rabbit blessing

Pia Hayes · 04-05-2012, 07:06 PM

[html]

The rabbit was clueless.

It twitched its ears around and rubbed its whiskers after a heartbeat of scanning, not noticing the wolf hunkered down in the foliage. The hunter’s mottled grey and taupe pelt blended with the dark shadows of the mountainside, and anyway the rabbit seemed more ready to trust its tall ears than its eyes. It hopped lazily across the stretch of grass on the first foothills of the mountain, swiveling its ears and nibbling on the cool grass in the shade. When the predator took a step forward, it straightened on its hind legs, nose twitching, and Pia softly receded back into the bushes again. She watched her intended victim carefully, her mouth dry from concentration.

Really, Pia had been hunting for the better part of the morning, rising even before the dawn to dab at the mountain streams for fish. She was adamant on teaching herself how to catch water prey—a skill her mother had left out during her teaching—but hunger called before she could set to her lessons. She’d wandered outside of Ichikan territory, sniffing about, catching a whiff of ptarmigan at last. The ptarmigan had fled in a burst of feathers, she’d missed a squirrel by a foot, and now she was far from her home, tobacco brown eyes set on a bunny rabbit.

Had the critter not appeared, she might have spent time beating herself up over her failed hunts; her mother’s lessons and hatred for failure had been hammered into her. Now, she sighed and focused, her breath rustling a leaf just beyond her nose. She could chance a chase if the rabbit inched a little bit closer to her hiding place. Her long body was awkward but good for a sprint.

As she watched, black ears pricked, the rabbit hopped that last few inches in reach.

Pia tensed, legs bunched under her like a crouching cat, her eyes narrow. Then she uncoiled like a spring and bounded down the rocky slope, her long legs crashing through the bush. Her tongue lolled as she followed the rabbit, hard on its heels, and she caught up with it after a stretched slide. Her mouth clamped down on it, and she dealt it a shake that snapped its neck.

She set down her catch immediately, turning it over with a pale paw. Smiling, she murmured a singsong prayer, blessing all the gods of the forest and of the hunt and of the rabbit for her kill, blessing the spirit of the rabbit as well. Such prayers were a custom within Ichika no Ho-en, but she had been saying prayers for her kills for as long as she could remember, since the first time Maze had cried when a slaughtered fawn had been dropped before them to eat.

Pushing aside memories of her sister, the mottled grey wolf began to nibble at the meat. Once her belly was full, she would perhaps explore some of this mountain territory around her pack grounds. She wasn’t too keen on being far from her new home, but a little trip wouldn’t hurt anything. She might even meet someone new!

523

Jaden Ohanzee · 04-17-2012, 08:42 PM

[html]

Words - 300+

It had been so long since the obsidian male had traveled this close to Ichika. His home now beckoned with a terrible ferocity for him to return to it. He was torn what to do. After leaving he had promised to never curse the land with his presence again. Now he wasn’t sure if he was so bad, if going home was so terrible. Why was it that nothing ever seemed easy? Pride said it was because he was tough but the pain of loss said it was because he made it that way. Others fell to injury around him and his homes always crumbled away shortly after being found.

So why was it that he risked being lost now to the inescapable pull of home? To be so close was a torment.

The Optime was distracting himself with different questions about his skills. He was completely naked now, only black fur about his body. His possession were safe in a little school house in a small city near Halifax. Without them he felt bare and exposed. Lots of his things had been damaged in the recent months. He needed to craft a new bow and find a replacement for his gifted dagger. His carrying bag for all the instruments he used was in need of repair. There was enough to busy his mind.

That was before he stumbled upon an Ichikan huntress. He had gotten within only a few meters before seeing her due to his distraction. The smell on her said it all, all that needed to be said to pull him from his thoughts and ground him there with her. He looked up and decided he’d best say something after his mindless approach. How goes the meal, pack wolf? He said respectfully but quickly drawing a distinction between them. She was an oddity, maybe someone he hadn’t met before he left or someone new to the pack. Whatever the case, he was glad the wolf wasn’t someone he had met before.

Jaden does. Jaden speaks. Jaden thinks.

Pia Hayes · 04-18-2012, 05:56 PM

[html]

The she-wolf ate daintily at first, until she realized how hungry she was. She took larger chunks in her mouth, hardly chewing, at the same time wanting the meat to last a while before filling up her tummy. Once she was done eating, all there would be left to do was bury the bones (or collect them) and go off to hunt some more. Maybe she could bring some back to the pack, to make a good impression as their newest member!

Her thoughts were jarred by the approach of a dark optime-formed wolf. She lifted her head, ears swiveling toward him as her bland brown eyes roved over his muscular and scarred body. He walked with an odd sort of grace, nothing that she’d seen before.

It took a second for him to notice her, to really notice her, but then he greeted her with a certain amount of respect.

“It goes great,” Pia answered, and then added in a cheeky chirp, “lone wolf.” She rose on all fours and shook her coat out before glancing down at the bunny; there wasn’t much left of it, a few small mouthfuls maybe. Still, she remembered her courtesies and lowered her ears as she asked, “Would you like some?” She knew that it was harder for a loner to hunt without clearly marked territory or without constant companions to run besides. Well, she hadn’t hunted with the other Ichikans yet, but from the decorations the Shepard wore, she must’ve been good at catching and killing large prey. Her tail wagged at the thought.

“I mean, Namaste,” the young woman woofed after her moment of daydreaming. She knew that it was a greeting a lot of the pack used, and she supposed it would reflect well on her that she did so to a stranger. “I’m Pia Hayes, of Ichika no Ho-en.” With a twitch of her ear and turn of her muzzle, she indicated the direction of the great mountain pack.

330

Jaden Ohanzee · 04-20-2012, 03:24 PM

[html]

Short post =( Words - 200+

Pia was an interesting wolf. She seemed the perfect type for Ichika’s peaceful ideals. Jaden appreciated her kindness and smiled as he watched her speak. Never before had he met someone similar and the fact that he could tell that so early on was quite an achievement for the little hybrid. Her bubbly way of speaking seemed to have a kindness that was in itself very infectious. Namaste, the towering Optime folded his hands as he remembered the custom and even gave a generous bow that made his injured ribs ache.

Taking his full height again, the lone wolf then proceeded to keep pleasant with the Ichikan. No, but thank you. I have hunted today. It’s nice to meet you Pia. I’m Jaden Ohanzee and I haven’t a pack to call my own. Jaden approached a bit further and took a distance from her that was pleasant for conversation.

It seemed fait was cruel and had a certain taste for making the wanderer unable to ignore his former home. Without the possibility of distraction now, he figured a question about the only Ichikan he missed and knew genuinely missed him was worth asking. Your Shepard, is she well?

Jaden does. Jaden speaks. Jaden thinks.

Login




Remember me Lost Password?