Secluded Spring Fear is how we fall [M]

Amongst the barking and snarling and snapping and darting, Merys was beginning to find himself in a rhythm, almost like old times. He most certainly was not needed in the frey and was typically used to being the overseer of his hunter's back home. He made plans. Calculating plans. So when his plan to pull the wolves to the alphas' sides and attempt to push the bear in the opposite direction was thwarted by the alpha female, his ears (had they not already been so) flicked back in annoyance. Whatever resolve he had made himself in following these new leaders was almost washed away in that moment. He understood she wanted to confuse and mentally tire the grizzly, but Merys cringed at the thought of unpracticed wolves just nipping wildly at its haunches. He had only meant to have this over as quickly as possible. If he could have rolled his eyes, he would, merely since he held no loyalties to these wolves and had no further inkling as to what was really going on here. His thoughts were not able to linger much longer, as he was forced to dart backwards as the grizzly swung in his direction to avoid a wolf on the opposite side of the four year old. Much like he had been trying to avoid, but there was no time to do anything but swallow his frustration and join in on the synchronies of tomfuckery.

Perhaps he had been part of a well-oiled machine too long, used to knowing three or four wolves too well, closed off to new methods of thinking. He was not a young wolf. What he had still managed to take with him away from his old pack were the methodical steps and lunges it took to play with prey and to gauge other dangerous predators in a way that was manipulative. A grizzly was not an easy target at all, but he still moved comfortably on his feet, darting in and out where he was needed, and staying back as much as he could when he was not. He had promised to be part of this pack as long as everyone had isonomy and pulled their weight.. he wanted to make sure he saw everyone doing so before he threw his life on the line. He was happy to see that the Crest wolves were not being shy about following the alphas' directions. When the alpha female gave the command to rush forward, the pack moved quickly. He pushed his legs forward, even though he wanted not to. He was no longer mentally engaged; they had won their war, he knew, so long as no one did anything stupid. His large stature was only a bonus to keep the grizzly on the run, and he kept pace for he knew he should, but the chase was not in his heart, and his barks, bared teeth, and flattened ears were the only thing that gave insight to his involvement any longer. 

(This post was last modified: May 10, 2016, 10:20 AM by Merys.)

founding member | 2016

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

Reach for the stars

Just like her new pack mates, Jynx had but only one goal in mind. Driving this blasted bear out of what would soon be their land. And making sure it didn't even think twice about stepping foot here again. Black tipped hackles raised like spikes along her red spine, she moved in sync with her fellow wolves. Ears flat, lips puckered, she practically dared the monster to defy them, or herself. Dared it to lay a paw on any of her new family. If it did, it would not escape without a few painful wounds. Teeth clacking, she watched with satisfaction as slowly, bit by bit, the bear fell back, giving ground.

Fueled by her sense of power, she pressed further, harder. Releasing yet another set of snarls, spittle forming at the corners of her lips. She let the adrenaline take over her, using it to unleash her raw emotions in these moments, for a better purpose. Then the odds swung drastically in the wolves favor, as the bear turned. Raela's command was met with instant obedience. Head poised low between her shoulders, the rust tinted woman now used her speed to charge after the retreating behemoth. Jaws agape, deadly knives promised to sink into flesh, should it not move fast enough. Her shoulders and flanks bumped and collided mindlessly against the bodies of what was her new pack, but she paid them no mind. Personal space was of hardly any concern when it came to driving out such a formidable threat. For good measure, to encourage the beast to run even faster, she darted in to take a sharp, painful, yet harmless nip at it's rump. By further mobbing the Grizzly in such a fashion, the Crest wolves stood a better chance of wrapping up this job quickly.

OOC: pleas forgiv me for the long wait and a short and crappy post. my computer is broken and i might not be able to get a new one/the old one back before a two weeks time.....

As the monster took up the defense against the pack he joined his fellow pack mates in their battle like dance around the beast. It was crucial that they had it move, made it leave, but something inside the white male still had a nagging belief that it could come back. Would it not be easier to kill it? Could they kill it, was properly a better question. Even the bear had not seen them as a thread enough to run, but it seemed that the beast was starting to get the message as snapping teethe and angry growls surrounded it.

  And then the beast finally turned and made a run for it, the queens words ripped though the air as her command sounded and he snarled allowing barks to fill his voice. They would take this territory, they would become a pack worthy of the bears running fear stench hanging in the air. Yes, soon it would be over and the pack would be ready to start a new.

The white male felt a smile creep on to his lips as his tough ran rampage in his head. His eyes retuning to a focus as his jaws snapped together.  

       "Talking".

 

please don't judge me for talking to my self, after all, you were the one who ruined me.

Keala is permitted to enter any thread Zilas is part of regardless of the tag unless otherwise stated 

Her pack members continued to fall into place beside her, Moraxia’s attempts to scare the beast mirrored by her family. They were all working as one, moving together like flood waters crashing against land. They would drive this bear out, they would take this den to be their new home. Though the woman could feel her bones tiring and her legs stiffening each time her paws danced off the earth and into the air again she pushed herself to go further. The guardian couldn’t let them do this all on their own; everyone here needed each other, even if she was starting to falter in speed she couldn’t let them down now when they were so close to the end.

The grizzly started to turn, its movements becoming slower and less calculated as it planned its escape. Eyes darting in search of a quick exit, the bear lumbered down onto its paws and began to lope. The wolves began pouring in behind it, snapping, snarling, barking, and forcing it out of the land. Moraxia’s frame felt weak and tired but she lurched on with a grunt, tail raised high above her. She matched the beast’s pace and joined in with aggression of her own as it fumbled across the dirt. Vigor filled the wolf and she found herself quickly caught up in the heat of the moment. Her muzzle clamped viciously onto the grizzly’s shoulder with the intention of urging it to move faster, fear providing fuel for its feet.

Time suddenly slowed as Moraxia watched the monster’s furious eyes lock into hers, its body twisting to face this threat. The wolf released in alarm at the terrifying glare the bear directed toward her. Her feet scrambled to push her large body far away from the massive animal as it turned to greet her with its jaws. Her oversized paws clumsily slammed against the dirt in a desperate attempt to move, a yelp of fear escaping her as the woman realized her mistake all at once. In the moment of panic Moraxia had lost her concentration and therefore hadn’t noticed the titanic set of claws aimed directly at her as the creature stopped to swing in her direction.

Her large, intimidating body became her downfall as claws raked into her right flank and down her outer thigh. The mammoth wolf shrieked in pain as her body was cast aside by the force of its attack and slammed into the ground a few feet away. The bear seemed content with this result and continued loping away, it’s fear still set on the rest of the pack chasing close behind it.

The wolf lay with her legs folded inwards barring the injured thigh extended beside her. Moraxia breathed heavily, stubbornly calling to her friends “I’m okay,” between whimpers. Panic showed through the pain on her face. ‘This can’t be happening.’ She needed to be there to protect everyone; the bear was unpredictable and dangerous. The woman rushed to stand as the thought of her pack mates being injured entered her mind but was quickly brought back to reality by the throbbing sensation movement caused to the injury. Her body flopped back down to the earth, energy spent as her tongue fell lazily out of her mouth.

’I’m so sorry,’ tears welled in her eyes as she continued to pant. They would have to finish this on their own.

  

Long post this time because we have a lot happening this round. The pack has chased off the bear and Raela has returned to Moraxia. This is the final round, so the last person to post feel free to fade out for us! The post order is back to normal now.

All PP of Gent done with permission.

The pack's response was better than the woman had hoped. They surged behind her like a great storm, perhaps forgetting that they were only seven strong while moving as one. The air was filled with a chorus of growls and menacing threats, punctuated by the creature's heavy footfalls and the rushing of the chill air as they charged. Her eyes flickered between her troops; not one of them had hesitated and already she was filled with pride. Already, even with such new faces in the group, their solidarity and bravery  was something to behold. Perhaps she would have even felt a twinge of admiration for being their leader, had the moment not required all of her mental faculties. Each time one of them lunged forward, or perhaps rushed too close to the bear she tensed. They were playing a risky game, and Raela herself was not about to draw so near; especially not with Gent's plea ringing in her ears. 

Perhaps she should have called out then, as they ran; to warn against the hazard of attacking it in flight – perhaps that would have prevented what was to come next, but her voice remained silent; heard only in growls and hasty breaths. None of them had pushed too far just yet, and Raela thought that maybe they knew just well enough to avoid injury. At least one of them did not. Her golden orbs flashed to the galloping form of Moraxia, widening in fear and horror as the mammoth female attacked with a hard bite to the beast's shoulder. Too far. What happened then was inevitable, and all too fast. "No!" She screamed, but the turn of events were already set in motion. 

The young woman's zeal was met with defensive rage. The bear slowed just long enough to turn on its pursuer, slashing her leg as the larger woman scrambled to escape. There was red and Raela's blood went cold. Her feet seemed to move on their own and she surged ahead; desperate to distract the damn thing before it could do any more harm. Luckily the grizzly seemed to have planned only to stop for that second or so, and barely missed a step in its continued retreat. The Alpha was immediately torn; her dashing pace slowed to a lope as her eyes searched frantically behind her for the source of her friend's voice. 

Moraxia was struggling to stand, her jaws parted in exhaustion and pain, but her words urged them to continue on. The younger female was strong – she knew that much, and if they didn't keep after the bear they would loose their advantage. If the group stopped now to check on her, the bear could turn back; and now Moraxia was in no shape to defend herself. They couldn't stop now. Her heart ached with the realization, gaze switching suddenly toward Gent. He was no doubt having similar thoughts, and the words he spoke temporarily satisfied her dilemma. They would come back for her in mere minutes, when the danger was gone. The injured girl just had to hold on until then. Raela's stomach felt heavy and sick as she turned back to the chase. A roaring growl struck out at the air instead of words; a call to arms now filled with anger. For all she knew the damage could have been severe, but even a flesh wound was cause for her to seethe. It had hurt her pack mate, and it would not be allowed to do so again.

The urge to protect drove her on, pumping her legs near their limit to make up the lost ground. She would lead those that followed until the threat had been driven a sufficient distance into the woods, stopping only then with a gruff bark to halt the others and watch as its lumbering form slipped from view. It was then that her whole body seemed to snap; turning sharply back toward Moraxia without another word. She was far to worried and even panicked to do anything more. Adrenaline and fear replaced every ounce of lost energy the Queen had spent in her pursuit. Her paws ate up the snow and earth with avarice; desperate to return to her fallen comrade and assess the damage.

 It took much too long to reach her, and the scent of blood was thick in the air. Thoughts of the worst plagued the older woman's mind, of finding Moraxia already dead or dying. Raela could hardly breathe. Were they really going to loose another, just when things had been looking up? Had the pack not suffered enough already? Her spine was colder than the snow against her paw pads; her gut feeling as if it was full of rocks. She paid no attention to whether or not the others had followed, or how quickly; in all likelihood they would arrive back in no time at all even if they had not raced back with such urgency. At last her eyes fell upon the girl's body, and a last spurt of hidden energy brought her close at a full sprint. Wide golden eyes latched onto Moraxia's face, and then her wound, a choked whimper threatening to slip past the Queen's throat.  

The claw marks were bright red, but somehow the damage was less horrifying in appearance than Lugh's had been. It looked more like surface damage than something truly deep and crippling, but it paralyzed the woman all the same. Words pressed against her tongue as she glanced between her subordinate's face and the seeping blood. "Are you alright?" The Matriarch asked helplessly, wanting to hear it once more from the girl's own mouth. She would get medical care almost immediately; and Raela was thankful that the price for the girl's mistake appeared to be little more than a few scars, if all went well. Raela was rooted to the spot even as others arrived; shock and exhaustion overwhelming her.

The words and actions taken around her seemed to fade out as Raela's thoughts swirled away. They had chased off a grizzly bear. Moraxia might have taken a hit but she would likely be okay, and this... all of this around them was now theirs. It was over. Her shocked expression softened, and some primal impulse began to take control. They were here now, all of them. They had taken this challenge on together and won. Her eyes locked onto Moraxia's. They had all been so brave. Her muzzle slid upward, a howl just begging to be let free; for them and for Moraxia; a rally of their spirits and a firm claim on this land. They had earned it in blood; together. This new pack of theirs had shown its strength already, and Raela felt an immense welling of pride as her voice climbed higher. They had done it.       

            

It's okay Wolfsi, thank you for getting your post in!
LAST ROUND GET HYPEDDD

It was difficult not to feel emboldened by the cooperative rush of others on either side, and still Gent could not understand what had driven Moraxia to take her charge several steps too far over the line of caution. A sharp bark escaped his lungs as he saw her closing the distance between herself and their victim, but the guardian's fate unfolded far too quickly to be stopped. The man's adrenaline spiked as within moments the bear turned and the woman dropped, the scent of blood infiltrating the air. A snarl tore through his throat as he had to reach deep for the self control to not seek revenge and maim the haggard creature. As always, his pace matched Raela's, but they couldn't stop. If they drew back too soon now, they might as well give up the land entirely; and then whatever injury Moraxia sustained would be in vain.

Losing one of their largest was already a hit to the front they were putting on, but the bear didn't seem any less afraid of them; that was a relief. Still, they couldn't afford him to leave the ranks, and he would not let Raela remain in harm's way without him there at her side. So the decision was made; the smallest of them would be the only soul they could afford to lose. Luckily coincidental, this would serve for training as well.

"Sylva, fall back!" he barked the command as his pace picked up again. "Stay with Mor'xia!"

His mind attempted to wander and worry, but he could not allow it, and instead remained focused on their goal at paw. It had to be the bear first.

Thus he did not cease until Raela signaled, and then he was just as quick to double back. When at last they had returned to Moraxia's side, his aching legs were given rest as he settled next to her. Immediately he began to clean her wounds, pale eyes roving as his tongue worked to completely assess the damage. She would have her battle scars, but the worst of his fears would not come to fruition. The relief he felt was immense, but that only allowed room for his mind to power forward to all that would need to be done now to establish their home and guard against the return that @Ainashi anticipated. It was unlikely, but they need be ready if it happened. There would be other, smaller predators to contend with as well; dens to be dug, prey patterns and scouting to be undergone.

His psyche was a blur until Raela's voice pierced through the noise, strong and assertive and celebratory. Without hesitation Gent returned to his full height and titled his own ebony skull back, his powerful song joining in. Ours.

Her sore body was rapidly beginning to ache more and more the longer she spent against the earth, adrenaline no longer hiding her exhaustion. Moraxia watched listlessly as they chased the creature farther away until finally they were out of sight and she was left to her thoughts, hearing Gent order the girl to return to her. How stupid she’d been; the alphas most certainly would disapprove of her actions. The thought of them disappointedly addressing her made the woman cringe. Time ticked by slowly as the wolf whimpered and grimaced, shifting her body weight all the way onto her side as she stretched her limbs out. Raela and Gent suddenly appeared from the forest in front of her, a worried look clearly plastered onto her queen’s face.

Moraxia cast a thankful look at the black shadow resting beside her as his tongue moved gently over her wounds. ‘At least they aren’t angry,’ she thought, a sigh of relief floating into the air. “S’pose it could be worse.” She joked to Raela, smiling for a second before her face returned to an uncomfortable state. The wolf returned the confident stare her alpha gave her, silently responding with a nod. Moraxia glanced down at her wounds with reluctance as the woman in front of her sent a joyous song of victory into the sky. Yes, they had done this—but the injured girl couldn’t escape the anger piling up inside her. She could have cost someone their life had anyone else been out of position, and it was a miracle she wasn’t as damaged as she could have been.

The king was soon on his feet and singing as well next to Raela; the two had never looked so confident of the future before, their contagious strength spreading to Moraxia as she watched. She shifted once again onto her elbows, tipping her head back and joining the chorus. This was their home now.

  

Everything seems to be happening in slow motion in front of Sylva’s hazel brown eyes. One moment everything was going perfectly fine for the pack. The large grizzly was slowly being driven away from what would soon become their home and so far there had been no causality yet. Suddenly though, that record was shattered. Suddenly Moraxia, the behemoth female of the group lunged forward. Sylva saw her sink her fangs into the bear’s hide and the gargantuan claws raise toward her in retaliation.

Reality crashed down around the small wolf as the brownish red agouti fell to the ground with a heavy thump. Sylva’s nose twitched as the coppery scent of fresh blood seemed to fill the air around her. NO! she screamed inside, Raela giving voice to the same thought. Panic started to overtake Sylva at the thought of one of her pack mate being injured in such a brutal way. Her eyes widened in surprise as Moraxia slowly pulled herself up and glanced in their direction mouthing a few words before slumping forward again.

The ebony furred wolf’s ears pricked as Gent told her to fall back and stay with their wounded warrior. In a normal circumstance she would have pleaded and protested to continue the chance. Those thoughts hadn’t even occurred to her in this situation. Her packmate was hurt, this is what she had chosen when she decided to seek the role of a healer. This is what we’ll be trained for, they cause the wounds and we heal them! She gave a short bark in acknowledgement to Gent’s order and she rushed forward toward Moraxia’s side, shortly before Gent and Raela returned. As the pack started to howl, Sylva realized that they had won, this land was now theirs. She raised her dark furred muzzle toward the sky and and let out a long howl of joy before turning toward Moraxia, her work wouldn’t be done yet.





Thought
Dialogue

Merys kept pace with his pack and relief creeped into his muscles with every stretch of his legs as he watched the bear bound further and further away. They were actually going to do it, and without any issues! A group of wolves who he hardly knew and were a random assortment of capability in the sizing department.. managing to chase off a grizzly. He grudgingly held back some of the joy he was feeling, as he was still annoyed at being barked at, but he let a small smile creep into his thoughts as he snarled and barked alongside the others. Fortunately, all joy washed from his thoughts soon afterward when the large female made one move that changed the whole scene completely. 

He didn't know what she had been thinking. Well, no, that was a lie; it was not difficult to know what she was thinking. Bloodlust and excitement got the best of some wolves, especially those who were not faced with situations like this often. He had seen it many times before on pack hunts when the usually-provided-for would muck up the plans of the usually-provided-by. Merys truly wished that the female had not chosen this particular day to get feisty, but it all happened very quickly and Merys slowed his pace as soon as he saw her leap forward, almost to take a back seat for the kenspeckle situation about to unfold. 

The bear lunged back and the wolves scattered out of its way, but it was an unreasonably lucky day that the creature dared only to swipe at its attacker and not those around it. He watched the alphas react, consciously making sure not to bark out any 'bright' ideas he might come up with. His bitterness was lost again as he moved strategically to keep the bear from wanting to change direction from which they'd run it from. As he heard the telltale shriek of pain from the fallen female, for a moment, Merys prepared himself to turn to see the packmate the bear had killed. But, when he finally turned to look, he saw that it had only contacted her leg. He snarled and lunged to encourage the bear to continue running, and eyed the black yearling running to the injured's side. 

His mind turned back to the bear at hand and he followed the rest of the pack until the alphas were happy with the distance they'd achieved. He slowed to a stop then, watching the bear go, but the queen turned immediately and Merys realized he had almost forgotten about the females they had left behind. Upon arrival, Merys eyed her wounds with a smooth expression. He hoped she had no plans or importance needed for some time, for if she was to survive, she would have to be babysat like a pup for weeks to come. Cleaned, fed, protected. His face scrunched, unhappy at the thought. How could this wolf had made such a poor decision? They were lucky the bear had been too tired to turn on the rest of them. He felt the ache in his muscles as the pack checked her over, and he sat back on his haunches behind them, eying the forest, listening for anything else that might decide to ruin their day. He turned his back to the Crest wolves tending to their mate and decided it was best if he just stayed on the lookout for now. Hopefully their fight was finished for the day. When he heard the pride in their howls, he smiled and scoffed to himself. He did not want to allow it to make him happy, but there was no denying the feat that they had just stumbled through, and so he allowed some of their pride touch him as he continued to watch the horizons. Their horizons, now. 

founding member | 2016