Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2013 14:48:20 GMT -5
Djinkka kept a silent eye on Ashaka as she watched her lie down, relax, and finally drift off into a calm slumber. A small, awkward look of tenderness flashed across her fearsome as she gazed upon the dozing female. In some strange, distant way, she reminded her of her sister -- though she knew that her memory of the nameless pup of her childhood was faint and unreliable, there was some nagging, familiar feeling deep inside her subconscious that seemed to find the two comparable. Due to this, she felt some sense of protectiveness, of kinship for Ashaka. Despite the fact that the two had just met, and perhaps in spite of the fact that she had been the first wolf to ever give Djinkka a chance to disprove the cruel stigma that her appearance bred, she already felt the emotional tie of friendship. It felt right to her.
After making certain that Ashaka was asleep, she rose up again and turned her face towards the treeline, her yellow eyes making a broad sweep of her surroundings. The morning air was silent, save for the intermittent rustling of grasses and the thin whistle of air rushing through tree branches. Yet Djinkka could still sense something -- a deep-rooted intuition guided her snout toward a particular patch of brush and trees, with low-hanging branches and tall grass. The foliage obstructed her view considerably, but pressing herself down and very gently, very deliberately moving her legs, she padded forward until her large black form was flush against the greenery and her tall, rounded ear could swivel and hear directly into the blind spot.
Silence... silence... then, suddenly, the faintest rustling. Her body grew tense, rigid, and her breath caught in her mouth. Ever so slightly, she cocked her head to get a better angle for her nose. She inhaled deeply, her animal mind easily identifying the source of the distinctive scent that pervaded her nostrils. It was a fawn. Alone in the forest, it must have been separated from the herd and wandered off somehow. Her eyes betrayed her disappointment -- she preferred much larger targets, as they provided her with a more substantial challenge. But for now, with the rest of the area silent, this small snack of a meal would have to do.
Djinkka's predator instincts came to the forefront, and her body posture reflected that of an experienced hunter. Back arched, tail flat, ears perked up as high as they could go, nose constantly twitching as it sensed the air, she crept forward as slowly as her hulking body would allow. She moved forward at snail's pace, careful not to disturb too much grass at one time. Too much noise would frighten the fawn and cause it to escape -- too sudden of motions would do the same. She slunk low through the shrubbery, predicting the animal's location with her acute senses, until she could just see the tip of its delicate head over the cover of the bush. When she had it in her sights, had locked onto it as if peering through the scope of a rifle. She waited patiently, biding her time until it moved into the perfect position. The naive creature expected nothing.
Within five minutes, the fawn had sealed its fate. Djinkka's enormous body sprang with surprising agility, cresting through the air and landing with deadly precision. The frightened animal let out a shrill call, but it was too late for help; just the impact of the she-wolf landing atop it would have crushed its legs and left it permanently incapacitated. A well-placed nip to the neck with her razor-sharp teeth ended the ordeal instantly; the blood trickled in red rivers, soaking the creature's fur and signaling a job well done. A surge of adrenaline pulsed through Djinkka as she reveled in the afterglow of a successful hunt. It may have been an easy conquest this time, but she still felt the thrill. Smiling, her teeth still clenched around the dead animal's neck, she dragged it through the brush and back to where Ashaka slept.
She deposited the meal next to her slumbering friend and, too hungry to politely wait for her to awaken, decided to tuck in. Fiercely she tore the meat from the bone, devouring it ravenously. The meat sat comfortingly in her stomach, which gradually ceased its rumbling as her hunger was sated. When about a third of the meat remained on the carcass, she sat back and waited for Ashaka to finish the feast. She could easily have eaten more, but this would do for now. If Ashaka was still hungry after her portion, she would gladly go fetch another animal.
word count: 775
tags: @5572
muse: Surprisingly good.