Spectral Woods [BWP]til your eyries receive you

Hunger was a constant companion. Not that he knew it would ever be otherwise, with his mother unsupported and no father to ease the burden, the miracle of his survival to this point was lost on the small dark cub. Stay. He knew what that word meant. It meant alone. It meant this small dark hole in the ground and endless stretches of silence. It didn't make him anxious, it simply was, always had been. But where he might have contented himself with falling asleep before, now he waited, and watched the bright spot, pushing himself up on stubby legs to toddle a little closer. He didn't want to leave the dark place, not yet, but that didn't mean he couldn't use the space to practice. Maybe if he could keep up with his ma, she would start to take him with her. Things were always just a little bit brighter when ma was around.

(This post was last modified: Jul 21, 2018, 09:50 AM by Adarius.)

Momma's here! <3 So sorry for the wait

Leaving only grew harder with each passing day. At least when there had been no open eyes to follow her, she could pretend her absence was hardly even noticed. But now, it was a struggle to tear herself away, making the firm godbeyes and stern commands needed to make sure her offspring would stay put while she attempted to hunt. It was an entirely new experience for the young mother, to be so swayed by her own emotion when she’d always considered herself above such things.  Now she had to force herself out of the rocky den, looking pointedly ahead with her ears flattened, repeating to herself the same mantra of the importance of her trek; This is the only chance of survival, if i stay we’ll all perish! Though it was leaning more and more towards the later, despite all her efforts.

So she made swiftly down the rocky slopes for the dense forests below, panting in the early summer heat and breathing heavily, searching the balmy air for any trace of alluring scent. She’d survived most of her life by scavenging, and knew herself to be rather skilled at tracking; prey rather dead or alive, or even rival predators to raid their caches. But the odds were stacked high against her, the influx of coyotes competing fiercely for any scraps, and taking to travelling in groups, impossible for a lone wolf to challenge over a kill. Often she was forced to return, empty mouthed, despite her best efforts. And all through the hunt, she was aware of the sun’s movement overhead, marking the passing time - every moment gone was another risking that those mongrels might sniff out her treasure.

In the end she managed to nose out a marten, a skinny, feisty thing, hardly worth the effort and painful scratches it left on her nose, yet it was something. And so the scraggly shewolf quickly turned back, too anxious to eat before she was safely reunited with her pup. Coming back to the den near sunset, she barely paused to briefly scan the area for signs of interference, relieved to find none. Continuing forwards she called out a soft woof of welcome through the muffle of the meager kill still between her teeth, lowering her head to peer in through the narrow opening. Only once she’d thus made perfectly sure that all was well, did she drop her catch to smile at the boy, the genuine emotion softening her features. “M’ Precious,” She cooed in greeting, stretching her nose towards the little, dark form; Her son.

Word count: 429
"Speech" Thoughts

(This post was last modified: Jul 08, 2018, 12:20 AM by Nalda.)

Because of work, my activity will fluctuate every other week. For more information and OOC preferrences check out my profile

Back and forth, back and forth. It wasn't much of a race track, but the boy persevered, quickly wearing a grove into the looser earth that made up the bottom of the rock covered dwelling. Once he had worn himself down he napped, then woke and practiced some more, his little legs aching from the effort but unwilling to give it all up just yet.

He only stopped when a shadow loomed at the entrance, holding his ground until the familiar woof crossed the threshold. His skinny tail began to wave, his whole rear end wobbling with the force of it. She was back! and the looming threshold barely registered as he barrelled forward, short sharp yips and whines of greeting leaving his lips as he barreled towards her chest, enthusiastic in his greeting but equally starving for the milk that only she could provide him.

It still hadn't registered to the boy that he was outside.

(This post was last modified: Jul 21, 2018, 09:50 AM by Adarius.)

You realize that two coyotes have been following you.

Ohboy! xD - I'll leave this up to you: I think we might be able to scrounge up enough defenders, but it could also make for good drama to have him snatched?

Her beautiful boy! Anyone else looking at him would see a scrawny thing, too small for his age and with ragged fur; but to the first time mother, he was perfect. More than perfect! He was everything! All she had left now, his siblings perished one by one, leaving only the best behind. Of course she had been biased from the start, he’d been the largest of the litter and her cynical mind had known there was little likelihood of them all surviving; Not against so hard odds..! Indeed, one had never even drawn breath, another dead before morning - what little their mother had to offer was better spend on the strongest, than spread out too thin between so many. And so now, here he was, her precious, the fruit of all her labor; “D’you miss me?”

All the answer she needed was given in his enthusiastic greeting, her jaws parting in silent laughter as the little body rammed into her, quickly nuzzling towards the ground. “Y’hungry?” She clucked, unnecessarily, knowing full well that her offspring lived in the same constant hunger as she did herself. But she enjoyed talking to the boy, and continued to do so in a soft voice while obediently lying herself down to let him get to the milk, however sparse it might be; “Y’been’a good boy whil’a’ w’s gone? Stayin’ inside?” Her nose reached down towards the little dark head, gently caressing a floppy ear; “S’pose ‘is ‘bout time y’came out’ere, see what’it’s all ‘bout.” She couldn’t keep him locked up forever, after all, even if she wanted to. Sooner or later he would have defied her and come out here on his own; Better that he’s with me at least…

Just then, a rustle in the underbrush drew her attention. Her head whipped back up and around, rust-colored ears standing alert. Someone was coming towards them, or something. “Get’inside,” she breathed, voice sharper now, urgent. As the leaves of the nearby bushes started to part, she scrambled to her feet, ready to put herself between the assailants and her son. The stench had already hit her nose, making the heart sink in her chest; Coyotes! She had been so careful. And yet they had found her trail, and followed it straight to her greatest treasure.

Word count: 383
"Speech" Thoughts

Because of work, my activity will fluctuate every other week. For more information and OOC preferrences check out my profile

His mother's questions were met with affirmative grunts, the boy far too focused on what nourishment he could gain while it was on offer. It wasn't that he didn't love his mother, but he had been good all day, and stayed inside, and now was his chance to be greedy, and at least take the edge off his aching tummy. He was finally getting to the good stuff, past the watery foremilk and into the richer, fatty goodness when his mothers teat was ripped from his mouth, his partially closed eyes starting open as his jaw continued to work around his tongue with a frustrated whine... but something was wrong.

The boy didn't recognise the smell, but it wasn't a pleasant one, and with his mother's insistent tone he didn't stop to argue, scrambling between her paws and pushing his dark body into the smallest, darkest corner of the den that he could find.

Obedient as always, her treasure hurried into the den, the mother daring a quick glance after him, to make sure he was as well hidden as could be. Then she turned her full attention on the enemy, backing up slowly until her rear was right up against the cave opening, shoulders hunched and head ducked low. The only way the beasts would get to her precious was going straight through her.

There were two of them, thin and mangy. Youngsters by the look of it, though still more than enough to challenge her emaciated self; So come and get it! She snarled, flicking up her ears and tail, trying to warn them off with pure aplomb. But the bastards had scented her kill, however meager, and they were not backing down. Taking a deep, shaky breath, Nalda stealed herself, eyes constantly shifting back and forth between the beasts as they advanced. Her heart beat loud in her ears, quick breaths wheezing between bared teeth.

Then they were on her, one tearing at her ruff while the other tried for her throat. Growling angrily, she ducked away, turning her teeth on an exposed flank. But before she could do any real damage, the second attacker was back again, biting at her own, vulnerable side. Pain flashed white hot through her, but she ignored it, twisting around to answer with her own snapping jaws. It was a hopeless struggle back and forth, the tag team constantly forcing her to shift back and forth, each attack on one side leaving her open on the other, and it was all made worse by her need to remain fixed in the same spot, blocking the mouth of the shallow den.

Soon she was bloodied and gasping for breath, the collective weight of both coyotes pinning her down, their teeth and claws tearing at anything within reach. A pitiful whine escaped the shewolf as she tried to duck her head and protect her vitals, kicking feebly at the relentless attackers. In a stroke of luck, she managed to strike one beast on the side of the head, pushing it back with an insulted cry. Then, free of the one burden, she used a final burst of energy to push back against the other, uncurling like a snake to strike out and force the monster back. Frantic to use this small advantage, she pushed further forward, lunging viciously for her enemy’s exposed throat to bring him down; too frenzied to realize that she had stepped away from the den.

Word count: 422
"Speech" Thoughts

Because of work, my activity will fluctuate every other week. For more information and OOC preferrences check out my profile

The noises at the entrance of the den were terrifying, the flash of light then dark then light again making the young boy dizzy. He huddled into himself, pressing as close as he could to the back wall, alternating between squeezing his eyes tightly shut and peeking through slitted eyes to try and make sense of what was happening, then suddenly the noise was gone, and only light remained.

Thudthudthudthud echoed in his ears and he could feel the cadence through the tight feeling in his chest. She was coming back right? A small whimper left his jaws and just as quickly, a new shadow came to the entrance. It didn't quite smell right but it had to be his mumma, nobody else ever came through the big light...

Eyes squinting towards the new body, confusion was quick to register, but not before teeth clamped about the loose fur on his neck, yanking him into the light and then suddenly there was wind, and colour, and sounds he had never heard before. With his paws tightly curled against his belly, he couldn't even get a look as just who was carrying him with such haste.

Your choice whether to go another round for the LP or fade here <3

Her teeth sank deep into the faul flesh, strangling the creatures yelp of surprise and pain as her jaws slammed tight around its throat, crushing its windpipe. Hot, acrid blood filled her mouth, and she spat at the body crumbling before her. But her victory was short-lived, ears spinning anxiously even as she was letting go of her first victim, eyes growing wide; Where’s the other one?! Her head whipped around, ears falling back flat as they caught the tiny, helpless sound, meant for her only, yet followed by another.

“No!” She shrilled, flinging herself towards the den opening, left devastatingly vulnerable during her battle. But she was too late. Just as she came to the low entrance, the other came racing out, barrelling her over and continuing on into the forest unhindered. Rolling in the dust, gravel digging into her many cuts and wounds, Nalda felt the pain only dully, a negligible backdrop to the overriding anguish clasping her being; My son! She called out after him, desperately, a harrowing sound of no understandable words, carrying her misery plainly and ringing out among the trees for a long time after she’d run out of air.

There was no need to search the den, to know that he’d been taken, her every sense told her as much, while she struggled to push back to her feet. It proved a trial to get them to support her, her already starved body further exhausted from the fight and amounting blood loss. One hind leg in particular, refused to carry its weight, wobbling wildly and sending sharp stabs of pain up through her hip whenever it touched down. But it would not stop her! She gritted her teeth determinately. However painful it might be, she would give chase, following the thief for as long as there was a chance her precious might still be alive.

Word count: 312
"Speech" Thoughts

(This post was last modified: Sep 05, 2018, 09:11 PM by Nalda.)

Because of work, my activity will fluctuate every other week. For more information and OOC preferrences check out my profile

@Nalda stretch for the LP?

The swaying was rhythmic but something prevented the child from relaxing completely. A familiar voice called after him and it was enough to tell the boy that everything was wrong. If it had been his mother carrying him, her voice wouldn't sound so far away. He keened in response, a high pitched noise somewhere between a whine and a howl, increasing and volume and pitch the longer the stranger kept hold. There was a jerk, and he wasn't sure if his captor had stumbled or if the movement was a threat, but the sound of a growl was universal, and he ceased his crying for his mother.

She would find him, she had to. He'd just have to be brave until she came back. He was at least used to doing that much already.

-Adaruis fade-