A Building Hatred, Pt I [job/solo]

Job Overview:Slavery is still alive and well in some parts of the world and Kou has been getting them from wherever they can. After hearing stories from numerous tribes of a particularly vicious group of slavers, they informed you of the location of one such slave trader hideout with a request to shut it down and bring them to justice.

Spoiler:

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It had been over a week since they had left Alex’s village, both of the siblings eager to commence the search for their tribe. Keeping in mind the last time a Kimeer tribe had been spotted and the direction the Elder had said they were heading, Onyx and Lexi headed off. Leo was loaded down with supplies, a result of the tribe offering thanks for Lexi saving the girls. As they traveled further and further out, they encountered fewer people and more wildlife. Dinner was always a simple thing to catch or shoot as the animals in the area had moved back in after other Plains Tribes had moved through. It had been long enough since a nomadic group had moved through that the animals were plentiful and brave.

As they traveled, Onyx and Lexi continued rebuilding the bond between them, eager to catch up on everything they had missed. Lexi spoke about Heliohapt and the tragedy there, explaining about the orphans and the Pharaoh’s offer and her torn mind on making the children slaves. Onyx’ face had hardened at the idea but he knew Lexi had been trying to do what was best for the children. Not all slaves were treated badly, and he sent out a silent wish that the children were being treated well. When Lexi talked about the fate of the slave auction, Onyx couldn’t help but smile at the knowledge that enough people had opposed the idea of slavery to destroy a great deal of the event. When his sister tried to explain what had happened with the odd-looking man and the brave orphan trying to save the city, he could feel how heartbroken Lexi was and he comforted her.

Within another two days, they came across another village, smaller than the one they had left. The village was in shambles and Lexi’s face tightened when she saw injured people being tended to. The siblings were greeted with sharp spears in their face and they both raised their hands submissively before the Elder of the village approached, an older woman leaning on a staff. The woman scrutinized them, eyes dancing over the trademark ears and tail of the Kimeer tribe. While their tribe was not known outside of the Plains, here they were widely talked about, though many believed them to be a myth or legend.

“Be you slavers?”

“No, Great Elder. I am Lexiara and this is Onyx of the Ookami Kimeer. We seek our family and mean you no harm.”

The Elder gave a soft huff before waving them forward, explaining at Lexi’s inquiry that the area was being plagued by vicious slave traders and the villagers had been attacked the night before. Lexi frowned in worry, looking to her brother. The wolf simply gave her a nod, understanding her unspoken question, wanting to help the tribes to destroy any slave traders they could. When Lexi asked for more information, the Elder explained that the slavers had several groups that all reported back to a centralized camp, information gathered by an escaped slave. Lexi probed further, finding that there was a small branch in the area that terrorized the nomadic tribes. Vowing to help, Lexi and Onyx asked to stay with the tribe for a few days to help out in any way they could. The Elder agreed and Leo gratefully trotted over to collapse on the ground, seeming to be exhausted until Lexi unloaded his back. Free of his duty, Leo proceeded to give a giant stretch and fang-filled yawn before prancing around, eager to help.

The siblings scouted the area for two days before finally locating their target. It was a small camp, guarded by four men, a massive cage at one side of the camp filled with several slaves, looking dirty, starved, and hopeless. Lexi’s first instinct was to simply run in shooting but Onyx held her back, wanting to wait for dark. Lexi acknowledged the strategy but remained restless and full of anger at the slaver. Leo laid down in the grass, blue eyes glued on the camp as Lexi settled down beside him in the tall grass, hiding their presence as Onyx found a tall tree to scramble up into, keeping watch from a higher point.

Finally, the sun dipped below the horizon and the siblings communicated with sharp clicks and birdcalls, coordinating their attacks before Lexi slipped through the grass, getting as close as she could to the camp without being noticed, Leo and Onyx each fanning out on either side of her. At her nod, she pulled two arrows from her quiver and knocked them, pulling the string back in preparation before releasing Drizzle on two of the guards, Onyx bursting from the grass to take down the other guard on the left of her while Leo gave a roar and pounced on the other guard to her right. Her arrows arced high into the air before dropping and striking true, the two men she had aimed for dropping to the ground with a soft thud. The combined attacks of Leo and Onyx drew the attention of the slaver in the middle of the camp, the man not even having time to draw his whip before Lexi loosened Rapid Shot at him, two arrows launching from her bow in succession and burying into the man, causing him to fall to the ground with a groan of pain.

Leo pounced through the camp to land on the man, keeping him pinned as Lexi moved to the cage of slaves, Onyx searching for the keys on the slave trader’s body and tossing them to her. She swiftly unlocked the cage and loosened the bindings on each of the slaves, urging them towards freedom. Once all of the bruised and bloodied people were free, Lexi returned to where Leo pinned the man to the ground, she notched a single arrow into her bow, firing a basic arrow into the man’s throat. It may or may not kill him, but he would need to hurry and find help if he did not wish to bleed out.

Onyx worried at the hard look on his sister’s face, her normal cheerful kindness washed away any time they came near a slave trader. He understood her anger but hated the idea that her rage may be destroying her eternal innocence. Pulling the spotted girl away from the man, he whistled for Leo, instructing the weakest of the slaves to climb on the white tiger before making their way back to the village to announce their success.

[500+/500]
[Ammo: 14/15]

Abilities Used: