2nd Ymiden, 718
"Aila, wait" the girl snarled to the Cheetah beside her, both kneeling in the trees, a few meters away from the road. Fresh blood was smeared on the girls face as she waited patiently. Ela had done many attacks as a bandit before, but this time two things were different. Firstly, she had Aila now, a trained Cheetah that would offer her some much needed support in a raid. Secondly, she was at the main road leaving Scalvoris town, about ten minutes by horseback. Far enough out that no guards were nearby, yet close enough that something worthwhile would come out of it. Trees surrounded the road, providing perfect cover.
Resting on the ground in front of the girl was the axe Alfredo had gifted to her, in case she needed it. Though if everyone was unarmed, her claws would be enough. Alfredo had told her, though, that you can never be too careful. Keeping her head low and quiet, the pups hand rested lightly on the back of Aila's neck, lightly stroking her as she kept her eyes ready. Thus far it had just been a few men and women on horseback, but Ela knew that something far greater would come. It had to come.
"By whatever Immortal is out there, come on" the Mortalborn muttered, growing impatient. Until she saw it, a minute away at most. One cart, nothing too big, but that would explain the two guards. One man with a longsword, the other with a simple mace. Neither had any armor, nor did they look like seasoned warriors. Not from this distance, at least. In terms of the cart, it was slow moving, and fairly loaded. A large cover was blocking Ela's view of most of the items, but even just the weapons would do. After all, she wasn't here for their loot. She had nobody to use it right now. This was a statement.
Eager, Aila stood back on all fours, snarling at the sight of the caravan. Ela knelt up and kept her hand on the neck of the cheetah, almost holding it back. Aila was trained, yes, but her thirst for blood was evident already to the girl. She would fit right in with Bloodclaw. After all, they were the only two 'members', and both shared feats. Fangs, claws and a hunger for raw, human flesh.
As the cart got close, both predators readied themselves to fight. A few trills of silence fell, broken only by the movement of the cart and light breathing. Tension flooded the air and both sat, sweat starting to run down Ela's hands and bloodied face with nerves causing her to shake. One deep intake of breath is all the girl took, closing her eyes for a trill. Then the bestial eyes fell upon their prey.
"Kill" the Bloodclaw ordered, before grabbing her axe, bursting out of the bushes and pouncing the man with the longsword. Bladed weapons would more likely be fatal, so she had to finish him off first. Both men took a moment of freezing, backing up, giving Ela the perfect chance to strike. As the man backed up, grabbing for his longsword, the Bloodclaw swung her axe in to his shoulder with a clumsy swing. Yet it dug deep, the man screaming in agony as his friend drew the mace at his side. Almost immediately, the man died of shock.
Before the horses could try to run, Aila pounced at high speed, taking one down. Both horses panicked, tipping the cart as the fell. Aila quickly wrapped her fangs around the mouth of one horse, suffocating it within seconds, before the snarling beast looked to the man running at Ela. Letting go of her axe in panic, Ela swung her claws at the man. But she wasn't quick enough, his mace skimming her stomach, still managing to knock her back a few steps. Had the blow been any deeper, bones may have shattered.
Raising his mace for a finishing blow, the man quickly turned around at a loud snarl, before a pouncing Cheetah wrapped around his neck with its fangs, its claws stabbing through his back to support its weight as it twisted and took the man to the floor. Regaining her breath, the Mortalborn looked up as the human male in front of her gasped his last breath. After the man died, Aila lowered her body down, resting. It took everything the Cheetah had to do attacks like that, draining it of energy. With that kind of speed came consequence.
Mustering the strength to stand and walk, the Bloodclaw made her way to the body that Aila rested on, lightly pressing her hand on the Cheetah. "Good girl" she whispered, resting her head beside the Cheetah's. In the little time she had owned Aila, the two had grown to love one another like family. One animal to another. Because of it, though, Ela hated seeing her hurt after a hunt. It wasn't her fault, she was tired and hot. Everyone had their weaknesses.
Both nuzzled their head together, before Aila managed to bring herself to her paws. Then, their eyes fell to the meat, Ela's bloodlust kicking in with fury. Without hesitation, the girl sunk her fangs in to the man, tearing him apart limb from limb with vicious claws and hungry fangs as she drank all of his blood and ate all of his flesh. Moving to the body beside her, Aila dug in, tearing chunks of the man who's shoulder had become a stand for the Bloodclaws axe.
Bits went by as the two finished their meals, before Ela finally stood up, her face and torso covered in blood - and none of it hers. "Aila, here" she ordered, the Cheetah slowly making her way over to the girl. After one more quick hug between the two, Ela went over to what was left of one of the men and tore her axe from his shoulder, before her eyes fell to the cart in front of them. It was only fair she took the spoils of this battle.
Digging through the cart, Ela found near to nothing of use. Some food she couldn't eat, clothes, a tinderbox and some other various tools for survival that the Mortalborn already possessed. But one thing stood out. A pouch. Ela opened it curiously, to find it full of gold nel. It wasn't worth counting right now, she thought, but pocketed it for later use. Hearing a loud snarl from Aila, Ela looked back around at what was going on.
In front of her, down the road, were two men on horseback. Before she could even respond, one turned and rode to scalvoris, while the other rapidly rode towards them. Ela, readying herself to pounce, was put off by a sudden rush beside her as Aila ran forward. "Aila! No!" the woman shrieked, but the Cheetah kept running. As the horse ran forward, Aila leaped off the ground, but her sights weren't set on the horse - but the rider.
With a mighty leap, the man found himself knocked off the horse, both Aila and him landing with great force and rolling along the road. As the horse bolted at her, Ela sidestepped, watching as the panicked animal ran away. She'd let it live, she thought. After all, it wasn't a threat anymore. Not to her. Quickly, the girl ran towards Aila and the man, axe at the ready.
Quickly, he rose, a dagger drawn and eyes focused on Aila. He'd kill the beast, he thought. Sell its hide, bring in whoever it was with too. But his thoughts were cut off quickly by an axe landing in his rib, Ela's swing at his head missing and planting firmly in his side, sinking from his ribs to his hips. A terrifying scream left him as pain surged through him. But Ela wasn't done, a red tint filling her eyes. As she removed the axe, she readied it again.
Swing after swing landed on the man as he screamed, before the screams stopped - but the swings kept coming. A vicious anger went through her at the thought of Aila being hurt by this poor excuse of a man. After what felt like only a few trills, half a bit had gone past, and the girl had mangled every part of the man with her axe. Without stopping for breath, Ela ran to Aila.
"Good girl, come on. You're going to be okay, it's okay" she muttered, the Cheetah letting out small whimpers from the impact. It hadn't done any lasting damage, but the exhaustion was finally setting in, pain surging through every fiber of Ailas body. Ela quickly rested her head on the beast, running her hand lightly across its stomach, giving it a minute to recover. "You will be ok, Aila. It's going to be okay."
As Ela glanced away for a trill, she saw the horse coming back in the distance, the other man riding - this time accompanied by what looked like guards. Quickly, she stood up. "Aila, come. Now!" she shouted, causing the tired Cheetah to force itself to its feet and run with her, barely keeping pace with the Mortalborn. Very quickly, the pair ran in to the woods, both in some level of pain as they did so, leaving nothing behind them.
Nothing but bodies.
"Aila, wait" the girl snarled to the Cheetah beside her, both kneeling in the trees, a few meters away from the road. Fresh blood was smeared on the girls face as she waited patiently. Ela had done many attacks as a bandit before, but this time two things were different. Firstly, she had Aila now, a trained Cheetah that would offer her some much needed support in a raid. Secondly, she was at the main road leaving Scalvoris town, about ten minutes by horseback. Far enough out that no guards were nearby, yet close enough that something worthwhile would come out of it. Trees surrounded the road, providing perfect cover.
Resting on the ground in front of the girl was the axe Alfredo had gifted to her, in case she needed it. Though if everyone was unarmed, her claws would be enough. Alfredo had told her, though, that you can never be too careful. Keeping her head low and quiet, the pups hand rested lightly on the back of Aila's neck, lightly stroking her as she kept her eyes ready. Thus far it had just been a few men and women on horseback, but Ela knew that something far greater would come. It had to come.
"By whatever Immortal is out there, come on" the Mortalborn muttered, growing impatient. Until she saw it, a minute away at most. One cart, nothing too big, but that would explain the two guards. One man with a longsword, the other with a simple mace. Neither had any armor, nor did they look like seasoned warriors. Not from this distance, at least. In terms of the cart, it was slow moving, and fairly loaded. A large cover was blocking Ela's view of most of the items, but even just the weapons would do. After all, she wasn't here for their loot. She had nobody to use it right now. This was a statement.
Eager, Aila stood back on all fours, snarling at the sight of the caravan. Ela knelt up and kept her hand on the neck of the cheetah, almost holding it back. Aila was trained, yes, but her thirst for blood was evident already to the girl. She would fit right in with Bloodclaw. After all, they were the only two 'members', and both shared feats. Fangs, claws and a hunger for raw, human flesh.
As the cart got close, both predators readied themselves to fight. A few trills of silence fell, broken only by the movement of the cart and light breathing. Tension flooded the air and both sat, sweat starting to run down Ela's hands and bloodied face with nerves causing her to shake. One deep intake of breath is all the girl took, closing her eyes for a trill. Then the bestial eyes fell upon their prey.
"Kill" the Bloodclaw ordered, before grabbing her axe, bursting out of the bushes and pouncing the man with the longsword. Bladed weapons would more likely be fatal, so she had to finish him off first. Both men took a moment of freezing, backing up, giving Ela the perfect chance to strike. As the man backed up, grabbing for his longsword, the Bloodclaw swung her axe in to his shoulder with a clumsy swing. Yet it dug deep, the man screaming in agony as his friend drew the mace at his side. Almost immediately, the man died of shock.
Before the horses could try to run, Aila pounced at high speed, taking one down. Both horses panicked, tipping the cart as the fell. Aila quickly wrapped her fangs around the mouth of one horse, suffocating it within seconds, before the snarling beast looked to the man running at Ela. Letting go of her axe in panic, Ela swung her claws at the man. But she wasn't quick enough, his mace skimming her stomach, still managing to knock her back a few steps. Had the blow been any deeper, bones may have shattered.
Raising his mace for a finishing blow, the man quickly turned around at a loud snarl, before a pouncing Cheetah wrapped around his neck with its fangs, its claws stabbing through his back to support its weight as it twisted and took the man to the floor. Regaining her breath, the Mortalborn looked up as the human male in front of her gasped his last breath. After the man died, Aila lowered her body down, resting. It took everything the Cheetah had to do attacks like that, draining it of energy. With that kind of speed came consequence.
Mustering the strength to stand and walk, the Bloodclaw made her way to the body that Aila rested on, lightly pressing her hand on the Cheetah. "Good girl" she whispered, resting her head beside the Cheetah's. In the little time she had owned Aila, the two had grown to love one another like family. One animal to another. Because of it, though, Ela hated seeing her hurt after a hunt. It wasn't her fault, she was tired and hot. Everyone had their weaknesses.
Both nuzzled their head together, before Aila managed to bring herself to her paws. Then, their eyes fell to the meat, Ela's bloodlust kicking in with fury. Without hesitation, the girl sunk her fangs in to the man, tearing him apart limb from limb with vicious claws and hungry fangs as she drank all of his blood and ate all of his flesh. Moving to the body beside her, Aila dug in, tearing chunks of the man who's shoulder had become a stand for the Bloodclaws axe.
Bits went by as the two finished their meals, before Ela finally stood up, her face and torso covered in blood - and none of it hers. "Aila, here" she ordered, the Cheetah slowly making her way over to the girl. After one more quick hug between the two, Ela went over to what was left of one of the men and tore her axe from his shoulder, before her eyes fell to the cart in front of them. It was only fair she took the spoils of this battle.
Digging through the cart, Ela found near to nothing of use. Some food she couldn't eat, clothes, a tinderbox and some other various tools for survival that the Mortalborn already possessed. But one thing stood out. A pouch. Ela opened it curiously, to find it full of gold nel. It wasn't worth counting right now, she thought, but pocketed it for later use. Hearing a loud snarl from Aila, Ela looked back around at what was going on.
In front of her, down the road, were two men on horseback. Before she could even respond, one turned and rode to scalvoris, while the other rapidly rode towards them. Ela, readying herself to pounce, was put off by a sudden rush beside her as Aila ran forward. "Aila! No!" the woman shrieked, but the Cheetah kept running. As the horse ran forward, Aila leaped off the ground, but her sights weren't set on the horse - but the rider.
With a mighty leap, the man found himself knocked off the horse, both Aila and him landing with great force and rolling along the road. As the horse bolted at her, Ela sidestepped, watching as the panicked animal ran away. She'd let it live, she thought. After all, it wasn't a threat anymore. Not to her. Quickly, the girl ran towards Aila and the man, axe at the ready.
Quickly, he rose, a dagger drawn and eyes focused on Aila. He'd kill the beast, he thought. Sell its hide, bring in whoever it was with too. But his thoughts were cut off quickly by an axe landing in his rib, Ela's swing at his head missing and planting firmly in his side, sinking from his ribs to his hips. A terrifying scream left him as pain surged through him. But Ela wasn't done, a red tint filling her eyes. As she removed the axe, she readied it again.
Swing after swing landed on the man as he screamed, before the screams stopped - but the swings kept coming. A vicious anger went through her at the thought of Aila being hurt by this poor excuse of a man. After what felt like only a few trills, half a bit had gone past, and the girl had mangled every part of the man with her axe. Without stopping for breath, Ela ran to Aila.
"Good girl, come on. You're going to be okay, it's okay" she muttered, the Cheetah letting out small whimpers from the impact. It hadn't done any lasting damage, but the exhaustion was finally setting in, pain surging through every fiber of Ailas body. Ela quickly rested her head on the beast, running her hand lightly across its stomach, giving it a minute to recover. "You will be ok, Aila. It's going to be okay."
As Ela glanced away for a trill, she saw the horse coming back in the distance, the other man riding - this time accompanied by what looked like guards. Quickly, she stood up. "Aila, come. Now!" she shouted, causing the tired Cheetah to force itself to its feet and run with her, barely keeping pace with the Mortalborn. Very quickly, the pair ran in to the woods, both in some level of pain as they did so, leaving nothing behind them.
Nothing but bodies.
