Not Much Redemption [Anniversery #4]

There was one last part to the jobs of Kasir, Auruo, Calvin, Sedna, Tinsel, Shenadoa, Harley Quinn, Dulce, Leo, and Kaden. They needed to bring back some sort of meat, other than fish, for the chieftain's birthday party. Leo suggested birds and nobody disagreed. Tex had left for the day, deciding that she’d quit dealing with the others while she was head. One other tokota took her place and again Kasir found himself what the hell was up with all of these sphinx tokotas coming to their aid. This one was a pure white male, with intense blue eyes. He carried himself with confidence. His name was Zerachiel, and he was thought to be a very spiritual tokota within the village. The others respected him, but Kasir could honestly care less as to what the village thought of him. Spiritual or not spiritual, Kasir was getting tired of all these strangers showing up and messing with what he was trying to make into a relaxing day. The long-maned dire had, however, decided he’d participate in the bird hunt. Even if he’d get risk getting blood on his glorious coat he still enjoyed the thrill of a chase. Besides, he couldn’t let this Zerachiel dude out-do him.

Dulce and Leo hung back as the tokotas continued forwards toward the meadow. They weren’t very useful in this sort of thing. Dulce, technically, had sharp teeth that she could use to hunt, but she wasn’t so interested in it. She actually preferred grass over meat any day, even if a lot of equus ballators liked it the other way around. Sedna, Tinsel, Harley Quinn and Shenadoa decided to sit this one out as well. They only needed so many birds, so it was pointless for all of them to hunt. That left Kasir, Zerachiel, Auruo, Calvin, and Kaden to do the dirty work. They didn’t mind one bit, though. Auruo and Calvin showed up. Kaden and Kasir were both looking to be the top dog here, so to speak, so they worked alone. Zerachiel didn’t really feel the need to hunt with anyone else either, so he went alone.

Leo, Dulce, Sedna, Tinsel, Harley Quinn, and Shenadoa settled down to watch the others in action. Auruo and Calvin moved in unison, their muscular bodies held low to the ground as they crept forwards. A whole flock of ducks were waddling about in the clearing, a few flying into a little pond in the center to swim. Kasir, Zerachiel, and Kaden spread out so that they wouldn’t overlap with one another. The five tokotas all seemed to explode into action at the same time. Howling a battlecry, Kasir flung himself forwards. He managed to catch one duck before it flew off, quickly crushing its neck and ending its life. Kaden, Calvin, and Auruo had done the same. Zerachiel went all, launching his slender yet muscular body into the air and snatching one of the ducks out of it, landing back on all four feet like a feline. Kasir growled lowly. Show-off!

The remaining ducks, not very intelligent creatures, landed back at the far end of the clearing. Kasir charged them again. There was no way he was going to let Zerachiel outdo him! Just like the albino sphinx had done, Kasir hurled his massive body into the air. Unfortunately he was much bigger and heavier than Zerachiel. He didn’t make it as far as the white tokota had and he barely missed the duck, his teeth grazing one of its strangely texted legs. His momentum was thrown off and he came crashing down, but on his face rather than his legs. Laughter roared throughout the others. Auruo, Calvin, Sedna, Tinsel, Shenadoa, Harley Quinn, Leo, and Kaden all laughed at his misfortune. Even Dulce let out what seemed to be an amused snort.

Zerachiel came over now, his lips quivering as he attempted to hold back his own laughter. “Are you alright?” he asked kindly. Kasir shook him off, pushing him out of his way as he clambered to his feet. Desperate to redeem himself, he charged after the remaining ducks. Fortunately, he managed to snatch one before it took flight. There was no way he’d be jumping into the air after one again. Feeling a little like he’d redeemed himself, the blue tokota trotted back to the others. He dropped his on the ground, not bothering to hand it to Leo. He was done with this. All of it! Zerachiel was trying to be nice to him and offer him sympathy, but Kasir wasn’t having any of it. Finally decided that he was finished with this day, the blue dire gave a hateful glare back at Zerachiel and then turned and made his leave. They were finished with their gatherings for the day anyways.

The Chieftan’s party could begin and Kasir was definitely getting that steak he’d been promised for helping, or there’d be hell to pay.