Pastel Highlands Don't let go yet

RE: Leo, you accidentally get in the way of a grizzly scavenging for pre-hibernation food.

Life was rough. Between Matos, Nori and himself, the family was able to scrounge up enough food, but only just, and every day was getting colder. Once the herds split up, they would need to travel further to hunt, and they’d need more bodies to take down bigger prey – Jessamy was about old enough – but he didn’t like the idea, too much risk; Nash would have waited until spring…. Of course he wasn’t here now, and it was up to Leo to make the decision.   He wanted to take that role, an older brother to both Matos and Sam, having walked in their father’s footsteps, ever since he took over from Aleister – as leader and father to the Vuesain heir. And Leo ached to be worthy of them both, to take on that responsibility with similar zeal. He wanted to carry on their legacy, build the new home that Nash and Aquene had wanted, but not at the cost of everyone’s safety; No more death! His first priority was Sam, and he would choose whatever was best for her; As soon as I find out what that is…   This deep in thought, Leo had wandered north, out of the forest and into the hills, a bleak landscape of rolling waves dusted in snow, the uniform white broken only by the prints left by other travelers. One such set drew his attention, relatively fresh marks of a lone deer, walking with a notable limp – he couldn’t afford to pass up such an opportunity. Unfortunately, he wasn’t the only predator on the trail.   Whether the bear had taken down the injured doe itself, or scared off whatever other hungry predator had was impossible to tell. In fact, Leo did not have time to assess anything about the situation – coming from upwind, he was taken entirely by disadvantage – by the time he spotted the beast, it already had his scent in its nostrils, turned from its prey to charge this latest rival and protect its meal at all costs; Shit! ”Speech" Thoughts

dawnthieves.de & Twimperology @DA

Jessamy didn't like being left alone. For the last several months she'd wished she could be alone without someone running to find her - ahem, her parents - but now she wanted nothing more than for one of them to come find her, chide her for wandering off, and herd her back toward their chosen den. A couple times now she'd thought she'd heard them, her mother's voice drifting on the wind calling her name, her father's low laugh in the brush as wandered by. She missed them, missed them so much her chest ached and it wouldn't go away. She didn't know how to handle it. It hadn't been like this when Sari had gone away. Jessamy hadn't really known her littermate, hadn't really understood what her absence meant until long after the chance to feel sad passsed.

Now she knew.

So she didn't like to be left alone. What if when she came back, her brothers were gone too? Her cousin cold upon the ground? Their large family had become so small so quickly. Sam missed her nieces, missed her sister, missed her parents. She just wanted everything to go back to the way it was supposed to be.

She knew she shouldn't have, but she followed Leo when he went out. He was upwind of her, so she could quietly pad a short distance behind and her scent blew away from him. She didn't want to get into any trouble, but she didn't want to be alone either. If Leo disappeared, she was determined to go with him. Sam was proud of herself, staying aware of the wind and doing her best to walk far enough away and at the right angle to her eldest brother to remain downwind.

The smell of the bear was new. Something that made her lip curl, her fur stand on end, and by the time it hit her she could see it charging Leo. Sam knew she was too small to help, knew there was nothing she could do against something so large and furious and that everybody would be angry with her for trying - so instead of leaping to her brother's defense, she screamed. "Leo! Look out!" and then spun on her heels and sprinted back the way she'd come, back toward home, howling for @Matos and @Nori and hoping they were close enough to hear.

i want to turn you loose

watch you bloom

Nori was being a little clingy, and she knew that, but she couldn't help herself. After picking up on not only Leo's but also Jessamy's scents heading up north, she had followed them, hoping perhaps they could find something to hunt together, and maybe teach Jessamy a little. She was still a ways behind the two of them, loitering a little, taking her time. For the moment, there was no need to rush.

This changed, however, when Jessamy began howling for help, and the bitter scent of bear invaded her nose.

She darted toward the howl, past Jessamy, and froze momentarily when she spotted the bear charging at Leo. There was no way she was going to be able to get between them in time, so instead she started to bark, hoping to draw the creature's attention.

Whether it worked or not would be up to chance, but she couldn't just stand by and let this happen, and this was all she could think of. She moved closer, fur bristling and ears flattened against her skull.

The Eastfall-Slayer boy was no more. With the sudden loss of his parents the youth was thrusted into full adult mode. It was eventually coming given his age but he hadn't ever expected to be left by his parents so soon. His father had his grandmother until just this spring. Why didn't he, Leo, Sam and Nori get Nash and Aquene for just as long? It wasn't fair.

But that was life wasn't it? Unfair. Matty was going to have to learn to live with it. He didn't think the hole in his hear would ever fully heal. It was just the four of them...so many had left. The young man felt the need to travel to the Falls to tell his uncle and cousins of yet another loss. However, with the cold closing in on them and snow surely not far off he couldn't leave his little band. The news would have to wait.

The swarthy man was making his was through the trees when he picked up the scent of his family. Instinctually he veered to follow them, the need to stick together strong. Panic rose in his chest at Jessamy's howl for him and Nori. He was off in an instant, the sounds of Nori barking guiding him further. Dual colored eye's spied the agouti forms of Leo & Nori, the small dark form of his baby sister and finally the bear.

Matos joined in with his cousin's chorus to hopefully draw the grizzly's attention away from Leo. This creature was far larger than the black bear mother and cubs they had fought on the mountain...and they were more at a disadvantage with only the three of them. That wouldn't stop the Eastfall-Slayer boy man. He would defend them with his life if it came to that.

Anyone feel free to PP the bear as you see fit.

And adult male, the grizzly was a true beast, a massive hulk of anger barreling at him at full force. Teeth gleaming, yellow and red with blood, a vicious roar tearing through the cold, Leo had no time to plan a defense, in fact, he barely had time to register what was happening, before a desperate cry reached his ears.   Heart jumping into his throat, Leo’s head turned from the predator, eyes widening with fear as they fell upon the girl – a smudge of black and brown against the snow, looking oh so tiny in comparison to the beast; No! Muscles tensing against the oncoming blow, Leo roared with all the air in his lungs: “Sam, run!” He needn’t have worried of course, she was already turning, but it didn’t matter anyway – with his bum leg, he couldn’t have outrun the attacker – all he had time for was to duck as low to the ground as possible, to minimize his figure.   A mad chorus suddenly rose to the sky, Jessamy’s howls for help joined by first one, and then a second familiar voice, challenging the beast. A whole new panic gripped the Vuesain’s heart, eyes blinking open and head lifting to glimpse his family through the bear’s legs; No, NO! Why are you here? He was supposed to be protecting them, not putting them in danger; Please, PLEASE just run!   But their tactic had worked. Just before the full force of the bear collided with Leo, its head veered in confusion, paws skidding in the snow as it slowed down. The crouched form in front of it was forgotten, as the bears full attention turned to the two wolves barking furiously, posing an even bigger threat. Another roar build in its chest as it rose on its hind legs, towering over them like a true monster, ready to dispatch of them all to defend the kill. “No!” Leo cried out, pushing back to his feet and jumping at the beasts back, teeth locking around one shoulder to weigh it down, protecting his family at all cost. ”Speech" Thoughts

dawnthieves.de & Twimperology @DA

Jessamy's cries were quickly answered, her remaining family members rushing to Leo's aid. She turned to watch, ears pressed back against her skull and body pressed close to the ground to try and keep the bear's attention off of her - she couldn't help. She was too small. Not strong enough. She had done what she was capable of.

But she wanted to do more.

Her heart leapt into her throat when her eldest brother leaped onto the bear. Sam felt helpless. What could she do to make sure everyone came home safely? She stared, pulse thundering in her ears, mind racing.

(This post was last modified: Dec 16, 2024, 03:41 AM by Jessamy.)

Matos joined her in her strategy, and it appeared to have worked, as the bear whipped its attention toward them instead. Maybe it should've been scarier, seeing a massive beast charging directly at her, but Nori couldnt find it in herself to be afraid. Not when the lives of the wolves she cared about most were on the line. She simply couldn't lose anyone else, and couldn't let them lose each other. If need be, she'd be willing to lay down her life.

Leo was quick to jump on it and attached himself to its shoulder, pulling it down toward the ground and slowing its charge. Nori lunged forward and sank her teeth deep into the flesh of the side of its neck, hoping to hit something important.

Something sharp connected with her ribs. She chose not to think about it for now, and instead snarled, jerking her head from side to side and feeling her paws lift off the ground as the bear rose onto its hind feet.

Success, something finally going how they intended. The grizzly's attention shifted to himself and Nori as he began to charge them. His dark hackles rose on end even more as Matty assumed a crouched position. A spring coiled tight ready to be released. Emerald and amber widened as Leo latched onto the bear's shoulder and Nori lunged for the bear's neck. The roar that the other predator let out would be enough to cause anyone in their right mind running in the opposite direction. There was no time for that now.

His snarling and barking was no longer enough to keep the bear's attention. With two wolves attached to itself it was safe to say that this was not how it thought it's day would've gone. The eldest Eastfall-Slayer launched himself into the fray as the grizzly made to swipe again at his cousin. Standing at almost it's full height Matos flew up and latched on it's forearm just in time to keep its razor sharp claws from slashing at his cousin.

His snarl was muffled by wiry brown fur, but that didn't stop him from clamping down as hard as he could. If they could just scare it enough...