2nd of Saun, Arc 718
Rolling golden hills of grassland stood before the Lighting Knight. This was what the Stormlands of Rharne were known for; gorgeous sweeping landscapes bursting with life. In the distance, to the far north the woman might be able to spot a thin green line that signified the edge of the Ywyngyll Forest. A few curling plumes of smoke could also be seen to the northwest where farms were clustered around the township of Caervalle like huddled children.
But here Vivian was in the wilds of the Stormlands, and she was here for one very important reason. She had been chosen to capture a Zephyrus. These great cats were prized by the Lightning Knights and Thunder Priestesses of Rharne. They were a symbol of their strength and their patron Immortal’s command of Lighting. Zephyrus are massive felines that roam the wildernesses of Rharne. They possess sharp claws, massive fangs and a gleaming singular horn on their foreheads that can be used to launch electrical strikes at their prey to produce stunning effects. These cats are masterful hunters that also boast an impressive predatory intellect and they make excellent companions and mounts for specially chosen Lightning Knights.
It was near dusk when Vivian had arrived at the appointed meeting place on a lovely green hilltop. Jagged foothills lay behind her to the south, hiding the sea town of Volta just from view. Her contact and guide were riding out of Volta to meet her here and assist her with the capture of her new companion.
However it seemed that Vivian didn’t need to wait long as with utter silence a man in a stiff gray and azure coat stepped silently from the tall grass surrounding the hilltop. The exterior of his clothing was scratched with wear and use but the inner lining was the bright royal blue known to adorn the armor of many Lightning Knights. His face was hidden by a dark indigo kerchief and his head was covered in a steely colored cowl. Everything about this individual suggested that he was both a talented huntsman and an expert in stealth. An ash short bow rested on his back along with a quiver full of arrows, and at his waist was a sheathed longsword.
He circled around Vivian to allow her to catch sight of him before he spoke, his booted feet barely making a hint of sound as he walked.
“You must be Vivian.” He said with a smooth deep voice. It was hard to tell his age with his face concealed beneath the kerchief but he seemed to only bee a few years older than the woman.
“The name’s Rael .” he uttered gruffly with a pointed motion toward himself before gesturing toward a particularity tall stand of grass behind Vivian that shifted slightly as if moved by the wind.
“And this, this is Cera; do mind yourself around her.”
At the moment that he said her name, a massive dark shadow slipped her velvety nose from the grass to sample Vivian’s scent. After a couple trills the fully grown indigo and cerulean Zephyrus slinked from the foliage with even less sound than Rael had. Her footfalls were silent, even her swishing feathery tail barely ruffled the stalks of grass as she passed. Bright violet eyes peered at the Lighting Knight woman with a cold predator gaze. Her beautiful feline body dwarfed Vivian, and Cera was a female of her species; the males could be even larger and heavier. Cera purred contentedly while she circled back around toward her rider, and rubbed her neck affectionately against Rael’s shoulder, nearly knocking him sideways.
He chuckled at the cuddly predator before giving her a well-earned scratch between her long angular ears, being mindful not to touch the gleaming spire of a horn extending from the Zephyrus’s forehead.
“Their sweet enough if you train em right. Right girl?”
Cera purred rather happily in response.
At closer inspection Vivian would notice that the rather well behaved Zephyrus was outfitted with a lightweight harness and saddle that was equipped with straps and small carrying cases; suitable for someone like Rael that might be out in the field for extended periods of time. Cera was a lovely svelte thing, not at all like the musclebound males that Vivian may have seen passing through Rharne before. That was how things were with the Zephyrus, the males were larger and more powerful but the females were the hunters and they were perfectly suited for stealth. They lacked the conspicuous mane and saber teeth of their male counterparts but they were no less deadly.
But here Vivian was in the wilds of the Stormlands, and she was here for one very important reason. She had been chosen to capture a Zephyrus. These great cats were prized by the Lightning Knights and Thunder Priestesses of Rharne. They were a symbol of their strength and their patron Immortal’s command of Lighting. Zephyrus are massive felines that roam the wildernesses of Rharne. They possess sharp claws, massive fangs and a gleaming singular horn on their foreheads that can be used to launch electrical strikes at their prey to produce stunning effects. These cats are masterful hunters that also boast an impressive predatory intellect and they make excellent companions and mounts for specially chosen Lightning Knights.
It was near dusk when Vivian had arrived at the appointed meeting place on a lovely green hilltop. Jagged foothills lay behind her to the south, hiding the sea town of Volta just from view. Her contact and guide were riding out of Volta to meet her here and assist her with the capture of her new companion.
He circled around Vivian to allow her to catch sight of him before he spoke, his booted feet barely making a hint of sound as he walked.
“You must be Vivian.” He said with a smooth deep voice. It was hard to tell his age with his face concealed beneath the kerchief but he seemed to only bee a few years older than the woman.
“The name’s Rael .” he uttered gruffly with a pointed motion toward himself before gesturing toward a particularity tall stand of grass behind Vivian that shifted slightly as if moved by the wind.
“And this, this is Cera; do mind yourself around her.”
At the moment that he said her name, a massive dark shadow slipped her velvety nose from the grass to sample Vivian’s scent. After a couple trills the fully grown indigo and cerulean Zephyrus slinked from the foliage with even less sound than Rael had. Her footfalls were silent, even her swishing feathery tail barely ruffled the stalks of grass as she passed. Bright violet eyes peered at the Lighting Knight woman with a cold predator gaze. Her beautiful feline body dwarfed Vivian, and Cera was a female of her species; the males could be even larger and heavier. Cera purred contentedly while she circled back around toward her rider, and rubbed her neck affectionately against Rael’s shoulder, nearly knocking him sideways.
He chuckled at the cuddly predator before giving her a well-earned scratch between her long angular ears, being mindful not to touch the gleaming spire of a horn extending from the Zephyrus’s forehead.
“Their sweet enough if you train em right. Right girl?”
Cera purred rather happily in response.
At closer inspection Vivian would notice that the rather well behaved Zephyrus was outfitted with a lightweight harness and saddle that was equipped with straps and small carrying cases; suitable for someone like Rael that might be out in the field for extended periods of time. Cera was a lovely svelte thing, not at all like the musclebound males that Vivian may have seen passing through Rharne before. That was how things were with the Zephyrus, the males were larger and more powerful but the females were the hunters and they were perfectly suited for stealth. They lacked the conspicuous mane and saber teeth of their male counterparts but they were no less deadly.
Off Topic
Let me know if I need to change the date!
