Broken Timber Pines until our hearts catch fire

@Iopah - All other BTP wolves welcome! We're gonna be hunting ^^

The young girl was working quickly to settle into her new home. Sure enough she continued after smaller prey most days, catching voles and rabbits bustling about in the summer sun. She had not yet tried to catch fish because she did not really care for the animal, but she supposed it wouldn’t hurt to catch a few soon, just to prove that she could. She had not yet met any of the other wolves of the pack, but that all came with time. She was eager because this pack was a fresh start, and that was something the ivory girl desperately craved.

Today, she would follow scents about. There were rabbit tracks and vole scratching off in the distance. There was the scent of mule deer lurking about, but she would need more bodies in order to take that down, one wolf could not take down a dear by themselves. Some people might reflect on her as a tenderfoot person when it came to hunting larger prey, but she had hunt the big game animals at least four times. In fact, it was exactly four.

There was when Nahilus led the hunt, and then when Salva did. No one could forget when Absyrtus led the hunt and then there was when she herself had led the hunt to victory. She debated calling for members of the pack but all of the other adults, except Silentium, were parents and had their young to care for, especially at such a young age. It was highly like that none of the children were weening yet, therefore mothers had to be close to their young. Fathers were busy as well, since everyone had responsibilities in the pack.

On the off-hand, if she wanted to be a huntress for the pack, she would need to hunt and demonstrate her skills to not only Iopah and Koda, but everyone else. Her name, Valeria, would be remembered.

x

(This post was last modified: Jun 26, 2015, 02:27 PM by Pacem.)

wasn't sure about the time of day, so just went with the time you posted?

There was plenty of evidence that Valeria was already hard at work. Nearly every rabbit Iopah pulled from the cache carried the yearlings scent on it as proof. The mist rose slowly as Iopah slipped under the screen of salmonberry brambles that hide her now-cramped birthing den. Her daughters had already nursed and were sleeping soundly when their mother left for her own breakfast. She was grateful, even more so that she hadn't even had a chance to thank the girl in person, but couldn't help but notice that all her offerings were small. It was a quiet morning. The only thing to move was the thinning drifts of white, a few birds sang out drowsy chords. Casting her gaze over the pile, she had to admit everything it contained was small. Everything was exactly the size that a wolf working alone could catch. Disgruntled, an ear flicked back at the realization. They were not helping each other.

Her muzzle reached out, teeth exposed to grasp a vole, when the fresh scent caught her attention. Valeria had just been here. The teeth closed down rapidly and pulled out a meal that was hastily eaten on-the-go. She licked the blood from her chops and followed after the trail her pack-mate had left. The path was not random, not to a fellow hunter. She stopped at each point where Valeria had, musing over the girl's decision to turn away from each. Finally she caught sight of ivory fur and paws skimmed over mist-dampened ground to catch up. Tail lifted comfortably while her head angled downward as she spoke. "You can ask for help if you need it." Iopah didn't expect her to work alone every day; more to the point, she didn't want Valeria to feel she had to.

So enveloped on her task, Val would not notice the queen approach her from behind until the woman’s voice filtered through the air. Quickly the girl would turn, her tail falling into line as it should in the presence of an alpha as she listened to Iopah’s words. She would gulp, trying to gain a grasp on her words as she faced the queen. “I just thought with everyone taking care of their pups that they didn’t have time to take on bigger prey with me is all.” She said, shuffling her paws as she looked at them, rather than at the queen. Was that a hint of insecurity? The hunter was never unsecure so why had the ivory girl lost her nerves? Emerald eyes would continue to stare at the ground.

Quickly she found the need to defend herself against the words said. “I don’t mind working alone. Sure, I can only bring in small prey, but it’s peaceful and almost… lacking of stress?” She looked for the right words as she rushed what she said. She would bite her lip as she looked anywhere but the soft tawny form of her alphaess. Eventually Valeria would get around to taking down bigger prey like mule deer and eventually Valeria would take the time to meet all of the other wolves in the pack. Eventually Val would even meet the pups, but for right now, she couldn’t do that and focus on her duties. Once she was sure that everyone had food to eat then she could take a rest.

Of course, it would be easier if she did ask for him. But no, the girl was simply too stubborn.

x

Her approach slowed as the younger girl spun, brows rising at the quickness of the reply. So much for the assumption that becoming alpha would mean that she could cleanly articulate her thoughts and intentions. Gold eyes flicked over her subordinate as the girl looked away, disquieted by the conversation despite the girls obvious respect and honest answer. A pale ear angled back delicately and held for a minute before angling back towards Valeria.

She had not meant her statement to come out sounding like that; Valeria was misunderstanding her. The older woman shook her coat out, as if her idiosyncrasies were something that could easily cast off. "I didn't mean it like that... and it shouldn't work like that." She sighed, leaning back to let her gaze idly search the broken cedars. Words were hard, much more difficult and tedious than any prey. "You don't have to work alone," Iopah enunciated gently, "that's not how I want you to feel." A salmon tongue ran the inside of her mouth as Iopah searched for the right words of her own. "Pack mates should help each other." Pack life was not a one-way street with one individual working for all the others, at least, it shouldn't be.

Hunting small prey might be stress-free, however Iopah often found it monotonous. Her eyes slid sideways through the morning mist, waiting for Valeria to catch the impish nature of the gesture before speaking further. "Doesn't it get boring though?" Head tilted inquiringly as a gray-tipped tail swayed behind the cream and gray woman. The forest was silent and still, but her gaze inevitably landed in the direction of the mule deer scent from earlier. "Those deer might be more fun." 'Fun' probably wasn't the right word, but it was the closest she could come up with. Gold eyes searched back for Valeria as the older woman took a decided step in the prey's direction.

The leader whom Valeria had started to respect immensely would speak again, saying that was not what she meant about asking for help. The young Slayer child could not help but frown at that, keeping her eyes steady on the leader. She knew that it hadn’t been what the woman met, but Valeria hadn’t really meant her response as a direct answer. She was just expressing the feelings and ideas that had encroached upon her mind while she thought about where she was and the situation around her. Perhaps she should speak up and explain further, knowing it might make the situation a bit better and a little less awkward, but before she could, Iopah would speak again. It was clear that the woman didn’t want her constantly working alone, and Val could understand why because if she didn’t talk to anyone else in the pack, then she’d be a recluse and would likely feel uncomfortable around others which is not the way of the pack wolf. The leader would then make a comment about the deer and how they could be fun. Instantly the yearling lit up, the hunt was a game and one she was good at, and yes, the deer were fun. They weren’t as fun as elk or mountain goats, but they were fun. It was a challenge that she could present herself with and for that reason, she would nod. There was only one issue left to deal with. “Yes, they would be fun! But, I don’t think that we can take one down by ourselves. From my experience we’d need at least another person but preferably at least two more.” The girl would speak up and state her concerns to the respected alphaess as she looked towards the direction of the deer. Impromptu pack hunts were always awkward for her, but maybe they might be able to pull one off in the near future. She knew that Iopah had been a hunter because Iopah herself had told her when they first met, so maybe she could study her technique and learn just how good she had been. That would definitely be fun!

wrote this REALLY late at night. iffen it doesn't make sense, sorry, I can fix it!

It still felt like there were some roadblocks in the conversation between them, but was quickly smoothed over. It was obvious both woman shared a common interest. Iopah watched her subordinates expression change at mention of the deer and couldn't repress a shifting of her own. It had been much too long since the Reinier woman had been in a proper hunt. She longed for the feeling of the wind in her teeth and the sight of grass blurring underneath.

The nod was unexpectedly placid, however. Iopah stilled her impatient feet and waited. In the absence of speech (which she did not seem to be mastering today), the woman tilted her head and raised a brow in a quintessential curious expression. Her tail swayed at a slightly slower beat than before with the explanation, but did not stop entirely.

"That's true," She allowed with a dip of her cream-hued skull. Caution and realism were both invaluable traits for a hunter, particularly for one who often hunted by herself. Iopah's first hunting partner and close friend died while attempting the impossible. Iopah was relieved to not have to worry about Valeria in the same way; she needed wolves she could rely on. "However you should study them, test them anyways." Sometimes there was not time in the midst of a hunt, and that previous knowledge would make all the difference. They were pack wolves and it was in their best interest to be familiar with all the large prey animals nearby.

The alpha indicated for Valeria to follow her with a gentle nod. "If you know how they'll react hunts will go better." A great many factors went into a successful hunt: the terrain, health of both hunters and hunted, and the wolves one worked with. The Reinier queen paused, lingering beside a fallen cedar and pointed her black nose at the sky. Her voice rose and fell over the Pines, calling her wolves to the hunt.

and you can't see

nova

the wind in the trees

With @Nalda fed and their daily ritual of a morning bath and cuddles complete, Nova passed her off to @Camio to keep an eye on while she went out to stretch her legs. She had planned on greeting Iopah as she passed the woman's den, but curiously noted that the older female was away. Nose twitching and belly rumbling Nova sought out a musty avian scent, following it as she hoped to find an injured bird. Instead she discovered a dry, broken nest, its fledglings long since flown, leaving behind just a relic from springtime. Nova whined, slightly disappointed that there was neither a bird, nor eggs inside. Delicately at first, then with growing enthusiasm she snuffed at the nest, nosing it across the ground as her black tail quickly swished behind her.

Nova flopped down on top of the nest, rolling around and ecstatically shoving one shoulder then the other into the ground. The fragile twig-and-feather construction was quickly destroyed by her flailing body. A strong, wavering song of a hunt drifted through the wood, calling Nova from her reverie. While the stinky nest was exciting in its own way, a hunt sounded even better, especially to her empty stomach. She stood up, big ears twitching on top of her tilted head as she pinpointed its direction. Throwing her head back, she howled a quick call saying "I'm coming!"

Nova instinctively ducked her head and tail low as she approached, picking over the few fallen timbers that stood between her and her packmates. She curiously eyed the white-coated yearling who she had yet to meet. Nova's tail swished a quick rhythm at her ankles as she looked towards the Iopah, the corners of her mouth relaxed and tongue flicking out in a happy pant. Nova's hide already reeked of bird so she hadn't noticed the scent of their would-be prey, and though she wanted to ask Iopah what they would be hunting she really didn't want to risk embarrassing herself.

(This post was last modified: Aug 24, 2015, 03:20 AM by Nova.)

Namara has given permission for Valeria to be PP for the purposes of finishing this thread
8/10 posts needed

They had not gone very far when a howl came back to them from deeper inside the Pines. The alpha cut her step short, a single paw airborne, and listened. It was familiar; Iopah did not even have to wonder at the voice's owner. This was not the first time Nova had answered her query, nor the first time they had hunted together. The paw came and the pale woman turned quickly. Her excitement was palpable. She loved the hunt -the pound of hooves and paws alike and the controlled chaos of many wolves acting as one. It was in her blood, created from a desire to save her parents, but it was no less strong now. The sound of an approaching wolf set her tail to swaying. The Zamora woman was determined and loyal, Iopah had no doubt of their coming success. When the dark mother appeared, Iopah gave a contented hum.

Good, now the fun could really start. She turned to Valeria with an encouraging nudge, directing her to start tracking the scent she had located earlier. The scent was old, but the wind was low and it was easy to pick back up. Iopah stepped alongside Nova as they inspected it. It seemed to run diagonal to the border. For a moment she stopped all her planning and gazed deep into the timbers. There was something far more valuable laid in that direction. "We'll have to herd the deer away from the border." The Pines' pups were too young to have a full-borne hunt crash around their dens. She traded a knowing glance with Nova and then nodded the younger woman forward. It wouldn't be that hard, they just had to approach from the Pines' territory and the deer would scatter in the other direction.

@Iopah Let me know if anything needs changing!

Nova fell easily into step at Iopah's flank. Hunting with the tawny woman always felt more like a game, testing themselves against their prey. Nova's tail swished with excitement but her yellow eyes held intent focus, her wide muzzle brushing over the forest floor as she breathed in the scents. Finally she caught the faint whisp of deer braided amongst the other odors, a fine thread that grew stronger as they walked. Following Iopah's instruction she hugged in towards the bounds of their territory, ducking her lanky body as low and quiet as she could between the fallen trees and shrubs. She stepped carefully, not wanting to catch one of her oversized paws on a piece of rubble and end up ruining the whole thing. 

Nova lifted her head slightly as her flared nostrils caught the scent stronger than ever, her swishing tail finally stopping and holding low and rigid as her concentration increased. She couldn't see them yet, still some forest separated the trio of wolves and their prey. Yet the warm cervid musk and the scent of broken grass told her they were close, and if she listened carefully over the rustling leaves and chirping birds she could hear the soft sounds of the grazing herd. She looked towards Iopah, wanting to take her leader's guidance in the approach now that they were so near.

The wind worked with them and the forest was soft under their paws. The trio of women worked quietly and efficiently, it was the prey's scent rather than words that kept them synchronized. Iopah snuffed at the earth, her pace increasing as the scent grew. They were close now. The herd of mule deer had not moved much during the wolves' conversation and ensuing approach. Soft grunts and the crunch of red-cedar needles gave their presence away.

Iopah froze, pale ears curving to the sounds. Through a patch in the foliage she could just barely see the shift of their rusty hides. The alpha stretched to press a dark nose against each of her subordinates, staying their forward movement for the moment. They could not blow this chance away by rushing into it. Her nose flared in the breeze, lifting to catch the scent of the does. They smelled healthy, but young and thus easily flustered and confused. It was something Iopah planned on taking advantage of.

When Nova glanced over, she angled her head to the east. The wind was blowing from that direction, taking away any forewarning the deer might have. Iopah prowled forward, letting a long-legged stride taking her ahead so that the hunters were spaced out. She knew the disorienting effect of having wolves appears from multiple angles. The stalk continued until something finally gave them away, but it was too late and the wolves were too close by that point. When the deer leapt away the wolves were right on their heels. The chase was over before the first doe made it into the safety of the deep forest.