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The first thing that Rey noticed as they drew further and further away from the pridal lands—the lands that had been all she had known—was that the air felt dry. It made her nostrils feel uncomfortable and her lungs feel incapable of fully doing their job. It made her fur feel almost sticky as the salty sea mists evaporated.
Secondly, there was so much /color/. Everything was bright, and she felt fascinated. It took everything in her not to stop to look at the sights.
"Reykronde," came the beckoning of the low and raspy voice that led the little subgroup of their band. Fashaq was by no means the captain of their band but, as the splinter group moved off on their own to cover a bit more ground, he had been the notice as the white lioness slowed her pace.
"Coming," she responded as her steps quickened to meet up with the not large but stocky lion. She couldn't help but notice that he seemed a bit hurried. Rey looked at him out of the side of her eye as she continued forward. Fashaq seemed to be a lion of few words, only speaking when words needed to be said. It wasn't a bad thing, but it got to be boring company after a while. So she looked around as she continued to speak. "Is it always this… dry out here?"
Secondly, there was so much /color/. Everything was bright, and she felt fascinated. It took everything in her not to stop to look at the sights.
"Reykronde," came the beckoning of the low and raspy voice that led the little subgroup of their band. Fashaq was by no means the captain of their band but, as the splinter group moved off on their own to cover a bit more ground, he had been the notice as the white lioness slowed her pace.
"Coming," she responded as her steps quickened to meet up with the not large but stocky lion. She couldn't help but notice that he seemed a bit hurried. Rey looked at him out of the side of her eye as she continued forward. Fashaq seemed to be a lion of few words, only speaking when words needed to be said. It wasn't a bad thing, but it got to be boring company after a while. So she looked around as she continued to speak. "Is it always this… dry out here?"
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Another mission, another raid. Ciro had recently come back from a viking before he was being sent on another. The Reaver did not mind however, it was part of his job for the pride. Besides, what harm was it being out? The large lion shrugged his shoulders, counting the heads up the little band of lions. He remained towards the back of the pack. Golden eyes shifted to the others, some he recognized, some he didn't.
When the group split, he followed Fashaq's, his own speed gaining momentum as he paced beside the other male. "You seem to be in quite a hurry." The dark lion mentioned. "Do you know exactly where you are going?" He didn't get much briefing, but Ciro was never one to ask questions to begin with. He was definitely a 'do as your told mentality' lion. His ears swiveled at the comment of the white lioness.
"Dry?" his nose twitched. The weather was different then their homeland. "Not always." Depending where their raid landed them, they could encounter all different types of terrains, weather and characters to boot.
When the group split, he followed Fashaq's, his own speed gaining momentum as he paced beside the other male. "You seem to be in quite a hurry." The dark lion mentioned. "Do you know exactly where you are going?" He didn't get much briefing, but Ciro was never one to ask questions to begin with. He was definitely a 'do as your told mentality' lion. His ears swiveled at the comment of the white lioness.
"Dry?" his nose twitched. The weather was different then their homeland. "Not always." Depending where their raid landed them, they could encounter all different types of terrains, weather and characters to boot.
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"Mm," Reykronde offered as an acknowledging reply. She didn't want to seem /too much/ like the new kid on the block. No one wanted some novice making it abundantly clear they didn't know much about the area around them. Especially with Svana being her aunt. The last thing Rey wanted was to seem like an arrogant child doing whatever she wanted just because she was related to the warlord.
All the while, Fashaq hadn't really responded. He continued forward, one step following the other. The brush they traveled through broke into a clearing and the navy lion's steps came to a slow, then a stop. If was only then that he responded with a brief "Vaguely," speaking to the grey lion without making eye contact. The lion's head raised and he sniffed once. Then twice. "You smell that?" Something faint. Something like iron in the air. Blood, coming from upwind.
All the while, Fashaq hadn't really responded. He continued forward, one step following the other. The brush they traveled through broke into a clearing and the navy lion's steps came to a slow, then a stop. If was only then that he responded with a brief "Vaguely," speaking to the grey lion without making eye contact. The lion's head raised and he sniffed once. Then twice. "You smell that?" Something faint. Something like iron in the air. Blood, coming from upwind.
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Ciro withheld a chuckle at the lioness' response. She'd learn. Everyone did. Those that didn't well...they either stayed within the pride, not to venture on anymore vikings, or they remained in the roguelands, likely never to return. It definitely took a certain type of lion to go out of the lands. However, these lions were not just any lions, they were Stormborn, they had iron in their blood.
The brevity of Fashaq's words did not bother the other male. He followed in suit, slowing his steps and stopping when he did a few paces back. At the next comment, Ciro'mekaitso lifted his maw in the air, inhaling the scent. He quirked an eyebrow. Things may have just gotten a little bit more interesting for the trio.
"We should be cautious, but, let's go see what it is." Where the scent would lead them he didn't know, however he intended to find out.
The brevity of Fashaq's words did not bother the other male. He followed in suit, slowing his steps and stopping when he did a few paces back. At the next comment, Ciro'mekaitso lifted his maw in the air, inhaling the scent. He quirked an eyebrow. Things may have just gotten a little bit more interesting for the trio.
"We should be cautious, but, let's go see what it is." Where the scent would lead them he didn't know, however he intended to find out.
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Fashaq nodded to the grey lion and continued forward silently. As they moved, the sharp smell of iron became more prominent. From somewhere up ahead, the sound of trickling water could be heard. The white lioness moved at his flank, her mind focused and her thoughts filled with those back home had told her.
'Be alert, but not stiff. Be ready, but don't overthink to the point where you get distracted. Trust your training and be ready for action.'
They were all mantras she told herself silently now as she moved, red eyes snapping towards any motion that she saw.
The sound of yips became audible and Fashaq began to regret leaving his serpent companion with his sister. A pair of eyes to silently scout ahead would have been useful. As the noises became louder, the lion slowed, each of his steps deliberate and thoughtful.
"There," Rey whispered, motioning with a twitch of the head through some brush where, aside a small stream, the figures of two hyenas could be seen alongside another figure that she couldn't quite identify. The third was almost certainly wounded and doing its best to fend off the two muscular creatures. Her muscles tensed and her voice dropped even more. "What do we do?"
"The downed creature is still alive," Fashaq started, his raspy voice barely audible over the sound of the stream and the breeze-blown leaves, "an easy thrall, if the hyenas are scared off. There doesn't seem to be more than two of them, and they're cowardly things."
'Be alert, but not stiff. Be ready, but don't overthink to the point where you get distracted. Trust your training and be ready for action.'
They were all mantras she told herself silently now as she moved, red eyes snapping towards any motion that she saw.
The sound of yips became audible and Fashaq began to regret leaving his serpent companion with his sister. A pair of eyes to silently scout ahead would have been useful. As the noises became louder, the lion slowed, each of his steps deliberate and thoughtful.
"There," Rey whispered, motioning with a twitch of the head through some brush where, aside a small stream, the figures of two hyenas could be seen alongside another figure that she couldn't quite identify. The third was almost certainly wounded and doing its best to fend off the two muscular creatures. Her muscles tensed and her voice dropped even more. "What do we do?"
"The downed creature is still alive," Fashaq started, his raspy voice barely audible over the sound of the stream and the breeze-blown leaves, "an easy thrall, if the hyenas are scared off. There doesn't seem to be more than two of them, and they're cowardly things."
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They moved towards the scent, creeping across the land as if they were ghosts wandering. They made very little sides, the slightly rustling against the drying grass would cause a shifting noise occasionally. Every now and then, his eyes would look at the ground, making sure there were no twigs or branches that could snap under his weight, alerting whoever was upwind of their presence.
Ciro paused, golden eyes narrowing at the sight of two hyenas. Currently, their view blocked the fallen creature from his angle, but he trusted what Fashaq's word.
Easy thrall? Those seemed like contradictory words. To Ciro, all thralls captured were easy game. Well, if Ciro actually had the mind set of capturing them. He would aid in the vikings to bring them back to the homelands, but he had never personally taken one for his own.
"What do you think we should do, kid?" Ciro asked Ray. Everyone needed to learn, and this was a great opportunity for the lioness to show what she was made of. Both him and Fashaq were seasoned Reavers, they could likely pull of the chase and capture without uttering a single word. However, with new blood joining, things had to be taken a little differently. Side stepping just a bit, the dark lion focused on the injured creature. "Looks lion." he murmured. "Small though." Ciro knew of hybrids, but did not usually encounter them.
Ciro paused, golden eyes narrowing at the sight of two hyenas. Currently, their view blocked the fallen creature from his angle, but he trusted what Fashaq's word.
Easy thrall? Those seemed like contradictory words. To Ciro, all thralls captured were easy game. Well, if Ciro actually had the mind set of capturing them. He would aid in the vikings to bring them back to the homelands, but he had never personally taken one for his own.
"What do you think we should do, kid?" Ciro asked Ray. Everyone needed to learn, and this was a great opportunity for the lioness to show what she was made of. Both him and Fashaq were seasoned Reavers, they could likely pull of the chase and capture without uttering a single word. However, with new blood joining, things had to be taken a little differently. Side stepping just a bit, the dark lion focused on the injured creature. "Looks lion." he murmured. "Small though." Ciro knew of hybrids, but did not usually encounter them.
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Reykronde thought for a long, hard moment. In her mind, she went through the possible scenarios, trying to cover all the practical bases. 'Be ready, but don't overthink.'
"If we wanted to engage the hyenas, we should approach from three separate sides so they can't escape," she started, trying to hide her excitement and the fact that her heart was beating so loud she could hear it in her ears. "But if we just want to run them off, she should just run at them from one side. From the back, I think. Maybe make a big noise or something. If they get spooked they would back off, right? But we'd have to stay ready in case they try to fight so we don't turn our backs until we're sure they're gone." It /did/ look like a small lion (she'd never really encountered a hybrid before).
Fashaq kept his eyes on the hyenas, though he listened to the lioness as she spoke. It sounded like a fine enough plan. Hyenas were creatures of opportunity. If they wanted the small feline for prey, they would have to first fight the three of them and then go for the kill, which probably would have been to much work. The navy lion grunted an approval and gave Ciro a sideways glance. "What do you think?"
"If we wanted to engage the hyenas, we should approach from three separate sides so they can't escape," she started, trying to hide her excitement and the fact that her heart was beating so loud she could hear it in her ears. "But if we just want to run them off, she should just run at them from one side. From the back, I think. Maybe make a big noise or something. If they get spooked they would back off, right? But we'd have to stay ready in case they try to fight so we don't turn our backs until we're sure they're gone." It /did/ look like a small lion (she'd never really encountered a hybrid before).
Fashaq kept his eyes on the hyenas, though he listened to the lioness as she spoke. It sounded like a fine enough plan. Hyenas were creatures of opportunity. If they wanted the small feline for prey, they would have to first fight the three of them and then go for the kill, which probably would have been to much work. The navy lion grunted an approval and gave Ciro a sideways glance. "What do you think?"
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Claws stretched into the first, sifting the hard ground until it was soft to the touch. He listened intently to the options the female provided, nodding slightly in approval at her suggestions. He particular liked the second option to run them off, rather than fight them. If the hyenas wanted to pick a battle with them, they would do so whether they were surrounded or not. Ciro usually preferred to take the less bloody actions, but would fight if the situation deemed it.
"Sounds good. If we succeed in running them off, one will need to stay back to make sure it doesn't get away either." His voice was quiet, but his head nodded towards the injured feline creature. He did not quite expect the other to run, however adrenaline was a funny creature and who knew what energy it could provide in the flight response.
"On your signal then, Fashaq." Golden eyes turned towards the two hyenas, narrowing as he waited for the signal.
"Sounds good. If we succeed in running them off, one will need to stay back to make sure it doesn't get away either." His voice was quiet, but his head nodded towards the injured feline creature. He did not quite expect the other to run, however adrenaline was a funny creature and who knew what energy it could provide in the flight response.
"On your signal then, Fashaq." Golden eyes turned towards the two hyenas, narrowing as he waited for the signal.
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"One of you should probably stay with it. You know, just… experience and all." Reykronde wasn't afraid to speak on her lack of experience. Hell, it was better than mucking things up because she took a bigger bite than she could handle.
Fashaq nodded towards his fellow reavers, then turned his eyes forwards towards the trio. It had to be just the right moment. Hyena's were cowardly enough to run if surprised, so they had to be turned just the right way and just distracted enough. "Ciro, then, can get the thrall. You and I," he spoke to Rey, "will make sure the hyenas are gone and don't circle back out of curiosity, and give back-up if Ciro needs it."
The hybrid seemed to get some courage to fight back just enough to make the hyena's close the distance, snapping their jaws and jumping forwards. Fashaq had a familiar feeling of adrenaline rushing through his veins and Reykronde felt her heart leap into her throat as Fashaq muttered a quick "Now."
"Ghov!" The slate-backed hyena snarled, calling his companion's name as he, too late, noticed the figures emerging from the underbrush.
"What?" Ghov snarled from his position closer to the cheeton. "What do you-" His eyes widened as he turned to see Reykronde's form closing the distance. "Oh, oh s**t."
The cheeton remained still, the world moving far too quickly around him for him to get a bearing on each individual thing happening. First he had been ambushed by the hyena and, what seemed like only moments later, there were more figures. More hyenas, he first thought. An entire pack of them, come to finish the job. Then he saw the manes. Saw their figures, much different than the hyenas. And the roars…
Fashaq nodded towards his fellow reavers, then turned his eyes forwards towards the trio. It had to be just the right moment. Hyena's were cowardly enough to run if surprised, so they had to be turned just the right way and just distracted enough. "Ciro, then, can get the thrall. You and I," he spoke to Rey, "will make sure the hyenas are gone and don't circle back out of curiosity, and give back-up if Ciro needs it."
The hybrid seemed to get some courage to fight back just enough to make the hyena's close the distance, snapping their jaws and jumping forwards. Fashaq had a familiar feeling of adrenaline rushing through his veins and Reykronde felt her heart leap into her throat as Fashaq muttered a quick "Now."
"Ghov!" The slate-backed hyena snarled, calling his companion's name as he, too late, noticed the figures emerging from the underbrush.
"What?" Ghov snarled from his position closer to the cheeton. "What do you-" His eyes widened as he turned to see Reykronde's form closing the distance. "Oh, oh s**t."
The cheeton remained still, the world moving far too quickly around him for him to get a bearing on each individual thing happening. First he had been ambushed by the hyena and, what seemed like only moments later, there were more figures. More hyenas, he first thought. An entire pack of them, come to finish the job. Then he saw the manes. Saw their figures, much different than the hyenas. And the roars…
