Crikey!
11-25-2018, 07:49 PM
(This post was last modified: 11-25-2018, 07:53 PM by Malleus.)
Seasonal Skill Prompt (Fighting) - Word Count: 497
The day was young, the weather mild, and Malleus was eager to finish his patrol outside the wall and move onto more interesting things. There was a horde of children running around and he'd been thinking about putting their youthful energy to use. The little firefly contraption Shaye had brought him had sparked an interest in the godling. What else could be made with a little ingenuity? What other ways could life be made easier? Back to the kids. They were young and energetic. He could get them to do all the grunt work for whatever project he settled on. Pottery was a good option. Something to store dried herbs and premixed concoctions in. The kids could dig clay, gather firewood and dig a big hole for the kiln. A forceful hiss from the reeds to his left brought Malleus' musing to an immediate halt. He recoiled out of a instinct. His nostrils flared and his hackles rose in agitation, but he wasn't one to be cowed so easily. No, he just needed a new approach. Malleus warily circled the reeds where the hiss had come from. All was silent as he did so, and that emboldened him. He crept closer and managed to catch a glimpse of the hisser before it turned suddenly with an explosive hiss. Malleus had just enough time to leap back before massive reptilian jaws lurched out of the reeds towards him. The crocodile snapped its jaws at him and then held them open so he could get a good look at its many teeth. He eyed it skeptically. Never before had he seen such a creature. At least not one of such size. The largest lizard he'd seen before this one could easily sit on the snout of the crocodile that now threatened him. It wouldn't do to have such a large and - he eyed its teeth - dangerous creature so close to home. Any of his kids - all of them, really - could stumble upon this creature and, as they were wont to do, throw caution to the wind. The size and speed of the reptile made it something he couldn't in good conscience tackle alone. No, doing that would be foolish to say the least. With a couple of the fighters at his side, though? The danger would be spread among them and the odds of success in their favor. Malleus retreated under the watchful gaze of the crocodile. To drive home its point it hissed at him again and then, in a blase show of fearlessness, it lay down and let itself become partially submerged by the water and reeds around its waist. The rest of it was on solid ground and its willingness to be seen struck Malleus as a bold and impertinent assertion of superiority. Well, he would have to show it, wouldn't he? In a strong voice Malleus called to the fighters in his pack. Any who were willing and able could come and help him deal with the reptile. |