Foes? Pt. 1: They Encroach
Far removed from signs of civilization, a remarkable object smolders and hisses at the end of a deep channel it carved through the earth just moments ago. Gleaming chrome reflects the warm tones of a slow spreading fire. An array of lights, miraculously unbroken, flicker on a single, badly mangled wing. The object hums, as though alive against all odds, but perhaps more astounding is the sudden emergence of the vessel’s survivors. This alien ship arrived with passengers, and they are very much alive.
From a line of trees a hundred paces away, Elysium watches the unfolding scene with barely contained enthusiasm. Here before her, life from distant stars, a group of incredible spacefarers who travelled all this way to unknown ends… and she would be the first person in the world to boast the feat of killing an organism not of this world. The very thought of this prospect sends her heart racing. No longer can she hold back. On powerful legs, she launches herself from the edge of the forest, and tears across the meadow towards the wreck.
Silhouetted against the now blazing remains of the ship, four alien forms huddle together, oblivious to the vicious advance of the daiten beyond them. Their only priority now is to wait out the fire, and hope what remains can be recovered and repaired. One begins to take in their surroundings, scanning across into the darkened field. Staring into the bright inferno has taken their low light vision, but movement in the shadows catches their attention soon enough to cry out in warning, but not fast enough to evade the coming threat.
Into the circle of light, Elysium crashes into the closest of the alien lifeforms, a sinuous creature covered in iridescent fibers and hard plated scales. They tumble end over end, the alien’s long body coiling and writhing in shock or panic, Elysium does not care. Her double sharp claws seek out weaknesses in her victim’s body, while her gnashing tail finds purchase on one of the alien’s slender, insectoid limbs.
Just as Elysium’s relentless search begins to bear fruit, interference arrives. Another body slams into her side, knocking her free from her hapless prey. She lands on all fours, body held close to the ground for added stability, hissing and spitting in the direction of the interruption. Stood now between Elysium and the half-mauled alien, another massive daiten glares down at her, nostrils flaring, smoke jetting from gills and chest.
“Sov,” Elysium groans, recognizing the silvered gleam of his skull-faced head. “What an unpleasant surprise.” In one fluid motion, she springs back to her feet, squaring up eagerly to her much larger opponent.
Sovereign’s head tilts down slowly, effecting an air of distaste despite the inherent lack of expression on his skinless face. “I will not allow you to harm our visitors. Leave now, or this will get ugly.”
“Ugly?” She laughs, grabbing herself for dramatic flair. “Oh, I hoped it would be ugly!” Snarling, she darts forward, claws outstretched, jaws opening wide enough to reveal another set of teeth behind the first.
Unfazed, Sovereign evades the reckless lunge with ease, only to realize she was not aiming for him at all. Her body sails past, all her momentum carrying her through to the real target: the cowering aliens, who seemed to be unsure what to do or where to go. Elysium sends them scattering and screaming in haunting voices, hellbent on achieving her true objective: turning these wayward travellers into trophies.
Reacting quickly, Sovereign follows her into the fray, grabbing at her tail to pull her back, only for it to wind around his arm and sink needle-sharp teeth into his hand. Still, he refuses to let go, yanking instead harder and forcing her body to turn and face him. Now Elysium’s fury descends on him alone, teeth and claws driving into his arm to get him to release. Blood slicks them both, causing him to lose purchase on the tail, and all at once she slips away from him again.
Elysium shrieks in triumph at her escape, and wastes no time tearing after her fleeing prey. The meddling of this self-righteous daiten can not come between her and her prize, she reminds herself. She must act quicker, strike harder, rip and tear with more violence, or else the opportunity will get away from her. Scrambling in the dark, nearly at the edge of the forest, Elysium prepares to make one last, devastating attack on her weakened victim, but just as her muscles bunch for the strike, Sovereign’s own body comes crashing down on her.
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