The Hunt

[Mina Silbetier]

Fresh dew glistened upon the grass as the land was greeted by the rise of a new day. The sun had just peeked over the horizon and light flooded across the darkened land. Birds began to wake and chirp good morning. All was calm and peaceful around Emerald Lake.

A lone deer stepped out of the brush and down by the water’s edge. He was a young buck; his antlers had only started to grow. His walk had a limp, and as he stepped out from the bushes his injured right leg was able to be seen. There was a great gash in his leg that had been there for a while, caused by a slip in balance and a fall down a rocky slope. His other legs were banged up as well, but not as severe as the front leg. The deer now bent over, lapping up the cool water of the lake.

The smell of fresh blood, the scent was enough to cause any predator to go into a frenzy. The smell of the deer’s blood was so strong. The trees and the entire lake just smelled of the blood.

A flash of gray slipped through the brush towards Emerald Lake. The creature’s paws were silent as the beast rushed through the trees and the bushes. The creature was a wolf with variations of dark and light gray and even a bit of red about the ears coloring her fur. Ears that had been perked started to lower as the wolf drew ever closer to the injured deer.

The deer came in sight of the wolf’s amber eyes. There was a leap. Birds flew from nearby trees. A loud crunch echoed across the lake as the wolf’s teeth bit down upon the deer’s neck, breaking bones. The deer fell to the ground with the wolf upon him.

No more pain.

Most humans would have considered the killing a cruel act of nature, but Mina considered the act to be out of mercy. She was not a wolf to kill for no reason. Out in the wild, an injury like the buck had received from sharp rocks would only lead to a slow death. The deer would become her meal, yes, and his pain would no longer grip to his body. He would be at peace.

Mina was glad to tear into the buck’s body and feast upon what he had left her. His blood had been tempting her since her nose first picked up his scent. A few days had passed since she had last eaten, and now the wolf was able to give her body over to its hunger as she ate from the freshly killed animal.

[amaya]

Blood. Everything smelled of blood. So why was he still here? He didn't like the feel of this place when it smelled like blood.. He didn't like the scent of blood, period. The crimson elixir was a life giver, and when one could smell it.. It normally meant it had been stolen. Life and blood and all. A soft sigh broke from the little wolf's maw.

Silent and stealthy, his paws were, his size a tad smaller than average. Rushing through the woods now, as he felt the scent of blood grow stronger, his tan fur almost flattened against the breeze of his dash, causing him to like a tad thinner. Not that anyone could tell; he was, in truth, basically a blur. Size and strength were not on his side, but speed was. And, from the way he nimbly dodged obstacles that came so quickly they were almost abrupt, flexibility was on his side, too.

In the near distance, birds seemed to cry, their wings quickly taking flight as he heard a loud crack. A kill. His lobes almost pressed against his skull; that meant he'd probably be hungry again. But he pressed on, praying to Paradise that the predator would be friendly enough to share. At least a little bit.

Reaching the lake, he lowered himself to the ground, growing wary. In truth, if he was spotted and she wanted to attack, he could probably outrun her - but no one said she couldn't outwit him. He hardly explored his surroundings, since he didn't take much time to hunt; but she seemed experienced, very experienced, thus could probably find ways to get to him before he could get out of her assault range.

Oh well. He was hungry, and he needed food. It was worth a shot.

Taking a breath, he launched himself from the foliage, approaching the female and carcass swiftly, but cautiously. Slowing his pace as he neared, he quietly cleared his throat. "Uh-Uhm... Can you.. share?" Yeah, Tanjun. That's the way to do it. Smooth.

[Mina Silbetier]

There was an abrupt moment where Mina had lost hold of her surroundings. She let her mind drift away from her normal paranoia and allowed her mouth to focus on the hot, bloody meat in front of her. Her wolf form was her true freedom and running and hunting brought her great happiness. Out here, it felt as if no hunter could find her, as if no hunter could hurt her. So, she feasted, unaware of the wolf who was making his way to her and her kill.

The female wolf was snapped back into reality. She was well aware of the movement of the water, of the birds who still were fleeing away, and of the soft padding of wolf’s feet upon the morning ground. In an instant, her ears were pinned down to her head and her tail was raised ever so slightly. Her fur bristled up on her back. Whoever was coming her way would know that she was one not to be messed with, especially when breakfast had just been caught.

Out came a small wolf from the brush, and Mina stood her ground. He showed no threat; he was quite a submissive wolf. The female wolf quickly let her guard down, making sure not to run the timid little one off. Her ears perked back up, and her tail gave a wag. She even gave him a wolf’s smile as she relaxed. He was no hunter and no threatening wolf.

“Go ahead and eat to your heart’s content. I will not stop you.”

[amaya]

At first, he flinched back, a panicked look in his golden eyes. The female's stance was similar to an alpha's, and that normally meant they were preparing to demand submission and kill if they had to. His lobes slightly lowered again, just as his tail descended, and he took one hesitant step backward. Then, just as suddenly as she had tensed, she relaxed; she even acted friendly, inviting.

Her wag caused him to wag as well, once, and then he returned her smile, a spark of life igniting in his previously dulled gaze. "Th-thank you!" he barked friendlily, happily. Thank Paradise he wouldn't have to starve again.

Tanjun almost bounded to the carcass, keeping sure to appear more submissive than threatening. He didn't want to risk getting his hide bitten off at close range. 'cause that would hurt. Really, really hurt. Shoving away the negative, paranoid thoughts, he bit into the deer, feeling his stomach immediately crave more now that a meal was at his lips. Licking his jowls once, he dug into it, taking off bits and pieces, but not scattering anything messily. Hell, it was actually neat, surprisingly. Well, for ripping apart a section of a carcass.

As he swallowed another bite, he glanced up, licking his maw again. "Can I know your name? I'm Tanjun." Hasty, hasty.

[Mina Silbetier]

A laugh shuddered through the female wolf that would be unheard from those around. She found the younger wolf amusing. How long had it been since she had came upon one of her kind seeming to innocent? Perhaps not since her brother.

“This is no problem at all,” Mina told the male wolf. “I am almost full. It would be a waste without someone else to finish off the deer.”

She turned back to the carcass of the buck and continued to feast upon the hot meat. Mina was well aware of the other wolf who attacked the deer as if he had not eaten for days. Did he not know how to hunt? That would explain his smaller size and his great hunger. Perhaps, he simply had not mastered the skills of bringing such creatures down. In any case, Mina was glad that she could help another of her kind.

Wolves had a tendency of keeping to themselves or keeping to the packs they had created. The few wolves Mina had encountered over her lifespan did such that. None lent out a helping hand when she needed help the most. None spared her any pity or any kindness. This was why the female wolf traveled by herself. Alone, it was easier to avoid hunters, and she could only worry about herself.

“My name is Mina,” she said as she stepped away from the deer carcass. She shook out her fur before stepping over to the lake and lapping up some water. Taking a step back, she laid down in the grass, content with the warm morning sun shining down upon her.

“Where are you headed to, Tanjun?”

[amaya]

She laughed. Actually laughed, no matter how quiet it was. It was still a laugh. Pausing from his gnawing, he glanced up, blinking curiously, before a toothy smile creased his stained lips. He didn't know what was humorous at the moment, but he was glad to give someone a laugh. Then his stomach twitched a tad, signaling to him that he needed to swallow down a few more bites to be satisfied. Lowering his cranium again, he began to bite into the rest of the deer, hoping she didn't notice the hungry movement in his underbelly.

In truth, he needed to get all the meat he could devour from this one meal. Because, chances were, he would avoid hunting at all costs, until he simply grew too famished. But that habit and lifestyle had begun to take a toll; when fed nicely, he was a skilled hunter, with strategies to spare. But when he was hungry, he was far more limited. And adding onto the fact that he simply hated killing, hated hearing the crack of bone or a final cry, didn't help his condition either. Swallowing down another bite, he stifled a sigh and dug in again.

"My name is Mina." Mina? Pausing at the sound of her voice again, he glanced up, watching her as she padded over to the waters for a drink.

A slight wag of his tail and a light smile came then. "Mina," he barked softly, "It's a simple but pretty name~" And it was true.

Licking his lips, he bit into and swallowed another piece, before trailing after her toward the lake. Pausing a few feet away from her, he lapped at the cool liquid, glad it was entirely refreshing as it trickled down his warmed throat. "Where are you headed to, Tanjun?"

[/color] His drinking paused for a split second at that, as his mind seemed to click back into gear. Not that it was going to come up with any ideas soon.

Finishing, he turned and shifted into a laying position, resting his furry chin on his paws. Blinking at their reflection in the water's surface, he responded almost quietly, "I.. don't know. I really just don't know."[/color]

He rolled onto his side, just a tad. "But what about you? Do you know where you want to end up?" It wasn't like he didn't want to go to Paradise. But that feeling.. that warm feeling.. it had gone long ago, and he had basically lost faith in finding it. Perhaps evil already prevailed. But that didn't mean others didn't have places to reach, and that didn't mean others' opinions couldn't rekindle his hope. So in truth, her response would be more than just an answer. It would be an effect.

[/blockquote][/size]

[Mina Silbetier]

Did she know where she wanted to end up? What a question to ask. Most wolves would have answered Paradise. Truly, anyone would have answered Paradise. Every man, woman, and child in the world wanted to find that perfect place. They wanted to find the place within their dreams where everything was exactly how they wanted it to be.

Years ago if Tanjun had asked Mina the same question she would have easily said Paradise. Her brother had always wanted to find Paradise, and because he had wanted it so badly so had Mina. They were unable to find Paradise. All they found was a rotting city where hunters constantly found them. When Alric had died, all Mina hoped for was that he had found his own Paradise in the afterlife.

“I want to end up where my paws take me,” the female wolf responded, her eyes drifting out towards the lake. “I want to end up where my nose guides me and where my eyes find what my entire being has been looking for. If I am to find Paradise, my body will take me there.”

Lazily, Mina stretched out her front legs. A good meal had relaxed her, and she felt comfortable with a full enough belly. The warm sun was working to enchant her to sleep, but she pushed back any feelings of being tired. Now was not the time for sleep, not here. Mina could not allow herself to fall asleep out in such an open place.

“I have been smelling the sweetest of scents lately, but I cannot name what it is that I smell. The scent is faint, fleeting, but it is warm and inviting when I can catch the smell. I feel as though I should chase the scent, but when I do I feel confused as if I am not ready to discover where it will lead me.”

[amaya]

"I want to end up where my paws take me. I want to end up where my nose guides me and where my eyes find what my entire being has been looking for. If I am to find Paradise, my body will take me there."

[/color] A fine answer. A very nice one at that; perhaps it was true for all beings. To want to end up where their bodies would lead them to. Or perhaps others just wanted their souls to take the lead, and they would undoubtedly follow with nothing but faith and hope. However other minds worked, he would never know. But he felt that it was best he never found out, anyway.

He watched her as she stretched out, seeming perfectly comfortable, except for the open expanse part. Still, it brought a smile to his lips.

Then, his lobes flicked. "I have been smelling the sweetest of scents lately, but I cannot name what it is that I smell. The scent is faint, fleeting, but it is warm and inviting when I can catch the smell. I feel as though I should chase the scent, but when I do I feel confused as if I am not ready to discover where it will lead me." Immediately, he wanted to get up and inquire her about the scent and the feeling and.. everything. But instead..

"Follow it." He didn't know when he had shifted into a sitting position, preparing to get onto all fours. But he knew he was definitely speaking, and that he was definitely feeling something return. "Follow the scent; if it brings warmth to your heart, chase after it. You've let it go, and it's returned. It wants you to follow."[/font] He didn't know where that came from, but he knew it was true, and from his heart.

There came a final spark of hope in his pulse now, and he didn't want to let it go. If she still smelled that scent, felt its pull, there was still time. Time to get to Paradise.

But no one said death wasn't the first step.

Blinking, he slightly shook himself, settling down again. With a wry and awkward smile, he barked, "Sorry about the outburst. It's just.. yeah."[/color]

[/blockquote][/size]

[Mina Silbetier]

Mina looked to the younger wolf, her ears slightly perked as she listened to him. Tanjun seemed to be full of a young hope. The feeling was one of a struggle to see the good in the world, to find wonders not yet found. He reminded her of Alric already. Alric had the same spark of energy. No matter how many times Alric had been beaten down, he always seemed able to muster up some hope.

“There is no reason to apologize. You are right; I should follow the scent.” He was right. No matter how confused or even afraid she got when she followed after the smell, she should still chase. She spent her life running about with no direction. Why not now find her own path and take it?

The female wolf stood up, shaking out her fur once more and sending a few flies buzzing away. She wanted to run suddenly. She wanted to track down some phantom object. Perhaps this was the right feeling to have.

“We are wolves,” Mina said as she looked back to Tanjun. “We are the ones who must find Paradise and open the gates.”

Why now did this spark of want take over her? No matter what the reason was, her heart began to flutter. What was this? An experience that she felt from time to time. She wanted what her nose allowed her to smell. Where was the scent coming from?

[amaya]

"There is no reason to apologize. You are right; I should follow the scent." His smile grew less wry and awkward, now more comfortable and warm on his lips. His tail wagged again, as he felt accepted rather than annoying and rejected. It wasn't often that he ran into a wolf who accepted his outbursts, and he was appreciating this rare opportunity. Perhaps he could befriend and follow her?

.. No.. He couldn't do that. He'd be a hassle. But hey, hopefully they could at least be friends.

As she stood up, he flicked his lobes, getting to all fours as well. He didn't want to be left alone just yet. Solitude could wait. "We are wolves. We are the ones who must find Paradise and open the gates." And now he smiled again.

"Yes - yes we are," he barked in response, feeling enlightened in a way that food and water could never uplift him, "There will always be hope for us, because that scent - no matter how fleeting - that scent is for us. Paradise is ours." His tone was so light, perhaps it was difficult to tell that he truly meant it in every aspect, even the serious ones.

And now, he wanted to run, too. Because their souls were free, and Paradise was calling. The nobles and humans could do as they wish, but as far as he was concerned for now, they were no difficult obstacle.

[Mina Silbetier]

Mina had to look for Paradise. She had to let her nose lead her to that scent, that warm yet mysterious scent. This was supposed to happen. Perhaps she had been confused for the majority of her life. Yes, she had been. There was no home for wolves with the humans. Humans were animals who had lost their way, and Mina was not wanting to be one of them.

“Then, we will look for Paradise,” the female wolf said to the younger as she turned slightly to directly face him. “Is that what you want, Tanjun? Do you want to find Paradise with me? Do you want to seek out that beautiful smell? We could go together. We could both find what is ours to have.”

A smile seemed to slip over her lips. This is what she wanted. She wanted to find Paradise. This was what it felt like to be a true wolf. A wolf who hunted and acted upon their instincts. To find Paradise, that was one of the most important instincts a wolf could have.

Mina would leave her past behind if she had to. Her younger years had been spent pretending to be what everyone wanted her to be, and that was a human. It was now time for her to be a wolf. It was time to face fate.

[amaya]

"Then, we will look for Paradise," she declared, turning to completely face him. The moment their eyes locked, he felt that he should follow her. Felt that they were meant to be in a pack together; not start a pack, but be with one together. "Is that what you want, Tanjun? Do you want to find Paradise with me? Do you want to seek out that beautiful smell? We could go together. We could both find what is ours to have." As she smiled, he did as well.

His lobes flicked, before he replied softly, "I would love you accept your offer. However," his tail drooped, just a tad; but his voice was confident, "Something tells me that times will come in which we'll have to part. But until then, I accept your offer."

[/color]

Now his tail raised, just a bit, and he perked his lobes forward. The carcass was basically next to bare, but its scent was sure to still attract more predators. Or even hunters. And this ground was already fairly open. Perhaps now would be the best time to leave. "Shall we go?" he inquired, his black nose slightly pointing to the side, his golden eyes glancing through the foliage in which he arrived through.

[/blockquote][/size]

[Mina Silbetier]

The female wolf nodded her head slightly. She had been certain before that no pack would belong to her. She had been certain of that the night her brother died. She was not meant to be a part of a wolf pack. Her mission in life was to be alone. Her mission in life was to find her own Paradise.

“We will part ways at some point. I am certain of it. But until then, let us enjoy each others’ company. We do not need to be a pack. We need to want to be able to work together. There are many dangers out there. There are many people who do not want the wolves to seek out and find Paradise. We will have to overcome, though. ”

Mina moved about the area, her nose twitching as she took in the scents about her. She soon found what she was looking for and turned back to the younger wolf.

“Yes, it is time to leave. If you are willing to follow, I shall take the leave.” A smile seemed to continue to cling to her lips. She was full of life and full of purpose again. This was what she needed.

The wolf nodded her head to the other before taking off. Her legs moved swiftly through the tall grass and the brush around the lake. She did not think; she simply moved. She gave all her faith over to her body and her nose. They would take the two wolves where they needed to go.

[amaya]

As she spoke, similar to a monologue, he nodded and smiled softly. The second she finished, he didn't even miss a beat. "We will overcome." Raising his head, he added, "We all will. I believe in that."

Then, she began to sniff about, and Tanjun felt his lobes flick, his cranium tilting very slightly to the side. Of course, all canines tended to have scent as their second sight, but the way she was smelling, it signaled she was looking for something. But what? And then she stopped. Guess I'll find out soon.

[/font] His golden eyes glistened.

Once she turned to him and spoke, he nodded, almost giving a toothy smile. Tail flicking once, as if tempted to wag, he stretched for a second, prepared to follow.

Nodding one final time, he called out, "Lead the way, Mina." His smile was less toothy now, but still bright. His posture enlightened. He could feel the temptation toward running, rejuvenating himself and perhaps rejuvenating another.

To give others hope - it made him happy.

It gave him hope.

Taking his temporary but reliable place beside her, he slightly lowered his cranium. Aerodynamics was key. He wanted to feel like he was flying, flying so much closer to Paradise, with friends at hand.

With a faint bark, a soft and bright one, he finished, "Lead the way."[/font]

[/blockquote][/size]