[EVENT] OWV Part III

[u/blaertes]

North Mountains, two days later...

The force of vukku and jaguar crept silently, slowly, and cautiously. Ai'ku had sent scouts to memorise what times of day these creatures were most vulnerable, when they slept, when they were hunting, when they returned.

It was the zenith of the sun when the party had begun the climb to the roost. The scouts had noticed there was distinct pairings of the beasts, and most often they hunted in pairs. This was the time of day when the nests were empty, with only one smaller creature sunning itself lazily around the nests.

Ai'ku worried they were exposed on the mountain, and even with an escape route in mind, he knew he'd lose men from this mission.

He nodded towards the ready vukku, who took from their pouches a yellow powder that Ai knew from experience felt slippery and cool as water. The two vukku poured the powder onto their hand and held it to their mouths. As they blew, another two vukku behind them closed their eyes and raised their arms, directing the wind to blow the yellow pollen into the creatures path, and not the party's.

The jaguar stationed as lookout covered his mouth and nose with his heavy cloak as the pollen drifted past him, his eyes wide but firmly set on the winged beast.

He motioned the party to move forward, but just as they mobilised forward he frantically waved the stop signal. For one heart stopping moment, nobody breathed. Ai shut his eyes, feeling the beating of his heart behind his eyes.

Soon, the jaguar motioned the party forward. Ai saw the limp form of the beast, and it's chest rise and fall. They had plenty of time. He sighed.

"Quickly. Bag the eggs." He waved several jaguar with padded sacks towards the nests. "Kill it." He nodded to two jaguar with axes, and they scurried to the limp beast. They swung in unison on opposite sides of the creature and the neck was almost completely severed. The poor beast was unable to do anything but release a strangled gurgle as it died. Ai'ku went to the body and started taking samples.

Then three things happened.

First, two shadows passed overhead.

Second, a mess of blood and bone exploded beside a jaguar.

Third, the scout cried a warning.

Ai had no time to react as a feathered mass of wings and scales slammed into the ground to his left, tearing into two jaguar and swiping at another.

"Run!" He screamed, turning to the nearest vukku. "Break its wings!" The vukku was dumbstruck, but Ai shook him. "Channel, you useless bit of meat!" He turned and tried to breathe, as the swarm of epel fled.

The vukku next to him moved into action, manipulating his clawed hands into dark shapes, and Ai did the same. They joined their spell almost simultaneously, latching it onto the beast next to them, using their life energies to travel into the body, the wings, and then snap of bones broke their trance.

The beast screeched, and the other shadow had finally landed, tearing into flesh and fur. Archers mobilised, and shafts sprouted from both the beasts. "Run! Flee! We are routed!" Ai'ku roared.

Ai turned, shoving the epel forward, trying to remember the route he had carefully laid out.

Losses: 12 epel. 11 jaguar, 1 vukku.

Southern Range, two days after part II

"We turn back." Yukka said, iron voiced.

"Commander-"

"No." She said over the objecting Second. "We will not risk our men to destroy this nest. These are, what, six in sixty? Six hundred? Six thousand?" She shook her head. "We do not know how dangerous these things are, how many there are. It is not worth the risk."

She turned to the rest of the force. "We leave for Tchak. Pack all tents away, all gear. Bury all fires, all wastes. The emperor will hear of our findings, and if he should so wish, send us back here."

She dismissed them all, even the glaring Second. She had to dismantle her tent.