[center][img]https://txt.1001fonts.net/img/txt/b3RmLjEyOC5mMzliMDUuV21sdmJnLCwuMA,,/jmh-rastan.rastanboldblack-regular.webp[/img][/center]
[color=D9D1D3]
[b][color=F39B05]Time:[/color][/b] Morning’s are for rescuing Malachi!
[b][color=F39B05]Location:[/color][/b] River Port; Liar of the Spiders
[b][color=F39B05]Interactions:[/color][/b] Malachi[@princess], Jun[@JJ Doe], Kenia[@Tae]
[b][color=F39B05]Equipment:[/color][/b] A [url=https://i.imgur.com/Z1qXf7R.jpg]halberd[/url], (always with him) hunting knife, and half-plate armor (left in the room).
[hr]

[color=F39B05]“The point is safety in numbers Jun, and we cannot leave you here all de- all alone.”[/color] Zion was going to say defenseless, but that wouldn’t help Jun’s confidence. To look at the frail human, defenseless wasn’t exactly incorrect. The human had no discernible natural advantages, no claws, and very unimpressive teeth, but perhaps being ridiculously hard-headed provided the human some small protection. While Zion could appreciate Jun’s dedication to eating breakfast, Malachi would not want the human left alone, and arguing with the human would only waste time. 

So Zion simply lifted Jun with one hand, tossed the human over his shoulder, and followed Kenia out the door. [color=F39B05]“Aim a bit higher, got a knot in my shoulder.”[/color] The lion chuckled Jun’s attack, it was about time the human showed he had a bit of fight in him after all. 

He kept pace with Kenia, who moved with surefooted grace that appeared as intuitive as it was for any fully feline huntress he’d ever hunted with. Jun even offered his voice to aid the search, and Zion was counting that as participation, though he had to why Jun referred to a forest as green stuff. [color=F39B05]“Jun, that is called a forest. Do they not have forests, or trees, in your world?”[/color] He asked with earnest confusion. 

Zion surveyed the green stuff that was the thriving forest around River Port. Tindles of silken webbing hung around the trees. The lion's ears twitched as they listened intently, rotating toward the nearly imperceptible sounds of the slight rustling of a branch and the movements of serval pairs of legs. As Kenia rushed toward both Malachi and the frightened elfen child, Zion hung back for a moment to avoid throwing Jun into immediate danger. 

[color=F39B05]“Giant spiders. Dangerous but just barely.”[/color] He said it with the grin of a predator who simply knew his prey would be no match for him. This would be good training for Jun, a perfect opportunity to sharpen his skills against a very mild threat. Zion shrugged Jun off his shoulder and placed the human firmly on the ground. He then removed a large hunting knife from his belt, grabbed Jun’s hand placed the handle against the palm, and forced Jun’s hand closed around the knife. 

[color=F39B05]“You are Avalia’s greatest hope, do not let them eat you. They are vicious.”[/color] He added before letting Jun’s hand go and giving him an intense stare and nod. He sincerely hoped Jun did not just drop the weapon and run. Again his ears twitched in the direction of the spider’s movements, the beast was heading towards the elves. 

Zion took off in a sprint before leaping forward, covering a great distance with feline skill, and landed squarely on his feet between the trio of elves and the spider that had dropped down to greet them. As the spider reared up, exposing its deadly fangs he swung the halberd with all his might, his left side twisting toward the spider with Zion’s swing. The spider hissed as a scalding torrent shot forth from the creature's exposed maw. The lion too, opened his mouth to counter with a deafening roar that came. 

The boiling liquid splattered down his left arm and shoulder. Zion could only assume it was boiling because nothing had ever burned half this bad before. It was as if his entire arm was on fire, with flames that sought to burn deeper, to sear a path through the flesh to the bone. 

The mighty lion threw his head back, and from his mouth erupted not a gallant roar but a yowl of deep, unforgiving, agony. The screaming would only continue for as long as the arm burned. 

Zion crumpled, halberd slipping from his hands, and there was no thought to even check if he had wounded the spider in return, there was only agony and instinctual panic. The lion rolled onto his left side, feet pushing forward in a desperate attempt to scrap the boiling liquid from his useless outstretched left arm. Even as bits of flesh sloughed off against the ground, the liquid only seemed to burn deeper. Hints of bone and stretches of tendon sat exposed amongst widening, sizzling wounds. Zion could smell it; dissolving meat, acrid venom, fresh blood, scents mixing together, telling his panicked mind what was happening. 

The spider’s caustic venom was burning through everything it touched, it would make quick work of Zion’s arm. Knowing it only heightened the panic, his screaming only grew louder. He knew the spider would attack again, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.  [/color]