The Laws of The Wild: Centaur Au.

Chapter 3: [Redstrike.]

    He laid at the highest branch of a redwood, the moon's silver rays cutting through the thick canopy. Redstrike liked it up here, quiet, peaceful. Safe. Nothing can get me, but I can get something. He lifted his head, sharp eyes observing the shapes below, the moon helped, her fractions of light seemed to light the forest in silvery-blue. Only thing that can penetrate the canopy. He thought, lifting up onto his legs, black claws digging into the sturdy branch.
    His ears twitch, hearing wings and turned to see an owl flying his way. The grey owl sat on his back, hooting and cooing, he listened.
    "I suppose your owner will know what you're saying, alright." He stretched and shook off, the owl lifted up and he followed, jumping tree to tree, branch to branch, carefully making his way down onto the skytree huts, landing on a road. The skytree huts were homes connected to the redwoods, high above the ground and safe. They were made of redwood, built into redwood, crafted around redwood. The sky bridges crafted from sturdy rope and thick leather. Redstrike watched the grey owl fly, teal eyes tracking and bounded over sky bridges after sky bridge.
    I wonder what she'll tell me this time. He wondered. A trespasser? Did we find elk? Boar? Actual ones? I can't remember the last time I had boar. He continued to think, part of him surveyed the quiet bridges and huts, remembering when the village was lively and stretched on for miles with villagers. Something so lively, now sits a ghost town. He slowed to eye the deer and goat walking below, one stopped and stared at him. You. He hissed, ears flattening.
    Witheredstalker glared up at him, his ears pinned as well. Redstrike's nose curled, claws digging into the bridge. What'd I give to see that head on a wall. One day, I'll get that blood payment from you.
    "Redstrike!"
    He lifted his head, continuing on and leaped over a bridge, running into a taller hut with perches and windows surrounding its walls. "Owl, greetings."
    The feline centaur perked up, turning her head and looked up him with moon-white cloudy eyes. "Red, hello." She replied in a gentle voice. Owl, short for Owleyes, short for "The Owl That Sees All." Owleyes is the falconer of what's left of the clan, with her unusual connection over owls.
    Her hut was tall, after all it was built into a redwood, several window shapes carved into the trunk. It was spacious, and comfortable, though, he had to agree, with its several floors and rooms. "How's your father?" She asked, turning her head. He walked over and sat at her side.
    "He's well,"
    She chuckled. "I see retirement hasn't slowed him down." Owleyes stood and held out a scroll. A barn owl swooped by, and up and up it went to columns of shelves of scrolls and books. "Now, the reason I sent my owl to you; Stormbringers attacked the Windriders over territory crossing."
    His ears raised. "Stormbringers? Those feathered brutes don't leave the mountains, why'd they go so far?"
    She shrugged. "The Riverdwellers caught a rogue band of gypsy vanners, the Windrider healer, Briargrass, she took in a foal they abandoned."
    He listened to her, head following as she walked the size of the room. She reports better if she's on the move. "Shouldn't we be telling this to Batstalker, too?"
    "Last time I tried, he told me to start telling you."
    "So I suppose he doesn't see Witheredstalker as the ruler either."
    "Who would?"
    I can think of a few who would. "Continue, please?"
    Owleyes nodded. "The territory is safe, thankfully, your patrol and my feathered friends are keeping us protected."
    "Anything on hunting?"
    "Sadly no, my owls didn't see any new herds. Seems they mean to starve us into obedience."
    Redstrike's ears flattened, sighing. "Surely there's some herds, they couldn't of all left The Trap."
    "My owls are keen, they would've —" she stopped, turning her head as a large great horned owl flew in through a window, landing on her gloved arm. Redstrike listened to the hoots and beak clicks and coos, watching Owleyes' face to understand.
    Happiness? His brows furrowed, softening when the owl lifting into the air and took off, he watched before looking back at her. "Well?" He said after a moment of silence.
    "The herds, a herd of elk, has returned."
    He perked up, the smallest smile on his face. "Let's pray those bullheaded fuckers don't "scare" them off." He trotted through the doorway with Owleyes at his side, his tail resting on her lower back to steer her.
    The pair leaped bridge to bridge, Redstrike careful to help guide her as they made their way to the ground, studying the goat and deer centaur. Redstrike hated being in the ground, preferring the trees and bridges, but he ignored it, trotting with Owleyes to the rest of the patrol.