Hot Springs [BWP] [S] i've come back to the land i'd lost

@Lauraceae || July 1st, Late Afternoon, Broken Clouds, 71.6 ° F, 22 ° C

She hadn't left the area around her den very much since the arrival of her children. Although with them growing by the day, she trusted she would be able to finally stretch her legs a bit more. She informed her lover of her intention to take a small trip. A kiss to him and a kiss to each of her children was all she gave before slipping off.

Her body carried her to a familiar place. The heat was already bad enough as is (after being through such a cold winter) that she didn't get too close to the springs. Salmon colored tongue hanging out between parted jaws. Perhaps she ought to head back to the lake. There she could cool off from the heat of the springs and broken sun.

Yet she wanted to admire the place for just a few more minutes before turning around. Its uniqueness had always beckoned the Parlow.

(This post was last modified: Jul 03, 2018, 04:14 AM by Kerberos. Edit Reason: swearing tag )

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This is where his mother had died. She may have been able to fight back, had it not been for him. Instead his poor mother suffered, she drew her last breaths at this place before being tossed in the warm water.

But Laurel did not know any of this. He did not know where she had been buried, if she had, and he didn't know that he was so close to where he'd been born — where he'd been actually born. How could he know? Larkspur had refused to give him, or anyone else, any details. So the boy felt no connection to this place, and as he approached the warm water, was only confused as it somehow got hotter. Regardless, he was thirsty, and a dip in the cool springs was certain to relieve him of any aches that he had.

No coyotes in sight yet, so Laurel made a quick dash for the water. He was still a pup in many ways, and even though he had to play alone a lot of the time, he had found ways to play. Excitedly, he jumped into the water.

YIPE!

And then he very not-excitedly jumped out. Not only was the water unexpectedly warm, but the hot water singed his bare skin and fresh wounds. His tail tucked far under his belly as he shivered, staring wide-eyed in wonder at the hot springs. What the hell was that? What was wrong with the water?! At first Laurel thought it was his imagination and crept forward, sniffing cautiously at the air. He dipped a paw in, let out another shocked YIPE! and backed away from the awful water. The yearling stared at it, utterly confused and a little offended.

(This post was last modified: Jul 03, 2018, 01:58 AM by Lauraceae.)

In the distance there is a large pack of coyotes howling.

The sounds of a loud YIPE had caused her to quickly look around. It didn't take long to spot the form of a scarred up male, jagged worse than she had ever seen. She was about to go introduce herself (more like ask a million questions) but the howling of coyotes made her feel there was more pressing matters at hand. Nice to know they hadn't left during her maternity leave.

You bring them with you? She asked a bit defensively, grungy yellow eyes raking over his form. It sure looked like he could have brought the pesky vermin with him. Which meant it was now her job to run the boy off. While he wasn't right on Fallen Tree Cove's doorstep, they were close enough for her to want the coyote and coyote bringer gone.

Funny how she had argued with Kajika about throwing himself into danger when she was just about to do the same.

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S is for a Swearing Sailor

Laurel didn't have time to enjoy how amazing it was that the spring was hot. He had wanted to investigate it a little bit more, but instead his best friends announced their presence. His head snapped in the direction of the howl. His teeth clenched and he wondered if he was overdue for a good, long scream. He hadn't had time to have a good breakdown, not between the running, hiding, and in general barely scraping by. It was too late now.

His mind was spinning, he hadn't even noticed the large woman there until she'd decided to speak. Laurel's skin crawled as she asked him a question that he definitely didn't want to answer. Did he have to answer it? The yearling's head lowered, tail still between his legs. He might as well have had an I'm the guiltiest sunnova bitch you ever seen sign plastered on his forehead. That was if wolves could read and as far as I'm sure, they don't.

His tongue nervously swiped over his scarred maw. Deal with bloodthirsty coyotes, or deal with a large, angry wolf?

"That's right," he snapped at the woman, suddenly angry at her. "I figured I'd liven up the place," he was looking at the woman now, Laurel stood up straight and shot daggers at her. Figuratively, anyways. "Got a problem? Don't like coyotes? Because I fuckin' love 'em!"

(This post was last modified: Jul 03, 2018, 02:31 AM by Lauraceae.)

His features seemed to contort before her very eyes. Almost apologetic one moment and a lively ball of fire the next. Her hackles raised as her tail curled over her spine. His words rubbed her in all the wrong ways.

Well take yourself and your fuckin' love for them elsewhere. She warned as the closing in group of coyotes let out another chorus of howls, a reminder of their presence. That was enough for the Parlow to charge at the younger male, teeth bared and aiming for anything she could grab. It had been a long time sense she got to fight and no longer carrying children left her feeling more than free to get into trouble. This rogue male with his band of coyotes was the perfect opportunity.

It was clear she wanted blood and she wanted to take it before the coyotes could.

fighting post 1/5

(This post was last modified: Jul 03, 2018, 03:06 AM by Birtie.)

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Lauraceae seemed to have a new habit of getting into fights he couldn't possibly win. Maybe he could have won his little scuffle with the other yearling days prior, but in this fight, the odds were stacked against him. But he was angry and hurt, and then angry on top of that. Birtie was larger, heavier, and probably more skilled than the scrawny, beaten-down yearling.

But Laurel was young and stupid. When the woman charged, he did too. He managed to avoid adding another scar to his face, but her teeth did find his shoulder — and man did she bite hard. Vaken had not been out for blood, only dominance. As her teeth sunk into his shoulder, he only felt angrier. He went right for her face, jaws clamping down as tightly as he could.

Fight 2/5

(This post was last modified: Jul 03, 2018, 02:56 AM by Lauraceae.)

She succeeded, the flesh of his shoulder gripped between her jaws. The Parlow wasn't letting go. Not yet. There were no deep feelings to her actions. Merely a reaction to his words and that was that.

There was a stinging sensation on her face that she had not been anticipating. The skin above and below her left eye (along with the eye itself) felt awfully raw and damp. Pain seared through that part of her face. A thunderous growl escaped her as she pulled back from the male. Her head shook to try and rid any blood of her vision but it didn't seem to do much.

With anger coursing through her, she aimed to barrel herself right into the yearling's smaller form with hopes of knocking him off balance. Birtie wanted nothing more than to leave him as coyote food now.

fighting post 3/5

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@Sahalie and @Kino had taught him better than this, and because of that a small voice in the back of his mind made him feel guilty. He felt guilty for wanting to injure the woman's face, and even guiltier for being proud that he'd managed to draw so much blood. Laurel's shoulder stung intensely, but he tightly held onto her face, head jerking left and right so he could really dig in. Eventually she let go, so he let go too.

His legs trembled and he gasped for breath. When Birtie decided to tackle him, he had no choice but to go down. A small cloud of dust rose at his impact with the ground; he was down, but not out. Already exhausted (but wasn't he always exhausted at this point?) Laurel desperately snapped at the woman's fur. He didn't hold on this time, and instead delivered quick, sharp bites as he tried to kick her away with his legs.

Another coyote's howl rang through the air, but this time closer.

Fight 4/5

That eye, for better or worse, was probably done for now with the way he shook his head. She could only growl in pain before he released his grasp on her.

There was swelling pride in her chest as she managed to get him on the ground. Despite his multiple quick bites to her, she aimed to try and get a hold of his throat. She wouldn't sink her teeth in but she wanted to make her point known. The stench of blood thick but still laced with coyotes. Their howls seemed to turn into persistent yaps. It was a reminder that she needed to get lost soon. Yet stubbornly Birtie refused to leave until she was sure that this yearling had learned his lesson.

fight post 5/5

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