Dying Light

There is a family of deer nearby. Hunt Opportunity

Once she started on his fur, drawing close enough to feel her warm breath, Rayne stayed as still as possible, only wincing slightly whenever a particularly stubborn burr refused to loosen its hold and was thus painfully tugged out. He would really have to be more careful in the thicket he now called home. He really didn’t feel like doing this ritual every night, of taking out these terrible thorns. Just as she finished and asked if that was better, the delicious scent of deer filtered through Rayne’s nose and he lifted his large head to properly sniff the air. Turning towards the female, he flicked his nose towards where the scent was coming from. ”Do you want to team up to take a deer down? It would be easy to do with two instead of one and there’ll be more than enough to share.” It was a kind offer, showing that after their clearing of each other’s fur, Rayne showed just enough trust to ask. It would have been easy for him to call his pack and send the dame running. Because surely the pack wouldn’t want a stranger joining in and eating part of their kill, even if she did help. But Rayne was a kind soul and figured the deer herd might still be here tomorrow. So he reassured himself with the fact he could came back tomorrow after telling the pack of the herd. As he awaited her answer, he bowed his head once he forgot that there had been no proper answer to her question or proper thank. ”And yes, that feels much better. I thank you for helping me.” His deep voice rumbled kindly as a smile curled around his lips.

@Rayne

The sally from her intentions to find shelter were not wholly without reward, even if it presented itself in a less expectant manner. In return for her lingering, she was granted a proper preening from the thorns, and for a moment she was able to share in the company of another… less hostile and more open. A contrast from the dark male and his subordinate that would not likely be forgotten in the days to come. However, it was more immediately that her thoughts again strayed to the Thicket and the pack spoken of therein. Though her lips did not part with question, her returning gaze to the kind male did hold within an inquiring glimmer; were there others in the pack as understanding as him? Or was it home to shorter tempers and closed minds… and this male before her was the only gem among piles of rock?

It would have been nice to know, but like him the scent of prey pulled her nostrils away and towards the alluring scent. Her eyes widened in the night with nose quivering with anticipation. Truly, she would have loved nothing more than to sink her teeth into supple flesh, but it was with reason that she did not hurry to accept his offer. Her stomach protested even before her decision was made, groaning long and loud as it did not feel the pump of adrenaline to bring her to rise and make ready for the chase. And though hunger plagued her, gnawing viciously away at the flesh of her stomach, she raised her sights to the kind male and smiled gently. “…it is fine,” gingerly she tipped her muzzle in direction of the Woodlands. She did not share that more than likely the pack would smell the meat as same as she, but it was implied by the angle of her muzzle as well as her more subdued posture towards it.

“Meat is better shared with the pack,” she continued softly, keeping her octaves low so as not to strain her voice. “But thank you.” In all likelihood, she could be around during their hunt, and what spoils were not taken, she could scavenger for herself. She carried no shame for that.

Rayne wanted to protest, wanted to say that there was more then enough to share but then a thought struck him. What would he tell his pack when he went back to alert them of the herd, if they hadn’t already smelt it? That yes, he had known about the nearby food source but went away hunting with a stranger first and dining with her before coming to fetch them? ”Trator!” He could hear them hiss, as his leaders stared down at him with tails raised and frowns on their face. Pups were on their way, they’d think to themselves sadly, yet he was more concerned for the fate of a stranger, whose name he didn’t even know, over the fate of the future of the pack? What a shame. He had such potential. How untrustworthy. Could he really test his loyalty like that? Could he live with the fact that instead of sending this female off, away from their borders, that he would be turned away instead? ”I’m sure there will be enough for you to scavenge afterwards.” Eventually, he had to agree, though a heavy feeling in his heart told him the scraps would be taken back to the caches to be filled. The harsh winter combined with pups always made sure caches were full. Yet his stomach grumbled just as loudly as hers did previously and had he the ability to bite his lips, Rayne would have. The two of them were as hungry as each other and yet only one could eat soundly tonight. It made hot guilt rise in his stomach. Surely there was something he could do for her? He thought as he swung his head around. There had to be something.

@Rayne

While the female might have personally held no love for the Thicket wolves, had she been aware of the thoughts that consumed her company, she would have urged him to comply with the duties of his pack. She was not born a wanderer, though she had adapted to the life, but was born into and was raised to be a wolf of the pack to see to its care. None were above the wellbeing of the pack, as long as the loyalty from subordinate to lead was clear. The need of the many outweighed the need of one, and to her credit, the female was resourceful and quite able to keep herself alive… at least for the time being.

She watched in silence as her company surrendered to her rationale unspoken having come to the conclusion himself that the hunt was better suited for his pack. She nodded once in agreement and smiled as his belly professed its anticipation for the meat. “I will not keep you,” she uttered softly as she turned just as quietly toward the more open fields. She had not forgotten his mention of a tree but thought it best to make a shelter closer to the borders of the Thicket. If they were indeed going to take part in the hunt, she wanted to be close to take a bit of the remains before other scavengers closed in due to her delay.

But before she turned fully, she curved her muzzle back to look again at the tawny male, then gently pressed her nose to his cheek. “Thank you,” she shared quietly, as this time she indeed turned to make her progress across the field. Surely it would not be the last time they would meet, but if it was, she wanted a parting where her gratitude was given. She walked on in silence til the shadows consumed her.

{Exit}

When she spoke again, Rayne turned his head back towards her, to give her his full attention but a soft ‘thank you’ and a cold nose was pressed to his cheek. Which made him freeze from the contact, though it shouldn’t have given what had transpired just minutes previously. As he watched her go, fading into the shadows with slight disappointment hanging in his heart, it was then he realised they hadn’t shared names. The desire to run after and find out her name made him shudder under his coat, now freed of any restraint. Surely it was as lovely as her creamy coat. But his heart stopped for a moment as he remembered another lovely, darker fae that had bowled him over on their first meeting, only for her to disappear just after his joining and a soft scowl soured his face, even if there was also worry for the dark dame that enticed him to the Thickets nearby. Was she safe? Shaking his head free of any thoughts, he remorsefully turned back towards the Thickets with one last glance towards where his companion for the night had vanished. There was no use in over thinking things. What was done had been done. There was no going back and unless either dame returned to the Thickets or he went far enough to find her, he would never know either of their fates. But something still tugged at his heart as he ducked back into the thickets to alert his pack of the deer herd. The name of the woman...He had a feeling both she and the mystery of it would haunt him for quite some time.

{Exit and finish}