Into the Jungle [Part 1]
#WARNING Contains Violence
Thule circled around the sickly looking big cat like a starved vulture, looking for a potential opening. Fortunately, his treetop perch allowed him the advantage over the cougar, which had been curled up between bush thickets for a few hours now, carelessly drifting to sleep amongst the wild growths. Thule's stomach growled silently; t had been days since the Tribal Twinge had had a morsel of fresh meat in his belly.
The hunter was never quite too sure how he found origins in Kumungu. Maybe he was once a plant that stole another's body through dark magic, like Zyra. Or maybe he was bestowed jungle magic after his family was killed, liked Nidalee. A crooked smirk danced across his face, hidden behind his primitive skull-like mask. That girl, Nidalee, gave him more problems than none. Why? He was never too sure of that. They both loved their jungle home, but he felt more aggressive than her, and took what he needed not only from weary travelers, but from the jungles themselves.
He gripped his macuahuitl tensely in hand, the handle's wrappings beginning to slide off with worn age. Thule made this elegant weapon himself, made from obsidian, sturdy wood, and a few gems he found after slaying a naive young adventurer. It was as beautiful as it was deadly, and today, it would hopefully claim another life. Another hunt, and eventually another satisfying meal.
His calf muscles tightened, his fingers locking into place. The hunt was on, and Thule dove downward at breakneck speeds onto the beast, his macuahuitl making short work of the cougar. The obsidian dimly shined against the dark growth around them, hardly stained by the blood of the wild. At last, Thule had a meal after days without one. Dropping to his knees, he outstretched his arms and pressed his palms firmly against the bloodied side of the beast.
Thule began to murmur something indistinctly, chanting as his hands pressed deeper against the corpse. IT was a habit of his, praying for every meal to gods and goddess he didn't know, and certainly didn't understand. But it was how he managed to feel comforted when stricken with loneliness. He wasn't alone now though...
Few in Valoran can hear her footsteps, especially when within her primal domain. Nature was Kumungu's only sovereign, though few actually take resident within the dense jungle. Thule often wondered what Nidalee was doing here; did she want the hidden gems? Did she want to defend the jungles? He was never quite sure. None of that mattered right now. He heard her there, lurking somewhere. Thule knew that this might be his chance to end her meddling and annoyance.
Nidalee hissed behind him, a good few feet away. Thule quickly lifted his head, looking around frantically. He gritted his teeth, his sharp teeth no doubt, and grabbed the handle of his macuahuitl. Hopping up to his feet, he spin around, only to be met with her spear! The tip plunged deep, deep into his left shoulder and caused him to stumble back.
"You missed, kitten," He strained with each word, but managed to toss out a weak taunt her way. "Let me guess. If you wanted to kill me, you would have by now?"
She shook her head and slowly approached, tip toeing amongst the now bloodied brush. "A fair guess..."
As she neared, Thule reached over and grasped the long pole of the spear, snapping off the handle where it met the bladed tip. "Well, you've lost your weapon now."
"Claw or spear, your end's the same," She rolled her eyes before grabbing a freshly carved stone knife off her leg. Stepping back, Nidalee silently offered the first step to her opponent.
Thule, with his macuahuitl still in hand, leaped high in the air with the agility of a gorilla and swung his blade downward, rumbling the earth as Nidalee flipped backwards out of the way. The Tribal Twinge snarled at the dexterity of the Bestial Huntress. Part of him knew that skirmishes like this would always take place, but another part knew that this was his chance to end it.
Landing gracefully on her two feet, she gave a wicked smile before dashing forward. Leaping at him like a cat catching a mouse, her attack was met with frustration as Thule also dashed forward, wrapping his arms around her in mid air and tackling her to the ground. She groaned when they both hit the ground with a thud, her head whipping back and striking the earth. He tucked his head against her shoulder, trying to pin her down and tire her out from the squirming.
"It's over now, Nidalee. I know your--" Thule paused and viciously shouted out in pain as she dove the dagger into his thick back muscles, piercing past his fur and leather hide chest armor. She dove it in and out several times in the same location until he released her and grabbed her attacking wrist, flinging her into the side of a nearby tree.
He gripped his shoulder tightly, crimson rivers spilling down from his back. "Always have--" He grunted before walking a few steps to his right to grab his macuahuitl in hand. "Always have a few tricks, don't you? I blame myself, really."
She rested a hand on her back as she lay on her side, the other hand supporting her. She looked with subtle terror as the monster of a man approached slowly, weakly. Her eyes narrowed. This was far from over...