Hunter in the Moonlight

A gentle, continuous patter of rain sounds across the canopy and the sultry air is choked with moisture. While most of the understory is shielded from this downpour, the river's muddled surface is pelted as steadily as the leaves above. A figure conceals himself near the edge of this river, nearly invisible amid the foliage thanks to the ebony jaguar coat. He waits, green eyes regarding a tapir as it tenderly approaches the river. It remains skittish, peering about its surroundings with a nervous gaze. His eyes glint as it lowers its head to drink.

He springs forward, formidable claws extended, appearing more beast than man. The tapir startles and attempts to flee back into the forest but it is too late. His claws hook into its flesh as he grips his prey, his massive body pinning it to the ground, before he finally sinks his fangs into its throat! He tears the beast open, mangling and feasting upon the carcass with no need for weapons or tools. It is only the shape of his body which exhibits any indication of humanity, every other feature and behavior that of a predator, but even this is tentative due to his sheer enormity.

As he savors the raw flesh of his kill, the moonlight peeking through the trees and onto the river intensifies. He whips around, looming over his kill defensively, and squints into this gentle luminescence. Mina emerges from this light, her dainty footsteps tapping across river stones and her movements flowing like phantasmal gossamer. Familiarity lights up the man's face and he grins, his fangs still dripping with blood. As she approaches him, most of his jaguar features fall away leaving only his fangs.

Mina's eyebrows raise and Supay dons an sly smile, his lips rolling over ivory fangs. He turns back to the river and gestures for Mina to follow. He halts once, spotting his dinner, but as he looks up, he spots vultures already catching the scent and decides to leave it. He helps Mina through the lush tangle and muddy muck of the rainforest floor as he continues.

Two anthropomorphic guards are stationed by a ladder constructed of living woody vines, seeming to have grown into their intended shape. The guards bow their heads to Supay, their reverence for him apparent, but they grow wary as their eyes slide to Mina. Supay speaks to them in Runasimi, assuring them Mina is an important guest. Mina eyes the ladder with trepidation, causing Supay to chortle. He has always been amused with her refined and dainty mannerisms, so opposite to his own.

Supay's body morphs again but rather than taking on the features of a jaguar, winged arms mimicking those of a fruit bat sprout from his back. Leathery, flexible skin connects spiny, finger like bones and short brown and black fur covers the rest of him. The stretchy skin of these wings run along the sides of his body down to his feet and he even gains the long muzzle and rounded ears of this unique creature! He leaves only his arms unaltered, stretching his wings as Mina turns to him. While she is a bit surprised, she immediately understands his intention.

A vibrant but inconspicuous city has been constructed into the canopy but not a single structure is crafted from dead wood! Branches have been manipulated with plant magic to form bases and bridges from platform to platform alongside plentiful bridges. Rectangular structures called kancha are built into the trunks and branches themselves while any gaps are partitioned by fabric or calked river stones, all topped by leafy roofs. This city expands across the upper branches of twenty or more trees, painted with dramatic patterns but camouflaged from above by thick branches and screens of vines. Citizens pass between structures unfazed by the continuous downpour, a spattering of rain occasionally breaking through the canopy as branches sway.

One central building stands out against the other kancha, built into the largest trunk in the center of this treetop city. It overlooks a central plaza which seemingly hovers over the jungle, supported by living branches and vines. Supay glides towards this central building.