My Darling Deer

[Deleted]

At the alpha's okay, Denali flashed him a charming smile accompanying a nod of her head. Her limp ear bounced lightly with the movement and did not resettle until she had gotten to her feet. All four paws stood against solid earth, though most of her weight was kept off of her injured paw. It was nice to know her leg was still usable, and that fact alone was enough to chase away any lingering depression.

Turning to Kaoru, she'd bid the Ethiopian farewell and then ventured deeper into the Salen territory. Exodus and Flea would be right behind her, she was sure. But, as she was the one that was injured she had taken it upon herself to select the terrain. Loner or not, the creme fae wanted this hunt to be just as successful as the marked brute did. To do so meant she would have to make sure they were within an area that would cause her the least injury. Once a hunting ground was established, Exodus could take over dictating what was done.

Inspecting the lay of the land as she went, Denali knew the Lleingas Woods would be a poor choice. The forest was dense, the ground rough. Rarely she let her injured paw touch down, knowing if she placed it wrong on a root or stone she would be in immense pain. It did not help that prey in the forest seemed to be rather scarse. The dark atmosphere of the woods was indeed handy at keeping away weary travellers.

Soon enough the land did clear up though, and the femme's eyes widened in disbelief. The fog lifted almost immediately as she stared at the make-shift plateau and the small heard of deer grazing on its summit. Though the trek up towads the summit would be rough, the hunting ground couldn't be more perfect. Ryn-Eldbel definately held promis.

Turning around, amber eyes peered in the direction she had just come from. Hopefully she hadn't pulled too far away from her Salen friends. It was quite sweet of Exodus to include her in his pack's hunt; she did not wish to intrude upon his hospitality. Denali was a guest, that was all. She knew it was not her place to take charge.

When Exodus and Flea finally made an appearance, her tail wagged steadily behind her. "Up for deer?" she questioned quietly, hoping her voice would not carry. It was best not to spook the deer before they even had a chance to get started. Reguardless, her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as she waited for a response. Denali was excited. It'd been quite a while since she'd had a good meal, and knowing her paw was still usable would simply be icing on the cake.

[silver]

Denali inspected the land as they padded through it. The foliage seemed to part before her as if she were some goddess passing by. The charcoal coated brute gentle trotted after her, followed by little Flea. Exodus didn’t have to look around to know she was most likely scampering all over the place. It was what pups did after all. Anything that moved, they followed it. Flicking his ear, Exodus eyed Denali and licked his muzzle. Her gaze shifted around every once in a while, peering through the mist, her mind reeling over where the best place to hunt would be. A patch of sunlight filtered through the branches of leaves and hit Denali square on the back. In that fleeting moment, Exodus saw something that caused him to stop in his tracks, head rearing up. Silver optics widened like they always did when they saw something aesthetically pleasing. Black ears swiveled back, then forward, then to the side. In the next moment, the sunlight was pushed away by the ever relentless mist and clouds that clung to the forest forever threatening to cause one to get lost or a sudden torrential downpour. Giving a side ways glance, Exodus grunted and then carried on after Denali who had not even noticed his sudden stop. It was better that way. Inside, the constant turmoil that plagued the alpha flared up with an even more heated passion.

It has been a long, long time since I’ve felt such an emotion… Exodus thought wearily with a sigh. Passing by a stray puddle, the gave it a glance from the corner of his eye. In doing so, he saw how he looked. His black fur was long, shaggy, and slightly misplaced. His muzzle was beginning to go a little white, though it was hardly noticeable to others. Stopping for a short moment more, Exodus frowned deeply at his reflection. A second late he was shaking out his pelt forcing the out of placed hairs back in their designated area. Paws shuffled forward as Exodus sniffed the air. There didn’t seem to be any scents in the air that suggested prey was near. Which is why Denali has not stopped… The alpha chided himself. The rest of the journey was walked in silence. Denali made no conversation for she was bent on finding a good hunting area, and Exodus just didn’t care to speak at this moment. Previous thoughts of his pack members had long ago been pushed out of his mind. They were replaced by the past, present, and future. In the past, Exodus had loved another. She was beautiful, charming, and so sweet to him. In the end, she had been wearing a mask the entire time.

At the time, the black brute had thought she truly loved him. That she didn’t care about the fact he was alpha. It was proven wrong, and in the hardest way for Exodus. When he was unable to bear children with her, she threw him out like yesterday’s garbage. He could not provide a heir that would keep them on the thrown. In every sense, Exodus was worthless to her. From there, Exodus had hardened his heart so that only the love of work could be felt. When he claimed this, he met another. Naria. She was beautiful, pure, and innocent. She had been a lot like his first mate, though in most ways, better. The wall he had built was already starting to crumble. When Naria disappeared, Exodus only became more gruff. Taurus and Denali then walked on the scene. Over time, he came to get to know the two better and found companionship in both. Denali went on her way, as any loner would do. However, in her absence, Exodus found himself to be feeling sad that she was no longer with him. At first, he told himself that she were nothing more than someone he sought small talk conversation with. Something a little more than an acquaintance, but not quite a friend. Later, Exodus began to think of her move as a friend. The she wolf was different than most he met and it was refreshing.

That only left the future. What exactly did the future hold in store for him? There was no way to even guess now. Eyeing Denali, whom he had just caught up with, Exodus’ muzzle twitched as if it were attempting to form a smile. Denali’s lips parted as she spoke and Exodus grunted. Taking a quick look around, Exodus sniffed at the air again. Deer. As soon as the word hit his cranium, Denali’s words registered in his mind. Nodding, he dropped a little lower to the ground. It was best to not talk as much as possible. The deer were just up ahead. Their blurred shapes called out the large brute. Forcefully, he willed his stomach to be quite and not make a sound no matter how much it wanted to gurgle. “Alright, I’ll pick out one of the weaker ones. Denali, when I give the signal, spook it away from the rest of the herd. Mind your paw, though.” He said as he eyed her paw, and then turned his gaze to Flea. “Little Flea, you sit here and watch. Be sure to take note of how things go. I may ask you some questions later. It’ll be a little lesson.” Exodus murmured in a lecturing type voice as he sternly peered down at his beloved Flea.

Dropping into a crouch that was closer to the ground, the large black brute crept closer to the prey. Just when he was within a good striking distance did he stop to survey the beasts before him. Internally he cursed their luck. Not a limping deer in the crowd. He was not in the mood to kill any young, even if it was large enough to feed all three. So, he would simply have to go for a younger, cockier buck who would senselessly wander further away from the herd than was necessary. In Deer World, there was a distance which one must not go further than, least they become prey. Taking a closer look at the deer, Exodus gave a soft grunt. His eyes locked on Denali, then on the deer which he choose. Nodding, he waited a moment she could muster what she needed, then gave a flick of his tail. The signal. Now all he had to do was wait for Denali to take off and get it further away from the others. It wouldn’t be too hard, really, considering it was already across the safeguard boarder.

[mikko]

She couldn't believe it, it was all her fault. She could have done something, she should have done something, and yet, she hadn't. And now he was gone, and it all her fault. She had chased after him, she'd watched him from a distance, eventually she had approached him, of course he hadn't been happy, but she had helped him. And then selfishly she'd strayed away from him, she'd been hungry and thirsty, and rather then hunting with Taurus, she'd gone alone. And when she'd eventually returned, he had been out of sight. She'd searched for days, trying to follow his scent, but it had been useless. He was gone.

She had walked back to the pack lands of Salen in a daze, shaking the whole way back. She was surprised she'd even made it back, she'd hardly concentrated, and she'd been an easy target. She wouldn't have been able to defend herself if she were attacked. Her feet had just taken her, she'd had no idea which direction she had been heading, but eventually, she felt the cold ground beneath her, and she scented the strange smells. She was back home. But what did it matter? As soon as Exodus discovered that Taurus was gone and that she was to blame, she'd be driven out of the pack.

Whining, she collapsed onto the floor, awaiting the arrival of the other pack members. She had no idea how she would break the news to them, this was the pack's beta after all, and everyone seemed to look up to him. Of course, there was still a possibility of his return, but the desert was a cruel place, it claimed many lives, and without someone to guid him, there seemed little hope, in her mind of him escaping from the sands. A pained howl escaped her lips, once again she'd caused someone's death. She didn't want to be negative, but Taurus had gone into a dangerous world, and with rougues surrounding the area, it was likely that he had been attacked. A small part of her hoped...prayed that he was okay somehow, but she'd heard nothing from him. She'd hated giving up, but she'd had no other choice, there was no point searching for what couldn't be found.

Whining once again, a surge of pain swept through Mikko. She hadn't eaten in a long time, it was almost like she had been unable to. The daze she'd been in, the daze she was still in had been too overpowering, and she hadn't been able to concentrate long enough to actually kill anything. But she regretted it now, the pain was too much, she knew that she'd only be able to go a day or so more before she became unconcious or died. And although she didn't wish to die, maybe it was what she deserved. She'd failed her mission, she'd failed Salen., she'd failed Exodus, and she had failed Taurus. She didn't deserve to live anymore.

Looking around the pack lands, she noticed a small group of deer, her stomach began to growl and she realised just how hungry she was. Standing up, her tail wagged slightly as she noticed a rather weak looking deer. It would be easy to take down, and then maybe she could use the kill to ease the news she was bringing. Crouching low to the ground, she started making her way toward the deer, waiting for the oppurtune moment to strike.

[flea]

Trotting along the path behind the creme female wolf and her marked alpha, Exodus, Little Flea followed the two adults while they searched for a hunt. Its been a while since Flea had eaten, and this hunt she was excited for. 'I wonder if they are going to let me help.' She pondered, staring at the ground where their paw prints embedded the earth. Her stomach growled eagerly as they continued on, more butterflies fluttered in the area, but Flea knew better than to chase one again. Exodus didn't like when she wandered off the first time.

For what seemed like hours of searching, both adult wolves stopped in their tracks and sniffed at the air. "Up for deer?" The creme female said joyfully. Flea mimicked Denali's enthusiasm, wagging her tail with a smile. "I like deer!" Flea whispered excitedly. Bounding around Exodus with her tongue hanging from her mouth. Exodus drew out the plan for the hunt, but Flea barely paid attention. She was hungry and excited to eat, she hoped that their food would be brought down soon. Pointing her nose to the air as well, inhaling shortly and smelling the deer as well.

“Little Flea, you sit here and watch. Be sure to take note of how things go. I may ask you some questions later. It’ll be a little lesson.” Flea blinked, then nodded. 'Guess I don't get to hunt.' She thought bitterly, but knew she was still too young to hunt anyway. "Okay I will." She whispered with a smile, her multi-hued eyes trailed off into the clearing where a herd of deer grazed. Licking her lips, she wandered onto a small hill that looked over the clearing while she waited for the adults to start the hunt.

[Deleted]

Denali fell quiet as she allowed Exodus to resume control, ears and eyes attentatively trained on the large black brute. Mimicking his movements, she dropped her body low to the ground. A slight nod of her head was all that was needed to convey her understanding, expression full of seriousness. Of course, she couldn't quite keep the smile out of her eyes. The femme was indeed excited.

Ever so slowly she crept towards the deer, hanging back slightly so she could observe the Salen alpha as well. The herd they stalked was full of healthy young prospects, meaning things would not be as easy as they could have hoped for. Reguardless, she was careful with the amount of weight she placed on her injury. Even with only three good legs Denali was faster than most. She spent her life running from her fears. What she lacked in brute force she made up for with speed.

She blinked quickly as Exodus's eyes locked on her's, shifting her gaze to follow his. Amber orbs lighted on the strapping young buck that had drifted too far to the right. Their target had been aquired. Denali did her best to block outside fears from her mind. She paid no mind to watching eyes of Flea, did her best to ignore the unexpected sounds of the wildlife around them. For once she was able to focus; she had a rare moment in which all function was completely normal. Her eyes slid back to the alpha as she took a deep breath. Then he flicked his tail and she was off.

Cream fur was nothing more than a blur as Denali darted from where they'd been hiding. She made a beeline for the chosen buck, further seperating him from the heard. In the process she startled the remaining deer, sending them scattering. She had no idea that Mikko had been lurking near by, stalking the same prey. She did not know of the danger she had just possibly put the Tasmanian Tiger Wolf in.

All four paws propelled her into action, barely kissing the ground as she closed in on her quary. She could sense Exodus's strong presense not far behind, ready to make the kill. Things seemed to be going smoothly. She could still use her paw. Now to try and bring down the deer... A startled yelp erupted from her maw as she went to lunge. She'd struck a rather large stone, pain surging through her injuried leg. Her pace slowed as she almost lost her balance, paw curling itself into her chest. After a few minutes she was able to stablize and continued the chase on three legs. It helped that the buck had begun to tire. Upon catching up she lunged again, sinking claws and fangs into the creature's tender hide. Hopefully Exodus would make a quick kill. The sooner she was able to tend to her paw, the better. Until then, all she could do was hold on for dear life as she tried to block out the pain.

[silver]

The paws of the large black male shifted weight several times from side to side as he waited for the most opportune moment. Scents of all kinds filled the air; however, there were only two that caught his immediate attention. Deer. Pack mates. Flea, Denali, deer. All these scents whirled around in Exodus’ mind, though his eyes remained on the prize. Blinking once, it was almost time for the main even to begin. Exodus’ soft tongue slide across his muzzle in the anticipation of the sweet meat he would soon be feasting on. Being the Alpha of the Salen pack, Exodus found it quite difficult to find time to go out and hunt. It was amazing he was not already wasting away before everyone’s eyes with as little food as he ate. Another, sharper scent wavered into the brute’s nose temporarily distracting him. The black, massive cranium of the wolf lifted so it was just barely above the grass. The nose, following the scent, pointed to where the source was located.

It was a pack mate’s scent; one Exodus had not smelled in quiet some time. Blinking, the brute almost forgot what the task at hand was. At the last moment, Denali took off snapping the black alpha’s attention to the deer. As soon as she was off and had the deer running, Exodus himself heaved his bodice from upon the packed dirt and sprang forth with a mighty leap. The dirt underneath his paws kicked up in a storm of dust. In a matter of a minute, the large beast had come up behind Denali, leaving just enough space to not cramp her while she worked. Before the deed could be finished, a sharp yelp rang out vividly in the auds of the brute. Exodus blinked and watched as Denali’s form hobbled along at a slow pace, his own body passing her. For a split second, he contemplated on stopping to check if she were ok. However, in the long run, it was best to take down the deer. Medical matters could be taken care of later.

Heaving a sigh, Exodus picked up his lost speed. The animal he had targeted run just before him. It was obvious the beast was tiring quickly. The young buck was young, but his stamina was not quite fully developed. An off white blur passed him as Denali doubled up her effort and lunged for the deer. Her sharp appendages hallowed into the hide, small streams of crimson blood flowing down the flank. The scent propelled Exodus forward in a last ditched effort to take the beast out. Ahead of them, a small, crouching figure eyed the animals running off in different directions. For a moment, Exodus’ heart squeezed in fear. But his fear was uncalled for, for the little Tasmanian wolf was obviously not his Little Flea. Growling, Exodus shouted for Denali to let go. Mikko seemed unaware of the fact she were in grace danger being straight in the path of the deer. The deer, wild with fright, failed to notice the crouching wolf. In a matter of moments, the other could be trampled.

Taking in a deep breath and praying that Denali heed his words, Exodus pushed his own stamina to the max. As soon as he was level with the face of the deer, the brute snarled and leaped up and to the side. Using all his force, strength, and momentum, Exodus successfully managed to knock the beast’s legs out from under him. Time slowly went by as both deer and wolf collided, fell, and spun. Around the two tumbled, the deer repeatedly fell upon Exodus, pinning him to the ground. As soon as the two stopped, the black brute leapt to his paws, snarling. It was only a matter of seconds before the deer’s throat lay in the jaws of the hungry wolf. A couple more seconds passed before the young beast passed. Letting go and stepping back, Exodus frowned and dipped his head to the deer. “My thanks.” He muttered grimly before shaking out his coat. Turning back to see if Denali was around, Exodus panted heavily, his tongue uncharacteristically lolling out the side of his muzzle. Giving a short bark to Flea letting her know it was ok for her to approach, the brute turned to where Mikko was.

“Ah, Mikko. It has been a while since I have last seen you. I half wondered if you ran away.” The black Alpha said and swallowed. “But I see you have returned and are of good health, good, good. By any chance, have you seen Taurus? I would much like to have a couple of words with him, and he has a report to give me no doubt.” Turning away for a moment, the marked one eyed Denali. “Your paw failed you there for a moment. Are you alright?” He asked with a stern frown. Pursing his lips together he sighed and shook his head. “Sometimes, Denali, I wonder what I am going to do with you.” He whispered for her ears, and her ear’s only. Meeting her yellow optics with his own silver ones, the brute sighed, gave a very small smile, and then turned to the meat that lay before him. “Well everyone, don’t let it go to waste. Dig in.”

Just picking a random area, Exodus set to work and began to tear at the flesh of the deer ripping it open to expose the innards inside. When the task was completed, the brute dug in and ravaged the poor beast. The normally composed brute could no longer deny his belly the food it deserved. A powerful howl seared through the air causing Exodus to pull his head up and turn to where it came from. Droplets of blood sprayed the area before him, though he paid no mind to them. “Crise.” He murmured, orbs narrowing with anger. With a curled lip, Exodus pulled off one last piece, swallowing it almost completely whole. “Enjoy the meal. I must attend to another problem.” He said in a gruff tone before stalking off. At first, his manner of pace was slow and judging whether or it was it was completely necessary for him to go to the other beast. Could not the beast come to him?

[mikko]

The bloodlust was starting to grip her, the feeling of needing to kill something, it was so overwhelming that Mikko couldn't ignore it. Her intincts were calling for her to satisfy her hunger, and Mikko was sensible enough to answer that call. She couldn't let her feelings get in the way, they were irrelevant at this point. She had to eat to survive, and even though Taurus was gone, she had to move on, she could ask for forgivness later, but she had to put her own needs first, the pack would come later. It seemed selfish, but there was nothing she could do, once the bloodlust gripped her, it was hard for her to shake it off.

Ever so slowly, she began to creep toward the targeted deer, she was unaware of any other presence near her, her mind and her senses were set on one thing, and one thing alone: her dinner. If she had seen Denali and Exodus near by, then she might have stopped and joined them. But her vision was clouded, and that in itself presented danger for the stripped wolf. With her senses only set on one thing, it meant that any surrounding danger would pass unaware to the wolf. For all she knew, a Knave could be nearby ready to strike her, and she would be unable to do anything about it. But there was not even a flicker of fear in Mikko's mind, she felt confident and strong, she could easily take down this deer by herself. And once her hunger was satisfied, she would call for Exodus and discuss the news she had to bring.

As she got closer to the deer, they suddenly bolted in all directions. Her senses confused, she suddenly felt blind and couldn't register what was going on. She could see shapes moving, but was unable to register where they were going, growling, Mikko shook herself, trying to focus everything on what was going on. Keeping close to the ground, Mikko tried her hardest to shake off the bloodlust, it was placing her in grave danger. If she didn't come to her senses, she could easily be trampeled on. Letting out a bark in hopes that it would protect her, Mikko found her sight starting to register, only to see a deer charging toward her. Her eyes widening, she felt her body tighten with fright. She had been such a fool! Try as she might, she couldn't move, and for a split second, she didn't want to. Maybe this was fate, maybe this was punishment for what she had done, if this were true, she shouldn't run, but embrace it.

Seeing a streak of black, Mikko watched as the deer that had been about to flatten her fell to the ground. Feeling her legs move, she slowly approached the deer and the black wolf, only to see that it was Exodus himself. As he spoke, guilt once again gripped her, and Mikko could do nothing but let out a whine of sorrow. How could she break the news to Exodus? He trusted Taurus so much, and they had seemed like good friends. "Taurus.. he-" The scent of the deer caught Mikko's nose and she stopped. Hunger gripped her and she began to lick her lips, wishing to tear at the carcass and taste the sweet meat. As Exodus joined them to eat, Mikko immediatly got herself stuck in, ripping at the deer's hind. She would tell Exodus afterward, no matter what happened. The longer she put it off, the harder it would be.

As a howl ripped through the sky and Exodus excused himself, Mikko sighed and turned to the other wolves. She noticed the small pup and wondered where he had come from, he was not the same pup that had been with them when she had joined, and she wondered where the little fellow had gone. After saving him from the sandstorm, the pup had dissapeared. She prayed that the pup had found someone to look after him, she hated to think of the pup wondering the lands alone. Tearing herself away from the deer, she smiled softly at the white pup, deciding it only best to introduce herself. "Hello young one, My name's Mikko, what's yours?"

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[flea]

A pair of mismatched eyes followed her alpha and the white huntress, beaming back and forth between the pair of wolves that set up their plan, and the deer trying to run away. Flea watched patiently as the duo hunted the buck, and another form hunting with them as well. This wolf didn't look like any ordinary wolf, it was much smaller, had hardly any hair and stripes. This new figure interested little Flea, she was antsy to go meet the newcomer.

The deer struggled to get away from the three hungry wolves, it was most certainly outmatched by now. Their plans were a success, and with some help from the striped wolf, the deer was brought down much quicker. Wagging her tail happily and chirp-like barks in joy, Flea was amazed by their skills, and was happy to finally get to eat. Exodus barked for her, ears perked she didn't hesitate to hobble her way over to the small group. Bouncing through the tall grass, her small creamy frame finally reached the opening where the three wolves stood.

"That was awesome!" Flea shouted bewildered, staring at the motionless deer carcass. "You were like grrr and she was like pow! And then the other was like grrr chomp!" Flea giggled amusingly and started scarfing down small chunks of meat. "Mmm and its so yummy!" The creame fae chewed at the meat then perked her ears at a nearby howl. Quickly glancing at Exodus as he responded then dismissed himself, Flea licked her muzzle then looked at the striped wolf as she introduced herself.

"Ohh you are very pretty also! My name is Flea." She barked happily, wagging her small tail. The meat was so tempting, she could only hold a conversation for a short time before digging back into the meal. Lifting her head and looking for Exodus, little Flea wanted to go with. Not being around him all the time made her feel uncomfortable, especially being around two females she hardly knew. But Flea knew for sure she'd be safe here until he returned. Sitting back now, Flea began to clean up the blood from her face as best she could as she waited for her alpha to return.

[Deleted]

As Exodus made his lunge, Denali released her grip and fell to the ground. She landed with a thud on three paws, careful to prevent further injury to her bad leg. Ever so slowly she placed her remaining paw against the earth, wincing slightly as pain shot through the limb. Golden eyes trailed after the form of the black alpha as he wrestled the deer to the ground, taking its life swiftly. Finally, when the hunt was finished, she hobbled towards him with a gentle smile on her muzzle.

"Bravo," she called out, pausing for a moment to watch Flea scamper past. For a few brief moments her gaze traveled between her paw and the carcus, wondering which need needed tending to first. When her stomach grumbled, she knew food was more important and continued to trek to their kill. Her movements were slow, cautious, and semi-unsteady as she minded her injury. Denali should have known better than to test herself so soon. Ah well. What was important was that she wasn't bleeding and that the hunt had been successful.

Upon reaching the others, she realized they had been joined by another. "Hello," she greeted pleasantly, dipping her head respectfully towards who she assumed had to be one of the Salen members. Her ears perked at mention of Taurus, her first friend in the land of Anikira. It seemed like forever ago since she'd met him on that beach and they'd journeyed into Acerbus together. Shortly after meeting Taurus she'd introduced herself to Exodus, and then his steadily growing pack had spooked her and she'd again taken to wandering. She'd met many others since then, including the Aldgar alpha, and yet somehow her wanderings had brought her back to Salen. The thought made her smile reach her eyes, her musing only broken by the alpha brute's whisper. "You know I've done worse," she murmered back. "And you'll never have that answer, for it is not your place to do anything with me."

There had been a teasing quality to her voice as she turned her attention back to the others. Silently she watched them all chose their lunch before sinking her own fangs into its flank. Warm blood marred her creamy fur as tender flesh filled her empty stomache. It'd been so long since she'd last had a decent meal. The young buck tasted like heaven; it wasn't long before she'd had her fill. Denali was gobbling up her last few scraps as a howl broke through the comfortable silence. Exodus seemed annoyed as he excused himself. She couldn't help but let her eyes linger as he stalked off, his retreating form reminding her that she too would have to leave soon. She wasn't a Salen member and had no intention of becoming one. As much as the pack seemed to not mind her company, she couldn't help but feel she was beginning to overstay her welcome. There was also much of Anikira she still wanted to see, and with her recovering strength soon would be as good a time as any.

Finishing her meal, the Tundra fae laid herself down and began to tend to her paw. In silence she ran her pink tongue over the discontent appendage, cleaning the injury in attempt to erase the pain. It felt good to relax and tend to her wound, the break well deserved. After a few long minutes she picked up her head and observed Mikko and Flea. Her smile had turned into an expressin of contemplation as she wondered what would happen next. Exodus had left no instruction for his pack, and she would still need a day or two before attempting any travel. "What do we do now?"

[mikko]

[OOC: sorry this took so long, been ill and busy. They're really mean to me as a 3rd year student at college, but hopefully this won't happen again]

Mikko couldn't help but look at the young pup fondly as it began to tear small pieces of meat away from the carcas. The pup was just so beautiful and so full of life, it was truely refreshing to see. For a moment, she wondred if her pups; if given the chance to live would have been like this. But she quickly pushed the thought away, she didn't want to think about that any more. She had to look to the future, and that future, if Exodus still wished her to be in the pack, was here in Salen. She had a new life, one which would hopefully bring her no more pain, and maybe with this pup, she could finally find closure. Sure, the pup wasn't one of her own, but she'd protect her with her life.

Tearing a piece of the meat, Mikko slowly chewed it, watching the other wolf carefully. It wasn't that Mikko didn't trust the stranger, after all, Exodus was fine with the wolf being around, and if Exodus was happy, then so was she. What Mikko was doing, was analysing the wolf, she wanted to see what the white wolf was like. But also, she was trying to distract herself from the young pup. Though she liked the pup, she needed time to adjust, and wondered, no, wished Exodus had told her that there was a pup in Salen. But she had no right to cpmplain, for all she knew, this pup could have arrived after she'd run after Taurus, so there had been no may to contact her. Taking another bite out of the carcass, she turned her head in the direction Exodus had run to, wondering how he'd take the news of Taurus' death.

As 'Flea' complimented her, Mikko turned her attention to the wolf and smiled. "Why thank you young one," Yawning, Mikko quickly scratched herself behind the ear before taking another bite of the deer. She had never been complimented in such a way by a wolf that wasn't like her, so many of these strange wolves had called her a rat, a freak, or other names which had hurt. Only other Tamsmanian wolves had ever called her pretty. "It is nice to hear such polite manners from someone so young, It is rare that a wolf like you calls a wolf like me pretty." Her heart went out the young pup as she continued to watch young Flea. Where on earth was the pup's parents? Surely someone so young wasb't meant to be out on their own, Flea was like what...four, maybe five months? A pup that young should still be with it's parents. Looking over at the other white wolf, she wondered if she was the mother.

As the white femme asked a question, Mikko laid on the ground, licking her lips clean. She had definatly needed that, and she didn't feel so weak and dizzy now that she had food in her stomach. "I'm not sure, maybe we should wait here, either that or we could head towards the den."

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[flea]

Little Flea continued to tug on the gamy meat of the deer, swallowing small chunks and licking the blood from her lips. Flea smiled as Mikko thanked her for the compliment. "You are welcome!" The pup chirped happily with a big smile. "It is nice to hear such polite manners from someone so young, It is rare that a wolf like you calls a wolf like me pretty." Flea giggled and licked her lips again. "I think lots of wolves should call you pretty! I hasn't seen anyone else with stripes like you." Flea wagged her creamy tail, then glared cutely back at the dead deer before pouncing on it and chewing on the flesh.

Flea tuned in for a moment as Denali wondered what do do next. Flea sat back and groaned, rolling around in the grass around them. "I'm so full now!" Flea rolled to her feet and began rubbing her back and hips on the deer's small antlers to scratch herself. "I dunno what to do, I wish I had someone to play with." Flea yawned and started chewing on an antler. Her mix matched brown and green orbs turned to Mikko as she suggested going back to the dens. Flea nodded, not necessarily in agreement but the little pup was up for anything. Looking up at the dimming skies as another small yawn left her maw. 'I wish brother and mother were here too...' The pup frowned a bit at the thought. It was awhile ago since the accident and Flea has forgotten the details. But she knew it was a brutal ending and she only wished for mothers comfort. In that state of mind, she crawled over by Denali and laid next to her, a few inches away, but just knowing someone else was next to her would help little Flea relax.

But the young Flea was restless, not wanting to be in the valley much longer. She huffed and sighed continuously, out of boredom of course, rolling around in the grass. Where was Exodus? What was taking him so long? Flea was growing rather impatient. She was old enough to venture off on her own right? Well, technically she wouldn't be wandering... Simply searching. Her mismatched eyes watched Denali, then turned her attention to Mikko. Both were occupied with a conversation, so this would be a good time for Flea to leave. "I'm going to find Exodus, you guys should come too! Bye!"Short, sweet, and to the point. After saying so, Flea darted off in the direction her alpha left.

[Deleted]

A small frown creased her maw as the Tasmanian Tiger femme addressed her question. Head to the dens? Denali wasn't so sure she liked that idea. Already she'd spent so much time in Salen. It was beginning to make her weary. The Tundra fae was not fond of becoming so close to any one group for too long, her health making her fear more for those around her than herself. Her personality was... unpredictable at best. Though she'd been well enough thus far, she was beginning to feel her high would soon come to an end. Things had been too good for too long, even if she'd been in horrible spirits upon her arrival so long ago. Denali wished to do nothing she'd end up regretting while in the company of Exodus's pack.

"Maybe you two should head to the dens," she finally murmured, pulling herself to her paws. Testing out her injury, she found it to be in much better shape than she'd first judged. This was good. She'd be able to travel with little trouble. "I'm thinking I should take my leave though. I'm afraid I've overstayed my welcome. Please, tell Sir Exodus goodbye for me and that I'll visit again. I just... I'd rather not intrude upon his pack more than I already have. It's been a pleasure meeting you both. See you again."

With that Denali began to stroll towards the Acerbus's border. It was typical of her to run just when she was getting comfortable. She'd done it with the Aldgar pack, having dropped off her friend Sianna before returning to the free lands. Now she was doing it to Salen. This time she didn't even go out of her way to say goodbye to the alpha. She just ran. Her own insecurities and fear of commitment had driven her from another potential home. And, while she had made up her mind to spare herself regret she would later realize leaving would bring on that same emotion.

Right now she would not think of it though. Instead, she would follow her decision to leave Salen. She would settle back into her preferred lifestyle, fending only for herself. She had been wanting to meet the packs of the Occasus and Kamari. She felt she owed a visit to Aldgar as well. It would be nice to see Sianna again, and learn how Xinelil and his pack were getting along. Then maybe she would return to Salen for another visit. Right now she just had to get away.

-Exit Denali-