Tatzyana, the Wampas Cat

Tatzyana moved carefully through the moonlit woods, freezing in place as she heard the noise again.

A woman's cry of anguish. The sound seemed to make all other night creatures go silent each time.

Tatzyana moved towards the sound, the woods held many mysteries, and creatures that were not safe for outsiders.

The soft pune needle strew ground began to get soggy and wet underfoot as the forest gave way to the swamp.

The woman cried out again.

But the cry was clipped as Tatzyana's moccasin booted foot slipped and plunked into the wet swamp.

The swamp and forest were silent not a sound from animal, nor insect.

Tatzyana felt eyes on her, though, this was no lost woman in the deep woods. This was the cry of some unnatural beast.

A low growl rumbled nearby.

Yellow glowing eyes in the night fixated on Tatzyana as a humanoid creature moved and circled her.

The body of a woman, in tattered clothing, but with the head of a large Bobcat.

"the cherokee death cat..."

Tatzyana whispered to herself, recognizing it from folklore.

As if in response, the creature snarled.

As Tatzyana pulled her leg from the muck of the swamp, the cat creature snarled and charged through the underbrush towards her!

Tatzyana was barely able to duck under it as it lept at her in a monstrous feline rage.

She stood, her fingers moving to calm upon the ancient magics, but the death cat was fast and agile.

Lashing out with its claws and tearing into Tatzyana's leg, making her loose concentration and cry out in pain.

The Cherokee Death (Wampas) Cat launched itself onto Tatzyana, knocking her back onto the wet soggy ground.

It took everything Tatzyana had to keep the monstrosity from tearing into her further.

Claws and snarling teeth snapped down towards Tatzyana as she held it back, but her strength was waning as well.

Finally Tatzyana was able to call upon the magics though, blue-green energy seeped up from the ground, and ensnared the Death Cat.

It snarled, hissed, and thrashed in a attempt to gain its freedom from the magics that held it.

Tatzyana stood painfully, blood freely running down her leg as she faced the thrashing monstrosity.

"I know you are cursed...there is nothing I can do to dispell those ancient magics..."

Tatzyana said almost in pity for the Death Cat.

Which ceased it's thrashing about, and growled low and menacingly towards Tatzyana.

"...I cannot change your ways, bit allow me to go in peace and the magics will release you once I am gone."

Tatzyana said.

The Death Cat fell completely silent, but it's glowing yellow eyes bore into her, as Tatzyana limped slightly back where she came.