Zeldritzon [Cycle 4] - Dusking Skies
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Current Location:
[Ungroot Zone]
[UvoSath Forest of the UvoSath Realm]
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KiAera watched as the Skyrawltal lay motionless, its body heaving shallow breaths, its massive wings limp. The battle was over, but her mind remained alert. Amber stood nearby, panting but vigilant. The Kobolbos had begun tying the fallen beast.
KiAera's ears twitched. Something didn't feel right. She had learned long ago to trust her instincts, and right now, they screamed at her. There was an unnatural silence that settled over the gorge—too sudden, too heavy. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.
Her heart quickened. She flicked her tail, signaling Amber to stay alert. The LeapLeap immediately stiffened.
Then, it came—the sound that chilled KiAera to her core.
A second screech tore through the air, sharper, more piercing than the first. It wasn't just a distant call. It was close.
Too close.
KiAera’s breath hitched as her eyes snapped to the sky. There, high above the twisted canopy, two massive shapes broke through the misty clouds, their shadows blotting out the weak light. Two Skyrawltals. Larger. Stronger. They circled like vultures, their eyes locked on the scene below. The unmistakable gleam of hunger in their gaze.
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Creature: Skyrawltal [1]
APeX: [234 Units]
Attributes: [Wind] [Deino]
Faction: [Predator]
Variant Grade: [Common]
Evolution Stage: [Fledgling]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
Creature: Skyrawltal [2]
APeX: [258 Units]
Attributes: [Wind] [Deino]
Faction: [Predator]
Variant Grade: [Common]
Evolution Stage: [Fledgling]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
KiAera glimpsed the tied Skyrawltal, and the realization hit her: this wasn't just one rogue hunter. It was a family.
The captured Skyrawltal suddenly cried out several times with roars. Beta Osseod chirped to it and immediately relayed the intelligence to her. "Beta Osseod hear Skyrawltal say high-high Skyrawltals are bullies. Riva will eat Skyrawltal?"
"Rivals…just great, so we all share the same predicament."
Her heart pounded in her chest as she took in the sight of them. These creatures dwarfed the one they had just defeated, their wingspans vast enough to cast shadows over the entire gorge. Their talons gleamed like polished obsidian, and their shrieks rattled through the air, vibrating through the bones of every creature present.
KiAera could feel the shift in her party's demeanor. The Kobolbos faltered, fear creeping into their eyes. Even Amber's hackles were raised, her feathers bristling as she backed closer to KiAera.
They hadn't just won a battle. They'd invited war.
One of the Skyrawltals swooped lower, its wings beating with slow, powerful strokes, surveying the scene like an executioner. The other circled high, keeping watch.
KiAera's mind raced. They were outmatched. Trapped.
She gritted her teeth, the taste of ash and dirt heavy in her mouth. Her Spectral Flame flickered weakly around her tail; the energy drained from the previous fight. There was no way they could fend off both creatures—especially not in their current state.
"We need to move," she growled with her voice barely audible over the beating of wings. But even as the words left her lips, she knew it might be too late.
One of the Skyrawltals let out a bone-rattling screech and dove.
KiAera's eyes widened.
I need a plan. Now.
KiAera's extendable ears shot out, grabbing the closest twisted vines from the nearby trees, her agile body darting between the trunks, lifting the wounded Skyrawltal along behind her. "Move!" she hissed, her mind calculating the terrain, searching for anything that could give them an edge.
The ground beneath her paws trembled as the Skyrawltal struck, its talons digging into the earth, sending a shower of debris flying. It missed by inches, its gleaming eyes narrowing as it launched itself back into the air, preparing for another strike.
"Damn it, they’re fast," KiAera muttered under her breath as she swung through the trees, her ears gripping vines like makeshift limbs. The wounded Skyrawltal jerked behind her, the Kobolbos scrambling to keep pace, their fear palpable as the second creature circled above, screeching with rage.
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Her mind raced. The first Skyrawltal had been tough enough, but two of them? In this state? That was pushing it.
She flicked her tail to get Amber’s attention. "We need to lead them away from here. Get them split up if we can. Any ideas?"
Amber growled low, her sharp eyes flicking toward the gorge walls. The LeapLeap was smart, faster than most, but even she knew this was going to be a tight call.
"Yeah, I know," KiAera muttered, reading Amber's silent agreement. The terrain wasn't doing them any favors. If they got pinned down in this gorge, they were dead. The jagged cliffs might give them some cover, but not for long.
Another screech rang out, closer this time. KiAera's ears twitched. One of the beasts was diving again. The air shifted, cold and sharp, the pressure building as the Skyrawltal gained speed.
Her muscles tensed. Timing had to be perfect.
"Scarbol! Split the group!" she barked, her voice sharp and commanding. The Osseods clicked in acknowledgment, immediately ushering the Kobolbos toward the thicker part of the gorge, where the twisted trees offered some cover.
KiAera swung herself into the upper branches, her ears hooking and snapping vines like a spider spinning its web. She glanced back just in time to see the second Skyrawltal diving for them, talons outstretched and gleaming.
"NOW!" she shouted, just as she flung herself off the tree.
The Skyrawltal slammed into the spot where she'd been perched, shattering the branches with a deafening crack. KiAera landed nimbly on the ground, her ears recoiling back into their smaller form. The creature roared in frustration, wings beating hard as it tried to regain altitude. But that hesitation, that moment of anger, was all she needed.
"Amber, hit it!" she shouted.
Amber didn't need telling twice. The LeapLeap launched herself from the shadows, slamming into the Skyrawltal's side with a force that sent the beast careening into the rock wall. It screeched in pain, its wings crumpling as it tried to right itself.
KiAera wasted no time. She sprinted toward the tangled mess of branches and rocks, her mind calculating every angle, every advantage. The creature was grounded, disoriented, but not for long.
Her Spectral Flame flickered weakly at the edge of her consciousness, but she pushed it down for now. Save that for later.
"Keep it off balance!" she yelled to Amber, who was already darting around the creature, her claws raking at its legs. The Kobolbos, seeing an opening, began hurling their spears, though their aim was shaky at best.
The second Skyrawltal let out another screech, this one higher, more desperate, as it realized its partner was in trouble. KiAera felt a chill run down her spine. It was about to come in for a coordinated strike.
She had to move. Fast.
"Alright, we're gonna play dirty," she muttered, her mind already formulating a desperate plan. She darted toward the injured Skyrawltal that had been their initial target, the one now tethered to the tree line. It let out a weak groan as she approached, its eyes flicking between her and the battle.
Beta Osseod squeaked on her shoulder.
"Listen, you don't want to be food for your own kind, right?" she voiced, low but urgent. "Help me, and I'll make sure you don't end up like that."
The creature growled, its chest heaving as it considered her words. But it didn't have much of a choice. With a resigned grunt, the Skyrawltal gave a slight nod, and KiAera wasted no time.
She sliced through the ropes holding it down, releasing its limbs. "Go!" she commanded, pointing toward the cliff. The beast lurched to its feet, its wings trembling as it tried to lift off. It wasn't in any condition to fight, but it could at least buy them some time.
Just as the second Skyrawltal dove, talons aimed for the kill, the injured Skyrawltal took to the air, slamming into it mid-dive. The impact sent both creatures spiraling into the trees, their roars of anger and pain echoing through the gorge.
KiAera didn't stop to watch. "Everyone, move!" she yelled, waving her team toward the narrow crevice at the far end of the gorge.
Amber bounded ahead, leaping over rocks and debris with ease, while the Kobolbos and Osseods scrambled after her. KiAera followed, her heart racing as she felt the air shift again—those Skyrawltals weren't down for long.
But they'd bought themselves a few precious moments.
As they reached the crevice, KiAera turned back, catching a glimpse of the two Skyrawltals wrestling in the air, their screeches ripping through the forest. Her ears twitched, taking in every sound, every shift in the atmosphere.
"Let's hope that’s enough to slow them down," she muttered, wiping the sweat from her brow. For now, they had to regroup, recharge, and find somewhere—anywhere—to disappear before the next wave hit—
One of the Skyrawltals dove, its claws extended toward Amber, who leaped to the side just in time. But KiAera felt the shockwave of the beast's impact as it smashed into the ground, uprooting trees and sending dirt flying. The LeapLeap staggered, barely managing to stay on her feet, and KiAera could see her comrade was growing tired.
Amber's breaths came in ragged gasps, and her once vibrant amber eyes dimmed with exhaustion. She was fast, but the Skyrawltal was faster. They wouldn't be able to keep dodging forever.
KiAera turned to face the sky, fury coursing through her veins. She knew she had no choice.
With a guttural snarl, she summoned her [Spectral Flame], blue and black fire crackling to life around her fur. It burned brighter than before, fueled by desperation. She shot a stream of flame into the sky, aiming directly at the diving Skyrawltal. The fire hit its wing, causing the creature to screech in pain and veer off course, but it recovered quickly, circling again, enraged.
The other one closed in fast.
KiAera's body tensed. They had to win. They couldn’t afford to lose here, not after coming so far.
Just then, the ground beneath Amber gave way as the second Skyrawltal's claws tore into the earth, finally landing a direct hit. Amber let out a high-pitched cry, her body thrown to the ground with a brutal thud.
KiAera's heart stopped.
Time seemed to slow. Her heart drummed. The world around her faded into a blur, and all she could see was Amber, lying motionless, the Skyrawltal standing over her, its talons poised for the final strike.
Her mind flooded with a vivid recollection which surged with a force that felt unbearable. KiAera was transported to another time, another place. The soul-crushing images of the past materializing before her very eyes—blending with the ravaging chaos of the despicable present…
> …a child, stood in front of a house consumed by flames. Tears streamed down her face, mingling with the sweat and soot that covered her skin. She trembled with exhaustion, tranced in fear to the bleak devastation…she grasped a smaller hand...
…as the same feeling of helplessness and terror she experienced before tried to grip her once more. The crackling fire licked at the edges of her consciousness, taunting her with their merciless glow.
Gradually, her breathing began to slow, her panic subsiding. The flames around her seemed to lose their ferocity, slowly fading into the background. The past and the present separated, allowing her to gain a semblance of control.
NO. NOT HER. NOT AMBER!
GIVE HER TO ME!
NOW!
{...}
{whisper has been...Activated.}
A heat unlike any KiAera had ever felt exploded from her chest, coursing through her veins like wildfire. Her vision blurred as an intense glow surrounded her. Her eyes snapped shut, but behind her eyelids, the Mark burned like the sun itself. Her forehead felt as though it were on fire, yet she couldn’t stop the surge of energy erupting from within.
The Mark burst into life with a dazzling brilliance. Light poured from it, enveloping her and Amber in a vortex.
Her form twisted and shifted, the air around her crackling with energy as she felt Amber's essence—her strength, her will, her spirit—merge with her own.
She had become something more.
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
[Chimera Synchronization]:
{UNSTABLE}
Name: KiAera (Hybrid)
Age: [Glitch] [25]
Race: [Merecritt] + [LeapLeap]
Species: [Merecritt] + [LeapLeap]
Evolution Stage: [Hybrid] [Fledgling]
Variant Grade: [Hybrid] [Common]
Attribute Influence: [Beast] [Fire] [Wind]
APeX: [152 Units] → {Bond Bonus: C} → [228 Units]
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
A chimera.