Citizen 524 Ichthys

Ichthys stretched her arms out in front of herself, letting the warm rays of the sun bless her back. She then kicked out each hind leg, one by one. She was getting herself limber and ready, because today was the day she would finally be able to prove herself. She had been on hunts before, but only allowed to watch as the larger adults worked to take down their quarry. Since her neck plates had finally grown in, now was her chance at her very own hunt.

Ichthys didn’t care much about what her prey was, she knew she would be able to take it down with no issue. She walked boldly into the woods, slipping into the shadows before many others had even had the chance to greet the day yet. The grasses were still wet with dew, which a furred rexal would probably find an annoyance, but lucky for her, it rolled right off her ruby scales. She smirked with a huff, not quite understanding why a task so easy would be considered a proving right into adulthood. But she wasn’t going to complain either way. 

She had been on the move for a few hours before she had spotted any sign, when she finally locked eyes on fresh tracks- large stag judging by how deep they were. There were multiple sets, lucky for her she would be able to pick her trophy. She recalled the hunts she was allowed to watch before letting her instincts kick in. She hunkered lower to the ground, walking now with a quiet and serious manner about her. Her ruby scales may be beautiful, but it made her a bit unlucky in the camouflage department. Sticking low to the bushes she was able to hide most of her body, only the occasional snap of a twig to betray her presence. 

The tracks began to lead into a clearing up ahead of her, if she was lucky the animals would still be there grazing or lazing about in the now late morning sun. As she crept forward she was finally able to get a view, and luckily she was on a vantage point and down wind of the small herd. There was one large stag with a few doe that he was keeping watch on. She prowled sideways a bit, trying to find the best way to get close enough without using up all of her stamina too fast. Finding her path, she used the long grasses to the best of her ability while their backs were turned. If she could just get half way.. She knew she could close the rest of the gap. 

Managing to get as close as she could, one of the doe’s ears perks, causing them all to turn around spooked. She had to go before she lost her chance, she would not return empty handed, she knew she could do this. She sprang forward, her hind legs though small, were powerhouses when they needed to be. Her claws dug into the soft ground, kicking both soil and grass in her wake. She charged right towards the large stag, and much to her shock the animal did not move. Instead it stood its ground, to protect the does that were fleeing. The stag lowered his head, readying for the attack of the incoming ruby colored beast.

She grit her teeth, her eyes narrowed as she aggressively charged in headfirst. She had never seen a lone hunt before, only a team hunt where the animal was distracted and surrounded. But she still thought she could take the stag head on, not quite knowing the dangers. The stag tilted his head as Ichthys leapt for his throat, but only managed to glance his antlers upon her armored neck plates. 

As she landed, she panted heavily as she tried to regain her breath. The close brush with the large and sharp tines of the stag should have made her more careful but it only made her want to attack more furiously. Ichthys launched again, as the animal was turning to face her. But instead this time she targeted the danger. She moved swiftly, surprising even herself as she latched her jaws around one of the stag's horns. Though these animals were big, her weight threw the creature off balance, causing its front leg to buckle.

She took her chance then, releasing the horn and in one swift movement she sank her teeth into the animal's neck, cutting off its airway. She kept a large paw over the stag’s head to keep it from moving until its movements slowed, and finally stopped. She released her hold and finally stepped away, her sides still heaving slightly from the brawl. She looked over her kill, this was definitely an offering suitable for the ancients. She smirked, knowing she would fully be able to brag about this kill for a good time to come. She almost thought it was a shame she didn’t come away with a scar to mark the special occasion, but she could thank her armor for that. She sighed now, looking up. The dome was huge, and this was going to be a long trek back.

Author: Atrocias