Secret Falls Creep

You're tucked in your den when something goes bump in the night -- but when you get out to investigate, there's neither hide nor hair of a trespasser!
All welcome, edgy crew or otherwise!

It was late. Askan should have fallen asleep hours ago and yet as hard as he tried he just couldn't do it. It was all so baffling, falling asleep had never been an issue before. Usually, it was as easy as curling up by Reyes' side and closing his eyes. But on that dark and cold night Askan couldn't help but feel as though there was something amiss. Something he couldn't quite put his paw on.

They had been scouting the area, hunting and exploring every nook and cranny they could find, so by then Askan was fairly certain it was safe. That these woods were unclaimed and ripe for the taking. And yet, that feeling surfaced again, a creeping sense of dread that he couldn't shake. He huffed and pressed himself further into the embrace of his mate's side. He was being weak again, wasn't he? Letting his imagination run wild just as he used to when he'd been a pup.

No doubt he'd feel fine in the morning, he'd realise just how stupid he was being but-there it was again. That thudding.

This wasn't the first time he'd heard it. The night before, just as he'd been about to drift off he'd been jolted awake by that God awful thud thud thud. He'd passed it off as some sort of woodland critter going about its business but that sound paired with his growing sense of unease...Well, it was a recipe for disaster.

Perhaps...Maybe these woods weren't as empty as he'd thought

Swallowing thickly, Askan peeled himself away from his mate's side and wriggled out of their temporary, shallow den. It wasn't much, nothing more than a hole in the ground and barely big enough to fit the two of them but it served its purpose. At least until they found somewhere better, closer to their little lake.

With a tight grimace and his tail held high, he scanned the forest and -rather foolishly- hoped that he'd catch the thudder in the act. But no, there was nothing nor anyone in sight. Nothing but trees and fallen leaves.

(This post was last modified: Oct 28, 2017, 01:22 AM by Askan.)

Sachiel could not decide if he liked day or night better.

The sun brought out the vibrancy in colours; illuminating them and bringing them to their full potential. The moon, along with the dark sky and the twinkling stars, subdued the colours. They became darker, softer; therefore, more appealing to his inquisitive eyes. He drank them in, committing them to memory and embracing the different hues. He liked the early mornings and the late evenings, where the sun and the moon met in the sky. Where the colours changed, from shade to another, shifting from light to dark or back to light.

The woods in the north were much different than what he was used to. The orange, striped, headache inducing trees of the Vale along with the emerald pines paled in comparison the abundance of colours in the northern forests. Sometimes he would stumble upon a tangerine coloured leaf, but it he would either crumple it beneath his paws or kick it away from him. Most of the foliage in the woods he now inhabited were shades of dull brick or brilliant marigold. It was a nice change. It made him miss home less, for he was slowly beginning to realize the place had never been a home to him, even if he had been born among the striped giants.

His parents had been too busy for him—tending to their duties and leaving him to entertain himself. Not that he minded (most of the time). Sachiel liked his independence. Being able to explore without an adult tailing him.

It was liberating.

But it did not mean he did not crave the company of his parents. Sometimes.

He blinked the thought away as he meandered through the trees, his steps slow as he observed the dull colours around him. His mismatched eyes were wide, hungry, as he kept pushing forward. The cool air of the night was comforting and compelled the boy to continue forward.

Only he had not noticed the scent of others lingering nearby, for he was too enthralled by the array of colours blackened by the dark sky overhead…

ridge is a mature character

aka he curses a lot due to his frustation with his memory loss

x

ridge associates colours with moods/feelings & uses them to describe others

Askan's tail lashed behind him as he huffed in frustration. Whatever had been making that damned sound had to be close. After all, more than once he'd felt the force of it vibrating in his chest, between his ribs, and yet there was nothing. Not a single clue nor scent to even suggest someone-or something- had been here. Askan couldn't help but wonder if he was losing his mind. Hearing and feeling things in the dark, when in reality everything was as it should be.

This couldn't be normal. There had to be something wrong, something out there. Maybe he was thinking about it too much, turning into an old worrywart. His senses hadn't failed him yet, they were as sharp as ever, so why was he doubting them now? Because he was stupid, and pretty tired, now that he thought about it.

Bending down into a stretch, Askan then stood on his tippy-toes and shook off his coat , shedding loose strands of fur and hopefully his worries with it. Thudding? Pfft, what could a noise do to him, a wolf in his prime? He'd find the culprit and kick their arse for disturbing his sleep, they'd learn the hard way that you don't mess with a Selwyn!

With that in mind off he went, weaving through the trees with his nose to the ground. He'd just do a quick patrol, like old times, make sure the coast was clear then he'd return to bed. Maybe it'd help him sleep, settle his nerves and tire out his muscles. He didn't even get far, perhaps a few yards or so when he found an unfamiliar scent. And oh, was it a telling one. Not one of his wolves, not Hawth or Percy. Someone else, someone new. The culprit perhaps?

A wry-almost manic- smile tugged at his lips. He knew it, he knew he wasn't crazy!

His tensed his toes and his nails tore into the dry leaves under-paw , as he steadied his gait, his posture firm and confident. These woods weren't yet his, but soon they would be.

"I know you're there." Askan called out to the night. His voice low and commandeering, as a thinly veiled threat danced on the tip of his tongue.

He continued at a leisurely pace, his steps slow and calculated. Mostly because his mismatched gaze was fixated on the darkened colours of the forest, his mind seeking out something new; something different. He knew the northern forests were home to different creatures—of both the canine and non-canine variety. The boy did not want to unexpectedly stumble across another animal and have another encounter like the one he had had with the feline. His tail throbbed at the thought, lashing out behind him to dismiss his thoughts as he refocused his attention on the trees. Every few steps he would pause, his nose tipping toward the ground as he memorized the branches and the paths that weaved through the array of trees. Adding them to his mental map. The never-ending map.

The scents that littered the forest floor were both fresh and old—some of them repeating offenders. Sachiel could not tell if a pack resided here, for there were no borders in place. Scent markers. Physical markers. Anything to denote that a pack had made its home in the subdued forest.

He couldn’t have missed the markers. It wasn’t possible. He always paid attention.

His nose twitched, a frown tugging at his lips as he paused his movement. The forest was quiet—too quiet. It didn’t feel right. It was all black and ember flames. Danger! it screamed. Run! it screamed, once more, this time louder. A burst of crimson. He swallowed and took a hesitant step backward, his brows pinched together.

I know you’re there.

The crimson returned, burning furiously through the darkness.

Did he answer? There was enough time for him to slink away undetected. Sure, the voice had been demanding, terrifying even, but Sachiel was quick on his feet. He knew how to get back to where he’d left his older companion. He took another step back, fuelled by uncertainty. Of what to say, what to do. He was alone; vulnerable. Even with his swift paws.

“Uh,” he started, his voice small, “okay?” 

ridge is a mature character

aka he curses a lot due to his frustation with his memory loss

x

ridge associates colours with moods/feelings & uses them to describe others

A lynx has left behind the remains of a deer. +5 Health

Askan hadn't really expected a response. After all, what sort of idiot would reveal it's location to such a pissy sounding wolf? Perhaps if he'd cooed softly, beckoned them closer, it would have made sense. But really? If the roles were reversed Askan would have kept his lips sealed and remained as silent as he could manage.

He tilted his head, ears perked, as he noted just how young the voice had sounded.Like a child. Another one? Jeeze, what sort of parents let their kids roam around alone in the dead of night? Shitty ones, as far as Askan was concerned. His shoulders shagged and all that pent up aggression and ferocity began to bleed out from his from, like he was riddled with a thousand wounds. Whoever this kid was Askan was certain he wasn't the thudder, if anything they just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Still, he was unwilling to let this go. For all his sharp and jagged edges, Askan was still a guy with a conscience and a steady moral code. The kid wasn't his-the only person he'd ever fooled around with had been @Reyes , and nothing was ever going to come of that- but even so he had to make sure that he was okay, that he wasn't lost.

"Forget it. I thought you were something else, wanna come out and talk?"

For once his voice was soft-as he could manage- and devoid of any of his usual 'salt.' Like he'd realised earlier, demanding wasn't going to get him anywhere. If he wanted to speak face to face with the kid then the offer had to at least sound a little appealing.

"It's a bit late for a kid to be out exploring, don't you think? Where are you parents?"

Stupid.

He frowned, his chest brushing against the ground as he crouched down in a feeble attempt at making himself disappear.

Stupid, stupid, STUPID.

He should have kept quiet. Kept his dumb mouth shut and slunk away into the dead of night. Disappearing—that was something he was good at. He had disappeared from the Vale without a word. Without even looking back. The familiar pain of guilt gnawed at his stomach as the thought entered his mind. Part of him felt bad for leaving so suddenly. He had led Diego north instead of south; away from his home in the Vale. Sachiel knew it was south—it was impossible for him to get lost—but he went the wrong way on purpose. Seeking bigger and better things. Less orange. More green. He could always go back… the Vale wasn’t going anywhere. He was.

Had his parents noticed yet?

Had they even gone looking for him?

Forget it. The voice came out once more, dragging the boy away from his thoughts and plunging him headfirst into reality. … wanna come out and talk?

Not really!!!!!!!

The voice called out once more. It almost sounded concerned, but maybe that was wishful thinking. The tip of his tail twitched as he considered running, his legs tense and ready to launch himself from the ground away from the voice. But he had already alerted the stranger of his presence. What would running do now? “Uh,” he started again, his knees unfolding from beneath him as he stepped toward the crimson voice, his ears folded neatly atop his skull. “I like the night. It’s quieter.” He shrugged, his mismatched gaze immediately avoiding the brilliant topaz pools swimming the ebony male’s skull. “Parents are south. Far south.”

ridge is a mature character

aka he curses a lot due to his frustation with his memory loss

x

ridge associates colours with moods/feelings & uses them to describe others

Askan waited and then waited some more. There was nothing but the silence of the night between them, almost as though the thudder had never even existed in the first place. He'd just been about to call out to the kid again when they finally spoke up, though even he could tell they were pretty damn reluctant too.

"Mmm, it's not as quiet as I'd like. This noise has been keeping me awake the past few nights. Sounds like someone is banging on something, wood maybe. Sound familiar?"By no means was he accusing the boy, but if he'd heard it too then at least Askan could know for sure that wasn't a figment of his imagination.

For a moment Askan assumed that the kid was from the Bend, after all that was one of the few south-eastern packs he knew about. But then he went onto say far south and a frown tugged at his lips. Not the Bend then. Huh. Either way, the kid was a long long way from home.

The kid looked anything but comfortable, and if he'd been older than wouldn't have bothered the Selwyn too much. But he hated being the bad guy, the monster out in the night. He wasn't friendly by any meaning of the word but he didn't want to make a pup shit himself in fear either. What to do, what to do? Askan rolled his shoulders as he mulled it over, only when he was confident did he offer the boy a wry smile.

"Run away from home too? There's room for runaways here, if you feel like hanging about. Got another kid your age here, as well as some other good folk. Interested?"

He blinked at the older man’s words, his brows furrowing together. First screaming, now thudding? What was wrong with this forest? He frowned, his forepaws shuffling uncomfortable as he gave a sharp shake of his head in response to the stranger’s question. No, uh, he started, his frown deepening, I did hear a scream the other night, though. His ears fell to the side, his mismatched gaze quickly averting the bright yellow eyes in the dark man’s skull. He hoped this stranger didn’t think it was him making all the ruckus. He just wanted some peace and quiet. Perhaps this wasn’t the right area for him (and potentially Diego) to settle down…

The colours were better up here—much better than the orange down south. Needles had shifted to an array of different leaves, that ranged in both size and colour. It was easier to breathe up here and the trees did not make his head ache. But these strange sounds that occurred in the middle of the night did not set well with the agouti boy.

But what was left?

Diego had been keen on going further north—what was up there? More forest, maybe? Or something else?

Run away from home too? Again, he made sure to advert his gaze from the older loner, his tail hanging low between his legs. Had he run away? It was him who had led Diego north, claiming that his pack was somewhere in the forest but that he couldn’t remember where.

Which was impossible. Because Sachiel remembered everything about the southern forests.

Kinda, he hummed as he glanced up at the yellow-eyed wolf, a sheepish grin tugging at his lips. I came up here with a friend, he added, his paws shuffling beneath him, so I’d have to talk to him. See what his plan is.

ridge is a mature character

aka he curses a lot due to his frustation with his memory loss

x

ridge associates colours with moods/feelings & uses them to describe others

He heard a scream? What the hell was wrong with this time of year? Unlike the pup Askan wasn't so inclined to blame it on these woods.He had a feeling that no matter where he went in autumn something creepy and unexplained would happen. Last year it had been his dreams, restless sleep, and this year it was thudding and screams.

Wonderful.

At his subdued reaction, Askan felt a spark of regret. Shit. Probably not the best question to ask but it was out there now and nothing he said or did could pull it back in. The kid's tail might have curved on in between his legs but Askan's remained relaxed as he waved it a couple of times. Anything to seem all the more approachable. It was true he had a bit of a staring issue and that his gaze was usually anything but warm and friendly. But he was really trying here, wasn't entirely sure why he was but that was aside the point.

"Mmm, that's fair. Is your friend about?"If that was the case then Askan was anything but pleased. Another damn loner skulking around his parts. Hmph."I won't be moving from these parts anytime soon. If you change your mind, or find your friend then we'll be here. And if not...then I'd suggest you head back south. Every adventure has to finish sooner or later."

If the rolls had been reversed Askan would have told him to bugger off, no one could tell a Selwyn what to do! But really, Askan hoped the kid had more sense than that. He wasn't tiny nor was he defenceless but was this the life he really wanted for himself? It was something for him to think about at least.

"What's your name kid? You can call me Askan, or Kana, I guess."