beast of burden

Salvia Eternity · 08-25-2011, 05:23 PM

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Odessa is with Salvia. I'll be NPCing her for this thread. This is backdated to August 24th, and set just after dawn.

The girl woke at dawn and stretched lazily. She was by no means exhausted despite her rigorous paced life. Without Pandemic around she fell back on Odessa’s company. Her cousin was a quiet girl that took to doing whatever Salvia wanted without argument, which pleased her mightily. The tawny beast finally rose to her feet, having slept in her more comfortable lupus form, and trotted out to find her dappled cousin. This was not a hard task at all—unlike Salvia, who woke early, Odessa had a habit of sleeping in.

Her silent steps carried her right up to where the girl was sleeping, and that tom-cat cruelty gleamed in her eyes as she lifted one paw. THWAP! A single blow to the sleeping girl’s shoulder woke her with a start. Odessa jolted upright, eyes wide and fur all on end. “What? Oh, it’s you,” she said, irritation fading quickly. Salvia’s behavior was something the younger girl had come to expect. “What’s up, Sal?”

“Come on, we’re going hunting,” Salvia declared, turning on her heel.

“We always go hunting,” Odessa complained, though she fell silent as Salvia glared at her over one broad shoulder.

“This time it’ll be different. I’m bringing one of the slaves with us.”

This perked Odessa’s interest. She had encountered the slaves before, but never directly interacted with them. Her pace quickened to Salvia’s side, though she was always a step or two behind. Their natural hierarchy was clear.

The pair made their way towards the area where the slaves slept. Most of them were gone, but one, a female, remained. Salvia did not advance, but the fur along her neck rose to increase her appearance as she barked: “You! Come here!”

Twilight Hallow · 08-25-2011, 05:54 PM

She rarely stayed in so late but she was conned into cleaning up the slaves quarters. She didn't grumble and she gladly did it. After all she was told to. she couldn't refuse a command. So when she was called in the middle of folding a blanket she hurridly put it down and raced to the female and sat on her knees looking down, the normal posture she held whenever at attention to anyone at all. She did not say anything. As a slave, and a well trained one at that she knew she wasnt to speak unless prompted to. She sat on her knees waiting for instructions from the woman, keeping her eyes as far away from either face as she could, but she knew where both of them were and who they were, she had to, that was how it was around here. You had to be one step ahead of the game.

Salvia Eternity · 08-25-2011, 07:16 PM

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There was a way that things were done within Salsola, and Salvia, as its first daughter (not first born in the lands, but the first daughter none the less) had learned quickly what to expect. Tlanti had swiftly educated Salvia that slaves were not people, but objects to be used. Green eyes narrowed as the gray-silver female approached, but she was Bastion’s acquisition and from what Salvia knew of the odd man, he was strict with the slaves.

“Get up. You are coming with us,” Salvia ordered. Without waiting for a response, the wolf trotted off. She moved with the easy pace of her breed, heading towards the northern section of the territory. Once they were outside of the residential area, her nose dropped to the ground and she began tracking much in the way that Sirius had shown her. Pale feet moved easily over the landscape, familiar with the ground beneath her feet. Odessa, behind her, was rapt and at attention for what commands might be issued. She spared occasional glances to the slave-woman, immensely curious as to why Salvia might bring her along.

Twilight Hallow · 08-25-2011, 08:14 PM

She did not ask questions. That was the first thing a slave had to learn. She didn't ask why the woman was bringing her along, nor why it was she that was needed. She just followed behind Odessa, hunch backed and submissive. She was curious though, as she let the questions she wasn't allowed to speak, swirl in her mind. What WAS she needed for? She would find out and she followed, stealing her own glances at the girl and then at the woman who was sniffing, ready and waiting for any orders that was given to her.

Salvia Eternity · 08-26-2011, 11:08 AM

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+5 :: Edited to wrap this up.

There were numerous trails left in the grass. A strong, masculine one that belonged to Sirius. Another that smelled like horse, and another yet that belonged to Magnolia. It was not these scents that she was looking for though—there had been one bold deer that she had spotted during the night, and it was this scent she would now used to track the herd. She rose her tail, black tip a signal flag, and let out a low wuff indicating the pair should follow.

It became apparent, as she went, that there were yet other signs. The deer used the same trails often, and so they had worn down paths in the tall grass. Salvia followed these, slowing now and again to check that she was going in the right direction. Scat told her that she was close; it was fresh, perhaps an hour or two old. She lifted her head and peered about, but there was no sign of her prey yet.

“We’re close. When we find the herd, you and the slave will separate one of them. I’ll take the kill. Slave,” she added sharply. “You’re going to be useless in that form. Shift.”

Twilight responded earnestly, and once four-legged, Salvia took control. A single high-tailed flick was given for attention. The pair of wolves trotted after the girl, who led them into the sparse woodland. That was where they found the deer, grazing without concern. No further words were spoken; Salvia used her body to signal to Odessa, who nudged the slave to get her moving. Though clearly frightened, the slave followed the younger girl.

Salvia slipped into the tall grass, moving with stiff-legged movements. While alone she hunted like a cat, in a group her tactics were far different. Odessa had learned them quickly. Her cousin came thundering from below wind, with Twilight chasing after her. There was loud, yapping call from the dark girl. A silent beast rose in response, and Salvia threw herself into the chase. They had separated a single female, who bounded off with frantic leaps, slowed by the fawn tailing after her.

The blonde wolf saw Odessa connect with the doe’s haunches, and Twilight followed suit. This slowed the prey long enough for Salvia to close the gap and grapple onto the throat. With sharp, terrible jerks, she brought the doe to the ground. Her fawn, bleating, turned to run. Odessa spun and snapped the fawn’s neck, earning a small kick to the face. A warning snarl broke from Salvia, who saw profit to be made in such young blood.

Finally, the doe let out one terrible, rattling breath, and died. Salvia snarled to warn the slave not to touch the meat, and approached her cousin with sharp eyes. The fawn, one leg broken, was trembling. The girl smiled terribly. “Slave,” she ordered. “Tie this up. Keep it alive.”

While Twilight did so, Salvia and her cousin feasted on the deer with ravenous hunger. Full, and with much meat to spare, Salvia shifted back to her Optime form. Odessa, lounging nearby, did not join her. A languid gaze was cast onto the still terrified fawn. “What are you going to do with that?”

“I’ll present it to Sirius at the next supper,” Salvia proclaimed proudly. “Now, you,” she said sharply, looking to the slave. “Get that other one and have it bring this back. Have my mother’s slave bring her food, and present some to Sirius. Bastion can decide what you deserve; let him know you aided in the hunt, and he may give you more.” A liar’s promise, but one she had no obligation to fulfill. Grasping the fawn in her well-toned arms, the girl began heading back towards the barn. Odessa did not follow her, but instead remained to sleep off the heavy meal as Twilight went about completing her task.

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