Fireweed Rise What does not kill you

For Renier

Just when she thought she might go mad a familiar scent teased her nostrils as she traversed the snowy edges of her domain. She swung back to confirm, relief filling her core with every breath inhaled. @Skoll was home. Not with Isolde, but home none the less. While she would love nothing more than to track her brother down and make sure he had no intentions of leaving her line of sight again she knew to do so was ridiculous. Instead, she turned south to scout out the herds and ensure the security of their hunting grounds before she checked the caches and turned in for the night. Besides, there were other adjustments that still needed to be addressed.

The half smile that tugged at her mouth, now the weight of her brothers absence was lifted had been uncharacteristic of late. Regardless she allowed it to stay as she trekked to the rise, @Renier's trail growing stronger and tugging her towards him subconsciously. She had heard his summons for Pickerel and had assumed it meant he was following through with his promise, although she had been too far away to witness the challenge herself. She smirked to herself as she put on a burst of speed, aiming for his rump with a playful tackle. Why not indulge in a little fun for old times sake?

I'm waking up enduring my biggest fears

Why he had one victory under his belt, there was still a way to go. He was sure what lay ahead would be far from easy. Craw was next on the list, and why they were of the same age the scars upon the man's face would not be taken lightly. He surely was a force to be reckoned with. More so he had arrived in Ren's absence and it was enough to make the rogue wonder of things. If he didn't succeed, and so much more terrible, miserable things.

Why some of the family had left in search of Isolde, and he had wished to be part of the effort, instead Renier had forced himself to stay behind. Someone needed to help check the borders, keep the peace. He did his best to keep caches full with what he could. Hope he was making a difference for Morganna, and Elettra. When Skoll returned without his sister, he prayed Angier would soon follow with her. He feared for the man wondering how dull his eyes had become, and now with the uncertainty of a daughter in the balance. As he trudged through the snow, solemn, it seemed he couldn't hold onto any one solid thing. There was too much on his mind.

Luckily, in an odd strange kind of way, he wasn't left with his thoughts for long. His russet ears flicked back, thinking they had caught more than the wind. When suddenly he wasn't seeing the white beneath him any more. A grunt, a thud, he saw the alpenglow above him. The brute blinked, looking for her face. "Miss Archer, you are surely a pain in my arse," he rumbled. 

(This post was last modified: Feb 04, 2016, 03:50 AM by Renier.)

There is a deer that was killed by a lynx nearby. +10 Health

A genuine laugh escaped Morganna's lips, the first in what felt like an age. "But if I wasn' yer might get suspicious that it wasn't really me at all." she goaded, bowing down to playfully nip at the pale fur on his exposed chest, more a preening action than one with any malice. Away from the oppressive skeletal curtains that the willows had been transformed into, naked cages that contained her to their perimeters for too long now - she could finally breathe. It was like the clear oxygen that filled her lungs gave her buoyancy. Rather than drowning in the sorrow that laced every breath and step the longer Isolde remained gone, her head had finally broken the surface, and Renier was the one to see it. She stepped back to allow him room to get up, a singular movement bringing with it a total change in her demeanour.

Her smile was short lived. As quickly as her joy had come it was swept away by guilt. An overwhelming feeling of inadequacy and a nervous need to be productive. To live up to her mothers expectations. A pained expression crossed her face as she looked back to the Willows, quickly replaced with a frown as she shook out her coat and stalked further into the Rise. They can manage. she told herself, without waiting for @Renier to catch up. Everything would be just fine without her for a few hours.

I'm waking up enduring my biggest fears

Russet ears were coaxed forward by her laugh. It had been too long since he had heard it, and he couldn't manage the smirk upon his muzzle. Briefly, he crinkled his nose in reply. It was rather true, but not something he was about to out right agree with. A high growl, more of play than aggression, rolled in his throat as he pawed at her in turn. Her dark figure moved, and  he attempted to nip at her in turn, but his reach fell short. He could see she had stopped to think, and he rolled to a sit. Again so close to nudging her, stealing her away from her shadowed thoughts.

In one instant her expression changed, and she stalked away. He didn't hesitate to follow, but he suppressed the low whine that wanted to sound. If she could put things behind her for a moment or two he didn't want to drag them back. With an idea, he bumped his shoulder into hers, emitting a loud woof, before dashing further ahead.  Once the rouge paused to look at her, his tail dashing side to side, not entirely raised, despite the unvoiced challenge. He wanted to know where his Morganna had been.

Dark thoughts and dark words swirled in her head. The edge of a low growl was building in her throat when a sudden shove to her flank knocked the thoughts away, unwilling to be buried in the same snow her nose kissed as she stumbled. Limbs locked saving the rest of her face from the powdered snow and ears shot forward while fiery eyes locked on her target. Her hackles rose in sharp spikes across her neck and shoulders instinctively as a hard toothy smile crossed her face. Her fearsome display was only lessened by the fast paced wave of her tail at her back. "Ooo yer gonna regret tha'." a playful growl laced her words while she remained frozen in place just a moment longer in an attempt to unnerve him.

Her lessons with @Craw showed, from her improved balance to the singular focus she placed on trying to hit her target. Rather than aiming for a thigh or a flank as she once might have, she now knew better than to treat her opponent like prey. She charged at @Renier head on, leaning back to try and wrap her paws around his neck and playfully tug at his scruff or an ear, whatever her teeth closed on first. Of course this would leave her chest and throat exposed as she felt no need to tuck her chin in this instance. She very much doubted he was out to hurt her.

I'm waking up enduring my biggest fears

Why it hadn't been his intention to push her with such force, he had caught her off guard, and he guffawed at her white face. It was a rare sight, and one he was sure he would only pay witness too. Cream paws keeping in motion, pulling him back to remain out of her reach. Even without her wagging tail her fierce some display did not worry him. Mostly.  It was more what she had in mind of revenge. Surely, if there was hell to be paid, there was always some different form of payment.  "Oh, I will?" Eyebrows raised in an innocent expression, only hoping to egg her on. She needed to stop worrying so much. She was doing a fine job, and he hated to see her so stressed.

Eyes widened as she pounced. Luckily, he had steadied his stance, braced for impact by her  immediate attack. Sure she had some trick up her sleeve. This time she  didn't try to bowl him over as he thought. Instead he could feel her grip enclose around his neck, her teeth just behind his cheek. A grunt escaped him, and he nibbled at her throat like a true pest. Making soft rumbling noises as part of his distraction as he began to pace back in attempts to drag her with, or throw her off balance.

"Do you dance darlin'?" The rogue teased, quickly making a veer to the right.

(This post was last modified: Mar 02, 2016, 04:59 PM by Renier.)

Morganna laughed, losing her grip on his scruff as he nibbled at her throat. "No fair! Tha' tickles! she accused through giggles as she tried to bring her chin down while keeping her paws wrapped around his sturdy neck and shoulders. A far from threatening growl barely escaped her lips before he was dragging her this way and that. It was terribly difficult to balance on two legs, no matter how she tried to keep her feet apart. His unexpected turn bought her feet together and the uneven ground beneath the snow worked against her.

As her back end fell, a sound somewhere between a yelp and a laugh escaped her lips, brows drawing down with a devious smile as she released her grip on his neck and tried to roll closer to him with limbs flailing wildly. She didn't have the weight to pull him down, but maybe if she got under his feet she could trip him over. If she happened to get stepped on, well those were bruises she would be willing to wear if it meant @Renier ended up kissing snow too. If this didn't work? Then she wasn't above playing dirty, a devious pout already painted on her dark masked face, the laughter painted around the edge of her eyes betraying the ruse.

I'm waking up enduring my biggest fears

A sasisfied chuckle rolled ins his throat, and smirk planted itself on his muzzle. But, all through her protest he didn't stop. Though he was moving carefully, slowly choosing his steps. Causing her to land on her face twice in one night was asking for it. He really had no intention to hurt her. He never did.

Suddenly she fell, and a look of dismay rushed across his tawny and silver facade. Afraid. Since she was no longer holding him, he grew a little more worried. It was all for nothing. Her dropped form rolled into his legs before he could recover. Just like that his legs folded, and he toppled sideways onto of her. Outstretched face meeting no such fate. With a umph his chin smacked into the snow. Cold! Cold!

A short growl tumbled from his jaws, and he tried to get up. And yet, he was much more aware of the warmth nestled beneath his chest.  Head cocked around to see the look she was giving him. It was almost convincing, but her warm eyes of peach gave it away. In turn his whole face crinkled in a look of mock anger. It was swiftly replaced with a wicked grin, in a blink he squirmed, and shifted, hovering over her, keeping her pinned to the ground. Just as before he began to nibble at her throat, prodding his wet and cold nose into the warmth of her throat. He anticipated he had little time before she would retaliate.

The weight had been anticipated, the ease with which @Renier toppled had not. Caught beneath the larger male Morganna growled, jaws opening wide to gently close over the top of his head as he went for her throat once again. Had she any desire to get loose she could probably aim a dull clawed foot at the soft skin of his belly, drive the wind from his lungs and make her escape. Instead she kept her feet tucked close, choosing to enjoy the warmth offered, looming over her as he was. She was amazed at how easily her worries had been chased away, the load on her mind lessened through such a simple act. 

She supposed in a way, a lesson could be taken from this encounter - no matter how many times her face hit the snow, it was on her as to whether she got up and kept going or just stayed down. She needed to learn how to better pick her battles. The sudden enlightenment made her smile, teeth dragging across Renier's head once more as her front paws reached up to press against his chest. "I was goin' ter hunt. Care ter join?" she finally voiced as she tried to get to her feet. She would survive Nicolo, and she would make it through the Spring. She was sure of it.