Evans was in a terrible mood. Anyone would be when someone wakes to find their leg was treated as a wall to put grafitti on! The new mark on his leg had a purple goblet with two streams pouring either in or out of it, giving a scholarly feel for any that took a close look at it. The worst part was that it won't wash off no matter how many times he soaked in water. 'Well, at least it looks cool I guess...'
Helpless, Evans decided not to think about it further and cross his claws that he wont be tracked with this thing on. strolling to the usual hunting grounds, Evans crouched within the ever reliable vegetation to hide. 'All right, gonna grab me a good meal and go sunbathe. Easy peasy.' Reality proved to be different from his thoughts, as his bulk created a rustling sound in the tall grass. An aptonoth Raised its head in weariness to the sound. Normally, as long as Evans stayed veeerrry still, the dumb creature would just brush it off and resume grazing.
*MRRRROOOOOHHHH!*
Unfortunately, the Third Fleet's mark was more of a hassle than he thought. Upon spotting a small flash of purple, the aptonoth bellowed before hurrying off, knowing that the food should NOT be purple! The others followed suit,as the herd mentality deep in their genes kicked in, following their unintentional savior to greener pastures.
'...' Evans had to pause as his brain processed what just happened. His meal mere moments to being claimed, ran off. And he hadn't even left his hiding spot! 'ok, maybe I was just to eager, yeah that might be it.' Believing it to be a fluke, Evans tracked the herd down, sure he'll catch on this time. After all, not all days will someone be at their best and get it the first try.
The day passed as a staged game of cat and mouse played out. Whenever an aptonoth drew close to his hiding spot, Evans stood ready to pounce. Yet by then, they would run off as he leaped out, having seen the persistent purple in their food source. Evans' patience was quickly thinning with every missed attack. Fortunately, the herd of herbivores were too dumb to simply leave the area entirely, otherwise Evans would be more than just irritated.
Yet fortune always finds its way around eventually. One of the aponoths had decided to take a rest further from the herd. The fool. Evans treaded as quietly as possible, ensuring that none of the aptonoth were looking in his direction. Just as his fangs were close to getting a taste, another set of claws and fangs struck first. The creature resembled an iguana if it had gone months without a bath. Its slitted eyes stared the aptonoth down as it latched onto its ankles.
*EeRAAAhhh!*
The aptonoth cried in agony as the rest fled at a moment's notice. It tried to stomp the smaller creature on its leg, hoping to flee and catch up with the rest of its herd. Yet just before it could even raise its leg, another jagaras hopped out from the underbrush, latching onto the other forelimb. As it is known, jagarases are opportunistic pack hunters, with a cooperation unseen from many small monsters. A third and a fourth soon followed to clamp down on its hind legs. Immobilized and in pain, the aptonoth fell, dust kicking as the gentle giant crashed into the dirt. The fifth and final jagaras revealed itself to finish the job, strangling the air out of the creature with its sharp teeth.
*Reiaaawww!* X5
The pack gives off a triumphant roar before digging into the innards, unaware that they were being watched. 'It's fine... it's fine... it's... NOT FINE! NOT AT ALL!'
"AughGRAAAAAAWWWRRR!" (Bastards! That was MIIIIIIINNNNE!)
Evans, uncaring of being hidden now, leaped at the closest jagaras. Unprepared, the sickly yellow yesman was met with a ferocious triple bite. It gave off one last roar of dying defiance before going slack, all vitality drained from it. The other jagrases turned, hearing the dying cry of their pack member, finding that an anjanth was staring at them with red eyes. They recoiled at first, but their bravado quickly returned as they realized something.
"Yah, Yah! Reaoowww!"(It's only a child! Slice him open! Eat his flesh!)
The jagarases circled the legs of the cub, confident that this hatchling still hadn't received the strength to take on five of them. Evans stomped his foot, seeking to catch one of the jagrases beneath him. Yet with practiced agility, the jagaras evaded, the talons barely nicking their scales. Jagarases two and three lept at the legs, seeking to immobilize the cub just like with the aptonoth. After all, if even a ton of walking beef could be felled, then surely this young anjanath, not even a fifth of its size, can be felled.
"Rrow!" "Rah!"
Both jagrases yelped in pain as their fangs rebounded from Evan's legs. They hadn't known that Evans had been near a leyline for almost an entire year, making him tougher than the average anjanath at this age. Evans swung his tail in retaliation, mind still somewhat foggy from anger. The jagaras on his right side dodged the swing, hissing as it went. The other was not so lucky, as the limb smashed into its lithe frame, sending it flying into a nearby tree, the collision causing internal damage.
The remaining three jagrases all tensed, not wanting to meet such an end. Evans roared with all his might, the strength of his still-developing vocal cords intimidating the pack just enough. The creatures fled, tails tucked between them, as living to feed another day was more preferred. Seeing as they had turned tail, Evans gorged himself on both the jagrases left behind and a portion of the aptonoth, his hanger quelled now that his belly had been satisfied.
'Stupid iguanas, that'll teach you. Had to mess up my great singing voice for you lot. I need some water...' Evans left the corpse to rehydrate and take a nap in whatever was left of the sun, unaware that a camera had caught the encounter all on film, from start to finish.