Hunting Grounds; Balvarine Quest

Tetrarch Lokasena Corvinus scanned his Battle Team members proudly. It was a very diverse team. Some would view that as weakness. Lokasena knew that in diversity lay strength. Phoenix members old and new had gathered to tackle the latest obstacle in the Brotherhood’s goal toward ultimate peace.
“Good day to you. I hope you are all well rested.” Sena smiled at seeing the tired faces of the younger members. Preparation for a mission could take a lot out of you. Better that they were too ready, than not ready at all.

“Take a close look at your surroundings. This is where we will do battle this day.” They looked around and saw the dense forest with its high trees and thick undergrowth.
“Your goal will be to reach the large pyramid structure. There you will find and kill the Balvarine Matriarch. With its leadership destroyed, the rest of the den will be hard pressed to organise any further expansion into Brotherhood territory.” A stern tone crept into Sena’s voice. “Be careful though, the Matriarch is not an easy prey. You can count on heavy resistance while you make your separate way through the jungle. If you are in need of assistance, simply fire a red flare up in the air. If you are lucky someone will see it and decide to assist you.” Sena handed them all a small wrist band with a single button. If pressed and aimed upward, the band would release a bright red flare.

“This is a test of character as well as endurance. I want to find out how familiar you are with the Way of the Warrior.” He walked passed all of them. Dark Sabre, Bubbles and Mal’ari’carun stood calm, each meeting his gaze as he passed. Komari Vosa smiled at him. She seemed confident that she could handle the task ahead. Tirano, Madara Uchiha and Rhynor looked more ‘on edge’ to Sena.

“Should you get into trouble, do not hesitate to use the flare. The more of you make it to the pyramid, the easier it will be to slay the beast in its lair.” Walking away from them and then quickly turning on his heel, Lokasena faced his team with an earnest expression.
“The mission is everything!” he bellowed. “There is no room for those who wish to reap all the honour for themselves. Stay true to your comrades, and maybe they will save your life one day.” The Krath Tetrarch straightened his shoulders. “Stay true to the team and you will make it through. Now, each of you pick a direction and start making your way to the structure. Good luck!” With that, he bowed to his team and saw them off.

As Dark Sabre and Mal'ari'carun headed off without pause into the the depths of the jungle, Bubbles sat down to watch the younger members of the team. Komari waited only a moment or two, before picking a course through the jungle which ensured she could not be thought of as following either of the more experienced members.

A hint of a smile crossed Bubbs' face as she recognised aspects of her own personality reflected in the younger girl. After a few minutes, Tirano, Madara and Rhynor each set off, their paths discrete from one another, but close enough to be able to assist each other if necessary.

Nodding to herself, Bubbles stood and brushed off her trousers. Robes were fine back home, but out in the middle of no-where they were far from practical. Dark Sabre and Mal could look after themselves, that she knew without a shadow of a doubt, and there was little that Komari could not handle for a few minutes at least - long enough for someone to get to her aid. The others though, Bubbles did not yet know enough about.

While she no longer held any position within the house, Bubbles Taldrya still felt an overwhelming responsibility towards the members of Phoenix Phyle. The Phyle had been her home for many years now, and it's members were the closest thing she had to family. Slinging her pack across her back with ease, she checked her sabre, and glanced back at Sena to check he had no last minute orders. With a grin, she followed the younger members of the Phyle into the forest.

Kaijima was used to getting up early and the fresh start didn't bother him in the slightest. He steadied himself at a brisk walking pace.

"There’s no need t' hurry," he considered, "I don't want t' waste all my energy before I even get there." His training saber jangling on his middle belt, he ventured on into the under growth.

After a few miles, the protector reached a small clearing with a large stone in the middle.
He then picked up 4 small stones and placed them on the slab like boulder. Putting his hand in between the 2 middle buckles fastening his uniform, Kaijima pulled out a map of Thana and a compass. Using the small stones as paper weights, the obelisk began to plot his course on the chart.

“I’ve come about 4 or 5 miles now… so I should be here!” he placed a marker on the map. “Now, I have to go proximately 18 miles SW,” drawing a line with his finger, “and I should come to where 2 rivers meet together…” placing another marker.

In a few seconds the map was gone again, stuffed back into Kaijima’s coat. He then plucked a thin vine from a nearby tree and used it to lash the compass to his wrist, like a watch.

“Ok, lets do it.” He said to himself. Covering up his existence in the defoliated area, the Zakaanian checked his compass-watch and headed off dew south-east.

His body-shape was quickly engulfed in the shadows of the giant trees...

Komari Vosa had run for about half an hour. Her purple top was sweaty and some strands of red hair, that had come loose from her pony tail, were sticking to the side of her face.
“Come on a mission, he said. It won’t be hard, he said. In fact it will be fun, he said. If I survive this, I’ll kill Sena.” she muttered under her breath.

“Forests and pyramids and werewolves. Why, it’s just a bundle of fun. Anything a girl could wish for.”
Komari had her Valaroukar whip strapped to her back and a dagger at her hip. “Never go anywhere without your knife!” Yes, Sena had taught her well.

As she came to a small stream, Vosa knelt down and brought a hand of refreshing cold water to her mouth. The next hand she stroked over her forehead and neck. “That’s better…”
After a few more sips of water, the Protector straightened herself and started running again. Very fast, very deadly…

Bubbles took a deep breath and shuddered. There was trouble in the air, and it was coming fast. She readjusted the pack on her back, and set off at a fast pace, aiming to make ground on the younger members of the Phyle before whatever it was that was coming found them. A flash through her mind from Mal said he had felt it too and would be close at hand if needed.

No teams Lokasena had said. Well, that was all well and good, but Bubbs was not about to leave the younger members of the Phyle with no immediate back-up in a situation like this. The memory of almost losing Sena in the Library of Lears was all too fresh in her mind, and was not something the Epis would allow to be repeated in a very long time.

An unearthly howl bought her up short, it's tendrils spreading quickly throughout the forest. After a moment or two, it was answered by further calls from deeper in the forest. The hunt had begun, but would Phoenix bethe hunter, or the hunted?

A red flare punctured the canopy a mile or so in front of her. For now, at least, the answer was not good. Without pause for thought, Bubbles set off at a dead sprint towards the source of the howl and the flare.

Deep from within the pyramid, the sound of heavy breathing could be heard.
In the center of the largest chamber she lay, the Balvarine Matriarch. Carathier daughter of Carcharoth.
When her mother was slain by Lokasena, Carathier took over the den and made refuge in the forests of the Hunting Grounds. This pyramid served her needs well. It was a massive structure that was easy to defend from outsiders. The inside was a maze of hallways and corridors and chambers. One had to relie on sent to make ones way through this labyrinth and for a human, the sent would be practically unbearable.

In her chamber, Carathier lay waiting. She had revenge on her mind. The foul Human that had killed her mother would pay for his brutality. He and all who followed him would meet their doom.
Her dark eyes seemed like small, black holes in the sickly white color of her fur.
Only the hairs on the side of her hellish jaws was diffrent from the rest. For it was a deep red and brown from all the blood of slain prey and enemies alike. She had her followers patrol the woods outside. Nothing could get through undetected.

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Very well...
So far our Phoenix run-on...
Bubbles, Kajima and Komari, you have participated in my comp. Thnx for that!
In my book you are all winners. I'll make sure to request medals for all of you