Eclipse Event Stories (NOT CANON)

A new dawn rose as the sun flooded the steppe in its warm, golden light, yet a cool breeze swept over the land. It was still very quiet around, only a few early bird chirping in the distance and the reptiles came out of their holes to find the perfect spot to warm their scales. With a loud yawn a bright orange Saliko stepped out of the little wooden hut and looked around, checking the air for any interesting scents or unusual occurrences. The jills partner had already left, but let her sleep longer, knowing she was still getting used to hunting in this foreign area and that she used all her energy getting to know her surroundings and killing prey while he was patrolling the border and gathering important materials. Despite the harsh life here, Elvira enjoyed her new life and she loved the hob she had decided to spend her future with. For him she'd keep getting better until she fit just as well into this place as him, it was just a matter of time, that was for sure.

With a confident trot and attentively pricked ears she strolled around the territory, trying to find Jayflight and talk to him about where and when to hunt that day. She assumed he'd be close to the jungle border, looking for the herbs he kept drying all the time. Slowly she made her way through the territory, looking around and checking the perimeter to make sure everything was in order and for the moment it seemed so. A raspy caw cut into the silence of the steppe and Elvira was startled, raising her head up towards the sky. Against the blue sky, the dark silhouette of a bird was visible, circling above her. With a frown she watched it for a while, not daring to let it get out of her sight, but it didn't come closer. So the jill continued on her way towards the edge of the steppe, when suddenly she heard a loud scream behind her and whirled around, jumping to the side just in time to escape the sharp beak of the bird shooting towards her. Time seemed to slow down as the creature passed by her, only a whiskers length away from the Saliko. Its eyes were glowing bright red and its stare seemed empty and cold. Elvira put her ears back and her eyes turned wide, then she stumbled to her feet and tried to get away as fast as possible. The bird rose back up into the sky, but surely only to prepare for the next attack. Going zigzag to avoid being hit while running at breakneck speed, Elvira managed to reach the safety of the dense canopy, completely out of breath and exhausted. Cautiously she looked around to see if the mad bird had followed her, but suddenly, as quickly as it had appeared, it was gone again. The caramel Mayur stayed in hiding for a while, regaining her strength, when suddenly she heard a rustling behind her and, with her neck fur standing on end and a snarl leaving her lips, prepared for battle. But the face that parted the leaves and looked at her in curious confusion was that of her friend and partner.

«Jay! Oh thank the mother, it's you.»

«What's wrong? What happened, Elvira?»

«One of these wretched birds chased me all the was here. I only escaped it by the skin of my teeth.»

«I don't get it...something must be driving these creatures mad. It hasn't always been like this.»

«But it has been going on for so long now, we need to accept the possibility it won't chance anymore. Salikos have never been on the top of the food chain, but it seems now we have moved down another spot but there's nothing we can do about it but fight.»

«You know I don't want to kill the birds, despite them being so dangerous! I won't give up believing in the gods saving us and especially them. This must all be part of their plan, a way to create the balance needed in the world.»

«There's no balance about this and you know it fairly well! All the stories about Saliko whelps disappearing, or adults losing their eyes, if not their lives. This is out of control!»

«Just...calm down, I'm sure it's gone by now.»

«I guess you're right. Anyway, I tried to find you. What's the plan for the next hunt?»

«Oh yes, of course. Well, since our last hunt, a herd of wapitis has arrived, wandering east out of the jungle and crossing our lands. You might find them on your way back home, I'm still gonna take a while here. You alright on your own?»

Elvira sighed and reassured him she was fine, but Jay wasn't gonna let her go just like that. The hob stepped closer and nuzzled her cheek, then licked across the bridge of her nose in a soft kiss. Elvira smiled and returned the gesture, only parting with him reluctantly, but it was time. Once the sun was higher and burning down with all its might, it would be even harder for her to hunt.

As Elvira left the shelter of the jungle, she ducked into the tall grass and always kept an eye on the sky, but there was nothing to be found. It didn't take very long until she found the herd her mate had been talking about, but she had to study every creature individually first.

The female had put her heart and mind to the way Jayflight lived and she adapted quickly, trying not to disappoint him. His attitude had impressed her quite a lot and she completely understood the reasoning behind everything he had told her about hunting. Because of that, she remained hidden in the grass, her pelt disguising her well, and looked around to find the older and weaker of the ungulates, despite the foals being easier to kill. She noticed the wind changing directions and trying not to get spotted, she wandered around in a wide circle, her gaze firmly set on the animals. Suddenly the herd got startled as something moved towards it fast, a brown furred creature that chased right into the wapitis. The group began moving immediately, scattering in panic, kicking their hooves at the predator. The hunt was over, that was for sure, so Elvira, angry at the stranger messing everything up, stopped crouching and raised her head, looking at the foreigner with confusion and frustration. But the brown Tatra runnning past her didn't seem to be hunting, but rather running from something. He noticed the Mayur jill and ran towards her, cowering down in front of her, his gaze lowered to the ground and tail tucked between his legs.

«Please, you have to help me! He keeps following and hitting me, I don't know what he wants though!»

«What? Who's hitting you? The bird?»

Suddenly another Saliko ran towards the two, another Mayur, but with green pelt and dark stripes on his back. The hob looked grimly at the jill standing in his way, protecting the anxious Tatra and tensing her muscles in preparation for an attack while the fur on her neck ruffled up angrily.

«What is this?! Who are you and what are you doing to this poor hob?!»

«ME? Are you serious? He's the shady one, just look at him! And the way he ran away from me...he's clearly hiding something and I know exactly what, I just want him to confess!»