Cors Ossum What they all see

Anyone’s welcome to stumble across Icicle! posted dated to 4/23/16 to avoid some time comflict

The crunching of pawsteps over brittle bone, that was the only noise made deep within the ethereal clearing. Bones littered the ground everywhere you turned, some still had flesh clinging stubbornly to the edges of the exposed edges. The trees stunted, twisted and skeletal, much like the pale figure that trended over the bones. The wolf was colorless, his fur a ghostly white that was complemented by a skeletal appearance. At one point, the fur may have been soft and clean, but now, it was was covered in a thin layer of dirt, the figure’s bones jutted out quite easily as Icicle lived off of whatever he could scavenge. His movements were always slow and deliberate, the familiar aching in his joint was one of few friends the spectre had way out out.

For weeks now, the albino had been living out her,e away from other wolves, ever since he had been rejected from Grizzly Hollow, the act itself, he understood perfectly, no one wanted a diseased looking figure among their ranks, a figure who seemed like he would keel over at anytime, but he had lasted this long, and he was determined to continue. He had found this place, the Cor Ossum, though it’s name unknown to him, meer days after he had chosen to retreat away from the hurt and rejection that was caused by being near others. Out here, he felt an odd connection to the land around him, in a way they were simmler, his bones, like the trees could be twisted with flesh clinging tightly to life. Out here, he was safe, out here, Icicle had developed a persona of what most people saw him as, a diseased and dying wolf, though, for now, he still clung onto life, though for how long..he didn’t know.

Is it worth living… He wondered as he settled down next to the bones of an unknown animals, his dirty pelt still managing to keep an ethereal and ghostly appearance as he looked around, his light pink eyes, once  filled with a small spark of hope were now devoid of any such illumination, instead cold and hard as the almost perpetual twilight provided by the ominous forest allowed him to see without fear or pain of the sunlight, nor the burning warmth it brought. Slowly, those eyes closed as Icicle’s mind wandered while he sat on his haunches within the graveyard clearing.

ThoughtIcicle’s Dialogue

(This post was last modified: Apr 22, 2016, 01:58 PM by Icicle.)

The eerie stillness of the air was heavy, but the shadowy female hardly noticed it as she danced over the corpses of so many fallen animals. She had no task, no reason or motivation to be in this dark place, but her curiosity was aroused by the sight of bones, so many bones, laid bare on the dark soil. She had traveled for many days, and yet had avoided contact with others of her kind. Her small form had melted away into the shadows at their approach, though she was not convinced she wasn't being followed, as her scent trails were surely evident, criss-crossing many different territories. She could not bring herself to behave, to act as she was not willing to act, to be accepted. Others of her kind expected her to be submissive and easily intimidated due to her size, but she was not. She was strange and off-putting, and it was her anxiety that had caused her voluntary solitude. Now she needed the help of others, but was unwilling to seek it.

She had been chewing on herbs for days, trying to stave off her hunger. But she was growing weary of the taste of dandelion root. She was now nearly starving, but her stomach no longer ached for food. It was numbed by its own emptiness, and she had begun to ignore it. Soon though, instinct would force her to find sustenance.  The strange graveyard was a welcome distraction. She was unnerved by the sound of her own pawsteps, which shattered the silence of the dense atmosphere around her. Yet she pressed forward, determined to find the center of the clearing which she had discovered, so that she might feel that she reigned over all of the fallen creatures here. Her dark form contrasted dramatically with the pale bones, and she stepped boldly forward, not noticing that she was not alone.

(This post was last modified: Apr 22, 2016, 01:21 PM by Soren.)

@Sorena !))

Those soft pink eyes shot open as the sound of something moving over the bones caught Icicle’s attention. He hadn’t moved yet, the large skeletal like figure knew that any movement would draw attention toward him, something that he did not yet want until he knew who else was out here. His nose twitched slightly as he picked up on the intruder’s scent. Female…. he thought to himself as he moved only his eyes toward the source of the noise. A small black shape came dashing through the clearing, a blatant disregard for the stray bones and it seemed anything else.

The Albino’s gaze followed the woman as she headed toward the center, he himself was not there, instead, he had favored the added protection of the shadowy trees. For a reason just like this, through the fog and dim light, he could make out little features beyond that of a blackish blurr, but, in return that meant that little could be made out of him. Fear, that could be Icicle’s greatest defense if the girl proved to be hostile, though he loathed to use it it if it came down to it, but for now, he needed to know, did she pose a risk to his own safety? But even more….was she ok?

The large wraith stood up slowly, not for stealth, but to keep his joints from hurting even more, by now, it had become a dull ache that he was used to, but any sudden actions would send a fresh jolt of pain coursing through his body. He stepped slowly toward the blurry shape, squinting slightly so that he could attempt to take in more details, but to no avail, instead he called out, his voice, naturally high cut through the thick silence “Hello there.”

There is a moose carcass that has been scavenged by coyotes nearby. +15 Health

What a strange skull. Soren had become absorbed in the study of a small rodent-like skull she had found resting on the surface of the graveyard. She couldn't discern what kind of unfortunate animal it had come from, and it's scent had long since faded as the flesh fell from its body. She could not recall ever having seen such a skull before and wondered absently how long ago it had died. And how? Life was so fleeting, and Soren found she often forgot to appreciate it. She shrugged, stretching the muscles in her shoulders slowly to release some of the tension that was building there. It was in the midst of this action that she heard the soft soft of movement in the distance. The scent of the animal eluded here, and she turned on her heels, searching for the source of the sound. From over her shoulder came a voice, and then a strange, unfamiliar scent. It was masculine, but seemed unbalanced, as if it were missing one of its elements. It was a scent she had never experienced before, and though she was startled, she was also intrigued.

She turned completely, twisting lazily to face the stranger. Her body language was relaxed and easy, though some of her apprehension showed in the carriage of her tail, which was particularly expressive. The wolf who had addressed her was unlike any creature she had ever seen. Whiter than even an Arctic wolf, with the lightest eyes and skin she had ever seen. Even her pale gold eyes did not compare to the strange, pink color of his. He was incredibly tall with a gaunt frame. His skin seemed to hang from his bones, which jutted out dramatically at his hips and shoulders. She knew she should fear this apparition, but she knew instinctively that he was real. This was no ghost.

She observed him quietly for a moment, ears pressed forward to absorb every possible sound. She let her features soften into an expression that was not quite a smile, but was unguarded and natural. She wanted to ask him if he had come to haunt her, but she felt he would probably see that as rude and run off. He seemed delicate somehow, despite the fact that he was so large. Instead, she tried to think of something more...normal to greet him. "Hello," she replied, dipping her head slightly. She took a few tentative steps towards him, trying to memorize and understand his scent. "Who are you?"

Thought | Speech

The large figure watched the smaller shadow carefully, the way her tail swished, even though she seemed relaxed. Icicle wasn’t, His muscles were tense and his light pink gaze narrowed slightly as she returned the greeting, stepping toward him. The fur along the large figure’s hackles started to rise, he was about to growl a warning at her to stay away, usually, his appearance was enough to keep most of the curious at bay, some wolf might get a twisted sense of satisfaction in the fear that was usually generated by such a sickly shape. Icicle purely hated it, he was only wanting to keep his own distinct until he knew more about this girl.

The growl though, cut off quickly, as she came closer, Icicle was able to make out more details of the smaller loner and that’s when he realized it. She’s starving…. Realizing now, that his actions may come across as being hostile, he quickly forced himself to relax, a soft sigh escaping the colorless canine. He wouldn’t give his name just yet, not until he knew more but for now, Icicle refused to just sit by when there was a small and admittedly pitiful cache nearby. He gestured off toward the right, indicating toward the base of a nearby tree.

“Eat first...there’s a hare there, it’s not the freshest but it should be better than nothing” he neglected to mention that the hare had been a massive pain to catch, but he wasn’t the type of wolf to try and guilt trip. Hunting wa shard, but it was possible. He turned back toward her for a moment, thinking over her question for a second time before weighing his options for a few minutes before speaking ‘I’m a member of this forest.”

As she approached, she could see even more clearly this strange, ghostly figure. His proportions were off-putting, and she hesitated as she heard the rumblings of a growl emanating from his chest. He was rigid, tense and unwelcoming. She took a step back. This was not a fight she would win, even if she was at full strength, but she could definitely outrun him, even in her condition. She had met very few wolves that were her equal for speed. He seemed to relax slightly, or at least attempt to, but she did not approach him again. She did, however, gaze curiously at him. Now that she had recovered from the initial shock of his appearance, she found it interesting. His eyes were pale and intense, his flesh seemed vibrantly pink against his light coat and their bleak surroundings. He spoke, not offering his name but instead the promise of food. At the thought of food, a flash of pain shot through her abdomen, a reminder that she was weakening. She watched him intently for a moment, not speaking. He didn't seem particularly well-fed himself. She was surprised he would offer his own catch to a stranger.

"Are you sure?" she asked, her tail still swaying lazily behind her. "I've done nothing to earn it." She took a small step towards the tree he had indicated, and for the first time detected the sweet scent of rabbit flesh. She had been so distracted she hadn't noticed it before. "You live here? It seems a formidable place. I've seen no game for days. This prize must not have been easily won." She gestured towards the tree with her head. "You have no reason to share it with me." She was skeptical of any aid, having relied on only herself for so long. The chaos of life in her former pack made her wary of others of her kind, though the instinct to interact with them was still strong. She felt a small sense of satisfaction somewhere in her subconscious for even this short conversation. She could feel that sense of completeness that came with no longer being alone.

Thoughts | Speech

Icicle nodded his head slowly in response to her questions “Yes, I am sure. I do live here ma’am, it wasn’t easy and I do have reason to share it.” He paused for a moment, his tail flicking once as he eyed the female “You’re alive, hungry, and in need of it, That alone is reason enough to share.” Icicle would have offered it even if he had been starving. For so long he had always been used to neglect and aggression of others. How many wolves would offer something that they didn’t truly have to offer except for the simple fact that someone else needed it too.

That’s the kind of wolf that Icicle strove to bo. To be exactly what no one was to him: Kind, generous and selfless when he could be. He had taken that goal long ago and buried it through all of the abuse and fear, all of the time he spent hiding and running, so that when the time came, he could try and spread that love. {B} “If it makes you feel any better, the rabbit isn’t the freshest, but it is still nutrient and sustaining. It can, and will save you from starvation.”[/B’

Her face brightened in a soft smile. It was not often that she found such willing kindness in others. Though it was not a trait she typically observed in herself, she considered in admirable. At his insistence, she thought it would be rude to refuse, and her body was beginning to weaken. She dipped her head slightly, her body language neutral. "I am thankful," she said softly. "Though I have tried to ignore it, I have begun to suffer from lack of food. Hunting is a challenge for me on my own. Even more so in a strange land." She hadn't had any luck herself, and this would be her first taste of food since she arrived in this area. Not wishing to appear overly enthusiastic, she approached the meal at a gentle lope, glancing over her shoulder at the large, white male. The scent of flesh became stronger, and by the time she reached his offering, it had overwhelmed her. Her mouth was watering, and her stomach turned. She was ravenous.

She leaned down gingerly and tried to eat slowly, but as her teeth ripped through bone and muscle, her instincts took over, and in seconds she had wolfed down the remains of the rabbit. Her whole body radiated with relief at the meal, meager though it was. She did her best to lick her face clean and then reclined with a sigh. The meat had stimulated her hunger, and her brain now begged to to find something else. Anything else. But she ignored it. "Thank you," she called out to the male. "I had not realized how hungry I was." She fixed her golden gaze upon him and tilted her head. "I must insist that you allow me to return the favor. There is an area nearby, a thicket, in which game are plentiful. With the both of us, we are sure to succeed in a hunt. That is, if you are willing to go there with me."

Thoughts | Speech

(This post was last modified: Apr 24, 2016, 06:23 PM by Soren.)

Sorry for the wait, had some writer's block

Icicle watched the female quietly as she spoke, thanking him for sharing his meal with her. He gave a small nod of understanding at her comment “Hunting can be hard, especially if you don’t know what you're doing.” He said, though he held back just how hard hunting was for him. Poor eyesight, combined with the pain he constantly felt in his joints made it hard enough for anyone, though he wouldn't wish such a curse on anyone else, He bared it to the best of his abilities.

Icicle shook his head quietly in a gesture of ‘no’ at her offer to return the favor. He could manage to hunt alone, it was hard yes, but hunting with someone….Icicle wasn’t sure that that was something he’d be able to do. He had no experience in it, and if they came across a deer or something large, how would she react to a wolf who couldn’t even run properly? He’d be exposing too much of himself, it was too great of a risk and he just couldn’t afford it.

“My apologies, but I must decline, I mean no disrespect by declining your offer, but  when I hunt..I do it best alone, but if you wish to help me, there is another way.” An idea started to gleam in the back of the young wolf’s mind, if this small female had been able to stumble across him by accident, then who’s to say someone more hostile wouldn’t? He needed this place to himself, it was the only sanctuary he truly had and he needed it defended. If it took a few lies….then...wouldn’t it be needed? To stay alive?

Icicle paused for a moment, taking a deep breath as he thought this out slowly. If becoming what many see is the only way to stay safe...then I need to… he hated the idea, to use something so primal like fear as a weapon but Icicle NEEDED to stay away from others, only bad things happened to him when ever he interacted with them. He turned his light pink gaze toward Soren “If you wish to repay me then..” He paused for a moment, collecting his thoughts “Then tell no one what you have seen here, tell them that there is a diseased wolf within these woods, infected with something so vile and deadly the very color out of you and slowly eats away at you from the inside, just like….all of these animals around us.”

(This post was last modified: May 01, 2016, 04:13 PM by Icicle.)