Blackberry Fields watch me move

http://a.imageshack.us/img717/5995/70049898.png);"> THERE'S A PLACE I KNOW IF YOU'RE LOOKIN' FOR A SHOW       She moved slowly, her pointed steps made with the greatest care. Night had settled upon the fields hours ago and the air was still as she slowly moved forward, pale eyes looking for anything of interest. While her first priority was to find her dinner, her ears twitched to the impatient sway of her tail, almost willing the sound of pawsteps to come to her. It had not been long ago that she had reunited with her family, the entire, rather unbearable lot of them—Indru Tainn included, whom Junai had always held a rather neutral opinion of. Her loyalties would forever lie with Ioni, who was just as talented (if not more so) than her brothers despite age and gender differences; what was not to admire about her conniving sister? No matter, Junai would take whatever help she could get to silence any doubts about her competence. She would grow and flourish with the help of Indru, Ioni, and the others... And then she would eternally shut Torla and her stupid, just protests up.       At the sound of another's approach, Junai's head whipped around, golden eyes widening as she took in the sight of her brother. Her tail's annoyed waving stopped, instead going limp as she remarked a little dryly, <b style="color:#333E4B; font-family:georgia;">“Took ya long enough.” She leaned towards him regardless, ears pulling back to lick submissively—and perhaps admiringly—at his chin. As snarky and bad-tempered as Junai could be, she knew when to be submissive and thankful... After all, a high-ranking guy like him didn't need to go helping her with hunting. After pulling away, Junai's ears gave a surprised twitch and her head tilted to one side, taking in the surprise visitor. Ruiko? She hadn't exactly invited him, but she wasn't about to reject his presence... Two wolves who favored her was certainly better than one, after all! She took a step towards her other brother, her tail giving a small, welcoming wave as she licked his chin, only to pull back and amend, <b style="color:#333E4B; font-family:georgia;">“You sure both of you should be here? I don't want the pack to fall apart or anything.” Not that she was complaining, because she enjoyed the attention she received as a child of the Tainn family. Grinning teasingly, she stepped away to give both of her brothers their free space before turning her gaze from them and impatiently raking the fields over with her eyes, only to ask, <b style="color:#333E4B; font-family:georgia;">“What can we take down, just the three of us?” Ego told her to go for the biggest, baddest thing out there... But a vague shred of, oh, right—reality told her that such reckless behavior would be the death of her, so she waited for her brothers' advice.

(This post was last modified: Aug 06, 2010, 02:38 AM by Indru.)

Flicking his nose slightl,y Indru snorted in pretend annoyance at her cocky words, ones which she saved herself from by showing appropriate submission, and looked down at her fondly. As though he remained her Leader, he was also the younger wolf's brother, too. This black she wolf that we were trailing was awfully slow, he offered in response when she had realised Ruiko's presence, a teasing grin playing along his muzzle. His brother had decided to come too, after all, if Junai truly planned to try to become a prominent hunter in the pack it was their duty to train her. The pack's hierarchy had started to settle now — as much as it ever would — and the lowered tension had allowed the brothers to travel almost level, Indru making sure that he led slightly, instead of the almost single file travelling that was needed before. It was better for the pack, more harmonious, for the ranks to be clearer instead of as solid as gas, constantly shifting and changing like the wind.

At the question Indru laughed lightly, watching Junai with a maturity he did not have before Swift River. Ah, I am sure they can cope, little sister. After all Niija is there, and that, he knew, would reassure everyone. Indru rose his nose into the air, allowing the wind that blew in their direction to carry the scents of the Field across to him. It was a good night for hunting — clear, undisturbed and with a wind strong enough to shroud their scents from anything upwind. Her next question was more important, and he nodded, turning to Ruiko for his opinion. It depends on how hungry Ruiko is, he laughed, though he was debating the question seriously. Junai was not that experienced — being only a yearling herself — and though he was confident in both his and his brother's abilities, carelessness could lose them another family member. Perhaps if we find a frail and old deer, Ruiko? After all, a deer was not so fearsome as an Elk.

(This post was last modified: Jul 30, 2010, 02:27 AM by Indru.)

Normalcy – or what could be considered as such – was beginning to fall upon the lives of the Swift River pack once more. It would still take some getting used to – being a new pack, new formations.. a new home, but Ruiko was slowly adjusting, just as he did to everything that came his way. The brothers had challenged one another after the fall of their parents, and Indru had won. The other brother had graciously accepted this just as the natural way of their life, and if anything, had become more ferociously protective of his quick-minded brother. Ruiko, as large and hefty as he was, was certainly a force to be reckoned with, yet it was his small fuse that had turned on him in the end, and the cleverer of the two had come to lead their new pack. Ruiko had accepted it well, and the bond between the two had never been closer than it was now, as it was now the elder siblings time to teach the younger since the passing of their parents.

Junai’s comment caused his sharp golden eyes to stir upon her, irked that at her ignorant words. Yet his ‘ruffled feathers’ were instantly smoothed as she greeted her leader and other brother properly, and the dark tawny male bumped his nose affectionately top her cheek very briefly before drawing his muzzle back up. He was never one to show much affection. A small smirk lifted the corners of his inked lips at Indru’s query, and Ruiko lifted his hefty shoulders in a gentle shrug. “I’m always hungry,” he rumbled dryly, a fact that was very true. Junai’s question did not gain a reaction from the second brother, but his eyes did lead to Indru for direction. He gave a nod to his brother at the suggestion, but his amber eyes flickered between the two as he made his own. “Of course, Indru,” he agreed, not wishing to go against rank. “If anything comes along during our tracking we can always change our minds. Do you think Junai should track for us?” After all, the idea of this outing was to help hone the girl’s senses and hunting abilities.

http://a.imageshack.us/img717/5995/70049898.png);"> THERE'S A PLACE I KNOW IF YOU'RE LOOKIN' FOR A SHOW       Well now, wasn't her brother just a riot? Her ears pulled back in a most childish form of indignation and she gave a sniff, perhaps as if she were actually hurt by his jests; the slight upward curve of her lips told otherwise. She held back a retort, her melodramatic expression fading to a determined sort of curiosity as she turned her head to look at her older siblings, greedily taking in their advice like some sort of sponge. Indru's response to her first inquiry was dismissive, and it gave her a minor confidence boost; in her childish mind, he had said something along the lines of, “The pack only deserves the attention of Niija; you deserve the attention of both of us.” Her mind told her that made her special, made her adored... Whether there was any truth to this could be debatable, for her older brothers could be cryptic with any positive emotions; they seemed, however, to have no problem displaying more negative ones, which was both amusing and annoying all at the same time.       Ego boosts aside, the next answer (and question, though this portion was not specifically for her) was only minutely more serious, leaving her to give a small smile. They were joking, not fighting; it was a peculiar sight to see, though it was definitely welcome. While Junai didn't necessarily think she'd ever achieve such peace with Torla, it was nice to see it in the rest of the family. Why, before it was doubtful a successful hunt would have even been possible! <b style="color:#333E4B; font-family:georgia;">“Me? Track?” Junai gave a surprised blink, uncertain if such a job should be handed to her. Was there even any glory in stalking a stupid, weak animal? She really must have been pathetic if that was the case... Or perhaps it was an honor, because they wanted her to find the prey, which meant they must have thought her to be competent, right? <b style="color:#333E4B; font-family:georgia;">“Okay, I'll do it. What am I looking for?”

nomnom. Small powerplay here (Junai's reply!) with michi's permission. <3

Nodding his affirmative the boy agreed with Ruiko's suggestion, it was important all the pack's yearlings learnt how to track, if not for the pack's benefit but for their own if they ever found themselves without company. Indru laughed at Junai's surprise, yes, you. How do you expect to catch your prey if you don't know how to find it? It was a key skill and one each wolf needed to know. With another experimental scent of the blowing wind the 3 year old picked up the faint scent of a herd they sought.

Smell first. There's no point looking for something if you don't know it's there, if possible always go for the prey nearby and don't waste energy seeking a particular kind. Prey was prey after all, unless you were limited by your experience or size of hunting party. Indru took a confident step forward, pulling away from his siblings and turning back to face them both, keeping the majority of the Blackberry Fields behind him. He analysed Junai, her form no longer gangly and puppy-like, she had long legs, good for running and he knew her dark fur would come to her aid in night hunts. What do you smell, Junai? When she replied he nodded to confirm it. Yes, he began, now follow it! He pulled back from standing infront, allowing her to take point and lead them to the herd, though not before he approached her with a slightly stiffened posture, making it clear it was only as he allowed her too that she would lead. Casting a quick glance at his brother, making sure that he too understood, Indru followed silently behind her.

At his younger sister’s surprise at his suggestion, Ruiko glanced down to her with a stoical golden gaze. Did she think she was above tracking? Junai’s impressions of what her needs and tasks for the pack were a bit distorted than what he had imagined, but he remained silent as Indru laughed it off with a joke. She was young. She would learn. The dark girl readily agreed; an action that stirred a nod of approval from the second regal male.

The dark brown male remained silent as the two exchanged a few words, and Indru took the lead as teacher; something he was far better suited than Ruiko himself. Her answer revealed she was not completely incompetent, and the older brother gave her a small smirk of encouragement. As they began to move forward, Indru lifted himself in dominance, clarifying he was not in any way thrown aside during this lesson. Bowing his muzzle lightly in respect to his brother, the second brother shot a glance to Junai, his own tail lifting slightly to curl against his haunch; an exact replica of Indru’s behavior, spare he held himself slightly lower than the leader. These actions only took seconds, and the three wolves were off, following Junai’s careful and learning nose.

http://a.imageshack.us/img717/5995/70049898.png);"> THERE'S A PLACE I KNOW IF YOU'RE LOOKIN' FOR A SHOW       The question her elder brother posed left her ears pulling back in both shame and thought, her pale gaze averting to the ground. He was right, as was to be expected of her rational brother; Junai had jumped the gun as per usual and embarrassment left her with the nondescript desire to hide, whether it be by going to the Hidden Grotto or elsewhere. No matter, she remained where she was, looking back to him with his next words of advice. He moved slightly in front of her before turning to face both her and Ruiko head on, questioning her on what she could smell. Junai took a moment, closing her eyes and pushing past their familiar scents, searching for something more foreign, something old and weak like he had earlier suggested. A bit to the east and... <b style="color:#333E4B; font-family:georgia;">“A doe. It's injured.” She sniffed again, her brows furrowing. The smell of blood was faint in the air, vague enough that perhaps she had imagined it; confidence told her that this was reality, that this was a mixture of luck (from the wind) and talent (from the Tainn family genes). After a moment, she opened her eyes, her tail wagging slightly at his enthusiasm.       Indru pulled back, though not without first asserting his dominance; a sideways glance proved that Ruiko was accepting Indru's position as the leader of their small group, though he was clearly above her. It was depressing, this taste of leadership being poisoned with their forever domineering ways. If they weren't her elder brothers, she'd show them a thing or two! As it was, Junai lowered her body to the ground, not wishing to get on their bad sides; slight annoyance at this was clear in the infinitesimal narrowing of her eyes, but she gave no verbal protest for them to retort to. Creeping forward slowly but surely, she made her way to the heard in near silence, no bothering to look back and affirm that they were following. As she drew closer, the scent of blood became more pungent and her eyes eventually spotted a wounded due among the small herd. It would seem that something else had tried to take a bite out of her side, before being thrown off and taking one last shot at taking her down by grabbing a hind leg; needless to say, the doe had escaped, though hardly unscathed. Junai stopped, looking back at her brothers silently, hoping for some sort of signal. She had found the creature, yes, but she was a diminutive creature, long-legged and slender; the idea of getting trampled by massive hooves quite honestly frightened her so she waited for her more powerful brothers to make the first move.

Her protests generated a narrowing of his own eyes, and low grumble under his breath that could not quite be called a growl. Her obedience and respected would come he decided, she was still young, still learning. He followed behind her, not only to let her practice in tracking, but to also watch how she moved. Hold yourself a little lower, he corrected, his tone taking on a scholary tone and managing to avoid being patronising. The trick is too keep low, glide along like a shadow. He explained, knowing that her streamlined body would be ideal once the technique had been practised. She lead them there swiftly, unwavering and confident, and he gave her a sharp nod of approval when they stopped.

Scenting the air with a finesse that showed his experience Indru stepped closer to the herd who began to shift nervously, but remain steady all the same. They will not run yet, they are not certain we are hunting nor do they know which one we plan to focus on. Keeping his voice hushed and calm, so not to disturb them further, he glanced over his shoulder at her, to make sure she was watching. Watch. Turning back to them he took a confident step forward, getting closer and closer until he was among the herd. Being light on his toes Indru began to pace between them, when he felt he saw a weak one he would run quickly, darting at it, to see how it reacted. Prey with strength are less quick to run, and the strongest may turn to face you instead, it was a way to test them and find which ones would run and then analyse their weakness.

Suddenly bounding out from between the deer Indru turned to Junai, the hunt already having an effect, making his adrenaline sore and making him smile. Here, your turn. Be careful, don't run to often or they will get tired and the herd will flee, assess them, then, if you think they are weak, test them. With a nod of confirmation he turned then to Ruiko. It was luck that Junai had found a weakened deer, one with blood coated enough to give it away, but in normal circumstances it would be important that she could identify weak ones from no wound on their flesh. When they run, we hunt. We will wait for you here, when you think you have found your deer, return.

Ruiko remained the protective yet silent ghost by his siblings. This had become more or less Indru’s lesson for their younger sister, and the other tawny sibling was proving to be the needed muscle to execute a successful hunt. This was a role he was much more interested to play; playing the role a role of minim kept his own sarcasm in check at Junai’s silly questions. Indru was much more suited to this role. His own dominating stance had been soothed by his little sister’s acceptance of it, and with this, the male soon fell behind the two as he allowed their Leader to better teach the yearling.

She lead them to the herd of deer, and on cue as the scent hit his black, quivering nose, the male’s stomach gave a gentle tug of annoyance. Ruiko hadn’t been lying when he said he was always hungry, and his amber eyes peered through the thick brush to better regard the beasts they were opposing. His gaze lifted from the wounded deer, falling upon Junai as she sought her brother’s for their approval. His wolfish brows quirked lightly, but he gave her no answer. Instead, as Indru moved forward to test the beasts for the weakest one, Ruiko skirted away from his siblings slightly, positioning himself for when the time came.

As the regal wolf returned, Ruiko gave a nod to the male’s words, keeping his own large figure still as their sister went out to test how the deer reacted to her presence.

sorry this is all rambly. :P

      Stay low, glide along—easy enough, if not a little tiresome. Hunting required considerable effort to go along smoothly; breathing had to be slow and measured and pawsteps had to be light and careful. It was more thought than she ever cared to invest in anything, truthfully; she preferred to go with the flow and take the easy road whenever possible. Junai supposed, however, that hard work was now necessary, considering the recent change in leadership. Oddly, Indru's recent rise to power had been almost sickeningly fortuitous for Junai, who believed that her brother probably saw more potential in her than her parents ever had. Surely he saw that she could be great with a bit of practice, surely he saw that she could be better than stupid Torla in every way imaginable!

      Potential of greatness aside, Indru had darted forward to test the deer's reaction to his presence. She watched intently, her breathing hitched as she took in his technique. He was completely and utterly fearless, charging forward at individuals of the herd with an innate knowledge of what would cower in his presence. He was careful, though, not overly audacious, causing only a minor disturbance amongst the prey; they remained put, evidently confident in the safety their numbers brought, and seemed content to ignore a hunting party such as theirs. Upon his return, Junai gave an agitated huff, her stomach giving a most imperious rumble. <b style="color:#2A4F0F; font-family:georgia;">“All right. I'll be back in a few.” And without further ado, she slunk forward, her body compacting further so the brush concealed her dark form, leaving her little more than a wraith slinking between the massive beasts' mighty hooves.

      Pale eyes darted from one potential victim to the next, studying them with clear curiosity. What to do, what to do? Again, her confidence was a hindrance, her desire to dart after any one of the herd members hard to resist... But, then again, Indru had said not to run often. 'I gotta make it worth it.' She gave a breathy snort, unable to completely maintain silence, and swung her head about, looking for significant weaknesses. There was something young, hobbling plaintively along—with a stag right next to it with pointy horns that would probably have a jolly good time impaling her. There was something kind of old, but that was easy! She glanced back at Indru and sighed, deciding she had best hurry up before she looked like more of an idiot than she truly was. She barreled forward, lunging towards something that smelled odd, different—it was a subtle change in scent from the rest of the herd, nearly masked, but... But it was a gut feeling, a childish instinct that said, 'That's it, that's the one.' It was fearful, wide-eyed and quick to react to her advance, quickly backing away despite the fact that she was now elsewhere, testing another one that was not so anxious. Deliberating, she slunk her way back to Indru, where she said, <b style="color:#2A4F0F; font-family:georgia;">“You know the first one I went after? Let's go after it. Then we can chow down.” She spared a glance at Ruiko, who had since moved away from Indru to get in position for the proceeding hunt, and amended, <b style="color:#2A4F0F; font-family:georgia;">“Where do I go? You want me to chase it one way and then you and Rui can take it down? Or, or, or...?”