so he knows it is made for battle.

"Whilst my blade isn't as honored or war-hardened as yours, Sorsa, I too hold a curveblade. It is made by the honors of Shaleel, born from my own steel and the bane of many beasts of my home. This blade hungers for the blood of the ba’knwa." Til spoke, seemingly to brag of his possession of a curveblade, but he spoke softly as he spoke his next statement. "As such, I ask you with your experience of hunts as a Special Operator; do you believe we can outmatch the other hunters?"

[kartoffelfogel]

Legra gave a wary look at the younger Sangheili.

"Let us leave the topic of Special Operations for another day. Although their works are in a fashion just as glorious as that of Swordsmen, it is with good reason that they do not broadcast their accomplishments."

The older Sangheili turned to face the forest.

"So, I have one kill, and Sorsa, likewise, has one. You, friend Til, have a half. Now, let us set forth and continue! This area is prey-rich!"

"Go, and hunt. I shall follow once my arm ceases bleeding."

[Huka]

"As you wi-" Til said before something moved by his eyesight. Looking deep in the forest, he saw something. Another moonbeast. A half-kill. Suddenly he hurled his spear into the tree, making a loud cry shriek out of the treetop, and a moonbeast sprinted through out of its hiding place and towards the forest.

"Legra, this is one mine!" Til proclaimed in a growl. "I have grown weary of talking myself."

Drawing another spear from his back, he nodded to the older Sangheili, and rushed into the forest with a bloodthirsty urge.

Live or die, he live the day as a hunter.

[kartoffelfogel]

Legra quickly looked at Sorsa.

"Accompany him, and quick! We have seen what happens when one tries to tackle a moonbeast alone!"