#coyotle

An armored female Shin’hare walked into view and the two coyotles saw an aura of faint blue behind her. “Weaklings.” She declared as she stepped onto the dead Warlock and crushed his skull under her boot. “The Militia has no need for weaklings but a soul is a soul.” Six rabbit skulls started to float around her as she scanned the area. She made a motion with her left paw as five armed Shin’hare came out of the doorway. “Scout the area those filthy mongrels are here somewhere.” Sly and Whisper knew they couldn’t hide for very long but six against two? The odds were certainly against them.

“We can’t fight them all at once but I could maybe deal with the guards while you kill Sora be careful she is a powerful warrior with Warlock training.” Sly didn’t have time to ask how he knew this as a cold wind coursed through the area. The wind gave a chill in Sly’s spine that was not due to the temperature..

Sly boldly walked into the open area and concentrated to summon Honovi which didn’t happen...  “You came here for the Sapphire meteor? Please one mutt against The Militia? I knew you were stupid breed of animals with a degree of intellect a bit more then a Shroomkin has but honestly one Coyotle? You can’t be that stupid.” She sized up Sly who was clearly bigger and taller then her but anyone who thought size won against the Shin’hare would be dead in seconds. Sly stood about five feet from her as they both silently judged the other.

“We’re never alone.” Was all he said. Sora smiled darkly as she withdrew her katana from it’s sheathe.

“Then let the stars you love so much mourn your corpse.” She lifted her free hand and absorbed a soul into her paw and then lightly brushed her sword with her paw as it started to glow with energy. “Do you know what Blood Magic is puppy? The power to manipulate souls and nature to your will. Wild magic creates and cultivates what exists Blood taints and mutates what exists. So if your ‘never alone’ then who will mourn you if you don’t exist? This sword shall absorb your very soul with just a few grazes! Die like the feral beast you ARE!!” She rushed into Sly as he pulled out an arrow and blocked her sword as if he was using a spear. 

“Sister Midnight shall protect me if she deigns it necessary.” He shoved her off him as he splayed out his paw creating vines to snare her. “Mind holding still?” He mocked as he jumped back about three feet and started to concentrate again to summon Honovi.

Sora was taken aback but she couldn’t imagine the coyotle was stupid enough to think a few vines would hold her. It took her about 30 seconds to cut away the vines and she felt with his eyes closed he thought he won. She rushed at him jumped and was about to slice him in two vertically when a white barrier blocked her. “What?! Impossible you..” She did a backflip to get away and scanned the situation. She looked about and saw no one who could’ve casted a spell to block her nor did she see the stag running around either. So what happened? Did his stupid goddess really just randomly decide to save him? Whatever the reason she doubt it would happen twice in span of a minute. She rushed at him again and this time tried to cut his legs but he vanished annoyingly.. She didn’t think Coyotles knew Hexing magic... “What? Coward!!” She looked frantically around swearing at top of her lungs.

“Far from it to be honest.” She heard Sly say. She felt something against her back and in an instant she felt nothing. A large smoldering hole was in her chest as she collapsed onto the ground. “Well that lightning magic got rid of her in a hurry.” Whispering walked into view and smiled.

As the duo walked to Crayburn Whisper gave several tips to Sly in hopes he’ll manage himself. “I can’t asist you for long but while we’re together I’ll tell you as much as I know. While I believe training is the best course of teaching I’ll give you a hint or two. Now-” He stopped as his ears twitched. “Whose there?” He demanded as a purple lightning bolt grazed his ear. “The Shin’hare arrived faster then I hoped.. We can’t let them secure the shard!” Sly took out his arrow and fired it in the general direction of the bolt he didn’t miss but he didn’t kill the Shin’hare.

About ten feet from them hiding near a doorway was a two foot tall rabbit with fancy robes. His paws crackled with magical energy and had about five poorly dressed and malnourished Shin’hare beside him. Each wore rags and were chained to various posts in the earth. “Filthy mutts!! How dare you defy your masters! We Shin’hare are rulers of the earth! Knell before my powers and I shall let you be my new pets and be much more cared for then my Soul Slaves. Deal?” The Shin’hare cackled as he spoke.

“Slaves?” Sly knew very little of the Shin’hare in fact he’s never seen one.

“Later right now we’ll have to kill him and doing it before he kills his slaves would be the best course of action. The Shin’hare believe only those in power have a life worth protecting those slaves of his he’ll not hesitate to kill them to cast various Blood magic.” Whisper and Sly hid behind a rock after Sly shot the arrow but now they had to figure out how to kill that Shin’hare...

“Come Honovi!” A bright brilliant light appeared as a beautiful ghostly stag walked forward a few feet. “I don’t know what that creature is capable of what with ‘Blood’ magic but please distract him so I can get a clear shot.” He petted the stag while it was indeed a ghost Coyotles had a mystical understanding of spirits and could interact with them even if they were not trained in Warlock magic.

“Hahaha!!! Are you afraid?! Did you run off with your tails between your flith covered legs? Worthless dogs the lot of you! Fight me like the cowards you are!” For the sheer fun of it the Warlock Shin’hare electrocuted one of his slaves as a ghostly skull started to leave it’s body. “Hahaha!! Every two minutes I can’t see you I’ll absorb one of my slaves! Can you beat a Warlock with the souls of five slaves at his beck and call? I know it’s in your savage itty bitty hearts to save a life regardless of their race. So come on lil guys be the hero!!” Without caring about what he just declared he absorbed another soul. As the Warlock amused himself he saw the glowing aura of Honovi and cocked his head. “Eh? What’s this..?” The stag walked into the open as the Warlock eyed it. “Hahaha!!! Another soul for me to play with!” He casted another spell but the purple energy bounced off the stag. “What the?!” Angered he tried again. Furious now he absorbed a third slave and started chanting but he didn’t get very far as Sly let loose an arrow piercing the Sin’hare in the throat killing him a few seconds later.

“Whew... We at least saved a few of them..” As Sly said that something absorbed the souls of the other two slaves and Honovi vanished. “Wait what?!” Sly looked around as Whisper held a paw against him.

Sly Dog Spirit Tamer entered into the Thunder Plains seeking tutorship of Whispering Breeze a well known ranger and tracker. Sly came from a small village off the east of the Howling Plains he knew very little of The War of Alliances but he was a young pup with hope in his eyes. His full name gave him a bit of credit that was uncalled for, whilst he did have a spirit animal he felt that ‘Tamer’ was a bit dramatic. All coyotles who started to train for hunting gained the power of their spirit animal. But while Sly did not brag about his title he has had some luck with various spirits but he still hesitates to call himself a Tamer of Spirits. As he walked into the Thunder Plains he saw Whispering Breeze sitting with his legs crossed and throwing powder into the small fire. “Hello Sly Dog.” He said without looking up.

While Sly was a pup who barely grown up he did know not to question those who knew his name. “Hello Whisper. I was hoping you could teach me how to hunt better.” Whisper looked up and smiled at him.

“Perhaps you’d care to join me on a little quest? You’ll be able to learn faster then sitting here.” As he threw another paw full of powder into the flames a bright blue orb shimmered in the smoke as it then turned into a crimson red and then a demonic skull. Sly could’ve sworn he heard cackling.

“What was that..?” He asked taking a step back.

Card art for Hex TCG "Lightning Skyhunter"

https://www.artstation.com/artwork/aaPLk