Character || Danika
Stage || Adept Mystic
Battling || Sumudu x 3
Battle Stat || 25
Defense || 10
Roll Needed || 60-100
Rolled || 72, 75, 46
Outcome || win x 2, loss x 1
Experience earned || 21 exp

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Sumudu were tricky creatures. They mostly existed in various shades of violet but that was only due to the natural color of the trees around them. Should the trees change to a green or a blue then the creatures would shift their colors accordingly. While not vicious they were sly and very quick, so quick that it was nearly impossible to catch one unless you were searching for it. Even then one would have to be well adept in Jahaur with reflexes to match the lightning movement of the creatures as they were prone to flee almost instantly at any sign of danger. This much Danika knew and it was for this reason that she sought out the Sumudu.

She could train against them in hopes that it would quicken her speed and sharpen her senses. After all couldn’t the Dretch simply appear out of thin air and snatch anyone that they pleased? What if the Sisters could learn more about sensing their surroundings and knowing where to strike before anyone was grabbed? Even if it seemed impossible Danika was determined to teach herself to reach with precision and speed. She had to learn, she simply had to conquer this for the sake of her people and for her own sanity.

I can do this. She repeated the line like a mantra as she strode deeper into the jungles. The young mystic strained herself while listening for any unnatural scurrying noises. Some of the creatures even had growths that resembled the colorful leaves of Jahaur. Blue, pink, violet, green, yellow, and even a soft amber...she had seen them all. Eshe had pointed out the Sumudu when she was younger and it was those experiences which she had remembered while out training. Those memories drove her now to track down and chase the creatures.

Ah. There was one! Grinning Danika whipped around and tossed out a blade. Watching as it shined in the light she could only sigh as the sumudu quickly scurried away from the flying weapon. How had it known? Was she truly that slow? Not that she wished to hurt these creatures anyways but still it was rather frustrating to see how well they dodged. Gritting her teeth Danika then instead tried to be sneaky like the sumudu. What if she tried to stay in the shadows and train herself to take silent steps? If the wind was in her favor then her scent wouldn’t bother the creatures and she could get right behind them.

It was such thoughts that kept her going forward. Whether it was tumbling, slicing through the air, tossing a rock, or hoping to jump on one before it got away Danika tried it all. She trained until her limbs hurt and when she finally spotted two near each other she decided to give it a final shot. Sure the first sumudu had beaten her but this time, this time she was more prepared. Sneaking forward with a blunt blade, as she had decided to only stun the creature rather than harm it, Danika found herself waiting for the final moment before springing into action. Surely enough the sumudu were startled to have been spotted but even their reactions were not quick enough for the mystic who bopped them both respectively with her left and right hands.

“Hah!” Danika laughed as she tightened her hold around both of the creature’s tails, “Now I’ve got you!” So there was hope after all! If she could continue hunting Sumudu then surely she could learn to be more attentive to the shadows about her. Just like the Sumudu the Dretch could be hiding in the trees and she would be ready. If they were to fight the creatures, to take them by surprise, then she would train herself so that she was as silent as a shadow. I may get really familiar with these Sumudu. She teased lightly before inching forward again to see if there were anymore in the clearing to hunt.

Only time would tell how strong and fast she could get from such training. Danika just prayed to Aisha that she would have enough time to truly stretch her limits. She also prayed that there would be enough Sumudu in Chibale and Jahaur to sustain these training efforts. Letting go of her captives finally Danika could only smile with bittersweet amusement as the violet pair of creatures darted over the rocks, shifting subtly in the light to a grayer violet, before disappearing once more from sight.

[759]