tec
Lone Wolf
Posts: 39
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Lost
Aug 10, 2006 10:23:40 GMT -5
Post by tec on Aug 10, 2006 10:23:40 GMT -5
“Finn’s gonna kill me.”
It was the only real concern in the young Jeb’s mind as he crawled, dragged and scrambled his way out of the surging, underground river and up the sloping ravine from which he’d fallen. He was wet, which he hated. Probably the only thing in all existence that bothered the fun-loving wolf. But really, he grumbled silently. His fur always stank when it was wet.
His paw struck a jagged rock, and a yelp sprang from his mouth. As if he wasn’t bloody and torn enough, he thought dryly. Then chuckled. He really was a mess. Brambles stuck in his maw and blood mingled with the stale water coating his brown/black fur. Finn would take one look at him, kill him, then rant for weeks over Jeb’s …foolish… behavior.
Well, he was a fool. But a happy one. And the females seemed to like him just fine.
The top edge of the ravine peeked down at him, almost winking playfully in the hot, summer sun. And Jeb breached its boundaries with a welcome grin on his face. The grin faded to curious concern. No Finn? No path, for that matter.
Jeb winced, maneuvering gingerly between the thorny bushes lining the ravine. And though dirt and blood dripped over his brow, he squinted to the distance where a long, yellow meadow gleamed. He was a long way from his brother now. Finn would kill him for sure.
“Might as well have fun in the meantime, though.”
Limping and yelping every second step, Jeb pranced off in search of a female.
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Lost
Aug 11, 2006 6:00:37 GMT -5
Post by Memoru on Aug 11, 2006 6:00:37 GMT -5
Noiseless, a black shape circled over head, drifting like a dark shadow against the grey overcast skies. A drably feathered creature, stinking of carrion even from it's place amid the clouds. Crow. With a twist of it's tail the bird lowered itself near to the ground, head twitching as a puppet master's strings tugged its neck. Oil spot eyes flickered rapidly over the horizon; searching, seeking, at command of the master. Looking for...looking for...
Found. A wolf amongst the pale grass. Injured, though not terribly so.
As if it had never been willing to enter the land, the crow let out a dreadful shriek, angling it's wings to send it full circle and back toward the hint of blue that peeked beneath the smothering smoke hued clouds.
A grin curved Redemption's muzzle as he watched the raven fly off, returning to...where ever it had come from. He didn't often bother with the origin of the birds, so long as they ended up in the proper destination. He supposed they might have little birdie families, back in their forests and their fields. Baby crows to attend to.
Ugh. Baby crows. What sort of ragged, foul sight that would be. Redemption sniffed, that former grin of his morphing into a twisted scowl. What a crude...Wait. His face fell blank and he lifted his nose to the air, nostrils twitching.
There was the scent of wolf nearby. One he had not often caught since his coming to Venial, and this did not stink of either Five or the Lord. Someone new. His crow had be correct.
Letting out a bark of laughter, Redemption leapt to his feet, paws dancing against the soft grass in his excitement. That smirk curled his black lips again, letting yellow-white teeth peek out beneath his chops.
"Where are you...,"he squinted his eyes, searching the horizon for the raven's promised shape. He almost wished for eyes like birds, it would be so much easier to seek out these strangers if he...
Ah, there we go. Stumbling along near the ravine, ragged and drenched. Hmhm. Redemption's throat reverberated with laughter, and in a second Redemption was bounding down the plains toward the young wolf.
How pleased his master would be, that he found one of the new arrivals trudging along the borderlands of His territory.
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tec
Lone Wolf
Posts: 39
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Lost
Aug 12, 2006 10:15:50 GMT -5
Post by tec on Aug 12, 2006 10:15:50 GMT -5
He paused, head cocked, but not in alarm. It was a young wolf’s curious optimism that had Jeb’s heart lifting, racing, and throbbing with anticipation. At least until the stranger’s racing form neared enough for him to realize it wasn’t a female, after all.
It had been the size of him, Jeb realized. Too small for a full-grown wolf. Amber eyes narrowed in perplexity as the other neared.
“Not really a wolf, is he?” he mumbled to himself. “At least not just.”
Well, he hadn’t yet entangled himself with a female, so he couldn’t have angered an alpha. Perhaps it was this male’s territory he was trespassing upon. Jeb gave what could have been a simple shrug, and brushed the concern off. He’d never given a whit for territory when he’d been alive. What would be the point in starting now?
Besides, he could handle himself in a fight. And if he couldn’t, well… Jeb gave a furtive glance behind his shoulder… Finn would be along soon enough. His brother always managed to back him up if he needed it.
A pang of guilt, so rare and virgin to his conscious, had Jeb’s shoulders sagging.
Finn had died backing him up.
With a shake of his wet, matted coat, Jeb set guilt to the wayside and focused on the here and now. As was his wont. A stranger, male or not, could be a fun distraction. At least until a female could be found. Even then… Jeb was not opposed to sharing. How could he be? All his females belonged to someone else.
“Stranger!” His voice was rough and raspy. Shouldn’t have been, with all the water he’d swallowed. “Come to fight? Or play?”
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Lost
Aug 13, 2006 5:52:14 GMT -5
Post by Memoru on Aug 13, 2006 5:52:14 GMT -5
Not really a wolf at all. In fact, it was the lack of wolf running through Redemption's veins that gave him that boundless energy that sent him leaping, not running, across the plains. Even compared to an adolescent he was small, not quite half the size of a full grown wolf, but nearing that. Coyote blood seemed to dominate the outward features of this little, black runt.
Bi-colored eyes danced as he approached, a wide grin flitting across rubbery, black lips. He slowed to a stop a few meters away from the young stranger, leaving a wide berth between them. Young or no, Redemption wasn't much of a match for any wolf. Least not where strength was concerned. Speed and wit...that was something else entirely, but would not help him much at such a close range. He stiffened his forelegs and perked his ears, on guard.
To fight or to play? Redemption have a laugh, a jovial sound that suited him just fine. Paws danced against the grass and he gave a little half-jump forward, tail wagging,"Might bit more wanting for play, rather than fight,"his grin widened,"What's your name, pup? I'm Redemption. 'Ready' for short, if you will." He gave a little yip and sauntered a few feet closer.
He flicked his gaze over the younger wolf. My, he was drenched! A quick 'haha' escaped his mouth and he craned his neck to shoot a glance at the ravine,"Decide to take a dip, did you?"
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tec
Lone Wolf
Posts: 39
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Lost
Aug 13, 2006 22:39:59 GMT -5
Post by tec on Aug 13, 2006 22:39:59 GMT -5
Jeb cocked his head, glanced down at himself and huffed a chuckle. He was a rigid believer in the virtues of laughing at oneself. ‘Course, laughing at Finn was liable to earn him a hell of a tussle. But a good fight was almost as energizing for the spirit as humor.
He eyed the little wolf thing thoughtfully. Ah well, wouldn’t be fair to fight something so small. Not that he always dealt in fair. But perhaps this ‘Redemption’ would prove an amusing distraction. Jeb was always up for a distraction… of sorts.
“Ready, eh? ‘Spose that’s a good name to live by.” Damn, if the little runt wasn’t hyper! Couldn’t keep still for half a second. Jeb’s tongue lolled lazily from his mouth. “Name’s Jeb. Mighta been short for something once, but it’s all I’ve got now.”
He shrugged while grinning that fool grin and felt the familiar ragged scarring along his muzzle stretch in response.
“So tell me… Ready.” The name drawled slovenly from Jeb’s tongue. “You seen a dour, bad-tempered wolf that looks just like me, prowling around? I kind of lost him somewhere along the way. Hence, the ah... dip.”
He shook then, spraying water and muck… and a bit of blood. And was completely oblivious to the fact that he’d just drenched his newfound playmate.
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