Thrum: A Fantasy. (Chapter 01, Teaser 02)

Thrum.
Chapter 01, Teaser 02

.
The trees began to spread apart somewhat. Ahead were clear skies and sparse grass patches, none of which offered any cover for the terror-stricken creature ahead of Ilia. The kill zone. It burst through the last tree limb, snapping a tine off one antler in its mad rush. Not far behind, Ilia could sense the end of his hunt approaching. He drove his mount to give all it had in his eagerness to end the chase. Faster, faster now!

Just before they could pass the same tree as their prey, Ilia’s mount skidded to a halt and crouched. Ilia would have been launched into the trunk if not for experience and a harness built for sudden stops. Experience and trust told him not to argue the action, either. His was a creature with all the weight and killing power of a well-fed ox and more battlefield awareness than most soldiers had shown him. If it stopped, it should have.

“Ursidas Ichneumon” would never ring any bells for the village folk that hid from it. They called it something else. Saberbears were as intimidating as their common name implied, but to Ilia, it was a misnomer. The thing had more in common with a wolf. It hated solitude, and it could run for ages. Sure, it had the fangs and feline proportions of a big cat and the bulk and hide of its ursine cousins, but it was so much more than that.

Their target ran on, too deep in panic to sense whatever had caused Gulo to halt. The pair watched from the shadows of the tree line, ready. One had its ears forward and mouth open to taste any scent available. The other kept his bow ready with one eye on the sky.
.

{Author's Note} The official version won't have any commentary, so I'll indulge it here. Gulo the saberbear is neither a bear nor a feline. Though fictional, it's actually far more closely related to Megalictis Ferox, which was basically a jaguar-sized prehistoric wolverine but as described, it's way bigger. Gulo is named after the modern wolverines but is not actually a mustelid itself. Yeah, I basically trampled on scientific classifications of species. If that's not mixed enough, it's got massive canines like a smilodon/sabertooth tiger, but Gulo's are smaller in proportion to his head to look more practical while still huge, maybe four inches long.

This guy, but with huge fangs:

---

==============================================================

---

As has become a happy custom for me, I want to toss a sample of what I'm hearing as I write. Do enjoy.

Yours Truly - High Hopes (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)

Hey, have another...

Mighty Sam McClain - When The Hurt Is Over

---

==============================================================

---

((I claim neither credit nor ownership of the above quotes, images or videos.))

For a closer look at what I'm about, the cause we serve, or just to learn something you might not find elsewhere, please examine these links:

(You may want to start here...)
https://Ra-El.org/
✠
(For a broad overview of various important topics)
https://sanctuaryinterfaith.org/
✠
(For a closer look at key developments and prophetic news)
https://armageddonbroadcastnetwork.tv/
✠
(For constant updates on all relevant topics, news from RayEl's Imperial Regent, Angelus Domini, and to speak with RayEl's clergy on the less-tempered-with VK platform)
https://vk.com/congregation_of_lord_rayel/
✠
(For constant updates on all relevant topics, news from RayEl's Imperial Regent, Angelus Domini, and to speak with RayEl's clergy on Facebook)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ICoLR/
✠
To donate to the Lord's Templar Commandery directly, please go to:
Ra-El.org/donations.html
✠
To donate to The Ecumenical Order of Christ via the Prime Cleric, please use:
[email protected]

---

==============================================================

---