Craig Cats
“Do you think you guys could help out?”
The two pullers looked over at the vay that approached them, interrupting their planning. They had been separated from the main bulk of the army and were working on a rendezvous back, stopping over at a small town on the way. They were discussing a route to take over an unrolled map when the bright red reosean had come up to their table.
“With what?” Cassia narrowed her eyes dangerously, while Warrick stayed silent as ever.
The smaller female hesitated, but finally spoke up. “We’ve been having some issues here in town. There’s a snow leopard mated pair that’s been poaching our livestock, and some of the families have been going hungry. You two look like you could help either with the leopards or with hunting?”
Cassia rolled her eyes, but the other duve wasn’t wrong.
Let’s just get it done with and then leave. Warrick’s voice echoed in her head, and she jumped a little at it, still used to his silence even with his mentalist magic.
“Let’s take out the snow leopards first. They will be dangerous if we’re taking back prey if they feel like taking advantage of us. Come on fireball, take us to where they’ve been spotted most recently.”
The red vay smiled and nodded, leading the pair out of the tavern and to the farms where the cats had attacked.
Warrick and Cassia wasted no time, searching the area as best they could for any residual tracks of the creatures. In Roenden’s climate, the snow often hid whatever traces there were, but the two soldiers weren’t skilled for nothing.
The runner kept nearby, and tried to keep conversation. “I’m Ignatius and I really appreciate this. The last time we saw them was two nights ago, but they tend to come every few days so it’s only a matter of time before they come again. Last time they made off with some pigs.”
Without any luck near the farms, any sign of the leopards hidden by the weather or the reos of town having a look themselves, the soldiers spread out, drawing their cloaks around them while Ignatius hung back, attempting not to get in their way.
“You don’t have to stay.” Cassia warned her, but the spunky bloodmarked reo shrugged, causing the opal to roll her eyes.
Just let her. She might learn something.
Cassia wanted to argue with Warrick, getting the feeling the runner was better with more mundane tasks than hunting, but kept it to herself as they headed towards some of the craigs nearby.
Snow leopards were notorious for hiding in plain sight, and Cassia was convinced they might end up walking past them at some point. She still was diligent in her searches, when Warrick got her attention with his magic, drawing it over to her left.
He shared imagery with her, and she assumed with the other female, of a view from the red vay’s position, highlighting a particular area. The red vay seemed startled, but understood quickly the nature of Warrick’s magic, even if it did make her nervous. She nodded, and kept herself on edge, as the three of them worked to corner what Warrick had pointed out.
Warrick must have hid them with magic, tricking the leopard’s senses, as the creature that Cassia was soon able to pick out among the rocks had given no indication of being startled at their approach, instead it seemed to look back and forth, confused perhaps where they had gone.
Warrick beat the girls to it, a large paw snapping its neck and ending its life quickly. Ignatius was relieved, the creature having not suffered and the job was done quickly.
Not yet.
Warrick’s voice carried in their heads and the runner stiffened, only then remembering that the three of them were hunting a pair of leopards, and just finding one wasn’t the end of it. Besides, snow leopards don’t mate for life, and the one they caught was the male. If the female managed to survive, they might have more issues when another male comes by looking for a mate, or if the leopard was already pregnant and managed to raise cubs
Either way, they didn’t have to wait long, as movement up the craigs caught their attention. Their other quarry was attempting to slink away, but frozen when their heads turned towards it, hoping to camouflage against the rocks.
Ignatius bounded up to join the two pullers, and the three of them slowly advanced on the female. The creature tried to run, more agile than any of the three on the craigs, and the three of them were out of breath by the time they caught up to it, ending the hunt as quickly as it started.
Looking down at the leopard, the runner frowned.
“They’ve been giving us issues for weeks. You made it look so easy.”
Warrick picked up the first leopard, heading back down to grab the second as well, leaving Cassia to explain. Figures.
“Sometimes all it takes is a little persistence. Thick fur, armor, skill at killing, we’re not easily intimidated. If anyone else had tried it, well you guys might have gotten hurt.”
Ignatius continued to frown as she contemplated the other female’s words. The opal joined Warrick in loading up the second leopard, securing it tightly to his pack for the trip back to the tavern. They’d sell off the creatures in town so they wouldn’t wear them down on their return trip.
The runner was slower in following, pondering on the hunt that seemed so simple and insignificant, staring at the two dead animals that had caused them such trouble. It seemed hard to believe, and she started to wonder if she and the others in town were worthless, or pathetic, or something.
You’re not. Cass and I have trained for a long time. If it’s something you so desire, you’ll get there.
Heartened by the male’s words, she rejoined them in the trek back into town.
-End-
Hunt for Cassia 11637 | Warrick 10084 | Ignatius 14091
Continent: Roenden
Prey: Snow Leopard
WC 1005 +10
Corresponding Land +1
Other Reo Cassia 11637 | Ignatius 14091 +2
Hunt +1
Magic Useage +1
Total = 15 CP
WC 1005 +10
Corresponding Land +1
Other Reo Cassia 11637 | Warrick 10084 +2
Hunt +1
Total = 14 CP