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ooc:
In all her dismay, in all her personal drama, she could not let the weight of it hold her down from her obligations to the pack. There was a party to make ready for, the very one she had intended to make for Kiara to celebrate her pregnancy and the life she would bring into the world. And amidst her own quiet jealousy, the autumn Shepard intended to play her part and do what she could to make the party and event to remember. The invitations were already in place, a date had been set and an assumed head count had already been made. All that was left was the gathering of food; a task the she-wolf was more than willing to fulfill on her own.
And in truth she was glad for it in the hopes that the bloodletting would grant her some semblance of internal peace.
Her beastial form prowled through the fragrant woods of which she had become familiar to. Without the deep bite of frost beneath her paws, she felt more inclined to travel further for the day than hurry for a place to rest and feel the warmth in her paws again. That, and her determination for the first kill was insatiable. She could feel her claws etching into the ground with ever paw placed forward. Her senses were alive and searching, eager as her brimming instinct to become one with the feral nature and satisfy that burning urge. The taut muscles beneath her lush pelt quivered with anticipation, the latent adrenaline coursing through her veins to prep her body for the take down sure to come. Her nostrils had yet to drink in the aroma of prey but they were searching as the whole of her remained ready.
Yet what she heard was not the call of prey she had prepared for though her body darted towards it just the same. The wolven bray set her on edge at it urgency. Her hackles rose with the distress in that voice, coupled with the war-cry of both victim and assailant. Hastily her golden form wove through the trees but came to falter as the acrid stench of a female assaulted her nose. The young female’s cry pulled the autumn dame from her stupor and into a charge into the savage beast’s flank. Her maw tore apart with fangs bore in a feral smile, seeking to claim the belly of the beast joined with the sheer weight of her bulk thrown on top of it.
419 words.
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Word Count → 453 :: Out of Character text.
Boothe awoke to Sophie's cry, and jerked his head up, shaking the daze from his head as he darted to his feet and shot away from the cougar. He took only a moment to look around, and then he yelped, seeing his baby sister being jerked around on the beast's back. "Sophie!" He darted forward, grabbing hold of her leg and dragging her off the thing just as it spun to swipe at her again. The smaller girl--or was she smaller? Why was she so big?--struggled futilely, kicking her legs and scratching at the ground with her front paws, but Boothe didn't let go, dragging her over to a place between two tree roots just as the familiar golden form shot through the trees and landed atop their attacker.
Boothe didn't have time for joyous cries at seeing their savior, though, too busy taking a protective stance in front of his sister. His hackles were standing on end, the fur all the way down his spine rising with it, and he growled long and low as the mountain lion became preoccupied with its assailant. The thing flailed, its back leg injured enough that it could not simply flee, and Boothe hardly took notice of Hamza until the bison gave a great huff and reared up on his hind legs, kicking at the air and then bowing his head and charging into the fray.
Sophie trembled behind her brother, wrapping her newly-formed arms around herself and staring with wide, helpless eyes at her brother. The shaking was not because she was afraid, not anymore; she was just so happy to see her brother alive, to have protected him enough that someone else could come and help. She was surprised to see Hamza rising to protect them, his short horns careful to avoid the wolf and only hit the lion it held. His tramping hooves could have hit anyone, though, and he danced around the two and bellowed, seeming angry and protective at the same time.
Boothe backed up enough to sit right in front of Sophie, his head low and his ears laid back, watching carefully to see if they needed to run. He'd only just turned to ask Sophie if she was okay when she threw her arms around his neck, nuzzling her face into his back. He didn't really need to say anything after that, pressing back into her and lifting his front legs so that they could "hug" properly. He still hadn't quite registered her new look, even after seeing and feeling it for himself; he was a little too preoccupied with the battle, and even if he had, it wasn't really the time to celebrate her success.
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ooc:
Her mind was too preoccupied with the fierce interlock at hand to register the familiar faces of the young ones now taking shelter. But she could smell them as clearly as the rank stench of the grappled feline gripped her nostrils. Her mind registered only the danger… the sheer exhilaration of adrenaline as it pumped through her veins and urged her vicious nature forward onto the flailing beast. She did not yet release the feline, even as it fell onto its side with the wolf trapped beneath it attempting to use its weight to suffocate the she-wolf. But the golden female was resilient and only bit down harder through fur and flesh to taste the copper essence of its blood spurt into her awaiting jaws.
The puma yowled in dismay and foolishly tried to release itself and in effect caused its own pain as the fangs locked onto its flesh tore its skin apart. Even as her vision began to darken and the rush of blood sounded in her ears, she would not yet let go, not until more of its blood ran and it was weak enough to kill with a final blow.
Both prerogatives of the beasts however were disturbed by a stampeding force into the fray of limbs, compelling both wolf and feline to disperse. The autumn wolf breathed in the free air in greedy gulps as the pressure was taken off her chest as she rolled onto her stomach in time to see the massive prey turned fighter fend off the wounded lion. It was too extraordinary of a scenario to be real and yet she had witnessed it with her own eyes. For a moment she contemplated forgoing the attack on the puma and have at the colossal helping of meat instead. Such a beast was a rarity and a fitting prize to bring to Ichika for the party to come, but her mind was fixed on the ferocious animal, the pups in danger, and the fodder overtaking her role as the warrior.
Reclaiming her breath and footing, she dove back into the scrap with claws and teeth unfurled. A hunter to her prey, she danced around the bison’s trampling steps with eyes locked solely for the throat of the feline. A well placed aim was all she needed… and when there was only ivory and flesh within reach, she took it.
397 words.
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ooc:
…and then it was over. Determined fangs met their mark and there was the fresh taste of blood to show for it. In its panic the feline had torn its own throat away from the grasp of the sharply fashioned incisors ending its life in an attempt to save it. An ironic twist of fate if ever there was one. Effectively, the large beast proceeded to trample the skull for extra measure, earning the she-wolf’s full attention. Oh yes… Eagerly the female lapped her bloody maw. How could she have forgotten this other bit of meat. Even though her tongue was keen to taste this rare flesh, her body would not move her toward towards the beast. Her energy was nearly expelled with but a linger amount to keep her standing. She couldn’t take the advantage over the beast if her life depended on it… not in her present state.
Gradually the adrenaline ebbed out of her system, reacquainting her once closed off mind to genuine fatigue and the pain of the scrape. Before its demise that feline had managed to get in a few defensive scrapes with its claws across her neck and shoulder. The wounds throbbed with a vengeance, a parting gift from the departed, but it was nothing a careful cleansing couldn’t fix.
But how quickly her pain was forgotten when the excited faces and tails of the pups came bounding toward her with words of adoration. “A…amazing?” the she-wolf expelled while trying to catch her breath. A tired smile played on her lips as she greeted both pups with a haphazard lick across each head. “Do you think so?” She hadn’t thought her feat garnered any praise when it came to saving the life of another; it was more instinctual to act accordingly. But apparently the little ones had need seen an act like this before. But what a sight it was for the golden female to see young Sophie no longer the tiny pup in comparison to her brother. She could change! And just in time to experience the use of her newly acquired form. However her words of celebration were paused upon seeing the distressed look of both pups to the young female’s condition. She had done well to keep her own against the vicious lion but did not come out of the fray unscathed.
“Oh dear…” X’yrin whined softly and padded over to the young girl. “You’ve had a little accident. Just a few scratches is all… but they don’t feel pleasant, do they?” If that feline’s claws had made her feel uncomfortable, she could imagine how pained the young girl felt. “But you’ll be alright,” the autumn dame announced with a soft smile and lowered her muzzle to Sophie’s scratched belly. “This might hurt a little,” she warned, “but you will start to feel better soon.” Carefully she graced her tongue across the bleeding wounds, gentle stroke by stroke to clot the fine scratches and stop the flow of precious blood. She may not have been well versed in the medicinal arts, but she at least knew how to stop a wound from bleeding.
522 words.
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ooc:
The taste of another wolf’s blood was never a favorable tinge to the senses, but it was necessary to endure in order to ensure the pup was well cleaned and taken care of. With the help of her brother, the brief patching up did not take long and the young female’s excitement was renewed again.
Smiling, the Shepard sat back comfortably on folded haunches as she watched the two marvel at little Sophie’s change. With their excitement, she deduced immediately that this was the young pup’s first change and surely she brother was not far behind, or perhaps he had already shifted his form. Given his advantage in strength and appropriate size, he was due for it if not already. “I haven’t seen a pup take to a change so easily,” the woman commented with a soft smile. “When I was of age, my family didn’t tell me anything until it had already happened. I was terrified. But you look very happy with yourself Sophie.”
But when the pups talked of moving on what she assumed was the bison ( no wonder the beast had come to their aid), she shared a look of confusion with the two of them. Were the little ones on a mission of some kind? Boothe seemed less inclined to let his enthusiastic sibling press her luck so soon after injury and looked to the golden woman for her input. “Well…I suppose?” she offered with an inflection of doubt. “But it is not wise. You would have to be careful not to move too much to reopen the wounds and without proper rest and cleaning they would get infected.” Her ears fell back at the uncomfortable notion and continued to impress her opinion as unabashed as possible. “Also, it depends on where you are going. Are the two of you heading back home by chance?”
310 words.
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ooc: Protective X'y!
It was truly a pleasure to watch the children interact with each other. They were not yet burdened by the complications of life and evidently had an innocent way of perceiving the world. By the fright and confusion brought on by the injury this was made apparent and a part of the woman did not rightly know how to take that situation. What kind of a life had they led up until this moment? One of solitude if they did not know pain nor the sight of blood? The very idea was foreign to the she-wolf but not inconceivable. It was just another foreign element she hadn’t experienced in her youth that became a part of a growing collection in her compendium.
Yet she grew concerned by her mentioned topic of home. The pair looked more than a little reluctant to share their destination as if it were some secret not meant for the older ears to hear… until little Boothe spoke up for the pair of them. X’yrin visibly perked up at his confession sharing a troubled look with the runaway pups. “Away?” she repeated as if her ears had been mistaken the first time. “You both are two young to run away. What if you encounter another danger like that lion? Boothe, even if you could shift as well to aid your sister, the two of you are still too young to endure the dangers of this world on your own. And with Sophie injured… it is unwise for you to continue to travel right now.”
Anxiously she pawed the ground as if making to push herself to stand but the rest of her would not fully comply just yet. “What you are doing is dangerous,” though her tone remained soft it had become considerably sterner as intended to impress upon them the severity of their decisions. She may not have know the circumstances they were fleeing from, but she was aware of the unseen dangers they were unknowingly walking into. “Please tell me children, do you have friends in other packs? Anyone that could watch over you at least until Sophie heals properly? I would be glad to escort you…”
363 words.
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Word Count → 489 :: Out of Character text.
X'yrin appeared worried and concerned by their admission, and Sophie cringed a bit as she began speaking, expecting her to tell them to turn around that moment and go back. She didn't, though, only explaining that they were too young to run away, and the world was a dangerous place. She hammered home the point that, with Sophie injured, it was unwise to travel; still, Sophie couldn't help but feel her heart clench, and her eyes dropped to her lap, her ears flattening against her head. Boothe moved to nuzzle her cheek again as things were explained to them, and sniffed quietly, more ashamed than he cared to admit.
It had been his idea to run away in the first place; they'd spent the weeks they were on lock-down planning to, and with Leon escorting them everywhere, they only needed a chance to get away. Sophie had been hurt by his lack of trust, and angry that he didn't consider her feelings about being walked about like a prisoner; it was only because their eldest brother didn't ask them anything that she'd agreed in the first place. In the end, though, it was Boothe's fault; his fault his baby sister was out here, his fault she'd been injured. The guilt ate at him for a moment, and the twins looked at each other uncertainly, wondering again what they were supposed to do now.
"We didn't think," Sophie admitted quietly, and bowed her head again. "But...I guess something like this shoulda happened..." Her tone became tearful, and she touched her hands to her clawed stomach anxiously. As X'yrin continued, though, Sophie had to think for a moment. She knew a lot of people; Skoll, and Hotaru, and Mordecai. But she had no idea where any of them were now, whether they'd moved. Except Skoll; he was down in Ethereal Eclipse. Somehow she felt that was too close to Leon for her to feel comfortable. She didn't want an angry big brother catching up with them any time soon.
"I don't know anyone," Boothe admitted quietly, glancing at his sister worriedly. He knew she'd made lots of friends, but she hadn't told him whether any of them would be willing to take the two in. Hesitating a moment more, Boothe nudged his sister, shrugging a bit. "And I don' know where, exactly, we're going...just as far as possible, I s'pose." Sophie nodded a bit, and glanced at X'yrin somewhat helplessly. "I dunno where any of my friends live. I met most of 'em around our old den, before we moved..." She explained. She didn't want to impose on anyone, anyway; she didn't know whether they would be in a pack or a loner, having still been too young to tell, and it was hard to make such a big decision for herself.
Where would they live, if not with Leon? Clearly they'd leaped without thinking things through first.
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ooc:
Though the pair were old enough to undergo the change, a sure sign of their maturity and physical growth, they were still very much children in heart and mind. This lack of foreseeing these circumstances was proof enough. But the woman could not blame the children, for like all they assumed what they thought was the right idea and intended to follow that course through to its conclusion. But they lacked guidance, a gentle nudge in the right direction yet they had wandered so far from the path that they had stumbled into the darkness with no light towards deliverance. Perhaps the golden beacon could be that light having wandered into the darkness herself to save them.
Kindly he gaze passed between the two, letting her disease for their situations ebb away with every calming breath. Their helpless expressions calling out to her for a comforting hand. Carefully the she-wolf pushed off from the ground by her back legs and crawled forward to be closer to the thick of the troubled pair. As she lowered herself again, she let her head rest gently atop young Boothe’s crown growling softly to comfort their troubled hearts. “I apologize for my tone, little ones,” she began softly. “We are all but creatures of this earth, driven by the instincts the ancestors have blessed us with. You were only doing what you felt was right and it is a quality to be admired, not scolded.”
She placed a large umber paw protectively against Sophie’s leg extending her care to the young girl as well as she continued. “But children it is not safe for you to travel alone, especially in the conditions you share now. I can offer the two of you a place to rest for a while until you decide where your paths will take you next. If you would care to share in Ichika’s hospitality, that is…”
316 words.
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