Ask For The Thrill

[Nox Solus]

A call had been put out for the Clans, one that asked any of skill to come forth for a hunt on Dxun. It was one hosted by Solus and one that touched Nox's roots. With the amount of fighting taken place and the work that has been put into rebuilding, a fun and skillful event seemed like the perfect idea for the Alor and others. Not only that but it would provide practice for him with his prosthetic foot, the replacement basic in the form compared to his black and gold arm. It would be a good test as Nox attempted to get used to it before the real one. The sensation, feeling, and balance it gave compared to the flesh and bone of his right would be another process similar he had with his arms.

Either way, he let those thoughts drift from his mind as a small feasting area had been set up for the hunters that would partake in the event. There were already Mandalorians from different clans there, Vizla, Wren, Kyrze, and more. Thankfully clan rivalries were put away as the majority of those who participated were strictly there for the hunt itself. They also couldn't turn down the free alcohol that was supplied, especially the famed Solus Ale.

A small encampment had been set up on the moon, a handful of tents neatly organized with Solus banners hanging in the air around the perimeter. The assortment of tables would be in the center of the camp as everyone would find out who they paired with tonight. Not only would they discover their teammates but they would be discovering what they were hunting.

There was still time for those to arrive and Nox would stride over to one table as he greeted others. When the others were told of his participation, it earned skeptical looks but Nox swore on his honor that the event would be fair. After that worry had been calmed, their mood lightened as they all started to drink together while others still strolled in.

@Killa Ree

 

[Mysha Kelborn]

When Mysha heard that Kotii was no longer Solus Alor, she had spent much of her time and energy searching for him, but without any substantial clues, she was left with more questions than answers, and a deep, abiding fury. The smith had enough on her hands, and keeping busy helped to keep her from falling to pieces. She couldn't walk away from her people, even if Kotii had, from what she had heard, turned his back on them.

That part, especially, still stung. It was like a rejection of her.

So she was called in by another Solus; it was the same one that had helped her retrieve the blackbox from that ship on Mandalore, if she recalled correctly.

However, she hated crowds.

The smith stood to one side of a table, sipping on an ale through a straw. She ached to get to the hunt already, her hammer slung over one shoulder and one arm crossed over her midsection. Though there were other families, she was restless, and anxious to lose herself in the jungle.

Who knew, maybe hunting and proving herself would help her forget those bitter pricks in her mind better than any work. Still... her gaze followed Nox from her side, and if he happened to spot her, the Kelborn would offer a brief nod and a toast of her drink. Perhaps they would be opposition.

@Orbit

 

[Nox Solus]

The call had been successful and hunters filed into the small encampment. They either arrived by foot or by ship but relatively speaking, the amount that showed would be small in size. More of the crowd was filled with spectators, Mandalorians who just wanted to have a good time and watch those skilled in their profession participate. It left a generally good mood around the camp that uplifted most of the occupant's spirits.

As Nox scanned the crowd once more of the assembled Mandalorians, his visor couldn't but catch that of a smith's, the hammer standing out easily. They were a rare find amongst their people and especially at an event for a hunt. He would offer the woman a nod back before he pushed off the table and made his way over to her, his curiosity getting the best of him. It was a slightly different gait from his normal one because of his prosthetic but she wouldn't know that.

When he neared, the Alor offered his mug to be smacked by hers for greeting before he lifted his helmet slightly in order to take a gulp. After his helmet dropped, Nox gave her an upward nod, "I haven't seen you before, the name's Nox. Are you joining the hunt or enjoying the show?" The Solus couldn't tell if the hammer was her weapon of choice or if it was just a piece of her that never left her side. His only experience was with his own clan's smith, Dalair, and the man preferred solitude and silence over anything else.

 

[Mysha Kelborn]

She hadn't been prepared for someone else wanting to talk to her, let alone the host of the party, so she did her best to straighten up slightly, lowering her mug as he drew closer. He certainly was confident, she would give him that. Huh... so he wasn't someone she met on Mandalore. Odd. Perhaps she had seen or heard of him elsewhere, though there were few enough of their kind, their not meeting at least once would have been a little odd.

She chuckled once, clinking her mug with his before sipping once again.

<"Mysha. Pleasure to meet you, Nox,"> came the woman's own low-voiced reply, holding up a slip of paper. <"Hunt, I'm afraid. And how about you?"> She cocked her head slightly, noting how he seemed to eye her hammer. An unseen smirk touched her lips. <"If we're on the same team, don't worry, it's not just for show. And if we're not..."> the Kelborn shrugged lightly, <"Maybe a warning?"> However, her tone seemed to tease the other man.

Before she could keep talking, a horn blared out, the announcement for hunting parties to gather. There were four in total, two in each group. Starbirds, Vipers, Mudhorns, and Loth-Wolves. Opening her piece of paper, she sighed at the symbol. A viper. She was hoping for Loth-Wolf, or even Mudhorn, but Viper? Thankfully, her hunting companion didn't seem like a novice; the Wren was decently kitted for hunting, with a standard hip blaster, rifle, and perhaps a couple knives at least. And a jetpack. She knew she should have gotten jetboots, but it was too late now. She offered a cursory nod to her companion... and then a brief, respectful salute to her newfound interest, Nox.

Whatever it would be, it wouldn't be boring. Even if she didn't win first, she was here to prove her worth, and why she deserved the title of Kelborn'alor. She would earn it, one way or the other.

@Orbit

 

[Nox Solus]

When it was inquired about his own participation in the event, Nox gave a slight shrug before he held up his own folded piece of paper to answer. But before he could comment back, the horn sounded and let the hunters know it was time to discover their teams. As the two flipped their paper, they would find differing animals, Mysha with a viper and himself with a Loth-Wolf. A chuckle would slip out from him at the revelation as his gaze raised back up to the smiths', "Well then," Nox would start to walk backward and to his own team, "Consider yourself warned." He teased back as the words were offered a casual two-finger salute.

Nox's teammate would be a Kryze, one moderately armed with a beskad, two blaster pistols, and a rifle. When they neared each other, both would give a nod of introduction before quickly going over each other's equipment. About halfway through the process of hunters readying themselves, the announcer would step out once more, "Remove your wings. This will be a true hunt and your choices will have consequences. Like our ancestors of old." Each of the hunters that had a jetpack would nod before they reached around to remove it, including Nox.

As Nox walked with his teammate, he caught the salute from Mysha and he returned an answer with a simple cock of his head. The competition was on and it was time to see how well the smith did outside of her forge. The announcer's booming voice echoed once, "Head to your starting positions. Once you hear the horn, the hunt has begun." Spectators would let out an alcohol-fueled cheer, excited to see what was about to unfold and their prey. The crowd would press closer as the hunters assumed their positions.

 

[Mysha Kelborn]

She chuckled once at Nox's own rejoinder. A shame they weren't on the same team, perhaps their skills together would be beneficial. The Demon Moon was still a deadly place, full of creatures eager to drag off bodies into the jungle growth. Moving to the directed position, her gaze began scanning the trees. Their quarry would be better spotted higher up; less would be likely to jump on them from above, as well. The Skreevs and drexyls up above, devourers, gharzyr, and the mythical zakkeg were just some of the many things that would try to kill them on this hunt.

Sharp eyes spotted something in the underbrush; lightly nudging her partner, they waited until the horn sounded. Hefting her vibrohammer in her hands, they began to descend, the cheers of the crowd fading to nothing as the jungle soon enveloped them.

The trail was clear, practically straightforward, and she and her companion stalked after it stealthily. mindful of roots and twigs. They were gaining on it fast, but perhaps it was the same story for the other teams. She took pains to confuse the trail some as they pursued, moving a rock here, snapping a few branches.

They would catch up soon. Or so she hoped, before the others did.

@Orbit

 

[Nox Solus]

Arriving at his designated spot with his partner, Nox once gave a quick inspection of all his weapons. Ease fell over him, a sort of comfort he hadn't experienced in a while as everything he did was repeated motions for him. Lately, Nox had partaken in many crusades, his half robotic leg being a consequence of that decision, and it was an opportunity to clear his head that he was savoring. Even with the record amount of dangers on the moon, the Alor breathed calmy even with anticipation pumping through his veins.

The teams got set and a few moments later the horns would sound, signaling the start of the hunt. Immediately, Nox and the Kryze pushed forward, the fellow Mandalorian at the lead as he moved lightly. The sight amused the Solus as he knew the rivalry between his clan and his partner was well known. Once more, Nox's belief about clan relations was put to the test but held strong, able to coordinate and work off of the fellow hunter with ease.

Unfortunately for the Kelborn, the trail proved relatively clear for the Loth-Wolves as well, Nox was first able to find an indention in the mud. After determining the direction of the track, the two set off once more as they paid extra attention to their footsteps and surroundings. The Solus had been on many hunts throughout his life, a majority of them done out of necessity for his Clan when the times had been the roughest.

When they were in the middle of picking up another trail, Nox picked up the faint sounds of twigs snapping and rocks moving. The two hunters would glance at each other before he stood up, taking a few quiet steps toward the sound to listen more carefully as he scanned the foliage. Typical creatures weren't that noisy and with the quick succession, Nox could tell there was a human element to it.

The Solus caught movement but he couldn't see what it was, his rifle quickly raising where his eyes went. He swore he saw a hammer but he wasn't sure. When a couple of seconds ticked by, he lowered his weapon before turning back to the Kryze and whispered, "Let's go." Both of them adjusted their armaments before following the trail once again, Nox finding himself more vigilant this time.