Larkcall Lowlands One More Troubled Soul

For @Askan

Silvery clouds hung heavy above him, the roll of thunder echoing in the distance. Not the ideal weather to be caught in out here in the open. But Drestig couldn't be picky, without a pack to help hunt most of his catches were small, barely enough to satisfy one wolf, and he had several to care for. It was easier when they started out, the two of them able to tag team young and injured animals. Now @Jessie was in no condition to hunt, and at the same time she was eating for more than one. It put quite a lot of pressure on the father-to-be. He'd done alright, luckily this was the most bountiful part of the year, and with new, vulnerable prey being born every day, the dark man was hopeful. But there was no time to rest.

Every morning he set out to hunt, and today had been no different, despite of the weather. He headed north, where the open plains grew lush grass sure to attract the hungry herds. It would be a sure stroke of luck if he managed to get a hold of anything large though, alone as he was, but he would try none the less. There might be a sick or injured animal, or a fawn left unattended, or even the remnants of someone else's kill, he wasn't too proud to scavenge if it meant being able to bring food home. Home..! It was still a strange thought, a tentative word, but one that made him feel happy. There might still be some ways to go before they had themselves a true pack, but it was  a start, a promise of new beginnings.

Word count: 281

"Speech" Thoughts

For what seemed like the hundredth time that day, Askan's  stomach growled, loudly. By now he thought that he would have gotten used to being hungry, that he would been able to deal with the pain and the fatigue that came with it. But he hadn't, and the longer he went without the more clear it became that he would never be able to. His stomach cried out for food, for sustenance, but no matter how he tried he just couldn't sate it. 

It wasn't as though Askan was an inexperienced yearling who knew nothing about hunting. He knew what it entailed, he was intimately familiar with the tactics and skills that were required to make a successful kill. And yet, for the life of him he just couldn't do it. At first, his inexperience at hunting alone was to blame. He was used to working as a team, he had never had to hunt for himself before. The Selwyn's were expert caribou hunters, in fact they were so good that they killed one every three days, consistently. Even in the winter months.  But when he hunted with his pack, it wasn't his sole responsibility to bring down the beast, it was everyone's and so the weight of responsibility was shared equally amongst the pack. But here and now, the fault was solely his own. And it was crushing him, bearing down on his wide shoulders like an unshakeable weight.

Askan huffed and shook his head to dismiss such troubling thoughts. Only a coward thought that way, and he was no coward. He was brave, he was strong and he was going to eat today! 

There was plenty of food about, but he had to be smart, he had to be patient and most of all he had to remember the lessons that his Father had taught him all those years ago. 'Be observant.' He glanced about the plains, looking for movement. 'Scent the air, if you can't see any prey perhaps you might be able to smell it.' Askan stood tall and breathed in. A gentle breeze stirred the long grass around him and the leaves on the trees rattled.... Wolf. Askan had caught the scent of a wolf on the wind.

No, this was not how it was supposed to go. He whipped his head about, desperately trying to catch sight of the stranger. It took him but a moment but he found him, or at least Askan assumed it to be male. It smelled like a male.  The wolf was dark and it stood out in the grass, like a shadow trying to hide in plain sight.  Askan was torn. Should he flee, make himself scarce? Or should he approach and see what happened next? The former option was more tempting, he was no coward (he was adamant of that) but approaching a strange wolf seemed rather.... Suicidal. He was strong yes, but hunger had weakened him. Askan was not in his prime so it was best to avoid a confrontation. 

It seemed as though it was too late for that, as the wolf had turned its head and was staring right at him. They couldn't just pretend that they hadn't noticed one another, a meeting was unavoidable now and so Askan slowly made his way to the wolf. He ruffled up his hackles to make himself look as threatening as possible, just in case, and then when he was at a respectful distance he padded to a stop. His mind raced in search of something to say, something that would lessen the risk of confrontation but at the same time ensure that the stranger knew he was not a wolf to mess with.

"I'm not here to fight, but if you don't watch yourself I won't hesitate too." There that didn't sound awful. Askan didn't quite manage to recreate that stern, unwavering sense of commandment his Father pulled off so effortlessly, but it would have to do.

(OOC, opps, I got a little carried away there.)

(This post was last modified: May 19, 2016, 09:53 PM by Askan. Edit Reason: Forgot to bold the speech )

No need to apologize to me, I'm usually the queen of long posts xP

The dark wolf paused on a small knoll in the flat landscape, looking out over the plains from this elevated position. His head swiveling slowly, eyes narrowed to look into the distance. He was looking for prey, but as he continued to turn, his gaze fell on something else; Well, well..! The stranger stood frozen in place, his dark pelt a stark contrast against the sun-paled grass. He was a little bigger than Drestig himself, though significantly more skinny, and obviously younger, the lighter patches of fur a character-quirk, rather than a sign of age. The boy seemed fixated on his elder adversary, pale, yellow eyes staring widely, and Drestig tilted his head tail flicking softly around his hocks. It seemed these Lowlands were veritably teeming with wolves.

Approaching on stiff legs, the stranger seemed to puff himself up, every hair along his mottled back standing on end. Drestig raised his brows, keeping a neutral stance as he waited, readying himself just in case; Hunger might just have driven the brad crazy enough to attack. But he stopped a few lengths away, snarling a half-threat, though his tone was shaky. The older wolf raised his brows further, staring pointedly at the lad. "Jeez kid, who ruffled your fur this morning?!" He drawled, flicking an ear as he gave the boy a once over, again noting the visible effects of hunger. His gaze softened a bit and he shrugged his shoulders; "You're lucky I'm not interested in fighting." To underline the statement he waved his tail low, nonchalantly glance back out at the landscape as he had before, noticing the same distant silhouettes as he had right before the boy's arrival. "I think, perhaps, we might find a better use of our time and energy, hm?" He asked, looking back at the younger wolf, tone still indifferent, like he didn't really care wither way. But a hint of a smirk curled at the corner of his mouth, eyes twinkling as he added: "You got a name?"

Word count: 335

"Speech" Thoughts

Askan ignored his first comment. After all, what was he supposed to say to that? Still, he had to admit that he felt a rush of relief when the wolf claimed that he wasn't here to scrap. He could be lying of course, a fact Askan was cautious of, but at least he wasn't lunging for his neck right there and then. Anything was better than that. Askan wasn't the most adept at reading body language, but even he could see that the strange wolf was making an effort to come across as unimposing as possible. His posture was relaxed, easy, but the same could not be said for Askan. He still felt stiff and wired. He wasn't sure if it was because he felt drained, both mentally and physically, or if it was all down to the fact that he was on edge. Perhaps it was both, either way it didn't matter.

Askan nervously licked his lips and adjusted his footing. "What do you have in mind?" He asked and then hesitated.

What could be the harm in giving him his name? It wasn't as if Askan could be harmed by it, but it occurred to him that he might regret it at a later date. Still, the strange wolf was being civil, if not a little condescending, so he could try to at least give him the courtesy of doing the same. Askan was reluctant to, he didn't like admitting that he was in the wrong and being polite was... It didn't come naturally to him, it was always a forced effort and it always made him feel as though he was submitting to the other wolf, that he was rolling over and showing them his vulnerable belly. 

The silence between them was prolonged and awkward, but eventually Askan caved. "Askan Selwyn." He told him, in hopes of the wolf recognising his pack's name. They were renowned after all, though perhaps they were too far south. 

The young wolf remained stiff, though Drestig couldn't blame him, out here hungry and alone – his scent was clear enough on that – confronted with a stranger who was obviously in a better state; Though who know how long that will last..? His thoughts circled back to the herd in the distance, but then the boy spoke, his question prompting his opposer to return his attention, flicking an ear. To start off, Drestig simply cocked a brow, waiting to see if the lad would offer an introduction. He seemed reluctant though, another sin of caution surely, if unnecessary; It's just a name… And finally he did give it, a simple statement with no added flourish and the graying man nodded. While he enjoyed spinning words, he'd never cared much for formalities himself and could relate to the pressed feeling of being the weaker wolf needing to submit, to a smaller or larger extent. So he held nothing against the boy, smiling amiably as he returned the favor: "I'm Drestig Avalon."

With the introductions over with, ember eyes turned back to the plains, nose quivering in the air, searching for a scent that could identify the figures on the horizon. There was little wind though and the distance was still too big, but he would guess deer of some kind. Gaze still on the animals, Drestig spoke again to answer his companion's question: "I came out here looking for food, my guess is you did the same." He cast a quick glance back at Askan, grinning toothily. "Let me make you a proposition," He continued, shaking out his pelt and motioning his head towards the herd; "We help each other out and, hopefully, will both end the day with full stomachs. Between the two of us we should be able to take down something of a decent size don't you think?" He winked at the younger wolf, silently adding to himself; Enough to leave something over… Though, if worst came to worst, he would have to drag the carcass back to Jessie without filling up himself first.

That was of course if they caught something at all, two wolves were hardly enough to tackle a herd of caribou, or even smaller deer at their best, but it was the best odds he'd had in quite a while, and he and Jessie had had their successes. The key was to find the perfect target; If he's game… Drestig looked expectantly at the slightly bigger wolf, ears perked and tail wagging in excitement; What'a you say?

Word count: 422

"Speech" Thoughts

Drestig Avalon. That was certainly an interesting name, not that sort that Askan had ever heard before. Not that he cared. It was all a little bizarre, talking to a strange wolf like this. Askan had always been under the impression that when it came to lone wolves it was every wolf for himself. Showing weakness meant death. And yet, here he was in a state of undeniable weakness, but all this wolf- all Drestig- wanted to do was have a civil conversation. It was weird and it made Askan suspicious. But at the same time, Askan could tell that he was being earnest, that he had meant it when he had claimed that he didn't want to fight.

 When Drestig mentioned food, Askan's ears involuntarily twitched. Food was all he thought about these days, so bringing it up in conversation was a sure way to get Askan's unshakeable attention. He listened as Drestig made his proposal and as always he made a snap decision in the matter of moments. He was hesitant, of course he was, but the idea of bringing down something large enough to sate his appetite was more than enough to make him push those worries to the side. At least for now. It was risky, but he wasn't exactly in a 'think everything through' sort of mood. Still, Askan didn't want to come across as needy or desperate, so paced a little as though he was mulling it over. After six steps he turned on Drestig and looked at him squarely.

"I am willing if you are. But first, what are your terms?"

It was true that if this went well then they'd both get food, but surely there was more to this than that. Would they get an equal share? Or was it every wolf for himself? Was this a temporary alliance? And if so, did it mean that they would be parting on good terms? Because the last thing he wanted was to make an enemy, especially with a wolf who had such experience as Drestig did. Askan was a prickly wolf, but he never sought out to anger or annoy others. It just happened and for the life of him he couldn't figure out why, because the way he saw it he was always perfectly reasonable.  

Feel free to have them start moving if it fits :3

He was a thinker this one, or at least he wanted it to look like that, taking his time before responding. Drestig waited, in turn taking on a role as the patient elder. His stomach was knotted though, he needed this hunt, or at least, if Askan wouldn't come, he needed to know so he could get moving again, he could hardly afford to waste time. At least the boy was quick to end his pacing, perhaps to hungry to keep it up for long, and his pale eyes were piercing as they turned on Drestig. The silvered man remained still, staring back openly with an almost bored expression, surely he could see the wisdom in this idea! Apparently he wasn't convinced though, the question taking the Avalon by surprise, his brows once again lifting; Terms? Had he not been clear enough? Shrugging vaguely, the bulkier man moved to reiterate his point: "We hunt together, share whatever we kill." Do I need to spell it out?!

Though, as he stood there faced with the option of outlining terms, it occurred to the older man that he might make good use of it. There might be some wisdom in Askan's reluctance then; Better to be clear on the agreement now, than ending up scuffling over the carcass… Drestig pursed his lips, gaze growing distant as he debated with himself for a second, then he said: "We make the kill, you eat your fill, and I take the rest..?" There was a tentative air to his tone, an implied question rather than a definitive. He would be willing to negotiate. It was a bold move, possibly asking for the bigger take, though if this boy was travelling – as his loner state would imply – he'd have no use for a half eaten carcass, unable to cache it somewhere; He can hardly drag the thing around with him! But Drestig could. It was some distance back to the tree line at the rye field and their den, but he could manage. Again he was left expectant, watching for a reaction to his offer, the wave of his tail slower now, smile faded as he grew anxious, paws itching to get moving. Hopefully there would be no more questions.

Word count: 374

"Speech" Thoughts

(OOC sure thing)

Askan didn't expect Drestig to work out the fractions of what they would share, he simply wanted assurance that he wouldn't try and chase him off before he had even taken a bite. He was willing to work as a team, he was eager for it in fact, but if this was going to work out then they needed to know where they stood. Drestig's next words cleared things up a bit. Enough to make Askan feel somewhat confident in this arrangement. Actually, the more he thought about it, the more appealing it seemed. Two minds were better than one, and with old age came patience right? Askan was not patient, not at all. Which was probably why he had squandered each and every attempt to hunt, but if he had a voice of reason than surely nothing could go wrong. 

"That's fine." Askan agreed easily, without any fuss. 

Contrary to his sister's assumptions, he wasn't always difficult. If he was given the respect and reverence he believed he deserved, then he usually got along well with others. The only issue was that most wolves opted not to treat him well, and instead took great pleasure in trying to take him down a peg or two, the mongrels. 

Askan glanced about in search of prey. Something small like a rodent wouldn't do and taking on a fully grown elk didn't seem like such a wise idea either. This was the problem that Askan had been having the whole time he had been living as a lone wolf, there was plenty of prey around but a lot of it was too big for him to handle, even with Drestig's assistance. They had to aim smaller, but not too small.  Askan harrumphed and began to head in the direction that the elder wolf had come from. He didn't know where he was going, but he certainly held himself as though he did. He held his head high and even though his legs ached his gait was purposeful.  

"These are good grazing grounds, there must be something nearby. How well do you know the area?"  Perhaps Drestig would have some insight, or at least have an idea of what could be on their menu.  "It's birthing season isn't it? There must be some calves around." Elk. Bison. Caribou. He wasn't picky.

Calves were not only smaller than their adult counterparts, but they were also easier to kill. Surely, two adult wolves could bring one down. The only probably that might occur is the interference of a protective mother. Mother's were dangerous, so if they were going to do this then they would have to play it smart.

"What do you think?" It felt odd asking for another wolf's opinion, but seeing as they were a temporary team it was only fitting.

(This post was last modified: May 20, 2016, 10:38 PM by Askan.)

The deal was struck! Askan apparently had no quarrels with the suggested arrangement, even seeming to relax a bit now that the terms were clear. Drestig smiled, nodding his head approvingly; "Good, then let's get moving!" And so they did, trotting side by side through the lowlands, eyes peeled in search of movement. The distant herd had moved beyond the curve of the horizon, so while they still remained a possibility in the back of the elder wolf's mind, he hoped they might find something closer. Perked ears twitched at the question, ember eyes glancing sideways at the lighter lad. "I've been hunting here for about a month now, still haven't been too far north, but yes it's well visited. There're some ponds out to the east which are especially advantageous," He replied in casual tone, motioning over his shoulder to vaguely show the direction. Out here was a good bet for larger groups though, especially for caribou and bison, who gathered in big numbers.

As they continued on, Drestig steered more west, instinct telling him not to lead this stranger too close to his home, no matter his good intentions; Besides, there is no prey down there..! He paused, raising his snout to sniff at the air, hoping to catch even the smallest whiff of something of interest. Askan's remark brought his head back down, lips parting in a sly grin; "I like how you think." A calf would be small enough for the two of them to tackle, and if they could find one a few weeks old it might be enough food for everyone. But calves were not easy to separate from their mothers, they knew their vulnerability. He wouldn't dare try a Buffalo, they were too good at protecting their young and could easily be deadly, even moose had a powerful kick; But then what? His nose quivered again, a fresh breeze bringing answer to the question; "Mule deer!" He looked at his partner, raising his brows in question. The short, stocky animals would be a good bet for a manageable kill.

It wasn't far either, a small ridge up ahead concealing the small herd from view. They would need to slink on their stomachs to the hilltop in order to spy on them. In this late time of year, the group counted almost as many young as adult, every expecting doe having already given birth. The trick was to strike at the right moment, once a calf had ventured too far from the protection of the watchful mothers. Keeping his voice low, the older wolf laid out a simple plan: "We need to get as close as possible. When we spot on that's in the right position, you try and slip in between it and the others, and I'll be on the opposite side, jumping it as it tries to run away." It seemed wise to let the lither wolf act as chaser, while his hunger might have weakened his strength, all he would really need was the quick boost to block the path back to safety, and once the calf started running, Drestig would be there to take it down. Quick and easy.

Word count: 529

"Speech" Thoughts

Drestig appeared to know the area quite well. Or at least well enough to know where pickings were rich or slim. He didn't quite like his level of enthusiasm, it was more appropriate for a yearling rather than an aged wolf such as himself, but Askan decided not to call him out on it. It would have been pointless after all, and they had agreed to this temporary alliance so there was no use in trying to find faults in it. Once they had filled their bellies they could go on their way. Until then he would just have to deal with Drestig's chirpy demeanour. It would be a strain on his patience, but Askan was sure he could manage.

Following the elder wolf, Askan walked beside him and glanced out over the area, as he did. Now, he was no pup nor yearling, but he couldn't help but feel a rush of pleasure when he received compliments. They were few and far between, even more so these days, so he couldn't help but appreciate the fact that Drestig was observant enough to realise what a capable wolf Askan was. Sure, he hadn't put it that way, he had simply agreed with his line of thought. But Askan saw things the way he wanted to, so if he wanted to give himself a figurative pat on the shoulder he damn well was going to. 

"Mule deer?" Askan was familiar with the creature, he was simply a little confused by the sudden exclamation. It seemed rather random and out of place to him. But then he scented the air, and yep, the smell of mule deer lingered on the wind. "Oh. Yes. Mule deer."


Rather than waste time, the two of them followed the scent and soon enough came across hoof prints in the dirt. A herd was grazing in front of them, completely oblivious to the danger that hid in the grass. The herd mostly consisted of cows and their calves, however, there was the occasional male, who paced about, looking for the freshest patches of grass. They were a closely knit herd, they all stood close together and kept their eyes and ears primed in case of danger. Askan tore his eyes away from the ungulates and realised that Drestig was hankering for his attention. Reluctantly, he gave it to him and hunkered down so they could talk quietly amongst themselves.

"So I flush it out and you grab it?" Askan asked. "Consider it done."


Askan had never been the swiftest of wolves, but he was certain that he was fast enough to play his part. He didn't have to sprint them down, he simply had to separate the calf from the mother and lead it right to his ally. That sounded easy enough. He could do this.

"How about that one, to the far left?" He pointed with his snout. The mother was distracted with grazing and the calf seemed to be a curious, spry thing. It was bouncing around, having a grand time exploring the new world it lived in. Shame that it's life was going to be brutally cut short. "I could sneak closer, and then once you're in position dash out and lead it to you over there." Again he pointed with his nose, to where there was a shrivelled tree stump.