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Post by nightblood on Aug 1, 2007 11:37:59 GMT -5
The sun broke the darkness, making night retreat into the west. But another night remained beneath the black trees of Arnlan. Shadows ruled under the leaves and branches, hiding the land from above. Life flourished in the darkness, viewable only by those with the right kind of eyes.
A blur wound its way through the forest, dodging trees and jumping over logs and rocks. NightBlood wasn't the fastest in Arnlan, but she was quick on her feet when she wanted to be. Landing after another jump, the black and brown wolf turned on the spot and let out a loud bark.
She was acting like a pup. Near three years old, and Night was acting as if she had only just begun to live. The reason was simple: ShadeBlood had tracked her to Arnlan. Arriving at last, he was accepted by Sofika after a small argument.
It was now NightBlood's job to show her cousin around the territory. 'Job'... right. It had turned into a game. It had been so long since the elder cousin had even used the word. Now she was beginning to lose herself. Oh well, her usuall disposition would more than likely be restored after Shade desided to explore on his own, but for now, the game continued.
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Post by shadeblood on Aug 2, 2007 12:54:05 GMT -5
The eternal-seeming darkness could've chilled anyone's soul. The cold of night reached even into what should've been day. It was eiree here, and was not a place that you would usually see two adult wolves romping about and acting like total cubs.
Shadeblood panted heavily, trying ard to keep up with his speedy cousin. But his exhaustion was far from mind. He was back with Nightblood! What could be better? He followed the sound of his cousin's bark and skidded close to her, trying to scuff one of her ears. It was strange how something that she'd been ordered to do by that black wolf could become as fun as a day in the sun. The memory of the black she-wolf suddenly brought an insistant question to mind.
"Hey, Night, who was that she-wolf anyway?"
(I didn't already ask that...did I???)
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Post by nightblood on Aug 2, 2007 14:28:55 GMT -5
NightBlood shook her head away from Shade's playful attack and took a half-hearted leap to the left. Landing abruptly, she turned toward her cousin. Her expression faltered and returned to its normal, serious frown. Her tail lowered. As she was speaking of the Alphas, she must still show respect even if they weren't around. She kept her ears pressed forward not only to make sure she was listening to him, but also to show that she still held dominance over him while they were in this pack. She had been here, after all, longer than he had and she had just been named Sentry.
"Sofika, Alphess of Arnlan. Her brother, Karolek, is Alpha. Both are wise beyond their years. Sofika was the one to accept me."
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Post by shadeblood on Aug 3, 2007 11:23:40 GMT -5
Shade watched his cousin go from playful to serious seemingly all in one second. It was almost as if she thought there were eyes everywhere, making sure she held her place in the pack. He understood, but that didn't mean he preferred this to her playfulness.
Sofika...Alphess...and her brother Karolek, Alpha....he engraved the message to mind, hoping not to forget anytime soon. If Karolek was her brother, he must look roughly the same...all he had to do was show respect for the black, shadowy wolves...with dots on their muzzles...? Either that or avoid them entirely...yeah, that sounded better.
"Alright, so their in control, I'll keep that in mind and try not to run into them. Who's Beta around here? And where are we going, anyway?"
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Post by nightblood on Aug 3, 2007 12:22:17 GMT -5
Night smiled at her cousin's inquiries. Draviria was still etched into his brain. It was funny... because it was the same with hers. The sence that every pack member would jump out any second and kill you, but to admit your lack of trust for everyone around was like throwing yourself over a cliff. The knowledge that, because you were a high ranking heir, you were marked first on everyone's hit list.
Since her return to Arnlan, NightBlood had, more or less, trusted the living shadows that crept in the darkness around her. Knowing that they were there to help instead of hurt, no matter how menacing they might look in daylight.
"They are not like BrokeBone. They have hearts. Trust me, they're good leaders. Sofika, as you saw, has two blue dots on her muzzle. Karolek has green. Now that you're on such good terms with Sofika, I think it would be best for you to run into Karolek in the future."
Well that was strange. NightBlood? Joking?! Impossible! Still, it was true. Now that Shade had thuroughly annoyed his alphess, it was likely that she might carry a small grudge. Karolek, being the more carefree of the two, would likely get along with Shade's similar personality.
"No beta..."
Night paused, debating with herself wether to tell him or not. They had not kept secrets from eachother when they were pups, why start now? But how to tell him? She blushed and pulled her ears back. It was the first time she had ever been embarrased.
"I'm hoping to get up to that rank..."
She felt as if she had swallowed poison ivy. Her throat was dry and she felt as if it were on fire. 'Embarrased' was now on her list of 'Never Again' Emotions. She flicked an ear, shook her head roughly, and started to walk again.
"Thought I'd take you to the creek," she said, answering his last question very quickly.
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Post by shadeblood on Aug 8, 2007 11:57:02 GMT -5
Shadeblood smiled at her jest. Yeah, he'd have to run into this Karolek...and pray he didn't have an outrage over the way Shade had snapped at his sister. But he wouldn't worry about that for the moment. That was something to think of later.
None? That's odd. No beta meant no successor...he listen carefully to the words his cusin uttered and smiled when Night muttered her wish to have the rank herself. Heh, the feeling of being next in line might still be clinging to her.
He watched her embarresment and narrowed his eyes a little. What was she so flushed over about? He was her cousin; she could tell him what she wanted! Maybe she was too used to being with those that weren't close to her...relative-wise.
"Creek?" Shade repeated, sprinting up to her. The thought of water made him realize just how thirsty he was...How long had it been since he'd had something to eat and drink? Days? Weeks? "Water? Where? Close by?"
(Sorry if it's short...and sorry for the long delay. I've been real busy lately...)
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Post by nightblood on Aug 8, 2007 12:46:24 GMT -5
{{That's okay. And it's a longer post than what I've been seeing from aceptance-seekers. XD }}
Amazing as it may seem, Night smiled again. 'Someone should deffinatly mark this day in history,' she said to herself. It was the most she'd ever smiled in one day since she was a pup. She couldn't help but laugh at Shade's sudden enthusiasm. He hadn't even commented on her goal of being Beta. Surely it had been a long time since he had had anything to drink.
As if on que, the sound of water running over rocks could be heard. The creek wasn't far. Barely a few yards away. Night turned and attempted to land a playful bite somewhere on her cousin's head. Wether the blow found it's mark or not, she bounded ahead at a steady gallop and lead him down the path that would take them to the water's edge.
Once they got there, she lowered her muzzle and took a few gulps from the stream. She lifted her head back up and watched ShadeBlood for a few seconds before letting her eyes wander around the open space. It was rare in Arnlan, to find a place like this A gap in the trees. She blinked in the bright sunlight. It was another cold-ish day in summer. Another thing she liked about the territory: Never too hot. Always cold or cold-ish. She was not heat-compatible... ever...
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Post by shadeblood on Aug 9, 2007 12:35:35 GMT -5
(lol...I know what you mean)
Shadeblood smiled back at his cousin. It felt like ages since he'd ever broke that stern expresion of his. He'd never found any reason to smile on his journey, so it almost felt like his mouth had forgotten how to make such a movement.
He scented the water just before the sound reached his ears. He fixed his gaze on the direction it seemed to be coming from, not really paying attention to Night's attempt at a bite. He yipped slightly when a few hairs off his cheek fur was snipped off by those sharp fangs of hers. He smiled and bounded after his cousin, ignoring the would-be 'close-call'.
Shade crept up to the edge of the creek. Water...so much water...it might have looked like a meager creek to any other wolf, but to Shade, it was a peice of Heaven. Without further thought, he dove in, splashing the water nearly everywhere. It was cold! He shivered and lapped up the water hungrily, his tail wagging frantically.
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Post by nightblood on Aug 9, 2007 13:15:50 GMT -5
Night jumped when the splashes hit her paws and gave a slight bark at the sudden cold. Without much thought, she simply moved into the creek. The water came half way up her legs. To more average-sized wolves, it might have been 3/4. The water's temperature was at least three times lower than that of the air, but it didn't matter to her. It did, however, matter to her limp.
Arthritus flares in winter, the wound on her back leg jolted. It wasn't nessesarily painful, it was just harder to move it. She took a few steps. Her hind leg kept still as she half-jumped, half-dragged it around. She ignored it. There was a pain of hunger in her stomach. The fish swiiming amung her limbs did nothing to quell it until they were in her mouth.
She eyed the water. Watching. Waiting. Not moving an inch. Her target was soon sighted: a fat catfish. It's wiskers waved sluggishly in the water. The fish paused and floated in the still water around the wolf's legs. That was what she was waiting for. Without hesitation, NightBlood dove her head into the water and grasped the fish in her jaws, quickly reserfacing for air.
The fish didn't like that. Too much air for the gills. It flapped around in vain, trying to free itself. NightBlood held firm, though her head trashed around as the strength of the meal countered her own. Soon the fish was dead and hanging limp. With an invisible grin, Night pranced up to the shore and shook off the water, her prize still in her mouth. Only once she was dry did she drop it on the ground, it's blood still dripping from her fur and teeth.
Her fishing skills were improving now that she stopped trying to hunt earth-bound prey. She had a few misses and a rareer few had escaped, but all-in-all, she was turning into a fine fisher-wolf.
The giant lowered her head and began to dine on the meal, watching her cousin with one eye, as always.
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Post by shadeblood on Aug 11, 2007 13:13:24 GMT -5
Shade turned to his cousin, seeing the wound on her leg. More than a little curious, yet noticing how still she was standing, he waited. Was she...fishing? He waited, watching her closely as her gaze found the catfish. Even in the water, the sight of such a prize reminded Shade of his hunger.
Her sudden flashing snatch of the fish impressed him greatly. He'd never seen Night fish before...but then again, she might've learned a lot of other things he'd never seen either. He flicked his ears, carefully watching as she finished off her meal and carried it to shore.
Shade looked down into the water. If Night could do it, maybe he could too. If only he'd thought of such a thing in his long journeys; it would've saved him several days of hunger. He lurched forward, trying to snatch a big salmon, but the thing slipped away, leaving him with a dripping maw and water up his nose.
Frustrated and embarresed already, he walked over to the shore and sat down, eyeing Nightblood's catfish, but not mentioning it. Instead, he asked the question that had been bothering him.
"What happened to your leg, Night?"
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Post by nightblood on Aug 11, 2007 18:15:59 GMT -5
NightBlood stiffled a chuckle when her cousin came up from the water with empty jaws. She had something to be ashamed of, but also something to take pride in. She had lost her ability to hunt large game, but not many wolves could fish well.
The question made her pause for a short moment before answering. Memories flashed in her mind like lighting. The farm, the stray, the stampede, the mustang, ... the fight... The giant blinked slowly once.
"Nicked it..." Night answered, casting her eyes down to her left.
A moment later, she looked up and saw Shade's dripping face. Guessing, she gave yet another wolf grin.
"You can have some."
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Post by shadeblood on Aug 12, 2007 18:01:44 GMT -5
Shadeblood blinked, not announcing the fact he could tell his cousin wasnt telling the truth. At least, not the whole truth. Technically; the truth. Oh, well, if she didn't want to tell him, it was her business.
He smiled and shrugged, laying next to her. The fact she'd offered such a bigprize to him didn't surprise him. He leaned forward and took a bite, trying to make it look like he wasn't hungry, but not succeeding. He didn't want to take her meal from her, but he couldn't help how starving he was. He nodded his thanks to Night, then asked another question, only one of the store of inquiries buzzing in his head.
"Where'd you learn how to fish?"
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Post by nightblood on Aug 12, 2007 21:29:39 GMT -5
"Here," she answered, standing up and heading back toward the creek. The fish was big, but not big enough for both of them... and she couldn't help showing off one more time. After digging a small but deep pit in the sand under the shallowest water, she turned back to her cousin with an arrogant smirk.
"Watch this."
NightBlood waded back into the stream and waited once again. It took a minute, but she finally found a good-sized trout. It was distinguishable from the rest, having a torn-up fin on it's right side and a notch cut into its dorsal. Without taking it out of the water, the wolf slowly lifted her right paw. With practised skill, she swated hard at the fish, launching it out of the water.
The silver trout landed on the rocks on the bank, flopping along relentlessly. Night jumped after it, growling at it for not landing closer to the pit she had dug. The female bit at it and chased it around the shore. With another swing of her paw, the fish landed in the water of the pit, trapped. It was calmer now that it was safly back in water where it could breath, but it wouldn't be breathing for very long.
NightBlood lowered her muzzle into the water and chomped on the back of the trout's neck. Like the catfish, it wiggled and flipped its fins as hard as it could, trying to get free. Instead of lifting it out of the water, Night held it down, bubbles boiling up around her head.
After a few more seconds, she lifted her head up with another prize held firm in her jaws. She brought it over the Shade and sat it down. Glancing at the look on her cousin's face, she layed down in front of him and began to dine on her new meal.
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Post by shadeblood on Aug 14, 2007 11:51:43 GMT -5
Shade watched her carefully, though he flicked his gaze to the catfish. He stood up and got a closer look, trying to see what she was doing. Digging a side pool...it made sense enough. the calmer water would be better than having to work with the tough current. Now if only she'd left a fish in there so he could practice there. He flicked his gaze back to see her watching the silver old fish. Ok, ok...keep your eyes on a big fish that would make a full meal. He flicked an ear at the sight of the trout, curious as of if another wolf of something might've tried to catch it before and mangle it beyond all recognition...it sure looked that way.
The way she expertly flicked the fish out of the water somewhat surprised Shade. She'd been doing this for a while, apparently. He watched the fish flop around, keeping himself from leaping at it and killing it while it was helpless. Once it was back in the water, Shade ran closer, watching every move his cousin made and making sure he understood it. If he was going to get his belly filled, he had to catch something, and the taste of catfish was still fresh in his mouth.
He stepped back as she half-drowned, half-strangled the fish to death. Odd way to kill something, an idea far from the simple killing of a rabbit. As she brought it over and lay right in front of him with that huge prize, he couldn't help but think how cruel it was. Here she was, satisfied with a big trout, while he was still half-starved. Well, at least it got him motivated.
He began to walk over to the river, but paused and looked back at the catfish. If he didn't eat now, it would be hard to concentrate on getting a second helping. He stalked over and finished off what was left of the catfish, even going so far as to lick the grisle from the bones. He wouldn't admit how hungry he was, but the way he was gulping any and every bit of that fish down, it was quite painfully obvious.
Leaving the scattered bones to whatever creature was more interested, he paced back to the stream, stepping carefully into the cold water and standing as still as possible. He watched the fish go by, thinking of how simple it might be to just cush them underwater with one massive paw. But he knew if it were that simple, Night would've done it before this.
He waited, watching the smaller fish wade by, before catching a glimpse of that big salmon he'd seen before. Revenge was at hand. Very carefully, he raised one paw, trying to keep balanced. He licked his chops as his foreleg trapped the fish on one side. Just one good thwack...
With a flash, he splashed the water in the direction of the shore. He saw something fly, and turned to chase it, but saw the big prize he'd been looking at swimming downstream. He scowled. This hadn't worked the way he wanted it to.
He stalked over to the shore, where a medium-sized trout lay, flopping madly. He growled and pushed the writhing vcreature to the little ditch in the water Night had made. Still a little dissapointed, he leaned forward and grasped the fish around the top. The initial thrash of the little thing came as a shock, but Shade still held on. It wasn't to hard to kill, considering how much smaller it was, but at least it was big enough to sustain his appitite for now. He stood up, growling slightly at the water up his nose, and dropped his first fish at Night's paws, smiling weakly. At least it was something
(WHOOO!! A long post from me for once! I ish proud...*grins broadly*)
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Post by nightblood on Aug 14, 2007 12:13:16 GMT -5
{{HAHA! Good job! ^^ }}
As Shade ate the meat of the fish right down to the bone, she realized how hungry he really was. There must not have been much game on his treck to find her. Although he tried to hide his hunger, it was too obvious to ignore. But he would have to learn to fish on his own. Hunger was a good way to get pups to hunt on their own. Adults were no different. Besides, an extra set of paws in the water would just scare off all the fish.
NightBlood gave a kind smile when her cousin managed to get his first fish and dropped it at her feet. "Well done," she said, congradulating him. Her own stomach full, she stood up and lightly kicked the rest of her meal next to the newly caught trout. She didn't know how hungry he really was, so she would only hunt once more if he asked her to. If not, they would continue their hike around the territory after he finished.
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