Hunting Days, Chasing Hours
Thanks for welcoming me in. I, like my puma, can be a little difficult to deal with at times (partially because i have no clue what I'm doing right or wrong) so i ask kindly that you show some patience when dealing with me, okay? I mean, It won't take me long to get this stuff down, and then we can really start having fun. Anyway, enough ranting.
Thecirclenigma
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The snow seemed to fall in large clumps over the rotted tree stump; all that remained of a once majestic oak that had met its end and fallen into the small kill that ran behind it. The sky was gray and dark, the clouds hovering low over the outstretched fields of white fluff.
Slowly a head reared itself between the massive tangle of roots that remained from the mighty oak. A scarred, cat muzzle and one good eye were all that greeted the wintry scene before it. With a soft snarl the Old Cat stretched, his old muscles not able to carry the load they once could and his joins clogged with rheumatoid. It was something he had gotten used too; old age was like an insidious disease that struck over time, destroying body and mind.
Well, in most cases anyway.
In his case it was only his body. The once majestic feline form slowly limped up into the cold snow from his hiding place in the alcove under the roots, licking his chops and revealing the worn fangs that lined the inside of his mouth. Again he stretched, trying to push the sleep from his system.
‘You awake yet boss?’ asked a voice behind him. Growling to himself he slowly turned his head over his shoulder as the black crow bounced around, moving with the speed and eccentricity of a caffeine addict high on their morning fix of coffee. The problem was, most people petered out after a while. But Tsalagi was the Energizer Battery incarnate - he kept going, and going, and going, and going.
‘I’m not sleeping,’ the cat replied. ‘Therefore I am awake.’
The bird cocked his head. ‘Wow boss, that’s really smart logic you got there. Can you teach Tsalagi, huh, huh, huh?’
‘Shut up already. I haven’t been awake for more than a few seconds and you’re already making me want to eat you.’
‘There ain’t no food boss. Tsalagi went looking but he ain’t find any, they all gone,’ the bird hopped along beside Old Cat in the snow, as the old puma slowly slunk along through the dense snow.
‘Make yourself useful and look again, you stupid bird,’ Old Cat barked, as Tsalagi shook his feathered head. ‘This is the Boarder lands. There’s supposed to be food here.’
‘Right-o boss. Tsalagi will go find food. And then he’ll come back and tell you about it, and then he’ll fly back and see if he can find it again, and he’ll just keep doing that over and over and over and over and…’
‘Enough!’
‘Right!’ The bird took off from the snowy ground while the old Puma looked around, eyeing the frozen landscape with daggers. There had to be food here. He wanted to die, but dying of starvation didn’t sound like such a fun way to go. If he died of starvation, then he could never reach Eden.
And he was far from Eden, one look at the frozen landscape told him that.
He waited a few more seconds before the bird came flying back, exactly as Old Cat had predicted, and made a violent crash landing in the snow, tumbling around before rolling to a stop against Old Cat’s foreleg.
‘Tsalagi found something, boss.’
‘What?’
‘Tracks.’
‘What kind of tracks?
‘Wolf tracks.’
Take all the time you need, and if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask either Vannah or myself.
Beautiful post by the way, I'll enjoy playing with you.
ic.
The frozen tundra did little to help the golden brute's temper, which was snappy either way. His thick amber pelt was always moist, and always matted with the flaky crystals that got between his pelts and kept him cold. A quick shake rippled through shimmering fur, bright as the sun against such innocent snow, Deacon wasn't hard to find come winter, he was the golden flame that blazed through the thickets, usually more active during this season so not to fall victim to the cold. Great paws barely sunk any prints into the cool down, leaving a faint trail across the borderlands as the gold brute traversed that landscape with unwaning arrogance. He skirted across the powder, with grace uncommon in such a beast, if he traveled any faster he wouldn't even be touching earth. Sly grin spread creamy librums, this gold devil left no tracks.
Bold blue-violet optics, kindling the demonic flames of lore, pierced the merry scenery like the calm before a storm. Muscles and tendons, sculpted by Wilderness herself, carried the lupine acutely, with cunning glare. Business as usual, only concerning the caramel, and it was he who expects the world to bow as he passed. It was this kind of confidence that made Deacon the brute he is. Auds pitched back and forth, always alert and wary of disturbances, his entire crown from muzzle to hackles was tense--not with nerves, but with a warrior's instinct. The handsome brute trotted across his boarders, making sure all was quiet on his front; Deacon was not the type of Alphen who sits back and gets plump as his pack does his bidding. God forbid and ounce of unneeded weight, that wasn't muscle, to grace his streamline physique.
Powerful drums picked up the flutter of wings, the beating of an avian struck like war drums. Muzzle tilted to the steely sky, catching the fleeting image of some dark shape. Indigo oculars narrowed dangerously, as nares spread to take in scents that might have been over looked. It wasn't his Pala- the blasted raven. It was another avian, and something nagged at the wolf's heartstrings, this new avian wasn't just passing through his air space.
Deadwood Jorn and Pala beta and scout
Posts: 301
(11/9/05 9:35 pm) Reply
Re: Hunting Days, Chasing Hours
The early winter evenings drifted darkly across the snowy pelted fey's heart as she wandered aimlessly. One by on her pack had drifted, had dispersed, had vanished and left her alone. Alone, like before. Alone, like always. Alone...and always was in her eyes.
alway alone, always the loner in the end. She was tired of it, tired of trying so damn hard. even Khardan, her loyal werewolf had left her, had vanished into the eternal bleakness from whence he'd came.
Out of her numbness came an all too familiar scent and the silken fey groaned silently. D@mn. deacon again. She was so tired of dealing with him, so tired of his smug looks and superior attitude.
Damn it. Damn damn and double damn. "Damn it!" She came into the clearing where Deacon sat, pure irritation in her eyes, her hackles raised slightly in anticipation of yet another of their fights. "Deacon."
One word, spoke flatly, spoke volumes for the fey, who was by now thin with not only hunger from the scarcening prey, but grief from losing her pack one by one. Her silvered eyes, once bright with vitality, spoke of her depression. her silken fur now lay in clumps against her ribs.
Dreaded blue-violet eyes caressed the snowy landscape with the most satirical of gazes. It was almost as if the golden brute was simply sitting and enjoying the scenery, but that was not the case. Deacon would never waste his precious seconds on the phenomenon that was nature. It existed as did him, and it competeded with him in the battle for survival, come winter, nature gains the upper hand, no?
The cold irritated the brute abundently, it froze his joints, made him lethargic, and weaker then he would like; or let off. Auds pitched back in aggression as he stalked a clear path through the snow flow. Moving was the only way to stay warm, even his thick, coarse, winter coat was not match from the frosty licks of ice and sleet. Padded paws were most cold, turning an unhealthy blue from the constant contact with the frigid weather. His nasle was numb too, blast the season.
"Deacon."
The flat voice was one he knew well. Eyes narrowed, dangerously, those viberant indigo optics standing out even more against the white backdrop. Double ringed, in blues and purples, Deacon's hellfire gaze swung back to address the snowy fae. A cruel smirk slashed across his muzzle, another satirical look flashed past his handsome, golden mug. A mockary of concern for the weather-worn she-wolf. She obviously didn't look game at the moment. But, it was she who had stumbled across him, for she had been upwind. Deacon wouldn't have even known she was there if she hadn't opened that sharp muzzle of hers.
"Queenie." He replied, just as flatly, with a curt nod--as if they were pleasant aquaintances. "You don't look well, bad hair day?" A cheshire grin curled the brute's cream colored lips. Innocent and beguiling, the real wolf in sheeps clothing.
Deadwood Jorn and Pala beta and scout
Posts: 311
(11/12/05 7:26 am) Reply
---You don't look well. Understatement of the year, there, Deacon. But the snow hued fey was not about to debate her beauty regimen with the hell spawn that was deacon. She didn't particuraly care what she looked like. It was enough that she lived and breathed. Though she didn't care how much longer that was going to be for.
Silver optics caught sight of an aviatic creature above them, one that held her attention for the moment. A slight frown creased her forehead as she noted the location it came from. A sudden nagging feeling that the crow had just left the still, lifeless corpse of one of her pack members crept over the femme.
Casting Deacon an almost sharp glare, she turned her back and stalked off in the direction the crow had come from. As she neared, she caught the scent of something that wasn't wolven in nature, but...feline. Her frown deepened. Cautiously, she crept closer, her silvered eyes intent on discovering the owner of the strange scent.
Thecirclenigma Valley creature Old Cat Tsalagi
Posts: 7
(11/14/05 9:20 pm) Reply
Re: ---
OOC
Sorry it took so long to reply; School has managed to keep me busy. Anyway, everyone's favorite feline and his mentally-challenged crow are back, so enjoy. By the way, Gabe - awesome posts. A true gift for writing (coming from an English Teacher in training). The same thing for you, Vannah (Altought I believe I've told you that already).
You know who I am - Thecirclenigma
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‘Wolf Tracks you say?’ Old Cat glared down at the bird as he slowly twisted and contorted, forcing himself upright.
‘It’s a wolf boss. Tsalagi saw him. He’s a mean looking one too. Tsalagi thinks that he’s looking for food too. Tsalagi is hungry.’
‘Tsalagi is never anything but hungry,’ Old Cat replied, stalking across the frozen landscape and over the rolling, winter hills. It was biting cold, but the cold barely compared to the frozen emptiness that old age had left this cat with. Not even a month before he and Tsalagi encountered another wolf in the frozen landscape. It was his first encounter with the creatures of this landscape - and he didn’t get along well with dogs. He didn’t get along well with much of anything anymore. But that was the nature of a solitary creature. He snapped back to reality, glaring down as Tsalagi hopped to keep up beside him.
‘Why are you walking?’
‘Tsalagi no walk. Tsalagi skip.’
‘Fly you damn bird. It’s faster and you can cover more area,’ he snapped, as Tsalagi took to the air, as he slowly slunk along the terrain when he caught whiff of it. The smell of dog.
Darting forward as fast as his weakened muscles would let him he moved through the snow, catching up with the tacks that Tsalagi had pointed out earlier. Yes, it was only a matter of time now. He could also pick up a sort of angst in the air - his prey was deep in thought, or deeply disturbed, one of the two. It was also a wolf. He had encountered these creatures before, numerous times. Most recently was an encounter with a creature proudly proclaiming herself “deuce” - she was good for purposes of wit, but not much else. An entertaining trade of banter that eventually lead towards him seeking another place to try and sleep.
Yes… sleep. That was all he desired. The eternal slumber. Yet, it seemed to always be…
Hello. He recognized that smell.
Skidding to a stop in the snow he turned and watched as a silvery wolf staggered towards him. Feral barely began to describe this creature, although he didn’t recognize this creature immediately. His eyes fixated on hers, his glare hardening.
This poor creature, she was on her last legs.
Just like he was.
A mutual respect overcame him. Off in the distance his keen feline senses could pick up the scent of yet another wolf, although it was too far off to even consider worrying about. No, his attention was fixated in this haggard creature that had pulled itself before him.
‘Another wolf. You’re not like the others though - I can tell it just by gazing into your silver eyes. The life has been drained from your body, your soul has been ravaged by the passage of time. The other wolf - she was vivacious, one might go so far as to say too vivacious. And extremely arrogant as well. Tell me wolf, what do you call yourself?’ He asked, keeping his distance from the pathetic looking creature before him. He had no false doubts, however. He must have appeared just as pathetic and haggard as this wolf who stood before him.
‘It’s another wolfie boss!’ Tsalagi cried, fluttering down beside him.
‘Shut up bird!’ Old Cat snapped, turning back to the wolf and watching - waiting for the inevitable response.
Deadwood Jorn and Pala beta and scout
Posts: 317
(11/16/05 6:53 am) Reply
Re: ---
OOC- *preens* thank you. I'm so glad you decided to join us. I really am. It's wonderful to have two really good writers to write with. And you guys are awesome! XD
IC- ‘Another wolf. You’re not like the others though - I can tell it just by gazing into your silver eyes. The life has been drained from your body, your soul has been ravaged by the passage of time. The other wolf - she was vivacious, one might go so far as to say too vivacious. And extremely arrogant as well. Tell me wolf, what do you call yourself?’ Luna watched the puma cautiously, his words slowly sinking throught the thick miasma of numbness that had claimed her, the golden brute named Deacon all but forgotten.
Slowly, she spoke, the words seeming to come from some deep well within, a well that not much had come out of recently, besides the golden brute's name. "I have noticed the same trait in many of the deadwood creatures. I am called Luna." For the first time since founding the Stellar pack, she did not bother with adding her title of Alphess to her name. What was the point of proclaiming leadership over something that had failed?
She'd let the pup, Maleka, die. She'd let Riushu come, take her heart, and leave. She'd let countless others come and go. And still she was here. And now, she had no will to continue, to allow herslef to be hurt again and again. With a force of will she wasn't sure she had anymore, she pulled herself back to the present, back to the puma and his bird friend. "And who are you, who can read me as easilly as the storm clouds?"
Thecirclenigma Valley creature Old Cat Tsalagi
Posts: 10
(11/16/05 10:29 pm) Reply
Re: ---
OCC - Ah, dear Luna. This is a little more subdued than his encounter with Deuce, to be sure.
You know who I Am - Thecirclenigma
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She had spaced off. This was a curious phenomena, Old Cat told himself, watching the haggard creature calmly. Finally she seemed to come back around, eyeing him.
‘And who are you, who can read me as easily as the storm clouds?’
‘I fear no longer read storm clouds, my dear wolf. A futile venture, for it if will rain then it is justified in raining. Who am I to try and predict what the good mother earth feels herself as justified in doing? So long as it rains, as it storms, as the sky spawns devils with the strength no creature can match - no, so long as all this continues it is not my place to read storm clouds.’
He started forward slowly. In his prime he could easily have killed this wolf. He would have launched himself forward and without warning torn out her throat.
That was the problem with younglings. They did things without warning. They usually did things without thinking about them. No, both creatures standing here, amidst the banks of snow, were creatures of wisdom. Something he could highly value, for the pain in this wolf he could relate too.
All too clearly.
Tsalagi’s feathers bristled. The situation was getting tense.
‘I fear that like my ability to read clouds, I have my name long forgotten. For the time begin, or for the sake of situation, you may call me Old Cat. My name has slipped beyond the pages of recorded memory, I fear, as my old age progresses, I am doomed to only forget more and more things.
‘And your name is Luna? As in the spawn of the earth, the eye that watches us from the darkened aerodrome when the sun beds himself for the night? The other eye of the Gods? Is this the Luna that you speak of?’
For the first time in along time, Old Cat noticed that Tsalagi had shut up. It was a rare occasion indeed - perhaps he recognized the tenseness in the situation. Turning back around to look at the bird his thick shoulders slumped - it had nothing to do with the tenseness and everything to do with a worm that he had spotted and was currently trying to pull from the ground.
‘You stupid bird!’ Old Cat hissed, as Tsalagi jumped upright and spun around.
‘Did Tsalagi miss something?’
Deadwood Jorn and Pala beta and scout
Posts: 321
(11/21/05 7:14 am) Reply
Re: ---
OOC- Ya think? XD Yes...Luna has become a tad subdued, as you labeled it. *is preparing her to die*
Anyway, enjoy the 'relaxed' state of affairs. Deacon tend to rile others up. LOL *luffs Gabe and Deacon*
IC-
Luna tiltled her head a fraction, listening to the puma speak. As he concluded his peculiar questioning of her, she only nodded.
"Yes. I am named after her. I find only pride in the name." Yes, it was a strange irony that she was Luna, alphess of the Stellar pack. Luna, the leader of the night sky. But she didn't mention this, couldn't summon the energy to care, just as she couldn't summon the energy to care that the air was tense, to care that this whole situation was wrought with intensity.
The silver pelted fey sat slowly as the feline turned and looked at the crow. A ghost of a smile crossed her maw as the avian creature responded to Old Cat. She didn't bother to protect herself in any manner, didn't bother to keep her gaurd up. Why bother? She knew she was done, an icon of a time long past, a symbol for a power that was no more. She had no more power than a week old pup. She had no one to have power over. Nor did she care to try to claim a responsiblity she had. She had ceased to care, just as she had ceased to care for her appearance. None of that mattered to the silvered fey.
Thecirclenigma Valley creature Old Cat Tsalagi
Posts: 14
(11/21/05 10:56 pm) Reply
Re: ---
‘Eden,’ Old Cat said, looking at her sharply. It was his goal, surely it must be her goal too. He started forward, towards this Luna wolf. The kinship had made him a little bolder than normal. Previous encounters with wolves had ended poorly, or at least on a sour note. Maybe this one could be better.
‘Eden is a place of paradise, a place where the young go to die and the old to be reborn. It is the great cycle of life, as surely as the Luna and Sol share the same sky during different hours of the day. You stand on your last limbs, as do I. I hunt for Eden, and while I will not welcome company, even I have the knowledge and foresight to know that such a trip I could in no way make by myself. Perhaps a creature as - subdued - as yourself would be a more welcome addition than him,’ Old Cat nodded over to Tsalagi.
Feeling the eyes upon him, Tsalagi froze; on his back, feet trying desperately to hold on to the worm that he held in his beak. Upon freezing the worm got away, but now Tsalagi realized that he had other things to keep his interest aside from food.
‘Edelweiss, boss?’ Tsalagi asked.
‘No you damn bird, that’s a flower. I’m taking Eden.’
‘Oh, Tsalagi understands. You mean Eden. Like Potatoes.’
‘Sure, we can go with that,’ Old cat muttered, to tired right now to even bother putting up a argument.
‘We could go to Ireland boss. They have lots of potatoes there.’
‘Just shut up.’
Deadwood Jorn and Pala beta and scout
Posts: 325
(11/23/05 10:13 am) Reply
Re: ---
((I'm gonna let our darling Deacon have a shot at this thread. I just realized we've been terribly rude and foprgotten of his presence. *luffs Deacon* *grins at Gabe* Sorry Gabe...LOL))
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