Cairn disappeared again.
Though by now, Kanika was starting to expect his absence every morning. Only occasionally would he return with a kill, and she knew his hunting abilities. No matter how long she tried to figure it out she couldn't put the pieces together.
She sighed in defeat and frustration as Kyra pranced into the kitchen.
"What's wrong, Kan?" Kanika was beginning to wonder if that would forever be the name her sister called her by.
"Nothing, Kyra. Just thinking about Cairn." She answered truthfully. The child furrowed her brow and bit her tongue lightly before speaking.
"I saw him leaving this morning. He killed one of the neighbor's lambs and took it with him." Kanika snapped her gaze to the blond. "I didn't know why. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I didn't think it mattered." Kanika chuckled and pulled the child into her lap.
"It's fine, Kyra. You have done nothing wrong." Even as she comforted her sister she couldn't help but wonder. Why the hell would he drag a dead lamb into the woods? He could have been using it as bait, but for what? There were no bears or wolves in the area, and she hadn't seen an Aapep nearby in years.
The child grinned before repeating the previous day's events to her elder sister.
~~
It was almost impossible to follow Cairn.
In fact, it was impossible.
Even when Kanika rose while the moon was still high and crept from her room silently behind him, his sensitive ears must have heard her, for he pointlessly weaved between trees for hours before Kanika fell back, turning to return home.
It was on her way home that she heard it. The call of an Aapep. A rough and quiet hiss that at times seemed to resemble words. Kanika brought the bow from her back with a nervous glance around her. As she notched an arrow she glanced around again, moving towards the noise.
Kanika knew she had to be alert. Aapep were hardly ever alone. They preferred large families. Like a wolf pack.
The half elf felt her ears twitch as they detected slight movement. This was only moments before a large mass sprung from the trees. With a slight gasp the held elf released an arrow that buried itself in the thing's throat.
As Kanika approached the Aapep that writhed in pain she winced. The snake was a distant cousin of the dragon; less evolved. It was essentially an overgrown snake. The oldest and most powerful were able to possess arms.
A shudder passed through Kanika as she drew a dagger, slitting the throat of the green serpent and retrieving her arrow.
Venom still dripped from the Aapep's fangs. Kanika grabbed a small vile from her silver belt, filling it with a smirk. That could be useful later.
The smirk vanished as another hiss caught her attention. The girl turned, notching another arrow. Kanika followed the noise that went from one low hiss to many in various pitches. She muttered a curse as the grass ended beneath her feet, turning to rocks that overlooked a small valley. Directly beneath her the half elf could see a swarm of colors indicating an Aapep nest.
"So much for no Aapep in the area." She muttered in annoyance and frustration.
Kanika's heart dropped as the hissing rose in volume. They seemed... frenzied.
It only took one glance to figure out why. Dozens of eggs were grouped in the center of the swarm, a larger black Aapep curled around them. The mother braced her arms against the ground as she shuffled her position. A growl rose in Kanika's throat as she narrowed her eyes. This mother of teh flock was powerful, bearing three arms on each side. Her face seemed more human in appearance. The black scales on the face faded lightly in color, her eyes the same shape and color fo a human's.
YOU ARE READING
Silver Legends.
Fantasy(Previously 'The Unknown Rebellion) "The question isn't 'who's going to let me', the question is 'who's going to stop me'." Kanika was born of an elf and a human in the times of war. While she is a filthy halfbreed in the eyes of many, she is exactl...
