Fighting Is For... The Birds?

The day is both sunny and warm which means that the prey animals are out in full force, taking advantage of the pleasant summer weather. Several hooved animals have been grazing near Elysium’s borders with a few herds even wandering into the rock garden. Malico has spent the better part of the morning tracking a small herd of deer, across the land. Carefully, the pup trails after them searching for the perfect moment to attack. They had several fawns among their numbers and the pup is patient as he waits for the moment to strike.

As he tracks, Mal finds and singles out the smallest fawn one among them, waiting for it to get just a little too far away from protection of its herd before he launchs his attack. It isn’t the best hunt, his actions sloppily than those of his mother and father, but the boy still manages to claim his kill and that has to mean something. Lately, the growing boy has been ravenous and he feels guilty eating in front of his frail sibling. So, to sate his gnawing hunger, the boy has taken to catching his own meals and feasting away from the island before bringing the left-over meat back for the stores.

As soon as the deer is dead, the boy moves to the abdominal cavity and, as quickly and efficiently as he can, spills the organs out onto the grass. Not wishing to spoil any of the meat by puncturing the stomach or bowels, he has learned to clean out the cavity before he sets about feasting. Blood coats his maw and paws as he scoops out the lungs and heart before shifting to plop them down alongside the other organs. Vultures have taken notice of his work, beginning to gather and wheel above him.

Finally, with the meat is safe, Malico shifts to begin enjoying his breakfast when a strange sound reaches his ears. Head lifts to the sky where the cry had originated from and he squints against the noonday sun to try and see what exactly had made the strange sound. The vultures, who usually make wide circles above him while he eats, have disappeared and he does not find the bird that issued the call. Just as he contemplates turning back to his food, a form darts out from the brilliant sun, hurtling toward his head with alarming speed.

Releasing a cry of alarm, Mal drops and rolls, barely evading the sharp talons of a Harpy eagle. Quickly, he bounces back up to his paws, turning to face his aerial foe with a snarl when another bird appears. It blindsides the tall boy, reaching for, and grabbing, a large chunk of flesh from his shoulder. Howling in pain, he snaps around, attempting to bite the eagle and missing as it darts away with its prize. As his jaws snap closed around empty air, a third eagle appears, reaching, this time, for his scruff. With a loud, “Fuck!” Mal drops to the ground and rolls away from the eagles.

Making it back up to his paws, the pup begins backpedaling away from his kill, content to allow the Harpy eagles to have this one. Yet, as he surrenders his kill to them, the winged terrors do not go for it and, instead, move to follow him. Eyes slowly widen as the realization dawns on him that they do not want his kill but to make own of their. Now, as he looks up, four of the damnable creatures circle above him, readying to attack and overwhelm the lone pup. A string of bright, colorful curses leave his mouth. While Malico is almost at his adult height he still is a long way from reaching his peak weight and he knows a losing battle when he sees one.

The Mendacium boy tips his head back and howls franticly for help but a scream from one of the eagles interrupts his call and the pup is forced to cut it short as he dodges another dive attack. This time, they attack as one and, while he may be able to dodge one attack, he simply cannot didge them all, The talons of another open wounds along his back while the third takes meat off his hip. Still, he does not lay down to die and strikes out with teeth and paws as he seeks to scramble the flock or even bring one down. He manages do just that and smacks one of the eagles out of the air.

As the three that are still airborne move to regroup, the bleeding pup descends on his fallen opponent, smacking aside the sharp beak as he delivers a killing blow to the creature’s neck, snapping it for good measure. Panting heavily, Malico turns to face his three remaining attackers, growling threating at them while silently hoping that someone will appear and save him.



WC: 818
Total WC: 818 / 1500


"Malico Mendacium"