Gabriel had lingered, watching the hunter go before he was taking his cart back in to the mines. There were a few days longer he spent there before departing the territory with little to no sort of fanfare, geared up so he could travel and only be mistaken for a hunter or mercenary. Meant he was left alone, going through a few villages and at least one town. Keeping to himself and listening to rumors on the outskirts.
There were more hunters about some weeks after that, as it seemed the Western King had upped bounties for certain monsters. Was enough that it put the gorgon on edge, sent him out of populated areas faster and had him hunting a little less.
Didn't expect to be found when he'd taken some time to make his shed easier in a hot spring, relaxing in those waters and letting snakeskin shed even off his own tail. At least it meant none of the hunters would find his stash, but it also left him with only his own natural gifts to try and get away. Large but quick, keeping them just on the edges of his sight, long muscled tail having batted most of them against trees, suffering wounds from blades that would heal.
Even though he fought hard, took two of the group out, there were just too many of them with how persistent they were. Felt himself growing sluggish and limbs heavy with no doubt that arrows used were laced with something, and far away from where he was camped he finally went down, thick fabriced bag secured over his head by something around his neck.
When he finally came to? All he knew was that he was caged and bound, head still covered and snakes hissing wildly while he was still too out of it other than to know he was in trouble. Didn't know if he'd been tracked or if it had just been a coincidence that put him in the wrong place at the wrong time. Kept coiled, as if his healing body would somehow protect him from... what?
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Date: 2020-08-26 01:32 am (UTC)There were more hunters about some weeks after that, as it seemed the Western King had upped bounties for certain monsters. Was enough that it put the gorgon on edge, sent him out of populated areas faster and had him hunting a little less.
Didn't expect to be found when he'd taken some time to make his shed easier in a hot spring, relaxing in those waters and letting snakeskin shed even off his own tail. At least it meant none of the hunters would find his stash, but it also left him with only his own natural gifts to try and get away. Large but quick, keeping them just on the edges of his sight, long muscled tail having batted most of them against trees, suffering wounds from blades that would heal.
Even though he fought hard, took two of the group out, there were just too many of them with how persistent they were. Felt himself growing sluggish and limbs heavy with no doubt that arrows used were laced with something, and far away from where he was camped he finally went down, thick fabriced bag secured over his head by something around his neck.
When he finally came to? All he knew was that he was caged and bound, head still covered and snakes hissing wildly while he was still too out of it other than to know he was in trouble. Didn't know if he'd been tracked or if it had just been a coincidence that put him in the wrong place at the wrong time. Kept coiled, as if his healing body would somehow protect him from... what?
He was so very, very tired.