Larkcall Lowlands A Shift in Fortune

Merys was content to see that Jynx did not push him on the matter of his past. He supposed she, too, did not care to learn about stranger's pasts, or she may have picked up on his purposeful omission of the matter. He cocked his head to the side ever so slightly when she admitted that she had been in his situation not so long before. He wanted to laugh, but merely let his smile linger. He doubted she was in his particular situation. Being lone wolves may have been the only thing they had in common, but he doubted the playful girl was the type to abandon those you loved, or even not love the ones you should. He let it slide, more interested in her next statement. What he was looking for? What was he even looking for? Technically, anything and everything he did right now was a fresh start and unlike the entirety of his previous life. He wondered if she was trying to recruit him; a likely move for a new wolf, as she said, to get in good with her alphas. Strangely enough, he was not entirely put off by the idea as he had been with the previous male wolf in the fjord. He started to respond and request her to elaborate when a scent wafted into their noses, seemingly simultaneously. 

Perhaps it was the rain hanging in the air, a shift in wind, or perhaps it was the excitement that had distracted them, but there was no missing it now. There was no mistaking that there was a strong deer meat scent lingering in the air. Unfortunately, it was not the only scent hanging amongst them now. Their body language's mimicked each other as they stiffened, like-minded like any wolf would be about a lynx's presence. They were everywhere in Relic Lore, it seemed, as there had been leftover lynx meal closer to the mountains too when he had met with Lachesis. It would need some getting used to. He shifted his weight underneath and him and considered the emptiness in his stomach. It had not been very long since his last meal, but in this lifestyle he was sure to take every opportunity he could to fill his belly, despite the annoyances of always finishing someone else's prize. His smile was lost to the thought of meeting the lynx, and he eyed Jynx warily, wondering if something were to happen if she were the type to stay and have your back or to self-preserve and make a run for it. Nonetheless, he agreed and moved to follow upon the invite. The days were monotonous, why not spice it up? I guess we are just into sharing all of our meals with strangers now, aren't we, Merys? 

WHITE FIR Notch

TEMPLATE © NDA OF RCR & RPG-D

(This post was last modified: Apr 10, 2016, 01:30 AM by Merys.)

founding member | 2016

Sorry for such a long wait. One more post each and we can wrap this up?

Ears turned back, black tipped hackles raised slightly, Jynx continued to stalk forward cautiously. She swung her head from one side to the other, carefully surveying the empty landscape all around them. Her nose was constantly at work, testing the air for any signs of the Lynxs' return while she pinpointed the location of the carcass. @Merys was not forgotten, despite her more than obvious distracted demeanor. While she was confident that two wolves could give the feline a run for it's money, should it reappear, she wasn't nearly as certain if her companion would back her up. He was still practically a stranger, after all.

Nearly disguised amongst the patches of dead grass and mud, the body of the fallen deer could easily have been overlooked. But not to the well trained eye of a wolf, paired with the pungent scent of decay and cat it gave off. Un-rushed in her approach, she circled the body carefully, taking several sniffs and wary glances around. Her jaw clenched, lips peeling back at the offensive stench of Lynx so heavily laced in the air. The animals stomach was torn open, it's ribcage gaping. All the entrails and other vital organs had mostly been cleared away, but a substantial amount of meat was still left on the rump and shoulders. "...We shouldn't linger too long. If you are hungry, I'd dig in now." She said, while stepping away to mark and scrape at the ground, to let the Lynx and any other animals know, that she had been here. And that as far as she was concerned, that this kill was hers. Unless the original owner showed up of course. Looking over the long dead body, she had decided what to do with the remains. "My pack could certainly benefit from the extra meat. But I can't carry it back alone." Golden eyes flicked up to meet him square in the face,  a suggestive twitch coming to her lips. "If you are looking for a home, you are more than welcome to come back with me." And why not? A new recruit showing up with a mouthful of meat ready for the caches certainly would up the chances of making a good impression.

Deal. :)

Their arrival upon the deer warranted some caution, though Merys found it curious to watch the young wolf. The scent in the air hung larruping obvious with the lynx's scent. She circled the deer as he listened intently for rustling of foliage or any quieting of the forest. Sometimes the best helpers to a hunt were not the creatures doing the hunting, but those who were watching. His stature was more relaxed than the female's, her wariness level high enough for the both of them. If the lynx returned, then it returned. It was their fault for scavenging so soon after its meal. He could not mistake the will for meat in his mouth though, saliva building up slowly. Not to say there was no place for caution, but perhaps the life he had led this far had given him a more aloof outlook to fighting and hunting; or scavenging in this case.

He reflected on the female's near-orders and annoyance rose in him. They had just met, they were on neutral ground, and had agreed to civility; why did he feel like he was being told what to do? He did not need directions on how to conduct himself. Was it the lone wolf feel he gave off? He remained silent, ignoring her dominant actions. She marked the ground as he approached the deer's flank, but remained standing. Staying on all fours would make him more comfortable around her, as well as around anything that may decide to saunter back to its kill. Dig in, he would. He peeled back an untouched portion of the flank, minding to keep away from the edges that had already been claimed from the lynx -- a silly habit. The flesh was cool and slick in his throat, but it made no difference to his stomach, so long as it was filled. Jynx spoke again, and he froze momentarily at her offer. He was mid-chew, and had to consciously begin chewing again as he looked away from her gaze thoughtfully, considering.

Perhaps that's why she had felt like she needed to take a lead in this encounter, because she had planned on turning him into her recruit. His brown eyes rose again, and considered the younger female in front of him. She was no alpha, clearly; perhaps a scout? He wondered, as whatever pack she belonged to's representative, if he would like being part of it. Perhaps he would have enjoyed the last offer he had been made more, back in the Fjord. Part of Merys believed that it was mere coincidence that he had been ready to take a new home, and now here she was, his sign. He had not been ready before when @Lachesis had asked, and his thoughts longed for the male to ask him again now that his mind had changed -- they had got along well. Unfortunately, this was the option he was being given now, and he knew his answer. He looked back down at his meal with a soft smile, speaking quietly, "You know what Jynx, I think I might actually take you up on that offer," he agreed, no matter how much his thoughts were yelling their regret. Now that was what real caution felt like.

WHITE FIR Notch

TEMPLATE © NDA OF RCR & RPG-D

founding member | 2016

 

Reach for the stars

There was no pressure. No expectant waiting for a yes or no answer from Merys. Jynx had simply seen the chance to offer a lone wolf a home, to a pack which was running low on numbers. When she had ventured out here into the tundra, recruiting had not been her plan at all. It was to get away, burn off energy in an open space, where she didn't have to worry about her hormones bothering others. But being as smart as she was, she would never pass up any possible opportunity.

Pleased with the apparent fact that the lynx seemed long gone, she clamped her teeth into the soft flesh at the rump, and began gnawing and tearing away. If she could manage to saw off a large chunk, reasonable enough to carry of course, she would be happy to leave the remains to the scavengers. Slicing through muscles, flesh and tendons, her canines made gradual progress in severing the thick piece of meat away from the thigh which it clung to. Even with her mouth full and busy, when Merys had come to a decision, her ears pitched forward to intercept his answer.

Her invitation had been accepted! With one last final tug on the meat, it came loose. Her jaws free, the white of her muzzle stained a light pink from the blood, she returned his smile. "Wonderful, I am happy you decided to join us. I'm sure my leaders will be glad to have you." With a glance to the sky, she now noticed that the rains had since stopped. But with the dark gray clouds still lingering, she didn't know for how long. "It's not too long of a journey back. We should make it there before dusk." Moving to stand over what she had taken from the carcass, she allowed the agouti male to finish eating, or grab what he may. When he was ready, she fell in step beside him, heading back in the direction of home. 

-Exit-