Kat approaches the nest that holds her target. Her purple eyes narrow at the sight of the vulture. It is huge with wings nearly eight feet each in length, and a scar over the left eye. The half-elf spits as she recalls the beast that was taken from her by the vulture the previous day, causing Shiva to turn her yellow eyes on her owner in a silent question. Kat scratches the panther's white-fur and opens a bond link with her companion.
"Sorry girl, I am still pissed about yesterday," she communes through the bond. The woman receives a feeling of understanding followed by a bloodlust.
"That we agree on Shi," Kat says through the bond, using the panther's nickname.
She uses the bond to explain the plan to Shiva and they both nod to each other, Shiva drops low and stalks through the tall grass towards the nest while Kat readies an arrow and draws a bead on the vulture. She takes a deep breath and holds it for several seconds. As she releases the air she sends the arrow straight into the vulture's side. The bird screeches in surprised pain as Shiva leaps from stealth, dragging her claw across its chest. The vulture spreads its massive wings and takes to the sky.
"Amahn Shiva, Amahn," Kat yells out. Shiva turns instantly and sprints towards her.
Unfortunately the panther isn't fast enough as Kat realizes a half-second too late. The vulture dives at Kat and digs a talon into the woman's shoulder, raking her leather armor and tunic underneath into shreds. Kat cries out in pain as the nerves in her shoulder are set on fire; adrenaline numbs it a second later. The bird of prey flew above them to make another strike, but that is what Kat was counting on. She shifted the longbow to minimize the pressure on her shoulder and fired again, this time striking the vulture's lower-abdomen. The bird seemed unfazed as it made another dive at the half-elf, but Shiva was ready this time. Kat saw a blur of snow-white fur as Shiva leapt in front of the blow, which sent her tumbling several yards to Kat's right.
"SHIVA," Kat screamed as the bird returned to the sky.
She reached the panther just before the vulture dove again. Kat grazed Shiva's head with her fingertips and formed another bond-link. As it solidified in her mind Kat instantly felt the pain that Shiva felt. The woman staggered, caught by surprise.
"Just stay down Shi. I can handle this from here thank you," Kat communed with the bond and felt confirmation from her companion.
The bird was half-way to them by the time Kat was able to draw her bow. The arrow flew through the air into its target and Kat flew backwards over Shiva, both talons carving into the woman's chest. Shiva's golden eyes watched her master sail in slow motion and her instincts snapped within her. The vulture limped slowly towards where the half-elf laid in a steadily-growing pool of crimson. It made it three yards away from her when Shiva slammed into its side and raked a claw deep into the bird's flesh. As the bird screeched in pain Shiva hoisted herself up with the still-imbedded claw, and sank her fangs into the vulture's exposed neck. The panther quickly twisted its neck and the crack of vertebrae echoed out, as silence fell over the plains. Shiva released the vulture and looked over at where her master remained motionless. The panther threw back its head and roared.
Chibi stood outside the monastery's massive doorway as he sent a quick prayer towards his God. As he opened his eyes and began to walk inside he heard something faint; a sound he thought, at first, to be his imagination. But as he listened it was repeated, and he knew it had to be Shiva. Katherine's face flashed through his mind's eye and he took off at a sprint down the street.
"I think Kat's in trouble! Come on, she might need a healer," he said as he crashed through the inn's door, startling the dwarf working inside. He cursed into his beard and jumped onto the monk's back, and they practically flew towards the plains. They approached the scene eight minutes later. Katherine was lying on a bed of crimson grass, motionless. To her right a massive vulture, riddled with arrows and a broken neck, was dead and Shiva sat between the two. The dwarf climbed down from the monk's shoulders and held out his hands. He used a spell of healing on the half-elf, closing her wounds and stopping her from bleeding out. When the light had faded, Chibi knelt down and poured a healing potion into her mouth. Several minutes passed before Kat slowly opened her eyes. She gave them a weak smile and glanced towards the vulture.
"It… was worth it," She managed to choke out.