Hunt or Be Hunted [The Philosophy of Obscuration]

**Ulyssia** · Yesterday at 11:48 pm

Jewels :

4,622,500

Rank :

C-Rank

Race :

Dharga Werewolf

Experience :

41,000

Reputation :

1,100

Class :

Adventurer

Aura :

Justice

Strength :

16

Speed :

1

Constitution :

5

Endurance :

1

Intelligence :

61

Mana :

1,015

Head :

Body :

Ring :

Companion :

Hunt or Be Hunted

With the first light of the day, Ulyssia and Jasper were already well inside the forest of Amaforth's College of Obscuration, getting ready for a new, even harder training session. Today was the day hunting and obscuration skills had to be tried, and that meant stealth, patience, and endurance until they couldn't endure any longer. This time, there would be no dummies to dodge, no fireballs flying around to avoid-- Instead, The Hailstar and the Snowfang would hunt each other.

Each would begin at a different end of the thick forest, something in mind to find and bring back: a small shard of crystal, hidden between the two starting points. The goal was simple; find your shard and make it to the tree without your opponent beating you to it and without getting "tagged." The catch was that if one saw the other and could get close enough to strike them, they would have to go back in. Of course, both of them were already competitive to a fault, but Jasper's honed senses and Ulyssia's equally honed senses turned it into a much greater challenge.

**Ulyssia** · Yesterday at 11:52 pm

Jewels :

4,622,500

Rank :

C-Rank

Race :

Dharga Werewolf

Experience :

41,000

Reputation :

1,100

Class :

Adventurer

Aura :

Justice

Strength :

16

Speed :

1

Constitution :

5

Endurance :

1

Intelligence :

61

Mana :

1,015

Head :

Body :

Ring :

Companion :

Hunt or Be Hunted

Ulyssia knelt and secured her bracers, her eyes darting across to Jasper, who stood a few feet away, his blue eyes regarding her intently. "Ready?" she asked, a smirk tugging at her lips. Jasper tilted his head, giving a small huff.

"Alright then," she said, pointing to the opposite edge of the forest. "You head that way. We will meet back here, if you are fast enough, that is."

With that, Jasper scurried off, a flash of white fur weaving through the trees. Ulyssia waited until he had vanished into the shadows before she slipped into the wild, moving low and silent. Today, there was no room for shortcuts or sloppy mistakes. She'd have to draw on every ounce of her talent if she was going to beat Jasper at his game. The forest was alive with sound-leave rustle, birds calling, and the distant rush of a stream. The Werewolf moved carefully, letting each sound guide her movements, listening for any sign of Jasper. He was a master at staying quiet, but she already knew his patterns. They'd trained long enough for her to know how he was going to move. Still, it wasn't in her best interest to drop her guard.

**Ulyssia** · Today at 12:20 am

Jewels :

4,622,500

Rank :

C-Rank

Race :

Dharga Werewolf

Experience :

41,000

Reputation :

1,100

Class :

Adventurer

Aura :

Justice

Strength :

16

Speed :

1

Constitution :

5

Endurance :

1

Intelligence :

61

Mana :

1,015

Head :

Body :

Ring :

Companion :

Hunt or Be Hunted

It was his nature to catch her off guard anytime.

She gained the ferns, her breathing regular and controlled, setting each foot gingerly to avoid snapping twigs or whispering leaves. The acceleration of her heartbeat betrayed her at the glint of something shining in the distance. There it was--the crystal shard, protected between a cluster of rocks beneath a tree. Ulyssia allowed a small smile and approached, eyes and ears alert.

Bending to pick it up, a soft noise to her left froze her in her tracks. She didn't turn, didn't react outwardly, but every nerve went into high alert. Jasper. She could feel him, the soft rustle of his movements, just out of her line of sight. Sly wolf. He must have circled around waiting on her to make her move.

Ulyssia shifted her weight, pressing herself low to the ground in an attempt to make her profile as small as possible. This would be a matter of speed-faster than him and stealth silent enough that she wouldn't be detected. Her hand inched toward the shard as her fingers felt its cool surface as she readied herself to bolt.

**Ulyssia** · Today at 1:02 am

Jewels :

4,622,500

Rank :

C-Rank

Race :

Dharga Werewolf

Experience :

41,000

Reputation :

1,100

Class :

Adventurer

Aura :

Justice

Strength :

16

Speed :

1

Constitution :

5

Endurance :

1

Intelligence :

61

Mana :

1,015

Head :

Body :

Ring :

Companion :

Hunt or Be Hunted

Just as her fingers wrapped around it, Jasper launched from the darkness-a white blur headed straight for her. The Dharga wolf moved in an instant, rolling to the side and leaping to her feet with the shard clutched tightly in her hand. She then sprinted through the trees. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she heard Jasper crashing through the bushes behind her. He was closing the distance fast.

Ulyssia couldn't afford to let him catch her, not now. Darting left, she zigzagged through the trees, using the thick trunks for cover. The sound of Jasper's paws skidded to adjust, then he was relentless, each stride bringing him closer. Gritting her teeth, Ulyssia pushed harder, her breath coming in short gasps as she sped through the forest, the wind whipping past her. She wasn't as fast as she used to be.

Then, as she topped a small rise, she saw the target tree in the distance, its massive roots curving out of the earth like the claws of some an ancient beast. Almost there. She dared a glance over her shoulder--Jasper was right on her heels, his eyes locked on her, determination like fire in his gaze.

**Ulyssia** · Today at 1:05 am

Jewels :

4,622,500

Rank :

C-Rank

Race :

Dharga Werewolf

Experience :

41,000

Reputation :

1,100

Class :

Adventurer

Aura :

Justice

Strength :

16

Speed :

1

Constitution :

5

Endurance :

1

Intelligence :

61

Mana :

1,015

Head :

Body :

Ring :

Companion :

Hunt or Be Hunted

With a sudden burst of energy, Ulyssia released her grip; the last few feet swooped down to light gracefully at the bottom of the tree. She sprang to her feet, crystal shard held high in victory, looking down at Jasper, who skidded to a stop with his nose inches from her boot.

"You almost had me," she panted, grinning as she caught her breath. Jasper huffed. The sparkle in his eyes of blue narrowed down, all but to say, This isn't over.

They stopped and caught their breaths for a few minutes. They both knew, though, that one round wasn't enough. This time, they'd switch: Jasper would be the one retrieving his crystal shard, and Ulyssia hunting him. She nodded at him, and with a flick of his tail, he disappeared into the forest.

The Hailstar waited, counting the seconds, letting the silence fall. Then she moved, melting into the what shadows existed as she began to track him. Every sense was heightened, with sounds amplified in the stillness. She knew Jasper's tricks--how he moved, the tells that gave him away. He had bested her before, but this time was her chance to turn the tables on him.

**Ulyssia** · Today at 1:08 am

Jewels :

4,622,500

Rank :

C-Rank

Race :

Dharga Werewolf

Experience :

41,000

Reputation :

1,100

Class :

Adventurer

Aura :

Justice

Strength :

16

Speed :

1

Constitution :

5

Endurance :

1

Intelligence :

61

Mana :

1,015

Head :

Body :

Ring :

Companion :

Hunt or Be Hunted

With a swish through the trees leaves, she zoomed as her companion's scent hit her nostrils, faint as it was, though unmistakable: Jasper's scent was a drift on the breeze. Measured step after measured step, she followed it. Her eyes didn't fail to scan every shadow. The adrenaline was building within her; this was a hunt, through the veins, the hunt that needs to be absolutely focused.

She saw him ahead. The white wolf was low and crouching as he approached his own crystal shard. He still hadn't seen her, and she immediately took advantage of his focus to creep closer, careful and silent with each step. Now, she was within striking distance, and her heart pounded in her chest with anticipation. Just a few more steps…

The sudden jerk of Jasper's head upwards, his ears twitching, and his senses picked up her presence. In an instant, Ulyssia sprang, but he was quicker, bolting at just the right moment as her hand reached out to grab him. She swore under her breath as she launched herself into a sprint, pursuing him through the trees. He was smooth and able to dodge in and out of the sheltering trees of the forest, but she would not back down, catching up with each step that brought her nearer.

**Ulyssia** · Today at 1:12 am

Jewels :

4,622,500

Rank :

C-Rank

Race :

Dharga Werewolf

Experience :

41,000

Reputation :

1,100

Class :

Adventurer

Aura :

Justice

Strength :

16

Speed :

1

Constitution :

5

Endurance :

1

Intelligence :

61

Mana :

1,015

Head :

Body :

Ring :

Companion :

Hunt or Be Hunted

They raced across the forest, dodging trees, leaping over roots, neither giving the other an inch. The world spun around them as they reached their limits, their heavy breathing in the silent forest. Finally, with a last burst of speed, Ulyssia flung herself at Jasper just as he reached for his shard.

They fell to the ground, a tangle of limbs and laughter, trying to catch their breath. Jasper rolled onto his feet, gave her a little nudge as if to say, Good Job

"I could not let you best me this time," she laughed, wiping the sweat from her brow as she sat up. They were both exhausted; every single muscle screamed in protest, but it was well worth the satisfaction of a hard fought session. Walking back through the forest, side by side, Ulyssia could almost feel the two of them already getting stronger, faster. They were pushing each other beyond their limits to regain their strength. The world had changed a lot since she'd been frozen in time...she needed to catch up. Luckily, tomorrow, she knew, they would do it all over again.

1,000+

Hunt or Be Hunted [The Philosophy of Obscuration]

Yesterday at 11:48 pm

Hunt or Be Hunted

Yesterday at 11:52 pm

Hunt or Be Hunted

Today at 12:20 am

Hunt or Be Hunted

Today at 1:02 am

Hunt or Be Hunted

Today at 1:05 am

Hunt or Be Hunted

Today at 1:08 am

Hunt or Be Hunted

Today at 1:12 am

Hunt or Be Hunted

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