The Hunter's Moon

[Gigantis]

Comment deleted due to accidental turn skipping.

[Beast Blood]

Slobber flew from Tyberius' maw as she swung her head from side to side, witnessing her bleeding paws. Although she applauded her opponent for making use of strategy, the snake had also placed herself in exactly the worst place to be when facing an earthbender: underground, surrounded with the element that the bear controlled.

With a whim of her mind, Tyberius collapsed the burrow on top of her foe. Muffled roars chimed from the toppled earth, a few rivers of toxic blood flowing from between fallen boulders.

Although Tyberius could have exploited the opening and pressed the assault, she chose not to. The burly mammal snorted, slowly turning and lumbering away from the mound of rock shifting with the serpent's furious movements to free herself. As she strode off, the razor-backed Beast shifted her stern eyes to Gigarma and gave a small nod of acknowledgment as she wandered past him.

The slithering creature was a predator, a hunter, typical of the beings Hraaldstag liked to "invite" in his realm. But she was reckless. She could not simply attack anyone she saw. Certain foes were simply too powerful, perhaps deceptively so. It could end with her getting seriously hurt or worse, as demonstrated with her latest encounters. Perhaps this was why Hraaldstag had brought her here - to temper her predatory instincts with skill and knowledge.

Tyberius would let the serpent remove herself from her predicament on her own. It was all part of her lesson, the point she wanted to have come across. There were more scents the bear wished to investigate.

---

"Well met, then," the spotted Olgfolk said. "I am Rorn, and this is Kovar," he gestured to himself and his compatriot with a small, forward tilt of his antlered skull.

"Entertain?" Rorn raised a brow. "Not quite. This is no game. This is a challenge - a race for survival. You are here to be tested, not played with. It is up to you to answer the call."

Although Rorn was quite relaxed, Kovar had only lowered her weapon slightly. As one of the chief protectors of the tribe, she never completely let her guard down. She watched both Ragnhild and the two fur-less girls with a hard glare.

"And if you wish to reach Hraaldstag, then you will have to get passed several... Obstacles. That is what we help with."

Hearing the howls of Worgs and beasts in the distance, Rorn turned back to Jaktomrader's guests and spoke once more.

"We should keep moving. There are far worse things than wolf whelps out here."

[Gigantis]

It couldn't have been too much later before Jormungandr broke free from her rock prison. Panting, she watched as the bear leaved the area behind, leaving her alone with the statue she grew to hate so much. Hissing, she aimed her eyes at him.

And then noticed how he was in such an odd, peaceful manner. Not even drawing out his sword in order to finish her off while she was weak. No. After all that had happened, this being hoped to call her a friend?! Why not just finish her off where she stood?

But then pieces began to click together.

All three of these beings, and probably more, were just lost souls in a world unusual to them. No one to help them achieve their goals, whatever that may be. Besides her father, who was long gone at this point, she didn't have anybody. Maybe it was best to have an ally around..

For the first time, she didn't attack. Instead listening to what this statue had to say. But she herself didn't know how long this unusual peaceful side would last.

[Monster X]

Gigarma was pleased that the battled had ended. He was tempted to stop Tyberius, as she was a creature of this world and could be of help, but thought better of it. Such an attempt could be miss understood, better to let the noble beast go it's way for now. Instead he slowly made his way to Jormungandr, pondering how to communicate with her.

Gigarma had no power of speech. Even when not bound to this stone form, the deity had never possessed a voice. The Lord of Storms embodied the value of actions over words and was even unable to use any form of sign language or writing. Jormungandr had no way of knowing that though. Once he was a respectable distance from the great snake, Gigarma bowed in greeting. He then opened his mouth, pointed to it and shook his head. He repeated the action once again hoping Jormungandr would understand.

[Gigantis]

Needless to say, Jormungandr was confused.

She had heard people speak, but she had not even the slightest clue of what Gigarma was trying to tell her at all. Throw something into his mouth? Does he want to eat her? She doubted that last one but any guess was as good as any at this point..

In a rather sudden twist, this day had gotten very awkward.

[Monster X]

Gigarma realised he was making a fool of himself and stopped his pointless actions. It was clear by the snakes expressions that all he was achieving was making Jormungandr confused. The Stone Giant pondered more on what he could do to make himself understood, but each idea was quickly rejected. Finally he decided that the great serpent was just going to have to figure out that part of the problem on her own.

Instead he decided to focus on trying to build a connection in a different way. He kneeled down and began scarping large sections of snow away from ground with his hands. Once he had a patch of bare earth to work with, Gigarma began to do the one form of communication he could perform. Drawing.

Using his fingers, first he drew a large image of himself, then of Jormungandr. Both far apart. He then drew an image of them in battle underneath the first two, which he then put a line though. He then drew a third image underneath that, this time of them side by side peacefully.

Once completed, Gigarma stood up and took several paces back. He then motioned for Jormungandr to come and look at his drawing, hoping she would understand.

[Gigantis]

Moving over, Jormungandr was able to decipher what Gigarma was saying clearly. No longer should they fight, instead, let them become friends. Nodding her head to make sure Gigarma understand that she understood, she calmly growled under her breath.

She began to turn away, but then motioned her tail to Gigarma, saying that he should follow her. If the two of them were gonna survive this place, they needed to know how to navigate it. And luckily for them, they had met a creature like that not too long ago.

They needed to find Tyberius.

[Monster X]

Gigarma was pleased that Jormungandr finally understood his call for peace between them. If they worked together they had a much better chance of dealing with their current situation. He then realised Jormungandr was motioning for him to follow her. He quickly deduced that she wanted to follow the native beast she had been battling with.

At first he was concerned she wished to continue the battle, but by the way she moved that didn't seem to be the case. Then he realised that that Jormungandr wished to try and communicate with it. That was a brilliant idea. A native could hopefully provide them with much needed information about this world.

Wasting no time, Gigarma began to follow after his new companion.

[Gigantis]

Using her nose as their guide, the two monsters traced Tyberius' tracks through the snow and ice. No creature, not even the wolf beasts, dared to touch them, most likely in fear of seeing two monsters becoming allies and that they stood no chance.

The snake was surprised, however, to find out just how far the bear had gotten in so little time. Up slopes, down slopes, zigzagging through trees, rocks and all. And she could't find where the heck she stopped at either. Probably wanted to get far away from her and Gigarma, not wanting to be apart of another clash if they hadn't become allies.

She sighed. It seems like finding help was going to take some time...

[HayesAJones]

Ragnhild's lip peeled back. When she spoke, it was in a tone as savage as her glistening canines.

"Then we prisoners here," the beast-woman stated. "I do not want to partake in your god's test."

[Demon Lord Gira]

Ramia bit her upper lip. "I fear we don't have a choice in the matter."

"Why do you say that? We can just leave-"

"No. If this person went through all this trouble just to summon us for his 'test', then he is unlikely to let us leave until we pass it. As it stands, we have no say. Our only way out is to confront him and force him to let us go back, if we can even do that."

Menai shrunk where she was. Her already feeble limbs felt as if they were going to dissolve into dust. "I... Shit, fine. If we can get back home... then somehow, we need to succeed... Somehow."

[Corzak The Mighty]

The damn cold's starting to get to me, the bugbear thought to himself.

Frustrated and bored with his current predicament, the goblin warlord quickly began to pack up his supplies. He really needed to find better shelter, and some REAL food, not this crappy "survival" mush. He sighed as he looked out over the horizon, towards the ominous snow-covered forest and the great white yonder behind it. Whatever lay out there, the bugbear certainly did NOT want to meet it; but, on the other hand, staying up here meant starving to death; or, more realistically given the cold, freezing to death.

Picking up his enormous backpack, the bugbear got to work climbing down from his secluded roost, heading into the great forest beyond. He made sure to keep his trusted rod at his side. Last thing he needed was for some big beast to attack and make a meal out of him...

[Beast Blood]

"Correct," Rorn said in response to Menai. "Your choices are either to lay down and let the beasts take you, or to confront him. So what will it be?" The spotted Olgfolk scratched his chin, awaiting the answer.

---

After trekking nearly endlessly through the snow in search of Tyberius, the snake and the sentinel finally came upon a large cave, paw prints leading inside indicating this was where the bear had gone off to. Her steady breathing, audible from the halls of the rocky cavern, let them know she was napping - until the sounds were replaced with sniffing and shuffling, showing she was in the midst of awakening at their arrival. When heavy furry steps and a pair of glowing green eyes appeared from the darkness, slowly advancing, the pair prepared themselves just in case the bear would be irate at being disturbed.

However, Tyberius, lumbering out of the darkness of the cave, merely eyed them curiously.

It seemed she was willing to hear them out.

---



Unfortunately, many beasts did want to make a meal out of the bugbear, including a massive, muscular feline slowly stalking after him in the snow. Drool slowly dripped from its fanged maw, from which two enormous tusks jutted out, longing to pierce his throat and snap his neck...

[Gigantis]

Jormungandr sighed with relief that Tyberius wasn't too angry that they had awoken her from slumber. Now she just needed to find a way to communicate with her. She tried to motion her body to perhaps help with the process. She motioned her tail to tell her to come with them, and then moved her head: "We need your help. Come with us, you're the only being we know who knows how to move around here!"

But her thoughts were cut off when she began to sense something. A fourth giant, that had seemingly entered this land from nowhere. Seemingly reptilian in scent, yet still unfamiliar to her.

It seemed possible that they might have to gear up for another battle. She just prayed that it wasn't too tough..

[HayesAJones]

Ragnhild grudgingly began to follow Rorn. She did not know these lands, nor its beasts, and if these giants wished to harm them, they could have already. For now, they were her best bet for reaching safety. Even so, she kept a grip on her bow. It was not lost on her that Kovar had not laid down her arms either. The strangers were already larger than her. She would not be caught barehanded before them just yet. She hoped the venn behind her would keep their wits about them just the same.

After giving her scarlet-heeled steed a gentle pull to fall in line behind her, the beast-woman asked, "How will your god greet us? With talk or action? I've met those who favor both."

[Demon Lord Gira]

Ramia followed as well on her own steed. Her free hand lay slack by her side, yet was poised to summon her lace at a moment's notice. If anything were to happen, if there were an ambush or a betrayal, she would be ready. Her faith in her goddess had kept her alive through the fiercest battles, and she was certain it would here as well.

"Not like we have a choice..." Menai grumbled. "Hopefully he's all mystic summoning power and no... actual power."

[Monster X]

Gigarma had watched Jormungandr, amused to see her in a similur situation to the one he had been not to long ago, when he to suddenly sensed an approaching presence. While he still found it hard to read the aura's of this worlds creatures, he could make out enough to deduce that this being was likely an enemy.

First he turned to his new ally and nodded his head to show he understood what was coming. Then, turning in the beast's direction, Gigarma drew his blade and took his battle stance.

[Corzak The Mighty]

Finally climbing all the way down the cliff face, the bugbear dusted himself off and moved through the snow. The bugbear, well refined in his skills of stealth, knew he needed to move quickly and lay low if he wanted to play it safe. Snow was certainly not something he preferred to travel though; too heavy and noisy. It made it hard to move through without garnering unwanted attention.

But the bugbear knew he had little choice in the matter. The alternative was waiting around for the snow to end, which he very much doubted would be the case. Keeping his rod tightly gripped in his hand, the goblinoid trudged slowly but steadily through the snow, doing his best to keep a low profile...

And that's when he heard it. The muffled movement of something besides him moving through the snow. It was very subtle, and difficult to notice; if he hadn't been well trained in observation, he would have surely missed it. He was being followed, and he did not believe it to be friendly. The bugbear quietly tapped a button on the side of his rod, causing it to spring open into a fancy axe. The bugbear prepared a small gemstone studded ring on his finger, as if preparing some hidden surprise. He wasn't about to go down without a fight...
_________________________________________
Visions of a red figure that reached towards him filled the mind of Kori Kahn, tormenting him and vexing him in his slumber. No matter how fast he flew, nor how hard he fought, could he escape the grasp of the ominous creature. Before he knew it, his wings were pinned, and he was pulled into astral space...

Another rift opened up in the snow-covered world of Jaktarensmane - this one atop a great series of jagged mountains. A billow of frozen wind kicked up as the beat of monstrous wings filled the air, dispersing a thick layer of blistering snow that had gathered upon either peak. A pearly white shape descended from the rift in space, before its frosty talons touched down upon the rocky outcropping.

Ebon black eyes glanced about the area, looking down upon the blizzard-engulfed landscape, as a massive, draconic form revealed itself through the fog and snow that engulfed the mountaintop. The great dragon seemed satisfied. He could get used to this place...

[Beast Blood]

The brown bear — thankfully for Jormungandr — understood the display of gestures from the serpent. Tyberius nodded, lumbering her enormous weight forward. She turned around after a few steps, tilting her head to motion for her new allies to follow her.

For the serpent and the sentinel, this was an unknown and dangerous land. For Tyberius, it was nothing new. She was not in fact here to face the Lord of the Hunt. He had asked her to watch over the land should the Prey bring it harm. She could help the Prey if that was her wish. For Hraaldstag, this was not betrayal. It was an added challenge.

---

As the group began their traveling to rejoin the rest of the Hirstaang herd, Rorn raised a finger in declaration. "The Lord of the Hunt is among those who favor both. First, he will ask you a question: what is a hunter's greatest strength? What is your greatest strength? Think about this. You are here to learn. And then..." Rorn continued, "He will see your strength for himself."

Kovar snorted upon hearing Menai's words, an amused smirk on her face replacing her previous scowling expression. The girl would find out just what Hraaldstag was capable of soon enough.

Blue eyes glanced to the side, where the massive footprints of the huge black Worg were still well visible despite the abundant snowfall there. Kovar's scowl returned. She tapped her spear against Rorn's shoulder, motioning to the Worg's trail.

"Hmmm... It seems you have met Grimmurgh." He glanced back to the girls, though did not stop walking. "He will not leave you now. We best hurry back to the lodge."

---

The Sabercat immediately stopped, lowering itself to its furry belly. Though it was a massive beast, the thick layers of snow made it easy for it to obscure itself from view. Laying low, it waited for the bugbear to resume his walking...

[Gigantis]

The snake, while still a little loopy from the unknown source, decided to follow Tyberius. After all, two fights in a row were enough for a time, and it probably be best to rest up before heading back to the battlefield. She told Gigarma to hurry up, else he fall behind!

Still, this place was certainly unnerving. She was glad they found Tyberius when they did. Who knows what lurks out here in this mysterious beyond?