It didn’t take the leggy stallion long to reach his destination. Or more nearly reach it.
The brisk wind carried with it a different smell than the comforting one of equines just a few horse-lengths before he broke the tree-line. This is one he knew as death and volcanic emissions, something he was familiar with sticking together. Kaenros’ curled ears pricked curiously as he continued to huff the air. Perhaps there were geothermic vents under the tree? If he could stay upwind of them he could benefit from the warmed earth while he waited for morning and avoid whatever poor creature had succumbed to the noxious fumes.
Long, black limbs pounded effortless against the well worn path beneath him, their master eager to learn of what lay beneath the grand tree. However, that eagerness began to wane when the scent grew fainter despite the wind not shifting in any drastic manner. A sense of nervousness began to set in as Kaenros broke the tree-line and entered into what he could only discern as a barren field. Sparse leaf litter shifted below him as he continued his path and he could not see any trees nearby any longer, cementing his theory. The prickle in his gut grew as he felt eyes watching him but the wind was not in his favor to detect the shape-shifting stranger. All the same, he turned his head to where he sensed the presence and was struck dead in his tracks by the screech that ripped through the already tumultuous night.
His small head whipped back around to face the tree, iridescent eyes white walled. The scent from earlier nearly overpowered him now, assaulting his mismatched nostrils as though blown directly into them like hot breath. It took but seconds to get close enough for Kaenros to see anything in the all encompassing darkness.
He’d definitely take the talking wolves.
His sinewy haunches launched him to the side of the hurtling monstrosity. He threw his head back and caught himself unceremoniously on his thin front legs, rear end sliding on the bare ground just out of reach of the thing’s front legs. The metallic stallion didn’t get a chance to make another leap as one of its many back limbs caught his flank. He let out a scream as it’s claws dug into his greying hindquarters, pain searing through him like fire. Reacting purely on instinct, Kaenros threw his rear legs back and was lucky enough to land on the front quarter of the arachnid-like beast when it turned to latch more of its claws into him.
It released him just long enough for him to hurtle forward once again, ducking his head to avoid another hit as it’s frantic wing beats crashed over him. He could hear them scrape the ground once then twice as it gained just enough altitude to avoid another kick, hot on his tail. The bay knew someone else was here, be it predator or prey. With the mere heartbeats it took for his part to play out, Kaenros was sure they were still in the vicinity and sure of where he felt their gaze.
If he was going to survive the night, it was them or him.
The brisk wind carried with it a different smell than the comforting one of equines just a few horse-lengths before he broke the tree-line. This is one he knew as death and volcanic emissions, something he was familiar with sticking together. Kaenros’ curled ears pricked curiously as he continued to huff the air. Perhaps there were geothermic vents under the tree? If he could stay upwind of them he could benefit from the warmed earth while he waited for morning and avoid whatever poor creature had succumbed to the noxious fumes.
Long, black limbs pounded effortless against the well worn path beneath him, their master eager to learn of what lay beneath the grand tree. However, that eagerness began to wane when the scent grew fainter despite the wind not shifting in any drastic manner. A sense of nervousness began to set in as Kaenros broke the tree-line and entered into what he could only discern as a barren field. Sparse leaf litter shifted below him as he continued his path and he could not see any trees nearby any longer, cementing his theory. The prickle in his gut grew as he felt eyes watching him but the wind was not in his favor to detect the shape-shifting stranger. All the same, he turned his head to where he sensed the presence and was struck dead in his tracks by the screech that ripped through the already tumultuous night.
His small head whipped back around to face the tree, iridescent eyes white walled. The scent from earlier nearly overpowered him now, assaulting his mismatched nostrils as though blown directly into them like hot breath. It took but seconds to get close enough for Kaenros to see anything in the all encompassing darkness.
He’d definitely take the talking wolves.
His sinewy haunches launched him to the side of the hurtling monstrosity. He threw his head back and caught himself unceremoniously on his thin front legs, rear end sliding on the bare ground just out of reach of the thing’s front legs. The metallic stallion didn’t get a chance to make another leap as one of its many back limbs caught his flank. He let out a scream as it’s claws dug into his greying hindquarters, pain searing through him like fire. Reacting purely on instinct, Kaenros threw his rear legs back and was lucky enough to land on the front quarter of the arachnid-like beast when it turned to latch more of its claws into him.
It released him just long enough for him to hurtle forward once again, ducking his head to avoid another hit as it’s frantic wing beats crashed over him. He could hear them scrape the ground once then twice as it gained just enough altitude to avoid another kick, hot on his tail. The bay knew someone else was here, be it predator or prey. With the mere heartbeats it took for his part to play out, Kaenros was sure they were still in the vicinity and sure of where he felt their gaze.
If he was going to survive the night, it was them or him.
@[Dretch] minor power play allowed in response; the monster can give him minor scratches/cuts/grab hold, dretch is allowed to shove him aside, etc. nothing major. he’s not a fighter but i’d still like him intact XD