Fool's Gold Chasm there's something there

Enera was mostly oblivious to Marrah's discomfort, at least until Woya addressed her directly with her hard tone. Enera's ears flattened at the harsh declination of her request, and the follow-up comment. She didn't know what a bobcat was, but it must be bad if the adults were worried and Woya was being mean again. Even Adelard didn't say anything.

She knew better than to ask right now, though. Let it not be said that the young Rayvne girl wasn't learning. She shrank back and nodded. "O-okay," she said, voice smaller now. With one last dejected glance at the adults, Enera slunk after her sister to go find @Rhaegara and @Saga and then track down the boys.

Exit

(This post was last modified: Jan 06, 2022, 03:45 AM by Enera.)

Adelard's eyes flit from face to face, adult to cub and back. He watched as Woya's resounding "No" washed over the girls. Marrah, such a soft little soul, teared up. Enera shrank. He could feel his lip starting to twitch again, but he watched with utter relief as both cubs took their leave.

Good. Stay out of the way.

His nostrils were beginning to flare as he thought of what the rival predator was capable of. Emptying caches, annihilating the nearby rabbit warrens, disturbing prime fishing spots along the northern end of Cold Water Creek, claiming the pack den, and potentially endangering the cubs...

Another show of his teeth as he met Woya's gaze. Their little romp with a raccoon a few months ago had been all fun and games. A bobcat hunt was just an act of "upping the ante" between the two of them.

Ready when you are...

         

ADELARD

heat stroke, bring the fire black smoke, I take it higher

Woya did not miss the tears budding within her niece's eyes. Along with the upset in her voice and the way she ran from them, the older Macieo really did feel badly. Enera was equally cowed, disappearing after her friend in short order. Swinging her head back toward Adelard, Woya looked at him with knitted brows and a shrug of her shoulders.

Did I sound shitty or something? would've been asked, but her leader's bared fangs reminded her of what was most pressing at the moment. She nodded once, briskly before taking off at a run - this cat was going down.

A question hung in the air but Woya did not ask. Upsetting both the girls didn't faze him; their safety came first. He had already figured he would make it up to them later when he checked in on the cubs before bed. In the moment, he only had eyes for the ghost-white guard.

He rolled his shoulders in a shrug back at her. A subtle shake of his head told her it was fine to just go. A nod from her and she was off. The Leader hurtled after her, head low and tail high. Between the two of them, they were going to make the lesser predator pay.

{Fade.}

         

ADELARD

heat stroke, bring the fire black smoke, I take it higher