Phoenix
Heat and smoke lingered on her nose. The scent should have faded from her senses after leaving the Firefox dens, yet she had traveled three-quarters of the distance to the territory for the larger predators and yet she could still smell it, feel it throughout her sinus cavity. She didn't sense any threat. Just the attentive wolf pack, now fully healed after the fight with fox horde. As well as, a small bundle of fluff hunkered down concealing itself behind trees and roots. She picked up her pace weaving through tree roots with impeccable agility. The lithe fluffy creature kept pace with ease, while trying to remain hidden from Phoenix.
Hmmm.
She left it be for the time being. Her destination was within sight. A stretch of valley land at the edge of the forest where the trees were much less dense. Stony peaks surrounded the outer border of the space, creating a natural wall of protection from lands beyond the forest. Patches of trees smaller than those densely packed deeper into the forest, grew half way up the mountain and around it base. Hidden away within the stony terrain and patches of green were the entrances to six different caves. These were where the bears slumbered. Higher into the mountain peaks she could barely make out one of the dens where the wild cats resided.
Night was setting in over the landscape turned the lush greens and rustic browns into an image of a grey scale photograph.
Phoenix began her descent, moving at an angle down the slope and using the base of the sturdy trees to help her keep her footing. Twenty paces in, the earth at her feet leveled out only ten yards from the nearest den. A strange green glow moving slowly through the darkened trees at the mountains' base caught her attention. She creeped closer, careful to stay concealed by the trees until she could clearly see what giving off the out of place light. A pixie. She had dark hair with chunks of purple strands. The hem of her flower petal skirt pink dress fell just past her knees and was paired with simple black leggings. Her transparent wings were like those of a dragonfly, long and thin. The name [Lira] floated above her head.
Chelsea! At least she waited longer than I thought she would.
Phoenix watched Lira's head swivel back and forth from behind a tree. The shifter noticing a brief glimpse of both fear and curiosity within her large brown eyes before the smaller girl dashed into the nearest cave. Phoenix morphed into her wolf form in alarm. No! Don't go in there!
There was no time to use her Call of the Wild skill. Even if she did, it could alert the bears and risk putting Lira in more danger. Phoenix rushed in after her, claws digging into the earthen floor of the cave. Within seconds, she was within five yards of the pixie, who had stumbled upon a large deposit of stones shining like starlight in the inky black darkness of the cave. Lira reached for a stone, unaware of the danger the was attached to it. Stop!
Too late. The earth beneath Lira's feet shifted. Her wings fluttered rapidly, pulling her back into the air at least 10 feet. The glow from her body illuminated the hulking beast as it slowly brought itself up to its full height on its thick stubby back legs. A humongous bear with eyes like raw golden brown topaz ore. Its underbelly was stone grey and its pelt an earthen brown. Starstone ore covered its back from the base of its skull down its spine and ending at the base of its tail. It roared making its discontentment at being awoken known. The sound echoed off the walls and ceiling of the cave. Lira's wings suddenly stopped fluttering. She crashed to the ground.
[Starstone Hide Ursa Minor LVL 50]
[Starstone Hide Ursa Minor used Petrifying Roar]
[Lira has been stunned]
Phoenix didn't hesitate. She pounced against the wall of the cave, using it as a spring board to reach the bear's neck, the momentum giving her more power and height. Her sharp fangs clamped down on the soft thin flesh beneath the giant bears jawline, muscle and sinew tearing with sickening ease. Her body struck its mark with such force that the rest of her body clung to the soft neck tissue with her razor-like claws. The bear swayed off balance, then fell hard on its back, its own crushing weight emptying its health bar. The bear dissolved in a wisp and was replaced with eight starstones and an earth bear hide.
[Phoenix has gained one level]
[Phoenix is now level 41]
She gathered the resources, then checked on Lira who had just been released from her stun condition. No matter how much she wanted to be upset with the pixie for her reckless behavior, it wouldn't do any good. She wasn't able to directly communicate with the other player in her feral guise. Lira was trembling, sitting on the ground, rooted to the spot in terror. Why wouldn't she be? A shining wolf that just took down a bear five times its size was coming toward her. Phoenix paused at the pixie's feet, presenting the eight white glowing raw ores to her. Lira's trembling seized, cautious curiosity replaced terror. The wolf took a step back, then sat on her hunches to wait.
The pixie gazed at the wolf, glanced at the glowing ore, then back at the wolf. "For me?" Phoenix nodded, then laid down fully. A show of complete surrender. Lira accepted the offering, storing it safely away.
Satisfied that Lira was at least a little less weary, Phoenix rose back on to all fours. She could feel the presence of another bear slowly entering her range of senses. It was far too risky to stay any longer, but any sign of aggression or fear could cause the pixie to relapse. So she calmly started to walk back to the mouth of the cave. She stopped again to look back at Lira who had just stood up. The pixie was watching her every move, something just on the cusps of recognition clouded by uncertainty danced in her eyes. "Do you want me to follow you?"
Phoenix nudged her snout in the direction of the exit. Thankfully, her pixie friend interpreted the message to 'come on' correctly. Together they left the cave.