Mission Details:

  Rhys had been living in Sunagakure for just over one week. He had started learning the subtle nuances of its people. At first he thought most of them rather frivolous, but now he was beginning to see something different. This shared cheerful display was an act. The people were worried about something but didn't want it to show.

  Even the missions were beginning to reflect a more serious tone. More difficult jobs at lower ranks were popping up. This one in particular had been suggested to Rhys by the administration clerk based on his previous work with different animals. He had to find creatures that were capable of becoming Ninju.

  So, once again Rhys found himself wandering through the endless dunes. This time however he had no particular destination in mind. He would follow whatever leads presented themselves to him. No sense in chasing possibilities in an endless expanse.

  It was still early in the day so the heat was still tolerable. Not much was happening during this hour. The only movement that Rhys could see was the sand whipping through the air. He readjusted the long metal tube on his back. He had just picked it up from the smith and was excited to try out his new jutsu, but Damn this thing was heavy.

  It was slow going for the big man, and it felt even longer than it actually was because there was no sign of a suitable target. Still, Rhys soldiered on through the desert.

  There is a cruel truth to the belief that sometimes the best way to find something is to stop looking for it. This was one of those times. Just as Rhys had set his heavy pack down to pull out his lunch, he caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of his eye. He spun around just in time to see a blur of fur go sprinting beyond a small dune. Rhys hurriedly swung his pack back on and have chase.

  The large man ascended the dune and saw his target fleeing below. It was a desert hare. And it was just what Rhys needed.

  The hare was far too fast for Rhys to keep up with when it was at full sprint, but it couldn't run for very long. Knowing this Rhys did not immediately follow the frightened creature. Instead he walked along the top ridge of the dune that curved up ahead. He would keep the high ground and circle around to where the hare was heading. He didn't need to catch it, he need to catch what would be trying to chase it.

  So as stealthfully as the bulky ninja could, Rhys followed the hare at a distance for a number of hours. Eventually something would try to make a snack of it or something better would come along.

  It was some time after mid-day and the hare had not moved in over 15 minutes. It was chewing away happily at some kind of vegetation that Rhys could not make out from this distance. He sat down and leaned against a large rock that was jutting out of the sand. He pulled out a few strips of dried meat from one of his pack's side pockets. Rhys began eating just as happily as his temporary prey.

  His patience had finally paid off. He was just finishing his last chunk of meat when noticed movement behind the hare on the dune opposite his own. It was a coyote. This was an animal that just might be able to become a Ninju if it has the right disposition.

  Rhys swallowed the last of his sparce meal and shouldered his pack. He kept low and did not approach. He had to wait until just the right moment to move in.

  The stealthy beast finally began to encroach upon its prey. Slow and silent footsteps edged it closer and closer closing the gap between the two. Suddenly it paused. The hare had perked up its ears. It slowly turned to face the coyote before bolting away. The coyote lept forward after it. The chase was on!

  Rhys ran along the edge of his dune to keep a close distance to the two animals. The hare was fast but would fatigue soon and the coyote was much more intelligent. It had trapped its prey at the base of a near vertical rock wall. The hare had nowhere to go. The coyote slowly approached. Then the hungry beast launched its attack.

  As soon as the coyote clamped its jaws around the defenseless gate's neck, Rhys vaulted over the top of his dune and began sliding down the sand. He had to Rach the coyote before it took its catch elsewhere. The coyote flailed the tiny limp corpse between its teeth to ensure it was dead. Rhys had just made it to the base of his dune and was about to start sprinting forward when an arrow flew out of nowhere, striking the unaware coyote. The startled beast dropped its meal, and fell down, dead.

  Rhys quickly his behind a towering cactus hoping that he had not been spotted. He scanned the direction that the arrow had emerged from but he couldn't see anyone. Rhys waited keeping deathly still. After a short wait two men started advancing on their target. Rhys could hear them whooping in celebration at their kill. Rhys had come to late to save the coyote, but now he was focused on its killer. He had a feeling he knew what would happen next, but he hoped he was wrong.

  The two men made it to their haul. One stood over it approvingly while the other knelt beside it. Rhys watched intently. He was willing the man not to do what he was about to do. The willing was not enough.

  The kneeling man had pulled out a knife and started to chop off the coyote's paws. Rhys let out a pain filled bestial tell as he leapt into action. He ripped off the cap of his new metal tube and charged full speed towards his targets. These poachers would pay.

  The two men became of the boisterous bulk of a man bearing down on them. The kneeling one stood, drawing something from his best. The one who was already standing had drawn the bow he was holding and loosed an arrow at Rhys. The charging shinobi made a series of hand signs without slowing. The black iron sand poured out of his metal cannister and coated Rhys, it thickened and formed into the shape of armor around his chest and arms. Not a moment too soon as the arrow snapped against the black sand armor.

  Rhys was closing in. He would reach them in a matter of seconds. He was planning his next attack when the second man threw a kunai aimed to end Rhys. Rhys stopped his charge and quickly produced more hand signs. His "Push" jutsu sent the metal kunai flying backwards. Rhys was lucky, by sheer accident, the kunai flipped around and lodged itself in its owner's own throat. He fell dead before he hit the ground.

  The final man dropped his bow and began to run. Rhys chased after him shouting for the fleeing man to halt, but to no avail. The man was faster than rhys, and completely unwilling to stay around and face Rhys.

  Finally Rhys gave up on chasing the terrified poacher. He returned to the three dead bodies. The hare and the coyote would not go to waste. Rhys cleaned them there and strapped them to his pack in order to return home with them. He was about to leave the poacher to rot, but then he noticed it had started to move.

  No, not the corpse itself, but the basket strapped to his back. Rhys looked within and couldn't help but laugh. It was a baby badger. Of all the things it could have been, it was exactly what he needed. The ferocious little ball of fluff would become viscious one day, but was young enough that it could be trained. Rhys gave the small creature some water before beginning his long walk back to the village.

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WC:1377 for 300 ryo