[PRP] On Target [Shikoba & Yuzhi]

[medigel]

On his last few traipses into the woods, various minipets had been hunted and slain in earnest. Shikoba had not been kidding when he had told Molpadia and Zelda that he was out for some blood after the disgraceful seed hunt he'd had. Yet even when his mind had been on the hunted he had come across a strange noise that haunted a certain portion of the Weeping Forest - a musical noise even. It was ponderous and nagged at the back of his mind. Was it one of the creatures he had come to hate?

If so, it was going to die.

Shikoba had noted that the musical tones were only heard in the latter part of the afternoon if not evening, and thus he allowed himself rest until 3 o'clock or so. He wasn't sure what sort of animal made that noise, but having witnessed how vicious some species could be, he wanted to be prepared. A small quiver of wooden arrows was slung over his shoulders, and several small knives were hidden within the cloth at his waist; if anything, he wanted to grip it with his bare hands and squeeze the life out of it, but he needed the practice. Grabbing his longbow, Shikoba pushed past the tent fabric and began to head out to the woods, a determined look on his face.

The only evidence that he was content was his humming.  

[Pales]

Yuzhi had been dealing with things. Days of being strong for others had caught up to her making her show her vulnerable side but thankfully it was only twice and only two members of family - people she was already close to, people she knew would not wrongly take advantage of her momentary show of weakness. The Horseman was now seeking to distract herself with a walk - further exploration of the area around her.

Unaware was she of the figure that was also stalking the forest for a certain prey. Her? She was following the sound of something - something that sounded rather lovely. Yuzhi wanted to observe it - watch it but not really interact with it. As she got closer she paused, her foot got caught in a bit of root and mud.

"...Damn," she muttered under her breath as she tugged and pulled trying to get free.  

[medigel]

Rustling of leaves, crunching of grass, and the four-note coo he sought. It was out a little earlier than expected today, but no matter. Dead before sundown. That was the goal at any rate - something to work towards. Idle hands made him grow an itch that festered, and even something as pointless as this little quest at least eased that pressure.

Crouched, Shikoba slid across the grass, an arrow nocked and ready to fire. The notes resounded again, leading him to the left. The flash of green, however, surprised him, and he straightened up to greet Yuzhi with a quirked brow, slowly letting the draw on his longbow go. "In trouble?" He cast a glance at her mud-tangled foot.  

[Pales]

She pulled a bit at her foot a bit helplessly before she leaned to try and pull at the muddy roots with her fingertips at a futile attempt to loosen it all so she could be free but suddenly there was a voice and her body gave a minor twitch of surprise before her head tilted up to gaze at Shikoba. Her expression was blank for the time being but she offered him a bit of a strained (if not a bit embarrassed) smile.

Yuzhi yanked at a couple of the roots but was not able to break any of them enough to free her foot.

"..It seems I am a bit stuck, yes." She muttered under her breath. It seemed a bit odd to best someone in a spar only to be caught in a vulnerable position like she was.  

[medigel]

Shik gazed down at Yuzhi for several seconds before he set his weapons down, leaned over, put his hands into her armpits, and with a steady force pulled her up and out at an angle - no, he was not going to ask for permission not touch her. The roots fought for control and coiled possessively about her heel, but once they were drawn out enough all it took was a swift stomp of his foot to break them off. "And here I thought nothing could stop you," he commented, the strangeness of the situation not lost on him.

And then the four note coo played again, a bit closer than last time. Immediately he let Yuzhi go and whipped his head towards the sound, eyes narrowing as he remembered his purpose. "Have you seen yet what makes that noise?" Shikoba asked as he picked his bow and arrow back up, knocking it in place.

Pales

 

[Pales]

"It didn't stop me as much as it made me have to take an unwanted pause," she huffed in retort giving him a bit of a sharp glare before she removed her hand so he could stomp on the problem that was causing her so much distress but determined to show that she is no damsel she started to head forward after she was put down with a quiet sulking expression. He'd lifted her up as if she were a child. The nerve.

Hmph. Thinking he's so smart. If he was so awesome then he wouldn't have been beaten until he was unconscious by her. So there.

She stopped when the question made her stop before she got too far - well really it was more the sound than the question, "Oh, I didn't see it except for in glimpses I think. Flashes of brown," she explained softly, "It makes a beautiful noise."

Ol-J-Man

 

[medigel]

"And it will make a beautiful screech when it dies," he added, eyes darting towards every movement in the trees. Yuzhi's huffy response to his intervention didn't bother him, so fixated was he on getting that damn bird. For ten seconds Shik stood with the knocked arrow, waiting for the sound of music.

Caaaawcaw -

SHCK!

The arrow flew to his left, piercing the breast of a young corrividus; it fell from the branch with a dull thump, dead before it hit the ground. Clicking his tongue impatiently, Shik jogged over and picked his kill up, avoiding the muddy pit his companion had fallen into while still scanning the skies.

"It's rather elusive," he grumbled, just as the selfsame four note coo sounded again, further away and merry in tune. Brows furrowed, he moved past the horseman to follow after.

Pales