Freeing Felines [C-tier job/solo]

Job Details:

Lexi scanned the job board, wanting to pick up just one more job before she went on another training trip. Her eyes fell on one from a local group that she had often heard preaching about preserving the local wildlife, claiming that there was a pair of men hunting down rare white tigers to sell to the local fighting pens. She frowned at the idea of animals being forced to fight each other for the amusement of others. How sick this world could be sometimes. She shook her head in disgust and took the flyer. It gave rough directions of several of the hunting spots the men seemed to frequent, as well as a description of the two men.

She sighed softly and slung her bow securely across her back with her quiver before stopping to rent a horse. There were several areas to check and she did not want to waste any time, lest the animals suffer more at the hands of the two men. She started out at an easy pace, the horse trotting along smoothly beneath her slight weight. It did not take long to reach the first area listed as possible sites and she slowed the approach of the horse to prevent any undo warning. Her care was unnecessary as it appeared the tiny camp that had been there was long abandoned.

[226/1000]

Lexi sighed and made her way to the next spot, finding it was also abandoned. Her search took her through four abandoned camps. Each one seemed to be slightly more recently abandoned, but it was not until the fourth site that she found a clue to their next camp. Beside an long burnt out fire, there was a drawing made in soot on one of the pieces of wood left behind. The drawing showed a crude map on where they were planning to go, with stick figure sketches showing a tiger she assumed the men were tracking. She vaguely recognized the location of the oasis on the map and she let her horse rest before they headed out again.

When the oasis came into sight, she slipped from her horse and led it on foot, her path avoiding any stray rocks that may echo noise and give her away. She kept an eye out as she moved, her ears alert. She heard the whinny of horses and the growls of angry tigers. When she hit the edge of the oasis, she tied her horse to one of the palm trees so it could rest in the shade before scouting the area. Her steps careful, like her father had taught, she crept closer to the camp the men had set up. There were two wagons with two horses apiece. In the back of one wagon was two cages, each with an angry tiger. The other wagon looked to have a single cage with a tiger. On the ground was another crate, this one empty and open. The men were gathered around a fire, laughing and joking, spears close at hand beside them.

[507/1000]

Lexi quietly pulled two of the specially tipped arrows from her quiver, her eyes darting about to find a rock to strike them on when the time came. Her eyes fell on a large boulder to her left and she carefully set her feet in the direction, her eyes back on the men at the fire. She reached the stone without trouble, but the sound of her striking the arrowheads drew the attention of one of the men. She ducked behind the stone as he stood and looked around at the scraping sound, the other man trying to dismiss it as the sounds of the wildlife.

When she heard him settle back next to the fire, she stood, the tips of the arrows coated in flames and she took careful aim before releasing the Rapid Flames towards the closest man. Both arrows struck home and he gave a cry of pain, the other thug rushing over to put out the flames, his eyes dashing around to find the source of fiery pain. When his eyes landed on her, she was already drawing a poison tipped arrow and training it on him. He grabbed for his spear and jumped to his feet.

Abilities Used:

[Stamina: 170/200]
[708/1000]

The anger on the second thug’s face was clear as he charged towards her spot behind the rock. He spewed angry curses as he trampled through the lush greenery, his spear held in a menacing position. She used Dash to move her back another 10 meters before taking careful aim with her bow. When she released the Poison Arrow, it flew towards the man and lodged in his side, making him double over in pain with a groan. She carefully approached him, raising an eyebrow as he coughed hard, blood staining his lips. She glared down at him as she stood over him, her purple eyes aflame with anger.

“These are wild animals, not your play things. Maybe next time, you and your partner will remember that. If I find out you do this again, I will not be so kind.”

She grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and began to drag him over by his partner, the thug in too much pain to fight back and she lay him down beside the fire. The other thug was digging through his pack with pained groans, trying to find something to wrap his burns in, his eyes shooting to her with fear and trying to nudge his way back and away from her. She ignored him as she headed to the wagons. All that was left was to free their prisoners.  

Abilities Used:

[Stamina: 130/200]
[940/1000]

Lexi made her way to the two wagons, approaching the one with two filled cages first. The tigers were attempting to prowl in discontent, but the tiny confines of the cages did not allow for much movement. Their golden eyes were filled with anger and wariness at seeing another human approach. As she climbed into the front of the wagon, she made sure to keep her limbs clear of the cages as much as possible to avoid the tigers lashing out at her. She noted that each of the cages had crude locks and she glanced back at the men beside the fire attempting to soothe some of their wounds.

With quick steps she jumped back down from the wagons and moved over to the men, a regular arrow pulled back in case they tried to harm her. Her question came out on a ground out tone.

“The keys?”

The first man quickly fumbled in his pack before tossing the ring of keys at her, his eyes glued to the arrow she had aimed at him. The keys landed at her feet and she smiled at him, the anger hidden by the brightness of her face.

“Many thanks, now don’t you two go moving from here. I would hate to waste another arrow on you.”

She carefully leaned down to grab the keys, her eyes never leaving the two men, ready to act should they take action against her. When it was clear they had no intention of trying to retaliate, she snagged the keys and headed back to the wagon.

[Stamina 130/200]
[1201/1000]

With the keys in hand, Lexi climbed back into the wagon and tried to figure out the best way to approach to keep from getting hurt. The locks were easily accessible, if she could find a way to scoot the tigers back to prevent them lashing at her. She hummed softly to herself before arching a brow, wondering to herself if something like that could work. She moved closer to the lock of the first cage, her eyes locked on the tiger inside and she gave a deep hiss in its direction. A small look of fear and confusion and why a human-beast would be hissing at it entered the tigers face but it moved back, trying to gauge the threat of the female.

When the feline moved to the back of the cage, she quickly fumbled for the right key to unlock the cage. It took two tries and the tiger stayed at the back of the cage, unwilling to move forward and risk a strike from the spear as had happened last time. When the lock finally fell free, Lexi cautiously pulled the cage open and leaped back and away from the cage. The tiger sniffed at the open door, wary eyes scanning about for potential danger before leaping free with a loud roar and immediately taking off for the sanctuary of the oasis.

Lexi sighed in relief before edging forward to unlock the second cage. This tiger followed the example of the first, staying towards the back until the cage was open and the human was away from the enclosure before leaping free. Lexi smiled to see the two free tigers pouncing away, finally turning her attention to the other wagon with the single crate.

[Stamina: 130/200]
[1489/1000]
[exit]