|
|
Post by Squeeji on Jul 9, 2007 11:58:24 GMT -5
The trek back had been less than what Pollux would call pleasant, the dead Buck was large, she had been injured and it was hard to move, but with Orion's help it was much more manageable than if she had tried to pull the thing itself.
The older wolf had removed some of the less manageable and inedible parts for the sake of easier movement- some of the organs, the head, etc...but it was still damn heavy. She strained, her leg protesting and giving out on her with every push, it wasn't looking good, the thing went from her upper thigh down to nearly her paw. Deep, and she couldn't tell if the smell was the deer or the wound but something seemed to get rather...ripe.
Draggin the buck to the border Pollux smiled in relief, looking to Orion with a smile, offering a tired croaking voice: "We're here. Call for someone to help haul this thing in" The scout couldn't muster up a howl herself.
|
|
|
|
Post by sarhea on Jul 9, 2007 14:58:02 GMT -5
It had been a long journey, much longer than Orion had ever imagined. For him, the length was not caused by the actual distance, but his worry for his injured sister. The dead weight of the deer had been more than he bargined for, even with the lightening of the load. Orion greatly admired Pollux's determination and persistance to get the task done despite her injury, but the wound was beginning to look terrible. He couldn't help but think that it was partially his fault; his inexperience at hunting that had gotten her injured, but he kept the thoughts to himself.
At times along the way, when Pollux's strength seemed to fade on her and her leg gave out, he had to fight to keep from dropping the deer and just getting her home. But he'd been raised better than that. Arnlan wolves never wasted anything, and Sofika had sent them on this mission because Arnlan's food storage was critically low. There was more at stake here than the two of them. And then he understood a little of what kept Pollux going...
The territory began to grow a little more familiar, familiar scents drifted on the breeze as they drug the heavy beast along, until Pollux finally stopped and looked at him with a smile.
"We're here. Call for someone to help haul this thing in"
Her voice was tired, but relieved as she spoke. Orion dropped his hold on the deer and threw an excited glance into the dark trees of Arnlan. The smell of the border was heavy in the air as his tail began to sway happily behind him. He trotted over and nudged the side of her face happily before crossing into Arnlan lands, throwing his head up and letting loose a deep howl, calling to anyone within their range. There was such pride for him to make the call, but he couldn't surpress a subtle tone of urgency.
As his call arose and faded into the trees, he returned to his sister. They were both exhausted, and it felt nice to sit a moment, and only then did he realize how fatigued he was. His muscles trembled as the surge of adrinaline began to wear off. He came to rest, sitting next to Pollux, ready to be of any support to her that she may need.
"I'm so glad to be home," he stated simply, smiling back at her. "Surley someone be along soon to help us with our prize"
|
|
|
|
Post by Squeeji on Jul 10, 2007 18:06:34 GMT -5
Pollux just smiled weakly at her brother, his enthusiasm was sweet, she licked him before he ran off deeper into the border, he'd probably make a pretty good scout. She though she'd best tell Sofika or Karolek when she saw them next. With a sigh she flopped down on her side just relaxing, unwinding...her tail wagging slightly.
She fell to day dreaming as Orion started to howl, a slight smirk on her face, this hadn't been the first time she had gotten herself in trouble, the snare on her front paw was testament to that. But the old scout didn't see the urgency that her brother felt. It would either get better...or it wouldn't.
Pollux looked up at Orion sitting up some. "It is good to be home, no matter how long I'm gone...be it a year or an hour...I always find myself missing this place." She licked her chops and perked her ears hoping to hear a responding call. "I'm sure someone will come soon..." Though there was a bit of doubt in her voice.
|
|
|
|
Post by nightblood on Jul 11, 2007 1:00:52 GMT -5
A cold wind blew through the blackened trees. As it ruffled her fur, NightBlood glanced around, her eye following an earie call. The giant female could feel the pride and happiness in the voice, but it was also filled with the need to be answered. Not thinking twice, Night lifted her own muzzle toward the sky and sang her deep song. The scents from the wind told her of two wolves, male and female, siblings, pack members, near the boarder. They had meat, a heavy load. That fact alone was enough to send her running in their direction.
Night had been hunting... ineffectively. Mainly mice and rabits, but having no luck whatsoever. Slowly, she was comming to terms with the fact that she would remain a simple fish-hunter. With her bad leg and one blind eye, it was all she would ever be able to do to feed herself. Her limp was subsiding slowly, but it would never be completly gone. She would be useless when hunting big game.
The black and redbrown wolf reached the end of the trees. The sunlight bounced off the fang on her necklace and made it shimmer. The tattoo on her right shoulder grew more visible, along with the scars on her face and left back leg.
Like a hawk, NightBlood focussed her right eye on the two wolves. A multi-collored female and a simple black-and-gray male. A mangled buck lay near them. Without thinking, Blood licked the side of her own muzzle. It was a great sight to see, but she turned her attention back to the two wolves. The female was injured. Both were tired and, more or less, on the verge of collapsing soon.
"NightBlood," she said in short introduction, "How can I help?"
|
|
|
|
Post by sarhea on Jul 11, 2007 12:16:47 GMT -5
Orion listened to Pollux speak, and he detected the hint of doubt in her voice. His ears swiveled to the side in thought as he sat panting, resting. It was true that Arnlan wolves seemed to be very distant from each other, secluded, secretive. His own parents had been that way, keeping their tiny family seperated from the rest of the pack. He did not understand this one bit. It seemed to him that the pack would be stronger if this was different, and as much as he wanted to see the world outside of Arnlan, they should not have to hunt beyond it's borders because the hunters had dissappeared.
No sooner than Pollux had spoken did his ears detect an answering howl. His ears perked. He did not recognize the caller, but someone answered none the less. His ears perked forward in excitment as he once again stood, anticipating the arrival of help.
"Don't sound so doubtful; someone comes now!" he replied to Pollux in a playful tone.
Soon, he spotted a large, dark form appear from the cover of trees and head their way. He eyed her inquisitivly as she approached. He'd never seen this wolf, but she smelled of Arnaln; but he'd not met many of the wolves here, and infact, in the brief time he'd been back to the borders, he'd caught several new scents. This female was no petite thing. She was slightly taller than him, with more bulk also. She was riddled with scars and walked with a slight limp, which told him that she must be a battle knowleged individual. He was curious as to what her story was, what she'd seen of the outside world...but there would be time for his curiosity later-there were more important things at hand.
"NightBlood," she said in short introduction, "How can I help?"
Orion dipped his head in greeting as she came before them and stopped.
"I am Orion. Pollux and I have returned from our mission and would greatly appreciate a little help in getting this food back to the stores," he replied, looking back to Pollux in relief before looking back to Nightblood.
|
|
|
|
Post by Squeeji on Jul 12, 2007 17:01:42 GMT -5
The sound of the return howl got Pollux clambering back up on her paws, she didn't want to look weak, or look as though she was going to die...the scout didn't want to loose her rank or exiled. The old female's teeth ground as she stood stoic against the pain. Her mismatched gray eyes looking much fiercer than she would ever intend to look at Nightblood.
"I am Orion. Pollux and I have returned from our mission and would greatly appreciate a little help in getting this food back to the stores,"
She nodded at her brothers words "Thank you for hearing our call Nightblood." Though that did not mean that the big female would help, but the scout solely hoped that she would.
|
|
|
|
Post by nightblood on Jul 15, 2007 15:46:10 GMT -5
NightBlood looked down at the meat as Orion spoke. They would sertainly need help with a prize of this magnitude. She knew she wouldn't be able to carry all of it, but if they cut it in half it would be more managable. As she was contemplating this, the female's voice rang out in her ears.
"Not at all, Pullux."
The scentance was short and probably sounded slightly dismissive. NightBlood was not one to envoke much conversation. Instead, she lowered her head and moved toward the dead deer, looking a bit eager. She stopped and lifted her head to inspect it. Standing over it, she looked back at Pollux and Orion, shifting her eyes from one to the other.
"It's a good distance to the food storage. If we can rip this thing in half, I could carry one half and you two can help eachother with the other."
She looked back at the buck, but did not dare make a move to touch it. It was their kill. They had rule over it. NightBlood rotated and ear toward the two wolves and waited for an answer or a movement.
|
|
|
|
Post by sarhea on Jul 23, 2007 21:02:50 GMT -5
{sorry for the disappearance}
Orion could see the look that he deciphered as hungar in the eyes of Nightblood. It struck him a bit odd. Surley a wolf her size was a skilled hunter, and by her scars, she appeared to be a skilled fighter. But then he remembered the limp he noticed as she made her way to them earlier.
It would be quite akward for them to all try to carry the deer at once, with two injured wolves and two of them exhaused, he began to think that the only way to go about getting it to the stores was to dismember it further...that's when Nightblood spoke out. She seemed to be a wolf of few words, but wise words.
"It's a good distance to the food storage. If we can rip this thing in half, I could carry one half and you two can help eachother with the other."
He looked at her then at Pollux, nodding.
"That is probably a very good idea, Nightblood," he said with a satisfied look, glancing back down to the deer. He took hold of one hind leg in his teeth, glancing back up at the others, waiting for their moves.
[gawd...this was such a lame post...sorry....]
|
|
|
|
Post by Squeeji on Jul 24, 2007 16:10:03 GMT -5
Pollux watched Nightblood carefully, "Yes, dividing the kill would make it easier, so long as no one is greedy." Her words were simple, not placing some threat or blame, it was just a matter of fact, a hungry wolf was often a gluttonous one.
She put a bronze colored paw on the buck, and gave the larger bitch a very stern look. "Say that I can trust you, and we shall do it. Though if you take off with your half, I shall tell the Alphas of your trick, this is food for those who cannot hunt as well as us." She was all business, and she had almost died to bring this food to Arnlan, anyone who tried to take this from her pack would fall by her teeth, it would make it to storage.
With that she started tearing into the buck, ripping it apart for easier carrying, for at least she and Orion, and Nightblood, if she proved herself honorable.
|
|
|
|
Post by nightblood on Jul 25, 2007 21:25:18 GMT -5
Night lifted her head and stared at the multi-colored female while she spoke. Folding her ears back at the conclusion of her speach, she reflected on her behavior. Perhaps she did come on as a bit... enthusiastic. She reconsidered her actions and nodded.
"Though I myself am one who cannot hunt well, I must say I much prefer fish nowadays. Easier to catch."
She paused, letting Pollux dig in first.
"On your order, Pollux. This prize belongs to you and your brother. I do not betray my pack mates. That is for spies and the like."
With that, she began at the back of the animal, ripping and tearing skin away from the spine. Once exposed, Night when for a crushing bite at the cullumn of bones. It severed almost immediatly, giving way to her powerful jaws. With that done, she and the other two would make simple work of the muscles and organs, ripping away at them as if they were made of leaves.
|
|
|
|
Post by sarhea on Jul 28, 2007 21:30:08 GMT -5
Orion hesitated as Pollux spoke. How stupid of him to not question the almost over eager, hungry look of the large female. It caused him to ponder briefly on his inexperience, making him cringe inside. Nightblood smelled of Arnlan, but she could have been a spy, and he could've almost just gave away their hard earned prize.
"Though I myself am one who cannot hunt well, I must say I much prefer fish nowadays. Easier to catch.""On your order, Pollux. This prize belongs to you and your brother. I do not betray my pack mates. That is for spies and the like."
She sounded sincere enough, and he pushed his thoughts aside as Pollux and Nightblood moved in once again to tear the buck into more managable pieces. He stayed silent for now, focusing on the job at hand and getting the deer back to the stores.
|
|
|
|
Post by Squeeji on Jul 31, 2007 17:46:10 GMT -5
Pollux nodded, pleased at Nightblood's response, she didn't mean to sound so harsh, but the Scout had her reasons, she never thought the bigger bitch was a traitor or a spy, but still hungry wolves sometimes forgot about the needs of the many, when it came to their own needs.
"Good, then lets get this back to the storage." She grabbed her half and started dragging it, ignoring the wound on leg. The scout would deliver this, and then find Sofika to see if they needed more.
The only thing she regretted was not being able to lead the herds here, but thus was the issue when trying to best time, it would have been a waste if the Buck had rotted.
|
|
|
|
Post by nightblood on Aug 1, 2007 10:31:43 GMT -5
Once the meat was cut in half, NightBlood took her half in her jaws. Off-white teeth redily pierced the skin once more. Crimson blood oozed up through the holes, adding to the amount that had already set around her muzzle. Although the deer had been dead for quite a while, it's lifeblood was still a bit warm.
Only when Pollux began to drag her half away did NightBlood bring her share up off the ground. She brought her head up high, making sure none of the meat would drag to the ground. It would only slow her down. With blood dripping from the dead animal, she was an ominous sight to any who were not her kind. True, she was strong, but if her back leg gave out now, she would be reduced to dragging the load. Even then, it was likely that she'd half to stop and rest every few minutes for the pain.
For now, the leg seemed to be cooperating. NightBlood nimbly lept ahead of the other two and headed toward the stores. She deliberatly kept herself in Pollux's sights, letting her see that she would not make off with the meal. There was no need to continue any suspisions about anyone.
|
|
|
|
Post by sarhea on Aug 15, 2007 14:03:18 GMT -5
"Good, then lets get this back to the storage."
Orion was glad to hear his sister's approving remark as she took up their half of the dead deer and began to drag it. He turned from Nightblood and took up the dragging side, lifting it from the dirt, hoping that he was easing the load from his sister as she limped along in the direction of the stores. He was glad this mission was almost over, and terribly glad to be back in Arnlan. The world outside the territory's borders still held his interest, but for now, worry for his sister and the accomplishment of their goal was more on his mind. He heard Nightblood take up her portion of the kill and fall in behind them. Soon, they would be able to present their prize to Sofika....
|
|
|
|
Post by Squeeji on Aug 24, 2007 9:50:29 GMT -5
The old female drug her half quietly, and without complaint, sure her leg hurt, and she was tired, but the hunt had been successful, and her brother had proven himself to at least have the gall to grow up and be a decent Scout in due time.
It was obvious that Pollux's mind was wandering, her mismatched gray eyes having an almost dreamy quality to them, she did not even keep a guarded eye on Nightblood and her half of the prey, after all, if the big bitch wanted to run off with it there wasn't much she could do in her present state.
She sighed, and lifted the corpse up, off the ground, there was no need to spoil it after getting it so far. She nodded at Orion and moved on. all in all, the usually talkative scout was strangely quiet.
|
|
