In the forests surrounding the quaint town of Norton, life lavishly continued. Despite the frequent lumber operations that occurred in the area, the woods expanded and grew faithfully with each passing season, invigorated by the natural magic that suffused the earth itself. The endless canopy of green swayed with the morning winds, dew shining upon the leaves as the sun rose above. By a small pond, a [url=http://www.impact-books.com/wp-content/uploads/640x413_11175_Crowned_Ibak_2d_fantasy_creature_gouache_picture_image_digital_art.jpg]ibak[/url] drank its fill from the earth's providence, lapping from the watering hole to quench the thirst that had come with its awakening as the pronged horns upon its head jutted proudly into the air. 

But, from the brushes proximal to it, a powerful predator eyed its prey with greedy delight. A large, scorpion tail waved silently in the air as the tensed, muscled limbs of a lion readied to pounce. Two bat-like wings trembled in anticipation as the carnivore finally took its chance, pouncing from its concealed position towards the unprotected left flank of the ibak, revealing itself to be a [url=http://mythologian.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/manticore-2.jpg]mantcore[/url] of a ripe age. With the twin calls of a harried bleat of fear and roar of triumph, claws quickly reached their prey, victory within reach... When suddenly a hand took hold of the ibak's right antler and tugged the herbivore out of the predator's path. With no cushion of meaty flesh to stop it, the manticore could not unfurl its wings fast enough to avoid crashing into the waters instead. Landing in a decidedly regal manner, the manticore turned to face its prey, snarling with tempered rage as it was rewarded by the figure of a human who had become a familiar sight within the territory.

Said human sent the manticore a sly grin, running her hand through the soft pelt of the ibak's neck. A calming gesture, but also a taunt for the predator if it had ever seen one. [color=orange][i]"Now, now, Canti,"[/i][/color] the human started, facial expression becoming vulpine as mischievous intentions lathered her feminine voice, calling upon the manticore's name with the undertone of a growl. [color=orange][i]"Hunting more than needed? Your third hunt before mid-sunrise... greedy. Am I wrong?"[/i][/color] 

Hammer wielded in one hand, Amma Stormborn stood before the manticore, denying him of his newest meal. She turned her head to the ibak, seeming to have dismissed Canti with the motion as her dialect sliped into the meticulous baying of the deer-like creatures. [Color=orange][I]"Flee, Shakuntala. I will not save you again from ignorance. Your herd searches for you."[/I][/color] The ibak lowered her head in deference as she replied with a terse but honest, [I]"Thank you,"[/I] then pranced away into the foliage that Canti once skulked within. Throughout the entire exchange, Canti chose to do nothing. He did not come to fight over a meal that was only meant to satify his desire for hunting. 

[I]"You stopped me, Speaker,"[/I] he finally growled as his prey disappeared from view, using one of the many names the creatures of the wild used for her specifically. Glancing at the carnivore, she tipped her head in agreement.

[Color=orange][I]"Find a new hobby. Prey has been scarce."[/I][/color]

[I]"Then why are you here?"[/I]

[Color=orange][I]"So it doesn't get worse."[/I][/color]

[I]"Lies,"[/I] Canti's amusement breaks way through his irritation, suffusing his growls with levity. [I]"Wanderlust never fades, does it?"[/I]

Amma's superior smirk widens to a smile. [Color=orange][I]"Well, you're not wro-"[/I][/color]

The conversation was cut off by a quick blur of movement that caught both of their attentions, claws unsheathing from furred paws as steel weapon was grasped in both hands, human and manticore turning as one to meet the threat...

And confronted a hummingbird, who had quickly stilled as it wrestled with its fear and duty. 

The tension was lost as quickly as it came, Canti beginning to groom himself as the avian recovered from its temporary shock, coming to rest upon the human's shoulder to chirp softly into her ear as she lowered her hammer. It's become commonplace to see a small creature of some kind appearing before the Stormborn, informing her of important happenings and developments. Most likely, it was one of those "messengers" that had notified the human of Shakuntala's absence from her herd.

As the hummingbird took flight once more, having delivered its message, Amma strapped her hammer into a holster upon her back and stretched her legs as if preparing for a hundred meter dash. Intrigued, Canti lifted his head from his personal grooming to observe the human. [I]"What is it?"[/I] he finally asked, the hermit having fully limbered her body and prepared to leave. [Color=orange][I]"Strange appearances nearby, apparently metal golems arrived through a magic passageway. Moving to observe."[/I][/color] As she left the watering hole in a breakneck sprint, the manticore eloped from the area moments later, flecking water aside with each stride he took. As tempting as it was, there was no reason to follow the Stormborn. Despite her uptake of pacifism in recent years, her record has been full of life-threatening events that outstrip anyone he knew. No matter what mantle she wore, it's been a universal fact that danger followed the Stormborn's footsteps.