... We'll let them go. Never did like the idea of killin' a baby animal or their mothers. Shade answered with a soft sigh. The final pop made him stagger momentarily, his body shuddering as the pain wailed from his ribs. He forced it down, slowing his gait slightly to try and avoid the jagged rocks below his paws. Is there anything else nearby?
A cool breeze hit his face, alerting him to the fact they were nearing the entrance. His tail wagged pleasantly now as he neared the growing light, ears swirling back to listen again to the woman on his back. You point, I'll run. Though, unless you have a bow or something you'll have to get off for the actual hunt. I tend to jump when I go for the kill and I don't want to throw you off.
The way Shade met Ari
Re: The way Shade met Ari
Good, she answered, using her mind now that they were nearing the deer, me neither. As he gave himself one last bit of werewolf anatomy, Ari could not help but cringe. Feeling the popping and cracking of his bones was hard enough, but this last one she swore she even heard. Ari winced for him, her fingers digging deeper into his fur. She pressed her face into it for a moment, fingers rubbing at his spine and then his ribcage.
Then, she slipped off his back landing light as a feather. No arrows. I try not to kill if I do not have to. she answered. Resting her hand on his shoulder, she reached her mind out once more. It was like being among the heard. She could smell their musty coats, hear their feet stamping the ground and feel their warm breath puffing. They welcomed her presence, but she did not open her mind completely to them, keeping her knowledge of the beast beside her to herself. Closest to the entrance of the clearing were the mother and fawn. She brushed past them, closer to the center. There stood an old stag, his legs stiff and his breath labored. Ari sighed as she spoke softly to him, I am sorry.
Pulling her mind back, she again became aware of Shade standing beside her. Toward the middle, there is an older male. He has only one antler. Her hands shook as she sealed the old one's already dwindling fate.
Then, she slipped off his back landing light as a feather. No arrows. I try not to kill if I do not have to. she answered. Resting her hand on his shoulder, she reached her mind out once more. It was like being among the heard. She could smell their musty coats, hear their feet stamping the ground and feel their warm breath puffing. They welcomed her presence, but she did not open her mind completely to them, keeping her knowledge of the beast beside her to herself. Closest to the entrance of the clearing were the mother and fawn. She brushed past them, closer to the center. There stood an old stag, his legs stiff and his breath labored. Ari sighed as she spoke softly to him, I am sorry.
Pulling her mind back, she again became aware of Shade standing beside her. Toward the middle, there is an older male. He has only one antler. Her hands shook as she sealed the old one's already dwindling fate.
Re: The way Shade met Ari
It'll be over without pain. Shade chided, nudging her gently with his nose. That is something many wild animals don't have the luck of having. You're doing the thing a favor.
With that he walked forward, arcing around the herd whist attempting to push the girl out off his mind. Blood lust was a strong thing for a regular wolf, but for a werewolf things could get ugly. He'd need to keep his head. So, he forced her out of it. He didn't want her to hear his thoughts or whatever else she'd catch along him. Keeping low to the bushes, he eyed the herd for his prey.
They weren't hard to find. The old deer however took a moment longer then he'd of liked. He was about to hunt, to take the life of something and feast on flesh. The shaggy beast growled softly, lips curling up as he shrank down in the grass, ears pressing forward as if trying to catch the sounds of the dying old stag. Yet, one too many deer moved and the stag came into view, its large head lowered in the grass as it chewed numbly on a weed.
He launched out of the trees, full gait and head low as he locked onto his target. The herd ran, baby and mother included but the old stag couldn't. Too slow he raised his head to stare out of milky eyes, his body too stiff to run away until sharp teeth and powerful jaws already closed around his neck. There was a heavy twist and the dull snap of bone, claws digging hard into it's shoulder as both werewolf and deer were propelled back to the ground.
They'd caught their supper.
With that he walked forward, arcing around the herd whist attempting to push the girl out off his mind. Blood lust was a strong thing for a regular wolf, but for a werewolf things could get ugly. He'd need to keep his head. So, he forced her out of it. He didn't want her to hear his thoughts or whatever else she'd catch along him. Keeping low to the bushes, he eyed the herd for his prey.
They weren't hard to find. The old deer however took a moment longer then he'd of liked. He was about to hunt, to take the life of something and feast on flesh. The shaggy beast growled softly, lips curling up as he shrank down in the grass, ears pressing forward as if trying to catch the sounds of the dying old stag. Yet, one too many deer moved and the stag came into view, its large head lowered in the grass as it chewed numbly on a weed.
He launched out of the trees, full gait and head low as he locked onto his target. The herd ran, baby and mother included but the old stag couldn't. Too slow he raised his head to stare out of milky eyes, his body too stiff to run away until sharp teeth and powerful jaws already closed around his neck. There was a heavy twist and the dull snap of bone, claws digging hard into it's shoulder as both werewolf and deer were propelled back to the ground.
They'd caught their supper.
Re: The way Shade met Ari
His mind was pushing against her's, a dull thud starting in her ears and thumping rhythmically. Ari gladly left his mind and forced herself to tear away from the old stag's as well. There was nothing she could do to help him pass, but she trusted Shade would do it quickly. Turning away, Ari leaned against one of the ancient oak trees beside her, tilting her head back to stare at the grey-blue sky. Above, the sun was a blurry glow behind the clouds. Its rays refracted through them, spreading across the overcast sky and reaching down to the world below.
Behind her, she could hear the herd stampeding. There was a deep, blood curling bellow from the ancient one's mouth and a dull thud. Then, silence. Breathing out slowly, Ari turned back around, though she kept her eyes closed for a few minutes before forcing them open to the sight of Shade standing beside the dead beast with its neck in his jaws. She smiled weakly and walked over to him. Kneeling beside the two animals, she rested her hand on the deer's side. His body was still warm with the glow of his spirit, though she knew it was quickly leaving him. Go in peace. she whispered into his mind.
Suddenly a rush swept through her body. She shook violently for a moment, her breath catching, but, just as suddenly as it started, it ended. With sweat on her brow, she exhaled shakily, smiling again as she felt the spirit leaving the earth. "Good work." she said to Shade, her voice still a bit breathy.
Behind her, she could hear the herd stampeding. There was a deep, blood curling bellow from the ancient one's mouth and a dull thud. Then, silence. Breathing out slowly, Ari turned back around, though she kept her eyes closed for a few minutes before forcing them open to the sight of Shade standing beside the dead beast with its neck in his jaws. She smiled weakly and walked over to him. Kneeling beside the two animals, she rested her hand on the deer's side. His body was still warm with the glow of his spirit, though she knew it was quickly leaving him. Go in peace. she whispered into his mind.
Suddenly a rush swept through her body. She shook violently for a moment, her breath catching, but, just as suddenly as it started, it ended. With sweat on her brow, she exhaled shakily, smiling again as she felt the spirit leaving the earth. "Good work." she said to Shade, her voice still a bit breathy.
Re: The way Shade met Ari
Shade watched her with wide unblinking eyes, his head tilting slightly as he tried to focus on her expression. The wolf demanded he growl yet he wasn't so far gone to do such a thing. Poor girl seemed pale though, or at least very shaken. He let out a low whine, nudging her firmly with his nose.
'Are you alright?' he asked gently. He wasn't in pain if you're worried of that.
He glanced down at his prey with a flicker of his eyes, ears turning instinctively towards the still fleeing herd. In the snow Ari's and his own footprints were trambled over by the mighty beasts, though he hardy called that cover. He glowered down at the carcass before sighing inwardly and looking back at her.
I will carry it so it won't leave drag marks, but when we get to the cave you can deal with it. Shade grumbled. I hate cooking.
'Are you alright?' he asked gently. He wasn't in pain if you're worried of that.
He glanced down at his prey with a flicker of his eyes, ears turning instinctively towards the still fleeing herd. In the snow Ari's and his own footprints were trambled over by the mighty beasts, though he hardy called that cover. He glowered down at the carcass before sighing inwardly and looking back at her.
I will carry it so it won't leave drag marks, but when we get to the cave you can deal with it. Shade grumbled. I hate cooking.