Hunting the Pack

[Zef Halo]

Spoiler

Large straight shapes of crystalline shot upwards from different places in the ice canyon. It was high noon and the sun was seen through gray haze of cold. A year long winter sun that hardly sustained any life that the baseline humans were used to. Silhouettes appeared and disappeared, the clear white color reflected the light of the sun all over the distant frozen horizon. A slight breeze picked up from the north, its frigid air hit the visor of Varian's helmet. The only Mandalorian part of his attire. He wanted to learn to get used to it. If need be, the Mandalorian would toss it away in order to survive. Reinforced leather chest plate and leather garments covered the crouching hunter as he watched the scenery.

Sent on a mission by Mand'alor the Reclaimer to hunt a dangerous herbivore that roamed in herds the arctic regions of Mygeeto. A Jakobeast. Logically, Varian had made his research on the beast beforehand. He also had brought his bestiary with him, perhaps he might find something new about the Jakobeasts. The only thing he could add was for now - short sleeping patterns.

Varian had been tracking this particular herd for a few days and they seemed to cover distance quite quickly for a rather slow moving animal. Was it that their sleeping times were short or were they utilizing what humans know as 'power naps' when they would travel long distances. They were possibly looking for a new pasture. Where Varian had first gotten their tracks, the grass beneath the snow and ice had been nearly gone and the path he had taken to follow them bore no signs of ground with enough grass beneath the ice and snow to feed the whole herd for a while.

Today, he would have company in his hunt. A female sent by Mand'alor, she was to be expected to arrive sometime about now in this exact position where Varian overlooked the horizon. His senses with the Force spread wide and away, touching all sorts of lifeforms in the surrounding area. It was an indescribable feeling to sense with the Force, an aspect of the Force he was focusing on improving lately. He had reached a level of passively having amplified senses. Should his partner appear close enough in his radius, he would sense her.

[member="Alexandra Feanor"]

 

[Alexandra Feanor]

[member="Varian of Myrkr"]

Did she mention she hated the cold? She was pretty sure that that had come up but as she stood there freezing her ass off in the thermal suit that she had on, which mind you did not change the temperature at all, she was sure she had said it before. It was like the world decided to see just how cold it could get as it tried to compete with Rhen Var and Hoth. But that wasn't as bad as she made it considering that the ice and snow created beautiful works of art around her and she was thankful to be able to see them as she trudged through the snow towards the location that this Varian had told her of.

Today they were going hunting for Jugo beasts, creatures that Alexandra didn't know too much about past the bare essentials to get the job done without complications. Sure that still wasn't a great deal of information to go on considering her own reserves of information at the temple, but it was enough to get herself ready for the hunt. That was why she had come with a stun rifle, her sabers, and the echani warstaff that she always had with her, while making sure that her body was cloaked in the thermal layers as her body moved through the white.

This day she didn't seem to even bother when it came to her hair and changing it to the silver color that she was more familiar with. In fact, it remained the ebony black that was natural for this body. While this feature was hidden under a hood and thermal cap, it remained a feature that was of note should it come up. Her eyes focusing on the man as she made the last part of her trek towards him with a hand raised above her head. "Hey."

 

[Zef Halo]

Varian's senses had first detected the Force wielder then the woman materialized in his 360 degrees visor of his helmet. So she was a Force user, a strong one at that, as well. The Mandalorian's first reaction to her greeting and casual appearance had nothing to do with the Force or any thematic concerning it. It had to do with basic hunting and survival actions.

"Get down, now." Varian gestured rapidly for the female to crouch and approach him. He then pointed at a sillhoutes that faded and reappeared. Hard to see with the naked eye but with the Force one would be able to make them out.

Maalraas.

"Hurry before they sense us."

The Mandalorian had read about the beasts, substantially as well and had only met these creatures twice in his life. Dangerous predators that utilized the Force to become dark as the shadows. Bones resistant to lightsabers, a strong predator against the typical Jedi or Sith. It also hunted the Jakobeast pack, that is what Varian assumed. He zoomed in with his integrated binoculars. The beasts seemed to be tracking something. That something would hopefully be the Jakobeasts that Varian and the female were to hunt down. Considering how surprisingly quickly the Jakobeasts covered ground there was a chance to lose their tacks. Following the Maalraas pack was key in catching the beasts.

But first, Varian had to find out whether they were actually sniffing a track from the Jakobeasts. He made sure he remembered where they were roaming and kept note of their interesting behavior when tracking. They would passively disappear in the dark which meant they would utilize their Force camouflage even when not preying upon the target but also when they were tracking. Varian concluded that it was a self-preserving instinct against greater predators.

"These were Maalraas, dangerous predators. We'll probably end up following them which means we don't want to scare them off. I will just have to first check what they were roaming around down in the canyon before we take the trek through the canyon towards a village a few clicks north from here. We'll camp there." Varian explained and watching as the Maalraas dashed forward, he lunged himself forward in a freefall down towards the canyon.

[member="Alexandra Feanor"]

 

[Alexandra Feanor]

[member="Varian of Myrkr"]

Her body worked faster than her mind as she shot down the ground, her hands sliding out as her shoulders moved into their secondary position thanks to the stupid new body that Vulpesen had thrown her in after reviving her from the Netherworld... that had been an annoying event but it did give her a body that was far more versatile than her former Echani one so she had to admit that that little fact was enough to make her smile at the prospect before her when it came to her hunt.

She found her senses zeroing in on the life around them, though, noticing the creatures that the Mandalorian was so urgent in his reaction over. They were creatures she had seen on Dxun but had made sure to avoid thanks to their reputation back then, and now with so many years having passed she was still unsure if fighting them would end well for her or if she was putting herself in more danger being here than if she had sent someone without the presence in the force that she had. It was a thought that drew her focus away until he brought his voice to bare, her hands still in the position of her lowered from before she shifted her shoulders back into the correct position.

The Zorren she had learned could run on all fours if needed, but the process was painful and annoying to get into, even this reaction of hers was stinging now that she as back into the normal position that she and most creatures in the galaxy would be used to. Her form moved up beside the man and looked down the valley, watching every tiny movement that she could as her hair pushed out of the hood and thermal wear, guarding her face from any sharp change in the wind from the side. "Hmm... Perhaps- And there he goes..." Her eyes followed the Mandalorian as he dropped like a rock down through the air, her own hands reaching up to pull her hair into her hood once more before letting her own body fall forward.

The wind felt great, her hood falling off her head and her hair flying out behind her as she pushed the air around her into a concussive cushion, slowing her decent as well. It was a bit harder than she remembered, probably just the rust in her technique if anything. It had been years since she had done this, her powers these days spent healing and traveling the Force from beyond the shadows, but this soon returned to her like riding a bike as the thrill-filled her and her hands moved to make sure that the cushion was in place while her body shot into a free state as if from a parachute, lasting two seconds before her body dropped the last two meters and hit the snow and Ice still a bit harder than she would have liked as she dropped onto her back and looked up at the sky.

"Phew... been a while since ive done that..."

 

[Zef Halo]

He let the flow of the Force engulf him, relying on the teachings of his Matukai Instructor Ikkar He'nqer that have always given him an edge in any challenge. His landing was definitely not stealthy with small fissures spreading on where he landed. The height from the edge he had jumped from was also a factor in that result. Not long after the female that had joined him on this hunt landed with much more lack of skill. His enhanced hearing senses heard her mutter something as she laid down in the snow and ice. Taking a look at the endless journey through the canyon that seemed to await them and looking back at the female, Varian realized that introductions were supposed to happen.

"Varian's the name." The tall Mandalorian muttered through his helmet's annunciator. His manners were lacking but his upbringing was the reason for that. Felucia was not the place for one to learn to walk and talk like a prince or a gentleman. With a nod to the woman, he lunged with a quicker pace down the canyon. "Follow me. Wind's slightly picking up and the tracks might disappear. Hurry."

Once again the Force embraced him, boosting his speed and sharpening his senses. The tracks were not far from where he was, soon he would reach them. Hopefully, followed by his hunting companion. The temperatures were dropping and they had to reach the camp before dark. This part of Mygeeto was not a place to journey through the night. Most often the stars would disappear due to the thick haze and orientation would become harder and more complicated. Worse were the temperatures to which it dropped.

The Mandalorian finally was able to see the tracks and he slowed down. Varian was about to kneel when his senses screeched from within. The Force called for danger and its alarm was not fake. From the shadows of the canyon, barely seen, a Maalraas lunged forward grasping the thick leather of his vambraces. Its sharp teeth piercing through and the warm feeling of blood tickled his forearm. The Mandalorian did not think twice as a Force Blast from his other hand sent the predator flying into one of the walls in the shadow and disappearing.

He could not focus on keeping up with trying to find the camouflaged predator as behind him four more appeared. Turning towards them seemed to slightly intimidate them and he had enough time to draw his long beskad.

It was time to fight.


[member="Alexandra Feanor"]

 

[Alexandra Feanor]

[member="Varian of Myrkr"]

Alexandra's eyes openned back up as he said his name to her and she raised a brow, watching him for a few seconds as her silvered hair lay out on the snow around her head before shrugging in the snow. Her body pushed herself off the ground, moving to stand up and brush off her clothing, though she left the snow in her hair as it wasn't as much of a bother for her. So far, the what looked like nineteen year old girl did not act anything like what one would expect from what had once been the Historian of the Order of the Grey, a woman known for her visage of total silver hair and robes both, as well as a calm and respectful manner shown to those who met her.

This girl instead looked like someone who was unaware of the dangers of the universe, a mind not befitting of the woman that information would detail.

"Im Alexandra, good to meet you Varian... and trust me, you don't need to worry about the tracks. Patience can get you where ever you wish to be if you give it the op-" Her eyes tracked the shadow as it shot out from the side, too fast for her to react at first as she saw it bite down and the smell of blood hitting her in the face as she knew full well what that was. The Maalraas it seemed had taken the oppotunity to strike, and it had worked as she could tell just from the air it broke skin. Hopefully though the arm wasn't torn apart by the reckless use of a Force Blast while the teeth were still clentched on his arm.

Her body was about to get to work healing him until her mind spike too and she looked over her shoulder at the four forms that appeared. With a sigh her hands reached down to grab a small metal rod from the small of her back, turning and staring at the creatures before closing her eyes and letting the rod extend. From both directions it round more and more room until it became a full fledged Echani warstaff. Further she loosened the Thermal clothing to let a tail, about four foot in length, appear from the bottom of her jacket, a feature she had been hiding around her waist and inside it. Her smile twisted upwards as she searched each one of the forms before glancing at Varian with the smile now, her silver hair still in an orderly shape though if he watched her left shoulder, the one further from him, he would notice it shift while her hand no the right tightened to hold the staff in one hand.

No other physical change presented itself though, infact past those two changes she was every bit human one would have expected. With the only actual differences being her heightened sense. She was hoping to avoid showing this until they had gotten to the actual Jagobeasts, knowing that if they sustained too much damage it would be difficult to get the beasts back to camp, but now there was this problem. If they took on too many injuries for her to heal and yet still have energy to hunt, she would cost them hours of tracking the beasts and that was not something she would let happen.

She was just hoping the Mandalorian would understand what he was seeing, and if he didn't, that he wouldn't choose her as his enemy.

If he didn't though, her body would get lower to the ground, resting her left hand on the ground as her right brought the staff back and held it with one end across her back and the other out to the side, each with bladed ends to them that would make cutting up the Maalraas alot easier than with a saber which is why she did not employ the use of her normal weaponry. It would be useless to do so, and a waste of energy when their bones were susceptable to physical strikes just as everyone elses was. She couldn't wait though, that part of Hel inside her sending her into a feral need for fighting as she waited for the beasts or Zef to make the first move. Her hands and feet pulling the force in around her and watching with her body on the verge of action.

The force was drawn to her in those few seconds like a in the sink, drawing the excess water down into it. That was how she pulled at the strands of the force, careful not to disrupt Varian himself as she didn't know what the man would be able to do with the force. She didn't want to draw on it too much with the two of them in such a close proximity, any change in the ease of gathering the force for either of them. Even if it was for a split second that one of them would need to generate that extra bit because of her actions. It could mean his further injury and she was not so keen as to have to waste more energy healing him before they even got to their target... This present her with an interesting development though. If she killed one of them it would be interesting to study their bones later.

But... it was time to kill right now, not research their composition.

 

[Zef Halo]

The long beskad in one hand rather than two, his strength enhanced to wield it as quick as a one handed due to the Force, Varian himself moved as a predator facing the four of the Maalraas. Circling around, both parties awaited the other's actions. Attacking the predators first and head-on was not a good idea, the Maalraas were quite the agile and quick beasts. Testing their patience, the Mandalorian swung the beskad in the air at the predators in a feint. They roared as they moved back in a self-preserving act. He noticed that the predators were slowly spreading around him and attempting more or less to surround him and pin him down. Truly smart and patient predators.

But only one could survive in this battle for survival.

Abruptly a surge of refreshment engulfed him, his surprise made him lose focus and glimpse at Alexandra. A warstaff and a...tail ? Whatever had occurred had let him drop his guard down for a bit and the predators did not wait for a second chance. They launched forward, yet his beskad came in strong with a horizontal slash only to miss them. The Maalraas had feinted and quickly had gotten back to their previous maneuver of surrounding him and pinning him as he moved backwards.

So they judged the range of his weapon ? Or his reactions ? Were they really analyzing ?

Whatever the answer was to that question, the predators did not know that Varian was moving backwards in such a trajectory that he was putting Alexandra facing the predators backs. Varian's free hand pulsated with the Force as he sent once again the Felucian Force Blast at the predators knocking them backwards and delivering possibly good kinetic damage. The main idea was different, he aimed to send the Maalraas knocked back and disorganized at his hunting companion. Let her strike them down as much as she could while they were down.

"Catch!" Varian's voice boomed at Alexandra. Immediately after he would launch himself forward towards the knocked away at Alexandra beasts.

[member="Alexandra Feanor"]

 

[Alexandra Feanor]

[member="Varian of Myrkr"]

Her smile grew as the creatures took in the two of them and decided to focus on Varian. It was fair though as it was basic hunting instinct to go after those with injuries being they are generally seen as weaker and easier to take down. Yet there was still a glaring problem with this assumption, something she smiled at as they started to move and only one of them seemed to actually watch her, Humans were not that easy to deal with.

Sure, the human body was rather easy to fight against it was slower than most creatures, without natural defensive measures such as claws and fangs. Hell, it even felt fear much more easily than a beast did and to alot that would be crippled by the fact of what was before her and Varian. The problem was that she was not Human, and Varian was quite obviously more than capable of dealing with the creatures in his own way, not that he was required too and she smiled all the more as her and tightened on the staff.

It didn't take long though.

As soon as the word catch her hear ears, she shot at the first and closest to her, standing over it and sinking the staff into its head as she didin't it strugged and its claws reached out at her being that she had missed the being's brain and instead it was now bllnded with its maw trying to take a chunk out of her. While she would normally let the thing suffer and move onto her next target, its claws shredded through her clothing and caught her leg where she instantly found her body reacing. She sent a kick right into the Maalraas' chest, pushing the force behind it and slamming the body away from her. She had never once attempted to pull the staff out, creating a nail through the being's head and as its body was sent away, its head remained in the same position. This left the being with a neck that snapped like a twig, taking it out.

Now came the other three, she had spent more time than she had wanted with the first, a second one getting up and charging her as it jumped at her. She was only just able to pull out the staff of the creature's head, placing it infront of her and catching the mouth of the creature as the rest of the body slammed into her. The body of a Maalraas was not something that when it hit you would be a pushover. Infact the moment it had hit her, their bodies went tumbling into the snow until the two stopped and Alexandra was forced to kick the being off her. It hurt once more though as the creature's claws dug into her shoulders and tore at them, blood staining her otherwise white and silver thermal wear crimson. It was starting to effect her as it was from the last hit, but this one was more than simply painful as she stared at it.

This was wen she provided it with the surprise of her own, her hand shot out to push her over the ground, her feet kicking up the snow. Running on three limbs, her body rushed like a speeder to strike at the being into the chest with her own body, this time being the reason for their tumbling over the snow covered ground. She had turned the staff into a spear though, running the creature through as she had charged it, pushing it over the frosted ground until the both of them slammed into the cliff side. It cried out, but in a way that was no more comforting for her as she twisted her staff and withdrew it from the creatures body before spinning he shaft and letting the far end of it strike across the face of the creature sending it off its feet and hopefully out of commision itself.

There were still two more, waiting to strike at the Alex or Varian. Granted she was looking a bit worse for wear though, but this time their numbers were even. This would make things much easier, hopefully waitng for them to either split up and face them one on one, or for her to get another chance to wipe out the creatures as quickly as she can.

 

[Zef Halo]

She killed quick, quite quick but not clean enough. Alexandra was not a hunter so why did Mand'alor send her ? The question had to be raised after this showdown and after tending their wounds. Varian had noticed her tumbling with the predators, she had sustained damage from the beasts' claws. Luckily for them, the chance to be wounded more was diminished as the last of the two predators fled.

This battle was over.

Varian sheathed his beskad, no blood upon it. Then he reached for his backpack and took out a salve. The smell of Felucian herbs lingered in the air. A simple salve to disinfect any deep wounds that Alexandra might have attained. His other hand had already taken bandages out from a small pouch on his belt.

"Quick kills but not clean." Varian approached her and then gestured for her to show him her wounds. "Whatever species you seem to be , the salve will work."

"Maalraas tend to keep their claws clean but some younger one such as these might forget that habbit and still have carcass upon its claws." He bent down opening the hatch of the salve and offering it to her. " Why did Mand'alor sent someone who is not a hunter?"

[member="Alexandra Feanor"]

 

[Alexandra Feanor]

[member="Varian of Myrkr"]

Alexandra winced as they ran away and her body dropped the ground before looking at the Maalraas that she knew would not be quite dead. It was cruel to wait for this creature to wake so instead she sent the staff up and through the jaw of the creature, striking into the skull so that the creature would be dead. He made her pause though as she was busy wiping her hands and cleaning them of the blood that had stained them thanks to the quick but painful fight. The Crimson color was something that Alexandra had seen many times before and as she sat there, her shoulders would move back into the familiar position for a human.

Her voice would respond though, her eyes looking at Varian as he offered up the salve which she was happy to take. The smell was familiar, something that she had seen before in her studies with medicine and healing, and that was all she really needed but then he offered up the bandages where she just shook her head. "I don't need those, i can close these wounds on my own and seal up the damage with the force... show me your arm too. If we are talking about carrion and disease, you are the one who was bit, not me. As for the kills and why i am here..."

She paused and started to tend to her leg with the Salve, flinching but moving on to her shoulders soon enough. She was not done speaking though, with full intention to answer him as to his two statements. "These were not the targets, i saw no need to preserve their lives and even if they were the targets, their bones are intact for use. I don't know why 'your' Mand'alor suggested my inclusion on this mission, but the benefit to be gained after it was more than enough reason for me to take the time to hunt these creatures. Further my abilities, both physical and trained, are more than a advantage to hold on this mission... Now, give me your arm so i can tend to your wound as well."

 

[Zef Halo]

Varian unwrapped his leather vambraces and pulled his sleeve back. The Mandalorian's hand went directly for the salve and carefully he rubbed it on where the Maalraas' sharp teeth had been able to strike the flesh. The wound was not shallow but it was not deep as well. His leather vambraces had been well reinforced and still the predator had managed on delivering a strike. Truly, a dangerous beast to come across but certainly not something undefeatable.

"Not preserving their life, Alexandra but sparing them pain." Varian corrected her. Her killing the predators had shown him a capable wielder of the weapon but not a hunter. "Yes. You know about their bones. The Maalraas' scales deflect blaster fire. Yet, we cannot stay much longer here to 'salvage' the killed predators. The tracks are not as old as I firstly thought. Same pack."

"Let's go. We've got to reach the village before sunset." He stood up determined on the mission at hand. Varian then wrapped his wound with bandages and put back his leather vambraces on. The Mandalorian set forth.

"So you're not a Mando ?"

The journey to the village would not be long but neither short. Might as well talk while looking for any more clues and tracks that would lead them to the pack of Jakobeasts.

[member="Alexandra Feanor"]

 

[Alexandra Feanor]

[member="Varian of Myrkr"]

Alexandra watched him work and just shook her head as he tried to wrap it with bandages before her head just shook and she sighed again. "Look im healing that when we get to the Village. You are not hunting with a wound and Mandalorian or not, you are dealing with this moment of weakness my way." She started walking, not even touching the bandages as he would watch the blood flow slowly stop, drops and the crimson stains marking up her clothing as she walked through the valley with her leg in a state of limping for now.

"To answer your question, I am not a Mandalorian... in fact at one time before i was given this body, i had been the opposite of your very being. Something your Culture... succeeded over in drawing more and more followers while my culture was still confined to the blood of our people. Echani if you hadn't figured out what i mean, i am Echani through and through, even with this new body i remember my father and my home." Her smile as she walked and her hand twisted the still extended warstaff in her hands. "So yes, as you said I am certainly no hunter. Instead i am a warrior just as my people have been since the days of the old Republic. Something your kind has competed against as the warriors of the Galaxy."

Her hand stopped turning the staff in her hand as she looked along the shadows with eyes that no longer looked to the physical world but surrendered themselves to the force itself. "We sould hurry, we wasted enough time on the Maalbaas and the Jagobeasts are no doubt going to get further away now... can you run?" She looked at Varian with that smile on her face that brightened it up several times what it normally sat at. "Or will i have to carry you?"

 

[Zef Halo]

Varian inspected his hand as it began healing itself, the use of the Force by his companion was obvious. Nonetheless, he still disliked the idea someone was helping him. As a survivalist, Varian had used to the fact of being a lone wolf and not depending on others. He had also acquired healing skills, skills learned from the Felucian shamans. The Mandalorian would've protested against her intervention in his healing process but this time he remained silent. There was a prey to be hunted.

"Echani, I see." Varian commented and then chuckled slightly, something he did rare. "Maybe you will have the chance to prove how worthy the Echani to a Mandalorian."

The hunter preferred not to divulge into the topic of why she had another body and the details about it. He would gain nothing out of it and somethings better remained unknown to him. He simple knew it was a work of the Force and definitely not a simple one.

When Alexandra asked him whether he could run, the Mandalorian nodded.

"I am pretty sure, I can manage myself. Try to catch up." Varian tilted his head forward towards the long trek that awaited them through the canyon. The Force would aid them. He tapped into the well of the ethereal and then he was gone in a blur of motion. The Force enhancing his speed while his senses sharpened for any tracks that he might catch. Alexandra better catch up.

--

A snorting noise came up from his right and Varian abruptly halted the force enhanced sprint he was having. His whole energy he put in sensing the noising. It was coming from a crevice in the canyon to his right. Could it be ?
The Mandalorian switched to thermal vision and noticed that there were creatures somewhere 200 meters from his current position. He carefully went into the crevice and noticed the footsteps.

Jakobeasts!

The wide open canyon had let the winds erase the beasts' footsteps in the snow but the crevice had prevented from any wind entering the tight space. Hence, the footsteps of the pack remained on the ground. There was a lot of conclusions to be made of finding them this early. Going back to his earlier theory that they had much shorter sleep cycles when immigrating, Varian believed now that they certainly did abide on a stricter regime of sleeping when immigrating but apparently would hibernate for a very short time to resupply their needs for sleep, thus being here rather than somewhere after the village. It was when they were most vurnable, or at least that is what Varian believed. Could the Maalraas have known that ? Were they that intelligent to know the patterns of their prey so well ?

He would soon find out.

His path led him to an edge behind a boulder which overlooked a miniature valley, taking a glimpse without being seen he saw the pack of fifteen Jakobeasts. His eyes fell upon two mates and two pairs of cubs. These were not predators to be exterminated but the will of Mand'alor had to be followed. Yet, a hunter is a hunter. He lived in balance with the nature. These pack had to survive after this hunt.

"The two mates there with the slightly rather curly hide. Male and female, they are young and strong. Soon to mate as well. We let them live whatever may happen. Along with the cubs." Varian spoke, this time his tone was stern and very serious. " The two largest of these Jakobeasts would be the problem. Both had been alphas, most likely. They are elders and their strength in the Force is obvious. Together they can create waves with the Force that will send us flying back where we came from. We'll have to eliminate them quickly."

"Get yourself ready, Alexandra. Quickly. For they have most likely sensed us."


[member="Alexandra Feanor"]

 

[Alexandra Feanor]

[member="Varian of Myrkr"]

Alexandra had kept in step with him, her smile wide as she felt each step echo up er body before she grimaced the entire run. None of it slowed her down, using the force to numb the pain as she further healed it. Granted the healing had shut down to a barely noticeable degree thanks to the fact of having to put most of her focus in the actual run itsef. While the pain wasn't the worst she had felt... between getting a saber through the gut, your arms ripped off, torn apart on a level that severed her very being and personality... the pain in her leg was hollow. But it was still there none the less and she had to acknowledge that fact, after all she was no monster that could not feel such pain these days.

Her strides were just starting to find themselves without falter, then she found herself stopping dead. It seemed that Varian had found their targets and slowly Alex moved up beside im with her hand reaching to tear the rifle from her shoulder. It was a stun rifle, one made to take down prey like this but even that she knew would not be simple. No it would take a game of hit and retreat, hopefully being able to take them down before they started to run off. The reason she had thought about simply stunning them was to preserve the creatures until they needed to be taken out for good.

She wasn't sure when they would need to outright kill the animals for this item of theirs.