Wander

[Fuzzy]

Some say the gods visit this place, others say it is only a fairytale. In a place like this it seems anything can happen. With the soil littered with thousands of stories all covered by the brilliant reds and oranges from the trees' branches. Occasionally you'll see these tell tale marks uncovered, just by chance. There may not be gods wandering around in the mortal realm but there certainly are those who seem to be neither mortal nor god, beings at the edge of existance, secret to most around them. You may just see her, perhaps drinking from calm waters, enjoying mother natures gift of life, savouring those peaceful seconds until she hears a rustle and disappears into the cover of the trees-they keep her secret safe.

Through the blanket of reds and oranges she strides, careful not to disturb the sleeping leaves. The strong warm soil underneath her paws holding her up, urging her on to catch up with the scent that caught her nose. Gently and attentivley reeling her into a beautiful sight. An unsuspecting hare, sipping at the water's calm edge. A slight twinge slithering down his back but only to be batted away again by the flick of his ear. Slowly she sunk behind the cover of a tree, eyes fixated on her new favourite object. Her heart racing, the pounding in her head booming at her to grab him, grab him, grab him. A tightening in her chest before that moment, the moment where time and space seem to fizzle out, that moment where she'd listen to the instinct. Like a ghost she had suddenly appeared into his view, but at too late a moment for him, this ghost would be the last he'd ever see. Returning from her instinct she stood with the hare in her mouth, taking in what she had done and the euphoric feeling she felt coursing through her veins, not for too long though since hunger would always grab her attention soon enough.

[Kai]

Another creature was close by, walking with the same quiet steps. But this one was much different, in both intent and physical form. Her pelt was of a golden hue, with sharp black spots that broke up her sleek form. Easily she drifted from one spot to another, hiding in the background. But this was no beguine ghost; no this was a spiteful phantom! A demon that would not hesitate to cause you trouble and perhaps drag you into the shadows, never to be seen again. Thick, red blood was on here paws and face still fresh. But this was no wolf; in fact this creature was native to this area. She was exotic, a foreigner. Yoki was a Eurasian Lynx and proud of it. Her home was farther away from another forest in fact. There the trees competed for light and the ground was covered in bushes and grass and anything else that could survive. There too she would lurk, a thing of legend. But today she had grown tired of her own territory, and wished to see something new.

Traveling to the East, Yoki crossed her own border without much of a care. Last time she had check, no other lynxes lived near by. In fact, not many predators seemed to around as of late. And it had made life rather boring. Until that is, she saw the ghost. A smile twisted itself onto her face and she changed directions rather quickly. Now as stated before, Yoki was a creature that was found of revenge. But it was for ghosts such as the one she looked for now. No, her fury was reserved for wolves. She herself stood as tall as the average one and felt that she was more than a match for a lone wolf. In fact Yoki rarely would shy away from even a full pack. What she killed was hers, and if a wolf couldn’t defend its prey it would be hers too. The ghost was her smaller cousin, one that because of its size had to fear the wolf. Yoki found that besides from ravens, lynxes were one of the few animals she liked to talk to.

Her green-gold eyes fell upon the ghost at last. There it stood, a mere jump away, with a freshly killed hare in its mouth. She had to pity her smaller cousin at this point. The blood that soaked her own pelt belonged to deer, her favorite quarry. The little ghost would probably never taste the flesh of a doe unless she was to eat carrion. Yoki was too proud to sink to that; carrion was for sickly wolves, dogs, and flying scavengers not for her. She was the one who killed the animal, ate the best of the meat, and left the rest for others to pick at. She considered herself lucky to find her cousin in the end of the hunt. Such shy creatures they were, always hiding in trees for protection. Even there pale coat showed what they were. Sitting down, Yoki laid her head on her large paws eyes still locked on the smaller lynx.

'What an intresting forest you have here.'

[Fuzzy]

Startled by the silence shattering sound she jumped and span around to be met with an unusual sight. There lay what seemed like a wolf yet not quite. Her scent seemed familiar yet strange all the same. Intrigued by this novelty she wasn't sure whether to run or investigate. All she could do was reply.

"Why thank you, it has been peaceful as of late, i haven't seen nor smelt any wolf. And the hares seem to be in abundance, you're welcome to as many as you choose."

With a slight turn she carefully studied her new aquaintance, carefully watching for any hint of hostilaty and for the nearest tree. She had been fooled by wolves before and this cost her her mother's life, she wasn't about to make the same glaring error again.

[Kai]

OCC: I forgot to say your first post was top notch! It did all lynxes proud.
A laugh rippled out of Yoki’s throat rich and warm with amusement. Carefully, she began to clean her paws licking the blood from her golden fur. She had always been vain, even for a cat. True, after a hunt it was rather nice to let a little blood remain on your coat. The scent was wonderful, and it gave you a great feeling. But when the blood began to dry it would chip of, something that did not look very becoming. Taking her wet paw, she washed her face pink tongue lapping around her mouth. With careless stretch, Yoki rose on her paws flexing each one. The white claws darted outward before being pulled back into their furry sheaths. She could smell the cat’s curiousity and marked how she was watch carefully. The lynxe’s eyes darted to a welcoming tree, that would give her safety from a wolf’s claws. With long graceful steps, Yoki came out of the shadows her gold pelt glistening in the sun.

‘I have already taken my fill of deer. The ones here are nice and plump, and know nothing of how to avoid a predator’s claws. I suspect this land is not large enough to support a wolf pack. Or rather they aren’t smart enough to find prey here.’

The large cat’s eyes still rest on the other feline curious with thought. Walking around her in a semi circle, Yoki sat her haunches down distrubing a few leaves as she did so. The only other predator knew she was here. And she was a lynx, not a wolf. No, Yoki always took care to walk with a silent step while a wolf watched her. Lynxes were known to be graceful, and she refused to let those caress lickers think that she lacked grace like them. Of course there was the occational wolf that seemed to be compent enough to have a decent conversation with. But those were far and few between and it had been months since she had met on such as this. Of course that one wasn’t enough good enough to be given her name. Then smiling, Yoki remember that she had yet to introduce herself to this lynx. A mistake that she would amend in seconds.

‘I am know as Yoki. I am lynx who lives in Emerald Forest, the one that lays to the East of this one.’

[Fuzzy]

Amazed by the magnitude of the creature she stood in awe, paralized by curiousity. How could a Lynx take down healthy deer on their own? Not even the feisty ones could manage even with all their rage. Kae liked to call her smaller cousin the bobcats the feisty ones, why? Due to several times being chased off of her territory by these little annoyances she'd learnt to avoid them with care, although they were small they sure packed a whollap. She began to ease up in the presence of the golden cat. Was this cat a God in disguse? What ever she was she was magnificant. Standing proud she introduced herself.

" Pleased to meet you Yoki, my mother named me Kae."

Her name was a mystery to her, what did it mean? Her mother neglected to tell her the meaning or perhaps it had none. All she can remember from those days in darkness up north was what her mother whispered to her. She told her she'd hear it when the tree came screaming down, when the melt water came rushing to the river and when the wind howled with stinging white.

Recovering from her ambush of thoughts she slowly approached, attempting to catch her scent and analyse it more.

OOC: thank you ^^ i was beginning to wonder if it was bad and put people off ^^;

[Kai]

OCC: No you are doing just fine. New sites are kinda slow RP wise. I’ll ask Blue if he is adversting on Wolf Forums and I will put up a few of my own adds.

As Kae realised that she was not a wolf, the cat seemed to come alive. Every animal that she meet had a different reaction to her. Some tried to make jokes by asking her what she ate to make her that big, some were a little fearful, and others felt at ease around her. The last one was rare. For one of her little cousins, Kae seemed to be a rather good lynx. Shy bescause of her size, smart enough to be caustious when danger was possible, but in the end at cat of pride. She deserved a bit more information.

‘Kae. A native name is it not, probably with some hidden meaning? Mine is native to here as well but was given to me far away from here. Across a great sea I was born. Then caught for my coat. But I suppose luck favors a cat. I managed to escape. You, Kae, are what humans call a Canadain lynx. I am your larger cousin, the Eurasian Lynx.’

Yes, Yoki was sure that Kae had some hidden meaning. Names here were either striaght forward, such as Black Paw, or more complex with meaning hidden. As for her own name Yoki knew its meaning well. ‘Rain’ or ‘Rainmaker’. During her birth, and her mother always said it had been a long one, a short rain had begun. It had also swiftly ended with her birth. Of coures, Sun had liked it for other reasons including the sharp sound the ‘k’ made when it was spoken. And in her pride, Yoki had learned to like it. You could always lie about it, but your birth name would never change. Just like your genetics, love them or hate them they were here to stay. So as the little cat stood up proudly and introduced herself with pride a spot of affection grew for her in Yoki’s heart.

'I won't eat you, you know.'

[Fuzzy]

Kae was caught off guard at that statement. These Eurasian Lynx seemed to be able to read thoughts as well as shine like the sun. They are truly blessed by the gods she thought to herself.

"Canadian, Eurasian? Is that what they call us? Those monsters with their strange flying black fangs that can move faster than a bird? With their small wolf slaves that chase those that get in their way? With their silver jaws of death lying on the ground?"

Kae had seen these silver jaws at work, when she was travelling from the North she saw a fox caught in one. She couldn't help him, no matter how much he screamed for mercy the jaws would not listen or let go. She watched as his spirit slowly escaped the jaws and as his remains was collected by the humans.

"Over great waters there are more like you? Surely the land must be blessed by the gods, no wonder the humans wanted your coat, they must of been jealous to not have been bestowed with such blessings.

This Lynx, this novelty was proving to be quite intruiging.

"Do you fear the wolf big cousin? Those merciless jaws of death? Do you run into the shadows as if a ghost? How have you survived in this land filled with dangers?"

OOC:He is advertising on WM thats how i found this place ^^ also do you know what this Karma thing is and what the 2 options underneath it mean? o.O

[Kai]

OCC: Ya, I do. You want as much Karma as possible by the way. It means people are happy with you. ‘Exhault’ means give the person 1 karma. ‘Smite’ means take away one. You can give or take away one karma per day.

The flood of questions took Yoki by surprise. Kae it seemed was rather bold when she was curious. But smiling, Yoki realized that any good cat was. Yoki’s judgment of her then was accurate. Her right paw went fully out, claws flexing before pulling it back in. Her shoulder blades wiggled as she adjusted her front paws light rippling through her pelt. The news that humans even hunted this far North was rather disturbing. The metal jaws Kae spoke sounded like the metal traps humans used to kill animals for there fur or meat. They baited them with pieces of rabbit when they wished to catch a hungry lynx.

‘So you too have seen the evils of humans. Yes, that is there name for us. Some humans do not hunt us; I have seen ones that are decent. But those are few and hard between. Most would rather sick the dogs, the small wolves as you call them, on anything wild.’

It was a rather grim topic. Humans were everywhere these days. They stripped the lands of trees and killed the animals that once lived in them. But she had asked her other questions, and Yoki decided to pay them mind. There was little reason to worry Kae about humans. She was quick enough to avoid the dogs, and knew of steel traps. With a fresh new smile, Yoki began talking of wolves.

‘Me fear wolves? Never! Wise wolves know that even a pack cannot protect them from me if I wish to haunt them. I am no ghost, I am a phantom! Any wolf ever troubles you, come for me in Emerald Forest. I would be happy to make him disappear for you.’

A call of a bird distracted Yoki, her fur tipped ears turning to find the source of the sound. When it provided to be nothing worth pouncing for, her attention went back to Kae. The lynx was lucky to have a territory that would provide well for her but discourage packs. Of course, if she ever was bothered Yoki would live up to her promise. She could almost see the wolf’s face when it learned that its untimely demise had occurred because it messed with a little cat. What cat did not love irony? Sometimes she had to pity wolves; they missed some of the finer things in life. Actually, they missed many of the best parts of life.

‘Yes, over the waters there are other lynxes like me. And you are blessed in other ways. Our kittens are more likely to be killed for wolves because of this bright coat. My older brother, Ash, has a dark coat similar to yours. Besides, a cat no matter size, age or color will always be better than many creatures. And I think you are a rather fine one.’

[Fuzzy]

A smile sprung to Kae's face, one she could not repress nor one she wished to. It had been a long time in her short life since she had someone she could count on. The world had taught her that she had many enemys that she should fear and watch. Who would of thought that one of these days, she'd be talking with a Lynx? A big lynx at that too, one who need not fear wolves.
Suddenly Kae heard a twig crunch under some great weight. Her senses all alert, claws unsheathed, heart pounding against it's cage she ran for the nearest tree. As she clambered up the safe and sturdy tree she completely forgot about the larger Lynx. She watched from her refuge to see a doe and her calf carefully coming to the water's edge to drink. After seeing that her threat was not what she had first thought she slowly and carefully climbed down. Feeling rather embarressed yet dignified all the same she decided to divert the attention from that incident by asking Kai about her own territory.

"So what brings you to these simple parts? The Emerald forest sounds lushous. Do you have wolves over there?"

A fine creature? She hadn't heard such words being used to describe something so small as herself but regardless it made her hold her head up high all the more, yet at the back of her mind a small voice nagged. Perhaps it's a trick it said perhaps this lynx is lulling you in, what could a lynx so large want to protect something so small? Surely she wants something that may not be willingly given? This voice made her a little uneasy and slowly made her stoop back to a cautious position. Her mother had always told her not to trust so easily, sometimes it was that that got you killed. Plucking up her courage and repressing the fear of potentially offending her new found feline friend she approached with a slight shudder in her pelt.

"I also wanted to ask you one more thing. Why is it you would help a meek creature such as myself when you see no benifiet in it for yourself? Most would take the opportunity to make a kill."

[Kai]

‘Much darker. The trees are back closer together and are larger. I can sit in them without worrying that the branch will break. Also I can climb pretty high. There aren’t many wolves there yet and so far they have stayed out of my way.’

When a smile crept onto Kae’s face Yoki had to hold in a soft purr of approval. It felt nice to make a cat’s life better, and make sure any canine that messed with her would get to meet her. It seemed that Kae was getting a bit bolder now. Of course, that face quickly disappeared with a rustling close by. Yoki watched Kae jump into a tree with an eyebrow raised. Either this cat did not trust her to keep her promise or her instincts overruled her thoughts in a moment of possible crisis. She had to admit that Kae was rather fast for something so small. But her last question burned slightly. A flame of anger kindled inside of Yoki’s chest, and her eyes darted to the doe and fawn.

A furious hiss from Yoki caused the doe stopped drinking, and sent her running back the way she came nudging her calf along frantically. Smirking, Yoki watched the pair run until she could no longer hear them. Her mind chewed thoughtfully at the question trying to figure out an answer that didn’t seem so very sappy. Some part of it probably owed to the fact that it was quite common for lynx cubs to be gobbled up by something before they even turned a year old. The fact that Yoki and all of her siblings had survived into adulthood was probably something of a miracle. At one point she had to be that small too. Add to the idea, that she was able to do it while Kae was not. For heaven’s sakes she ran from a deer! But being shy and suspicious was how she stayed alive. Suppressing a growl Yoki began to explain.

‘Because I can. And beside you are a fluff ball; I’m not quite sure why anything would want to eat you. That and I am a fan of dramatic irony. Luck visits everyone at one time or another. She brushed against me when I escaped from my cage. Consider this my way of repaying it.’

With a wink Yoki began washing her paws once more. Sunshine came through the trees, something that she would have to search for at her own home. Of course, then she would be at the top of an old tree purring as the wind stroked her face. It was an interesting feeling to be sitting on the ground and have all of her body in warm sunshine. Still, it had to get hot living under the sun so much. Alaska had a much warmer spring than her old home. Of course, warmer temperatures ment more grass to feed the herd animals which in turn she feed off of. The flowers that had begun too poke through thin layers of old snow were rather nice. Animals had coupled off and many were tending to their young.

‘So no mate this season? Unless something happened to the kittens and if it’s that I’m very sorry. I have never had any myself, and well now I don’t think I will ever get the chance.’

[Fuzzy]

Ah kittens, the memory of her own came flooding back, the days back up in the cruel dark north, the unforgiving cold. She had once 3 kittens, all of which perished several months ago. It was one of the reasons she left her home and travelled south, to forget and to start a new. She had lost so many she knew and cared for up north, as far as she was concerned Dis was everywhere up there, waiting in every rustling bush and howling wind, waiting to collect her.

"No, no mate. I haven't seen any other lynx other than yourself. Just me and my Solitude"

She sighed after that statement, looking to the glittering canopy. How she loved having kittens, so much she had to give and the cold had claimed them for it's self, how cruel and greedy it was.

"I'm sure you would of loved to of had kittens. They really are a gift"

She said as a smile returned to her face. Slowly she stood up and turned her back to Yoki, she looked over her shoulder with a friendly look on her face.

"Come on, i'll give you a tour of the place

Off she strode with Yoki following close behind. She took her past the rapids, past the fang like rocks to a sirene clearing with sapplings poking their way throigh the leaves.

[Kai]

‘Yes. I would have.’

There was a lot of truth behind that. Stranded in this foreign land, where lynxes were small and she was large Yoki knew that she would die without having cubs. There was much truth in the old saying of it was better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all. Kae might have lost three cubs, something was rather horrid, but she had the chance to have more. What use was a bright coat if it could not attract a mate? Walking through the forest, Yoki thought of this with a heavy heart. But this sight of the rapids cheered her up somewhat, and as they went deeper into Kae’s territory Yoki felt much better. When a set of odd scents entered her nose, Yoki arched an eyebrow. Her tail, although small, flicked back and forth with interest as she came back to the place where she had lunch. Her eyes fell on the half eaten carcass, its side torn open by her claws. Now ravens and crows had gathered around and were feasting on the remains. Bloody paw prints suggested that a small canine, perhaps a coyote or fox, had also visited the site.

‘It looked much better a few hours ago.’

[Fuzzy]

Inhailing the seductive aroma of Yoki's kill, Kae had to conciously control herself, trying as best she could to look as if she wasn't prey to her instincts- not that there was anything wrong with that.

" Really? An opportunity of an easy meal is always a welcome sight in my book"

She could help but grin at her own comment. Behind that smile though she sensed Yoki quietness, naturally a Lynx is silent, this silence however was different. It wasn't the same eagerly stiffling of sound in the anticipation of a hunt, no. It was a deep silence, a solem silence, a sadening silence. A Lynx's life was never easy no matter how large they maybe and Kae could sense this. Although solitude is the path to freedom it can also be like a cage, a cage even lady luck dare not interfere with. With a deep exhaile she looked to Yoki.

"Perhaps a change of scenery then?"

She turned slowly suggesting Yoki follow her. After walking through the ocean of reds and oranges for a half hour she stopped and lay on the ground resting her head on those wide cloud grey paws. She lay at an opening near the rapids, from that point you could see the raging rapids grow into a roaring waterfall. She often liked to visit this place, it reminded her the power of the world she lived in and all it's beauty therein.

Admin Edit: Changed Kai to Yoki.

Bluewolf

[Kai]

OCC: Fuzzy, you keep calling Yoki Kai. I was wondering if you noticed that.

Following her little friend, Yoki found that her body moved along while her mind stayed in the same place. She watched the trickles of water build into a monstrous roar that poured over rocky cliffs with grace. As Kae rested her body, Yoki sat farther back by a meter or so. Legs tucked elgantly under her body, she sat there in a thought of a thought of a thought wondering once again how to avoid her cage. So many times she had rattled against the bars, scraping her claws and fangs against the raw metal yet still Yoki denied she was in a cage. Perhaps she could take a mate of one of the larger cat species here. Of course there was a deep rooted pride that any cat held that would prevent that. To foaster another’s child was out of the question as well. It seemed lady luck had been double sided that day her cage door had creaked open. Of course, how much pride could a coat have? At least she would die by nature’s hand and not by the human’s.

‘Of course it is rather foolish to think a cat is beaten down. Heaven smiles down on this Earth often, all one has to do is be in the right place at the right time.’

Yawning, her white fangs glittered ever so gently in the sun. As Yoki’s mouth closed, a pink tongue darted around her mouth instantly and in a blink of an eye disappeared back into her mouth. As she had learned well, the cat that hesitates is a dead one. Kae lived by this rule, running into the shadows’s safety at the littest sound and for that she still was on this life. Yoki was a bit luckier and could pick battles to win. She took what she could and found enjoyment while others suffered in the same situation as her. Perhaps that was her gift. And although Yoki was not able to produce kittens, she secretly had to admit that she had the better of deals. To walk the Earth in pride, to take in the sun and grow strong and tall was a short term thing here; no children would take her place. Of course if she had been born small and slinked through shadows her company would have been great.

‘So cousin, where are the rest of you? Infact where are all of the animals in this land? Back home humans seemed to know there place better and left us alone. Save for a few hunters of course. But here I can’t tell where the wilds begin and the realm of humans end.’

The human’s dens grew larger and closer while her fellow animals sharnk back into the dark, leaving their homes behind for safety. And when any tried to creep back and reclaim what was rightfully theres, the humans came in larger numbers to destroy the rebellion. But there rage would never be at ease just then, no they had to go farther. Sending there dogs to hunt in packs smaller animals were killed if they did not run and larger animals faced the same fate. For while the dogs could be dealt with and outwitted, nothing could defend against the human’s guns. And now forests like this one were but ghosts of there former selves. Perhaps many years ago, a wolf pack would have claimed this area along with the neighboring territories as there own and roamed in large numbers. The gray ghosts would have walked silently in the shadows, surviving in there own mysterious way. The same for other smaller hunters. But where were all these mysterious animals? Was she and this lynx alone, or just missing something?

[Fuzzy]

OOC:Ah i thought i was but i didn't notice when i skimmed over it ^^; sorry must be getting confused with your wolf in emeald forest ^^;

A saddened expression crawled over Kae's fuzzy grey face. She to wondered where the realm of the humans ended and the wilds began. Most of the larger animals had fled 2 months ago. Deer often came to the forest's edge to give birth or shelter their young from the hungry wolves. No wolf seemed to dare come in these woods anymore, not since the silver jaws lay gaping, or their smaller slave cousins hunted them down as if they were scared little rabbits.

"Not many seem to stay in this forest anymore! she smiled to herself "They say it's haunted, nothing but ghosts here"

Although she couldn't help but chuckle at the memory of passing wolves bolting at a quick glimpse of her grey, she felt somewhat sad. If the wolves no longer caem here soon nothing would, the humans would eventually engulf this colourful place and turn it to ruins.

"I've heard stories, stories of the humans." she blurted with a shudder " They say they chased down the wolves, took the elk for themselves and eradicated any other animals come sniffing around for scraps, the things they did to those animals, the smell.
Again she shuddered making her cloud grey shimmer like sheet lightening.

"So far they seem to not be interested in ghosts, on the contrary, quite spooked infact.Still it isn't wise to go trotting up to a hungry wolf and expect him to keep his jaws shut."
She let of a sly smirk chasing after that comment.

"As for the other ghosts i suspect they have travelled to lands where wolves roam, usually where their are wolves there is typically food. I have enough here to sustain me for now, how long it will last i'm not sure."

Kae had only been a passerby a few months ago, her intention was to keep moving far away from the humans, but after seeing that no wolves could trouble her here and hunters never seemed too interested in her, she felt she could stay although for this long she had never considered. Perhaps it was time she moved on? Perhaps the bones under her flesh were crying out for somewhere safe, rather than dangling on the edge of a very sharp blade.
Interupted by her thoughts an echoing boom thundered from the east. Nothing else made that sound, it could only be humans. Her ear's flattered and hide standing on end she clenched the ground with those gripping claws. Darting, her eyes flickered from the diection of the noise, to Yoki, to upstream across the trickling water.

"This way, Hurray!" The words spewed out from her as if desperate to escape themselves. Off she bolted hoping her new friend would follow her and not become victim to those monsters.