11-23-2009, 12:34 PM
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| http://sleepyglow.net/souls/gifts/gabrieltable.jpg); background-position: bottom center; background-repeat:no-repeat; text-align:justify;"> The path he followed was not familiar, but as they walked his feet guided him closer to familiar ground. Slowly, his nose found scents it recognized; shed fur from antler scrapings, wet leaves, and under this the sickly-sweet smell of rot. Gabriel had no direct path in mind, but soon found a source. Low to the ground was a pile of shed deer velvet, which Gabriel slowed to investigate. Above his head, a tree bore the scars of a young-buck scraping this off. They were not far behind him; the scent was very heavy, and the ground had been disturbed recently. “Yes,” he answered, lifting his head. “Princess, I think she said her name was.” For one brief moment, a radical thought crossed his mind, only to be dismissed. Flicking one charcoal-colored ear, the Aquila remained still. Anu would have to be the one to chase down their breakfast; Gabriel’s stamina could not withhold the strain it placed on his ruined shoulder. He would never admit such a weakness, of course. It was something that could (and had been) exploited, and he did not wish that singular weakness to ruin him. |