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Post by Zenjesi on May 20, 2024 11:50:08 GMT -6
Given they were in the open prairie and at the base of the hill, they doubted they had arrived unseen. Still, the Chiryma did not seem to perceive them as a threat just yet. They looked to Ruevel once more, then slowly and cautiously began picking their way up the hill. He lingered by their side, detecting the sudden change in their mannerisms and becoming more watchful. As they reached the midpoint between base and crest, the Chiryma stood suddenly, opening her beak and letting out a warning call.
Then time slowed. Zenjesi stumbled forward and fell to their knees. Pain jolted like electricity up their arm and into their spine. Their hand was burning. The leash was gone, and it felt as though their fingers had all been pulled in the wrong directions. The Chiryma cried out again, this time in terror. The satyr looked up in time to see a dark streak disappearing over the hill.
Zenjesi: 0.8 Ruevel: 3.2, 5.2
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Post by Zenjesi on May 20, 2024 12:02:39 GMT -6
Their hooves slipped uselessly and their hands grasped desperately at the grass as they struggled to clamber up the hill, but they were far too slow and too clumsy in comparison. Somewhere - it sounded distant? - they heard a squawking. Then quite suddenly - too close - rapidly approaching footfalls. The satyr dropped to the ground again and threw their arms over their head. They felt the earth and the air vibrate around them as prey and predator thundered past. They were unscathed.
But not everyone was. Simultaneously, a thud and a strangled cry, and then it became very quiet, and still. Zenjesi lay there for another moment, processing what had just occurred, then slowly pushed themselves upright. Down the hill, a feathered and bloody lump. And Ruevel...? He was returning to the scene at a brisk and eager trot, chittering and excited.
Zenjesi's shirt was wet. They looked down. A dark and reddish stain covered their shirt.
Zenjesi: 0.85 Ruevel: 3.4, 5.4
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Post by Zenjesi on May 20, 2024 12:33:07 GMT -6
Their heart skipped a beat. They did not feel any pain, but... Zenjesi's eyes came to rest on the fruit, smashed and ground into the dirt where they had fallen prone. A long, slow exhale escaped their lips. Crunching and tearing sounds followed from down the hill. Well. This was positive reinforcement for their Windshriek. It was also educational for them (he would require strict training). And it was all the better this had not occurred within the City limits.
Zenjesi left Ruevel to his business, climbing to their hooves and stepping their way up the rest of the hill. A large nest waited there, now, of course, unattended. The satyr was not an expert in Chiryma biology, but three aspects struck them as immediately curious about this sight. For one, there was only one egg present in the nest at all. For two, this egg seemed undersized given the proportions of an adult Chiryma.
Zenjesi: 0.9 Ruevel: 3.6, 5.6
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Post by Zenjesi on May 20, 2024 12:58:51 GMT -6
And finally, while the mother's feathers had been a tawny brown (or so they believed, from what little of her they had seen), the egg's shell featured bright and contrasting colors. Zenjesi considered this for a long moment, then looked around the larger scene. A few hills away, a small group of Chiryma stood together. Off to the another side, a few large quadrupeds seemed to be grazing on the grasses. There was no sign of a creature that boasted similar colors in the immediate vicinity. Perhaps they could understand a bit more now why it had been specifically requested.
Zenjesi stooped and carefully plucked the egg from the nest, primarily relieved that in all of the chaos, it had not been split. Then, they joined their Windshriek, settling in on the other side of his meal and watching while he enjoyed it. He offered them a trilling mew of acknowledgment. "Thank you for your help," Zenjesi whispered.
Zenjesi: 0.95 Ruevel: 3.8, 5.8
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Post by Zenjesi on May 20, 2024 14:10:48 GMT -6
The return journey proved to be simple, efficient, and relatively uneventful. No longer needing to consult the map, Zenjesi could retrace their steps towards the City. Less often did Ruevel overreact to sudden sounds or movement with fright, though Zenjesi did feel occasional pings of fear themselves every time a little critter rustled off through the brush and his ears perked with intrigue. Thankfully, each time they were able to distract him again before he recreated the scene on the hilltop. Still, by the time they reached the City wall again, they were developing a bit of a burn from the leash on their palm. Tomorrow, it would be straight to the training park together.
When Zenjesi arrived back at the quest board to present their quarry, it was done with an unusually sleepy Windshriek by their side and a mysterious red stain on their front. "This is the egg," they announced, with no ceremony or explanation whatsoever.
Zenjesi: 1.0 Ruevel: 4.0, 6.0
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Post by NPC on May 23, 2024 2:11:00 GMT -6
Congratulations, you have successfully completed the quest! Your QP will be added to the bank, and your prize will be sent out shortly.
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