The creature's wails of agony had only caused K'nahli to sink her head deeper into her arms, mistaking the cries for ones of anger rather than salvation. Her ears dipped low as every muscle in her body tensed in brace as she prepared for what she could only pray would be a quick end.
....
.......
..........
"......."
The thundering roar of those trampling of hooves, those which echoed forth the call of death as they crushed and destroyed the solid earth beneath them had suddenly and inexplicably subsided. It took a few moments before the girl would dare to remove herself from the safety of her arms, moments which should not have been loaned unto her, judging by the beast's impressive speed. When two anxious eyes finally peered over the stacked barrier both her arms had formed before her, the girl, despite her daze, managed to assess the situation. The creature had been distracted by something, wounded even. The long shaft of an arrow immediately caught her eye as it's fletchlings drew an unnatural silhouette through the starry horizon ahead while Menphina's ambient light struck a thin, powdery-blue outline beneath it's curvature. Protruding from a notably softer part of flesh near the billy's flank, whomever had fired this particular arrow, they had surely saved her life.
A soft sound rumbled in the girl's throat as she quickly yet painfully reattempted to pull herself back to her feet. She had more strength this time, but still not quite enough to compose herself. She staggered from a half-kneeling position while letting slip agitated grunts, eager to move far enough out of the way should the beast decide to finish her before dealing with whomever had interrupted it's rampage.
"K'nahli!"
".....?!" the girl quickly threw her glance sideward as a familiar voice suddenly reached out to her along with the aid of a comforting hand.
"K...K'mih..." K'nahli blurted out with surprise as her younger sister wasted no time with taking her arm over her own shoulder in order to carry her weight and help her to her feet. K'nahli stared deeply into her sister's eyes for the short moment she were able with complete surprise. It was incredibly unlikely that K'mih had been the one whom had fired the arrow and yet... here she was. The older huntress blinked uncertainly before taking her glance away to focus on more pressing matters that K'mih herself had already, and more wisely, set to mind. No further words were shared as K'mih began leading her older sister away from the distracted billy, though it didn't take long before another, more distinct, piercing cry filled the air around them. The billy, now the focus of both the girls' stares, had fallen; it's massive and once threatening form now nothing more than a lifeless heap that lay upon the barren floor.
K'nahli blinked a couple of times as her subtly-relieved gaze then shifted to focus upon an irritated-looking K'iara. Oddly, the maroon-eyed girl appeared more indifferent to her rescue than one might have expected. Perhaps it were that she had placed great confidence in the fact that her sisters, having simply arrived to aid the girl at all, had led her to almost, automatically assume that there was no longer a threat to her safety... or maybe it was simply the copious amounts of adrenaline that was no less than pumping through her veins after such an encounter.
Everything else seemed to happen too quickly for the girl to process, now that she could afford to lose some focus toward her surroundings. K'nahli staggered slightly as K'mih was forced to let go of her and commit to K'iara's order to attempt to deter the beasts. She quickly winced as her entire weight was suddenly thrust upon her injured side, forcing her to rest a relieving a hand across her wounded hip. Her eyes sought to travel to observe K'mih and ensure that she was safe, given that she had been entrusted with a worrisome order. Fire? Really? The girl hardly had a chance to properly learn of it's workings, let alone incorporate it into a battle situation. The energy required to endure the pain and remain standing unaided, however, was simply far, too distracting right now. The girl whimpered quietly again as she attempted to reaffirm her footing in the ground. Her daze was subsiding now, but returning herself to her feet had, in turn, only made her feel momentarily light-headed. Her one, free hand pressed up against her temple for a moment in some attempt to more quickly alleviate the feeling; naturally to no avail.
Before K'nahli had realised it, K'mih was calling out to her once again and promptly resumed her place by K'nahli's side to help support her weight so that she may walk more easily. K'nahli panted softly in half-breaths, breaths that sounded as though there were uncertain if a voice was to be carried along with them. The girl's eyes remained fixed on the ground as they took their first few steps, with K'mih quickly yet carefully leading K'nahli out of the immediate dangerzone.
It was then that another voice called, one that was unfamiliar at first though their scent would soon betray their identity as they drew a little closer.
"Can I help?" K'tahjha asked with a tone that hinted toward an unwelcomed concern.
Despite herself, K'nahli couldn't prevent sneering slightly in spite of her pained expression as her face remained mostly hidden now that it were momentarily gazing down, toward the ground. K'mih, her beloved sister was one thing, but having even the young K'tahjha offer to help carry off felt offensive somehow.
Nonetheless, K'mih would almost certainly accept her aid.
Still, the girl said nothing.
....
.......
..........
"......."
The thundering roar of those trampling of hooves, those which echoed forth the call of death as they crushed and destroyed the solid earth beneath them had suddenly and inexplicably subsided. It took a few moments before the girl would dare to remove herself from the safety of her arms, moments which should not have been loaned unto her, judging by the beast's impressive speed. When two anxious eyes finally peered over the stacked barrier both her arms had formed before her, the girl, despite her daze, managed to assess the situation. The creature had been distracted by something, wounded even. The long shaft of an arrow immediately caught her eye as it's fletchlings drew an unnatural silhouette through the starry horizon ahead while Menphina's ambient light struck a thin, powdery-blue outline beneath it's curvature. Protruding from a notably softer part of flesh near the billy's flank, whomever had fired this particular arrow, they had surely saved her life.
A soft sound rumbled in the girl's throat as she quickly yet painfully reattempted to pull herself back to her feet. She had more strength this time, but still not quite enough to compose herself. She staggered from a half-kneeling position while letting slip agitated grunts, eager to move far enough out of the way should the beast decide to finish her before dealing with whomever had interrupted it's rampage.
"K'nahli!"
".....?!" the girl quickly threw her glance sideward as a familiar voice suddenly reached out to her along with the aid of a comforting hand.
"K...K'mih..." K'nahli blurted out with surprise as her younger sister wasted no time with taking her arm over her own shoulder in order to carry her weight and help her to her feet. K'nahli stared deeply into her sister's eyes for the short moment she were able with complete surprise. It was incredibly unlikely that K'mih had been the one whom had fired the arrow and yet... here she was. The older huntress blinked uncertainly before taking her glance away to focus on more pressing matters that K'mih herself had already, and more wisely, set to mind. No further words were shared as K'mih began leading her older sister away from the distracted billy, though it didn't take long before another, more distinct, piercing cry filled the air around them. The billy, now the focus of both the girls' stares, had fallen; it's massive and once threatening form now nothing more than a lifeless heap that lay upon the barren floor.
K'nahli blinked a couple of times as her subtly-relieved gaze then shifted to focus upon an irritated-looking K'iara. Oddly, the maroon-eyed girl appeared more indifferent to her rescue than one might have expected. Perhaps it were that she had placed great confidence in the fact that her sisters, having simply arrived to aid the girl at all, had led her to almost, automatically assume that there was no longer a threat to her safety... or maybe it was simply the copious amounts of adrenaline that was no less than pumping through her veins after such an encounter.
Everything else seemed to happen too quickly for the girl to process, now that she could afford to lose some focus toward her surroundings. K'nahli staggered slightly as K'mih was forced to let go of her and commit to K'iara's order to attempt to deter the beasts. She quickly winced as her entire weight was suddenly thrust upon her injured side, forcing her to rest a relieving a hand across her wounded hip. Her eyes sought to travel to observe K'mih and ensure that she was safe, given that she had been entrusted with a worrisome order. Fire? Really? The girl hardly had a chance to properly learn of it's workings, let alone incorporate it into a battle situation. The energy required to endure the pain and remain standing unaided, however, was simply far, too distracting right now. The girl whimpered quietly again as she attempted to reaffirm her footing in the ground. Her daze was subsiding now, but returning herself to her feet had, in turn, only made her feel momentarily light-headed. Her one, free hand pressed up against her temple for a moment in some attempt to more quickly alleviate the feeling; naturally to no avail.
Before K'nahli had realised it, K'mih was calling out to her once again and promptly resumed her place by K'nahli's side to help support her weight so that she may walk more easily. K'nahli panted softly in half-breaths, breaths that sounded as though there were uncertain if a voice was to be carried along with them. The girl's eyes remained fixed on the ground as they took their first few steps, with K'mih quickly yet carefully leading K'nahli out of the immediate dangerzone.
It was then that another voice called, one that was unfamiliar at first though their scent would soon betray their identity as they drew a little closer.
"Can I help?" K'tahjha asked with a tone that hinted toward an unwelcomed concern.
Despite herself, K'nahli couldn't prevent sneering slightly in spite of her pained expression as her face remained mostly hidden now that it were momentarily gazing down, toward the ground. K'mih, her beloved sister was one thing, but having even the young K'tahjha offer to help carry off felt offensive somehow.
Nonetheless, K'mih would almost certainly accept her aid.
Still, the girl said nothing.
![[Image: ecec20e41f.png]](https://puu.sh/xvMxb/ecec20e41f.png)
Characters: Andre Winter (Hy'ur) / K'nahli Yohko (Miqo'te)
