It was time, Ves’ra and Arvog had been shadowing the herd of deer for two days now, and she was sick of rabbits. They didn't even die like they should, instead attacking her the moment she neared their burrows. While not dangerous is was quite painful to be hit by the plates of bone on their forehead.

The rabbits were quite tasty if roasted, so she was snacking on some meat while waiting for their prey to stop for the night. She had to use her magic to roast all of her food - there was no wood and grass didn't burn. She hated that grass. Nothing to do about it though, her scales didn't fit her environment anymore, so she had to regularly eat grass for her scales to take its color. It worked - just like she had been taught - her brown scales were slowly falling off, only to be replaced by the lighter green of her new scales.

It took quite some time for the deer to stop for the day, and once they did Ves’ra breathed out a sigh of relief. Now that she decided it was time she was eager for a change in her diet. She used both her and Arvog’s energy to cast one of the most important spells for the success of the hunt. Ves’ra used her energy to increase the density of air around her familiar, as well as stealing the heat around herself to increase the temperature of his blood. The magic was using him as an origin, so the bubble of dense air would follow him, allowing him to fly even faster than normal.

Arvog rose with powerful strokes of his wings, soon vanishing from her sight. She concentrated and was able to see the world from above soon after. Arvog didn't have to fly very far - they were on top of an elevation right next to the herd. Keeping up an already cast spell wasn't all that hard, so she focused on a new spell. She packed the spell with as much energy as possible - her control wasn't good enough to use all his energy, let alone hers with one spell. Once the spell was cast and ready to seek out a target of her choosing.

She chose the lead deer of course, she was sure she’d manage to kill it with that spell. She unleashed the spell once Arvog’s eyes saw their target. The leading deer was already laying on the grass, so the magic wouldn't miss.

Arvog opened his mouth and lightning left him with a loud crack. The lightning curved towards her target, now that her magic wasn't working against the world it was way easier to use. The attack impacted with a loud crack, and the herd of deer jumped up and scattered in all directions.

All except the lead deer, it didn't die - it only looked a little unsteady on its feet. it jumped up and started scanning the sky, its eyes locking on Arvog soon after. The deer let out an angry neigh, angry eyes focussing on her familiar.

The spell used nearly a third of Arvog’s energy, and while that energy was already replenished they had never used a more powerful spell while testing that method. Ves’ra made a mistake though - Arvog grew up way slower than her and was still a child.

It didn't matter that their prey had no way to reach him - he decided to flee into the safety of her presence.

The beast followed, and Ves’ra had to swallow a lump in her throat as a monstrous deer several times her mass came running at her position. Her spear wouldn't be able to stop that!

She had learnt from her past mistakes though - she always kept two defense spells, one on each arm. She’d hoped she wouldn't need to use them - but it never hurt to be prepared. The deer would be here in another hundred breaths, so she had a little time for additional defenses.

She used all her water to litter the ground in between them with short spikes of ice - if she managed to hurt its feet it wouldn't be able to run as fast as it did now.

Arvog arrived seconds later, closely followed by the huge deer. Seeing it from up close made her gulp again - its shoulders stood at double her height, and that only if she stood perfectly straight. She started diverting some of the heat she sent to Arvog into herself - she needed all advantages she could get.

The huge deer reached the top of the hill she was hiding behind and its gaze locked onto her. It seemed to connect her to Arvog’s attack to her, though there was no indication of one except her presence.

The deer stopped its casual pursuit and charged her, heedless of its surroundings. It charged straight through her spikes, shattering the ice without noticing. She jumped to the side, just clearing its path with the help of her magic.

One of her spell discharged into one of the legs, causing it to miss a step and tumble down in a heap of limbs. Not one to let a chance like this slip away Ves’ra immediately sprang forwards and stabbed her spear in its side.

The beast let out a pained cry, she discharged another one of her enchantments directly into its flank - giving it no chance to react. The deer sprang up again, its legs even more shaky than before. The deer turned towards her and rose on its hind legs, kicking at her with the other two.

She managed to duck just in time and stabbed forwards once again, barely penetrating its flesh this time. She discharged her last lightning - a big mistake as one of its legs hit her bit her with the strength of a charging boar.

She cried out as she was flung backwards, all air leaving her lungs. Her opponent didn't feel any better, her last attack caused it to collapse. She heard a cry from above and Arvog landed on the deer before either of them could stand up. Her familiar started savaging the deer’s throat, causing fountains of blood to paint the grass red.

The deer was dead by the time she managed to get back on her feet, and Arvog was already feasting upon their prey. Ves’ra dragged herself back - her breath was still rattling - she was lucky she didn't break anything. She could feel Arvog’s satisfaction through their bond - the deer had been powerful and, as a result, was extremely tasty.

Ves’ra created a dagger of ice and started cutting her food. She had to agree to Arvog, the deer tasted marvelous. After both of them were satisfied she set to skin their prey, the hide of a beast as huge as this would surely prove useful.

Once she was finished she banished all remaining energy out of the hide with her own and added a spell that would draw out all water over the night. Tomorrow she’d restart her search for the human village.