Cedarwood Forest Random Event #4

Random Event #4 — THE MIDNIGHT HOUR

The chilly autumn breeze brushes past the quiet forest – the darkness enveloped the land far quicker than was normal it seemed, and the grey clouds ahead signalled the possibility of an oncoming rainstorm. Night in this peaceful forest was usually welcomed, but something amiss hung heavily in the air as the stale scent of blood wafted to the senses of local animals with each whispering drift of wind.

The source of the smell could not be found, though it was easily discernible that something was not right in the forest so late at night. It was far more quiet than usual, the silence only interrupted by the gentle screech of a bat flying above. The moon hung low and golden above the trees, and only when one’s sense of security began to settle did a piercing scream emanate from the forest floor; a haunted and hollow sound that seemed unlike any. In fact.. there was a rumor beginning to spiral around the Relic Lore natives of a ghostly transparent figure sweeping through the paths late at night..

This is an All Welcome thread in the spirit of Halloween fun. You may react to this however you think your character would.

The night was spooky in itself, and while Ruiko’s large, creamy paws were quickly traipsing in the direction of Swift River and his little brother, his gleaming eyes remained riveted upon the potential that stirred in the sky. Dark grey clouds rolled overhead, and for the first time in his life, the large beast whispered a near silent plead to mother nature to spill her gift of rain and water upon the lands, for without it, they would all surely die. Animals had become crazed, and prey was becoming easy to find.. for dehydration was claiming the lives of many.

His interest in the dark heavens above quickly evaporated as the strong scent of blood flooded his nose. Pausing, the regal wolf swept his eyes across the forest he once called home, feeling his hackles bristle just with the nervous fear of treading here once more after the disastrous fire. It was when a piercing shriek erupted across the quiet night that the male’s lips curled back to a quiet snarl, his large figure crouching low as his defenses rose. He remained in the same position for many moments, the moon playing with the soft tips of his fur and illuminating the fine cream hairs in the night.

And yet, as silent as he stayed, he could see nor hear anything.

What was this discovery?—Wildwood was dead!
The deeper Avalloc roamed into his former home, the less he recognized it. His expression was inscrutable, but deep within, his heart ached for the demise of his childhood home.There was no life to make a sound, for everything was either dead, dry, or dying.

His mind flooded with questions....only there was no one there to ask them to. He was really completely alone....or was he? This thought stopped Avalloc in his tacks, sending his eyes swiveling. It was only then that he looked passed the burnt trees and realized just how eerie the forest was. The eeriness was beyond the death of the trees-the clouds were looming, low and trolley gray in color. He began suddenly again, his steps consistent until the tang of fresh blood seeped through his nostrils. Intertwined seemed a familiar scent which sent him running closer to the source.

He suddenly halted. Through the misty ground he could see a dark figure of a wolf. "You," he called out in a whisper.

(This post was last modified: Nov 07, 2010, 01:09 AM by Avalloc.)

So entranced by the sudden quiet that had cloaked the lands so shortly after such a horrible scream, the male remained rigid in his place, his fine golden guard hairs arched toward the dark night as his ivory teeth flashed even further out, daring whatever creature that was haunting these woods to reveal themselves.

Despite his heavy concentration, the large beast had failed to notice the sound of another approaching, and as the slithered words of a whisper broke the silence, Ruiko’s jaws snapped in warning to the direction as a vicious snarl bubbled in his throat, daring the shadow that remained in the mist to reveal themselves to him.

His inquiry was responded to by a snarl, and so Avalloc 'squared up', too. "Whose there?" he asked through his teeth, gargling a snarl in return. There was really nothing more to ask. Perhaps the figure was an innocent passerby like Avalloc, and not the source of eeriness and blood? The silhouette certainly seemed startled and even a bit scared, so who was to say? Despite all of this, Avalloc would stand his ground. You could never be too careful.

The creature, rather than rise to his challenge as he had hoped, had bristled in caution.. a smart move, truly. The demand of question caused a snort to erupt from the River wolf’s nostril’s, and the large male strode forward a few steps, his tail arching in dominance as his figure bristled.

“Ruiko Tainn,” he informed back through a low growl, humouring his mysterious companion only so far, for now his strides became longer as he made his way to the mist-shrouded figure, who appeared almost nacreous in the moonlight. Never one to play silly mind games, the male only slowed his pace upon realization that the stranger was wolf as well. Still, the intruder was not a welcome sight, and not to be trusted. “State your name.” His tone had turned flat, threat curling at the very edge of his syllables, for on such a strange and spooky night, Ruiko was not one to be tampered with.

He could feel the stranger approaching. It sent him into attack mode, he was prepared to launch at the wolf if he came too close. Alas, he came, stopped at a reasonible distance, and stated that his name was Ruiko Tainn. Suddenly Avalloc's eyes softened, and a smirk fell onto his jowls. "My, my, if it isn't the same bossy Ruiko Tainn," he said, laughter falling out into the gloomy air. "It's me, Avalloc." He wasn't sure what Ruiko's reaction would be, but completely looked forward to it. I've come back home!"

As a pessimistic wolf, the tawny beast was expecting a caustic response that would send him off the edge in to rage, so when the male’s jovial and surprising news hit his hears, the River wolf gave a confused blink at the sudden turn of events. Of course he recognized the name Avalloc, and during the long pause as Ruiko’s mind raced to catch up (how long had it been? Years?) another swirl of mist surpassed the figures, revealing the intricate red fur of a companion he would never forget.

And so Ruiko remained stunned shortly, as his eyes regarded his childhood friend in near disbelief. Shock turned to revelation, and revelation swiftly changed to excitement, and just as they did when they were young and carefree, the large tawny wolf closed the gap between them with a few bounding strides, his tail swinging excitedly in the cool air behind him. Momentarily, the high-pitched shriek was forgotten, as was the scent of blood, as Ruiko’s jaws playfully moved to find his friend’s ear in welcome, his muzzle bumping against his adopted relations cheek.

The two stared at each other for what seemed eternity. Ruiko completely shocked and Avalloc eager for Ruiko's reaction. As soon as his friend's face lit up, Avalloc felt an anvil lift from his shoulders, and he, too, jumped up swinging his tail for joy. Ruiko went for his ear and Avalloc for his scruff, tugging and pulling and wiggling. "I didn't think I'd find you so quickly. What luck! It was fate!" His usually hidden smile was huge and nacreous. Finally he stepped away from Ruiko, trying to look him over in the dim lighting. He had not seen him since they were both scrawny yearlings. "It's so good to see you, cousin. I've missed you a great deal."

Unable to contain himself he closed the distance between them again, grabbing Ruiko with his two front paws, pulling him into a hug. "I'm relieved you're alive and safe. What happened here?" He asked, withdrawing a final time and taking a seat amidst the dead earth.

The reunion of two friends would have been amusing to any onlooker, as the two large males collided together in a tangle of excitement, both nipping to places they could reach and re-living a past that seemed almost as if they had known each other from another life. The red-tinted male tugged at Ruiko’s scruff, and a playful growl escaped the tawny beast as he nipped to his friends shoulder. A sardonic snort escaped the male’s lips at Avalloc’s tease about fate, and finally pulling back momentarily to allow his eyes to assess the male, a smirk quirked at the corner of his inked lips. “Too long,” he decided, only now noting how different they both seemed since they had last seen each other.

Avalloc pulled him to a wolfish hug, and Ruiko retaliated with a mischievious headbutt to the male’s front, though his question suddenly squashed the playful joy from him. With his ears sliding back to his skull, Ruiko pulled back, his eyes flickering briefly around the ruined woodland before them. “There was a f—“ Cut short from his story, another piercing shriek erupted across the black sky, causing Ruiko’s jaws to clamp shut abruptly with a click, while his hackles bristled once more as his heart began to palpitate. His eyes moved from Avalloc once more, and they darted about his old home in frustration and fear. Something else was here. “We should leave,” he decided then, and before waiting to see if his old friend would follow this advice, the male began to trek back to the direction of Swift River. He knew Avalloc would be right behind him.