The hunting party starts its task, yet rather late. More than ever need Migs, Skylar, Veje, and Tudor to be vigilant. Can they accomplish this task on time?
High up in the air to the west of the Palace, Migs is looking around. He needs to make sure he's leading the party to the location he chose for this hunt. Behind him, he hears some mumbling. "Guys. I see a Peabunny down there. I had no idea they also live here." Veje says calmly.
Veje tries to get confirmation from Migs as he's the party leader but Migs doesn't respond. He's too busy navigating. Veje then turns to Tudor flying next to him but he too is busy. Tudor's too distracted with chuckling over the joke earlier still. He eyes Veje and starts chuckling louder again only to realise Veje's looking back at him. "What?" he hesitantly asks.
Veje shakes his head and watches Skylar who is looking down almost frantic now, hastily saying: "Where? I do not see it."
"Take it easy, Skylar! Relax yourself. Why rush?" Veje says calm still.
Skylar turns his head and frowns. "You just sound like my father. Besides Veje, you always take it easy. Let me tell you something. A day not lived to the fullest is a day not lived at all!' Skylar says energetically and immediately reminds himself of something that eases his tone of voice, 'You know, I have met some friends a long time ago… They are not Jaquins though but you will adore them because they are so much like you. I will introduce you to them someday."
"You do that." Veje says unmoved but with a touch of curiosity to it.
"Boys! There it is." Migs whispers the latter part firm and points down to the ground using his paw.
Skylar, Veje, and Tudor follow Migs' pointing down to the ground. After seeing some shrubs moving violently a herd of Veloz Ciervos appears from underneath dense forest vegetation. "Wow… Is that what we are looking for?" Tudor asks excited hoping they will soon start doing something different other than this continuous flying.
"Shush, Tudor! Otherwise, we lose our advantage." Skylar whispers quickly.
"Indeed.' Migs agrees with both whisperingly, 'And yes, Tudor. You have seen these animals living near the Palace also. Yet, the ones living at the peripheral of Vallestrella are feral. King Verago declared that we may only hunt ferals. That is why we are here. Now follow me down, boys…"
Migs starts a descent and lowers his party to just above tree level. This way he can still follow the herd silently without getting spotted easily. He starts whispering orders to everyone: "Veje, you scare the herd so they become disoriented. Tudor, you drive them apart. Skylar, you and I will then isolate an individual and take it down before it can run off at that incredible speed."
All nod at Migs simultaneously. Veje and Tudor take-off sideways and fly along some trees to remain out of sight from the herd. Shortly after, Veje notices the herd slowing down when they approach an open grassland. At that point, he appears alongside the herd. Three Veloz Ciervos at the back of the herd spot him and shriek of anxiety. The rest of the herd looks up, but those three start running already. Unable to move forward they break away from the herd, and away from Veje, toward Tudor they haven't spotted yet. Tudor startles from their unexpected move and seeks shelter behind a tree the three Veloz Ciervos run past. Veje quickly moves above canopy level to see where Skylar and Migs are. He spots them, closing in on him. "They run off to the right!" Veje yells at them.
Migs looks surprised to see Veje but realises now is the time to act. "On it!" he replies and directs himself and Skylar into the direction the Veloz Ciervos are now running in.
Migs and Skylar rush towards the open grassland to find their prey. Veje feels he needs to be there, too. He moves along with them but below canopy level. He flies past Tudor, who now realises the threat is gone and starts following Veje. "Wait up!" he whispers but quickly realises Veje doesn't hear him.
Veje reaches the open grassland but he spots the three Veloz Ciervos rushing off at top speed. *Aw, too late…* he says to himself.
At that point he sees Skylar and Migs make a turn. Veje looks in the direction they're flying in now and notices two Veloz Ciervos trying to find a way out of the thick forest. Their speed is low as they need to constantly manoeuvre themselves through all the vegetation. Tudor looks that way no as well and nods at Veje, who pushes himself away from the tree next to him to immediately gain momentum. Tudor goes to close in on the two Veloz Ciervos but Veje flies past him as his speed is much higher. *Again?* Tudor thinks full of surprise while feeling slow as Veje just past him for the second time.
The Veloz Ciervos break free from the thick vegetation and start running. By this time Veje has gained on them. He starts flying in front of one of them. *If I can distract the animal from running at full speed the others can go in for the kill.* he thinks filled with ecstasy of having this great idea.
Skylar and Migs notice Veje breaking formation and is now flying where he's not supposed to be. Migs has an angry look on his face as he thinks: *No, Veje! You will ruin this hunt!*
Skylar exclaims somewhat worried: "What is Veje doing?"
"Veje does not know himself what he is doing." Migs replies angry but also a little shaken by Veje's unexpected move.
This move Veje just pulled off startles the Veloz Ciervos and instead of slowing down it speeds up a little more. Veje underestimates the top speed to which the Veloz Ciervos just increased. Veje increases his speed as well. When he swiftly looks behind him once more to see where the prey exactly is behind him he startles. The animal has gotten very close and at this point bashes into his side using its antlers. Veje shrieks. Pain runs through his lower body after feeling a couple of twinges from the bashing. *He must have taken a direct hit!* Migs thinks as he sees the bashing unfold before his eyes.
Both Veje and the Veloz Ciervos become disoriented by the bashing. Still able to fly Veje instinctively moves out of more harm's way. Migs, Skylar and Tudor see him fly uncontrollably imbalanced. Veje feels quite some pain from the bashing. With a pained look on his face, he exclaims: "Ahh! It hurts…"
Disoriented still, the Veloz Ciervos loses some of its tremendous speed. Without further ado Migs immediately springs into action, taking advantage of the situation that just unfolded in front of him. He closes in on the animal. Without hesitation he dives towards it, smashing all his weight onto the back of the animal who in turn collapses to the ground. He's followed shortly by Skylar and Tudor who witness one of this Juggernaut's special abilities.
Meanwhile, Veje comes to a standstill. He goes to lie on the ground on his unhurt side. Skylar and Tudor see him lying there and are quick to approach him. Breathing rapidly but shallow Veje notices them both only when they arrive right in front of him and he looks at them without saying a single word. An ounce of pain runs through his lower body once more and his face expresses this clearly. "Wow, that was some hit. Veje, are you alright?" Skylar asks him with concern in his voice.
"Never seen this before, someone getting hit that hard!" Tudor exclaims in utter surprise.
"Need… help!' Migs yells at them, 'Right now!"
"On it!" Skylar quickly replies flying off to Migs and help him.
"Okay!' Tudor yells glad seeing their prey downed and directs his attention back to Veje, 'So, where did the Veloz Ciervos hit you? Does it hurt a lot?"
Veje remains unresponsive for a second. Then he slowly nods. His face still expresses severe pain. Pain which he slowly succumbs to. Slowly his eyes shut and he exhales deep. *Did he fall… asleep?* Tudor thinks to himself.
"Alright – alright…" Tudor mumbles uneasy.
He doesn't know what to do. All he can think of is staying with Veje until Migs and Skylar are done. Tudor sits down next to Veje and keeps an eye on him. There's really nothing he can do for his friend, making him feel uneasy. He looks around to see if Migs and Skylar are on their way towards him while he waits beside Veje. *Argh, what is taking them so long?* Tudor thinks.
This waiting seems like an eternity. It just lasts and lasts, while nothing else seems to happen. Waiting for help starts toying with Tudor and a thought crosses his mind: *Migs does not seem to be coming back… Did he run off? Tail between his legs? Argh, where did he go? Should I just call for him? And Skylar? He should be here, too. Did he stay? Where is he? Where are…*
Tudor suddenly is interrupted, startled by a voice near him.
"Okay, we need a Soothsayer! Veje requires attention from someone that can nurse him, who knows how to deal with this… Skylar, you stay here – Tudor, same." Migs states confidently.
"Where are you going?" Skylar asks somewhat anxious out of insecurity.
He takes a step towards Migs. His helpless eyes are finding his while a thought crosses his mind: *Out of everyone present, Migs knows best what to do… I have no idea how to help Veje. I truly hope Migs stays.*
To Skylar, and Tudor as well, this situation seems dire. After all, they are but boys. Migs notices this in their behaviour. He also notices Veje's likely not fatally wounded but resides in agony nonetheless. Therefore he uses a soothing voice to best prevent the situation from escalating: "I will head back to the Palace and ask for assistance. So you know in case anyone needs me."
Tudor feels becoming reassured with every breath he takes for as long Migs is around him in this mess. This feeling has him fall back into his old habits. Somewhat nervous still he says: "We will not, hehe."
Migs making some sort of sigh exhaling air through his nose hard, in a mere habituated response to Tudor's improper reply, unaware of it himself. *He is anxious, much like Skylar is.* Migs thinks and finds himself unable this time blaming Tudor for his inappropriate joking.
Migs decides to ignore Tudor and continues with a firm voice: "In the meantime, both of you look after Veje. He can use your help. You two know him well. Help him in any way you see fit!"
Both Skylar and Tudor show helplessness radiating from their eyes as they see Migs take off and fly away from them. They look as if the only one who knows what to do with this mess just took off. Skylar and Tudor look at each other. Tudor looks at Veje and back at Skylar, with the helplessness in his eyes still. "Should we…?" Tudor starts off.
Skylar rolls his eyes out of confusion and looks at Veje. He's clearly looking for a good answer because he knows exactly what Tudor wants to ask. "Yeah, let us stay with Veje like Migs said." Skylar says comfortingly.
"I did not want to say that.' Tudor says slow, 'I have no idea what to do… Look at Veje. What can we do?"
"All we can…" Skylar replies uncertainly and retains hope Veje's going to become well again.
He walks over to Veje and sits down next to him. Tudor slowly walks over to him as well. He also sits down. "How are you doing, Veje?" he asks cautiously.
Veje moans somewhat as he moves his head into a better position. Then he starts producing short grunts as if trying to say something. Tudor brings his head closer to Veje's, but cannot hear anything audible he can understand. All he hears are grunts as if something's preventing Veje from saying something. "It seems to be getting worse…" Skylar says in a worrying tone.
Both he and Tudor look at each other once more. This time it's in disparity. Both have no idea what to say. *What if Veje will… stop living? I want him to stay alive!* Skylar thinks.
By now Veje's grunting becomes less audible. He only flops his head now with every breath he exhales. His wings now do, too. It startles Skylar and Tudor both. They believe his flopping are reactions to pain, yet cannot see any wounds that Veje might be suffering from. *Please stay with us!* Tudor thinks in agony as he witnesses Veje deteriorating in health.
*Why did I agree to stay here? Why did I not go with Migs… or instead of him? Why do I have to stay with Veje? I have absolutely no idea what to do!* Skylar agonisingly thinks at the same time…