ORIGIN - The Sun Bleached Jaws of Life

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They listen intently as Quentin spoke of hunting the small mice, pride coloring his voice. Their voice held a voice of warmth. " Indeed, I would love for you to teach me how to hunt these creatures."They were beginning to like young carnivore. They seemed pleasant enough and they genuinely enjoyed their company. what little contact they had with so far. "How do we trap them? It seemed odd to them to trap the mice with their own defenses when they could just pick them up and dash them upon the rock below, but for Quentin they would help.

@Quentin

Q U E N T I N
we'll become silhouettes
when our bodies finally go

If Quentin could smile, he would be at that moment. However, he had to resort to folding his ears back and wagging his tail. He loved the idea of being useful, of knowing about life in this desert.

Though, the fox paused at the question. "Uh..." He stalled for time, dragging the quill closer. He studied the surface, eyes and paw raking over it. "Maybe... Use to get between their other sticks? They longer at the back than neck. Best to attack neck." He paused again. "Or... Chest. Hm. Trap... To smart for us, maybe. We just hunt like normal. We smarter anyways." His thought processes seemed to flit from place to place, but his tail thumped with finality at the statement. They were smarter- they could talk to each other. The mice and deer couldn't, though Quentin wouldn't dare attack one of the deer. No, he was content with the mice for now.

"We find mouse, but... You probably better at hunting." He glanced towards the wings tucked away at Jawbone's sides. "You have wing. You fly, you can drop. I need bite, need surprise them, can't take from above." He emphasized his words with a slap of his paw to the dust below, a determined look coming over his face. "But, maybe I smell better? I smell for you and you hunt from above?" His nose twitched to accent the thought, eyes sweeping out to the stream and the canyon to either side. "Yes, that seems like plan."

"Here! Follow, follow! Quentin's little voice was excited as he bounded away, glancing back for a moment to watch Jawbone before running further down the river. They could catch up if they wanted; it was hunting time!

Edited in exit due to inactivity
@Jawbone

Their noise drew attention. There were other hunters in this place: massive Eyehook Vultures, sweeping to and fro in the sky high above. And one--long-tailed and black-feathered--had taken notice.

It swept down with a rustle of wings, talons extended, in an attempt to snatch up one or both children.

Jawbone and Quentin must roll to avoid being snagged by the vulture. If they fail, they will be seized in its talons.

This thread was not GM tagged; this is a retroactive GM roll. Please remember to tag a GM when posting in Hydra.

@Jawbone @Quentin

Maybe he was a bit too loud- louder than he should've been. The rustle of wings made him think of Jawbone, at first, but-

His head whipped around to the sight of one being higher on the food chain than them.

"Scatter! Run!" His voice was shrill after dread set in, his legs buckling into motion as he sprinted for a crack in the canyon wall.

They were following close to the ground. Swooping in and under outcroppings to keep out of sight of the dangers Quentin had spoken of. That's what they told themselves, in truth they flew as low as they did to keep a lazy eye on the young carnivore. Why take the time to ride the high currents of air and possible lose their hunter partner?

But they were not the only ones hunting. Somehow the two of them had been spotted. Quentin noticing the Eyehook Vulture diving towards them with a shrill outcry of "Run."

Tucking their wings they dove toward the earth. Maybe, if they were agile enough, they could pull up in time out maneuver the great bird.

The Vulture grabbed one child in one taloned foot--and then the other in the other foot. At least they were both together as it began to rise into the sky, wings beating heavily.

Then came another vulture, tan and smooth-skinned--and it barreled for the first; and in a horrid screeching and tearing of flesh they began to fight over their little prizes.

Quentin and Jawbone will have one final roll to save themselves from harm, perhaps wriggling free to fall to the sand whilst the vultures are distracted.

A second failure will result in severe damage from the birds' talons, and either permanent disfigurement on the level of a crippled limb or missing eye, or a temporary return to their chrysalises.

@Quentin @Jawbone

Panic bloomed in their chest as the great talons wrapped around them stopping their free-fall to lift them higher. Struggling they unleashed a cry of anger and began to peck at the talon the held them, going for the scant flesh of the joint. this beast would not be their downfall, only hours old they had more to do. What about Quentin they had to help them get free.

Another Eyehook collided with the one that held them and they took the moment to jab their beak as hard as they could into the joint that held their attention.

As the air was shoved out of his lungs from the advancing beast, Quentin let out a squeal and whipping his body around to face the adversay. No- Nonono! He panicked, batting his paws against the talons that pinned him, wild eyes glancing to Jawbone. His mouth opened briefly to yell something- but what could he scream? He had to help himself, first!

A nervous chatter rattled through him as he wiggled from the jail-bars, slipping through with the hind talon scraping along his side. He had to move before that other vulture bashed in! However- not enough, not close enough, for it wasn't his strength that let him escape but the briefest of loosening in the grip that let him fall to the sand below.

He panted as he stared up at the scene for the slightest of moments, only to run for cover before he, too, became too much of a victim. He couldn't help birds from down here.

@Game Master Dark

(witnessed by GM Dark as the last post was on the wrong character)

Quentin was safe, if battered; and the swift flight of the vultures swept them rapidly out of view over the Crucible's ravines. They flew, together, side-by-side and fighting, out and over the Sand Dunes, vaguely in the direction of Tunnel P.

Talons tore, the assaulting bird striking--not seeing, perhaps, the easier prey haven fallen to the wayside--for Jawbone. Jawbone's beak thrust ineffectually at the far larger Vulture's leg joint; the other Eyehook's talons lashed, as Eyehooks often did, for the smaller vulture fledgling's eyes.

One caught.

One tore. There was agony; a spray of blood, and the chick was left half-blinded.

The defending Eyehook finally let go his prize--releasing Jawbone to fall and survive, or die, as he may--and slashed its beak and talons at the first bird--who turned and fled, its prize of a single small eyeball impaled on one claw.

The two birds, chasing and screeching, retreated rapidly into the distance.

The Gembound, for now, were each left alone.

@Jawbone @Quentin

confirming roll posted on wrong char, saw it!

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