Blue Skies...
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2010 1:53 pm
Blue Skies
Part 1 :
William crouched down low on the hilltop. He could hear the terrible commotion coming from below. Pulling himself along on his stomach he finally reached the edge of the steep drop off. Sure enough pandemonium reined supreme in the small valley below.
A large tiger was attacking a raptor. The tiger was huge! Three hundred pounds at least, perhaps more. The raptor was agile and quick though. This would be a contest of wills and he was mesmerized by the combat. He could see the raptors orange hide was marked by three long red lines. The tiger scored first blood then. The tiger crouched low to the ground and began to circle the raptor. The theropod was not stupid and rotated to keep it’s front pointed directly at the circling predator. It was at that very moment an arrow came rocketing in impacting the raptor under it’s left armpit.
Instantly he realized this was no ordinary meeting between these two formidable beasts. Expertly the tiger had gathered the raptors full attention and then turned it to line up a kill shot. He rotated his head around trying desperately to locate the Hunter nearby, but could see nothing. Whom ever he was, he was good.
William returned his full attention back to the fight below. Although mortally wounded the raptor continued to struggle. It’s jaws snapped at the tiger even though it’s two powerful legs were beginning to buckle. The raptor was dead, it just didn’t realize it yet. As he watched the tiger continued it’s hypnotizing dance around the stricken beast taunting it. And, then another arrow silently hit home dead center of the raptors chest. This was over...
He debated sliding back the way he had come. He wasn’t in the mood to watch anymore when the raptor did something strange. As he watched, the raptors head tilted back and it loudly called out four times. He paused. Raptors never did that in the Wetlands. Granted he wasn’t a Hunter by any means, but that was behavior he had never witnessed before. He stayed rooted to the spot straining to make out every detail.
Sure enough it happened again. The raptor threw it’s head back and called out loudly once more, but this time it did not finish it’s calls. Yet another arrow slammed directly into it’s throat. It gurgled for a brief moment and fell over. It’s back legs kicked violently several times and then it was still.
For the second time he decided to abandon his perch, but again something kept him from moving. His eyes grew wide and he saw three orange raptors slip quietly from the thick jungle cover. The stricken raptors calls for help seem to have been heard. The tiger immediately sensed the new arrivals and spun around to face them. William knew the tiger was powerful, but not enough to fend off all three at once.
If the Hunter was smart he would slip away and allow his pet to pay the price for this mistake. He felt a slight pang of regret for the majestic beast that was about to fall below. He couldn’t watch that magnitude of slaughter and began to slip backwards. That’s when he heard the war cry from his left.
His head snapped back around just in time to see a female Blood Elf erupt from the jungle. Her hair was silver pulled back in a long ponytail and she carried a massive bow the likes of which he had never seen. His mouth dropped open as the frail looking elf nocked an arrow and let fly. It hammered into the eye of the nearest raptor. She never stopped screaming or firing her bow. The nearest raptor howled and fell to the ground lifeless as a stone, but it wasn’t going to be enough. The tiger leaped onto the back of another raptor biting into it’s neck. Sadly the remaining raptor was already closing the distance to the insane Blood Elf. Stunned he watched her drop to her back allowing the mad beast to pass over her body. As she rose to her feet this crazy elf was already drawing her bow. Two arrows landed rapid fire into the raptors flank and it cried out in pain.
William nodded. It seems they will both survive after all. A tiny voice in his head was mildly happy about it, but he wouldn’t dare say so aloud and then it all went to hell...
Part 1 :
William crouched down low on the hilltop. He could hear the terrible commotion coming from below. Pulling himself along on his stomach he finally reached the edge of the steep drop off. Sure enough pandemonium reined supreme in the small valley below.
A large tiger was attacking a raptor. The tiger was huge! Three hundred pounds at least, perhaps more. The raptor was agile and quick though. This would be a contest of wills and he was mesmerized by the combat. He could see the raptors orange hide was marked by three long red lines. The tiger scored first blood then. The tiger crouched low to the ground and began to circle the raptor. The theropod was not stupid and rotated to keep it’s front pointed directly at the circling predator. It was at that very moment an arrow came rocketing in impacting the raptor under it’s left armpit.
Instantly he realized this was no ordinary meeting between these two formidable beasts. Expertly the tiger had gathered the raptors full attention and then turned it to line up a kill shot. He rotated his head around trying desperately to locate the Hunter nearby, but could see nothing. Whom ever he was, he was good.
William returned his full attention back to the fight below. Although mortally wounded the raptor continued to struggle. It’s jaws snapped at the tiger even though it’s two powerful legs were beginning to buckle. The raptor was dead, it just didn’t realize it yet. As he watched the tiger continued it’s hypnotizing dance around the stricken beast taunting it. And, then another arrow silently hit home dead center of the raptors chest. This was over...
He debated sliding back the way he had come. He wasn’t in the mood to watch anymore when the raptor did something strange. As he watched, the raptors head tilted back and it loudly called out four times. He paused. Raptors never did that in the Wetlands. Granted he wasn’t a Hunter by any means, but that was behavior he had never witnessed before. He stayed rooted to the spot straining to make out every detail.
Sure enough it happened again. The raptor threw it’s head back and called out loudly once more, but this time it did not finish it’s calls. Yet another arrow slammed directly into it’s throat. It gurgled for a brief moment and fell over. It’s back legs kicked violently several times and then it was still.
For the second time he decided to abandon his perch, but again something kept him from moving. His eyes grew wide and he saw three orange raptors slip quietly from the thick jungle cover. The stricken raptors calls for help seem to have been heard. The tiger immediately sensed the new arrivals and spun around to face them. William knew the tiger was powerful, but not enough to fend off all three at once.
If the Hunter was smart he would slip away and allow his pet to pay the price for this mistake. He felt a slight pang of regret for the majestic beast that was about to fall below. He couldn’t watch that magnitude of slaughter and began to slip backwards. That’s when he heard the war cry from his left.
His head snapped back around just in time to see a female Blood Elf erupt from the jungle. Her hair was silver pulled back in a long ponytail and she carried a massive bow the likes of which he had never seen. His mouth dropped open as the frail looking elf nocked an arrow and let fly. It hammered into the eye of the nearest raptor. She never stopped screaming or firing her bow. The nearest raptor howled and fell to the ground lifeless as a stone, but it wasn’t going to be enough. The tiger leaped onto the back of another raptor biting into it’s neck. Sadly the remaining raptor was already closing the distance to the insane Blood Elf. Stunned he watched her drop to her back allowing the mad beast to pass over her body. As she rose to her feet this crazy elf was already drawing her bow. Two arrows landed rapid fire into the raptors flank and it cried out in pain.
William nodded. It seems they will both survive after all. A tiny voice in his head was mildly happy about it, but he wouldn’t dare say so aloud and then it all went to hell...