A rude arousement

[Snowmuzzle]

Mile upon mile of shifting bodies; muscle and sinew, with rolling jaws grinding the cud, piles of steaming dung dotting the ground. Ears flicked in annoyance at the swarming flies swirling in bloodthirsty hordes above sweltering, tempting flesh, while hooves stamped at the earth and shoulder blades trembled when the insect's bites pierced their skin. Noise; bleats of tiny fawns and the sighs and groans of the mothers giving birth to them, the anxious rumble of a cow caribou separated from her baby in the busy herd; filled the spring air. Their hot, rich scent, so tempting and delicious, tonnes of meat waiting to be eaten, tickled the noses of hungry predators. Ravens circled, looking for the afterbirth to feast on, and a few foxes and coyotes skulked, hoping to find an unguarded meal in the grass. And right in the centre sat... a wolf.

You'd think the whole herd would scatter at a single whiff of a wolf, and you'd be forgiven. But the caribou knew that she was no threat-- such an old creature on its own was of little concern. Some of her teeth were a little blunted, and her limbs hurt when she ran too fast. She lay on a rock, in the shade of a tree, head on paws, watching the herd move across her vision. The scent of newborn calves was tempting-- helpless, vulnerable, hot flesh and blood, but Blackthorn was a wise creature. It was a choice between being crushed by the stampeding hooves of the caribou, or staying here, looking out across her vast territory, surveying the land with her good eye. This was her favourite activity; sitting in solitude, thinking and wondering at the world, dreaming to herself. Winter was behind her, the plenty of spring all around her. Fat rabbits grazed in a pasture, a nestful of pearly eggs hid in the trees, a hare leveret bounded carelessly from cover. But there was change in the air; Blackthorn sensed it. What it was exactly she could not tell, but she felt uneasy. She'd come here to rest in what would probably be the final stage of her life- the last thing she needed was disturbance.

All of a sudden, a nervous murmur rippled through the caribou herd. Even the flies seemed to stop buzzing as every head went up, every nose sniffed the air. Then one caribou stamped the earth with her forehoof, and frightened snorts erupted from the animals near a line of trees. They began to run, and soon the whole herd was on the move, churning the earth with drumming hooves, trampling and slipping on one another in their haste. Blackthorn got to her feet and tried to see what had caused the disturbance...

[Fuzzy]

In among the chaos, Toby saw his opportunity. A young calf, dazed and confused, totally helpless. It had been a while since he had last eaten. Those hazel eyes hungryly watching the lost calf. Soon he found his paws taring after the poor thing, hunger taking over. Finally, he got it, well it's leg anyway. Violently they fought as if performing an ancient dance. Predator versus prey, the old dance that everyone knew. His claws gripping into the screaming victim he drew it's waving neck closer, close enough to bite. He may have been considered a dog but deep down he had the knowledge of a wolf, perhaps not of a wise old wolf, but more of an adolesant wolf, still learning things yet not completely young and helpless.
Ripping open the tender torso, the fragrence of food lingered, attracting a few daring ravens, just as eager as Toby. With a snarl up at the sky they soon learnt who was top of the food chain again. Like a rabid dog he savaged the meat, eager to get it down his throat and quell that beast in his belly, the same beast that had bothered him since he ran away. His crazed state eased it's grip from his mind enough to notice another creature, larger and most likely more powerful than himself. His hackles raised, he let her know that he wasn't going to be beaten, not even by an old wolf. Underneath the skin tingled fear and the secret hope that she wouldn't dare come near, he didn't need a challenge right now, not while his strength was so low. So many of those days had been spent running from the humans and their vengeval ways. Here he hoped he'd have a safe and quiet meal.

[Marji4x]

Shesh stepped lightly over the grassy turf, trotting along wolf-fashion, eating up the miles easily. She'd been traveling for a week now and was beginning to worry.

The lands she was from had been lush and hospitable. Her pack had thrived there. She was not used to worrying about finding food too much. But she sensed that this was different. Having no other experience, she worried about turning back. Did this land go on forever?

And there was a very faint smell of man about the place. An altogether uncomfortable place, this.

A day back she'd managed to track down a rabbit and by sheer luck she'd even been able to dig up its burrow and find a whole nest of plump bunnies. She licked her lips at the memory and continued to follow the trail.

She'd picked it up two days ago, the smell of caribou. Though she knew she could not bring one down alone, and doubted being able to separate a calf from its mother, she followed at a distance, hoping for some turn of events. She was never above scavenging and perhaps there would be other wolves on the hunt. Perhaps even a small, lonely pack, looking for a young female to join.

Shesh huffed throatily to herself. She missed the companionship of the pack. She hoped she wouldn't have to travel too much farther.

She cleared a small rise and was almost sent reeling with an overwhelming sense of prey-panic. There below her was the largest herd of...of anything Shesh had ever seen! The towers of horn and hide streamed hurly-burly across the plain in a storm of mass hysteria. Her senses ignited with excitement. She was not going down there to hunt on her own but still she quivered and whimpered with the sheer thrill of it.


And then she saw the flash of cream among the caribou and knew that it bore the form of a wolf. She tensed for a moment then carefully made her way onto the plains, slowly but surely tracking the wolf-dog.

~marji

[Kai]

OCC: Another post done by both Kai and Iris. Enjoy it folks!

Iris: From the grass, Moosch saw a large grey and cream animal. He had been traveling for a little while and was desperate to meet someone. He was just about to say hi, when he spotted another creature out of the corner of his eye. It was another calf about his size. He advanced out of the grass a bit and a blur passed in front of him. He shrank back into the cover and watched as the grey animal grabbed the hind leg of his "new friend". He watched, mouth gaping as he saw the caribou struggle for his life. The grey animal slashed it open and began feasting. Moosch quivered and whimpered. The predator turned his blood-soaked head away from its kill, giving Moosch a chance to run. He scrambled to his hooves and darted away from the site of the kill, looking behind him every few seconds. He was positive that, any minute, the terrible monster would give chase. He glanced over his shoulder and ran headlong into something fuzzy.

Kai: And while all of this was happening, a rather small elk was just grazing. Miscae had little reason to worry about either of the two wolves. The first was too old; one good kick from any of the others would probably discourage it from trying again. And the other was on the other side of the herd contenting itself with something else. Her ears ignored the cries of dying calf, because her own young one had died long before this day. Her tail flicked at the flies as she took another mouthful of grass stepping forward slightly to reach it. This was when something rather small decided to run straight into her chest. Annoyed, Miscae lifted her head determined to get a good kick at whatever had just interrupted her meal. But when she saw the little calf, bleating miserably, she simply sighed. 'So little one, where is your mother?'

Iris: "Ah.. I...." He took a deep breath and tried to stop shivering. Moosch shook his head, his oversized ears flapping wildly. "S..s..she died." He muttered, looking at the ground, a tear sliding down his muzzle. His head jerked back up as he remembered the furry predator. "Back there.. there was a monster! It killed a little calf!" He quivered glanced over his shoulder again.

Kai: Listening to Moosch's story, Miscae realized that the whole event would not end quickly. Her ears dropped slightly, and she nuzzled him a bit closer hoping that he would stop screaming. 'It's okay. That was a wolf. They won't bother you with the rest of the herd here.' Glancing around, the others seemed to be ignoring the little calf. So he was all alone. Of course, they had their own calves to protect. Mish would be about the same size as him Moosch if he hadn't wandered off months ago. 'Look, you can stay with me until it goes away. It won't follow you back here, I swear.'

Iris: Moosch stared up at her with adoring eyes, a half-smile on his muzzle. "Thank you." He suddenly realized that he didn't know the name of this new creature. "I'm Moosch. He said, "I'm a moose calf" He had stopped shaking again, but he was still nervous. "How long do you think he'll be around?"

Kai: Watching Moosch, Miscae had to admit that he was rather cute. He was calming down, but he still seemed shaken about something. 'Well I really don't know. Wolves are usually lurking around our herd.' Moosch then decided that he wanted to introduce himself. Smiling back, Miscae responded happily. 'I'm Miscae, and I am an Elk.' She realized that as she was talking to Moosch, her head was bent slightly so she wouldn't look over him. Miscae didn't have the best experiences with her own children. Most of them died before reaching a month old. She had to admit that having Moosch around was a nice change of pace.

Iris: Moosch smiled again. He sat down and began to nibble at the grass, the trauma forgotten for the moment. He sighed. "It sure is nice to have a mommy again."

[Marji4x]

Shesh stopped in her tracks as she spotted the young mooseling. First the bunnies and now this! What luck she was having! She must remember to thank Luna just as soon as she had taken care of this fresh, delicious-looking little...

...drat! DRAT! and DOUBLE DRAT!!! Shesh growled under her breath with frustration....the moose calf had moved over to a rather imposing-looking elk. No WAY was she tackling that monster!

Shesh huffed a few times and paced out of view, as the elk and moose seemed to be acquainted. No chance of him ever leaving his protector now. She lay down and waited a bit longer, just in case. This elk was not the moose calf's mother. Shesh didn't normally pay too much attention to these details but even she couldn't miss the differences. Stupid long-ears and his stupid muscle-y friend...it just wasn't fair. Why should that great hulking elk care about some stranded mooseling?

"Ugh....PREY....", she muttered

Finally she tired of sitting and got up to continue tracking the wolf-dog. But not before she sang out

{Better stick close to the herd you tasty litte morsel!}

Then she trotted off in a great huff!

~marji

[Fuzzy]

After a brief warning display to the older she-wolf he continued with his meal, tucking in to the succulant tender meat. A chilling howl sent shivers down his spine, his ears desperately scanning to pin point the source, not far from here was the result. A rush of panic jolted through him, sounded like a young wolf, perhaps a strong young wolf that could easily steal his hard earned kill. Blinded by his panic he tried dragging his kill, after realising he hadn't the strength to drag it anywhere he decided to wait and see what this wolf was like, who knows perhaps they'd run at the sight of his warning display? If not he could always run, that faithful option. Taking in a few mouthfuls of meat he waited, his muscles tensing underneath that grey and cream cloak of fur.

[Marji4x]

Shesh trotted into view and took in the scene of the kill. Her mouth watered at the sight of it but she also sensed intense hostility from the creature that was feasting on it. There was an odd scent in the air she could not place and something about the other wolf seemed not entirely....wolfish.... (OOC: hope it's all right to ascribe a scent like that, fuzzy?)
Shesh looked levelly before her but not directly at the other wolf. She was trying not to be threatening but it was impossible to mask the food-desire. She was still kind of drooling.
"Hello," she called out,"any chance you'll be able to finish all that? Or will there be leftovers?" she tried to throw in a wolfy grin then thought better of it and just licked her lips.

[Fuzzy]

OOC: yeah it's ok Marji ^^

The she-wolf came into view, although slightly larger than him he could still see she was like himself finding her feet. Reminding him of those days when he had been a whimpering pup he eased, unsure how to combat this non threatening creature. He'd been so prepared to snarl and let the rage inside consume him that he hadn't prepared himself for this.
He looked down at the kill and then at the she-wolf, stepping aside and swinging his muzzle in the air.

"I've had enough, you can have it if you want i don't care whether the ravens or the wolves get it they're all the same."

He slowly trotted off from the scene, hoping that this strangely wrapped act of generousity would distract her from him and allow him to live another day. Although he had lied about taking his fill but he wasn't going to let her know that, after all he was supposed to be a strong young male and he wasn't about to let anyone think otherwise of him.

[Marji4x]

Shesh growled gently "Hey what's that supposed to mean? Wolves are ten times better than ravens....anyway you're a wolf aren't you?"

Nonetheless she began sniffing and worrying the meat....but she looked up between bites as she tucked in. Part of her was hoping the strange wolf would stay but the odds seemed against it. Ah well, there was this meal to eat in the meantime....

~marji

[Fuzzy]

Stopped by the wolf's reply he turned around snorting at her accusation. Him a wolf? He thought the idea idiotic. He had been taught that he was a dog, although he hadn't had a mother to teach him anything of what a dog should do, as for a wolf well, the other dogs would snarl at him for being different, just maybe he thought to himself.

"A wolf? Me? How absurd. Although i don't seem to belong to any specices, all i seem to be is a play thing for humans." as the last words left his mouth a bitter memory left a lingering taste of rage. Those damned humans, who commanded he acknowledged them as 'master' master? Master was supposed to protect and be protected, not beat you senseless and make you run and run and run. Master was a lie. As far as Toby could see he didn't need a master or anyone, all they seemed to do was let him down or hurt him, human or dog, image suffering under the rage of a wolf? Those wolves he'd heard such horrid stories about. Those visious killers that had to be destroyed for the good of everyone. After meeting this wolf he began to start questioning those stories. Chuckling to himself he murmured, "Visious killers indeed". Growing ever confident he slowly reapproached the young wolf.

"What are you running from wolf? What brings you out here?"

Naturally assuming all those that came here had something to run from, in his mind he couldn't imagine any self respecting predator to live out in this vast open space.

[Marji4x]

Shesh swallowed a bite of meat and backed up a couple of steps as the other approached, unsure if he would lay claim to his meat again and just generally shy around a stranger.

"Why (gulp) absurd?" she queried, "You and I are obviously of a kind. But there is something different about you...a lingering odor...I can't quite place..."

At these words Shesh carefully crept closer, her nose wiggling as she began to familiarize herself with Toby's scent. It was fascinating in that she had never in her life experienced it...and there was something cultured and un-animal about it. She found it a bit captivating. Ash she tiptoed around him, taking an occasional sniff here and there, she continued:

"But yes, (snf snf) you're certainly a type of wolf...(snf snf snf)and I am NOT running from anything. I left my pack because our numbers were growing too large. Isn't that why most wolves leave? I have to admit I am new to this strange land so perhaps you have different customs here?"

OOC: shesh has never encountered or even heard of humans...she doesn't recognize the scent.

~marji

[Fuzzy]

OOC: ah ok Toby's never really encountered a wolf face to face but always heard murmurings from other dogs about these savage beasts hehe they make a funny pair not knowing which the other comes from ^^

"Pack? Whats a pack? I always heard wolves were found on their own."

Wolves travelled in packs? This was a new concept for Toby, first wolves aren't savage beasts now they stay in packs? Meeting a new comer himself, he decreased on his defensive and explosive arsinal lying in wait of any hostile change.
Still though he couldn't quite get it around that fuzzy great head of his that this animal had never experienced a human or even knew what a human was. Observing the way she occasionally sniffed him it didn't take Luna to know that.

"I doubt we are of a kind, the things that once cared for me called me 'mutt' and whenever i hear them talk about those living free they call them 'wolf' ."

Shivering as the ripples of his memories grew stronger, he felt somewhat unclean. Mutt, no matter what way you put it still it sounds undesirable. As far as Toby was concerned he was a dog, sure he was slightly larger than the village dogs but still a dog none the less. Why was it so that whenever he would pass them or any other creature there they'd spit and hiss 'Mutt' at him? Was there something he didn't know? Lost in a maze of questions he almost forgot about the she-wolf standing before him looking downwards at him. Shaking off the fog from deep thought he inhailed her scent, that fresh dew-drop scent that you could smell slightly above the human smell, that smell that reminded all those that smelt it that there was another life - freedom.

[Snowmuzzle]

Blackthorn watched as the herd rushed past her, the breeze from their bodies pulling at her ragged fur. The drumbeat of hooves desperate to escape, the choked bleat of a young one being torn down. By what? She hopped up onto a higher rock and looked down to see something... something she hadn't seen for a while now. Its smell was an odd jumble of things, one of which unnnerved her slightly. Even though it looked like a wolf, there was a whiff of dog about it, making Blackthorn's muzzle wrinkle. The last time she'd smelt dog, it had been riddled with disease, and it hadn't been pretty. In her experience, dogs killed, but she was in no position to fight it off.

It hadn't noticed her yet, so engrossed was it in its meal. That was fine with the old wolf-- she liked to go unseen. But what was this? Another dog? The colouring suggested it, but a check with her nose revealed that it was a wolf through and through. Both looked young, from what Blackthorn could tell with her good eye, and they were soon talking. Not that the old wolf could hear a word they were saying. She considered slipping away while they were engrossed-- she'd come to like the solitary side of life as she'd grown older-- but decided to stay a little longer. Perhaps the two youngsters would stay, but she imagined they'd have to move on soon. The glut season would only last for so long. Stretching, she lay down, the only movement the swish of her tail over the dusty rocks.

[Marji4x]

"Oh come now, don't be ridiculous! You hunt for your meals, your ears prick at noise, you have fangs and a body made for running down things....you are a child of Luna, are you not? I mean," Shesh laughed a bit, "you are not a rabbit! No, you're not ground-prey nor do you fly like a hawk....you are certainly a wolf! Anyone could see that. Just...," here she faltered, "..perhaps a different kind of wolf..."

She continued to sniff but she was already growing more comfortable with this strange "wolf". She had decided she was learning something new and he was certainly beginning to calm down. A bright, friendly curiosity took the place of her nervousness. She continued her friendly chatter.

"As to those who raised you...well, obviously that must have been your pack...your pack is your family. Wolves do at times travel alone but not for long...every wolf needs a family to bring down the big game, to tell stories...to stay warm in the winter nights. You must just have a different name for things...like how your word for wolf is ...'mutt' was it?....tell me, what word do you use to describe your family?"

[Fuzzy]

" I didn't always hunt for my meals and as for a family, i've never known one." He bit back a whimper. He had never known his mother or his father, no intimate nuzzling between mother and pup, no lessons on life, no connection of any sort from his past. The only thing he had known was the humans who kept him. They weren't family, they were monsters.
With a deep sigh escaping that great furry chest, staring up at goodness knows what he said dreamily.

"I wish i had a family."

Slowly he glanced back at where the old wolf lay and she was indeed still there, watching like the raven watches carron before the larger predator leaves. Looking back to the other wolf he couldn't help but ask.

"Do you know that wolf?" his muzzle swining over to the she wolf's position. A questioning expression fixated on his face.