The Sentinels shocked by the relative size of brazil

Going full in media res here! @Kirain @Solenya @Visala if you want

The grassland to the east of the forest was teeming with deer. Sam had spotted no fewer than eight tip-toeing through the fog whilst on his early morning patrol, and had sent word to his fellow forest-dwellers that brunch was very much on.

The grass was still damp when the hunt began.

The chosen buck was still in the lumpy stage of antler growth - no tines. They had separated it and worn it down, forcing the big animal to charge again and again. Judging from its labored breathing, it was running out of juice.

The time was now. The wolves closed in.

Sam injury roll: 19

Visala was no use in a hunt, it was hard to be when you couldn't see what you were chasing outside of a blur. Still, when Sam called she came with the hope of snagging some of the carcass when all was done.

Standing at the tree line, her ears twitched waiting to hear any sign of what was happening in the grassy fields. The sound of clomping hooves and the cries of a buck told her that, for now, things were going well.

Sam’s call rang out, and Kirain didn’t hesitate to answer. She spotted the deer in the field, her stomach twisting with nerves. Hunting was never her strength, and fear of letting the others down prickled at her fur. But she pressed on, slipping into position to help corral the beast. As the deer began to slow, laboring under the relentless pressure of the pack, Kirain lunged for a leg, teeth snapping as she fought to latch on, determined to help bring it down.

Does she succeed? (Odd yes, even no) 2
Sustain an injury? (Odd yes, even no) 1
How bad? 6

It was an ordinary hunt - tedious, sweaty (in spirit, at least), and slow - until it was not.

Kirain bravely went for a leg, and when that not only failed but caused her to sustain an injury, Sam was emboldened to act.

He went for the throat. It was too soon. He paid for it.

To his credit, Sam managed to hang on for quite a long time. He lunged in the split second that the buck was distracted by its triumph over Kirain, latched on to its throat, and squeezed. Success! Or not. The animal could still breathe, and his teeth were meeting resistance - he had missed the mark. Nevertheless, the big hairy tick clung on, flung this way and that like the pendulous wattle of an old cock(erel) at a dance party.

It's all fun and games until someone's head gets stomped on, so the old saying goes. There was a hideous crack when exactly that happened. Sam lost his grip, fell to the ground, and before he could do anything at all to stop it –

The buck reared up and delivered an almighty blow to his head. Sam lost consciousness instantly.

Does it try to keep stomping? Even yes, odd no: 8

Feel free to decide what happens to Sam!

The leg she tried to latch onto suddenly jerked back, catching her hard along the jaw. Pain bloomed across the right side of her face, and she stumbled back, dazed. As she shook herself to focus, her eyes widened in growing horror, Sam was being brutally stomped by their target.

SAM!

Her cry came out far more hysterical than she intended. Panic drowned out reason as she lunged forward, throwing her full weight into the buck. Claws scrabbled for purchase, jaws snapping at anything she could reach, anything to draw the beast’s attention away. The thought of losing a Sanctum member to prey turned her stomach, a raw fear driving her to fight with everything she had.

Does she succeed this time in latching on? (Odd yes, even no) 6
Does the attention of the beast switch to her? 5
Is she screwed? 8
Further injury? 2

The initial signs of success quickly went out the window, particularly when Visala heard a cry for Sam. Honestly, anything else and she would have been happy to continue sitting on the sidelines but he had saved her ass more times than she could count; and, because he said it not her, they were friends.

Feeling around for something of use she was quick to find a rock, one that was small enough to kick but big enough to hurt. With her back legs she could likely get a good amount of force, the problem would be aiming.

Releasing a breath she lined herself up, listened for the best idea of where the buck was, and gave the rock her best kick. Thankfully for her ego, it went flying! But where?

Rolling d20, result 9
Even: it hits nothing
Odd: it hits the deer
Exactly fourteen: it hits Kirain/almost hits Kirain
Exactly nineteen: it hits Sam/almost hits Sam
Exactly seven: straight down the deers throat

Hello,  Sam.

In the pitch black of Sam's mind sat a wolf. He recognised her.

I'm asleep, he said without uttering a word.

The wolf smiled toothily at him. Its eyes were milky blue and had no pupils.

Sort of. You cracked the black egg, and here I am.

I don't like you. You're scary.

I am the yolk that feeds you. I am the dam. You need me.

Sam fell deeper.

*

In the world beyond his skull, things were happening quickly. A rock had entered the chat, flung with impressive accuracy by a wolf  that could barely see. It struck the furious creature squarely in the side of the head, missing both Kirain (still attached by the teeth) and Sam (very unconscious) on its subsequent fall.

Everything stopped. The deer blinked. And then...

Odd it passes out, even it keeps going: 4
If it passes out, fall on Sam if exactly 14: 4

What was even happening right now?! Sam was unconscious, the deer was suddenly on the ground, and Kirain had no idea what to do. No hunt had ever gone like this before. Should she run? Should she keep fighting? Was Sam okay? Was Ghost? Where was Solenya? Why was this all boiling down to her?

Terror clawed at her chest as she turned her teeth back on the buck, trembling, desperate to keep Sam alive. She couldn’t think, couldn’t plan, she could only act.

Then the buck lashed out, a hoof slamming into her ribs. It was a glancing blow, but it knocked her sideways and tore the breath from her lungs. She gasped, staggering as pain bloomed across her side.

But Sam, she had to get to Sam.

Blindly, she stumbled to his side and threw herself over his body, pressing close, shielding him with her own. Her heart pounded so loud it roared in her ears as she squeezed her eyes shut, praying, praying that the buck would just go away.

Does the buck strike? (Odd yes, even no) 13
How bad? 6
Does the buck leave or keep fighting? (Odd stays, even leaves, 12 knocks Kirain unconscious as well) 12
Is there any hope for this hunt? (Odd yes, even no) 16

She could hear the buck leave - a relief, but she knew it had left more problems behind it. Airing a moment of caution first, she then made her way to wear Kirain and Sam both lay, pretty well knocked out given neither of them reacted in the slightest to her pokes. Visala could smell blood, and not from the animal she was sure all of them would have preferred.

Making the effort for a gentle push of Kirain off of the equally checked out Sam, she wasn't exactly sure what to do. She thought to call for help, but the only wolf who would potentially be nearby was Solenya and if she was planning to do something then she would have been here by now. So she had been left with two injured wolves, and her only knowledge of how to treat serious injuries was to pray them away - which never really worked in the first place. Given each of them were breathing, maybe all she could do for now was wait for them to wake up.

Sam regained consciousness first.

He grasped at his dream, but it was gone before the fleeting image could be fixed to something more permanent. A faint cackle faded away, and then there was light.

"Dlueeeefghh-..frr..." Sam slurred when Kirain's weight was rolled off him. His head hurt. So did his ribs, and shoulder - his entire body felt like a bruise. But oh, his head.

The lanky grey wolf stayed where he was, on his side in the grass and with his brain swelling rapidly inside his skull.

Eventually, he began to seize. It would go on for days.

From here on out I am a body - drag me home!

A low groan slipped from the little dame as consciousness slowly clawed its way back to her. She drew in a shaky breath, and hissed, pain flaring hot in her ribs at the movement. A soft whimper escaped her as she tried to piece together what had happened, her mind foggy and her body aching in protest.

Her face hurt, and when she managed to open her eyes, the light sent a sharp spike of pain through her skull. Fantastic.

It took several long moments before reality fully registered, and when it did, panic surged through her like a jolt of lightning. She jerked upright into a half-sitting position, breath ragged.

S-Sam! Ghost!

Her tongue felt heavy and clumsy in her mouth, but fear pushed the words out anyway. Silver eyes scanned the pair before her, checking desperately for injuries. She saw that the blind she-wolf appeared unharmed, relief flooding her briefly before her gaze snapped to Sam, and horror swallowed her whole.

Oh—oh no. Oh no no no no no. Sam!

He was in terrible shape, his body wracked with violent tremors, and even through her fog of pain, she could tell he was seizing. Tears sprang to her eyes, spilling down her bruised cheeks as she watched him struggle, helpless and frantic.

Solenya was going to be so upset.

And Kirain didn’t know how she was going to fix this.