Kahl's Story

A single spotted feline form navigated its way though the dew coated leaves of Veshrac Jungle. The jungle had a thick morning fog that permeated the trees and plants. The leopard shaped figure slowly edged its way to the edge of the ferns it was hiding in to poke an eye though the thick leaves to study a spry deer that was idly hoofing at the dirt.

The figure slowly raised an Iron-tipped spear in one paw, the tension grew unbearable for both parties and the deer begun to edge away from the tiny patch of dirt it was semi-interested in. The spear drew back like a snake rearing up for a strike. The Mira that was holding it begun to slow his breathing just like he was taught, begun to predict the movement of panicked prey...

The Mira was known as Kahl, an intrepid hunter and relatively new to this jungle. It smelt less hostile, Kahl never would've hunted this early in the morning back home, something would've made him the hunted. It was good to be the only experienced predator in this hunting ground, and nothing would steal this deer from him.

Kahl slowly drew upward and prepared to throw his spear when something brushed against his throat and he immediately tensed up, and begun to raise a hand to pull away whatever had brushed against his throat when he suddenly felt it constricting around his throat. This was it, the jungle had finally won. Kahl thought to himself.

The Mira could feel the weed doing it's twisted work around his throat, and he refused the urge to thrash wildly, his breathing begun to grow faster as his hand came closer to the weed. If he stood any chance escaping the predatory plant, it was relaxing enough that he could bring his hand up to pull it away from his throat.

When his hand met the weed, there was nothing but a loose vine. Kahl breathed a sigh of relief, almost falling over, he had forgotten that the dangers of home did not spread here, but he still panted all the same, his heart beating faster than ever before. Kahl remembered the deer and he looked over to find it again when he saw it was gone.

The Mira hoped that no-one had seen his particular failing.

Never in her wildest dreams did she expect her little journey would land her in a deep jungle. Where the early morning fog swirled around her. Silent for a few seconds, the quiet would be interrupted by the subtle moving of animals beginning to wake and go about their business. Jada Okeer walked among the lush foliage, and in the back of her mind wishing she’d brought some sort of sword with her to hack away at the plants that touched and grabbed her from each and every way.

Even in the early morning, her dark skin was covered in a light sheen of sweat and she walked quietly gracefully, towering figure of lean muscle. To think that she’d just left Ebouma, her home and came here. It was a long journey, with detours abound. But she finally figured that she was heading in the right direction. At least that was what she hoped for. But even now she could feel that strange pull, that urge to travel, to eventually reach her unknown destination. It was still a mystery to her, to feel this pull, but it was there.

Jada continued on her way at a smooth pace, her footsteps barely making a sound. The jungle was fascinating and more often than not she would pause just to take in the nature around her. And even now she paused, her eyes landing on a deer just a little ways away. Graceful, and quite and yet suddenly very tense. The tension hung in the air and it occurred to her that she was intruding on something between a hunter and it's prey. And yet she couldn't take her eyes away. But the hunter never revealed themselves, and the deer took this chance to dart away, making a beeline in her direction.

She barely had enough time to side step out of the way as the dear ran by, ultimately tripping on a root. She fumbled back into the very space the deer had come from, just barely able to catch herself. So much for grace. She let out a breath to get her wits about herself, dusting her self off a bit.

The tall muscular woman placed her hands upon her hips, her eyes darting about as she tried to decide which way she would go. She could only hope that she wasn't going around in a circle.

Kahl veered low, spreading himself into the dirt on all fours when he saw a newcomer. It seemed the Mira had been wrong about his assumption about being the only hunter in this jungle, she didn't look like any other Terran he had seen so far, skin as black as the night and petrifying green eyes. Maybe she was a demon? Was it even a she? Kahl couldn't tell by just looking at these fur-less creatures.

The deer would never return now, it was too skittish for that. The dark thing had made sure of that happening, and that made him furious. The Mira needed to know why one of their kind was so close to the village, he had only seen a few in his brief time here and that was only brief glimpses.

The hunter begun to circle around Jada, sliding the spear away and pulling the dagger from his belt. Kahl found a tree that overhung the human and scaled it silently as he could, scampering up as silently as a jaguar, which he was close enough to. The Mira begun to stalk across a branch until he was above the dark skinned demon.

"Why are you here?" Kahl asked from above, his voice was rough and punctuated by growls.

The voice caught her off guard, and she did her best not to jump. The voice was odd, rough and filled with growls. That in itself made her pause and think, wondering what this jungle truly hid in it's depths. She tilted her head to the side, as if trying to pinpoint just where the voice had come from. It had come from above her, and she turned her head to the sky seeking out the source of the voice.

She should of been more careful. Now she felt like the prey, but unlike the deer she had no thoughts of running. Perhaps some of that was her own curiosity. But she could not help herself. Her eyes rested on a beast on a branch, a large feline looking down upon her. She'd heard rumors in passing of beast, large powerful things who could speak, though she hadn't planned on stumbling across one. Instinctively her hand went to her staff, the smooth wood calming her a bit.

She cleared her throat standing her ground. She was face to face with a skilled hunter. One wrong move and that could be the end of her. But she wouldn't let that happen. She didn't start this journey to die in a jungle. No she had to figure out what was waiting for her, and surely it wasn't this.

"I am a simple traveler," she said smoothly, though her voice was stern. "I mean you no harm. Though I assure you, if you make a move, I will not hesitate to defend myself."

The spear didn't move from his back, if she was going to defend herself, it wasn't worth the effort. Kahl watched her with the same curiosity, the smooth skin and hair was strange to him. "Are you cursed? Why is your skin like bark, are you a demon?" Kahl asked, slowly circling around the human.

The feline hunter didn't stay on his questions however, as his eyes found the strangely shaped stick she had and the hand that was touching it. "Where did you get that? What is that stick for?" The hunter laughed, his laugh was like a hyenas, with the same purpose. It was a warning to the other predators in the jungle to stay away from his catch, if it ever came to that.

"You're too near our village, demon."

"That is for the Shief to decide," spoke up a third voice.

The young silver-furred Mira separated from the surrounding wood as he approached upon silent footsteps. It was bold of the new arrival to chastize Kahl, for the older Mira held rank over him - but Makya was young yet.

"This isn't Aelora," he reminded Kahl.

Though that was an easy matter for Makya to speak of. He had been but ten years old when the clan had departed their homeland in Aelora for the jungles of Terra only five years prior. The change in lifestyle was evident in the young ones softer expression. It lacked the feral touch that permeated Kahl's every movement, and every word.

The pairs differences were as stark as that of their respective Shiefs. Kahl had grown up under the feral rule of the Aeloran shief, Goliath, while Makya bore the evidence of Leonis' more tempered influence.

The young Mira seemed relatively at ease with the strangers presence and he made no move for either his longbow slung over his shoulder, or the curved hunting knife within its sheath at his side.

Jada had been so focused on the beast above her, the arrival of second voice caused her to seek the source of it. It was another feline, this one more docile than the one that watched her from above. He did not reach for his weapons, and that put her a bit at ease. She let her eyes linger on the newcomer before returning her gaze to above.

"What a ridiculous statement. I am not cursed. Nor am I a demon. Where I come from, everyone looks like this," she began. "Though if my people were to see you I'm sure they would call you a demon."

She gripped her staff a bit more. "It's not a mere stick. It's my staff, and allows me to cast spells." In truth the staff itself was a gift from her teacher once she completed her studies, but they did not need to know that. It was her business after all. Her eyes went to the newcomer, and she relaxed just a bit, but kept her guard up.

"Your Shief?" she questioned, "And I mean now harm to your village. I am just passing through."

Baako walked lazily through the jungle with a fat deer slung over his shoulders. Baako enjoyed hunting. Especially since he didn't have worry about being hunted. Well at least he didn't think he had to worry. There was always something bigger than you out there. Baako didn't have to worry about that right now. Al he had to worry about is getting his prize back to the village.

Then the Mira came across two of his kind and... a human? The skin color was off... Perhaps this human was painted. Humans were weird. Baako decided to hang back with his prize and observe the actions of Kahl and Makya. They would probably notice him, but perhaps they would leave him out of this encounter. Baako was all about helping people, but this human smelled strange to him. Baako heard mention of Magic and Demons. Nasty stuff that.

Baako plopped his kill on the ground, and from his hidden position he would wait and see how this played out. Baako was okay with that.

Kahl snarled. "I don't like your tone, Makya. What if this human had an army at her heel, and brought it to our village, then it would ransacked and it would be your fault." Kahl added, scampering down from the tree. The Mira rounded on the two, and folded his arms once more. "Looks like a stick, is a stick, you can't trick me." Kahl spat, turning his head and sniffing.

There was that deer again, and the smell of another Mira. Kahl gave the two nearest to him a funny look and suddenly remembered the name of which that smell belonged to. "Baako, come out of there." Kahl called, then looked back to Jada.

"Our shief, leader of the village and of us."

To Makya's credit he held his head high under Kahl's snarling retort. He kept his eyes up and his arms at his side. It took nerve for the young Mira to stand tall with Kahl snarling down at him, but he didn't flinch nor look away. But neither too did he take any action that might be misconstrued as a challenge to the volatile and more experienced Mira.

"We should take her to the Sheif to be questioned," Makya replied, his expression one of grim boldness as Kahl dropped down from the trees.

The Mira didn't hold dominion over the entirety of the Veshrac jungle, and human tribes-people were prevalent to the east. But so far relations had remained amiable between the Mira and the locals that had called this jungle home before the Mira had arrived.

This woman's garb and specific style of painted skin were unfamiliar to Makya though. Each of the tribes had characteristic styles that distinguished one from another, but he couldn't place the outsider's origins. Perhaps she was from one of the more remote regions of the rainforest.

In the distance, unknown to the Mira that had assembled, several human pairs of eyes watched from the safety of distance and behind some thick foliage. One of them raised a strange patterned hand up in the air, then the individual gestured, and several men moved silently through the thick jungle. Each one of them clad in standard issue OR-W Woodland/Jungle Camouflage. They also wore standard issue helmets, and special Holographic visors which covered their eyes in a full heads-up display with augmented targeting linked to the sights of their weapons.

The men slowly moved towards the group, the Sergeant throwing up his arm and ordering each of the nine men to slowly crouch, then he gestured to the sniper armed with a Longbore Disruptor rifle, the elongated scoped weapon great for long range engagements that didn't quite require the precision of a beam rifle. Slowly he crept, concealed by a ghillie suit made from the materials of the jungle.

The lone sniper lay prone atop a log, with a clear and relatively unobstructed line of sight towards the group, he lined them up. Settling the scope on Makya's feline form. The crosshairs lined up, and beads of sweat formed on the man's brow.

His heart began to race, and his trigger finger moved across the trigger of his weapon, but the sergeant's voice cracked on his earpiece.

"Tenere ignis." He whispered, and the lone sniper nodded, while the Sergeant continued forward, signalling his other men.

"Patrocinare meam adventu verbis Ego rem contactum." He said in a hushed tone, and the men moved through the thick foliage towards the group, in near silence. The Sergeant checked his rifle, the holographic indicator displayed the number '50' in Anquietas numerics, denoting a fully charged microfusion cell.

As he approached, his men fanned out, moving silently around the group as the Sergeant approached, his camouflage pattern making him difficult to see, this male was fully armed and equipped, a similarly camouflaged disruptor rifle slung across his torso, his face also patterned in various earthly tones.

"Hate to interrupt your little.. ahem... group therapy session, but I just couldn't help but ask just what is going on here." He noted the dark skinned Jada, whom to the Aschen male, looked little more than a savage native.

"And no sudden moves, you're surrounded." The male added.

Naturally, the men were on edge, with several clashes between Aschen forces, Tech Con mercenaries, and the indigenous human tribes it seemed the Aschen Military had discreetly mobilized to clean house.

There were only a handful of them, but for anyone who knew the tactics of this very particular military, knew the man's words held a bit of weight, perhaps there were more, hidden among the jungles or even the skies.

Kahl stood his ground, lowering his spear onto the ground and motioning for Makya to do the same. Kahl stared daggers at the man talking to them, he would wear that disguise all he liked, they could disrupt the jungle in order to search for his kind, but they never would.

The Mira was sick of running, but he would never sacrifice a young one for the bloodlust he felt. Kahl bore his teeth. "Hurry back to your Shief. You need more men." The Mira spat, spitting a glob of spit near his feet. It might have been a fatal mistake to show these armed men disrespect, but they did not deserve any respect he could give them.

Kahl would normally have attacked these men on sight, but he didn't. Kahl hoped Makya would learn, if he hadn't already, that there is patience in all creatures. Even those as volatile as Kahl.

Just as Baako had exited his hiding place things got crazy. Baako wasn't going to relinquish his kill. It was his. Baako should have known that this human was a bad omen. She had brought fourth an army. Baako was gonna remain silent. He felt like accusing the painted human of planning this, putting up a facade of friendliness, but Baako would never do such a thing.

Baako wasn't surprised that Kahl showed such blatant disrespect for the new humans. These humans were invading this jungle, it was clear that they did not belong here. This was Mira territory. Baako feared for Makya, the young one had so much left to live for. If it came down to it, Baako would make the ultimate sacrifice for Makya, Baako didn't know why, he didn't even know Makya very well. Perhaps it was just in Baako's nature.

Something told Baako that today was going to be a very interesting day.

Luck clearly was not on her side today. First she'd had a run in with the beast that surrounded her. And as a third appeared and stood with them she wondered just how many were around. Jada's eyes flitted about before resting on the man who was barking orders. She narrowed her eyes at him, and the soldiers that flanked him. It was impossible to tell just how many surrounded them, and she knew it would be unwise to start a fight. Instead she crossed her arms, standing her ground a stern look on her face clearly showing a bit of defiance.

As the leopard beast spoke to the group that surrounded them, she could only frown. He was going to be the death of them if he kept this up. Who knows how their opponents would react. She sighed. "Aren't your weapons a little much? We aren't causing any harm. And ignore his rudeness," she said trying to reason with the leader, whilst side eyeing Kahl. Sure they'd been the ones rushing in with weapons at the ready, but that didn't mean she shouldn't show respect. Or as much respect as she could muster. She was innocent after all, having committed no crime what so ever.

To Jada, she'd never quite seen men like this. Dressed in armor like that. And their weapons where unknown to her. She took in a breath, digging her feet into the Earth. She was prepared if this didn't go as they planned. She'd been called a demon once today, she was sure if they were to fight the word would stick.

Makya's ears lowered and his eyes narrowed at the situation, and even his tail lashed with agitation. The previously tempered Makya it would seem was riled by the presence of these armored men. His lips curled into a light snarl, but he could see as well as the others that they were surrounded and he didn't reach for his weapons.

"Your soft words fall on deaf ears," he warned Jada. "These people only know how to take and destroy."

As he had before, Makya met the situation boldly with his head high as he spoke to the Aschen soldier next.

"You are not welcome here," he growled. "These lands belong to the Ra'shak."

The Sergeant was silent during what seemed as a long pause. He looked down at the glob of saliva at his feet, then he brought his eyes back up to Kahl. "It's come to our attention that... several mining expeditions have come under attack. A whole camp was burned to the ground." He said, taking a step forward, the foliage and the soil crunching under his boots.

"You cat-people have some explaining to do, and your savage friend here does as well, if you resist we will not hesitate to end you." He said calmly, while seven other men seemed to appear out of nowhere, coming out of the thick foliage that they so seamlessly blended into.

"Corporal Tenorman, radio in for evac, four prisoners." The Sergeant ordered, and a young corporal, no older than eighteen nodded, getting on the radio and calling in a strange language.

The Sergeant brought his attention back to the group.

"Your weapons, put them on the ground and get on your knees."

"Make me." Snapped Kahl, spitting again. "If we wanted your mining men to leave, we'd skin them and deliver you their skulls, not burn your villages. This is our land, you will gain nothing by making enemies of us." The Mira added, his lips curling back around his mouth to expose his nasty array of dental cutlery.

Kahl thought about challenging the Aschen to a right of power, but he figured he'd laugh it off and do something stupid because that's what their kind seemed to do the best. Stumble blindly around forests like a boar until something more agile managed to run it to death.

"Leave. You will gain nothing by threatening or killing us, leave now before I lose my temper."

Baako was prepared to disarm himself, but Kahl seemed to be in a suicidal mood. Baako unsheathed his machete and removed his spear from his back and stuck them into the ground. He wasn't surrendering his weapons, just making them easier to get to. Bakko certainly wasn't going to kneel before any human. This now was clearly not the fault of the painted human, at least it seemed that way to Baako.

Baako was just gonna keep on not talking. He was going to let Kahl handle this, since clearly he was in control of the situation. Baako knew the Mira didn't stand a chance in a fight against these soldiers. They were armed with guns. Baako had seen these on traders that traveled through the jungle. He got his machete from a trader that was armed with guns.

Baako crossed his arms and waited to see how this was going to go down.

Jada reached for her staff, sticking it in the ground before her. She wasn't giving it up. No way in hell. But even she knew that despite the odds they weren't going down without a fight. And that was fine with her. She was innocent and had done nothing wrong. She narrowed her eyes at the mans words, keeping a hand firmly placed on her staff.

"Now hear me, I am no savage. Nor do I have anything to do with what happened to the miners you mentioned. I was nowhere near the expedition," she said sternly. These men where jumping to conclusions and that irked her. She could not speak for the cats that surrounded her, but they didn't seem to be the kind of creatures to attack humans needlessly and to kill them. Then again she didn't know.

Jada held her staff tightly, trying to keep a cool head. These men were asking for a fight, and if they did not back down, then they were going to get one. Words could only go so far if the other party refused to listen.

The Sergeant looked to Kahl, and silently listened, before the Mira spoke the words 'Make me'

The Sergeant only slightly angled his weapon, and when Kahl finished with the words 'lose my temper' The Sergeant discharged his weapon.

It all happened in an instant, from the immediate discharge to the impact of the bolt. But with an acute perception of time It could be described as a brilliant flash of blue light, a deafening crack like close by thunder, and a streak of light that leaped from the end of the Sergeant's weapon, directly to the Mira's knee.

Should the energy stream strike true, the sudden flash vaporization of flesh and sinew would be more than enough to cause a visually disgusting scene. A Flash of blue and orange light, a puff of black smoke, and the stench of burning flesh and fur. The force was easily more than enough to blow the Mira's leg in two, at the knee, and leave him hobbled.

All the Aschen visibly jumped as the Sergeant fired his weapon, and they promptly readied their weapons as the Sergeant brought his weapon square towards Baako, the other men aiming at Jada.

"Need i remind you how futile it is to fight us? You're outnumbered and outgunned."