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Kaitriona and Apache Outlaw entered in what would be considered a sacred landmark to ancient wolves uninfected by the virus centuries previous. Unbeknownst to the sordid history of the Reserve, Kaitriona felt an inexplicable energy about these woods that made her… tense. For Outlaw who was even nonchalant himself, expressed a degree of vigilant; ears pressed forward and neck craned higher than usual, his gait kept at a brisk pace. Not only was the energy unusual, but the colors of the foliage were a bursting virescent green, unlike the redundant deep jade of miles of forest already foraged through. Appealing and nearly pleasing to the eye other than the drab background of any other forest, but at the same time… strange.The good thing was the forest wasn't as dense as the previous they crossed through, so travel was increasingly swift. The entire vibe of this Reserve kept Kaitriona and even Outlaw particularly attentive. At one point Outlaw halted dead in tracks, Kaitriona swiftly turning behind and ears perking forward to the sound of what seemed like distant whining. It was too far away to discern, but if Outlaw heard it, then Kaitriona definitely knew something was in a mile radius range. The distant whining didn't call for them anymore, and they continued, silently mystified (unknowing of the ghosts that truly lingered).
The sun was at a high point in midday, sunlight fading in and out with passing clouds. Kaitriona nearly leapt from Outlaw's back all of a sudden, seeing the flash of a Wapiti dash through the bright foliage, startled by the pair's sudden approach in its grazing area. "There!" Kaitriona exclaimed, giving Outlaw a firm kick to his flank to thrust him forward, and without protest began galloping after the Wapiti's trail. Her arm wrapped around to snake into the smallest pouch of her deerskin pack, fumbling with the tie and digging around for the sharp felt point of a throwing knife. Nearly cutting herself in the process by blinding retrieving a blade upon a moving equine, she grasped the throwing knife tightly as Outlaw attempted to remain on the Wapiti's trail. It took a considerable amount of time before she could time the throw perfect, and once the two running beasts were aligned in a linear chase, Kaitriona reeled back to throw the knife at the base of the Wapiti's neck.
A protesting bleat was heard, the knife hitting into its left shoulder blade. Cutting through the flesh cleanly, a blood trail began to leak, the knife stuck in the shoulder of the Wapiti, frantic now it was struck. Kaitriona held on and kicked Outlaw again in the flanks, this time firmer. They were careening through the Reserve now, dodging low lying branches and jumping over fallen bark at the last minute. Whether the Wapiti had this planned, it rounded a bend where once Outlaw followed, the Earth sharply declined into a slant. Giving an agitated whinny, the equine stumbled forward to keep its balance at the sudden drop in land. Apache Outlaw slid sideways, tossing Kaitriona off to the side. Gasping and cursing under her breath, she hit the Earth with a hard thud. All that could be heard was the scattering hooves of the Wapiti disappearing in the odd foliage, the knife now a few meters away, slaved with fresh blood. Bringing herself to her wobbly feet, her nose detected the bloodied knife to retrieve. Outlaw nickered in agitation, shaking his head and merely dancing in place at the surprise of the decline of land.
Picking up the tainted knife, her tongue whisked over the opposite end of the sharpened knife, tasting the sweet metallic tang of Wapiti blood that nearly put her in a frenzy. Cursing under her breath again, to lose a prey in such a manner (especially when it was just her and her equine) was extremely dispiriting. The drawbacks of a rogue life were snacking on the pathetic tidbits that were squirrel, hare, and small mammals. Kaitriona didn't know how long it had been since she dined on a true filling meal, and this little disappointment struck her spirit heavy. Her sapphire eyes slanted in the direction the Wapiti took off. With the scent of blood overwhelming her senses, Kaitriona was always one to get what she wanted, and she wanted this Wapiti right now, dead or alive.
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