The Hunted

[Naoya Kom Azgeda]

I Will Learn To Be Peaceful While I Keep My Knife At My Side

tag: Baron Tseng

It had been a clean and clear shot when Naoya crouched low in the scrub. It was cold and puffs of warm breath billowed around his chapped cheeks, but he didn't let that hinder him for In the small clearing in front of him stood a much sought after beast. There was nothing shabby about a fattened five point buck that could feed his family for months and he held his breath as he pulled back an arrow. Naoya licked his lips, lining up his sight and sealing up his excitement.

In the blink of an eye a whirlwind of activity was set in motion. There was a sharp, cracking sound and the animal had snapped it's head upward, large ears pricked forward. Naoya loosed the arrow which whizzed off course and into the low hanging branches at the far side of the clearing, causing his prey to flee back into the thick. It wasn't that it was a bad shot, but it was an interrupted shot. It had happened so quickly, the Trikru warrior had been so close before Naoya was able to dodge that any hesitation would have cost him his life. He'd taken a face first dive into the snow, but was on his feet quickly and giving chase. He couldn't fight up close with a bow and even though he knew the terrain better, he was having a hard time getting enough distance between himself and at least three warriors that had sprung an attack on him.

The cold seemed to slowly pull the air from his lungs and he couldn't help but wonder how his pursuers were coping, especially since Naoya was acclimated to it and they were not. A short distance ahead, Naoya knew of a cave. The only way out was also the only way in, but he figured he'd sport a more fair chance on dry ground. Other hunters were also known to leave supplies there as well... maybe he'd get lucky and find a knife...

[Baron Tseng]

The enemy of my enemy,                       

The small hunting party had not returned and that of course could only mean one thing: trouble. Everyone had the same feeling in that something had happened to them. With the warriors that they had met immediately upon arrival, it would be no surprise. They were at constant war so even gathering food was no easy task. Baron had volunteered along with a few others to form a search party and look for them. They planned to be back before dark, but it seemed their journey would be cut even shorter. A group of the warriors had found them, and were making chase. Baron knew that they had two options: to keep running or to create a diversion. He instructed the others to return to camp and he would distract those chasing them. There was no room for debate. Baron stood in place until the others ran, and ensured that the ruthless killers saw him before he began darting in the opposite direction of where the others went. Baron ran as fast as his legs could carry him, having no intention of dying or succumbing to the threat in any way. Though it seemed, these were not the only threat out there. He stumbled across another group setting chase, pausing only when they spotted him. They were dressed differently; donning different materials, masks, and overall colors. Strange. Confusion set all among them all and Baron only reacted when he saw the warrior set aim with his arrow. There was a figure moving in the distance and out of fear that it was one of the Arkers, Baron lunged forward, tackling the man to the group so that he lost his target and the arrow flew upward into a tree. Unfortunately, Baron wound up in a disadvantage: on his back with the warrior above him. It cost two strikes across his jaw before Baron slammed his elbow upward to the man's nose so to blur his vision and disorientate him for a few seconds. It was all he needed. He swiftly pushed him off, and rose to his feet. Just in time to block another attack from one of the warriors charging at him. His hands moved in strategic motion to block each attack, his combat history aiding him in unfamiliar movements to the enemy. But, he knew that he would not prevail. They had the advantage of weapons, warrior training, and numbers. Yet, even still, Baron would not lose hope. He quickly grabbed the other man's dagger that had fallen when he tackled him and used the metal to block oncoming attacks. The renewed confidence allowed him to strike the man several times until he fell. But numbers had him at the end. He felt the sharpness of a sword strike his shoulder, causing him to let out a sound of pain, before falling to his knees. His chest heaved, trying to still the spinning caused by the intense pain coursing through him. He looked up, meeting the eyes of the man who raised his sword that would strike him to his death. Baron would look into the eyes of the man who would kill him, as he kept his expression stoic, and braced himself for whatever fate had in store. Tag Naoya Kom Azgeda

                                        is my friend