Hunting Alone (Open)

[Xenoxice]

The sun was high in the sky, although hidden by thick clouds overhead. A snowstorm was approaching rapidly from the north and Al was determined to find a nice meal before the snow started to fall. The air was still so catching any scent in the air was a bit more difficult than the usual breeze that carried the scents of the animals that trudged through the snowy maze of trees. Luckily though he managed to pick out a few tracks that seemed rather fresh in the snow already on the ground, from what appeared to be a few rabbits that had hopped along His jet black fur with blue and red markings and the grayish areas did little for his 'blending in' abilities for hunting in snowy terrain. However, hunting without having to use camouflage was something he trained himself in very well.

Of course, as it usually would happen in his life whether he wanted it to or not, he wasn't alone. No scents were being carried nor were any sounds being made aside from the occasional bit of snow falling from the branches of the trees around him. More or less a gut feeling that told him someone was there. And in his years of hunting his instincts have never steered him wrong and he's learned to trust them. Slowly flaring his wings out and raising them, he thrust them down to the ground. The air following his wings kicking up the powdery snow beneath him, creating a thick screen of cover as he flapped his wings a second time and bolted from the ground. Up towards the higher branches of the trees he rose until he landed on one that could hold his weight as he looked down and around for whoever it was to show themselves... his hunger forgotten and replaced by his new curiosity.

[Moon_Song]

Darklight had heard that her sister had taken in a new wolf. The pack was still growing. A good trend, although she was a little wary, simply because she did not know this wolf. She had also heard that the new male-Al something-was hunting in the forest. She had decided to check on him and see how he hunted.

There air was still and Darklight made sure to move as stealthily as possible. She came close to him, but he seemed to know somehow that she was there and proceeded to whip up the snow with his wings and blind her temporarily.

When the disturbed snow settled back down, she noticed that he had run himself up a tree. She was amused, but made no show of it. She was also a little impressed at his keen senses. He may prove to be a valuable pack-mate yet.

"Relax, I am Darklight, one of the Tyran." She sat on her haunches. "I only wish to see what kind of wolf my sister has admitted into the pack." She gave a toothy grin. She was only trying to intimidate him a little.

Then again, she knew that trying to force others under one's will could be seen as a sign of weakness of abuse of position. That was not what she was trying to do, it was just in her character to see how much those around her could handle.

[Xenoxice]

As Darklight introduced herself Alastolan looked down from the high tree branch and saw where she sat. He leaped down from the branch and flapping his wings only once before he landed to soften his landing. Barely pushing up a small dusting of snow that passed close to the ground. "Ah! Tyran Darklight. It's great to finally meet you." He met her toothy grin with a warm and gentle one of his own. "If you wish to see what kind of wolf I am all you must do is ask. I'd be more than happy to disclose any information you wish to know. Hunting techniques in certain situations, about myself, my past, whatever."

Alastolan sat on his own haunches a few feet away from her as he continued looking towards her. "Allow me to properly introduce myself. The name is Alastolan, I'm an Annagar just in-case Serra Ea didn't tell you." His calm nature radiated from his presence, the trustworthiness he held for everyone around him until they proved themselves otherwise was apparent in the way he held himself.

[Moon_Song]

He seemed a respectable enough wolf. He was ready and willing to prove his worth, and she liked that about him. She couldn't stand weak wolves. Then again, was his calmness a sign of weakness?

Darklight stood and began to walk around the male, ever so slowly. She circled the male, checking his physical conditioning as well as how he would stand up to an examination such as this.

What had he said his name was? Alastolan was it? His conditioning seemed good enough for hunting and was almost as strong looking as she was. In her examination, she took note of other attributes. The male had strange coloring on his fur.

Thinking over her pack, they were a whole group of oddities. Aithne with her one wing, Nashca and her owl-like appearance, Akuma and his great size...what an interesting bunch that had formed into the Voyani pack.

When Darklight arrived back at the begining of her circle she sat back down in the snow. She looked straight into his eyes, her own golden one's bright and piercing. "Annagar Alastolan," she said, her voice strong, "Where is it that you came from?"

After hearing the answer to this question, she would go on to ask, "Why is it that you joined Voyani?" She would watch him with sharp eyes and keen ears. Nothing would escape her notice.

[Xenoxice]

Alastolan sat there and watched Darklight as she slowly paced around him. The warm smile never once fading from his face as she scanned his body and looked him over inch by inch in an inspection. After hearing her question of where he came from he replied with the same calm voice as before, un-phased by her piercing eyes as he looked back into them. "Well, I was born and raised in the Shinkou Packlands. The Kohai Forest province to be exact. Once I was old enough to get out on my own and see the world, I've been traveling ever since. But if you're asking where I have come from more recently, then the answer is I've come down from the Tsumetai mountain range while exploring some of the caves up there. Quite a few vacant ones that are indeed habitable and cozy actually." His calm and peaceful demeanor remained all the while he was answering her questions as well as his smile.

After hearing her next question he gladly answered once more. "As far as what brought me to join the Voyani pack, in all truthfulness, loneliness. I've been a loner for quite a few years now. Nobody I could call my long-term friend or pack mate. A few wolves I've met here and there to chat with but nothing that ever lasted past a day or two. Also I hope to possibly increase my chances of finding a mate within a pack, being able to get to know others for more than just a day before never seeing them again. In all honesty you could say finding a mate is a small ulterior motive but the main one being so I can actually have friends that won't disappear so quickly."

[Moon_Song]

She weighed his words carefully. "Well said." He was certainly holding up well. To some this might seem an excessive display of dominance, but in truth it was necessary. With the Annagar being substitute Tyr, there could be no weakness. In Darklight's opinion, the hunters were to be more heavily scrutinized beacuse of this fact.

He had remained calm the entire time, which was a good trait. If one could not keep a cool head in such a simple situation, they were not fit to be Annagar.

Now for the next test.

"Annagar," Darklight spoke, her voice demanding a straighter posture, "show me how you hunt. There is some small game a number of yards from here. Find it and take it down." By 'small game' she had meant the young male boar she had passed a while ago. It was not yet mating season for its species, though an unusual one for such cold climates, so it should not be too violent.

[Xenoxice]

He nodded his head. "Very well Tyran Darklight. Although I have different ways of hunting, many of which would be declared a bit more, unorthodox, so to speak. The traditional chase and take down is fun, don't get me wrong, but my ways the meat stays tender since they don't have time to run. I shall demonstrate one such way to you." With a smile he leaped from the ground and flew back up into the trees again. Landing on another branch that could support his weight he walked closer to the edge where a large pile of snow sat on the end with the twigs holding it up. He looked down at Darklight and motioned with his head that she might want to move out of the way. Waiting until she moved, he jumped up and landed on the branch causing the entire pile to fall down making a rather loud noise. His eyes were closed as his ears swiveled and his head turned slightly from side to side.

Very faint footsteps could be heard from the distracted animal who had heard the snow pile fall. The still air carried noise quite well, even small ones, and could be heard with concentration. Something Al had much of. Turning his head to the direction he heard them coming from he flew through the trees, weaving his way in and out of the branches without hitting a single one until he was much closer to the location of the animal, assuming Darklight had followed. Landing on another branch, he used his wing to brush off a much smaller amount so it fell. Quite a large difference in the amount of noise made from the previous bit, but he didn't want to scare his target off. Listening once more he could clearly hear where it was and took off a second time. Seeing the boar he quietly landed in a tree directly above it.

He watched the boars movements carefully. Seeing when it stood still, when it turned around in place, and for how long it did each. Waiting until he could see Darklight so she could watch, he counted in his head timing it just right, seeing the boars pattern and leaped from the branch. Coming down with all his force he twisted himself mid-air, flaring his right wing out and smashing the boar on the head directly from above causing it to collapse to the ground. Unfortunately for the boar, it didn't get up nearly fast enough from the major blow as Al landed on his feet. With a swift down, over and up motion with an open jaw, he clamped down on the boars throat and tore it to shreds. Cleaning the blood from his muzzle, the boar layed there in red snow.

He turned to look at Darklight and smiled. "If you'd like an explanation behind why I performed the way I did so you don't think I just randomly come up with such methods, I'd be happy to indulge your request. Or perhaps you'd like to figure it out on your own?" He chuckled slightly as he dug his muzzle into the snow to wipe off the rest of the blood that remained on it.

[Moon_Song]

Darklight half listen. She was beginning to think his explanations were drawn out. Luckily she didn't have to wait long. He moved to the tree above and motioned for her to move. She stepped back so that the snow that fell missed her.

The Annagar listened for the boar, and when he had gotten an idea of its location, he took off. Darklight followed behind at an easy trot. He was on another branch, closer to where the boar was when she caught up. Once he saw her approach, he took off and she followed at the same pace.

She made sure to stay a safe distance from both the boar and the Annagar when she caught up again. She had positioned herself on a tiny outcrop, a few yards up and away from where the boar wandered stupidly.

A seasoned hunter herself, Darklight watched the movements of the prey with half an eye, and Alastolan with the other. She had an idea of what he was doing, and his actions proved her assumptions right. He took the boar down via an arial attack. Practical and effective.

He was beginning to win her mild approval, but his smugness soured the thought. Asking if she needed and explanation? Ha! "No such explanation is needed. Remember, Annagar, I am a hunter in my own right. I know the tricks of the trade."

Darklight turned around. "If you are done here, take your kill and we will be off. You should show your prize to the Serra." Without waiting she began to walk away, off in the general direction of her sister.

[Xenoxice]

At her response Al simply sat and listened. He chuckled playfully a bit before responding. "I guess you're right. Being a Tyran I suppose you would know about those things." As she turned around and spoke once more he replied as he stretched his wing out and slid it under the boar, picking it up so its stomach rested on his wing with the legs hanging off the front and back. "Very well." He spoke with a small bow as he would proceed to follow Darklight with his kill as she led towards Ea.

[Moon_Song]

She could hear his footfalls behind her the entire way. They did not falter. Good. It showed that his back was not weak. Darklight debated taking the long way, to test his endurance, but decided against it.

She kept straight on her path.

Ea wondered briefly where her sister was. She hoped she had found the new pack membe. More so she hoped she wasn't being to hard on him. She could be rather abrasive sometimes.

The wind changed then. Her sisters scent carried strongly on the wind. And that of another. The new member was with her...and they had been hunting.

Ea lied down and waited under a nearby tree. Her bi-colored eyes scanning the tree line.

After a long trek they broke out of the line of trees. Her sister was lying under one of the many trees with the light from the sun pouring through the leaves. Darklight trotted over and bowed her head. "The new Annagar has brought a gift." She motioned for his to approach.

Ea smiled when her sister came into view. She stood, graceful in her movements. The pendant around her neck swayed, catching rays of light and reflecting them. Her fur seemed to melt into the scenery, except for the few black markings on her fore-leg and chest.

When her sister approached, she chuckled at the seriousness in her tone. "No need to stand on formalities, Darklight." The words were soft and warm.

Ea would turn her attention to Alastolan as soon as he approached, her eyes attentive and her smile gentle. "Good to see you well after time alone with Darklight." She giggled lightly at the face her sister made.

[Xenoxice]

Through the snow they traveled, Al following behind Darklight as he carried the boar on his wing. It didn't take very long before they finally broke through the tree line and he stood back as Darklight walked ahead to greet Ea. Once he had noticed her motion for him to come forward he stepped from the treeline until he stood before Ea. Taking a deep bow he smiled. "Serra Ea. Nice to see you. As mentioned I have a gift." Turning to his left he leaned his wing down so the boar slid off. "And yes, I am well. I don't really find Tyran Darklight to be very difficult to get along with. I just see it as a fact that she simply wishes your pack members to be strong and capable. At least that's what I gathered when I felt she was testing me." He chuckled slightly as he took a few steps back to let Ea have the boar. He leaned down and dipped his wing down in the snow, trying to clean the blood from the boar off of it. After it was cleaned he walked a few yards away and layed down beneath a tree, but on the side where the sun wasn't covered by the leaves. He drew in long, deep breaths as he relaxed next to the tree. Casually looking back and forth between Darklight and Ea every now and then.

[Moon_Song]

Ea laughed with Alastolan. She had expected just as much from Darklight. She knew her sister might be a bit stung, but she would be fine.

Ea looked down at the boar that had been placed at her feet then at Alastolan as he walked over to a tree and lay down. "You need not walk away, Alastolan. Please, come over and join us."

Whether he come over or not, she looked back at the boar carcass at her feet. She lifted a paw and paced it gingerly on the beasts hide. "He was a fine animal." Her was voice soft, as if she was speaking to the boar. She looked closer at it. "And an interesting hunting teqnuqie I might add." She winked at Alastolan

Always too keen. Just by the look of the fallen boar she could surmise the way it was taken down. Or was there something else, some other ability, emerging? Probably not. As she stared at the boar, one of the most beautiful sounds filled her ears. Her sister was howling. After listening for a moment, she added her own deep and powerful voice to the music.

This was their was of thanking the boar, the earth, and the hunter for their sacrifices. She knew not if her own voice was a suitable gift, but certainly Ea's was.

Ea had closed her eyes and listened carefully. Her necklace, that special trinket of hers with its strange blue glow, was humming that silent song only to her.

With the fluidity and grace of all the waters, she lifted her head and began to sing. There was a strength in her howl, as there always was, as she bid farewell to the boar's spirit and gave thanks for it sacrifice. Her voice had an almost pure aspect to it. It was reminiscent of the fresh snow, the newborn child, and the joy of the dancing maiden.

Darklight joined in then, and the melody grew more complex. Her voice reminded Ea of a warrior in battle, with all it sorrows and triumphs. Would Alastolan join in? He was a part of the pack now, so he had the right to. What would his song sound like? What emotion did he sing with?

[Xenoxice]

Alastolan lay there beneath the tree in the sun and basked in the warmth it offered in such snowy terrain. He had heard of Ea's offer to join them and smiled, but stayed where he was for the moment to relax. His relaxation turned into amazement as he listened to Ea's song. It was incredible the amount of clarity her voice held as she sang. As Darklight jumped into the singing as well it added a whole new layer that sounded completely different. Alastolan had always enjoyed music and decided to jump in as well. But instead of singing a melody like Ea and Darklight, he sang in the form of a harmony to blend their two melodies together. His own singing was slow, calm and tranquil. The pitch changing ever so slightly up and down at perfect intervals and precise transitions.

His voice resembled the balance of nature that it always held. The constant ebb and flow of the ocean, the steady cycle of changing seasons from warm to cold and the falling of leaves to the blooming of flowers. He listened intently to both of their voices at the same time to keep the tones of his harmony matched. His eyes were closed as his voice rang through the air, synchronizing and mixing with Darklight's and Ea's. The sound of his howl was laden with what would make one feel love. A smile formed at the corners of his mouth as he kept singing.

[Moon_Song]

It was wonderful. All three of the voices balanced. Ea and Darklight's songs were opposing yet equal forces, and Alastolan brought on the perfect compliment to the whole song. There would be no creature around who would not be affected.

Ok, she had to admit, he had a good voice. Altogether the three made an interesting impromptu choir. She allowed herself to get caught up in the song. She let the notes fill her until she was content. This was the effect of Ea's singing.

After some time, the song faded away with a lasting note. It reverberated in the very trees. Ea kept her eyes closed a moment longer. She wanted to hear the note out to the very end. For ears as keen as hers, that could be a while.

Darklight watched her sister. She sometimes went off into her own world when she heard singing or after she had sang. :Ea?" She said softly. She meant to pitch her voice so that it only carried to her sister, but the song was still fresh in her throat and the sound carried.

Ea's eyes opened suddenly. When she realized it was Darklight that had spoken she flushed. She had forgotten there was company. She probably seemed very strange now.

She cleared her throat, feeling a bit awkward at this point, and began to speak. "Alastolan, please, join us in this meal. You should take pride in your kill." She was trying to be persuasive. Even as a Serra she didn't feel right eating the kill of another while they stood back and did nothing. It made her uncomfortable.

[Xenoxice]

The singing that rang through the forest appeared to be ever lasting to Alastolan. The constant re-verb and echo from the trees with his keen ears made it last well beyond the actual duration and even seemed to make it sound as though there were others singing back to them. After the song had finished he smiled as the sound carried on, working its way deep into the forest past where they were. He looked over at Darklight at first, seeming to be trying to get the attention of Ea and then turning his head to her who seemed to be lost in her own world listening to the echoes as he was. He laughed quietly to himself as he watched her snap back to reality.

Soon enough though after Darklight had brought Ea back to them, he listened as Ea offered for him to join in on the meal. He shrugged a bit as he replied but smiled as well. "I'm not really that hungry, but I suppose a little bit couldn't hurt. Just a snack." He stood up from his comfy position, shaking the snow from his fur as he walked over to Ea's position and layed down before her on front of the boar. "You should have first bite." He kindly offered as he smiled gently.