Just Another Day

The group passed the night uneasily and not many got much sleep. They got an early start on their journey the next morning and continued on. Shanku was a bit groggy and Hilael made them stop every few hours so he could check her arms. That afternoon, Hilael and Innugati left the group and strode off into the forest.

"Should we wait?" Piram asked.

"I'd appreciate it," Shanku said, gasping lightly. She sat down on the ground and nibbled at her shoulder.

"Are you alright?" Katari asked and knelt beside her.

"It itches!" Shanku growled.

"Don't scratch it, you'll make it worse," Katari frowned and put a hand on her shoulder.

Innugati took off and fluttered quickly between the trees. Hilael followed closely behind, glancing at each plant they passed by as he listened to the flutter of her wings to guide him. Each time she dipped and dived, he gathered that plant. She chirped and Hilael turned on his heel. He began to run back toward where he left the group behind, plants in hand.

Katari looked toward the sound of footfalls and saw Hilael come back with several oddly-colored plants. He sat down a bit aways from the others, dug around in his pack, and withdrew the stone bowl and rock he liked so much. He set to grinding up the plants as Innugati chittered and trilled to him. After he had made a rather odd smelling paste, he went over to Shanku and began to take off her bandages.

Shanku laid her ears back as she saw her scratch marks had turned the same dark green as the reptiles blood. Hilael began to rub the paste into her injuries. Shanku did not move her arm, but let loose a growl and hiss that sounded much like a cat having their tail stepped on.

"I think you've spent too much time with that cat," Katari muttered and shook his head.

"That goop stung more than the actual slash," Shanku snarled as Hilael redressed her injuries.

"You'll be fine," Hilael said. "Be careful next time."

"Next time, we sleep in the trees like I always did," Shanku grumbled.

"What are you, an Imperial?" Piram demanded. "Imperials sleep in the trees, we sleep on the ground!"

"Well maybe the Imperials actually got something right for once," Shanku snapped. "This is exactly why I don't sleep on the ground! I don't want to be level with those kinds of things. And frankly, I don't trust your fighting skills, Mr. Elite Guard."

"I assure you my skills are superior to yours," Piram narrowed hsi eyes.

"Alright, then. You, me, now," Shanku hissed and stood. She removed her pack and knife, and laid them aside. Shanku brought her fists up before her and took a ready stance.

"Would both of you calm down?" Katari groaned. "You're barely in any condition to fight right now anyway."

"Oh, no, I've been wanting to put this pup in her place for quite some time," Piram growled and stood. He removed his tunic and pack, and flung them back on the ground. Piram brought his fists up and waited.

Before Katari could protest, Hilael touched his arm and shook his head. With a sigh, Katari stepped back with Hilael. Innugati trilled and settled herself on Hilael's shoulder.

It was Shanku's challenge, so she felt obliged to make the first move to save face and not present as a coward. She leapt forward in a simple lunge, hoping to make him dodge to her left. He side-stepped her more obvious attack with a bit of a smug grin, until he saw her knee coming straight up as she continued her stride forward. She connected with his side and quickly pivoted back into a ready stance a step away from him.

"What kind of Sylvan uses knees?" Piram glared at her and held a hand over his bruised side.

"This one does!" Shanku quipped and charged him again. She opened her hands and kept her fingers tight together. Shanku struck out at Piram. He blocked her and landed a blow to the side of her head. Shanku flicked her ears in response and the two traded blows for a few moments. Shanku stepped back, and lunged again.

Piram side-stepped again, to the right this time and struck out with a clawed hand at her. Shanku dropped to the ground to avoid the slash and with her momentum brought her knee up hard into the back of his leg. He lost his balance and began to fall forward.

Shanku quickly flipped onto her back uncomfortably on her feathers, drew her knees up to her chest, and kicked him hard with both feet into the same tender place in his side as before as he hit the ground.

Piram groaned audibly and clutched his side. Shanku scrambled to her feet and stood back a few paces.

"Good grackles, pup," Piram said with a strained voice and one eye squeezed tight. "You kick like a bull."

"I know, I was trained by Kurach half a torso taller than us," Shanku said with a warm smile and offered a hand to him. "You're not so bad yourself!" Piram shook his head and let her help him out.