11-29-2010, 06:16 PM
There was a dull stillness about the earth; the grasses sunk their bellies into the mud so that when one touched them with toe-tip they growled unhappily. It was clear the plants were weary from the burdens of feet and cold. Across the once lush thigh of the landscape the colors which had previously captivated the wolf’s conscience had browned and decayed. The world felt old. A limitless screen of grays and blacks panned before Estafilade’s bright eyes. Inwardly his expression twisted into disapproval, yet he held a bored mask across his winter-hardened face. As the grass already knew, times were hard for all. Estafilade, his back pressed against a tree trunk so that his spine stood parallel with its, sympathized.
The thoughts which oozed across the wolf’s mind showed in his appearance: he felt slow and unchallenged, and as he leaned against the tree this lethargy consumed his posture. He blinked slowly while surveying the land, laden in its illness. Brown. Everything seemed unnaturally brown. He breathed heavily, his large chest bulging out as the chill licked the walls of his lungs. How did everything end up so brown?
As if emerging from the landscape came another shade, equal in color to the one occupying Est’s mind but vibrant and interesting. The wolf, his attention now caught by something out of place admits the sea of wilt, straightened and turned his eyes to the creature which had disturbed his contemplation. At first glance, he thought it a deer for the shade of its pelt, but as he narrowed his eyes and lifted his nose to the wind he found otherwise. His ears snapped forward in sudden realization.
Another Luperci? The large wolf pressed both palms across the tree trunk and lifted his torso so that he was free standing. Absentmindedly he grabbed an overhanging branch with one hand and let his weight rest as he craned forward to better see the distant figure. Clearly, the Luperci was female - he could see the curvature of her hips against the dim light - but apart from her gender he knew little. With interest, Estafilade advanced toward her distant image, his eyes slitted in concentration. It wasn’t long until the great gap between them had been closed and the mystery of her red fur became clear. This woman was no wolf. Est’s ears flicked back momentarily in confusion, yet the longer he took in her solitary outline the less the strangeness of her origin seemed to bother him. Indeed, he felt himself blush at her exotic beauty. He tilted his head slightly as he walked, his eyes still locked on the woman which had him fascinated. She looked contemplative, her toes testing the water as though curious about its content. When Est was within a distance which would warrant conversation, he cleared his throat and stopped, his arm resting against the trunk of a nearby tree.
“Pardon my intrusion,” his deep, rolling voice sounded strange as it broke the silence which had permeated the forest with a tyrant’s vigor until now. “I don’t mean to be bothersome but I saw you from afar and…” His voice trailed off as he realized the strangeness of approaching a woman he’d never met simply because he found her interesting. One of his black ears flicked back as he opened his mouth to finish. “I wanted to make sure you were alright.”
He paused while taking the rest of her in. The weapon upon her back and the tight curve of each muscles suggested she was a woman well acquainted with the art of war. It was silly to have asked her if she was in any sort of danger. For all the wolf knew she would have been able to take him on, even at his far superior size. Still, he ignored his uncalled for comment and continued to drink in her exotic image. She was a welcome sight amongst all of this brown.
The thoughts which oozed across the wolf’s mind showed in his appearance: he felt slow and unchallenged, and as he leaned against the tree this lethargy consumed his posture. He blinked slowly while surveying the land, laden in its illness. Brown. Everything seemed unnaturally brown. He breathed heavily, his large chest bulging out as the chill licked the walls of his lungs. How did everything end up so brown?
As if emerging from the landscape came another shade, equal in color to the one occupying Est’s mind but vibrant and interesting. The wolf, his attention now caught by something out of place admits the sea of wilt, straightened and turned his eyes to the creature which had disturbed his contemplation. At first glance, he thought it a deer for the shade of its pelt, but as he narrowed his eyes and lifted his nose to the wind he found otherwise. His ears snapped forward in sudden realization.
Another Luperci? The large wolf pressed both palms across the tree trunk and lifted his torso so that he was free standing. Absentmindedly he grabbed an overhanging branch with one hand and let his weight rest as he craned forward to better see the distant figure. Clearly, the Luperci was female - he could see the curvature of her hips against the dim light - but apart from her gender he knew little. With interest, Estafilade advanced toward her distant image, his eyes slitted in concentration. It wasn’t long until the great gap between them had been closed and the mystery of her red fur became clear. This woman was no wolf. Est’s ears flicked back momentarily in confusion, yet the longer he took in her solitary outline the less the strangeness of her origin seemed to bother him. Indeed, he felt himself blush at her exotic beauty. He tilted his head slightly as he walked, his eyes still locked on the woman which had him fascinated. She looked contemplative, her toes testing the water as though curious about its content. When Est was within a distance which would warrant conversation, he cleared his throat and stopped, his arm resting against the trunk of a nearby tree.
“Pardon my intrusion,” his deep, rolling voice sounded strange as it broke the silence which had permeated the forest with a tyrant’s vigor until now. “I don’t mean to be bothersome but I saw you from afar and…” His voice trailed off as he realized the strangeness of approaching a woman he’d never met simply because he found her interesting. One of his black ears flicked back as he opened his mouth to finish. “I wanted to make sure you were alright.”
He paused while taking the rest of her in. The weapon upon her back and the tight curve of each muscles suggested she was a woman well acquainted with the art of war. It was silly to have asked her if she was in any sort of danger. For all the wolf knew she would have been able to take him on, even at his far superior size. Still, he ignored his uncalled for comment and continued to drink in her exotic image. She was a welcome sight amongst all of this brown.