Counting the days

[Le Mad]

A chilly breeze had picked up in the fast few days, blowing in a small bank of snow clouds. Now, a light coating of snow had coated the lands of the Voyani territory. The winter trees held the snow dearly, like a child, but they would drop it soon as it warmed slightly in the territory.

The creek had begun to melt, showing spots of running water for creatures to drink from. At that moment, a young deer and its mother had come for the spot's promise of water. The doe slowly stepped into the area, her fawn staying behind in the brush. She took a step and listened for a predator, ears like radar dishes. When she felt comfortable, she took another step, and repeated the process until she had made it to the creek and signaled her young one to join her.

Two too-large black ears were all to be seen over the fallen log of which Tristesse had hidden behind as the deer had made her way to the creek. When she began to drink, the winged she-wolf's baby blue eyes appeared, a cocky air about them. Her paws flexed on the ground and she ducked her head when the doe's head raised again for a moment. She lowered her head to drink again, her fawn attempting to do as its mother did.

Tristesse took this as her chance. The fae sprung over the log, wings helping her glide inaudibly to the ground. She was only two months into adulthood, but that didn't stop her from continuing to look older. The fur on her back and neck had grown longer, and her wings and legs had grown quite a bit as well.

Her legs took motion as she hit the earth, springing for the young deer. Unfortunately, a twig lay waiting for her, and the muffling effect of snow did not save her here. Both creatures before her heard her and took off. She snarled, her legs moving as fast as they could. The deer weaved in between trees, educated in fleeing from predators. She was surprised at how fast they moved. She had always been fast, but they knew this forest better than she did.

A sigh heaved itself in her chest, and she slowed, letting the duo get away from her. She turned, walking back to the creek and sitting on her haunches. She looked down into the reflection of her own narrow face before she leaned in to get a drink.

"Damn." She swore as she lifted her head back up, disappointed.

[shrinerbaby]

Amadeus


Amadeus watched the young, winged wolf from his position downwind. She had done very well, but unfortunately hadn't met her mark and downed her prey. Her words floated back to him and he gave a fleeting, tender smile. "Do not be disheartened, Tristesse. A lone wolf hunting misses far more often than they succeed. This is true even for me. It is even more so true for my brother," he said in hopes of both reassuring his student and cheering her up a bit. They both knew that Caelestis was no hunter.

The blond wolf rolled to his paws and made his way over to the young lady. He pressed his cold nose against the blade of her shoulder in an quiet, affectionate greeting. Of all those he'd met in the pack, he counted Tristesse his favourite. This, of course, did not count his brother. He could not imagine any creature more dear to his heart than his foolish sibling. Still, he was very fond of this young adult. "Your form was good. Were it not for the unlucky placement of that stick, I think you would have claimed your prize."

"If you would like to try again, I would join you. Perhaps together we can better our odds." The arctic brute stood tall beside his pupil as they stood next to the melting creek. His pale yellow eyes looked on into the woods where the deer and her young had disappeared. The commotion they had made would likely startle off any prospective game in that direction. So the wolf turned his head the other way thoughtfully.

[Le Mad]

The dark-furred femme lifted her head when she heard her teacher approaching. She watched him come to her, listening to what he had to say about a lone wolf and its ability. She wanted to change that. Hell, she wanted to be the most revered hunter in the land, but she wouldn't voice that desire. Tristesse giggled when he spoke of Cael's inability to hunt.

She liked the brothers, Caelestis and Amadeus. They seemed to click more than she had with the other pack members. She knew it was her fault that the two deer had gotten away; she hadn't been completely aware of her surroundings, but Ama had the courtesy to blame the twig which had snapped. She smiled.

"It was my fault, Ama, and you know it." She laughed, blue eyes aiming to meet his, "But I'll accept your offer. Maybe I'll get to see an experienced hunter in action." She said, eyes following his to the opposite direction in which her failed prey had fled.

"Shall we go?" She queried, preparing to follow him.

[shrinerbaby]

Amadeus


The blondie knew his words hadn't been much comfort. He could see it written all over her and he offered a quiet knowing smile. It was fleeting, but it was hers at least. "I know how it is to long to be the best, but we are wolves. As such we are not meant to be alone. We are designed to the very detail to be social creatures, to rely on our community. It is what drives us to band together. If one wolf could stand alone and thrive, what point would their be to our packs? We would be as the great felines, who hunt and live their lives in solitude."

He touched his nose to her shoulder fondly, letting his breath wash out and filter through her thick fur and whisper over her skin. He drew in a breath full of her scent and pulled away from her, turning to lead her on into the woods in the opposite way her query had went. "We are meant to hunt together as a team. It is in this way that we excel, Tristesse. If you want to be the best possible hunter you can be, and I know that you do, you must learn how to hunt as a team. So let us begin.

The somber wolf fell quiet then, his speech concluded. He hoped that it had given her at least a little insight. He liked Tristesse. Very much so, in fact, despite her tender age. He wanted her to succeed. Not just in hunting, but in life as a whole. He wanted to see her dreams come true, and he'd help her any way that he could.

A few moments of quiet padding through the woods and he stepped onto the worn path of a game trail. The scents of the many that had crossed filtered in and he turned to look back at his pupil. "Tell me, what is our query?" He was asking her to pick a scent that they would follow. There were many to choose from, on a varying degree of freshness. He wanted to see what it was that she'd pick.

[Le Mad]

Her eyes showed their usual smile as he spoke, though her face was more curious as she listened to his words. Tristesse thought for a moment, her mind drifting to his mention of great cats, her claws flexing in the earth. She shook her head gently, unable to understand how they lived without a pack. She knew she had done it herself, but now that she had tasted belonging, Tristesse knew she couldn't leave.

The she-wolf jumped when he touched her, a warmth spreading through her body as he breathed. She followed him when he began to walk, her body now in tune with his as she began to get in the right mindset for hunting. She nodded her ashen head when he gave the word to begin, taking on a serious, yet somehow still slightly playful look.

She inhaled, her eyes glancing around as she caught different scents. She could smell many mouth-watering selections in the area, and could even see the occasional game trail ahead of them. One scent in particular caught her attention: elk. The creatures frequented this part of the forest. She looked to her teacher, deciding quickly.

"I think this will work. Elk, though I'm not sure how many.. What do you think, Amadeus?" She knew that they were strong creatures, but with the right tactics they fell like any other animal. She cocked her head to the side, awaiting his approval or disapproval.