The Passage of Twin Disciplines
Chapter Two
On The Prowl
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The cougar's ears twitched, flicking at a bee that refused to leave her sensitive hairs alone. Irritated by the miniscule insect, the large feline snapped it's jaws, successfully catching and silencing the annoyance as the bee slid down her throat to be devoured by the acid inside stomach caverns.
Huffing, the feline yawned and stalked further into the plentiful underbrush, her thick coat protecting her from the sharp edges the leaves offered.
Coming up from the right, her hunting partner and brother, bit her rump playfully. Nidalee mock growled at him as he went down into a play fight stance, tail swishing. She flattened her ears, showing him that she had no intention of playing when they had been sent out on a hunt to bring back food for the den.
The wind blew through the trees, rusting both of the dark golden cats fur, as well as carrying the sent of food to their sensitive noses. Without any signal passing between the pair, they took off after the scent, paws padding through the forest without making a whisper of noise.
They kept low, chests brushing the soft ground as muscles worked to press them forward, glistening in the morning sun. They spotted with their eyes what their noses had alerted them to, a large buck grazing between the trucks of two elder trees.
Nidalee's hunting brother's tail gave an impatient twitch before she snapped her maw at him, telling the younger cat to be patient. He cowered, holding his position as she circled around the powerful mammal.
Before she would find a suitable ambush spot, a branch cracked and Nidalee saw a blur of fur as her hunting brother broke formation and took off after the startled buck.
The frightened deer bounded over where Nidalee was crouched and she flattened herself to avoid the hooves that soared over her head. Letting out a frustrated growl to match the young fools battle roar, she took off in pursuit of their fleeing prey.
One day, she would teach her brother patience, another day; today, her family needed the meat and she could not let the buck escape to teach him the lesson he so sorely needed.
Her shoulders pumped, rolling in their sockets as she streaked forward, easily overtaking the younger cougar. He snapped at her heels as she passed, gaining on the buck.
Claws dug into the dirt of the forest floor, sending back clumps to litter her path as she passed. Leaves broke as she overpowered her ground, trampling plants and anything else that got in her way. Smaller animals scattered, taking heed of the cougars roars as they chased the buck.
Checking to make sure her brother was close in pursuit, Nidalee veered off, taking a chance and trusting what her instincts were telling her.
Breaking free, she cut straight to the river, wind picking up and encircling her dashing form as she shifted mid stride.
Nidalee spotted the buck, clearing of the dense brush, hind legs bunching as he pushed off the gravel covered river bank to leap the watery expanse. Her arm pumped and extended following the magical spear that had appeared in her grasp.
The weapon pierced the air as easily as it pierced the bucks flesh, pushing through it's ribs effortlessly as the large mammal crashed down into the water. Water splashed up, causing a waterfall and catching her hunting brother by surprise. Nidalee recalled the spear and it returned faithfully to her grip, leaving the hole in the mammal where the weapon had connected.
Her hunting brother growled, and snorted at her before dipping his maw into the cold river water and gripping the buck's hind leg with it's teeth. Rocks slid around his paws as he struggled to pull the buck loose from the waters grip and Nidalee was satisfied carrying the kill back alone would be enough of a lesson in teamwork for today. She was still miffed about his breaking formation before she had given the signal, almost causing them to lose their dinner.
Nidalee started to walk back to the den, taking her time as she tilted her head back to take a deep breath. The scents of the forest assaulted her senses, the smell of wet soil, moss and blooming flowers wafted with the wind. To her right she could smell a rabbit's den as the tiny rodents hid in their home underground, staying perfectly silent as the predator passed. All of this mixed with the smell of living creatures was the tang of blood and the flowing river behind her coming together in one intoxicated aroma.
Feeling particularly energetic, and still full of adrenaline, Nidalee took off at a run, pressing her palm down on top of a fallen log as she passed and vaulting over top.
Bare feet landed, causing slight indents in the soft ground, disappearing with the magic in the air, the forest covering her tracks so she was invisible. The spirits of the forest had long ago accepted the orphan as much as the family of cougar's who had found her had. They were the same spirits that shared their magic with her, as long as she remained a guardian of the forest, she would have their magic to wield.
When she was an infant, Nidalee's father had entered Kumungu forest in hopes of finding a rare artifact. He had taken his wife and newborn infant with him on the journey, as he would have no matter where they went.
With them travelled their closest friends, all of them lived from the caravan they towed around the continent, seeking out it's mysteries and treasures.
The caravan had been ransacked by a group of bandits while they were still near the borders of the forest, Nidalee had been spared when her tiny form had been hidden under her mother's corpse. A day later, a young cougar entered the battlefield, nose afire with the smell of death as he searched he wreckage out of pure curiosity.
When he found the crying infant, the forest spirits protected her and the cougar took her in as his own, adding her to the litter his mate had recently birthed.
Grinning a coy grin, Nidalee raced through the forest, the muscles on her lean thighs visible under tanned skin. She wears only a simple top, animal fur pulled across her breasts and tied sewn at the back with a strip of tough leather and a makeshift needle. Her shoulders are bare, and her neck is missing the necklace she had long since given away.
Matching the skin around her chest, is a skirt made of the same animal pelt, cut down the sides of her thighs to give her more mobility. The cougaress ran until her chest hurt and pushed past the feeling into simple bliss, breaking free of the trees, she stopped, panting.
Green eyes looked out at the dessert that loomed barely visible on the horizon. The trees became sporadic and stopped giving the forest a visible borderline. Tall grass and brush went out for a little while further, until only a short green carpet covered the dirt that slowly mixed with sand.
Chest heaving she looked out and wondered, not for the first time, what it was like out there, are there more creatures like her?
There had to be, she had seen another that was the same as her. She paused at that thought, nose crinkling before she sneezed. No, not the same. She had been different, the scent that clung to her was unlike anything she had ever smelt before. It had made her nose tickle and her father furious.
Nidalee placed a hand on her collarbone, moving her fingers to rub the bare skin. She hadn't carved the necklace, she couldn't even remember from where or when she got it. It had just, been there, and she had never questioned it.
There must be more out there, more creatures like her and the girl. She had disappeared into the bright, odd trees in the forbidden end of the forest. It was the groove of death, nothing went near the bright trees without losing it's life energy.
Nidalee would often sit at the border, squinting with her ears fixated on the sounds of battle between the odd creatures. They were all shapes and sizes, there was even one particularly energetic one that looked to her like an overgrown mouse. While listening to their battles, she had picked up on some of their language.
She had never seen the girl again, not that she had watched for long. After only a few months of wandering off to watch the creatures that were like her, but weren't at the same time, she had been found sneaking away and punished.
Letting out a deep sigh, Nidalee looked over the shimmering sand once more. What makes the sand shimmer as if there is water in the air? Perhaps the water leaves the sand and floats in the air, unable to return to the burning dirt that has lost it's colour.
There were too many questions she couldn't answer, and had no one to ask. She wasn't even sure she could ask the questions if she found someone who would know the answers.
As the wind blew around her, ruffling the fur on her body and her long brown hair she closed her eyes and let the simplicity of the forest, and the knowledge she did have surround her. She knew the forest, it's smells, it's tastes. She could identify any track and tell instantly much about the creature from something so simple.
She knew every inch of the lush green haven, the stones on the rivers bank and the fish within it's depths. She knew she was loved, by not only her brothers and sisters but by the forest itself, and that was enough. Nidalee could never leave the forest and those she loved, she would forever remain to protect it's borders from those who meant it harm.
Taking in another deep breath her nose twitched, eyebrows furrowing in concentration. Something wasn't right, that smell, it smells like... what does it smell like? It almost smells like the girl, except with the strong scent of musk, and sweat.
Nidalee waited a moment longer and another new scent came to her, it burned her nose and smelt of trees and her forest, but warped and in pain. Confused, she turned to face the direction and looked towards the smell, what is that, she wondered.
She tried to let her eyes tell her what her nose couldn't and started for the scent, her eyes scanning the forest for any difference in the familiar land. Her emerald eyes widened, spotting black clouds rising from her home. Nidalee didn't know what it was, but she knew, it couldn't be a good sign.
A whirlwind rose, sending the mighty feline on a rampage through the forest.
~o~
Akali paused in her journey through the forest, the birds had taken flight up ahead in flocks. Their terror filled songs rang through the wind as they passed overhead and the ninja knew something was amiss. Pulling her gas mask tight around her jaw, she felt for the tools she would need for eminent combat and changed her pace.
Long, lithe strides became a long crouch that whispered through the brush. She would figure out what had the forest in an uproar, but she wouldn't be spotted or show herself unless necessary. The ebony haired teen found the cougar's den in the heat of battle as another adult burst into the clearing, the song of war ringing out of her chest and Akali hunkered down to watch.
~o~
Nidalee sprang into the clearing, rage tinging her vision red as she took in the damage done to her home. The usually peaceful den is painted a dark red with the blood of her family. Her adoptive father lays dead at the entrance, gaping wounds littering his usually infallible coat.
A few feet away, his mate and her adoptive mother is crooning on the ground, her side ripped open by cruel steel as she waits for the death blow.
The buck from earlier is discarded and forgotten just inside the den, barely even touched before the large cats had been surprised.
Nidalee looked around, trying to see her hunting brother and her two sisters, as well as the new litter of cubs they had been gifted with. She spotted the babies in some form of cage, already being secured to a wagon when the trappers noticed their new opponent. The boom of a shot being fired made her head spin, the loud crack attacking her sensitive ears as she took an uneasy step back.
"This one's a beauty, I wonder how much the boss'll pay for 'er." One of the putrid men grinned, grabbing a net off the back of the wagon. The kit's mewed from their confinement, pawing at the bars, desperately trying to break free.
Roaring, Nidalee's fangs flashed and she blindly charged the man, pushing past a startled pair of trappers and lunging for his neck, jaw open wide. Before she could connect, the net lashed out, catching her mid leap and sending her down into a tumbling mess.
She pushed up, fighting with the weights tied into the rope before the two men she had passed jumped on her, holding her down. The huntress pushed up and struggled against their combined weight, snarling and spitting with fury as the greasy man who appeared to be their leader turned to talk to a man in long black robes.
"Take them young'ins to the boss, we'll have ta take two trips if we wanna take this one back as well." The robed man nodded and placed a hand on the cage, whispering to himself and disappearing suddenly in a flash of light. Nidalee whined with despair, turning her head, jaw forced against the dirt to look at her mother.
Calling to her, her mother looked one last time at her adoptive daughter, eyes full of sorrow before she gave into the icy grip of deaths beckoning hands.
Nidalee closed her eyes and felt hands roaming her fur coat, attempting to pin down her paws one at a time with metal shackles. They were gone, even the scent of the cubs had disappeared. Her father and mother reeked of death, and the forest mourned the loss of the predators.
The huntress stayed still for a moment before bursting up in a surge of power. The song of battle and vengeance rang off her dark pink tongue and roots shot out of the ground around her, overturning the wagon and throwing off the net that was holding her.
A gust of wind ran through the camp and the three trappers covered their eyes, opening them to see a tall amazon like woman where the cougar had been, shackles falling to the ground on her much smaller wrists and ankles.
Spear appearing in hand, Nidalee struck at the first man lying on the ground, propping himself up with a slack jaw. With a single flick of her wrist she plunged the weapon through his chest, the large spearhead sliding through his body effortlessly and mangling what had once been his chest cavity. As the stone head sunk into the ground, he lay impaled, eyes wide and body unable to slide back down over the weapons diamond shaped tip.
"Shoot 'er! But don't kill 'er! We could make a fortune!" The boss commanded, reaching to take the rifle from his shaking companions hands. He lined up the shot, staring into her curious green eyes, unaware of what such a silly looking weapon would do.
Would he throw it? She wondered, waiting until he made his move so she could defend herself properly. The noise the weapon made caused her to cringe again as it seemed to crack louder than thunder in her ears. Before she knew what had happened, her shoulder was thrown back and she felt as if her flesh was being torn apart.
Eyes wide with shock she stumbled and looked down at the hole in her shoulder, blood pulsing out from the wound and she couldn't comprehend how it had happened. She hadn't seen him move, was it like a snake? Striking too fast for the eye to catch?
She placed a hand over the gushing wound and ran for cover, the man raised his snake striker to fire again; Nidalee looked to the brush and knew she wouldn't make it in time. Ducking in an attempt to dodge the attack, a streak of gold pierced the woods above her and attacked the man.
The clap of thunder sounded again and her hunting brother fell dead in front of her. Nidalee froze, looking at his lifeless body, a single hole trickling blood from his forehead. Shivering from pain and shock, Nidalee reached out to grab her brothers thick coat, pressing her forehead against his still warm body. Tears brimmed her eyes, he had sacrificed himself to save her. This snake devil would die. Nidalee looked up at the man, her green eyes promising death as she stood to face him. This time, she would not run.
The man with the snake striker grinned at her, and readied himself for one last shot, staring down the barrel when his head rolled free from his shoulders. Spouting blood, he crumpled to his knees, the weapon falling to the forest floor and his body following it. Nidalee snarled, looking around without a clue as to what was happening, a cloud of smoke shrouded the area behind where the man had stood. Something had stolen her vengeance, something she did not know.
Her nose twitched but all she could smell was the smoke spreading over the ground, slowly covering the corpses that littered the battlefield.
With a flash of silver, the second quivering man was silenced, a dagger sticking out of his throat. He let out one last gurgling attempt at a cry, hands reaching up before he fell limp against the ground.
Nidalee prepared herself for a new enemy and snarled, the fire burning in her shoulder almost unbearable. Blood found the crevices between her fingers, running over flawless skin and she shook, head becoming light. Every muscle in her body screamed at her to stand and fight, but her muscles wouldn't comply. Slowly, she was losing feeling in her limps, her head began to feel heavy.
Without a word, a few figure entered the battlefield, pacing over to the falling huntress as her vision became foggy. Letting out one last snarl, Nidalee blacked out at the feet of the unidentified third party.
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End chapter two! Our two heroines have met once more, but will they be allies or enemies? Where were the cubs taken? Who was the spell caster in black?
Drop a review, let me know what you think. Thanx, -Kiravu
