Just Another Day

Indeed, it was a few days before they found game. The days also passed without incident. Shanku and Katari would take turns listening and smelling for danger and fresh game, and all four took turns standing watch at night. Hilael turned most of his focus to finding good plants to eat kept their diet varied with various plants, roots, and fungus he found along the way.

"Hilael, I think you've missed your calling as a gatherer," Katari said as he leaned back against a tree one night.

"I'd be pretty miserable on just jerky and acorn rolls," Shanku agreed. "I never was that good at finding supplements when I was out on my own. Maybe you can teach me a few things?"

"Perhaps," Hilael said quietly and finished off his meal.

"So what exactly is it that you do?" Katari asked Piram. "Surely it can't be your job to look after messengers all the time."

"I am one of the elite guard," Piram said. "A step above a warrior as we are the personal fighters of the ruling class."

Shanku rolled her eyes and stayed quiet.

"You still have to train with the warriors, do you not?" Katari asked.

"Yes, but after we get our basic skillset, we then are taught by those speically trained for guarding the more important people of the Scissortail clan," Piram nodded.

"I'm stepping out for a moment," Shanku said and excused herself. Innugati did not join her and instead curled up on Hilael's leg. Shanku went out a good ways into the dark forest. When she was far enough away she knew the others could not hear her, her skin rippled and began to sprout fur. Her features changed, and soon she was in her feral form. She did not have an aura. Shanku had learned while hunting for the Highland how to suppress her aura so as not to attract the attention of predators. Or Sigrid, who was not fond of Shanku assuming the bare skinned "lesser form" that most Kurach preferred to stay in.

Shanku carefully tucked her tunic under her belt, dropped down to four feet, and padded quietly among the trees. It felt very good to be back in her feral form. Shanku grinned. Not so long ago, I hated the thought of becoming a "monster". Maybe those featherbrains were on to something after all.

The sound of a snapping twig and rustling leaves caught her attention. Stealthily, Shanku crept toward the noise. Her ears were facing forward to catch the slightest sound of movement and she thankfully was downwind this time. She recognized the footfalls as the same thing she had heard the other day. Every so quietly, she came up behind it. Whatever it was, it was making its way toward their camp.

The soft, orange glow of the campfire shone on the nearby trees as Shanku crouched behind a bush. It stopped and stood still. Shanku took the moment to try and recognize its scent. It was familiar, but she could not quite place it.

Innugati leapt off of Hilael's knee and started chittering loudly. The thing in front of Shanku hissed and sprang for Innugati.

Katari, Hilael, and Piram jumped to their feet and stepped back as a large, reptilian creature hit the ground and a feral Shanku landed on its back. There was a lot of snarling and hissing as it scrambled to get away and Shanku tried to pin it down. It kicked Shanku sharply in the stomach and knocked her off of itself. Shanku barely grunted and stood firmly on four paws as the thing righted itself and stood across from her.

It had dull, black scales, a long and sleek body, and cruel looking fangs and claws. And very familiar glowing, green eyes. It arched its back and hissed nastily at Shanku. She in turn lowered her head to the ground, arched her wings, and growled deeply.