Kiht
One Moon before the attack on Baelsar's Wall.
The dawning sun beamed light through the dense canopies of East Shroud. The ambient sounds of nature – birds singing and wind rustling drowned out a distant commotion.
Peace was broken by a raptor crashing through brush in her emergence from the flora which hid her. Her feet tore into earth as she sprinted with enough power to create dull thuds with every step. Then another crash, and a second raptor burst from the brush. He was smaller, but no less fast as his graceful stride brought him up to the female raptor’s side.
Across a dirt road they dashed as they made for a clearing with nothing but spread-out saplings and very large, hovering vilekin. The massive Kedflies made way, and took to the air to avoid the charging raptors. Birdsongs came to a sudden halt as the feathered creatures flew to the winds from their perches on the saplings.
The female raptor let out a screech as she darted to the left; following the road a bit further before blitzing into the clearing. The male raptor had moved to the right, and entered the clearing from its West end. They were encircling something.
One songbird let out a curious chirp from where the raptors first emerged. Peace looked to return to the area again. Suddenly, another burst from the brush alarmed them into flight again. A Keeper with long, braided, black hair ran toward the same clearing the raptors ran with a spear in hand. Her breathing was fast and heavy as she dashed with a similar tenacity.
In the clearing, a Garlean steel sword gleamed in the sunlight as it was held high as if to be used for the impending fight. The red and black pot helm shadowed the face of the soldier as he stood at the ready.
From his left, the male raptor leaped into just beyond arm's reach, and sprayed a plume of fire at the soldier. The female raptor arrived at the opposite side, and hissed a spray of acidic venom at the soldier caught aflame. Both raptors jumped back to avoid retaliation then let out screeches at the burning Garlean soldier made of straw…
Supported by a stake, the straw dummy continued to hold up his sword in defiance. The pot helm began to catch fire more slowly than the rest of him, but under it was the grim, faceless, straw head that would not give the raptors the satisfaction of fear.
A javelin ended his last stand; flying into his head as if propelled by the wind. The stake gave out, and the burning dummy fell.
The Keeper woman paced up to the burning dummy, drew a gourd-shaped bottle from her satchel pack and cracked the glass with a hunting knife. Fire turned to smoke and steam as she threw the bottle onto the burning dummy. The blue-colored contents caused a blizzard-like burst once the bottle shattered. The fire was extinguished.
Kiht glanced to each of the raptors as they approached her. Suddenly her hand wrapped around the snout of the male raptor, and her other hand flicked his ear.
“Fire after venom, Dirk†she spoke firmly. The raptor whimpered, and she soon let go.
Her gaze found the female raptor. “And you had a head-start, why did he get a chance to attack before you, Estoc?†She asked, but the Raptor simply canted her head in response.
Kiht sighed, but grew a smirk. “You both did well, but no treats until we get this right. Haru finds the target, Estoc sprays them with her venom, and Dirk sets them on fire. I move in for the kill.â€
The raptors didn’t understand what she was saying. They only knew they were in trouble. But they were quickly distracted by a Lalafell-sized beetle trying to climb a sapling that could not hold its weight.
“I am talking at the animals again.†Kiht muttered as she pulled off her gloves, and approached to place her bare hands on their fine-scaled skin. Moons of training had made them tame to her touch, and she closed her eyes as one hand rested on each raptor.
“You can not understand my words, but you can understand my spirit…†She muttered softly.
