Red Fern Forest The Forest of Chakra

Random Event: It's been so humid recently it feels like breathing through a wet leaf, you better find somewhere to cool down!
Kaeruka is just hanging about the Vale while figuring out her next move, welcome to anyone who wants to hop in and meet the new girl in town.

A salmon tongue lulled between parted jaws, the smallest droplets of saliva dripping from its extended tip sporadically onto the leaves of ferns that brushed against her limbs as Kaeruka found herself still treading aimlessly through the sea of red with no true sense of purpose yet. Honestly, she found herself in no rush to get where she was going, wherever that place even was. By now, though, the tawny woman had officially made up her mind that the weather in this new, strange place was exactly that. Bizarre. Dense fog was the beginning of her observations and that wasn't that bad, at least not in comparison to what she was experiencing now.

Such a heavy humidity clung to the air that it honestly could only be described as trying to breathe through a wet leaf. An impossible task if you asked her. Plus, this type of weather was perfect staging to potentially bring out the more snappy side of Kaeruka who was not the most akin to handling unpleasant weather the most gracefully. An agitated, whipping ebony-tipped tail accompanied each stride the tawny female made while paws trampled the forest floor thunderously in search of some reprieve from the day's current weather choice. Twigs and sticks alike crackling like thunder and sending unfortunate wildlife that happened to be nearby scurrying for a new place to call cover. Oh, pray for the unfortunate soul that would cross her path this day.

Word Count: 241

gothxmoth 2021 - Sebastian Unrau

(This post was last modified: Aug 03, 2021, 04:48 PM by Kaeruka.)

Adelard Gerau crossed over Fools Gold Chasm's territory markers. The air was stifling. Even the coolness of the pack's den was uncomfortable. In an attempt to make himself useful, he emerged from the pack den. Out along the borders, he followed his sister's tracks. Anything to keep his mind off of the veil of airlessness that had descended on the Vale.

Something about the humidity was unsettling. Adelard was almost certain that the mountain range was to blame. His head tilted upward as he walked, eyes trained on the boughs and the clouds above them. Perhaps the rain had gotten caught on the crags and, without any place left to go, they lowered into the forest. He couldn't be sure.

Musings aside, he huffed and puffed as he went, head and ears held low. The moisture clung to the lining of his lungs and gathered in droplets on his nose. Somewhere in the distance, a rabbit fled from its burrow. Adelard's ears came up and his interest piqued.

Someone was here.

He stalked through the glistening ferns, hearing now the sharp snaps of twigs along a linear path. His head tilted to one side before he let out a warning bark. Regardless of whether it was beast or prey, they would realize that they were not alone.

         

ADELARD

heat stroke, bring the fire black smoke, I take it higher

Amidst her series of reckless stomping about a bark of warning managed to bring Kaeruka to a complete halt, charcoal ears immediately standing erect for a moment before pivoting like satellites to catch any further signs of this sudden new presence. As well as pin the general location it had come from. For a fleeting moment, only silence reigned supreme spare the fluttering of wings as a spruce grouse became spooked from its hiding spot and made a sharp b-line for the nearest tree.

Pear green orbs watched the fleeing fowl, but luckily for them, the tawny female had no plans of making them the latest addition to her afternoon lunch menu. Despite some protest from her stomach that now grumbled at the prospect of a fresh meal instead of scavenged carcasses.

The thought was quickly dismissed as a flaxen snout tilted skyward to inhale the air about, droplets of collected condensation along the rim of her chocolate nose rolling downward. Kaeruka could pick up the faint traces of pack markers in the distance, but she had made certain to avoid those and give them a wide girth to prevent any potentially ugly confrontations. If her mood was affected by the weather, she could only imagine an entire pack. Or had her efforts been inadequate and the sound of her reckless footfalls still managed to pique the interest of some patrolling member? Lungs exhaled an annoyed huff slowly.

Once more her stomach gave an unsolicited grumble for sustenance, earning a low rumble of a growl in return from the woman. It was in that split second afterward, though, that panic swiftly painted itself upon her facial features. Were they close enough to have heard?! Oh crud..

Word Count: 286

gothxmoth 2021 - Sebastian Unrau

Apologies for the super-delayed reply. August rolled in and just hit suuuuper hard...

The sigh Adelard released was smooth, almost effortless. Inhaling to recapture his breath was another story. Best to pant it out, he supposed, just for the briefest of moments. He paused to listen again, wondering if the snapping of twigs would continue. Instead, the flight of a grouse beat at the heavy atmosphere. Then, it was gone.

Suspicion perched upon his whiskered brows. Were they hiding? Did they not want to be found or heard? He, too, lifted his muzzle to the sky and sampled the air to no avail. The humidity only made him flustered.

Taking quick inventory of himself and his present surroundings, he prowled forward. "Hello?" he offered. Given the present weather conditions, he doubted his voice went far. Still, he called out a second time just in case. "Hello?" To any other creature, the words were merely repeated barks, but to another, he hoped it was an invitation.

         

ADELARD

heat stroke, bring the fire black smoke, I take it higher

No worries! I think August was pretty tough for a few of us this year <3

While green irises remained fixated on the path ahead, charcoal audits pricked forward to listen to the deafening silence that continued to reign over the humid forest. Perhaps the she-wolf was in luck today and whoever had managed to pick up on her presence had moved on, relief coming in the form of a half-released sigh. Alas, that relief was short-lived. Just as the tawny female began to believe the coast was clear, a muffled hello broke the veil of silence.

Kaeruka furrowed her brows in perplexion, unsure how to proceed. That was when a second hello could be heard echoing faintly amidst the ferns. Persistent weren't they? Well, it didn't seem like she was going to be able to elude them easily so might as well confront whoever this was. Creamy muzzle tilted upward to release a response. Hello, I'm here.

Word Count: 142

Commision by Kumiho-kami