Unforgiving Existence

[Erishara Vohn]

Ruins - Desert Wastes

Tatooine

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The sun had just begun to crest over the horizon, the desert waste ruins bathed in early morning light as the shadows behind pillars and rubble stretched and disappeared into the sands. Usually this section of Tatooine was silent, the sand barren of steps and nothing seen for miles. Though today, it had visitors; crossing through the collapsed temple grounds was a group of poachers dressed in simple desert cloths.

Three men and two woman were trekking across the ocean of nothing before them in order to return to a ship hidden far away, for they had been tracking the prey they dragged with them bound and wounded behind them. Black wings dug a small trench as a smaller form was dragged behind the group, ties binding every limb together to keep from escape, bloodied cuts crossing the form as she laid in acceptance, her escape unlikely at best. Every bit of fight she had was worn to exhaustion, the lack of care given evident as she was mostly face down in burning sands.

As they passed a trail of blood was left in wake, one of the group leaning heavily on another as a hand rested across their chest. Raked across and through clothing was an non survivable wound, the claws marks through chest dug deep with intent. After a short while they collapsed in the shadow of the ruins, only to be left to rot under the harsh sun. Why would they stop when they had such a rewarding bounty in hands. Those of the Avaris Harpyia not killed, were most often sold as slaves.

@Kaderazshthas

 

[Kaderazshthas]

Kade looked out towards the unending sea of sand that was the Tatooine desert, searching for any disturbance in sight before he left for his patrols. Hunters were becoming more and more bold as their presence increased on the planet. The Avaris Harpyia had to take heavy precautions in recent days. So many had been taken by the hunters. Most of what was left was brought in by Clan Hurbek. Kade fought tooth and claw to protect his people. Under his watchful eye, many of his kind were saved. However, some were still taken, unable to get to Clan Hurbek first. Unfortunately, even those not under his protection seem to plague Kade's psyche.

"Kade, the scouts are ready," mentioned one of the Hurbek veteran scouts. "Is everything alright?"

Kade turned from the horizon to face the scout. "Let's go." Kade reached down and picked up his spear before turning back to the cave entrance and taking off into the air. Several Hurbek scouts followed behind him swiftly, the combined power of their wings disrupting the sand beneath them heavily on takeoff. Kade lead them into the sky until they reached an optimal height, from which they cruised through the sky and searched for threats below. Several villages passed by under them as they searched until they found a small makeshift camp. "Look below. Fresh camp. There must be hunters nearby."

As Kaden continued, he spotted an ancient ruin with a suspicious trail leading to it. Upon further searching, he could see there was blood. "To the ruins. Someone must be hurt. Or something worse." The group quickly flew to the ground and landed. "There's several different footsteps. And either some Hutt or something or someone being dragged." In the corner of Kade's eye, he spotted a feather. A large feather. "Ready yourselves. Hunters." Kade gripped the hilt of his spear tightly. The others pulled their weapons from their holsters then began moving into the ruins.

As he got further into the ruins, Kade walked up to a body that had evidently bled out and died. "It's still warm. They aren't far. We've got to hurry." Kade then sped up his movement, almost to a sprint as he led his scouts through the ruins. The Hurbek harpies spread out in order to cover more ground as they searched for the hunters. Kade soon could smell another harpy not of his clan. He walked past a pillar and could see the hunters ahead of him, dragging a harpy behind them. Without thought, Kade launched his spear at one of the hunters backs. After his spear left his hands, the other Hurbek scouts would charge the other hunters, weapons drawn, and Kade leaped towards the captured harpy.

"Are you injured? Can you move?"

[member="Erishara Vohn"]​

 

[Erishara Vohn]

The spear flew past Erishara and into the man dragging her through sand, his form crumbling as it passed through his body and lodged itself halfway inside his torso. Before another moment went by a man was before her, bombarding her with questions. As he stood above her the binds holding the Harpy from moving could be seen, wrapped around legs, arms, hands and even wings; her body held stiff in the way they were arranged. Across Erishara's pale skin were deep wounds and some superficial scrapes from the landscape she was hauled across.

"I'd appreciate some help getting these bindings off, I'm fine beyond that." White eyes stared up at Kade as his form was dark from the shadows of the above sun.

The woman was indeed not one of his own clan, the skin pale and burnt as if it hadn't seen the sun in ages before now. Wings were inky black and contrasted darkly against the sands below; hair was devoid of color, completely white as the blank eyes staring up at him.

With binds cut she would stand shakily, malnourished and beaten rather heavily to gain compliance enough to be tied. "Thank you for your kindness, many would have just turned the other way."

[member="Kaderazshthas"]

 

[Kaderazshthas]

Kade reached for his knife from his belt and began to cut through the bindings holding his fellow harpy hostage. They were tough, but he was tougher. With some strong cuts, Kade had her freed in no time. The fighting around them had stopped as the last of the hunters fell to Kade's fellowship.

"Let's get you on your feet. Can you stand?" Kade knelt down to aid her onto her feet, in case she needed help. "No one deserves to be hunted and captured like a wild animal. No one." Kade looked around at the bodies that now lie in the ruins. "Let the sands be their graves. They deserve worse fates, but we do not have the time to remain here. Return to the den at once."

As Kade commanded, the Hurbek scouts took off and returned to the clan's den. Kade stayed behind to look after the girl. "My name is Kaderazshthas, but my people call me Kade." The harpy warrior gave a calming smile. "I don't believe I have seen you here before. Where is your clan?"

[member="Erishara Vohn"]​

 

[Erishara Vohn]

With his further help the smaller woman came to her feet, wings outstretching with the removal of bindings to show the few missing feathers on the wide reach. "An act deserving of their deaths, I agree."

Watching the others go the woman rested momentarily, her eyes returning to glance over the man before her. "Erishara, of the Vohn clan, or I suppose of what was. We lived in the ruins to the south, digging deep into the core of the planet. Though my family was picked off long ago, only a few of us remained."

A thin hood was pulled up over fair skin to hide it from further damage, wings beginning to beat as the sands shifted around them and her assent happened slowly. "The sands are not as welcoming as one may think, if it weren't so lonesome I'd prefer the company of darkness. Though I should have expected misfortune after what happened to the others of my blood."

Casting herself further into the sky she watched down expectant for Kade to lead, or part ways.

"Tell me, are there things worth remaining in danger so often, or have you all just no other place to go?"

Kaderazshthas

 

[Kaderazshthas]

Kade had shown a look of confusion as she mentioned her clan's name. "Clan Vohn? I have not heard of you. I am sorry for your loss of your family. My clan has suffered lately as well, but we remain strong in the face of tragedy."

The warrior harpy rose to his feet as she did and looked over her form, ensuring she was not severely injured. "Yes. To live here, one must be hardened to the point where ruthlessness is as normal as waking up in the morning." He extended his wings and flapped them strongly, raising him into the air, alongside Erishara.

"This is our home. We refuse to let cutthroats and hunters run us away from it. We fight to defend it and will do so until there are none of us left. You'll come to see that Clan Hurbek is quite stubborn. Come. We have a healer that can look to your wounds."

Kade took off to the northwest, soaring through the sky towards Clan Hubrek's cave. "If you wish, you may stay with us for as long as you like. Many others on Tatooine who have lost their clans to poachers have been brought in by Clan Hurbek. Some go out on their own to find a new home on a different planet. Some stay and join the clan."

Erishara Vohn ​