Bear's Bane

[mmat 7460]

 

 

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It was to the silent elf’s relief that the ancient, yet worn looking branch beneath his step had not chosen this moment to give way, lest his several days of tracking the hulking creature below him have been wasted. The very thought was enough to grant him a sense of dread, more so than the actual threat of the beast. He had thought it a mere lost bear at first, far from its usual home in the northern wastes. But no, this one had spines and was far larger up close. What was it? Whatever it was, it had seemed to follow a small stream up towards its source, so that is where he followed.

 

It was as he tiptoed along the branch and reached the thick trunk that he took a moment to consolidate his situation with newfound balance; a tightly restrained pouch filled with medical supplies and food, one short dagger held at a reverse grip in his right hand and two javelins criss-crossed and strapped to his back, ready to be easily grasped. Though he had never been an eagle-eyed bowman, he more than made up for that deficiency with his powerful throw.

 

He slid down the trunk with his back in order to stay silent, and sat for a moment of rest after the day’s tracking, his eyes shutting for a moment with the thoughts of his previous days weighing his mind and body down, distracting him from his trial and his prey. An error indeed.

 

Suddenly the ‘Ame’s eyes snapped open with a start, the shock of the awakening prompting unbalance and then a fall. He plummeted a dozen feet and hit the soft, forest floor with a strangely painless thud, it would seem that luck had been on his side, or had it? Where was the creature? The question leaped back into his mind as soon as the panic set in, it was nowhere to be seen. Letting out a defeated sigh, the armed Elf simply descended to the watercourse he had been following and took a well-deserved drink, letting out an obviously exuberant noise at the intake of water. An ominous growl, however, stopped his revelry. His ear twitched at the unnatural noise coming from behind, and he span around with a fright, water still dripping from his mouth.

 

Before he could think, the creature was on top of him, its savage bulk bulldozing the lean Mali to the floor with naturally little concern for his comparatively frail body. The impact knocked his dagger and javelins onto the floor, as well as himself. Immediately afterwards, a fatal claw slash from the beast was avoided with an extremely lucky sideways roll. As quickly as he did, one of the javelins somehow made its way into his hand. Without thinking, the sharp lance was desperately thrust into the eye of the now raging creature. Despite its injury, it remained a danger, thrashing around and bashing the Elf to floor once again, far enough away that he had the luxury of watching as the beast weakened, and then fell with the javelin still in its eye.

 

He stood and gathered his hunting knife with a dissatisfied shake of his head, ready to take the trophies he required. He had completed his task, but he was not happy with it.

[Daisy 9735]

Moved to The Great Library. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.

 

If you feel this is a mistake, please contact myself or any FM and we'll restore it.