One Last Trophy

He moved the skinning knife up the creatures belly, slowly as if creating an opening for a zipper, bringing the blade to a stop at the bottom lip of it's mouth.  "It will be a fine trophy!" he thought to himself.  

Kneeling over the fresh kill, Toby wondered what it would be like, to leave Togoria and hunt on new worlds.  He continued the skinning process, using the knife to make cuts up the beasts  legs.  He was not as young as he once was.  How much was his knowledge making up for lost speed, agility and power?  As he looked over the Liphon's massive reptillian body and took in it's great wingspan, he grinned and growled, "Powerful as ever!"

Vigor and energy fueled his cuts as he continued, energized as he stood over his kill with pride. If he had lost any power or speed it had been made up for with increased skill and wisdom.  How many of his Togorian brothers could down a Liphon single-handedly!

The skin now removed from the reptile, he reached into his pouch and withdrew a beautifully crafted and etched bone knife.  With the proper tool in his grip he began removing the excess fat and flesh from the skin.  He recalled teaching  these techniques to many a young Togorian.  One of these pupils had recently reached out to him and requested Toby come join him off Togoria,  hunting on new worlds.  Maligaant's letter had sparked something in him he hadn't felt in many years ... a desire for adventure!  He still experienced a thrill from his hunts but he had to admit it wasn't what it once was.  Apparently others had accepted this invitation from his old student as well.  He knew them all, some as students others, like Jerex Dane by reputation. In all his many years of teaching Mal was the one he thought of the most.  

Having hauled everything of value from the dead Liphon home, Toby stood next to Kraken, 

his faithful Mosgoth mount. Slowly he ran his paws over the neck of the beast as he stood looking out over jutting rocks down into the deep valley below.  "Good boy." he spoke softly to his faithful companion as placed a foot into the stirrup and climbed onto it's back. "What's say you and I see if we can find ourselves one more trophy, eh Kraken."  The beast turned it's head and looked at him, it's eyes wide as it let out a loud guttural screeching noise.

Kraken's wings beat with powerfully, creating a quiet whooshing sound, lifting them into the air. It's screeching reverberated off the rocks.  Toby opened his mouth wide joining his faithful mount with a great roar, their cries filling the mountainside with echoes, announcing  their approach!