pippi18848
Neva was zipping through the tops of the trees as quickly as she could. No idea in what direction, but the sooner she got out of this territory the better. The batwalker had underestimated the strength of these harpies and now she was paying for it. Even a weak male in that group could still do damage to her with those talons of theirs.To even further injure her ego, she was injured and had to stop and rest every so often. She was leaving a small blood patch at every place she rested which would make her trail easier to pick up on, but she was hoping to get as far away as possible before they even came out after her.
"Stupid bloody birds." She muttered as she stopped on a tree branch. "They should all die. I really hope I scarred those foals for life." The little bat was angry at how the whole thing played out, but she refused to put the blame on herself. As she rested, the exhaustion from the fight and the quick escape, her eyes started to droop, and soon she was dozing. Not in a deep sleep, but she was losing precious time in her escape.
mindsend
(OOC: Comments on Neva's injuries were discussed oocly with Pippi before hand)The trail of blood was simple enough to follow -- even though it was light and only increasing subtly when the skinwalker rested, Kamunyak was a skilled hunter, her senses honed into keen tools through years of specialized training. She moved in swift silence in the tree's, pausing only to judge direction from the branches broken or by the hurried wings of a large bat in a mad rush to escape, too tired to try and break through the thick canopy, or the one type to roll in the clean, earthy smelling mud of a stream and the leaf litter of the forest floor to hide her pale pelt and mask her scent with that of the forest. She could clean her pelt of the mud afterwards; as she cleaned her future trophy walker-pelt.
The mare slowed -- the walker seemed to make more stops, and the trail was fresher than the aged, drying trail. Alert, she checked her surroundings before spotting the pale bat, its pelt baring miniature versions of harpy talon slices and even a gouge in one of her ears, No wonder she was a sloppy flier.
Licking her lips, Kamunyak slowly prowled the treetops, trying to move behind and downwind from the walker, scenting the mix of the mare and Taarab's blood. She shifted closer, then froze as a twig snapped, slipping back into the shadows, heart in her throat as the masked mare tried to locate the source of the noise without taking her eyes from her prey -- They were on the edge of the forest, but the south was walker territory. She'd rather not find out that the skinwalker she was tracking was acting as bait for a dominating purewalker the hard way.
pippi18848
Neva was snoozing comfortably, unaware of the hunter that was stalking her. Her head snapped awake as soon as she heard the snap of the twig, her ears turning from side to side locating the direction of the twig. Once she located the sound she jumped from the tree, her wings spread as she went in search of what had broken that frail twig, wishing all the while that it was the sound of those harpies bones. Landing on another tree, she spotted the culprit responsible, a deer. Her stomach gurgled slightly and she realized that it had been awhile since she last had eaten.
As she flew down from the tree, she started the transformation, her hind legs getting bigger first, followed by the wings getting smaller, her front half finally getting bigger, so by the time she landed on the ground with a gentle thud she was fully transformed into her walker form. The pale colored batwalker then made her way quietly after the deer, stalking it, waiting for the most opportune moment. That moment came and with a quick lunge, Neva was on top of the deer, slashing at it with the claws on her wings, and aiming for it's throat. After a few minutes, the deer was on the ground, unable to move as Neva started to make her meal of the poor creature, the taste of blood causing small shivers of excitement as she feasted. She was still unaware of the danger to her, hiding amongst the shadows.
As she flew down from the tree, she started the transformation, her hind legs getting bigger first, followed by the wings getting smaller, her front half finally getting bigger, so by the time she landed on the ground with a gentle thud she was fully transformed into her walker form. The pale colored batwalker then made her way quietly after the deer, stalking it, waiting for the most opportune moment. That moment came and with a quick lunge, Neva was on top of the deer, slashing at it with the claws on her wings, and aiming for it's throat. After a few minutes, the deer was on the ground, unable to move as Neva started to make her meal of the poor creature, the taste of blood causing small shivers of excitement as she feasted. She was still unaware of the danger to her, hiding amongst the shadows.
mindsend
Watching the Skinwalker shift from bat to Soquili, a sneer formed on the mare coated in dried mud, the scent of the walker's blood and the shift from a rather harmless size to a more formidable one sending a thrill through her core -- it seemed her trophy was going to be a bit more impressive, but a bigger challenge to earn.The Warrior-hunter prowled through the branches, having to pave a wide path to keep to the strongest, sturdiest branches, moving slowly to keep from alerting the other mare of her presence, thankful that the tree's were still larger than the thinner tries they couldn't walk the branches of back in their ancestral home. Studying the injured mare as she hunted, Kamunyak licked her lips, observing how the mare hunted and killed, observing her enemy and waiting for an opportune moment to land on her spine to try and break her back and gut her with powerful talons as she often hunted larger prey.
Adjusting herself closer, she coiled up for the pounce, taking a deep breath as she sent a silent prayer to the Great Mother Spirit and hoped the blood of the angeni was strong enough in her line to give her an edge, before practically dropping herself down and out towards the batwalker with deadly intent.
pippi18848
Neva was enjoying her meal, enjoying the strength the blood of the animal brought to her. Even while injured she felt better than she had in days. The thrill of the fight from earlier, the meal of the deer, and just the overwhelming knowledge that she has caused so much chaos and fear in those harpies made her feel on top of the world. She still felt stronger than those stupid creatures with talons, even if they did overpower her with their advantage of claws. Though, quickly her mood started to change, as she felt like something was wrong, that something was watching her.
By this point it was to late, as the batwalker looked up, just as the harpy dropped from the tree. Neva was caught by surprise as she tried to scramble out of the way, but even though she managed to notice her enemy, she still couldn't escape getting those claws going deep into her rump, piercing her pelt and going through the flesh. A blood-curdling scream came from the cursed creature as she pulled away from the harpy, those claws causing damage and spilling her blood.
"So, you'd rather sneak up on your enemy instead of challenging them to a proper fight? I didn't realize such a proud race would resort to cheating. Maybe you aren't so powerful after all." Neva said in a vicious whisper after she had managed to put some distance between her and the harpy. "Just for that, I hope that stupid stallion dies. And that pathetic foal will blame herself for the rest of her life." The batwalker was on her guard now, waiting for the harpy's next move. She knew that if it happened that it would be sudden and quick, and that the harpy also had the advantage of the trees and her claws. At this point, she wasn't sure how to deal with this harpy, but she wasn't going to let this bird-like creature make her into a fool. She was still Neva after all, and in her mind, she was still the best thing around.
By this point it was to late, as the batwalker looked up, just as the harpy dropped from the tree. Neva was caught by surprise as she tried to scramble out of the way, but even though she managed to notice her enemy, she still couldn't escape getting those claws going deep into her rump, piercing her pelt and going through the flesh. A blood-curdling scream came from the cursed creature as she pulled away from the harpy, those claws causing damage and spilling her blood.
"So, you'd rather sneak up on your enemy instead of challenging them to a proper fight? I didn't realize such a proud race would resort to cheating. Maybe you aren't so powerful after all." Neva said in a vicious whisper after she had managed to put some distance between her and the harpy. "Just for that, I hope that stupid stallion dies. And that pathetic foal will blame herself for the rest of her life." The batwalker was on her guard now, waiting for the harpy's next move. She knew that if it happened that it would be sudden and quick, and that the harpy also had the advantage of the trees and her claws. At this point, she wasn't sure how to deal with this harpy, but she wasn't going to let this bird-like creature make her into a fool. She was still Neva after all, and in her mind, she was still the best thing around.
mindsend
(OOC: injuries spoken with Pippi OOCly o3o) Pretty words of cruelty fell on deaf ears as Kamunyak prowled, the gaze on her face clearly more predatory, the Warrior-hunter assessing the situation as she prowled around, circling the mare. Her first attack wounded, the blood staining her darkened claws. She couldn't get the wings knocked out in the first go, so the mare's strongest weapon was still there. However, Kamunyak was not only stealthy, but she was fast, powerful for her size, and she was in the forest element of the flock.
A smile crossed her lips as Neva spoke the last of her words, Kamunyak's plan decided in the short time it took after the attack, and her muscles coiled and she leapt for a tree, twisting as she hit it and bounded off to another, the quick sudden changes that gave the Harpies their speed and edge in the forest as she hit trunk to trunk, bounding as a darkened blur streaked with a dusty, slightly stained white where the mud cracked and rubbed off.
She'd out as she passed by, snagging bits of wing membrane or ripping a slash out of the massive ears, acting more as an annoyance as she toyed with the skinwalker, a slow grin forming on her lips as she played much like a cat with its next meal as she worked at her to try and get her to run the direction she wanted. No point having to haul her for miles as deadweight if she could make her move under her own power and reduce the distance needed to transport what she already saw as her trophy.
pippi18848
Neva watched as the harpy bounded into the trees and with that she made a run for the treeline, but was soon deterred by those talons. Her wings were getting shredded, and her ears were as well. Her screams of fury and pain rang out throughout the forest, almost seeming to echo. Every time the harpy would come down, she would last out and try to catch the harpy somewhere, hoping to cause enough of an injury to delay her enough to escape.
As she and the harpy fought, she ended up backing herself further in the woods, trying to keep this awful creature at bay. The batwalker had gotten herself into quite the predicament and wasn't sure how she was going to get out of it this time. She has never had anyone manage to take her on like this and actually cause her any physical harm. This was new territory for her. Being hunted. And she was unprepared for it as she kept backing herself back into the woods, not paying attention to her surroundings as she tried to fend off the harpy.
As she and the harpy fought, she ended up backing herself further in the woods, trying to keep this awful creature at bay. The batwalker had gotten herself into quite the predicament and wasn't sure how she was going to get out of it this time. She has never had anyone manage to take her on like this and actually cause her any physical harm. This was new territory for her. Being hunted. And she was unprepared for it as she kept backing herself back into the woods, not paying attention to her surroundings as she tried to fend off the harpy.
mindsend
The mare's petite size aided to her maneuverability in the three dimensions she traveled in, using the tight quarters of the forest she was so familiar with to prevent the other mare from properly using her claws as weapons, purposely tiring and weakening the bleeding mare. Taarab was foolish to fight her in such an open space, but after all, he's only male.
She slowed, keeping her distance as she circled her, watching her bleed and observing the next possible point to strike, If only I could keep her entire pelt as a prize -- that fur and the wings would make an impressive nest covering, and I wouldn't have to rely on getting pelts worth enough in trade to get one of the fancy woven ones those Raccoons make.., she snorted, though the smile of cruelty and bloodlust simply widened slightly before zipping in, dodging a wing strike to slice open a bit of the mare's side before dodging backwards to avoid getting kicked, though a brushing glance hit her thigh. Ahe looked over the damage caused by her claws as she continued her herding circle, -- it had to hurt like hell, but unless she kept the Cursed Creature pressed to pump the blood through it, or if she managed to escape and find a place to rest, she wasn't guaranteed a death...
And it'd be far too slow for Kamunyak's tastes -- she didn't want her to bleed out and die all alone to be discovered as a rotted mess, she wanted to bring her in to be purified, her bones and claws turned into tools by the priestesses to confront evil spirits, and gain the honor of her teeth as a necklace, showing her kill. Perhaps revel with the drinks formed by fruits and grains and honeys in the cleaned stomachs of some of the game and the hallowed out logs and clay jugs. There'd be a celebration in her honor, and no one would laugh at her size or her ancestry.
Fueled by that frustration, she paused in her circling, deciding perhaps she'd toyed with the skinwalker enough, wanting to prove to herself she could kill her all on her own. Even if she was stupid enough to get herself so injured by one of the stallions that had been completely uninterested in learning self defense, having lived a privileged life in many ways.
And if some coddled male could weaken her so much, a warrior shouldn't need such trickery, after all...
pippi18848
Neva was getting highly irritated at this bird type creature. Why couldn't she just come and fight her, without using the elements around her? She also wasn't liking the fact that she seemed to be getting farther away from the edge of the forest, and she had to try to find a way to change that.
When the harpy had paused for a brief moment, Neva took that bit to try to goad the harpy into getting pissed off enough to forget her surroundings. "If it weren't for the trees you wouldn't be able to fight would you? You'd be a helpless little birdie wouldn't you?" She would not lose to this taloned creature. She couldn't. This batwalker had to live to get revenge later on. Revenge for the damage they caused her.
When the harpy had paused for a brief moment, Neva took that bit to try to goad the harpy into getting pissed off enough to forget her surroundings. "If it weren't for the trees you wouldn't be able to fight would you? You'd be a helpless little birdie wouldn't you?" She would not lose to this taloned creature. She couldn't. This batwalker had to live to get revenge later on. Revenge for the damage they caused her.
mindsend
Neve's words landed on deaf ears -- there was no reason to qualify thought on the words of the Soon to be Dead Cursed, especially as she planned the final strike. If she was lucky or overly bold, she could end her in an instant, but leave herself open for a fatal blow. While there would be honor going down hunting a walker on ones own, the honor of coming home victorious to fight another day was much more appealing, especially since she didn't wish to die against such an inexperienced fighter should being too bold result in an unlucky strike.
No, no first she had to cripple her main means of attack, Dead in three more strikes. Fitting for it to be the Number of the great mother.
Giving a slight nod to herself and a silent prayer, she smiled and charged, giving a slashing blow, striking hard and precise, her front feet cracking the upper arm of the skinwalkers wing painfully against her leg, talons slicing deeply into the muscle and and tendons, of the two left limbs. Her other hand crashed against the mares chest, claws digging into the muscle and cracking bone as she pushed off, darting away from the mare yet again, quickly sizing her up and the other wing, clearly intending to cripple her completely.
One..
Still confirmed this with all with Pippi before posting 83
pippi18848
mindsend
Those claws! The batwalker let out a very loud and unnatural scream as those claws dug into her. Bright red blood started to stain her pale coat when the harpy pulled away. Yet, this mare was not giving up without a fight. Even with a crippled wing and blood seeping out of her chest, she started to try to back her way back to the edge of the forest, keeping her good wing at the ready, knowing that the harpy was bound to try again.
"You still haven't gotten me yet you foul bird! Just try to come and finish me off." Her ears twitched ever so slightly as she listened for the slight sounds of the hapry, finally putting her sensitive hearing to use.
mindsend
As usual, actions approved before writing by Pippi
"Blessed be the great mother.." Kamunyak practically purred as she spoke calmly, her eyes seeming to glow against the dark frames of her black sclera, The bone mask, crafted from the skull of a pure hawkwalker killed in mid transformation by a tree felled by the earthquakes that shattered Kamunyak's way of life, purified by the oracle so she could be protected from similar evil spirit, rested weightily on her face, a trophy she earned through surviving hardships alone and away from the flock, "And the three daughters from which life came...."
She paced slowly, analyzing and keeping herself tightly coiled, ready to change and strike at the first opportunity. Her trophy was favoring the healthy wing, clearly understanding she'd be defenseless with two heavy wings dragging on the ground, tangling in bushes and roots, so wasn't risking having the good wing injured.
Instead, the hippogryph spun, striking suddenly with a surprising amount of force for the petite size she was, back handing the walker hard enough across the face that teeth loosened from bone with a spray of blood, Stars bursting across vision as a sharp ring played in ones ears, "They shall deliver us from evil..."
...Two...
The mare adjusted herself, coiling for a final strike.
pippi18848
mindsend
Her ears twitched at every sound, listening for the sounds of that clawed beast. Neva's breathing evened as she tried to calm down enough to listen and wait. She knew that this thing would attack again, but from where?
It was in that moment, that the harpy sprung, and at that moment Neva started to whirl around to protect herself, but she was to slow. A vicious scream let loose from her throat as the pain exploded, and she could taste the blood. But she could not let herself fall, and with a whirl, she spun around and headed for the tree line as quickly as she could. The vibrations of her fleeing, was causing the teeth to become even more loose, and the blood running down her face was making it hard to see.
If she could get to the tree line, all she had to do was fly, and she would gain some distance. But, could she get there? Especially as injured as she was. And as she ran, one of her front teeth finally broke loose, dropping to the ground as she gave another shriek. If anyone was nearby and heard her, they would have had images of fear running through their minds.
mindsend
Kamunyak took after the walker, swearing under her breath -- she was not going to just let the walker escape. Bunched muscles sprung as she gave chase, head down low as she swept to the side, away from the pounding kicking feet and to the side of the walker, moving in close, planning to slash apart leg tendons and go in for a messier kill than she had wanted.
However, fate had another idea in mind as a branch near the shrubby edge of the forest snapped back into place, smacking the hippogryph across the face, temporarily blinding her with leaves as she jerked back instinctively as leaves brushed her eyelashes. She heard the walker shriek as she broke through the treeline and into the blinding sunlight of the open grasslands, west of the flock's forest where hoove'd speed reigned supreme. Kamunyak growled as she neared the edge of the forest, panting for breath as she readjusted her mask back into her face before something caught her eye.
Scooping up the blood soaked ivory, Kamunyak turned it over in her hand, then returned her gaze to watch the fleeting form of the skinwalker. Her three fingers clenched around the blood stained canine before she tucked it behind her ear, chirruping and shrieking loudly so others would know that her hunt was not over.
"-They shall deliver us from evil... The spirits guide my talons." She closed her eyes in prayer before slipping into the long grass.
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mindsend
Sunlight! Grass! She was free! Or rather, she finally had homefield advantage. Neva knew that the clawed beast wasn't going to just give up because they were now out from the forest. And so she ran, leaving a trail of blood. After she picked up speed, she jumped into the air, spreading her wings and started to fly, shrieking the first few flaps, due to the injuries in her wing.
The skinwalker pushed herself to keep flying, ignoring the pain, ignoring the damage she was doing to it. She needed to gain as much ground as she could against that bird. Moments go by, and the pain starts to get incresingly worse. And without warning, the wing completely breaks and she goes crashing into the ground. Her shrieks of pain rang over the grassland, and she struggled to get back up, the pain almost being to the point of causing her to blackout. But yet she fought and struggled to keep going.
