Today was promising to be a quiet on for the young priest. Relaxing atop the walls, he stifled a yawn. The reports had said there was a beast in the area that was harassing the sentries, so an intrigued Kieren had agreed to check it out. The rest of his regular team was out performing a patrol in the wastelands, escorting a caravan including a renowned glass blower to the city. The priest trusted his people would be able to handle it without him, so here he was. Seated atop the gate with nothing to do but wait. What a dumb choice that was turning out to be. At least the escort mission, though dull as it would be, would have gotten him away from the city. Oh the city. The confounded place that now housed the people of his tribe. Once upon a time Kieren had relished in his chances to visit the village, to spend a few days away from the dangers of the wastes and get to see the fascinating sights of the various districts. Now after weeks within it's walls, he felt himself becoming stir crazy.
It was just as he started to feel himself nodding off, that the priest felt something approaching. His eyes snapping open, the priest sprang from his seat. Leaning out over the gates edge. His eyes scanned over the wastelands, yet he saw nothing. Still, a lifetime living in the wastes had given him something of a sixth sense for sensing the deserts dangers. There was something out there, even if it couldn't be seen. A ripple in the sand gave clue, a small snarl gave warning. Leaping down, the priest drew the sands up around himself. Forming dozens of small orbs, he let them spiral around in the air above himself. Closing his eyes, he reached out to the sands, searching for movement within it's depths. A shifting and he whirled about, ready to strike, his orbs flying before he had even locked his gaze upon his target. One of the guards. At the last second he dissolved the sand into a mist, one which coalesced itself around the the guard, binding him. Bringing a finger to his lips, the priest gave a wink as he returned to his search, forming new orbs as he held the guard firm. Scanning the sands, the priest drove his attention deeper, scanning almost a dozen meters beneath the surface. He could tell where the sands had been disturbed, yet not the source.
With a dejected sigh, the priest released the guard and turned back towards the gates. Giving a shrug, the priest found himself bowled over by something from behind. As quick as it was there, it was gone. Rolling over, the priest shook his head, trying to understand what had happened. His search had been thorough, he had found nothing, yet something had gotten the drop on him and vanished as quickly. Pushing himself up, he shook he sand from his robes. Watching, three creatures seemed to rise up from the sands. They looked to be the same, yet two bore a large resemblance to his own sand constructs. Strange. They appeared to be hykal. Yet he had never known hykal to attack a target of this size, or to travel alone, or to create sand clones for that matter. Something was off about this creature. A wave of his hand and a dozen orbs launched themselves at the creatures. He wasn't surprised with the constructs simply absorbed his orbs, while his attacks against the original dissipated into nothingness before his eyes. Well that's a neat trick. A small smirk, and he dashed forward. Holding his hands like he were holding a spear, he summoned his sands to form the weapon, packing the sand to twice the density of glass. Thrusting as he neared the original, his head shot with searing pain as his spear should have been skewered. Dropping to his knees, he gave a small cry as the creature leaped atop him. He could feel it's hot breath on his face. Drool dripped on his neck as he groaned, his head throbbing. Forcing himself to steady his gaze, he lashed out with his fists. No trouble this time. Only the satisfying thump of fist on fur. Driving the creature off himself, he pushed himself to his feet.
What was it about this creature that rendered it immune to his jutsu. Something had altered it, that much was certain. A knee to the hykal's face as it tried to attack him once more, and he found himself the one on top for once. I wonder if it's just my sand your immune to. Gripping the creatures hide, he snapped his fingers on his free hand, and flames erupted on the hykals fur. I guess so.Spinning as the constructs advanced, a fierce wind tugged at the sand forming the creatures, shrinking them slightly. A blast of water, and they were gone. Much better. Just dinner left to contend with. What do you guys think? A couple of the watching guards cried their ascent as the priest clapped his hands together. A fierce fire reflected in his eyes as the creature howled, the smell of burning hair flooding the air. A dark glint touched the priests eyes as he felt his heart quicken with excitement, as he watched the creature writhe in burning pain. Before this, his kills had always been clean. He had never relished in delivering pain upon another, yet he could feel his blood pounding with his excitement. A swipe of his hand, and a small blade of razor sharp winds ended the animals suffering, and he felt his adrenaline begin to bleed away. A pang of fear touched his heart as he acknowledged the darkness that had touched him. A small blessing to the mother, and he created a glass tray to rest the creature upon. All right gentlemen, dinner is served. Letting the tray rest atop the sand, he took a few steps beyond, to gaze at the emptiness of the wastelands, ignoring the guards moving behind him. He could see movement on the horizon, the tell tale signs of an approaching caravan. Just in time.
It was just as he started to feel himself nodding off, that the priest felt something approaching. His eyes snapping open, the priest sprang from his seat. Leaning out over the gates edge. His eyes scanned over the wastelands, yet he saw nothing. Still, a lifetime living in the wastes had given him something of a sixth sense for sensing the deserts dangers. There was something out there, even if it couldn't be seen. A ripple in the sand gave clue, a small snarl gave warning. Leaping down, the priest drew the sands up around himself. Forming dozens of small orbs, he let them spiral around in the air above himself. Closing his eyes, he reached out to the sands, searching for movement within it's depths. A shifting and he whirled about, ready to strike, his orbs flying before he had even locked his gaze upon his target. One of the guards. At the last second he dissolved the sand into a mist, one which coalesced itself around the the guard, binding him. Bringing a finger to his lips, the priest gave a wink as he returned to his search, forming new orbs as he held the guard firm. Scanning the sands, the priest drove his attention deeper, scanning almost a dozen meters beneath the surface. He could tell where the sands had been disturbed, yet not the source.
With a dejected sigh, the priest released the guard and turned back towards the gates. Giving a shrug, the priest found himself bowled over by something from behind. As quick as it was there, it was gone. Rolling over, the priest shook his head, trying to understand what had happened. His search had been thorough, he had found nothing, yet something had gotten the drop on him and vanished as quickly. Pushing himself up, he shook he sand from his robes. Watching, three creatures seemed to rise up from the sands. They looked to be the same, yet two bore a large resemblance to his own sand constructs. Strange. They appeared to be hykal. Yet he had never known hykal to attack a target of this size, or to travel alone, or to create sand clones for that matter. Something was off about this creature. A wave of his hand and a dozen orbs launched themselves at the creatures. He wasn't surprised with the constructs simply absorbed his orbs, while his attacks against the original dissipated into nothingness before his eyes. Well that's a neat trick. A small smirk, and he dashed forward. Holding his hands like he were holding a spear, he summoned his sands to form the weapon, packing the sand to twice the density of glass. Thrusting as he neared the original, his head shot with searing pain as his spear should have been skewered. Dropping to his knees, he gave a small cry as the creature leaped atop him. He could feel it's hot breath on his face. Drool dripped on his neck as he groaned, his head throbbing. Forcing himself to steady his gaze, he lashed out with his fists. No trouble this time. Only the satisfying thump of fist on fur. Driving the creature off himself, he pushed himself to his feet.
What was it about this creature that rendered it immune to his jutsu. Something had altered it, that much was certain. A knee to the hykal's face as it tried to attack him once more, and he found himself the one on top for once. I wonder if it's just my sand your immune to. Gripping the creatures hide, he snapped his fingers on his free hand, and flames erupted on the hykals fur. I guess so.Spinning as the constructs advanced, a fierce wind tugged at the sand forming the creatures, shrinking them slightly. A blast of water, and they were gone. Much better. Just dinner left to contend with. What do you guys think? A couple of the watching guards cried their ascent as the priest clapped his hands together. A fierce fire reflected in his eyes as the creature howled, the smell of burning hair flooding the air. A dark glint touched the priests eyes as he felt his heart quicken with excitement, as he watched the creature writhe in burning pain. Before this, his kills had always been clean. He had never relished in delivering pain upon another, yet he could feel his blood pounding with his excitement. A swipe of his hand, and a small blade of razor sharp winds ended the animals suffering, and he felt his adrenaline begin to bleed away. A pang of fear touched his heart as he acknowledged the darkness that had touched him. A small blessing to the mother, and he created a glass tray to rest the creature upon. All right gentlemen, dinner is served. Letting the tray rest atop the sand, he took a few steps beyond, to gaze at the emptiness of the wastelands, ignoring the guards moving behind him. He could see movement on the horizon, the tell tale signs of an approaching caravan. Just in time.