Thunder was growing big very fast. It had only been a few weeks but he was towering at Idris'mid thigh. His hunger pangs also increased making them hunt more than usual. Idris quite enjoyed it as they made a perfect pair. Thunder was everything and the king of stealth. Idris' senses were ten times more intense due to the link between her and Thunder. Now she could smell and identify animals without even seeing them. She could hear the slightest breeze, shuffling leave and if she focused hard enough she could hear heartbeats. She had also become stronger. There were two defined vertical lines on her belly, she could run faster than usual and her arrow skills had improved dramatically. She had also started training herself on physical combat using a dummy she made from a tree. Most times Thunder joined her and she taught him some tricks and agility exercises. They had grown more comfortable with the link and Idris soon realized that the mark on her chest wasn't a crescent at all but one of Thunder's claws. They were destined for each other and she had accepted that.
Crouching down on top of a boulder, she watched as Thunder stealthily crept toward a heard of deers. He leapt into the air in a clean arch and landed directly on top of a big deer and sunk his teeth on it's neck. The rest of the herd bolted away in fright running for safety right by the boulder where Idris was crouched. Her heartbeat increased in excitement and adrenaline rushed through her. She lived for this. Hunting came as naturally as breathing to her. Hiking three arrows on her bow, she released just as the herd appeared below the boulder. Three deers fell to the ground, one with an arrow through the head, through the neck and through an eye. Standing up with a self satisfied smirk she climbed down the boulder as Thunder dragged his catch to her. SHOWOFF. Idris laughed out loud at Thunder's antics. Kneeling down to inspect their catch a strong pungent electric smell hit her nostrils. It was nothing like she had smelt before, closing her eyes and focusing she heard a strong and steady heartbeat. Whatever that was, she was sure it was a predator and it was coming for them or their meat. Thunder's hackles were already raised as he had smelt the animal as well. Crouching low under the shadow of the boulder, Idris took a machete from her belt and waited. Thunder was perfectly still and low in the tall grass waiting for the ambush but they were not ready for whatever came out into the clearing.
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Luka had been collecting herbs for most of the day to practice for his healing skills. Like most healers, he could see plant's manna and determine if it is good or evil. He had been a great healer, would have had a bright future had all hell not broken loose. This particular part of the forest was as dark as night and he could only see because of his ability to summon light. He could also manipulate roots, leaves, anything plant or earth related really, so maneuvering the deeper parts wasn't difficult for him. He had been particularly engrossed in carefully uprooting a bluish mushroom good for skin diseases when he heard a distant roar. He could recognize that roar from a mile away, it was a Laurak. A beast like animal with claws so big it could gouge ones insides out. It was a huge animal and it was not only dangerous as it could kill you in one bite but if it swiped you with it's claw, your skin would break into pelts and boils. Wasting no time he chanted a mantra and vines appeared beneath his feet growing fast and bigger, lifting him up till he breached the surface of the trees. Rotating around trying to locate the animal, he was shocked to see Idris and a few places from her the panther. She was holding a machette and by the look on her face, she was going into battle. "Stupid girl! That thing will kill you!" Using the vines as a slide he jumped to the ground, knelt and chanted for roots. The roots wrapped around him and threw him across the forest like a frisbee. He was quite a long distance from Idris and he hoped against hope that she'd be alive when he got there.
Idris paled slightly when she laid eyes on the animal that emerged. She had never seen anything quite like it. It's eyes were pitch black and as Idris stared at them she knew it was a killing machine. It's fur looked tough and spiky. It was a real life definition of wild beast. But she wouldn't let it have their hunt. She was now part of the forest and she wasn't going to let herself become a prey. Just as the animal bent down near the dead deers, Idris sprung from her hiding spot with a fierce battle cry plunging the machette into the Lauraksfat neck. The Laurak let out a roar so mighty the birds fled from the trees. Seeing an opportunity as the beast threw it's head back, Thunder leapt up and sunk it's teeth and claws onto the animals neck and chest. The animal shook itself violently making Idris and Thunder tumble to the side. The Laurak's eyes darkened in rage as it turned and faces it's attackers. It growled low and dangerous the ground seemed to tremble. Idris, armed again with her machette went for another cut but the beast had had enough of her, it raised it's giant paw and struck her across the face so hard the impact sent her flying several yards back losing her machette. She barely had time to recover her breathe when it leapt on top of her and opened it's jaw. Just as it was about to bite off her neck it screeched in pain again as Thunder was latched tightly on it's spine. Getting off Idris the animal jumped around in an attempt to shake the Panther from it's back. It finally did and sent Thunder flying into a tree trunk. The Laurak used it's huge paw to crush Thunder on the ground and swiped it's claw across his side. Thunder howled in pain just as the Laurak lifted it's head and dove for the kill.
Luka had just landed when he saw how maliciously the Laurak attacked Thunder. Idris was still on the ground trying to get up but her side flared in pain everytime she moved or breathed. She knew she had to get up. She had to save Thunder. Turning her head to the side she saw right as the beast lunged for Thunder's neck. Cold hard fear seeped right into her soul as the whole scene went in slow motion before her eyes. "Nooooooo!" she screamed and shot her hand toward that general direction as of she could magically reach Thunder. Luka let out a blast of energy toward the Laurak but a gold like arrow appeared out of nowhere in high speed, passed through his energy and embedded itself on the Laurak's side just before it's teeth came into contact with Thunder. It moaned in pain and suddenly exploded in flames then to ashes. Idris immediately passed out leaving a shocked Luka with his mouth agape.
Never had he seen or felt such energy. He was now certain the girl wasn't just not human, whatever she was, she was utterly powerful and she didn't even know it. Picking her up in his arms, he summoned the vines that carried Thunder as he took them to his shelter. "Well, thank goodness I pick this mushrooms then," he said as he looked at Thunders body that was begining to boil up all over. Laying Idris on his bed, he went to work grounding the mushrooms into paste with olive and sesame leaves. As Idris wasn't swiped by the Laurak thankfully, he attended to Thunder first who had ended up blacking out as well. When he was done, he inspected Idris finding that she had broken two ribs and there was a lump on he forehead with multiple small cuts. Cleaning her up and applying soothing ointment,he wrapped up her middle carefully so that the bones could mend up. "All this just for some meat? huh," he muttered to himself. Then he sat down as he sipped tea. He couldn't stop wondering what this girl was, but he would find out soon.