Tussul didn’t respond at first, giving Ilya ample time to blanch.
“Well,” He began acting uncomfortable, shyly trying to hide behind his bow, “I don’t- I wouldn’t mind, of course, but I’ve never exactly taught someone something like that before… I’m not an expert or anything-”
There was a SNAP from the line of trees.
In an instant, an arrow appeared almost directly next to Ilya’s face, pointing into the dark. Tussul had it drawn, and was moving further along the path to potentially flank the source of the disturbance.
“Sentient. Keep alert.” Tussul mumbled, his voice calm and speaking in a matter-of-fact manner. “Present yourself, whoever you are.”
Palios drew his bow, it was clear that it was much more suited for decoration than combat with the ornate carvings running along it and all— what was it his father had said? Ah, that’s right, ”Engravings add no tactical advantage whatsoever. Quite foolish to use that as a weapon instead of selling it if you ask me.” Palios recalled as he listened intently for any hint of where the source of the sound may have retreated.
Immediately, Cheshie’s javelin was raised and at the ready, a cold chill running down her spine.
Well, I was hoping we’d at least make it to the jungle capital, but I guess that was just wishful thinking. Cheshie grimaced.
No, you’re better than this, we’re better than this. You can’t, you won’t, just give up hope at the first sign of trouble. Be strong.
Cheshie slowly let out an exhale as she made her way toward the end of the group closest to the noise, trying her best to tread silently, eyes glued to the tree line, weapon ready.
“Speak of Karzahni.” Katau comments, holding his fire sword in a ready position and bracing for a fight. He turns to Henan and says with ironic humor, “Well there’s one of the Hunters you were missing.”
One hand rounded the side of a larger tree, the source of the noise.
The next second, there were two frightened eyes looking out from the gloom, glowing in the shadow of the woods. They lined up perfectly with Okotan height, and at the sight of them Tussul exhaled dramatically and lowered his bow in exhaustion.
“Please don’t DO that.” He huffed. “It makes my nerves get all… Nerve-y. And stuff. C’mon out here and stop playing pranks, this is a poor time for that sort of thing.”
Ilya, unlike the others, was not as quick to the draw - and not out of level-headedness. He simple froze for a moment, before suddenly remembering himself and bringing his hand down to his last potion.
Ilya flicked around to face Tussul. This was not part of the plan, and the plan was already unachievable.
“Who is this?” Ilya tried his best to keep calm, but his voice was still tinged with irritation.
“Approaching threat, keep an eye out for anymore” Palios reciteted under his breath with a scowl as he let an arrow fly aimed at the free spot above the Newcomer’s hand. ”The first rule of guiding a caravan on the edge of the dark was to make any sentient threats know you mean business and you will defend your caravan to your dying breath”, this case was no exception despite the appearance of the stranger. Palios thought as he scanned the tree-line for anymore potential threats.
“Oh.” Katau said, seemingly not bothered at all by the fact that the mysterious figure appeared to be an Okotan and not one of the Hunters. He flicked his yellow eyes up to meet the newcomer’s, and after a few seconds, Katau demanded in a loud voice,
“Show yourself!”
An arrow hit the tree to the left of the one the newcomer was hiding behind. Palios’ arrow landed against the first tree in two parts, having been cracked by the second arrow.
Tussul exhaled, this time keeping his bow ready as he notched another arrow. “Maybe I should be doing some teaching.” He murmured.
“I’m not-”
Tussul’s head turned towards both Katau and Cheshie with a surprisingly animated scowl. His efforts at being diplomatic with the stranger were getting trampled, and his face clearly displayed it.
“Once we get to this Jungle capital we need to have a little chit-chat, sir.” Tussul murmured towards Ilya as he turned towards the mysterious figure once more. “I don’t really like giving orders, but this is absurd - this guy’s clearly not a hunt…”
A clawed foot slowly stepped out onto the trail. The moon was beginning to disappear, but even in its limited light the identity of the individual was beyond clear - the same height as Ilya, with frightened, wondering eyes, and clutching a staff with both arms, was… a Hunter.
His horns were little more than rounded bumps on his head, having not yet grown out. His reflective eyes quickly traveled from person to person in wondering suspicion, stopping on Ilya briefly as Tussul lowered his bow in stunned amazement.
“Hmmm, I guess I was wrong, Henan.” Katau says to the stone Okotan. “It is a Hunter.” Then the blacksmith peers a little closer at the mysterious newcomer.
“Doesn’t look to be full-grown though, but what do I know about them?” Despite the fire Okotan’s easy way of talking, he still held his sword in a ready stance, and his eyes never left the Hunter.
Cheshie stopped in her tracks for a moment, taking in the sight, staring at the creature before her. If the Hunter could read emotions in Cheshie’s eye, it would see a mix of fear, confusion, and above all, hatred.
With her javelin still sharply trained on, what looked to be a child, Cheshie stepped alongside Tussul and Ilya, speaking in a low tone. “It just looks like a child, but I doubt it’s alone…” (@Ghid@Winger)
As she spoke, her grip tightened around the weapon, while she began slowly raising her shield beside her. She wanted to glance around, check their flanks, but she couldn’t tare her eyes away from the being in front of her.
“Hey stop, if this is them, maybe don’t show so much
aggression. We would like to live today, and maybe the hunters wouldn’t become everlasting enemies if you lower that stick of yours, pretty please?”
The only response Henan would recive was a sideways glare from Cheshie, before she quickly turned her attention back to the Hunter, javelin still in hand.
Don’t show agression? Yeah, that’ll work on the monsters who burn our villages to the ground.
Tussul crinkled his nose. “If he’s not alone, the rest of his party isn’t even breathing. Please somebody shoot whoever attacks me from the shadows if that happens.”
Tentatively, Tussul takes his hand off of his arrow and gently extends it, motivating the young Hunter to begin shaking violently. “Hey, uh, we, uh, we’re, well, we are the, uhm, people that… We’re trying to, uhm, walk to the…”
He had never seen a hunter, before, and his mind was already spiraling to a horrid conclusion, one that made the Makuta a monstrosity and Okotans no better, but-
He shook his head. He wasn’t being rational. Now was the time to be rational. Now was the time to be a leader.
But still. Ilya didn’t know what to think. He’d never had strong opinions on Hunters but for those impressed upon him, and he’d never been one to go for that. And yet Hunters had done awful things in the past, objectively. Right? Hunters were … Hunters. They killed Okotans.
Either way. Ilya wasn’t about to murder a child. Not yet, anyways. Maybe if the child turned out to be a murderer himself.
Insecurity pounding through his mind, he raised his hand behind him, placatingly, hoping that he could convey for the others to hold their fire for at least the time being. The idea of saying the words Do not shoot seemed obvious in Ilya mind but he found himself hesitant to speak them. Would they even listen to him? The thought of testing it sickened him.
… But he’d have to start somewhere. Why not at going against everything most of them had been taught from childhood.
“Don’t hurt him … yet …Tussul … You definitely don’t … know him, do you?” He tentatively took a step forward, eyeing the Hunter up and down for weaponry.
Cheshie felt the tension in her arm building, her heart pounding, her mound racing. Not again, not again. Do something, Chesh! Anyth-
Her thoughts were interrupted.
Cheshie let out a long exhale, slowly lowering her javelin.
I don’t like this. I don’t like this. But at least Tussul seemed confident it was alone, and out of anyone, he seemed like he’d know best when it came to this kind of thing. Still, best not to let one’s guard down.
“I don’t like this.” Cheshie muttered to Ilya as he stepped forward. “It could still be dangerous…”
She took a step forward as well, if not her javelin at the ready, at least her shield would be.