The scent of the Wild Ass was faint, mingling with the sweet aroma of the plains' vegetation. Inferna moved with care, her pale form hidden beneath the sunlit grasses. Each step was deliberate, her paws avoiding the telltale rustle of hidden serpents beneath the dense foliage. Her pink eyes scanned the horizon, catching glimpses of movement near the meandering river.

The herd grazed, their twitching ears and occasional brays making her all the more eager to sink her teeth into one. Inferna’s stomach growled, a sharp reminder of her hunger and the need to succeed in this hunt. She crouched low, her nose to the wind, gauging their distance and planning her approach. The chase would require patience, precision, and luck. She wasn't sure if they were faster than her or not, and they looked rather.. strong.

"Speech"

Entering the Serpent Plains, Zagan feels a sense of recognition sweep over him- like a pulse running through his veins- something deeply rooted and primal. This is where his Father started collecting snakes and their venom. His great Uncle taught him that in a history lesson- how the Saxe created a band before forming their empire. For a season they lived here, pillaging the area’s resources- and now their pack had stores of venom, and generations of snakes at their disposal.

As he walks through the plains, distant memories flicker in his mind- he’d never been here before, not in this life. And yet, deep down, he still felt a connection to the terrain- to the remnants of the past.

Coming around a bend, Zagan catches a shift in the air- the wind carrying the scent of wild donkey, and the perfume of another wolf. Scanning the horizon, he sees movement in a patch of dense foliage, the sound of wild ass grazing the earth filling the space around him. He wasn't hungry, but the opportunity to sharpen his hunting skills was too good to pass up.

Falling into the shadows, Zagan commands his companions to work alongside him- his raven taking to the sky, to fly over the herd to confirm its location. His jaguar climbs up a nearby tree, ready to pounce if one of the donkeys comes its way.

For now, Zagan watches the herd operate, waiting for the perfect moment to strike- unaware of the lone girl doing the same thing.


"Zagan Saxe"

Inferna’s puppy ears flicked toward the sound of wings cutting through the air, but her focus quickly returned to the herd. For now, she was completely unaware of the other's presence. She narrowed her gaze, scanning the wild ass as they grazed, their tails swishing lazily. Her breath steadied, her muscles tensing beneath her coat with anticipation. She spotted her target: a younger member of the herd lingering near the edge, slightly separated from the others. Perfect.

Lowering herself even further into the tall grass, Inferna crept closer, each step measured and silent. The tension in her body grew as she reached striking distance. With a powerful burst of speed, she lunged forward, bursting from the grass like a ghost from the mist.

The startled cries of the herd echoed across the plains as they scattered, but Inferna's focus never wavered. Her thick claws and teeth aimed for her target, her instincts driving her toward the kill. Her jaws found purchase on the inner left flank of the wild donkey, blood staining her white coat almost immediately.

"Speech"

Before Zagan could chose his target, something spooked the herd. Tension rippled through the group in palpable waves, the older members lifting their heads higher, looking into the underbrush for the perceived threat. Zagan felt a shift inside of himself- his muscles growing taut in anticipation, his lips pulling back into a sneer- the thought of losing control of the hunt leaving a bitter taste in his maw.

Not wanting to waste another second, Zagan started stalking forward, moving with a predator's grace- each step deliberate and purposeful- a practiced ballet of impending death. As he closed in, his presence seemed to fill the space between them- creating a palpable sense of danger in the air. The herd picked up on it- they were readying themselves to disperse- and they did, but it wasn’t because of Zagan.

Before he could leap, a ghastly white figure appeared from the tall grasses, lunging at a younger herd member. She was so translucent, she seemed to glow beneath the midday sun- shimmers of light dancing across her silhouette- a stark contrast against a backdrop of green.

Zagan didn’t hesitate- he was lunging forward, loping across the plains with alarming speed, closing the distance between himself and the girl. At first, it might have seemed like he was coming after her- his pupils had dilated to an unsettling extent, flickering with unpredictable intensity- a predator who relished in the high of the chase- who craved the bloodshed of a kill. But as he closed in, he sidestepped at the last moment, flanking to the front of the wild donkey.

Lunging off his hind legs, Zagan wrapped his massive forelegs around the donkey’s neck, and hooked his feline claws into its skin, to anchor it close to him. His jaws splayed, and he grabbed on to its muzzle, taking its snout into his maw. His saber fangs dug deep- penetrating through cartilage with a sickening pop- earning a sharp cry of pain from the flailing donkey.

"Zagan Saxe"

Inferna’s teeth sank into the wild ass’s flank, its panicked bray filling the air as it kicked wildly in an attempt to escape. Her jaws locked, her muscles straining to keep her grip, but she felt a surge of frustration as the young animal’s strength pushed against her smaller frame. She hadn’t expected it to fight this hard.

The pounding of another predator’s approach sent a jolt through her senses, and her gaze flicked up, catching sight of Zagan barreling toward her. For a moment, she braced for an attack, her pink eyes narrowing in defiance. But instead, he veered, leaping past her to cut off the donkey’s escape.

Inferna’s chest heaved as she released her grip and stepped back, watching with a mix of awe and suspicion as Zagan’s massive frame collided with the animal. His claws sank deep, his fangs striking with ruthless precision, ending the struggle with practiced efficiency.

Standing a few paces away, Inferna’s tail lashed behind her, her adrenaline still coursing. She studied him carefully, her instinct to defend her kill clashing with the realization that this stranger now probably wanted some of the spoils.

“Hey - that was mine,” she growled, her voice low but steady, her posture firm despite the uncertainty of the moment.

"Speech"