Hunters First Steps

[Xion Vala]

My first hunt... Yea this should be just great. Xion thought to himself as he strolled through the northern forests on the planet Mandalore. The sun beat down upon his brow the heat making his skin tingle. The sounds of the wildlife filled his ears as he strolled through the grass barefoot and his cloth pants rolled up. Xion was taking this time to become with nature while he hunted the strill that he had been contracted to. He had done his research on the creatures knowing of them and the danger they could pose if he was not careful . Slung across his back was the Chiru tranquilizer rifle that he had been given to complete the mission with. His empty sockets staring up into the sky he felt the wind blow his hair the red curls bouncing wildly. Xion had mainly joined the hunters guild out of necessity for credits. It was hard out in the galaxy. Even when training under the jedi he still needed credits to fund his ventures and this was the best way. No it may not pay the best at first but it would eventually be worth it.

 

[Xion Vala]

Stopping at a stream the sound of trickling water filling his ears Xion squatted down cupping his hands and scooped up a handful of water lifting it to his mouth and sipping from it. The water had a natural flavor to it as it flowed across his tongue and down his throat. Xion cared little for what the mandalorians thought about a jedi hunting their wildlife, it was a job. They should know best what it was like. The planet was mostly filled with bounty hunters or mercenaries. They had no right to judge him for doing the same. Shaking his hands letting the last bits of water fly free Xion refocused himself on his hunt. He didn't have forever to be on this planet hunting one bloody creature. But it was hard for him to move. He felt strangely at peace in the forest. Cut off from the needless worries and over exaggerations of society. All he had to worry about was himself. Something he planned on looking into in the future.

 

[Xion Vala]

Standing in the midst of the of the trees Xion was hit by a sudden and horrible stench causing his head to jerk back. The smell actually wanted to make him want to gag, and he scanned around using his inherent talent with Force sight. He knew what the smell was coming from and if it smelled that bad it had to be pretty close. Finally he saw the creature the look it had on it's face. The growling could be heard and Xion slowly began to back away from the creature looking dead at it. The flappy skin of the creature was somewhat questioning but Xion payed more attention to the creatures sharp talons.

 

[Xion Vala]

The creature growled one last time before it jumped from it's perch and spread its legs. The floppy skin of the creature caught the air and it began to glide towards Xion. Quickly sidestepping the creature Xion was lucky as the talons barely missed his head as the Strilla flew over him. The wind could be heard whistling in his ear as the target flew past. Turning and looking at the beast Xion thought about pulling out the tranq rifle but with how fast it turned and had it's eyes back on him, he knew that wasn't going to happen. Then the creature pounced at him once again.

 

[Xion Vala]

When the creature pounced this time Xion went into a roll going right beneath the creatures legs where he came up in a run heading the opposite way. Trees stood in his path but he simply dodged them not having to look back as he heard the pounding of the Strills feet. Xion wasn't scared of it, but he was leading it to a place where he would have a better advantage. Where he could instead corner the creature and take the advantage. The growls and screeches followed him getting closer and closer with each second that passed. Xion felt as though he could even feel the creatures hot breath on the back of his legs.

 

[Xion Vala]

As a tree came up Xion jumped wrapping his arms around it and using it to spin around. The tree bark bit into his skin and splinters could be felt embedding themselves into his arms. Completely the spin and ending up behind the creature his feet met the animals rear and sent it tumbling into the dirt. Xion landed in a crouch holding his balance with one hand the skin on his arm burning from the maneuver he had just done. Shrugging off the tranq rifle and quickly taking out the tranq that was in the chamber Xion dropped the weapon to the ground armed with only the tranq dart. The strill growled at him, with Xion simply smirking in rebuttal. Then the two charged each other.

 

[Xion Vala]

The two met with a fierce tackle the strength of the Strill winning out. Xion shifted his weight as the Strill tackled him so the two would go into a tumble. Raising the hand that had the tranq rifle in it attempting to stab the Strill in the neck Xion soon felt a sharp pain in that arm as one of the creatures talons tore into the flesh. The warm blood flowed freely down Xions arm but he dare not release the tranq dart cause it could mean his death if he did. The two landed with the Strill standing above Xion drool falling from the animals mouth and coating Xion's face. Disgusting! Xion screamed in his head. Then the Strill shot its head forward to try and finish him.

 

[Xion Vala]

The Strills mouth flew towards Xion's throat with an extreme amount of viciousness. There was no hate in the creatures eyes as it attacked the man. Xion quickly moved his head left barely avoiding the attack. He tried to raise the arm with the tranq dart but the strill had one of its feet holding it down. So raising his feet Xion kicked upwards propelling the Strill off of him where it hit the ground on it's back. Finally free of the attack Xion rolled over and rose the arm with teh tranq and drove it down into the Strill before it could roll over or dodge the attack. The creature howled as the sharp needle of the tranq dart sank into it. It struggled but Xion had put his weight upon the beast to hold it down till the tranquilizer kicked in.

 

[Xion Vala]

The Strill soon stopped struggling its body coming to stop the creature now in a deep slumber. Standing to his feet breathing wildly and arm covered in blood Xion looked down at the Strill kind of proud of what he had done. He had begun to pick the creature up but then he heard the sound of little squeaks and growls. Now only audible to him due to the end of the battle. The sound wasn't to far away and as he followed it Xion soon found himself standing over a nest of baby Strills. The small animals were strangely adorable they crawled over one another before they finally noticed him and looked up.

 

[Xion Vala]

With strills being an endangered species already hard to find the babies would fetch a high price, but what Xion was worried about was what they would do without their parent. Where was the other? Not wanting to risk anything Xion took his shirt and bundled it making a carriage for the baby strills loading all five of them into it. The beast hunters Guild would know what to do with them, and if they didn't Xion would raise them. Activating his com he called in Mrrew. "The Strill has been captured. On my way back now." Xion said before turning away to go grab the parent Strill.

[member="Mrrew"]