The fire crackled softly, casting flickering dark shadows on the walls. Axel sat beside Aria, who lay on her bedroll, her wings spread out to avoid further injury. Her face was pale, and her breathing shallow, a testament to the strain she had put on her body.
“How are you feeling?” Axel asked, his voice gentle when she began to stir.
Aria managed a weak smile. “Aria has been better, but Aria will recover. Thank you for taking care of Aria.”
Axel nodded, his expression serious. “You saved my life. It’s the least I can do.”
Axel then moved a pot of water gathered from the spring in the back of the cave mixed herbs into it and placed it over the fire. Then added the last of their stored meat from the earlier hunts but should be good for Aria and help speed up her recovery. Stirring the soup, the cave was very quiet, as Aria was conserving energy and trying to resist the pain in her body.
She tried to get up but failed as her body just could not move. “Could you help feed Aria? Aria has seemed to have fallen and can’t get up,” she said with a playful tone.
With a sigh, more in amusement than anything else, Axel gently moved her to his lap and let her lean against him, slowly feeding her the soup. The warmth of the soup spread through her body, easing some of the pain.
“Thank you, Axel,” Aria murmured between sips. “Aria appreciates this.”
Axel watched her, his mind racing with thoughts of their next steps. They couldn’t stay in the cave forever, but he needed to make sure Aria was strong enough to travel. He ladled some more soup into the bowl and brought it to her lips, his movements gentle and careful.
“We’ll stay here until you’re fully recovered,” Axel said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “I’ll go out and hunt for more food. We need to build up our supplies.”
Aria nodded, too tired to protest. “Aria understands. Aria will rest and get stronger.”
Axel stood up, grabbing his weapons and pack. “I won’t be long. Stay safe.”
As he stepped out of the cave the forest around him seemed more alive with the sounds of nature. It was getting later in the day and Axel knew he did not have much time to hunt. Axel moved silently through the underbrush; his senses heightened. He needed to find food, but his mind kept drifting back to Aria, lying vulnerable in the cave, likely making him sloppy in the hunt. He spotted a group of Snars darting through the foliage and quickly set to work, his movements precise and efficient, nailing each one with a well-placed knife throw.
Each successful hunt brought a small sense of accomplishment, but his thoughts were always on Aria. He needed to make sure she had enough to eat to regain her strength. After a few hours of hunting and gathering herbs he found along the way, Axel’s persistence paid off when he stumbled upon the tracks of a young Gin.
Following the trail, he found the creature grazing near a clearing. Using the cover of the trees, he approached cautiously. With a well-aimed throw, he brought the Gin down, sending it flying with the strength he added to the throw in his stress. Relief washed over him as he secured the kill, knowing it would provide much-needed nourishment for both of them. He did destroy his knife in the process of the throw but he would trade a throwing knife for a kill at this time.
Returning to the cave, Axel found Aria sitting up, looking a bit stronger. “I found a young Gin and some Snars,” he said, showing her the kills. “This should help you recover faster.”
Aria’s eyes lit up with gratitude. “Thank you, Axel. Aria is lucky to have you.”
Axel smiled, feeling a warmth spread through him at her words. “We’re a team. We look out for each other.”
As Axel prepared the meat over the fire, the aroma filled the cave, mingling with the scent of the herbs Axel had gathered. The atmosphere was cozy, the flickering fire casting a warm glow on the walls. Axel watched Aria closely, noting the slight improvement in her color and the steadiness of her breathing.
A playful thought entered his mind. Axel moved to the cookware that held the beast core and made sure that it was fully cooked. Then with an evil smile, he turned to her and said “Say Ahh” fully intending to get revenge for what she did to him while he recovered.
Aria spoiled his fun without missing a beat opening her mouth wide with an “Ahh”
Axel popped the core in her mouth and watched her happily chew away.
“Eat as much as you can,” Axel urged, handing her a piece of the cooked Gin. “You need to regain your strength.”
Aria nodded, taking the food with a grateful smile. “Aria will. Aria promises.”
They ate in companionable silence for a while, the crackling of the fire and the distant sounds of the forest creating a soothing backdrop. Axel’s mind, however, was still troubled by their recent encounter.
“We need to talk about what happened,” Axel said finally, breaking the silence. “That serpent… it’s too dangerous. We should avoid that area from now on.”
Aria looked up, her eyes flashing with determination. “No, Aria is tired of being ambushed. Aria wants to hunt that serpent.”
Axel frowned; concern etched on his face. “It’s incredibly dangerous. That thing could kill us both.”
Aria’s expression softened, but her resolve remained. “Aria understands the risks, but Aria is tired of running. Aria wants to take the fight to them.”
Axel sighed, knowing she wouldn’t be easily swayed. “All right, I can tell by the look in your eyes you won't be swayed but we need to be smart about this. The Shadowfang Serpent is one of the most dangerous beasts out there at the novice level. It can camouflage itself, its bite is paralyzing, and it’s resistant to most attacks. Even experienced hunters avoid it.”
A memory surfaced, a conversation with Cade as they fought with sticks before they even started their training with the storm. “My dad killed one of those,” Cade had said, his eyes shining with pride. “One day, I’ll do it too. Will you hunt it with me?”
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Aria sat up a bit straighter, wincing slightly. “Aria’s scouting index can help track it. Aria can find it before it finds us.”
Axel looked at her, seeing the determination in her eyes. With a sigh, he nodded. “All right. We’ll do it. But we need a solid plan.”
They spent the next hour discussing strategies, considering every possible danger and how to counter it. Axel felt a sense of resolve building within him, fueled by Aria’s encouragement and the memory of Cade. Later as the twin suns set Axel pulled up his beast index in full mode and called up the data on the Shadowfang Serpent.
Beast Index
Name: Shadowfang Serpent
Description:
* A massive, serpentine creature with dark, iridescent scales that blend into the jungle shadows.
* Glowing red eyes and long, venomous fangs capable of delivering a paralyzing toxin.
Known Abilities:
* Camouflage: Blends into surroundings, making it nearly invisible. Scales are well known for the ability to blend into even the lightest shadows.
* Venomous Bite: Delivers potent venom that can paralyze prey. This is very fast acting and needs healers to purge or a very long recovery time as it does not interact well with the Goddess's blessings.
* Constricting Coils: Uses its powerful body to crush and suffocate victims. Tends to coil paralyzed pray to kill through asphyxiation to not spoil the meal with the taste of ruptured organs.
* Enhanced Senses: Heightened senses of smell and heat detection.
Weaknesses:
* Sensitive Eyes: Vulnerable to bright light. Generally, a night hunter unless disturbed.
* Slow Movement: Not particularly fast, especially in dense underbrush. Known for rapid attacks from ambush but unlikely to chase prey far.
* Vulnerable Underbelly: Less armored than the rest of its body.
Encounter History:
* Rarity: Rare
* Village Records: Few documented encounters. Most information comes from scattered reports and the occasional sighting.
* Hunter Accounts: Some veteran hunters have mentioned seeing signs of the Shadowfang Serpent, but direct encounters are rare. The beast is known to avoid heavily populated areas and prefers deep jungle habitats.
* Approximate Death toll: Unknown
Recommendations:
* Use bright light to disorient the serpent.
* Use something to break or cover scales to ruin its ability to hide
* Target the underbelly for maximum damage.
* Avoid confrontation when able.
Axel knew this was not the most information on this beast and he had gone out of his way to gather it when he was younger planning to hunt one with Cade, Axel shuttered as the image of Cade's broken body passed through his mind, but these where beasts you had to be lucky or supremely unlucky to find based on how your encounter went. Axel shared the information he had with Aria, and they began to plan.
The first thing Axel did was pull out the herbalism book that his mother gave him and look for anything that would help fight the beast. Next, he laid out options to Aria from what he found. As he laid the options to her, Axel saw the moment something dawned in her head.
“Aria loves it when a plan comes together” and with a manic grin, she outlined her plan.
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Axel spent most of the next day with a now mostly recovered Aria, gathering the herbs and tools needed for her plan. They worked tirelessly through the night, combining the ingredients and crafting the necessary items. Dawn broke with Aria once again wrapped around the sleeping Axel. This time, Axel didn’t complain but gently extricated himself to stretch, relieve himself and go through his standard morning exercises.
After a quick breakfast, they gathered the sealed leaf balls they had made the previous day and set off towards the plateau. They had a serpent to kill! They careful travel up the path led them to the picturesque lake area. With a nod, Aria pointed at a faint trail she could see, and they began their plan. Axel moved to the same area where he had encountered the beast before.
The plan was simple but dangerous. They would lure the Shadowfang Serpent to the ledge where Axel had previously jumped. Aria would pelt it with a mix of herbs to block its sight and smell, while the packets also contained chalk to ruin the serpent’s ability to hide or see well. Axel would then draw its attacks, using Aria’s harassment with her aerokinesis to disorient it, making its attacks wild and uncontrolled, ultimately sending it off the cliff.
As they reached the designated spot, Axel took a deep breath, steadying his nerves. “Ready?” he asked, glancing at Aria.
Aria nodded, her eyes sharp and focused. “Ready.”
Axel moved into position, his halberd at the ready. Aria took to the air, her wings creating a soft whoosh as she ascended. She hovered above, scanning the area for any sign of the serpent. The minutes stretched into what felt like hours, the tension thick in the air.
Suddenly, there was the sound of one of the leaf balls hitting something. The white powder ruined the serpent’s stealth as Aria made a sound of celebration. The Shadowfang Serpent, its dark scales now visible, emerged from the shadows. Its eyes glowed with a anger as it slithered towards Axel, its movements smooth and deadly.
“Now, Aria!” Axel shouted.
Aria swooped down, releasing the second of the leaf balls. It exploded on impact, releasing a cloud of herbs that enveloped the serpent’s head. Using her aerokinesis to make sure that it covered the whole of the head. The beast hissed in anger and pain, thrashing its head as it tried to clear its senses. Aria continued her assault, dropping more packets that burst into clouds of blinding and disorienting powder.
Axel took advantage of the serpent’s confusion, moving in with swift, precise strikes. He aimed for its vulnerable underbelly, each blow calculated to drive the beast in anger but did little damage. The serpent lashed out, but its strikes were wild and unfocused, the chalk in the packets ruining its ability to aim properly.
Aria used her aerokinesis and heavy beating of wings to create gusts of wind, further disorienting the serpent and pushing it toward the edge by messing with its sense of direction. The beast’s movements became more frantic as its anger drove it to strike at its enemies.
With a final, desperate lunge, the serpent struck at Axel. He sidestepped, using his halberd to guide the beast’s momentum. Aria gathered a powerful gust of wind, with the rapid flapping of her wings and the combined force of a wind sphere and the redirected momentum to send the Shadowfang Serpent over the edge. It let out a furious hiss as it plummeted, disappearing into the depths below.
Breathing heavily, Axel and Aria stood at the edge, watching until they were sure the beast was gone. The adrenaline still coursed through their veins, making their hearts pound in their chests. Axel turned to Aria, a triumphant smile on his face. “We did it.”
Aria turned and leaped into Axel’s arms, giving him a deep kiss in a mix of excitement and adrenaline from the near-death encounter. Axel’s thoughts stopped at this moment and on instinct, he kissed her back just as fiercely. This moment in time seemed to stretch forever and end in an instant, but no matter how long it lasted, it would be a cherished memory for Axel. The warmth of her lips and the intensity of the kiss made the world around them fade away.
Breathing heavily, not so much from the short fight but from other emotions, Axel said, “We should head down and gather our prize.”
Aria, red-faced and a little shy now, nodded in agreement. With that, they hurried and made their way down the trail. The descent was steep and treacherous, but their excitement kept them moving. They found the serpent along some rocks, dead and unmoving. Its massive body was a testament to their victory. With a lot of effort, the pair cleaned and skinned the beast, taking special care of the scales as they would be worth a lot in Greenhaven when they returned. The scales shimmered in the fading light, a mix of dark and iridescent hues that spoke of the serpent’s deadly beauty.
As they worked, the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the landscape. The air was filled with the scent of the forest and the faint metallic tang of blood. Despite the exhaustion, Axel felt a sense of accomplishment and a deepening bond between him and Aria. This was the first true foe they had felled with their teamwork and they seemed to just mesh well together. A small part of Axel also relaxed as while Cade was not here in the flesh, he did accomplish something that they promised to do together, and as the haled the meat Axel sent a prayer into the Journal that his soul was well in the afterlife.