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TRIGGER WARNING: Light description of death, blood and gore, fighting, death
The elf was short, dark, foreign, and well known within the temple. It had been a few years since her entry into service as a servant and then a cleric, working her way up the ranks through skill and dedication. Maydril rarely seemed to sleep, rarely seemed to spend much time to herself.
Outside of the temple, the stout woman was best known for her leading the oft more successful of Vaasa hunts; her abilities as a healer in the field were put to good use, atop that.
Wearing an oft-stained-and-bleached smock and loose pants, Maydril, hair in its iconic ankle length braid, walked barefoot down the quiet hallway of the temple's infirmaries, a veritable pile of fresh bandages in her arms. She was making her afternoon rounds as a few boys scurried between rooms and the infirmary wing's kitchen, bringing bland but nourishing dinners to patients.
The elf was short, dark, foreign, and well known within the temple. It had been a few years since her entry into service as a servant and then a cleric, working her way up the ranks through skill and dedication. Maydril rarely seemed to sleep, rarely seemed to spend much time to herself.
Outside of the temple, the stout woman was best known for her leading the oft more successful of Vaasa hunts; her abilities as a healer in the field were put to good use, atop that.
Wearing an oft-stained-and-bleached smock and loose pants, Maydril, hair in its iconic ankle length braid, walked barefoot down the quiet hallway of the temple's infirmaries, a veritable pile of fresh bandages in her arms. She was making her afternoon rounds as a few boys scurried between rooms and the infirmary wing's kitchen, bringing bland but nourishing dinners to patients.
The woman strode boldly to the temple. She wasn't short. For a human, she could be considered tall. Broad shoulders and well toned muscles were visible under less than modest clothing, that had been obviously torn, and sewn, and patched again and again. It may have been fine clothing once, and she obviously wore it with some pride, despite the hard life it had been put through.
Her feet were bare, thick with callous, and she walked so silently along the temple floors that she startled many of the acolytes, some of whom dropped what they were doing. She paid them no mind. She needed to find the one in charge.
"Who here is not afraid of a challenge?" She demanded in a loud voice that carried through the halls.
Her feet were bare, thick with callous, and she walked so silently along the temple floors that she startled many of the acolytes, some of whom dropped what they were doing. She paid them no mind. She needed to find the one in charge.
"Who here is not afraid of a challenge?" She demanded in a loud voice that carried through the halls.
Maydril was not the first to hear or see to this loud intrusion of sorts. Servants of the temple, along with a guard, were quick to intercept the woman. It was a minute later that, having handed off her armful to a temple nurse. Her steps were quick, purposeful, quietly tapping across stone and rug. What she'd heard of the loud voice was familiar, and the words had caught her interest.
"What is this you shout about Vaasa?" The guard had stepped aside; Maydril was not in charge here, but her authority regarding this woman and her business was not to be undermined.
"What is this you shout about Vaasa?" The guard had stepped aside; Maydril was not in charge here, but her authority regarding this woman and her business was not to be undermined.
Rukia had tried to express a desire to speak to a leader. It had largely failed- what did they think she was going to do? If she wanted to hurt one of the charges in the temple she'd do so quietly. The word 'vaasa' seemed to get an answer though.
She stood tall, shoulders squared, trying to intimidate the guards into backing away from her. "On the big road that goes out of Aram to the farming villages, there was a body found today." She said flatly.
"A merchant, a well prepared traveler, who knew that land well, was taken by a vaasa and left for dead on the road. He was half pecked apart by vultures before he was found. This couldn't be done by an inexperienced hunter. This vaasa is smart. What is worse, it is bold. I intend to skin it."
She nodded sensibly. "But I think I may need help catching it. I had heard good things about this place."
She stood tall, shoulders squared, trying to intimidate the guards into backing away from her. "On the big road that goes out of Aram to the farming villages, there was a body found today." She said flatly.
"A merchant, a well prepared traveler, who knew that land well, was taken by a vaasa and left for dead on the road. He was half pecked apart by vultures before he was found. This couldn't be done by an inexperienced hunter. This vaasa is smart. What is worse, it is bold. I intend to skin it."
She nodded sensibly. "But I think I may need help catching it. I had heard good things about this place."
"You're positive? And have you not alerted the guard?" Maydril shook her head; the look on her face was as flat as Rukia's tone. "Well, no, you're certain. I've seen you on the hunt before, you'd be stupid to mistake this."
The woman sighed, but was not still for long. "Come."
Guard and servant fell away at Maydril's sudden exit; Rukia was expected to follow.
"What is your name?"
The hall the pair moved through was more sparsely decorated than the temple proper; the walkway was bare of any running rug, doors dotted the walls. At the end of the hall was an open archway, rows of sleeping areas in plain sight. Maydril stopped halfway down the hall, pushed a door open. Inside, the room was similar to the hallway in its lack of decor. Lining the shelves along the walls were dozens of bottles of herbs and liquids, apparently a personal collection. On the largely unused straw-filled bed was laid out armour.
"Do you have any idea of where we might find this vaasa of yours, or do I need to get a dog to even find a starting place? Talk to me."
The armour was being pulled on atop her clothing; the ease with which it was donned spoke of her familiarity with it.
The woman sighed, but was not still for long. "Come."
Guard and servant fell away at Maydril's sudden exit; Rukia was expected to follow.
"What is your name?"
The hall the pair moved through was more sparsely decorated than the temple proper; the walkway was bare of any running rug, doors dotted the walls. At the end of the hall was an open archway, rows of sleeping areas in plain sight. Maydril stopped halfway down the hall, pushed a door open. Inside, the room was similar to the hallway in its lack of decor. Lining the shelves along the walls were dozens of bottles of herbs and liquids, apparently a personal collection. On the largely unused straw-filled bed was laid out armour.
"Do you have any idea of where we might find this vaasa of yours, or do I need to get a dog to even find a starting place? Talk to me."
The armour was being pulled on atop her clothing; the ease with which it was donned spoke of her familiarity with it.
"Rukia." She nodded.
She regarded her surroundings with forced coolness. Her curiosity about the temple would have to be kept under control, for her to be taken seriously. "You have a heavy name among the hunters. You are skilled. This was the first place I thought to come to. Why alert guards when they can certainly do nothing? I did not much feel like sending half trained volunteers into the woods to feed that thing. I know where the body was found. That is as good a starting place as any." She shook her head.
"A dog would help. I attempted to track it on my own, I found a trail that was cold and nothing else. Even if the trail were fresh, I know better than to go after this one alone. It is larger. It is stronger. It is bolder because it knows it can afford to be. I think it may have set a trap for the merchant, of some sort. Something that would get his guard down. For this reason, I did not follow it. I think a long range weapon should be used to take it down."
She regarded her surroundings with forced coolness. Her curiosity about the temple would have to be kept under control, for her to be taken seriously. "You have a heavy name among the hunters. You are skilled. This was the first place I thought to come to. Why alert guards when they can certainly do nothing? I did not much feel like sending half trained volunteers into the woods to feed that thing. I know where the body was found. That is as good a starting place as any." She shook her head.
"A dog would help. I attempted to track it on my own, I found a trail that was cold and nothing else. Even if the trail were fresh, I know better than to go after this one alone. It is larger. It is stronger. It is bolder because it knows it can afford to be. I think it may have set a trap for the merchant, of some sort. Something that would get his guard down. For this reason, I did not follow it. I think a long range weapon should be used to take it down."
"You are right, of course."
The woman's armour was of foreign make; the silver sword strapped to her side was no more familiar to the area. Various items were attached to the harness at her hips holding the sword: daggers, pouches. Just as abruptly as she'd lead Rukia off the first time, Maydril was once more on the move.
"If you wish to attack it from a distance, you may. But do not think that you can out-distance it. It will simply appear behind you."
Back from where they came, and down another hallway; the scent of animals became an undertone to the incense of the temple, as they came out into the courtyard around back. Enclosed horse stalls lined the outer wall to one side of the door, and another sort of open stall lined the other side. Filled with bedding softer than what was provided the horses, a few of these stables housed sleeping dogs. In the yard, a few more of these animals played and ran, some accompanied by stablehands and handlers.
Maydril paused only for a moment, before walking to a certain dog: silvery, it was much larger than most of the available animals. Its fur was course but well kept, its eyes hidden beneath long brows.
"Chandra, do you think you will need help?" A soft growl answered; a younger dog came along as the silver one stood. "Fine. Send her to gather three that will be of use to us. I believe there is at least one young lady at Vijprak who is rested and on duty."
Maydril turned, stared at Rukia. "Lead on, then."
The woman's armour was of foreign make; the silver sword strapped to her side was no more familiar to the area. Various items were attached to the harness at her hips holding the sword: daggers, pouches. Just as abruptly as she'd lead Rukia off the first time, Maydril was once more on the move.
"If you wish to attack it from a distance, you may. But do not think that you can out-distance it. It will simply appear behind you."
Back from where they came, and down another hallway; the scent of animals became an undertone to the incense of the temple, as they came out into the courtyard around back. Enclosed horse stalls lined the outer wall to one side of the door, and another sort of open stall lined the other side. Filled with bedding softer than what was provided the horses, a few of these stables housed sleeping dogs. In the yard, a few more of these animals played and ran, some accompanied by stablehands and handlers.
Maydril paused only for a moment, before walking to a certain dog: silvery, it was much larger than most of the available animals. Its fur was course but well kept, its eyes hidden beneath long brows.
"Chandra, do you think you will need help?" A soft growl answered; a younger dog came along as the silver one stood. "Fine. Send her to gather three that will be of use to us. I believe there is at least one young lady at Vijprak who is rested and on duty."
Maydril turned, stared at Rukia. "Lead on, then."
"The idea is to strike with enough stealth that the initial blow destroys it." She said bluntly. "It is difficult to do, but it can be done with a sufficiently skillful throw- or a good enough distraction." She shrugged.
It was her turn to do the leading. She strode in broad steps out of the room and down the hall. "If we hurry we should have enough daylight left. I think it will be staying close to the road, so the walk is not difficult." For her talk of an attack from a distance, her own weaponry seemed ill suited to the task. A pair of knives were stuck in her belt, both of them fairly short, and a sling was tied at her waist. Hardly the arsenal for hunting vaasa. But she had been on the hunts before without dying.
"When it dies, do you have any use for the carcass? We could divide it up if you pleased."
It was her turn to do the leading. She strode in broad steps out of the room and down the hall. "If we hurry we should have enough daylight left. I think it will be staying close to the road, so the walk is not difficult." For her talk of an attack from a distance, her own weaponry seemed ill suited to the task. A pair of knives were stuck in her belt, both of them fairly short, and a sling was tied at her waist. Hardly the arsenal for hunting vaasa. But she had been on the hunts before without dying.
"When it dies, do you have any use for the carcass? We could divide it up if you pleased."
"You're ill-prepared for such an assault." It was blunt; Maydril was not known for her tact.
While short, the elf kept up with Rukia with little trouble, her soft leather boots quiet on the stone floor. Eyes followed them through the temple: excitement at seeing the cleric in armour and armed, fear at what she might go hunt. What it was she was off to do, for those who had not heard Rukia's outburst, was quickly confirmed by the dog keeping pace with the pair. The same attention came from the general public as they exited the temple and made their way through the brick-pathed city streets.
"I need only to kill it." Also not known for her conversational skills.
While short, the elf kept up with Rukia with little trouble, her soft leather boots quiet on the stone floor. Eyes followed them through the temple: excitement at seeing the cleric in armour and armed, fear at what she might go hunt. What it was she was off to do, for those who had not heard Rukia's outburst, was quickly confirmed by the dog keeping pace with the pair. The same attention came from the general public as they exited the temple and made their way through the brick-pathed city streets.
"I need only to kill it." Also not known for her conversational skills.
"It seems that way." She didn't elaborate. Tact wasn't in her arsenal either. "If you have no use for the remains then I will find a use for them. I do not waste my kills."
She headed through the city with quiet disdain. She disliked the crowds and didn't appreciate the stares that came with her company. The exit to the city was quickly found and taken. Little by little, the steady trail of people began to grow more thin. The trees began to grow closer together, blocking the horizon.
"He was discovered about a half a mile from here, down that trail." She pointed down a dirt path off the main road. "That was hours ago. It could be anywhere now. Stay close."
She headed through the city with quiet disdain. She disliked the crowds and didn't appreciate the stares that came with her company. The exit to the city was quickly found and taken. Little by little, the steady trail of people began to grow more thin. The trees began to grow closer together, blocking the horizon.
"He was discovered about a half a mile from here, down that trail." She pointed down a dirt path off the main road. "That was hours ago. It could be anywhere now. Stay close."
"Hm."
Maydril didn't seem to say or do much; once they were within the area, she looked around, yes, but there wasn't a lot of effort put into it. No, no reason to, when she had Chandra. In fact, the elf didn't have to say a word; the dog was already moving about on its own, sniffing, searching.
And suddenly the dog growled, yapped quietly...and took off quickly.
"Well then." May was almost casual in how she took off after the animal in a quick walk.
Maydril didn't seem to say or do much; once they were within the area, she looked around, yes, but there wasn't a lot of effort put into it. No, no reason to, when she had Chandra. In fact, the elf didn't have to say a word; the dog was already moving about on its own, sniffing, searching.
And suddenly the dog growled, yapped quietly...and took off quickly.
"Well then." May was almost casual in how she took off after the animal in a quick walk.
Rukia trailed after it quietly. "The dog is very good. She's better than I am, even." She looked impressed, though it was less impressed than grateful- the dog was in front and more likely to draw any attention. She pulled one of the knives out of her belt.
"Thank you for your help. I admit that it pained me to have to ask for it."
The forest was quiet. Nearly too quiet.
"I believe we are getting close."
"Thank you for your help. I admit that it pained me to have to ask for it."
The forest was quiet. Nearly too quiet.
"I believe we are getting close."
Ahead, the dog had suddenly stopped, and was circling, sniffing furiously. Chandra seemed confused, and was growling softly; this caused Maydril to finally unsheath the fine silver sword at her hip, her burnt orange eyes darting about as she cautiously approached the dog's position.
Suddenly, the dog was letting out a wailing howl, typical of having found its prey; Chandras fur was on end, but she was stock still, shaking. May was on guard, but confused.
Suddenly, the dog was letting out a wailing howl, typical of having found its prey; Chandras fur was on end, but she was stock still, shaking. May was on guard, but confused.
The creature appeared. Wild eyes locked onto the dog, long arms reached for it. The silence of the forest was broken with the sudden breaking of sticks and trees where the monster now thrashed for its prey.
Rukia raised her knife high and threw it, sending it sailing through the air, whirling like a wheel. It caught the beast, but not fatally. Its attention to the dog was broken. Rukia pulled out her remaining knife.
"Gods dammit. I missed."
Rukia raised her knife high and threw it, sending it sailing through the air, whirling like a wheel. It caught the beast, but not fatally. Its attention to the dog was broken. Rukia pulled out her remaining knife.
"Gods dammit. I missed."
The dog's surprise was minor, recovery quick; whether or not the vaasa's attention was on it or not, Chandra was certainly on it, noises hoarse and muffled as teeth found their mark.
Maydril herself had been quick to follow; one moment, she had stood twenty feet away, and the next, she was behind the demon. A sword that large, against a vaasa so massive, was hard to miss with, as she hacked down, hard. Her attack was as quiet, as without comment as everything else the elf did.
Maydril herself had been quick to follow; one moment, she had stood twenty feet away, and the next, she was behind the demon. A sword that large, against a vaasa so massive, was hard to miss with, as she hacked down, hard. Her attack was as quiet, as without comment as everything else the elf did.
The creature ignored the dog- though it did writhe and struggle against being bitten. The sword wielder was a bigger target. Even under the blows, the long hands and arms shot out at her, grasping for their target. Jaws opened wide in a show of teeth. A claw struck the dog, knocking her loose.
The monstrous hand caught Maydril's sword arm.
Rukia sprang to the fray. She hacked without finesse at the target, her strategy apparently to hit whatever she could as hard as she could.
The monstrous hand caught Maydril's sword arm.
Rukia sprang to the fray. She hacked without finesse at the target, her strategy apparently to hit whatever she could as hard as she could.
Chandra tumbled, yelping and slamming through a bush.
May grunted and yanked at the grip on her arm, fingers holding tight to the sword; the elf had been a tough target to get ahold of, and was no less defeated once grasped. One of the daggers at her hip was in her opposite hand, and swang up with the momentum of the demon's grab, slipping firmly into the capturing hand's armpit.
Chandra reappeared in a blink; the dog slammed into the vaasa's side, sinking in teeth and claws where able.
May grunted and yanked at the grip on her arm, fingers holding tight to the sword; the elf had been a tough target to get ahold of, and was no less defeated once grasped. One of the daggers at her hip was in her opposite hand, and swang up with the momentum of the demon's grab, slipping firmly into the capturing hand's armpit.
Chandra reappeared in a blink; the dog slammed into the vaasa's side, sinking in teeth and claws where able.
The arm fell limp. Rukia had hacked off the other without mercy. A ruined hand twitched on the ground. The badly injured creature now struggled backwards, pulling away from the sword wielder who held it fast in her grip. A clawed hind foot kicked at Chandra, but weakness was creeping into the injured body.
Rukia drove her knife between ribs, and yanked out the one she'd thrown earlier, leaving a gaping wound. "Are you hurt?" She called to Maydril.
Rukia drove her knife between ribs, and yanked out the one she'd thrown earlier, leaving a gaping wound. "Are you hurt?" She called to Maydril.
Silence answered Rukia; Maydril answered, instead, with a sudden slash down then up at the vaasa's neck, grunting with her effort. Ripped the weapon free, twisted around, and slammed the dagger home into the creature's collar.
The great dark dog had gotten its teeth sunk into the vaasa's backflesh, and was hardly letting go any time soon, viciously shaking her head, yanking, claws dug in.
The great dark dog had gotten its teeth sunk into the vaasa's backflesh, and was hardly letting go any time soon, viciously shaking her head, yanking, claws dug in.
The beast listed and swayed like a small boat on bad water. It went down twitching, flailing, and then lay still. Rukia stood over it, looking down coolly at the ruined body.
"Pity it got so chopped up. Whole skins are better." She picked up the dismembered arm and threw it over her shoulder. "Thank you. If you still do not wish to have any part picking up the pieces, or if you are not hurt, I will collect the carcass now."
She looked at the dog briefly. "Thank you Chandra."
"Pity it got so chopped up. Whole skins are better." She picked up the dismembered arm and threw it over her shoulder. "Thank you. If you still do not wish to have any part picking up the pieces, or if you are not hurt, I will collect the carcass now."
She looked at the dog briefly. "Thank you Chandra."
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