A bow was slung across his back with it's quiver peaking out over his shoulder. The bow was dark cherry and was his preferred choice when going on hunts. Asher wore a black sleeveless tunic which had green trim running down his sternum to his waist which then took a turn and ran to his backside. His leggings were black as well but did not share the same trim design. Instead they had small leaf-like etchings in them. The craftsmanship was noticeable even to the unaccustomed as each small vein was intricately etched and every leaf was significantly different from the other. His hair was a smokey black and gray. He was the only clansman in noted history to have it, hence the name. His face was scarred and tattered from the battles they had fought with the Leonites. Claw marks lined his face, but one in particular streaked from the top of his right eye and down to his left cheek. It was the definitive mark that people knew him by, if they didn't already know him by his color.
Asher had been different since the last battle with the Leonites. He was just coming of age when the Leonites attacked. The Ia'Sha, Lotek, and Pwankana clans were the first to the front lines. Asher came from the Ia'Sha and had volunteered to go to battle. Even as a young ape he was extremely proud of his people and would go tooth and nail with any other that would dare harm them. The Ascended Council, which was composed of a dozen members with two from each of the six major clans: Clan Ia'Sha, Lotek, Pwankana, Ish'rota, Kyba, and Ileste, had heard his plea to help and after several meetings finally allowed him to do so despite his age.
Asher gained a reputation on the battlefield for his fierce cunning and unforgiving resolve when faced with an adversary. Stories were told continuously in the clans. Stories of Asher dispatching Leonite after Leonite, entire hills were formed from the corpses of those that had fell by his hand. His strength was unmatched, and he was uncharacteristically fast. The stories received a large amount of attention from the Council because of their passive nature. The clans loved him, from the top echelons of their society to the scavengers. The Council considered him dangerous, but didn't dare banish him from their realm. Once the final battle had been fought Asher was relieved of all combat responsibilities and made a hunter for the Ia'Sha as a final decision from the Council.
And so he found himself here tracking game in the cool dew mornings. At first he was furious and took his hunting bow with much disdain, but after several successful hunts he learned to accept it, and soon he even liked it. He bonded well with his fellow hunters, whom were former soldiers themselves. They would often reminisce of the glory they found in battle, but Asher didn't just remember, he yearned. He lust for the danger, and craved the feel of cold steel over his flesh, he even missed the pain.
The shadows left his sight and all was clear again. He stayed low and crept cautiously to Bashar who was barely ahead of him huddled between a large tree trunk and thick shrubbery. Bashar had been there since the beginning. The two were assigned to the same troop when they joined their clansmen in the war. Since that time they had rarely left each other's side. Asher had no friends save it be Bashar, and Bashar believed he was the only one that truly understood him. Where others saw brutality and red, he saw a rare gentleness in his friend. One that was missed or simply ignored by others. For that he felt that he must take it upon himself to be an unsung brother to this twisted soul.
Peeking over Bashar's shoulder Asher found themselves on a cliff and below were several large deer. Two had mighty horns and were as thick as bulls. The other was a faun and they were not to harm her as was custom for their people. Asher's mouth watered slightly. These would feed the Ia'Sha for several months. A small inkling dripped from Bashar's lower lip as well. Asher noticed as it fell to the ground. Bashar wiped his mouth quickly in fear that Asher may have noticed. Asher nudged him slightly and grunted with laughter.
The two grunted softly together but were quickly cutoff as something flashed through the trees in the distance. They perked up as the bucks bounded away quickly. Asher snarled in annoyance. Other hunters looked back to him from their positions awaiting further directions. Asher leapt from the cliff and snatched a thick branch ahead of him, swinging his body forward. The rest of the hunters followed behind him.
Asher swung out to a vine and glided to a tree directly next to whatever had passed moments ago. In the distance, coming his way, he could see several catlike figures darting forward with impressive speed. He held his hand up indicating his men to stay where they were and as he did he dropped from the branch high above and landed with an explosion of leaves and dirt below.
The figures were close enough now to distinguish with precision. They came to a halt before Asher but kept their distance not knowing what to expect. They rose to their feet as Asher did. Asher noted the shining gold breastplate that the one in front wore. As well as the golden mail that covered the others. Leonites. He thought. They wielded nothing in hand as they had been on all fours for traveling, however, Asher noticed the hilt of a sword peaked around the lower back of each of them as well as a round object barely showing itself at several spots behind them.
The mail covered much of them but slight hints of small black dots sneaked outward. The five were tall and muscular. Asher knew them to be Chetan. They weren't the strongest of Leonite that could have wandered into the Ascended Forest but they were definitely the fastest. The Chetan had caused headache after headache during the major battles because of their speed. At full speed they were untouchable even with arrows. In the forest though, they couldn't reach that speed, and Asher knew they wouldn't try.
The one in front - clearly holding some authority over the other four based on the full set of plate armor he was adorned in - stepped out toward Asher. He held his hand on the hilt of his blade as he addressed Asher.
"Hail Ascended. We come from-" He began to say.
"I know who you are Leonite. Turn back. You're not welcome here." Asher's voice boomed more than it sang. There was an old rasp sound to his voice, but he was young in age. His voice was neither pleasant or harsh it was thick and had purpose when it was heard. The lead Chetan smirked and shook his head as he took a step closer and continued speaking.
"Lord of the forest, we do not come here to quarrel with you. You see, our prey is a fugitive of the empire and has been sentenced to death for his unspeakable crimes. We must bring him back to face his fate." The Chetan spoke well. He spoke like most of the Leonite authorities. It made him angry the way they spoke. So elegant, so polite, yet smugness and sarcasm enveloped every word that came out. He knew they would take any chance they could to stab you in the back. They claimed honor but practiced deception.
Asher stood before them, the only movement residing in his chest as hit rose and fell from his steady breathes.
"Sir ape, please. Move or else my friends here-" He gestured back toward the other Chetan who had pulled their swords partly out of their sheathes.
"Will make you move, and neither of us want blood to come of this. Do we?" Asher did not speak. He stayed bold before them with hatred filling his expression. Finally, he moved a couple of steps to the side and extended his arm outward as if to usher someone along.
"That's a good ape. Very kind of you sir." The Chetan signaled his men to walk with him. He made his way down the path never breaking sight of Asher, nor Asher of him. Their eyes were locked. The Chetan leader had the same smirk on his face and walked as tall as he could. Asher could only imagine cold steel running through the cat's body. As the Chetan came closer to Asher he stopped only briefly to size him up. Asher couldn't take it any longer. His thick arm shot out and his powerful fingers clamped onto the Chetan's neck. He pulled the cat toward him as if he were weightless. Their faces were within a tongues length as he let out a bellowing roar. A cracking sound came from it's neck as his face went expressionless and Asher let him go only to fall limp on the forest floor. The other four Chetan were taken by surprise trying to unsheathe their weapons, but Asher wasted no time.
He pulled a dagger from his belt as he jumped forward crushing into one of them. His dagger sunk deep into it's neck. It let out a wild yelp and fell dead. The three were now armed and darted at Asher. One of the huntsman above pulled his bow and arrow from behind his back. It was notched and ready to be unleashed. Bashar put his hand out and pressed the bow down. He shook his head but did not look worried. He nodded toward Asher and the other followed his gaze.
One of the Chetan came at Asher, blade held high, and brought it down with lightening quick speed. Asher dodged it and grabbed hold of the loose mail that acted as a hood for the Chetan. He swung his arm back and the Chetan flew into one of his comrades who was just about to bring his blade down on him. The two collided and fell back a couple of feet. The standing Chetan did not charge like the others. He was patient and circled Asher with a cautious stance waiting for the hulking shadow to engage him. Asher followed him with his eyes but noticed the other two were now on their feet as well. Before they could get into position to flank him, he turned and sent his hunting blade careening through the air and into the single Chetan behind him. He didn't wait to watch it land. The two others charged him. They seemed to glide more than run as they moved to attack him. They had speed, but Asher matched them blow for blow. One whipped his blade intending to slice Asher diagonally. He brought his forearm forward and intercepted the hilt halting the attempt. As he did, the other thrust at him viciously. Jumping back slightly the blade missed him but they never relented.
Asher was pushed back several feet, after dodging a swarm of attacks. He crouched slightly at the ready. He looked back quickly to see where the third Chetan had went. He was on the ground with a dagger sticking through his shoulder. When he looked back two blades were on a direct course toward his body. He bent back to avoid the blows, but as one of the warriors recoiled his blade he sliced down Asher's leg. Blood pooled outward. Instead of collapsing as he should have, he placed a hand to the floor and flipped himself backward. As he landed he beat his chest with his powerful fists and roared. His eyes were wild, his fangs bared forth, and the two warriors felt as if they had awakened an inner beast within the already terrifying ape.
Asher bolted at them without hesitation. He ignored their half-hazard hack and slash and caught one of the blades by hand. He held it as the Chetan tried to pull it free. The other just stared in amazement contemplating whether he should take off running or not. Then he yanked the blade free from its hand, blood covered the shining steel. Tossing the blade up, he caught its hilt and stabbed into the stunned, Chetan warrior. He gurgled slightly, then fell back dead.
Asher turned to the other and as he did the other turned to run. After several steps Asher tackled the Chetan and rolled him onto his back while he began to thrash wildly. His shield was held close as Asher started to hammer down on him. He tried to hold the shield away from him but with every blow he endured the shield sunk, until finally Asher ripped it free from his arm and tossed it away. Asher was howling wildly now as he drummed on the Chetan's chest. There was a crunch, and then another, and the Chetan stopped resisting but Asher continued.
The beating went on for another minute and when he was finished he stood above the body, heaving, with sweat dripping from head to toe. There was silence for a spell, but then a labored voice broke through the dead air.
"When the Emperor finds out about this ape, he's going to slaughter your entire people. You won't have any mercy this time." He chuckled a little. This Chetan wasn't as elegant a speaker as their leader, and Asher respected him more for it. He understood the life of a soldier. Any soldier, and so he walked to the warrior that, at some point, had shimmied his way to a nearby tree and propped himself up. The dagger still protruded from his shoulder.
"Mmm. Give your Emperor my regards. Because, I am merciful, I ask that you do me this one kindness. Tell your Emperor that he is welcome to enter my forest, but that I will make sure he doesn't leave it. That goes for any Leonite. You will be the first, and the last, Leonite to do so as long as I am breathing."
The Chetan spat, "And what do they call you... beast?"
"Asher." He replied as he yanked the dagger free from its shoulder. A blood curling screech followed that the other hunters were convinced would be heard even by the Leonite capital.
***
The Chetan's scream brought a wry smile to Kamas' face. He had ran a long way to escape them and knew that by coming into the forest he put himself in as much danger as them, but he had to count on the apes stopping his captors before they stopped him.
Kamas was dressed in simple slave clothes. A tattered light brown vest with pants that he had cut clumsily into shorts. His fur was pitch black, darker than the deepest cavern in a moonless night. With ears that reached long up over his head. The right ear had a chunk taken out from where another creature had bit down. His life was proof that whatever had done it met a far worse end.
The ape tossed the dagger on the ground and turned away and walked slowly toward the trees where the rest of the Clansmen watched from above. He had known the Clansmen to be protectors of the Ascended Forest, but never had he seen one single handedly kill a group of men, let alone look as though he garnered some sort of pleasure from the task. This one was different altogether.
Kamas didn't stay long. He recounted what he had seen and as he turned to step over a fallen log he whispered to himself, "An ape that delights in bloodshed... The gods are comedic after all." He chuckled lightly to himself as he sprinted off deep into the forest.
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