Bizmati Hunting Grounds, Midday.
Sapphire Rayland
Being a Huntress is all about awareness and stealth. You have to track your target and spot it before it notices you, so having your target sneak up on you instead is a mark of disgrace for any huntress. Yet that appears to be what had happened to us, the feeling of surprise total as I rushed up to my feet at the sound of hideously loud goose-like honks. Fengi could be heard shouting that it had come from below as we rushed to arm ourselves, our midday respite atop the small cliff we used so often to rest immediately forgotten. Dakota immediately took the lead, bellowing out “On me!” in her signature commanding tone.
As our five-strong hunting party dove off the side of the cliff, racing towards the commotion below, I readied my bow. The overbearing honks continued to sound off – Fengi was right, it was definitely coming from further down the cliff. Quickly breaking through the canopy, we immediately found ourselves almost face-to-face with 5 vargulfs, too committed to their own climb to flee. “Don’t let them get away!” came the predictable order from Dakota, the queen of the hunt taking the lead and pulling out of her dive to prevent a head-on collision with the beasts. The rest of us quickly followed suit, readying and loosing our arrows into our point-blank targets; a wave of satisfaction washing through me as my arrow caved in the braincase of an errant vargulf, the creature spiraling to the ground with a strained gurgle. A quick inspection of the situation revealed a similar play acting itself out among the other three vargulfs, two already sporting nasty arrow wounds as another fell to the forest floor, its wing rendered useless by a well-placed shot to a shoulder blade from Dakota.
Wait, only three? I thought there was-
“-ACK!”
I barely had time to crane my neck around before I felt the splitting pain of a stinger embed itself into my lower back, my entire body immediately starting to seize and wings going rigid as I began to plummet to the surface below.
“Saph!”
My ears could faintly make out the distressed cries of my friends over the rush of air as limb after limb refused to budge. Both Dakota and Jacky tried to disengage and assist, only to be immediately reminded that a wounded vargulf was still a potent enemy as they were quickly forced to return their attention back to their own foes even as Fengi’s bow felled another. As my vision went hazy, I could still see the spotty sight of the beast finally bringing its claws to bear, about to finish me off for good before I could even splat on the rapidly approaching terrain. I couldn’t hide my confusion however when my attacker burst into violent flames, ripped from me by the force of some invisible hand.
I likewise didn’t have much time to be concerned, the last thing I felt and heard before everything faded to black being a sickening CRUNCH.
Unknown Forest, ??? Local Time: 1213.
Emma Booker
I let out an involuntary “Oh crap!” as I watched the poor Dragonette get skewered by the stinger. While the initial stages of my plan had worked, the Dragonettes getting the drop on their would-be assailants, I couldn’t help a nervous groan as I watched one of the bat-things miraculously manage to slip through their screen. I couldn’t honk the truck’s horn again, as that would’ve distracted them from their ongoing fight, so I was left to anxiously squirm in the armor as I watched with bated breath, the avian halting its climb and rocketing back into the fray even as one of its kin died from an arrow to the head.
ALERT: LOCALIZED SURGE OF MANA-RADIATION DETECTED, 50% ABOVE BACKGROUND RADIATION LEVELS.
An arrow which had been logged by my sensors, and eyes, changing trajectory mid-flight to the turn of a faint but detectable burst of mana-radiation.
They had magic.
The frigging mini-dragons had magic.
Granted, it was nothing to write home about, but it wasn’t like anyone back home could claim to have telekinetic powers to begin with. Unfortunately, it seemed that the bat had zeroed in on that same – mage, hunter, ranger? Just who were these people, exactly? – as it careened towards them, taking them by complete surprise as it violently latched onto the Dragonette’s back, knocking the wind out of them both metaphorically and literally as the silver-crowned warrior began dropping like a rock. The bat was quick to present what I could only describe as a scorpion’s tail, stabbing it into their foe to immediate effect as the Dragonette’s wings immediately seized at an ungainly angle, apparently paralyzed.
I forced myself out of my stupor, immediately moving to follow the Rules of Engagement which I had set for myself.
“EVI, target the bat on the Dragonette’s back. Fire on medium intensity.”
“Affirmative. Engaging.”
The effect of a military-grade laser on unprotected flesh was immediately made apparent, the invisible thermal beam effortlessly burning a perfect hole through the creature as it was uncermoniously wretched from the Dragonette, tumbling away in a burning wreck. New orders were fed in immediately, as the laser array flicked off only to whirr back to life not a second later, now targeting the remaining two bats who collapsed to the ground in smoldering heaps in short order. Shaking off their momentary shock, the remaining Dragonettes quickly diving to assist their falling friend.
But it was too late.
CRUNCH.
The Dragonette hit the ground hard, their already-paralyzed right-wing snapping and contorting in ways that even my own untrained eyes knew shouldn’t be possible, heralding in the all-too-certain prospect of broken bones and torn ligaments. Something that looked an awful lot like a shin looked to become dislocated as the Dragonette eventually rolled to a pained stop, the only thing presumably stopping them from voicing their injustice being the paralyzing venom that had disturbingly quickly worked its way into their system. Their compatriots quickly caught up with them, hastily landing and observing the damage dealt to them. The Dragonette was quickly propped up against a nearby rock, extra care being taken to avoid further irritation of their injuries. Seemingly confident that their friend was no longer in mortal danger, several began scanning their surroundings, without a doubt searching for the source of the noise that had caused this entire mess.
Well, I guess it’s time to greet the neighbors.
Electing to maintain the stealth profile of my vehicle, I slowly and deliberately walked my way out of my concealing foliage, hands raised to my sides to show that I wasn’t holding a weapon while also keeping my gauntlet-mounted weaponry pointed away from the Dragonettes who had now been alerted to my methodical approach. Shock painted their expressions as they leveled their bows once more, prompting me to stop in my tracks. Unwillingly clearing my throat, a sound that the EVI was quick to filter out, I quickly moved into the route of communication.
“Um… Hi. I’m Emma. From Earth? …Does your friend need help?”
Bizmati Hunting Grounds, Midday.
Sapphire Rayland
As I came to, I found myself on the ground and in immense pain. Only able to move my eyes due to the vargulf venom coursing through me, I was still able to see a worried Esmeralda looking at me with a grimace on her face. “No, no, that’s not supposed to look like that…” The older huntress shuddered in place. While I was still unable to move, I was still met with sharp pain from my right wing and leg, my chest also protesting my crash landing. Forcing my gaze to the right, I inspected the damage; My right wing was completely and utterly broken, bones poking out, membrane torn, and several digits fractured. Oh no, I thought to myself, my spirits sinking. I’ll be grounded for weeks at best, if not months. And when I forced my eyes to look down, I found my shin broken too! It must’ve gotten stuck in an awkward angle during the crash. So I won’t be walking, either. Marvelous! At least I was alive, though – that had been quite the fall. My eyes darted around the crash site to see everyone else, bar Esmeralda, scouring the forest for what I assumed to be the source of the honking that had resulted in this entire fight. “Whatever was making that noise, it sure as heck wasn’t a vargulf.” Fengi commented. “Do you think someone was trying to warn us?” “If that’s true, then I want to know who’s been wandering around in our backyard,” Dakota responded. “And what kind of maniac goes out this far into the woods?” Jackalope added.
KA-THUNK.
“Oh.”
Everyone was immediately clued in on the sound of metallic footfalls as a figure emerged from the undergrowth. Clad in a deep, rich blue was an armored figure with the thickest armor plates I had seen on any creature bar the dragons of the Royal Guard. Eye slits brighter and redder than the flame of a Red bored down on us, the four remaining huntresses reflexively readying their bows against the intruder. “Try not to kill it, I have questions,” Dakota ordered with false confidence. “If we could kill it, you mean.” Esmeralda quipped back. “I don’t know about you, but whoever can afford armor like that can’t be lacking for weapons, either.” Seeming to notice our raised weapons, the stranger halted in their tracks with their hands raised in the air, probably as some gesture of peace. It then began to speak in a strangely-accented voice.
“Uhm… Hai. Iy’m Emma. Frum Uurth? …Ihs yohr frend okay?”
“Of course. It can’t speak properly.” Dakota sighed. “Well, they’re definitely friendly,” Essy lowered her bow, looking at the other huntresses. “If they wanted us dead, I’d imagine they’d have attacked us by now. I think they’re the one who alerted us to the vargulfs, as well.” Dakota turned to face her, lowering her own bow. “I suppose you’re right about that. They must also be responsible for burning them, as well.” “How did they even do that?” Jacky interjected. “They just exploded!” “They have magic, how else?” Essy offered. “Maybe they can help Saph?” “Only one way to find out,” came the response from Dakota. Pointing a finger toward me, she stared down the armored stranger.
“Heal.”
Unknown Forest, ??? Local Time: 1235.
Emma Booker
The dragonettes turned to each other confused at my attempt at a greeting, eventually lowering their weapons and talking amongst each other.
And I wasn’t able to understand a word of it.
Which, in retrospect, shouldn’t have come as a surprise. The suit’s onboard translation suite had been designed solely with English to Nexian translations in mind, not whichever language this was. Listening in, I was given the impression of a tongue that would’ve gotten along well with the Slavic states of the eastern EF, Russian Republic, and Far Eastern Republic, the tones strong and guttural.
“EVI.” I turned off my external speakers, ensuring my voice would only be heard within the confines of my helmet.
“Yes, Cadet Booker?”
“See if the translation suite can’t be repurposed for whatever it is that they’re speaking. We need to be able to communicate with them, and I’m not sure I can manage some of the sounds they’re pulling off without destroying my throat.”
“Affirmative. Cataloging and parsing [Unknown Language 1-”
“Draconic. We’ve got to call it Draconic.” I let out a dumb grin, not that anyone could see it of course.
“…Affirmative. Cataloging and parsing [Local Language 1: DRACONIC.]”
No sooner had the order been given than the EVI’s processing power gained a new focus, logging every identifiable word up to this point to poke and prod into submission. And it would seem that the order had come not a minute too soon, the gold-crowned Dragonette taking a tentative step closer to me as she stared me down, pointing a clawed finger back at her downed compatriot.
“Heal.”
…
“Geez, that quick, EVI?”
“Context strongly suggests this to be the correct vocabulary used, Cadet Booker. I have not yet identified any meaningful information on their lexicon beyond their names.”
“Well, let’s get to it then.” I un-muted my external speakers, giving a polite “Of course” before moving to the patient in question, who tracked me with pained eyes. The dragonette, who the EVI had tentatively identified as “Saph,” remained almost completely paralyzed, the venom of what had further been tentatively identified as a “Vargulf” remaining potent enough to seize limbs even this long after stinging. Saph’s right wing was a mess, membranes torn and bloodied bones poking out of the one which had taken the brunt of the impact in a sickening wound that I immediately took to disinfecting, unlatching my first aid kit.
“EVI, help me out here. The bones are obvious enough, but what else am I dealing with?”
“Scans indicate [6] major bone fractures. [3] broken wing vertebrae, [2] broken ribs, and [1] broken shin assuming baseline human anatomy for the latter two.”
“Right, not much I can do about the ribs, but the others should be easy enough to brace.” I quickly followed through, the EVI assisting me in setting what broken bones I could reach and crafting splints for them with the material I had on hand. The dragonettes watched intently as I treated the wounds as best I could, murmuring about the quality of my work. I could now make out more of their conversation: “Yes” and “No,” “Healer” and “Magic.” It seemed that they were quick to figure out that I lacked the latter, instead commenting on the usage of my supplies. Nonetheless, I finished my work, pulling back to reveal an acceptably-patched wing and a bandaged chest and knee. The vargulf venom also appeared to be wearing off, as I took note of Saph’s fingers and toes beginning to twitch.
“Right, I think that’s sorted! So what do we do now?”
Bizmati Hunting Grounds, Midday.
Sapphire Rayland
“What… now?” Emma asked, surprising all of us. The blue… knight? had up until this point remained relatively silent, their first attempt to speak revealing that we didn’t share a language. Regardless, they had still treated my broken wing and shin, also putting bandages on my still-aching chest. I must’ve broken some ribs, too. I heard the rest of the huntresses commenting on the quality of the healing supplies used, quickly realizing that Emma either didn’t have healing magic or just wasn’t using it. The four of us that were able to move jerked back in surprise, not expecting them to understand us, let along speak our tongue. “You… You can understand us?” Dakota asked hesitantly. “No many word,” came Emma’s response. “No many.” “They must’ve been listening to us talk,” Fengi offered. “With that helmet on? How did she even hear us whispering to begin with?” Jacky attempted to quietly rebuke. “I good.” Emma responded to Jack’s not-whispher with a cocky tone before fixing their red eyes back on me, pointing towards me to make up for her child-like vocabulary. “What now?”
“We will carry her back to her keep with us. Thank you for your assistance, Emma. Both with Sapphire and the vargulfs.” Dakota stated firmly, outstretching a hand which Emma promptly shook. Oh, switch carrying is gonna suck with the paralysis, I thought glumly. While it was just starting to wear off, as I was now able to flex my fingers and toes, it was still potent enough to deny me true movement for several more hours. “Saph… Sapphire go up?” Emma questioned, pointing at the sky. Dakota nodded a yes. “No, she hurt bad. That bad.” Emma responded with a tone of finality before waving over towards the underbrush, revealing some sort of large wagon and stretched carriage that had not been there just a second ago. Emma made a gesture to stay put as she mounted an enclosed section in the front of the wagon, putting their hands on some sort of wheel. The thing started humming loudly, the others taking a step back.
And then it started to move on its own?!
Emma made a short lap around us, showing it off it seemed. They even straightened out for a short bit and the thing accelerated, the humming growing louder, before coming back around in front of us as the others stood there awestruck looking at it. This was the largest magical thing any of us had ever seen – only stories of legend told of enchanted items of this size! I recovered from my own shock primarily by watching all the dumb faces my friends were making, being quick enough to notice Emma getting out of her seat, patting an empty portion of the wagon. “Sapphire here. No hurt. I…” Seemingly out of words again, she mimed the act of walking, before pointing back at the others. “I that. To you.” Dakota smiled, comprehension dawning on her.
“Well girls, it seems there will be no need to switch carry today.”
Hunter or Huntress 
Leave a comment