A piercing screech came from the owlbear’s den, followed by the thunderous rumbling of Tygus sprinting out of the den. The owlbear emerged with another razorsharp cry on its hindlegs. It was huge, standing tall well over three meters. Its face was that of an owl with a huge black beak, and its thick body was covered in a mix of brown fur and feathers. This monstrous cross fell forward onto all four of its limbs, like a bear, but with forelimbs that were powerful wings.
Cillian had never seen anything like it. His heart raced and a cold sweat lined his body. He started shaking uncontrollably.
Tygus ran forward until he was just under the branch where Ravel was perched. The owlbear pounced after him. Then, the dwarf swiveled on his heels and gracefully plunged his spear right into the stomach of the beast.
It reeled as it got pushed back up onto its hind talons. The owlbear’s cry of pain made Cillian’s ears feel like they were gonna bleed. It snapped with its beak at Tygus’ head, and he easily rolled out of the way. The spear was left impaled into the creature.
“Now Ravel!” Tygus screamed.
The tabaxi obeyed the order and leaped off the branch. The entire tree shook as Ravel catapulted into the air. His spear was pointed straight downward and he aimed for the owlbear’s back.
Ravel landed on his target, and his spearhead slid past the fur and feather and into the flesh until the metal crossbar prevented further penetration.
The owlbear rocked in frenzy, letting out a disorienting screech the entire time. The shaking tossed the yellow tabaxi from side to side, and he clutched the spear-shaft to avoid being thrown off. As the owlbear shook forward and backwards, trying to knock off its assailant, Ravel’s grip around the spear faltered. In order to maintain his position, he instinctively dug his hind-leg’s claws into the creature’s fur.
With one powerful jump, accompanied by a flap of its massive wings, the owl bear flew high into the air. Its intention was not to stay afloat, however, and it came crashing down into the forest floor just as fast. The thousands of kilograms the beast carried created such a strong impact on collision, that it knocked all of the tabaxi’s grips out except for one.
Ravel’s body was flattened out on the wing of the owlbear, and he was barely hanging onto the spear shaft with one hand. The creature shook its monstrous wings, trying to fling the pest off, but to no avail.
Cillian was crouched with his spear in hand. His entire body was coiled and Cillian was fighting his impulse to dash into the fray and help his friend. He was staring at the dwarf, waiting for Tygus’ signal to be unleashed.
The owlbear suddenly sucked the wing that housed the lower half of Ravel, in to its body and then rolled onto the wing, like a stray dog trying to squash a bug that pestered its side. Ravel sensed what was happeneing and tried to climb his legs free, but he was not fast enough.
The owlbear’s roll had caught one of Ravel’s legs and crushed it with the tremendous weight. Ravel fell back onto the forest floor and screamed out in agony. He felt the bones in his ankle, foot, and below the knee fracture and snap under the tremendous pressure.
The scream that the injured tabaxi let out found its home somewhere deep within Cillian’s mind. The boy rushed forward, his legs moving before his mind could.
“No! Not yet Cillian!” Tygus screamed, but Cillian did not heed his word. He was in a frenzy that could never be reasoned with.
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The beast’s predatory eyes quickly caught Cillian as he ran straight towards it. It rolled back up to its feet and spread its wings. The damage that it took from the first two attacks made its movements clumsy and slow, but the owlbear still had the fury to attack.
Cillian charged with a raging cry. The owlbear waited for Cillian to get close and then tried to bite at his head. The pain of the spears that were planted in its body delayed the movements enough for Cillian to react. He lifted his spear horizontally in front of his face. The creature’s attack was right in line with Cillian’s block, and the shaft of the spear was stuck right across its open mouth.
The owlbear tried to bite at Cillian, its razor sharp beak was only centimeters from Cillian, but it couldn’t snap the wooden handle of the spear. It took all of Cillian’s strength to keep it from removing his face.
Even with all of the chaos, the owlbear could still sense the dwarf that was sneaking behind it. The feeling of being surrounded was too threatening and fear became the overpowering instinct for the beast. It swiftly flapped its wings to gain some elevation and then wrapped one of its colossal feet around Cillian.
The talons gripped Cillian from his chest to his back, and he felt the piercing of the flesh on his back. The three talons did not penetrate deep, but the pain was still enough to make Cillian scream.
“No! Cillian!” Tygus let out a cry as he saw the owlbear gain more and more height till it was well above the treeline. He looked at the keeled over Ravel, then back at the owlbear that was carrying Cillian. He didn’t know what to do.
Cillian was struggling and trying to wrench his way out of the claws with his spear, but nothing he did could loosen the grip the monstrosity had on him.
Tygus desperately searched the ground for something and found a rock the size of his fist. Just as the owlbear was leaving out of his vision, Tygus unleashed the rock right at the beast.
At this point, when Cillian laid his head back, he could see that he was high above the trees, and he couldn't see Tygus or Ravel anymore. Then, he heard the same booming sound he heard when he got his trial, followed by a powerful thud on the owlbear.
Suddenly, he started to lose altitude. The once tight grip faltered and Cillian fell into the trees as the owlbear and him were sent careening somewhere into the forest.
***
When Cillian came to, the first thing he felt was the stinging pain of cuts all over his body, followed by the throbbing. He was facedown in the slushy snow, and pine needles, twigs, and mud had found their way in the orifices in his face. He got up to his hands and knees and tried to rub out all the gunk.
The last thing he remembered was his fall being broken by numerous branches.
That would explain the hurt.
Cillian got up to his feet and tried to wipe his body clean, but he had limited success. He looked around, trying to get his bearings. The sun was no longer right above his head.
How long was I out?
Cillian wandered some more as he tried to figure out what his next course of action was. He had no idea where he was, even more so since he was not able to see anything on their trek out to the owlbear’s den. His lack of concern for his own safety surprised himself.
I failed. Ravel got hurt and I failed to help him. I failed to listen to Tygus. I failed at the perfect hunt.
Anger and frustration built up inside Cillian, but he was too tired to act upon it.
Tygus is probably out looking for me. I just need to find my way back, I couldn’t have gone far.
As he walked, a glimmer caught his eye. When he approached it, he saw that it was his spear. It was thrown on the forest floor against a spruce tree. Cillian picked up the spear.
Maybe I haven’t failed yet.
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Eye Of The Owlbear