15th of Ashan, Arc 718 - Dawn
It was nearly dawn, soft shadows diffused what little light there was in the sky into a deep azure haze. A thick fog lay across the Stormlands like a comfortable blanket. Just beyond the walls of Rharne stood a woman, clothed in a rich indigo cloak and leather armor, her bright amber locks spilling over her shoulders. Karliah was a Thunder Priestess of the Warrior branch, her armor and the leather gauntlets on her arms marking her as such. Perhaps most notable of the woman was not her clothing or appearance but rather the massive feline standing just behind her right shoulder. The enormous cat purred softly, her muzzle dipping low to briefly touch the top of Karliah’s head as a subtle gesture of affection.
The feline was a Zephyrus, a companion and mount that was often seen at the side of Thunder Priestesses and Lightning Knights. Weighing in at over eight hundred points, the massive female cat dwarfed her master considerably. Karliah’s companion did not bear the ostentatious feathered mane and saber-toothed grin of a male Zephyrus, but she was still an impressive creature.
“Hush Vabina, I know she’s late.” The priestess said gently as the cat let out a soft growl. A long leather saddle was lashed to Vabina’s back, allowing for two to ride if the occasion arose. A thick leather collar sat around the Zephyrus’s neck, allowing the rider to grasp the attached metal grips near the nape of the neck. These beasts were not horses; they refused to wear a bridle, so it was essential for a bond based on trust to be developed between the rider and the mount. The cats were commanded via spoken commands, so the collar and hand holds were merely there to help the rider remain balanced while traveling.
Karliah finally sighted a shadow emerging from the direction of the city. She was there to meet with another priestess and assist in the capture of a new Zephyrus cub. This had to be done at dawn when the pride would be settling down to rest and sleep at daybreak. Zephyrus are Crepuscular creatures, hunting during the twilight breaks and sometimes into the night. They tended to sleep during the early breaks of the morning, so it would be then that they would begin their hunt.
Karliah walked toward Vabina’s side and stepped into a dangling stirrup and hauled herself up into the saddle. Her indigo cloak flapped in the crisp wind of Ashan.
“Hop on, we are already running late.” The priestess said to the approaching woman, her voice flat and stoic as if to hide her earlier irritation. The Zephyrus growled faintly, her blue feline eyes almost glowing in the dim starlight.
The feline was a Zephyrus, a companion and mount that was often seen at the side of Thunder Priestesses and Lightning Knights. Weighing in at over eight hundred points, the massive female cat dwarfed her master considerably. Karliah’s companion did not bear the ostentatious feathered mane and saber-toothed grin of a male Zephyrus, but she was still an impressive creature.
“Hush Vabina, I know she’s late.” The priestess said gently as the cat let out a soft growl. A long leather saddle was lashed to Vabina’s back, allowing for two to ride if the occasion arose. A thick leather collar sat around the Zephyrus’s neck, allowing the rider to grasp the attached metal grips near the nape of the neck. These beasts were not horses; they refused to wear a bridle, so it was essential for a bond based on trust to be developed between the rider and the mount. The cats were commanded via spoken commands, so the collar and hand holds were merely there to help the rider remain balanced while traveling.
Karliah finally sighted a shadow emerging from the direction of the city. She was there to meet with another priestess and assist in the capture of a new Zephyrus cub. This had to be done at dawn when the pride would be settling down to rest and sleep at daybreak. Zephyrus are Crepuscular creatures, hunting during the twilight breaks and sometimes into the night. They tended to sleep during the early breaks of the morning, so it would be then that they would begin their hunt.
Karliah walked toward Vabina’s side and stepped into a dangling stirrup and hauled herself up into the saddle. Her indigo cloak flapped in the crisp wind of Ashan.
“Hop on, we are already running late.” The priestess said to the approaching woman, her voice flat and stoic as if to hide her earlier irritation. The Zephyrus growled faintly, her blue feline eyes almost glowing in the dim starlight.