Nightingale Palisade ghosts that we knew

Finally there was some kind of visual reaction, though it hadn't been where Craw expected. Something he'd said had struck a nerve, and Wraith averted his gaze, letting silence come between them. Craw did nothing to break it, immune to any awkwardness that it might ordinarily cause, finding himself far more interested by watching the subtle shifts in Wraith's expression and trying to determine what was going on in there.

Craw's ear twitched at the eventual reply, processing the significance of it for a beat before reacting. He sensed some guilt in that choice of words, or at the very least self-doubt and a lack of confidence. Whatever darkness Wraith had left behind in the mountains was his own business, assuming that he had been truthful about not knowing the name Scolus. Perhaps if their relationship became anything more meaningful, Craw would expect an explanation - but he had hardly come out here with the intention of babying some random loner with poor spacial awareness. He'd always gotten the best results from those who he didn't pander to. If Wraith couldn't work past his demons then his self-assessment might indeed prove to be true.

"Then I'll judge your value," he grunted, "on the journey south. Assuming, of course, you want to choose survival."

Golden eyes lifted to meet the stranger's. For the first time since that horrible day, the beginnings of hope kindled in Wraith's gaze. Here was a chance to repent for his failure. He never thought it would come in the form of a pale, gruff stranger. Had he met the wolf in his old life, he wasn't sure he would care for him. His demeanor was too imposing, too harsh for any true respect to be freely given. Maybe it was the loneliness that made even this male seem like a kind old friend. Whatever it was, Wraith was grateful he'd run into him.

His smile held sadness as he regarded his new companion. "Death, I fear, would be far too easy."

Wraith blew out a long breath, drawing in one just as deep. On the wind, the musky scent of deer was readily caught and his stomach gave an audible, irritable grumble to remind him that it didn't care for his self-punishment. A little embarrassed by the sound, Wraith shifted his paws in the snow and glanced towards the scent. Sheepishly, he cleared his throat.

"It seems like a long trek. Perhaps we should hunt first..." The wolf paused, regarding the male again. "Is there nothing I should call you since you won't offer a name?" His smile was less forced this time. "I can make up one if you like."

He would watch this one carefully. Craw held a distaste for the melancholy he saw in Wraith's smile, in his tone of voice. Self-pity was not on his list of desirable traits, and nor was being suicidal, the latter of which was more than hinted at. But nothing ventured, nothing gained. If they travelled together for two whole days, Wraith's state of mind would become a little clearer by the end of it; Craw would have no qualms turning the wolf away if he showed that his worth was, indeed, very little. The willows had no need for useless bodies, and certainly Craw himself did not - and he was not currently recruiting for the Archers.

Keen ears caught the grumble, and the pale wolf snorted, acknowledging its message as Wraith confessed to his hunger. Of course he was hungry. He had caught wind of the herd too, but hadn't paid it much heed when by himself; while two wolves were still few to properly hunt large game, perhaps it would be a worthy first test. The matter of Craw's name came up then, Wraith's coy little suggestion giving the silvered wolf pause. He was reminded of Capable, and her similar barbed suggestion, but this wasn't meant as rudely. "Craw," he offered simply, for he had decided to wait until Wraith consented to accompany him and those terms had been met. It was now time to foster a little mutual trust.

Glancing in the direction that the sweet scents were coming from, he twitched an ear at Wraith. "Are you strong enough?" If they were lucky, there would be an animal suffering in the cold season, an easy target. There was no need for something large since it would be impossible to take it back with them, and any kill would just become a feast for any scavengers left in their wake.

Craw. Simple, easy to remember, and nothing like any from his pack. He liked it.

The question drew a good-natured soft laugh from Wraith. "Stronger when I'm hungry." It had not been so long since his last meal. He was sure most loners had fewer in general, especially during the wintry weather. Still, he was hungrier than he had ever been before and now had will enough to fill his belly.

As he began to walk towards the scent at Craw's side, Wraith pondered over tactics. Back home, it wasn't something that needed discussion save for when the younglings came along for learning. They had been a well knit team and all knew their strengths. While Wraith was certainly not the fastest, he was undoubtedly the strongest in his pack. Stronger even than his father. His weight was also useful to tear down larger prey and it was often he sent to the animal's face to grab hold of its muzzle to pull it to the ground. However, that was easier for him in the mountains where his footing was more sure than that of frightened prey.

The male's steps grew quieter and more purposeful as they drew nearer. Edging towards the ravine, he peered down into the gully below to see the herd browsing on the last of leafy branches from the trees that had yet to die off under the frost and snow. Judging the distance should one pass below where he stood to be around leaps he would make back in the mountains, Wraith nodded to himself.

It was here where his confidence shown. "If you can drive them under here, I can drag one down. Enough to separate it from the herd, at the very least." The force of his landing alone could be enough to stun the animal for them to finish it off without having to wear it down.

Finally, Wraith offered a taste of confidence, one which Craw eagerly gobbled up. He wanted the black wolf to prove he was worth the time. Knowing that a failed hunt wouldn't be as bad for him as it might be for the loner, Craw accepted the proposition with a simple nod, eager to find out just what this cold mountain-dweller was capable of.

And so together they followed the scent, with Craw once glancing in Wraith's direction, amused at the turn this encounter had taken. To think that he had been tempted to strike the man down for his stupidity... with any luck, that mishap would be proven as an anomaly. Once they reached the edge of the ravine, the ground falling away beneath them, Craw peered down at the unsuspecting deer below and listened to Wraith's intentions. No doubt this kind of drop was something the dark wolf was used to, in his mountainous homeland. It wasn't lost on Craw that both wolves were very much made for brawn over agility, but perhaps it would work out. "You will strike from above?" he questioned, a brow quirked in intrigue - he hadn't quite seen a plan like that exacted before. It should certainly be unexpected. All Wraith would need to do was pin one of them; together they more than had the bulk to keep a downed deer down.

Craw glanced back at the casually grazing herd, narrowed eyes flitting from body to body as he tried to discern their health from this angle and distance. He spotted a thin deer near the back, grazing with nervous, jerky twitches, likely a young animal seeing its first winter - and not being treated at all well by it. But he chose to keep his mouth shut, for Wraith may have picked out his own likely target, or would simply act in the moment. All was valuable information to be used to piece together what kind of experience and skills he might have.

(This post was last modified: Dec 13, 2015, 12:31 PM by Craw.)

The wolf nodded, his own flanks trembling with eagerness. His thick legs longed for the short flight that could bring death from above and saliva pooled in his mouth. Licking his lips, his golden gaze had found the same doe. She was slight of build and nothing like the thick, burly mountain goats and dall sheep he was used to taking down with his packmates. But the presence of the higher terrain presented a situaion usually unique to his mountains and thus brought a familiar feel to this hunt. The doe's spindly legs would possibly even collapse outright under his weight. Unless an opportunity arose which drew another animal closer with more chance of success, it was that one which he would gun for.

Wraith lay down on the ridge so as not to spook the herd prematurely. "The doe in the back there. Do you see her? If you can, drive her as close to the ridge here as possible." Eyes bright the meal he could already taste on his tongue, the male grinned, showing off long, off-white canines. They had one chance at this. If Wraith missed, it would be a long chase for the pair with little chance of success. His eyes traveled the length of the ravine and already he could see a place where the herd would likely race to escape. "I'll take her down if you want to finish her off."

A long, slow smiled slid across the scarred face as Wraith identified the very same doe. Excellent. "As you say," Craw rumbled, his stance quite clear; he wanted to see what the black wolf was capable of, and was only here to facilitate that. Looking out over the herd below once more, Craw determined his route down to them which would allow for him to send them in this direction, and then without a word stepped back and slipped away, moving quickly but quietly around to find a path down.

It took several minutes, but a successful hunt was rarely a hurried hunt, and with only two of them, the odds were even more against them. But carefully he went, picking his way down, his silvered pelt ideal against the cold white which touched everything. Partway down, one of the deer suddenly looked up, ears high and eyes wide, and Craw froze - but whether it had actually heard something, or just voices on the wind, the wolf remained still and the deer's searching found nothing. Hesitantly it lowered its head again, ears flicking out in paranoia. Craw's lip pulled back for a moment, baring teeth at a deer which couldn't see it, the saliva building on his tongue.

Once he deemed it safe, Craw edged forward again, locating the spot he had chosen from up high, eyes fixed on that fragile-looking young doe. If Wraith managed to land on her, her legs would likely break. Hopefully the black wolf was experienced enough not to let the same happen to him. Eyes flicking up, he couldn't see Wraith from here, but could identify the wiry tree they had been stood near, and used that as his guide as he crawled to the side, choosing the perfect angle.

The steepness of the gully would force the herd's path, so at least their scattering would be limited, but if they managed to avoid Wraith's grasp there was little chance of either bulky wolf outrunning them. The wolves would have one shot at this.

His muscles tight with anticipation, his hind legs coiled and ready to spring, Craw let out a single sharp bark - a signal for Wraith - which brought every deer head up immediately and staring in his direction, some mid-chew. A heartbeat later, he erupted forwards, focusing only on that doe, rushing to her left to encourage her to move right, to be caught between Craw and the gully's edge - and to make the decision to flee away from the pale wolf with the wall to her right, which should take her directly under Wraith.

Instantly the sound of hooves against earth rumbled through the air, the herd fleeing as one, every animal caring only for itself as its primal instincts kicked in hard and fast.

Wraith nodded, smiling at the easy camaraderie between them already. For as prickly as Craw had seemed before, he wasn't all that bad really. The black male watched his companion as he stepped away and made his way around with patience. Wraith remained as he was, laying down against the ridge. While his black fur wasn't likely to draw any extra attention against the dark ridge, he didn't want to leave anything to chance when so much depended on a split second leap.

Focused solely on the hunt, his mind didn't wander. Tawny eyes remained on the herd, watching them for any minute signal that they were alerted to Craw's presence. His heart stilled for a long moment when the stag lifted his head, alert and stiff. Tense himself, Wraith let out a soft breath of relief when it lowered its head once more to continue eating. Craw was good...

The bark brought a thrill of excitement through Wraith and he watched the herd as terror interrupted their quiet meal. It was impressive the way the animals could rear up and twist away. His experience with these animals was more limited and he'd never gotten the chance to observe them so closely from afar as they reacted to a predator. His pack would solely use ambush techniques, coming around from all sides before singling out the one of their choosing. And they were fast.

Thundering hooves stamped hard through the snow, racing down the gully towards him with wide eyes and open, panicked mouths. Wraith's eyes focused on their doe and the way both her head and tail were thrown up high as if she could fly away from the pursuing predator. He stood as the first of the herd passed under the ridge, thickly muscled legs bunched beneath him. Judging the distance as she drew close, Wraith made his leap. His weight had him dropping fast and a heady laugh erupted from him as his front paws landed along her shoulders. The crack of bone was audible even above her terrified scream and she folded without resistance to the ground. Before her terror could decide for her that she should stand, Wraith hooked his teeth into her shoulder around her scapula.

At the corner of his eye, he saw Craw's approach while the doe struggled beneath his weight. His lips peeled back in a feral smile at his partner, jaws still hooked into her flesh. Time to finish her off.

(This post was last modified: Dec 13, 2015, 03:02 PM by Wraith.)

Like a hellhawk Wraith descended, Craw's gaze drawn to the black mass unbidden. Hearing that laugh, that sound of unbridled joy and thrill, followed soon after by a sickening crunch and the terrible shrieks of the doe as she collapsed beneath him - the laughter echoed in Craw's own throat, his teeth bared and eyes wild with excitement.

Yes, this had been an excellent idea.

The herd continued to flee, sacrificing only one of their numbers so the rest would live, and Craw watched them go for a moment, watched the legs kick up and the animals jump and twist in their haste to make a good escape. The silvered wolf slowed, still a good few yards from the broken and bloody scene Wraith had caused, for there was no need for speed now. They had won; the doe wouldn't be able to go anywhere, she was crippled and done for.

Her wails rang throughout the ravine as Craw leisurely approached the pair, seeing that wild, hungry ferocity in his hunting partner's eyes, knowing that respect and satisfaction would have been shining back in his. His mouth and lips were thick with drool, a long, thick strand swinging from his open jaws as he stood over the helplessly writhing deer, seeing the white in her wide, terrified eyes, the way she pawed at the ground with her limbs - though one was bent at a horrible angle, the fragmented bone slicing through her skin. His spittle landed on her belly as he lowered his head, placing a paw on her kicking hindleg to try and still her as canines slipped into flesh, the long teeth getting purchase before he ripped her open, spilling her contents onto the frosted ground.

Her screams took on a new feverish quality, the fight in her exploding for a few seconds before the shock started to properly set in. Pushing his weight on her to keep her down as she died, Craw buried his muzzle in her warm insides for mouthfuls of her, expecting Wraith to join him and this feast they had won together.

Wraith's eyes tracked Craw's movements, watched the raw hunger and success within the other wolf's every movement. As soon as the pale male tore into her, Wraith released her shoulder and tore into her neck to still the shock-driven, slow paddling movements of her legs. Blood quickly stained his dark muzzle, the taste a welcome one that reminded him just how hungry he truly was.

While feeding squabbles were common in his birth pack, Wraith had no qualms about joining alongside Craw and burying his muzzle into the doe's abdomen. He crunched into thick, loopy bowels of intestine, peeling them away from mesentery and ripping them partly free. While he would prefer the liver, his hunger left little room for taste. As such, the male was content to let his companion have the meatier organs as he turned to start on the doe's haunch.

He dug his teeth into the warm muscle and began tugging at the skin with strong, sharp pulls until it peeled back to reveal the meat beneath. Wraith gorged himself while the carcass stemmed in the cold, crisp air. Lifting his gory muzzle from the body, the brute grinned at Craw. "Quite a team we make, eh?" he commented, appreciative of the follow-through which led to their success.