A giant eagle climb higher from the pine tree into the blue sky. Piercing the cloud above it before diving back to lower height. It has golden-brownish feathers. Sporting two massive wings that span almost as long as yak head and body length (yak body from horn to the tail is 400 cm). Truly a gargantuan aerial beast. Far bigger than the rest of it's kind.
The size is also matched by it's capabillity. Unlike other eagles, falcons or sandgrouses, it almost never miss it's given tasks. Delivering parchment or item. The beast already finished dropping the message to a Kyrgyz clan in the south. Now the eagle fly in circular movement. The hunter eyes is restless.
"What it is doing? Is it still hungry perhaps," Kure ask.
"The beast's is different from all others oh New Leader?" the Koryak shaman speak. His name is Igiklav, little brother of Kamak. Like his name implied, he wear a wolf head cap.
"Eh when i see you nearer, between us we are not so different. Now the giant beast would also acknowledge me. Where will it land?" Kure check on his gambeson right vambrace and pauldron.
"Glad my companion's is to your liking," Igiklav bow while Kure trot his horse.
Ming!
The eagle screeching loudly several times. Two fat sheep nearby did not budge from it's place, whether when seeing Kure in horse or the eagle approach. Their instinct to flee are dulled as they are escaped cattle. Kure watch in awe as Igiklav companion's struck one of the sheep neck with it's claw. Regally lift the heavy prey into the sky.
"Watch out!" Kure shout.
Igiklav evade sloppily, luckily it did not hit him. The still breathing sheep collided with the pine tree. Breaking several branch with the sheer force of the wind. A gift fitting for it's old master.
"Are you sure this is not different type of bird? It's not an eagle but perhaps something bigger. Such powerful hurl," Kure never heard a sheep being preyed by eagle before.
"I found the egg when we hunt 8 years ago. The mother of Tiki forbade us to take it but discreetly i hide the giant egg. Can you believe it's. The egg is three fold the sizes it's siblings," Igiklav describe his eagle.
"His name?" Kure ask.
"Ah-king but feel free to give it a new name. He is yours now. A ceremonial gift befitting for the birth of our new horde. Ah i almost forget New Leader, can i have have this sheep?" Igiklav want the cute sheep that approach him.
Kure did not care, his attention is for the bird that fly above him. He already place the meat lure but it does not caught it's eye. The lure's is too small. Ah-king have voracious appetite. After trying to feed it's old master, the bird's dissapear.
"Fine then from henceforth your name is not Ahking anymore. I named you as Baydara my companion!" Kure declare.
"Therefore it need three time the size of the meat to lure Baydara," Igiklav inform him as the former owner. He is unrivaled in falconry among the Koryaks.
One of Kure's men running towards them. Most of the Koryaks did not know how to ride a horse. The very first thing he taught them when joined Tiki leadership are to utilize the smoke signal. Now the Koryaks are already accustomed after they see smokes from their allies position.
"We are being attacked! Numerous strange beast riders. Great leader you too are riding the very same strange animal. How did we win this!" the skirmisher panicking.
"Your people are even stranger riding a yak. The ambush is already set. Remember this, don't flee like idiot that you are, if you want to win." Kure reprimand him out due to ignorance.
"Ah as usual already planned it out. We manage to slain Tatabi because of him but alas my dear brother ...," Igiklav mutter.
Adam and his riders did not realize that Kure has already planted it's snares. Entering the dense pine forest to the south, Adam's men were rained down by atlatl arrows. Adam already anticipated it but the fight is fiercer than he thought. The enemies is not yet broken even when their highest leader is in weak position.
"Trample them they are just stragglers!" Adam inspire his man.
More Koryaks hiding in the snow mounds revealing themself. They target Adam and his high-ranking clansmen. Launching even more arrows and javelins. Adam still choose to push through the ambush. Thrusting with spear anyone who obstruct his path. Adam several times counter his adversaries with throwing javelin.
Arrgghh!
"Nice Chief!" Dahlan praise his Chief throwing skill. He is one of the high-ranking clansmen also the Father of Layla.
"No time to celebrate. We still don't kill Kure yet," Adam remind him.
"Shall we reinforce the rear?" said Dahlan.
"Forward," Adam start to gallop.
Burn!
Thick smoke arise from their rear. The fire is already started by the Koryaks when Adam appeared but the spread is slow due to cold condition. He and his troops can not retreat from the forest anymore. Adam already lost more than 100 of his men from the total of 400 riders.
"This is the place where the Ak Yay die! Those ugly clan banner you brought," Mukmuk shout.
"Hehe we are not as foolish as you may think. Today Gokturk, tomorrow the Jurchen," Mokmok continue his twin's speech.
"They can speak our tongue? So you are the one who will die!" Dahlan shout back.
"Yak for war? How do we prevail over it. It's my first time," Adam mutter while tightening his spear.
The Twins and it's riders are wearing thick gambeson. Reinforced by some of the stone padding in vambrace and chest. Others are using conjoined animal bones. They are the newly heavy cavalry of the recently formed Kure Horde. Adam gallop his horse, readying his spear to impale his enemies.
Hihiek!
The yak frighten their horses. Adam fall into the ground. Suffering from temporary paralysis, his hand and body can't be moved yet. Watching as his riders were also pushed by skirmishers in the rear. Snared by the horde pincer attack from two sides.
—
Iltas can see the thick smoke from afar. He haste himself and his man to reinforce Adam. Kilat stop his little brother-in-law once they Saw the blazing forest. Probably they are already too late. Iltas preparing his men to turn back into the fort.
"Father Dahlan!" Tughluq turn his horse. He don't care about the possible enemy ambush.
"Help me to stop him," Yami chase Tughluq.
"Brother ride with Jelek and Udmurt. Free the slaves first. We need more warriors. I will go alone," Iltas order him to do so.
"Don't be ridicilous three of you. Fool!" Kilat shout. Joining the three of them and disobeying the order.
"How dare all of you keeping it secret from me. I already heard it from that wounded man. My Father!" Arpad go to the frontline. He don't care about his wound anymore. Following Kilat to disobey Iltas order.
"Cease Arpad!" Nana shout.
Arpad did not look back. He already got too far into the unburned part of the forest. Nana change his Uncle position and carrying Iltas last order. As the highest-rank clansmen. She command the horse riders to regroup in the fort.
Iltas Hordes in their base took her words quite seriously even though she is a female. The situation has become dire.