A Hunt for prey most Dangerous

[Jasyn]

Jasyn twirled his weapon around in his head, thinking about the events in the past few hours.
"You're a Mercenary, is that correct?" The fox before him held a position of authority, but Jasyn could tell he was scared. Of him, that was certain.
"I am."
"For a price, you'll do anything for your employer?"
"Most anything. What is it that you desire?" His presence, his voice, everything cultivated over a matter of months to ensure intimidation. A quick glance around the cavern showed the merc shivering weasels and rats. He grinned, hidden underneath his hood, and he knew he was successful once again.
The silver fox wrapped his black tail around his legs, and nervously clicked his fingers together. "A valuable assassin left my possession, recently. She was meant to assist a northern horde, but she ran before we could send her off."
Jasyn didn't move, but that made him interested. "Her?"
"Yes, her. A river otter we acquired a while back. She quickly became the best assassin in this organization. Can you track her down?"
"Yes I can. How much is the bounty?"
"500,000."
"Double it, and you got yourself a deal."
And now, he was waiting for her to show up. Rumors had led him to this area of the forest. She would come through, and he would test her, before hunting in earnest. Skeletal paw wrapped around his sword's hilt, he waited.

[greek101]

((Sorry this took so long, busy.... ))

THWAP!

"Stupid slimy snivling...."

THWAP!

"You deserve nothing! You hear! Nothing!"

THWAP! THWAP!

The sound of arrows hitting a tree resounded in a small glade in the thick forest of Mossflower. The target? A poster of an otter, tattoo riddled and fierce looking pinned to the tree. A wanted poster. Black arrow after black arrow pierced the sketch. The shooter? The same black otter that was on the poster.

Rajani Nisha stopped shooting at the poster. Hanging her black bow back upon her back, she walked up to the tree and tore the poster from the tree and began picking out the arrows.

Upon finding the poster posted on the outskirts of a small village, Rajani had ripped it down and was now using it as target practice to relieve her anger.

Sure she was angry at the fox for posting the bounty, but she was more angry at herself. She had let this happen. She had let herself be trained. She had let herself be pushed to the edge. She had let this happen. To tell the truth, none of it was her fault, but that didn't stop her from feeling like it was her fault.

After picking all of her arrows out of the tree and returning them to her quiver, Jani proceeded to shred the remains of the poster. Tossing them to the ground she took a deep breath, and slipped off into the forest like nothing had happened.

Slinking through the shadows, Jani felt the shadows hide her shame. It felt horrible, but it was better than standing out in the open, exposed.

Suddenly, Jani stopped. Freezing right in her tracks. She had heard something, something out of place. Humming, a metallic humming....

Pulling out her dagger, Jani spun it quietly by her ear. Yup, same sound. Someone was out there, and armed. Probably out to get her. She thought to herself, but then again, it could be a good beast. Not wanting to kill an innocent, Jani put her knife away.

She slowly continued into the forest, sliding through the shadows, watching for any sign of the blade she had heard...

[Jasyn]

Jaysn lounged by the roots of an oak. His blade had been sheathed as he sat, and now he waited. He had picked up noises to the north a little bit ago. Careful listening gave him what it was. Arrows. Someone was practicing their archery. All well and good, but very few beasts around this particular part of the woods would be practicing it at all. It argued that his quarry was the source.
Light rustling came from woods at his back; following the cessation of arrow hits. He strained his ears under the hood, and could hear a light scraping noise. An otter's tail dragging on the floor. It argued for his target, and he gave a quick grin. He always felt excited before a nab and grab, even when he was starting the test. He gave a quick tug, testing the tautness of the trip wire he set up. It wouldn't trip a trap, or anything. Just serve to make his target stumble. Very fine wire, placed a bare paw-length over the ground. He settled down, and listened for the sign that the wire worked; or failed. If the latter, he would have to surprise her some other way.

[greek101]

Jani couldn't see anything unusual as she traveled from shadow to shadow, barely making a sound. Maybe she hadn't heard the hum...No, she did, she was sure of it. Some one was out here...but where?......

Suddenly Jani tripped, falling face forward. Throwing out her paws and picking up her feet and rudder, Jani tucked into a roll as she hit the soft loam.

After rolling a few feet, Jani sprang up from the roll, daggers out and ready, eyes flashing the scene. A Trip wire! How did she not see that? Now Jani was confidant, there was a beast out here, and who ever it was, was after her....

Jani's ears twitched as her eyes focused in on a clump of brush near the tripwire. How ever it placed the wire was over there. How far into the brush, she did not know. Nor even who it was, but her instinct and her gut told her they were over there. Plus, she thought she could almost see a feint shadow.

Remaining still, Rajani waited. Not moving a muscle. Waiting to see if the beast who had placed the wire had noticed her fall. She wasn't about to call out in anger or go hunting the creature. If the creature did not notice. All good and fine, and Jani would continue on. But if they did notice, jumping into a fight wouldn't be the smartest idea for even the most experienced of warriors.

She had tripped, a clumsy move, but still a move, now it was their turn...

[Jasyn]

Hearing a thump, Jasyn smirked. The prey had tripped; now he wondered if she was as good as his employer made her out to be. He shook his head a little, and stood up. He leaned the sheath against one shoulder, and wrapped the chain around the paw draped over it. He walked around the tree, and then a few steps to the north, where he had tied the trip wire. He began untying it, and then he gave a large pull, and the anchor on the other end fell off its support, and began flying towards him. He kept giving it large pulls, and could hear a small whirl as it flew through the air. It gave a single smack as it hit something, and then it game through and he was holding it up. A simple stone, it worked enough. He undid the stone from the wire, and then spooled the wire on a small shaft he kept tucked in his belt. That job done, he walked the way the stone had come, before coming upon the dark brown otter. He stopped a few feet from her and tisked.
"You should put those up before you poke your eyes out." He tapped his sword hilt against his shoulder as he watched her, safe from scrutiny in the shadows of his hood. What he saw pleased him. She was coiled, ready to pounce. Wary too. She knew that somebody had put the wire there. Did she know it was him? No way of telling. So, he simply held out a skeletal, white paw.
"Do you need some help?"

[greek101]

Listening hard, Rajani heard rustling in the brush someone was close and they were walking toward her! Tightening her grip on her daggers, Jani heard them stop. Then a twang. The creature was undoing the tripwire? Who was this? A Hunter?

He stopped a few feet from her and tisked.
"You should put those up before you poke your eyes out."

Jani snarled as she examined the fox who had walked out of the brush. "Nay, not my eyes, but yours."

The fox's fur was pure white, under the black hood he wore, Jani couldn't be sure, but what she could see was white, no doubt about it. His jerkin was a eerie red shade, and it went every well with his semi-frightening appearance. But Jani didn't let her body show she was slightly creeped out. For he wasn't as horrendous as some of the things she had seen, even with his rather deadly looking weapon.

So, he simply held out a skeletal, white paw.
"Do you need some help?"

Rajani straightened up, still prepared to fight. "Not from you, her-bringer of death!" She snapped. If he was a hunter, he would probably take that as a complement. If he wasn't, his response would show it. But right now, with his appearance, and his attitude, Jani had to be ready. Otherwise, she may never find who she was searching for....

[Jasyn]

The mercenary gave a short bow. "Why thank you, m'lady. You don't know how hard it is to convince other people of my status." He straightened out, and inclined his head. "Now then, let's get to why you're out here. Who are you, and why do you have those toothpicks brandished at your side?"
The fox let the weapon drop from his shoulder, and let the heel of the sheath hit the ground. He leaned it back against his shoulder, and once again draped a paw around the sheath, as he looked at the otter before him. She was peeved, but any idiot could figure that out. Her snapping proved it, as did the seething fires of rage she held in her eyes. She was holding herself rather stiffly, and he could almost see her knuckles under her fur, she was holding her daggers so tightly. She might even devolve into grinding her teeth.
"And why, may I ask, are you so mad? It's unhealthy."

[greek101]

The mercenary gave a short bow. "Why thank you, m'lady. You don't know how hard it is to convince other people of my status."

Rajani scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Why do I find that so hard to believe?"

He straightened out, and inclined his head. "Now then, let's get to why you're out here. Who are you, and why do you have those toothpicks brandished at your side?"

"I could ask you the same thing, but I don't have to. And neither should you, if you are truly what you are." Jani replied watching the fox for his reaction. She was trying to tip his over the edge. Expose his real character and prepare for the worst. "And these toothpicks can do more than just pick your teeth..."

"And why, may I ask, are you so mad? It's unhealthy."

Jani's ears twitched. She knew why she was angry, and being angry was unhealthy? HA! Then the silver furred fox that trained her to be a killer must be writhing on his death bed! "You want to find out?..." Jani asked. This fox was way to cocky. If he thinks that Jani will just surrender with out a fight, then he is wrong...dead wrong.....

[Jasyn]

Jasyn laughed. "Oh, but it is. Most beasts I see think me eccentric at best, crazy at worst. Only a select few know who I truly am."
The fox merc was amused at his target. So angry, and all that rage was now directed on his poor white head. He smiled and chuckled as she spoke. "If I'm truly what I am? And what, prey tell, do you think I am?" Oh he was clever, with that turn of words. He doubted she was in the mood to be amused. Such a pity that his wit was wasted.
"Oh, I do, I do indeed. What makes a dog like you bare its teeth at something like me?" Now, it would begin. Imperceptibly, he laid his chained hand on the hilt of the blade. Shivering in anticipation, the fox dropped all pretenses. Now came to what he loved to do.

[greek101]

"Oh, but it is. Most beasts I see think me eccentric at best, crazy at worst. Only a select few know who I truly am."

"Ha!" Jani let out one sarcastic laughing bark. "You aren't a very good liar." This fox wasn't telling her the truth. Creatures thinking he was eccentric? YEAH RIGHT! Looking like that? He probably frightened them to death.

"If I'm truly what I am? And what, prey tell, do you think I am?"

"I could tell you..." Jani replied, her voice cold and sarcastic. "..but a beast who needs to know who they are is dumber than a dead diluted dull eyed frog." And Jani wasn't lying. Even when she sometimes doubted who she was, she knew it was the truth, because that was how she felt.

"Oh, I do, I do indeed. What makes a dog like you bare its teeth at something like me?"

"Any dog would bare it's teeth you. But I would never know, as I am not one. But you, you should know. For nothing, in all of Mossflower, would not be able to look upon you without writhing in disgust."

The fox was shaking in anticipation as he pawed at his weapon. But Jani was not going to strike first, no matter how angry she was. He would have move first or decide not to fight. Jani knew from experience, no matter how your emotions rage, you must never land the first blow. When you attack first, you open yourself up to further attacks, however if you wait and defend first, you have more room to make a wider range of moves. Jani was not going to let herself be killed by this stuck up excuse for a fox....She had a bigger purpose in mind.....

[Jasyn]

(stuck up excuse? Ouch. You wound me, you wound me deeply Odie.)
Jasyn feigned hurt. "Me? Lie? I'd never do that. I do not lie, steal, or extort. None are within my job description, so I stay away from them."
Jasyn winced. "Oh please. A frog, really? It seems you follow your own insult. I never asked what I was, I asked what you thought I was. The difference is there, and only a," here he adopted Rajani's own tone, "'dead diluted dull-eyed frog' as you so eloquently put, wouldn't be able to tell the difference." He knew what he was, alright. His memories wouldn't let him forget. And as the saying goes, if you can't beat em...well. He couldn't run from the past, where he was met with fear. He'd embrace it fully.
The mercenary laughed. "Please stop, you're making me blush. Do you really think that way of me? I'm flattered, kind miss."
Jasyn drummed his fingers on his hilt. It seems that his target wouldn't give him the pleasure of defending himself. It was always so fun setting them up, and knocking them down. But, it seems that this one was a little sharper than his other enemies. Takes the fun, gives the challenge. Ah well. You couldn't win them all. With a sigh of disappointment, Jasyn stood, staring at the otter underneath the protection of his hood. She couldn't see his face yet, but he planned on revealing it soon. So, with an unnoticeable nod, he quickly unsheathed the blade and spun, letting the sharpened length leave him a boundary 4 feet out. When he finished half the spin, he stopped and waited, sheath held in his other hand.

[greek101]

( Your foxy is asking for it..she's ticked, he's hunting her... No offense meant to you however...)

"Me? Lie? I'd never do that. I do not lie, steal, or extort. None are within my job description, so I stay away from them."

"Oh really?" Jani scoffed. "You have given me no reason to trust your word..."

"Oh please. A frog, really? It seems you follow your own insult. I never asked what I was, I asked what you thought I was. The difference is there, and only a," here he adopted Rajani's own tone, "'dead diluted dull-eyed frog' as you so eloquently put, wouldn't be able to tell the difference."

"That," Jani replied. "is where you are mistaken. I told you I could tell you, however I chose not to. You aren't listening very well under that hood. Do you wear it to hide your shame? Or do you wear it because you are...coward?"

The mercenary laughed. "Please stop, you're making me blush. Do you really think that way of me? I'm flattered, kind miss."

Jani glared at the fox but said nothing. Kind miss? YEAH RIGHT! This...punk!..was just toying with her. Trying to get her to attack him. And she wasn't going to fall for it.

Suddenly, the fox whipped out his blade. Jani lept backward as he spun. The sheath was longer than the blade itself. Sneaky, Rajani had to admit. But now as not the time to admire her enemy. Daggers still out in a fighting stance, Jani, now a few feet backward from her original position, watched as the fox stopped halfway through his spin.

"Your not even trying..." Jani snarled. "If you are, then your more pathetic than I first thought your were..."

[Jasyn]

(none taken. He is asking for it though, isn't he?)
"Nor have I given much reason for you to mistrust me, now have I? I've been perfectly honest with you."
At this next reply, Jasyn burst out laughing. "My, my, my. Feisty, aren't you?" Unfazed by the insults, he continued to stare at Rajani. "I wear this hood for ambience, my dear. I'm no coward, and I'm not ashamed of who I am, and what I look like." And then raised a paw and wagged a finger. "But you're changing the subject. What do you think I am?"
Jasyn watched as his prey hopped back. "Trying, no. Not really. You've not given me proof that you can handle me. So, I will play with you awhile, shall I?" At that, He swung his sheath at her. She had failed to take it into account, so she would be caught off guard, as she was still within the sheath's radius. If she backed up, the fox intended to persue and swing again. If she blocked, step forward and stab. If she parried, step forward and cut. If she ducked, swing the sheath back around and bring it on her head. If none of the above, well. Jasyn was ready for anything.

[greek101]

"Nor have I given much reason for you to mistrust me, now have I? I've been perfectly honest with you."

Jani rolled her eyes. Him? Telling the truth? Ha! It was like saying moles can fly!

"My, my, my. Feisty, aren't you?" Unfazed by the insults, he continued to stare at Rajani. "I wear this hood for ambience, my dear. I'm no coward, and I'm not ashamed of who I am, and what I look like." And then raised a paw and wagged a finger. "But you're changing the subject. What do you think I am?"

"I'll tell you what what you are in simple words so that your tiny mind can comprehend." Jani sneered. "You are nothing. You have destroyed your soul and you rip it into pieces with each mindless kill. You flaunt death. You mock it with your dress and your words. You are nothing but a walking death, worthless." Jani understood her words, having felt them deep within her heart. She knew what this fox was. He was the very thing that Jani wished she would never be.

"Trying, no. Not really. You've not given me proof that you can handle me. So, I will play with you awhile, shall I?"

Jani watched out of the corner of her eye as the sheath came swinging towards her. With her knives, she parried the blow then leaned backwards as the fox's second cut whooshed over her torso, where her body had been. Coming back up, Jani swung her knives in a way to catch the fox's blade so that he would be forced to spin around with the momentum of his swing. If that would not work , Jani would jump backwards again, ready for the fox's next strike.


(not the best and it took a while...Sorry!)

[Jasyn]

"Walking death? I kinda like that, but worthless? No, no, no. I can't have that. Ask any of my employers, I'm worth quite a bit." Jasyn smirked under the hood. Yes, he knew what Rajani meant by 'worthless.' How could he not, being called that most of his juvinile life. He slowly clenched his paw around the sword hilt, as the memories came unbidden. Being lashed to a pole and starved; beaten within an inch of death...oh yes. His past haunted him. In order to find a meaning, he solved other's problems. Most of that involved a little...necessary death. Jasyn was happy to oblige, as long as he could forget his horrid past.
The sheath rebounded, and the fox brought it to a halt as he stepped up and brought the blade swinging. As the sword passed the otter, she came up and added momentum to his sword, almost forcing him to complete a 360. If he did that, however, he would be showing her his back. Any one trained as an assassin couldn't pass a chance like that. Instead of following the force, Jasyn let go of the blade and let it imbed itself in a nearby tree. A swift yank of his paw, and he unwound the chains from his arm. When he cought up to the weight, he grabbed the top of it, and pulled the chain taut. Figuring it was time, he set the sheath over the chain, and then pulled the links through. The sword came out of the tree, and then hooked to the top of the sheath. With a proper weapon in his hands, the fox held up the scythe, and twirled the chain in his right paw. Gathering inertia, he sent it flying towards his target. When she dodged that, he would be ready with a follow-up swing of the scythe.