A soft breeze was blowing throughout the arid plains. The sun�s rays were reflecting onto the earth, looking almost golden, it was dawn. A large valley this was, and in it�s middle, an oasis. From afar, it looked not too different from the African savannas. Yet, for those who�d step on it�s arid earth, they would soon realise that the difference stood not on how it looked, but on what lurks within the tall beige grass and under the forever sunburnt trees.
Emerging from the grass, a horrific serpent was making it�s way towards the oasis. The great beast with scythe like arms and teeth to rip apart not only the bark off the trees, but entire chunks, was taking cautious steps on all it�s four legs throughout the barren land. It would use the cover of the grass and the trees to make it�s way, unseen. But it was not unseen. It was being hunted.
Within the grass, a young blood, a Yautja of the Yeyin Ameda clan was stalking his prey. Cloaking itself amid the tall grass, observing the serpent. Vul-Kash, a worshipper of Thardha just like his clan, was willing to make this hunt an exceptional one. He was ambitious and determined to prove not only to his clan, but to himself, that he is ready to feast from now on, until the end of his days.
The serpent had suddenly stopped in it�s tracks, raising it�s head, following the tall grass surrounding it. The breeze had stopped, for Vul-Kash had made his way out into the open, before the serpent. As they both stood there, gazing upon each other in silence, the breeze had once again begun, raising the dust off the barren earth, as if on cue, as the young blood extended his wristblades while the serpent had screeched, revealing it�s purpose for this encounter. To kill or be killed.
The serpent, lunging forth with it�s arms above itself, made the first move of the fight, blocking the sun out of the young blood that dashed to his right, raising his left arm to sweep the wristblade across towards the serpent, missing it completely. In a close position one to each other, the serpent moved fast, sweeping the ground with it�s tail, raising dust in it�s wake. Catching the young blood off-guard, he had lost his balance and hit the ground, the serpent now on top of him, he had thought quickly, retracting his left wristblade and punching it with all his might, sending the serpent flying back.
With few meters in-between them, the Yautja charged forth, the serpent ready to defend itself, swept once more but this time Vul-Kash had been ready, for he dashed to the side before extending his wristblade and slashing it across the back of the serpent, sending it into a screeching rage. The boiling blood has splattered across the yautja, sizzling, burning briefly through his weak armor and into his skin. For the young blood he was, everything had to be a challenge. Even his equipment.
Without hesitation, the serpent had turned, slashing Vul-Kash across his abdomen, making it�s way through the armor enough to leave a superficial but painful gash into the yautja�s flesh. But the pain wouldn�t stop him. The yautja struck hard, piercing with it�s right wristblade through the serpent�s exoskeleton, the screech was now louder, it swept it�s tail again in attempt to break the predator�s guard and put him on the ground. And it did.
Despite the success, the serpent took off, wounded, to lick it�s wounds. But it wouldn�t have time to do so, for Vul-Kash was right behind it.
Without hesitation, the young blood rushed after the serpent, following the trail and scent of the sizzling, green blood, almost glowing into the light of the red sun above.
Not too far off from their first encounter, the yautja reaches the oasis. The greenery surrounding it made for an almost tropical view. But it wouldn�t last for as the predator approached, he was met by the green, still sizzling trail of the serpent, hiding somewhere among the greenery. His findings were confirmed by the serpent itself that struck, from behind. The serpent curled it�s tail around Vul-Kash�s right leg, pulling at it. The yautja turned, his wristblades extended. Just as the serpent was swinging it�s right arm to slash the yautja, the young blood impaled the left wristblade into the serpent�s chest.
The blood sizzled on his armor, making it�s way through, he quicky turned the blade into it�s chest, making the serpent screech even louder than both times combined.
With his free hand, the yautja grabbed the serpent by it�s head, tossing it to the side. He quickly regained his footing and lunged forth with an upward slash, the wounded serpent pulled back, but not in time, it�s wounds still fresh. Another blow followed after the serpent was sliced across it�s chest. The acid blood was now a simple nuissance for the yautja. For he had accepted the pain.
The yautja followed another punch into serpent�s abdomen, sending it on it�s back. As the serpent curled it�s tail and tried to regain it�s footing on all it�s fours, another punch followed, and another and another, crushing the serpent against the ground with each blow, taking the life away from it�s violent carcass.
As soon as the serpent was mortally wounded, the yautja impaled his left wristblade into the serpent�s head, killing it with no hesitation.
Following this deadly encounter, the yautja stood up, staring at lifeless serpent before him, then a familiar voice was heard. Looking towards it�s source, he saw his clan leader approaching, decloaking on his way towards Vul-Kash, a ceremonial dagger in his right hand, the arm extended towards the young blood who had finished his first hunt.
As soon as Vul-Kash reached for the dagger, Tangu-Nom had spoken:
-�Your hunting skills are still developing, Vul-Kash. The serpent had it�s way with you, but you had not given up. Your ambitious spirit will be rewarded on your hunts. But there is yet more to learn.�
-�And I am willing to learn.�, Vul-Kash answered.
-�I am aware. But now, it is time for us to feast, together. For your first hunt had finished and a life of hunting had just begun. In the name of Thardha you shall hunt, feast on your prey and live. For it Thardha that we owe for the prosperity of our clan. Now retrieve your trophy. The mouth of the serpent.�
Following the hunt, the feast of the Yeyin Ameda clan was a great one. For not only Vul-Kash had been the latest young-blood to successfully prove their worth, but they would also finally engage into greater hunts now, for their numbers were growing, for greater feasts and for greater honors.
Not long after, Vul-Kash had met once again with Tangu-Nom who had spoken to him.
-�Remember, your clan members will respect you, you will respect them, you will hunt alone, but feast together. Pursue not the greatest hunt, but the greatest feast. Your equipment is not important, but your skill. Hone it, for your clan, for Thardha, for your honor.
Vul-Kash had now been ready. He would join greater hunts for greater feasts. His purpose, to feast in the name of Thardha, honorably in the company of his clan members.