Kiddo had been following his nose to a little herd of deer. There were about five or six of them grazing together. He crouched down low and began to crawl forward. He assumed that Vada would know how to do at least that much and if not, she was of no use to him. He did, however; take a look back to make sure that she was really behind him and remembered the plan. Even if she didn't know how to hunt, he would not be missing a meal if she should make a mistake.
He himself picked out a deer that looked good for the taking but, he wanted to test if she could pick out a good kill as well. He was not here to see if he knew how to hunt. He was here to see if she did.
He slid into his position and watched her like a hawk. If she breathed heavily, he wanted to see it. He was watching her more than the actual kill itself. It was her duty to pick to kill, go after it, and almost bring it down. He would come to assist the take down if need be but, he wanted to see how she could hunt on her own.
He was not going to help her so, he refrained from checking back on the one deer that he did choose. He didn't want her to follow his line of sight and pick the one he did without picking it herself. No help. If he did help her, then it wouldn't be a real evaluation of her skills. The only way he would help her was if she was about to lose the kill and he would kill it for her if he could.
This of course would not be her only test. She would also need to prove that she could hunt in a group as well. But, before she could do that one, she needed to pass this one. She would also need to pass whatever other test he came up with but, none was as important as this one and proving her loyalty to him. She had already proven herself as a loyal member so, this was really her last major test other than her test to get a long well with others in the pack. He did not want to babysit adults who should know how to behave.
In his pack, if two wolves had a problem, they would figure it out themselves. He really didn't want to deal with melodramas. If the dispute were to get out of hand, he would step in and both parties would be punished equally. In his mind, if he needed to step in to solve a problem such as "he looked at me funny" or " she stepped on my foot" , everyone involved should be punished for wasting his time.
Her posture was low to ground as she belly crawled alongside the ivory brute. Vada's honey like eyes narrowed at the sight of the buck and does grazing only meters before the two, and her nares inhaled their scents. The dried blood that had fallen between her eyes and down her maw stood out against her ebony pelt now as the hid in the shadows. Looking over at Kiddo, she knew he was testing her now. With a brief nodded she shifted her body and slinked off to the right away from him, she didn't want to disappoint.."It's my time to shine."
A buck had distanced itself slightly from the others, though he remained a strong resistance. Vada's shoulders kneaded as her paws found their grip in the brush she hid in. Her breath was silently rhythmic as she exhaled slowly, her adrenaline racing with the hunt's soon arrival. Lifting its full racked dome, Vada's form froze... nothing was going to ruin her chance to show what she was made of.
Springing from deep in her haunches, Vada lept at the throat of the stag. Her strong jaws clamping down tight on the the stag, her hold on the prey was incredible. Jolting and flailing as it bugled out gasps of air and screeches of pain the stag attempted to shake her free, but Vada's hold did not cease. Kicking to free itself from the vicious grip, the stag gasped and dropped to the ground balking as it came closer to death. Vada took this opportunity and threw herself over the top of the stag to get a strong grip, and with this the stag's struggling began to lessen. Panic stricken the rest of the heard took flee in all directions, as one of their members had fallen victim to the hunt. Mane raised and eyes widened, Vada held on even as her victim's struggles fell to a mere twitch of dying muscles. One death would support the life of many...
Hackles raised and her sides heaving from the adrenaline rush, Vada's grip finally released on the stag. Her pink tongue lolled out of her maw as she stood over her kill proudly. Turning her gazed she looked off into the distance at Kiddo. "I'm ready for anything... she thought to herself as she sat at her haunches. Another thing down on the checklist, and she was ready to prove herself in every way that she had too. This brute was testing her, but in her eyes it made her want to be with him in his pack even more.
Vada looked like she was ready for this hunt. A good thing on her part because he was ready to hand out some positions. He wasn't allowing any free-loaders in his pack. If someone was there, they were there for a reason. When she looked at him, he knew that she was ready for this. With a short nod in return from him back to her, he stalked off into his position for assistance. In a sense, she was leading this hunt but, he was directing it.
Kiddo followed her line of vision as she was looking at a strong buck. He rolled his eyes to himself. Typical..wants the big buck. He knew that it was with only a pack that wolves could bring down a buck like that. He looked fast and strong. Like a fighter. He waited for her failure and prepared himself to "help" her as he had promised. If she needed it, he would come out and do what he could but, he wasn't fast in the least bit so, there might not be much for him to do.
He watched as she sprang from her place and went after the buck's throat. It was a good move though, her choice was rather stupid. She should have known that without a pack behind her, that choosing a weaker target would have been smarter. Kiddo froze and didn't move as she swung around on the buck's neck. The beast was indeed incredible. He fought for every mouthful of air and screeched for it's life. It kicked and bucked to try and free itself from the black fae. It's efforts were of no avail. Soon, it dropped dead to it's feet.
Kiddo jogged out to the dead buck and Vada who was standing over the kill with her tongue hanging out. She should be proud. She had proved him wrong..this time. Not that he would ever admit that he thought anything less than what she had done. Of course she could have done it. She was about his size, was she not?
Good kill, Vada. That was all he needed to say to her. Actually, that was more than he needed to say to her. He didn't need to tell her anything. He could have just looked at her or, just eaten the kill. But, she did bring it down all by herself. Not that he didn't think that she would. He was totally ignoring the fact that he thought she couldn't do it. He had seen the kill from before she brought it down so, he saw no need to inspect it. It was a habit of his to check meals caught by others before eating them. mostly because he didn't trust their judgment. For all he knew, a kill could be diseased or have some contagious disease. But, he knew this buck was healthy.
Kiddo walked around to the stomach, because he knew it was the best and started tearing away at it. Eating the delicious buck. He looked up at Vada, not removing his mouth from the kill. He invited her to eat. As long as he got first bite, he didn't care who ate after him.
Meat was so much better when one didn't need to get it themselves.
((sorry it's so late my muse has been rather dead lately but I really wanted to get this up for you))
Vada's light pink tongue ceased its lolling from her maw, with Kiddo's arrival beside her. "Thank you..."She replied lightly taking as step back from the kill as Kiddo tore as the buck's soft underbelly, Vada gave a light sigh as she caught her breath. Taking a moment she sat on her strong haunches and listened to the wind. It carried unfamiliar scents as well as sounds to her and she took in all these aspects of the land. This was her new home and here she felt she would fit in just right; a feeling she had never experienced before.
Seeing his invitation Vada stepped up to the carcass and lowered her maw to the rump of the buck. It was tender meat, but it was one of the better cuts other than the stomach which was occupied by Kiddo. Though she respected that he took the best of the meat, after all it was his rightful place as alpha. Her honey like eyes glinted over to him briefly as she ate slowly. It was so different to eat with another wolf, though with Kiddo beside her she felt a calming affect rise over her. It was nice to not have to watch your back from others with a partner close by. " I could get used to this..." She spoke quietly, her maw lifting from the carcass again. This was much nicer than being in the constant alone.
Oka hated spring time. All this "love is in the aiiiir" crap was going to make her sick. Granted, she hadn't seen any love birds yet, but it was bound to happen sooner rather than later. She could remember back home when spring hit every time you turned a corner there was a couple snuggling and whatnot. She felt as though she should just disappear for the spring, maybe hibernate until it was over like a bear in winter. She wasn't entirely sure why it sickened her so extensively, maybe it was the fact that she was so bitter towards others she could never feel that way toward another wolf. You could say Oka was incapable of love.
Maybe that's the reason her and her brother never really got along. She always thought that Toklo was the only other wolf she loved, not in a romantic way of course, but in a brotherly-sibling sort of way. But she never would admit it, nor would she ever show it in her words or actions. Love was a weakness, and she was not weak, she would never portray herself as weak. Not that she couldn't prove them wrong, it was just easier that way. She was tough. Rugged. Strong. That was all.
Her mind wandered to Kiddo, the way she had acted around him when they had last met. It was a strange feeling, to want to please him. To want him to like her. She never cared what others thought. They could lick her where she shit if they had a problem with her. But with Kiddo, it was differently. She actually felt the need to make him happy. It was pathetic. Disgusting, even. And the more she thought about it, the more she never wanted to see him again or feel that way again. She was on her own again. No more pack. No more Toklo or his precious wittle fwiend. No more Kiddo. And she was perfectly content with that.
She weaved through the trees, just careful enough to brush past the trunks, she could feel the damp bark against her thinning pelt. She probably left a thread or two behind her. Not that she would need it with summer coming. She came so a small clearing. She could smell the blood before she found its source. There were two wolves digging into a deer. She raised a brow, it had been hours since she last ate, and though her stomach wasn't complaining (probably left over sickness from the earlier thoughts) she watch how the couple vigorously went into the meat. One light male, the other a dark female.
'Love is in the aaiiiiirrr..' Cue wave of nausea. She wanted to turn away and go the other way, but before she could move her paws, the female lifted her head. She wasn't sure if she had been scented or heard or if she had just lifted her head out of pure random. But, she couldn't leave now. That would show weakness. And she's not weak. She's strong. Count --> 514 w. Muse --> Strong. <3 Tags --> Kiddo && Vada Notes --> It's good to be back.
He felt Vada move close and take her portion of the kill. The piece that she took? He didn't care. He got what he wanted and that's all that mattered. Surprisingly, he was in a much better mood today. Maybe it was just because there was no idiot wolves whom he had to give a piece of his land too. Maybe it was just because this was his first free meal of many. Who knows? Who cares? A happy Kiddo makes a happy just about everyone else. The pain from the fight with the black male had almost completely gone and he was feeling more like himself.
He was liking this territory..a lot. If he hadn't liked it, he wouldn't have claimed it but, he was seriously liking it now for some reason. It just not hit him that everything that he could see was his. Every rock, every ant, every blade or grass, every meal, everything. It felt so good. He just had an over all warm feeling. He couldn't tell if it was it was just from the warm carcass or what but, he was warm and happy.
He couldn't smell whoever was coming but he heard them and he snapped his head up from the kill. Something Vada had done just before him. How embarrassing. He would not be mentioning that. Oh hey! It's Oka! He hadn't seen her in a few days now. The last time he had seen her was outside of this territory in a place whose name he couldn't remember but, he did remember it was just outside of a cave somewhere. He also remembered how relaxed she made him feel. How normal he felt. It was a great feeling he had felt.
His eyes were softer when he looked at her but no smile touched his lips. Nice of you to join us Femme. No greeting for her. He wanted to demand where she had been for the last few days and why she had not come with him when he went to claim this territory but, he would be professional about this and speak to her later about it in private. Vada's meal put him in a good mood and he was..happy? to see her? So, he wasn't going to yell right now. That could be for later. No need to ruin this mood.
No words spilled from the dark femme's maw, and while she was not really sure what she expected from the encounter, it wasn't silence. She caught sight of a marking, perhaps a scar?, across her ribcage and her shocking yellow eyes. The stranger was bigger than her, but not intimidating. Oka was a dangerous warrior, there wasn't much that intimidated her. Her mind's eye flashed back to a time when she was face to face with a black bear.
"Oka! Run!" Aerandir's voice loud against the tense silence. But, she wouldn't move. One may have thought she was frozen with fear, but one would be surprised to find that was not the case at all. She would ot move out of pure stubbornness. She would not be displayed as weak by anyone, especially not a bear. For a few long moments it was merely a staring contest between Oka and the black bear, it's dark eyes glaring and her chocolate eyes glaring in return. her lips curled in a snarl, but she made no noise, Aerandir was doing that enough for the both of them. Besides, why disturb this tender moment she was sharing with her new friend? A few more moments and the bear gave a loud grunt before turning away and disappearing among the trees. Oka didn't wince, she didn't step back, she didn't move. Her snarl remained as her eyes were like darts, glaring after him.
Next thing she new Aerandir was on her with "What is wrong with you, Oka? You need to learn to listen to me! You father would have killed me if something had happened to you!" But, that was a major understatement. If anything, he'd be relieved. They have their precious chosen pup, Toklo. Why would they care if she wasn't around more. They had him. She rolled her eyes and turned away, all traces of adrenaline gone.
And this fae wasn't a bear. But, what was discovered next caught Oka off-guard. The brute beside bear-gal had lifted his head. The familiarity of his face screamed for Oka to turned away as she had from Aeran. He mind pleaded, 'Save yourself while you still can!' Aerandir's voice commanding her to run echoed in her head. Her bark-like eyes locked on his winter-cloud own and her heart skipped a beat. Ew. That was weird. Let's not let that happen again. She pulled her eyes away and looked down at buck the pair were feasting on. She wasn't able to read his thoughts on his face, her expression was blank, though his eyes spoke of another story. How did she not recognize Kiddo beneath the buck? She felt so dumb.
She pushed that emotion away quickly, that was no way to feel. She knew her intelligence was high compared to others. Kiddo was the first to speak of the three. Six words of impatience, and he had called her Oka. "Yes, I suppose it is, Brute," her eyes shining and her words teasing. "I see you found a new friend," then glancing down at the buck, "I imagine any sort of company is worth a full belly." Her voice was all play, and her eyes once again danced to Kiddo's face. It was hard to hide the joy she felt to see him again, as much as her instinct begged for her to stay away.
Count --> 594 w. Muse --> low Tags --> Kiddo && Vada Notes --> Uru said we could skip Vada, for now. Because she has not replied in so long.
His "greeting" to her was as it should have been and he thought nothing more of it. He was her alpha as far as he was concerned so, if he chose not to throw her a party like she was the prodigal's son then so be it. Her eyes were shinning when she spoke to him which was always a good sign. Her words were teasing but not disrespectful so, he would allow it. His strictness really depended on his mood. Sometimes he was more lax and others he could be compared to a dictator. Today, he was feeling more lax.
Vada's response to Femme was less than friendly but that would change later. For first meetings that was somewhat acceptable. He, like he has stated before, is not a babysitter and will solve problems within the pack to make sure it runs smoothly. Whether those things were the most moral things or the nicest things all depended on what he was feeling. Vada was being rather quiet though. That was better than blabbing on and on though so, he wasn't going to complain about that. He mine as well introduce Vada if she wasn't going to speak for herself. Yes, this is Vada. He wasn't going to go into detail about how they had met and what exactly had happened with the wolf-bear and the bird. It was necessary but, if she needed that information then he would tell her later.
Kiddo was full. He decided to leave her comment about having a full belly. He could have gotten it himself but, it was easier to do it this way. Vada would most likely be a hunter or the lead huntress depending on how well Femme did. She had said something about hunting before but he couldn't remember exactly what she had said. Oh well, must have not been that important. He decided he didn't need to sit here and watch them eat. That was creepy. I'll leave you two to finish this. It was probably the most polite thing he'd done in a while. Well, he was doing it for his own self interest because he didn't want to sit here but, it was still polite in a way. If one of them ended up with some blood then so be it. They could figure it out for themselves but, that was only going to happen once. If a fight happened where blood was drawn for the second time he would intervene.
He looked at both females to make sure they had heard him and then turned to walk away. He didn't feel the need to tell them to find him if they needed it. They probably wouldn't and it was obvious to anyone that if they needed someone to go and get them.
Oka's dark eyes glinted, still the fae would not speak. What was her problem? Was she born dumb or just mute? Perhaps her presence caught her off-guard and she was in shock. And Kiddo let such a wolf into his pack. 'Well, at least we know who the weakest link is,' she thought to herself dully with a quiet sigh. She gave Vada a slight nod, if she could not speak for herself, hell, she did not deserve her respect much more than this buck here did. In fact, hardly anyone deserved her respect until they earned it. Oka came from royalty, if anything, they owed her respect. But, Toklo's voice cut into her thoughts. 'This isn't home, Oka.'
She hadn't seen her brother in what seemed like moons, now. She began to wonder what he was up to, if he had indeed found a pack, like he wanted to. If he was still with that mangy wolf he befriended. Part of her hoped to see that male again, she would rip his throat out, like she promised herself. She had taken all of her frustration on being in this god-forsaken place and tossed it over him like a net. But, she didn't care. He had taken the one real thing left from her previous life and ripped it away from her. How dare he.
Now, her life was upside down. Nothing was familiar anymore. The most familiar thing here was Kiddo, and she hardly knew him. He suddenly decided to part with the faes. But, if he thought she was taking part of this buck that the pair dined in, he was very wrong. Oka could take care of herself, and he would be damned if she let Vada take that away from her. But instead of saying all of that, she settled for, "I'm not hungry, I have already eaten. But, thank you for offering, Brute." She glanced to Vada, "Yay, more for you." She turned away from the bear-fae and padded after Kiddo. "After all, I believe we have some catching up to do, do we not?" She called after the alpha was a smile.
Count --> 384 w. Muse --> eww. Tags --> Kiddo && Vada Notes --> new thread?
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