Deepwood Weald Lost without you

Close to Donnelaith's borders; any Donnelaith wolves strongly encouraged!

She hated being this far inland. Though the taste of salt was all about in the air, it lacked the familiar beat of the sea's heart. No pirate would live here so deep into the woods - that was for the landlubbers. But it was the only way she could skirt around the thick tangle of trees that she was sure to get lost in and lose her way. She couldn't spare the time getting lost in that tangle of immensely tall trees, not when she knew she was so close to him. She felt it in her core, that bond they had with each other throbbing the more steps she took north. Feragho was close.

He had to be.

Maude refused to let anything distract her from her goal, but the sheer size of these redwoods were hard to ignore. The disheveled lass looked up at their heights, craning her head back for a brief moment, then shaking her head and speaking to herself. The Cap'n's more important than any ol' tree.

A proper coyote was always on the move, only stopping for a bite to eat or a quick bit of entertainment from whatever creature willingly (or unwillingly) provided. After terrorizing a few pesky birds and pissing on nearly every tree he could find, Pluto's dainty grey paws halted their light trot before planting firmly into the earth. The small male's oversized ears flicked upwards, the faint sounds of something larger stepping through the chilled winter frost meeting his sensitive audits and causing his head to turn slightly towards the side. A pale tongue slipped from his maw, flicking over his pointed nose before flexing his nostrils to take in the forest scents. The foul scent of a wolf smacked the coyote square in the cheek, causing him to snort slightly before curling his lip, brine and sea salt clinging firmly to the scent as if the wolf was merely a creature that just emerged from the sea one day.

Pluto's tail flicked from side to side as he contemplated on what to do, half craving for a bit more entertainment from some old seadog and half wishing to just continue on with his endless, lone traveling. His ears swiveled towards the scent as the the sound of oddly...off  mumbling. There was truly no other way to explain it, as the wolf just seemed to be talking to...himself? It was hard to detect a proper scent from the wolf when they were coated in ocean and rotten plantlife stench. Pluto slightly snorted at the whispering, a bit of contempt filling his dark optics at the odd sounds before trotting slightly closer, the idea of watching this freakshow now slightly appealing to him. Silently, the silvery coyote padded closer, lightly stepping on his toes to avoid making much of a sound before popping his head out from behind a large redwood, gaze settling on a dark brown, matted coat belonging to the crackpot h...herself. Yes, herself; the voice sounded female, and the body seemed to take on a more feminine build. Pluto did not speak, instead just deciding to silently follow from afar; ducking behind trees and watching through a darkened, signature coyote gaze.

The magnificence of the tree behind her, Maude continued around the sentinels that dared bar her way to Feragho. The pirate - recently a cabin boy girl - was silent now, skirting farther inland, feeling a disgusting shiver run up her spine as she stepped farther and farther away from the sea's salty embrace and deeper into the trees of this wilderness that smelled distinctively and revoltingly like bears and landlubber wolves. Maude barely noticed her coyote-shaped shadow as she increased her pace, determined to get away from the soft dirt and trees and back to sand and salt, and to him.

The mere sight of the strange female was enough to set Pluto slightly on edge, catching a glimpse of one of her darkened, golden eyes and immediately knowing that whatever intentions this canine had, they were bad ones. The coyote watched as her chocolate paws quickened their pace along the forest earth, fur bristling and a strange shiver engulfing her body as she darted between the trees. Sheer curiosity drove Pluto to continue following the wolf, bluish silver paws dancing between fallen twigs and branches to avoid making a sound as he used his petite stature to slip under bushes and between long grasses. Trees had suddenly become his best friend, as any time he felt the need to, he could easily just slip into the shadow of a redwood before poking his nose out, twitching his nostrils, and continuing on following the rambling nutcase; who kept becoming swifter and swifter. It was tempting to just burst into a full on sprint to tail her, but keeping quiet was much more important than making sounds while keeping close.

Eventually however, just following the female was beginning to get both boring and tiring, and Pluto halted his seemingly endless dance of dashing, sneaking, and hiding to open his maw and wrap his lips around his sharp yellow fangs. He then leaned down, gently biting into a small stone to prevent accidentally chipping a tooth before raising his head again and continuing his tailing. This time however, Pluto began to slip closer to the female, closer than he had been before. He crouched behind a tree before peeking his head around the reddish bark, rearing his muzzle back before tossing the pebble as far as he could. He didn't look to see if he had hit the wolf, slipping into the undergrowth and slowly beginning to creep towards the other direction, hoping that his target hadn't seen him. He was just looking to mess with her and get a reaction, not to get killed.

Her journey went unhindered as her pace increased, the smell of brine once again wafting towards her nose. The ragged pirate turned her course close to the shore, a demented smile alighting her face as she thought of how close Feragho was now, how she would soon see his handsome, strong visage once aga-

A sharp pain on her muzzle broke her from her mad train of thought, the once dull eyes blazing into fury as she saw the culprit on the ground, smeared with her own blood. A rock.

Someone had thrown a rock at her.

Fury mixed with a demented sort of glee as a twisted smile bled across her bleeding muzzle, and the wench crooned in a soft singsong voice to her aggressor, her body already sinking into an attacking stance. Come out, dearie~! Don't be shy! There ain't no need fo' throwin' rocks, see? We can just....talk.. Her burning eyes flitted around her surroundings, searching for any kind of movement in the undergrowth around her. Her nose twitched as she smelt the air for wolf or fox or coyote or any thing that stuck out through the woody scent.

Between the large trees, a large expanse of sea fading into ocean water caught the coyote's eyes, and his nostrils twitched again as he identified the thickening scent in the air as salt water, which mirrored the foul scent clinging to the large, chocolate furred female. So that was where she was heading? It made sense, she must have lived around this area if it smelled so much like her. Pluto watched through dark eyes as she turned around, a small cut slicing her already ugly, wolven mug with his pebble by one of her huge paws, splattered with fresh crimson. Her darkened gold eyes flared to life, flickering with flames of fury as she gazed at the small rock before throwing her gaze upwards again, bloodied muzzle contorting as fangs exposed, gums pulling backwards into a grin that almost could have tread the line between sweetness and madness if it hadn't blatantly up and just vomited all over the damn line. Her words were sickly sweet, gaze flicking through the trees wildly.

The female didn't seem to see the small coyote as he hunched in the thick entangle of undergrowth, her nostrils flaring as she attempted to sniff out the little bastard. Quietly, Pluto stooped a little further down, scooping up a pawful of dirt before pouring atop his head. He then leaned onto his side and rolled onto his spine as quietly as he could before swiftly rubbing himself into the earth, hoping to smother his scent with the surrounding environment's smell. He then rolled back over, haunches tensed and a small, mischievous smirk sliding across his own muzzle. Odor hopefully smothered, form still, Pluto watched and waited for what the wolf would do. If she found him, then he would dash for it. He was a coyote, fast and witty. She was a wolf, more powerful and dangerous in groups than on their own. Maybe he could outrun her? Or if he couldn't, he could just try to lose her due to his small size.

Her one-track mind switched, albeit momentarily, from Feragho to this new threat to her existence, and by extension her existence with Feragho. The slavering creature dove into the undergrowth, her nose brushing the dirt and low growing plants as she searched for a fresh scent. Her eyes threatened to set the forest ablaze with her fury as she lifted her head from the forest floor, licking the blood that dripped off her muzzle onto the floor. Come out, little rascal. She called, flitting from bush to bush, fern to fern.

The pirate paused as she heard scratching in the dirt, her head cocked as she listened through the silence of the forest. Found ye... She whispered to herself as her body bunched up, wiggling and tensing before she exploded in a mad dash off energy towards the small noise, uncovering the small creature half caked with dirt.

Pluto waited, ears pricked firmly upwards and nostrils flared, dark eyes trained on the large female searching for him, muzzle pressed to the earth and tongue flitting out to catch the scarlet drops sliding down her nose. Her head raised, stature full as she slipped between the bushes and trees, suddenly pausing as her golden optics trained on the undergrowth where the small coyote camped. Her maw moved as she whispered something to herself, stance lowering as she shook her rear, almost like an overgrown feline preparing to strike a wayward rat. Suddenly, her large paws were flying across the earth, throwing up forest debris and soil as the once calm air became filled with the sounds of the wolf crashing through bushes, leaves, and twigs. Braced haunches sprang into action as Pluto practically flew out of the bush, laughter bursting out from his lean chest as he soared. "Come and get me, hag!"

Swiftly, he hit the earth again, throwing up a small cloud of loose soil as his small paws hit the ground, swiftly beginning to move in a sprinting motion as he darted through the woods with ease, sliding under bushes, leaping over rocks, and darting behind trees. His ragged tail flew out behind him like a banner, ears flattened against his skull from the wind pushing against them. Suddenly, he leaped to the right, skidding across the soil before leaping again into a patch of longer grasses. Pluto continued to sprint further into the grasses, vanishing in the long stalks before stopping entirely, hunkering down and waiting, ears pricked again and legs tensed.

Her jaws had opened while she glided, momentarily, through the air towards what she now saw was a dirt-covered coyote. Upon her descent, they had closed, the snap of her two jaws hitting one another audible as she recovered from her pounce, shaking her head at the sudden landing as dirt and pine needles rose around her. Her senses recovered, the pirate looked towards the small clouds of dust that had risen in the wake of the fleeing scavenger for a brief moment, then jumped into action, chasing after the creature.

She had lost sight of him, but his scent, however faint, led her in the right direction. But she was no tracker - why would she be, she's a pirate! - and once again Maude stood still in the midst of the trees, looking about with wild eyes. Where are ye! Come out! Come out! the madwoman screeched, tearing into a nearby bush in her mad assault. The ragged creature ran through the underbrush, once again engaged in a mad hunt for the coyote, even more energized now that she had the creature's scent and knew what it was.

Maude inadvertently followed the creature into the tall grasses that marked the end of the forest, though the sight of the tall blades enraged her. She would never be able to find him amongst all of that grass. Quit it, little scavenger. Quit yer skulking. Come on out. Ye lily-livered bastard. COME OUT! The brown-furred dove into the grass, determined to find the coyote and tear him limb from limb - no, the little bastard would make nice bedding, and his skull would serve as one of Feragho's jolly rogers. Oh, the Cap'n would love her for it!

Pluto smothered a snicker at the screeching of the enraged female as she plunged into the grasses, hearing the blind blundering of her large paws as she crashed through the long, emerald stalks without the common sense needed to just halt her rampage to sniff the air for the coyote's scent. Silently, the small canine clawed at the earth with one of his small paws, uprooting another pebble (or a clod of dirt, he was uncertain) before once again gingerly grasping it in his maw. Pluto waited in silence, tracking the large, chocolate furred wolf by merely pricking his large ears and listening for the sounds of her wild sprint. Soon, he could hear the sound becoming louder, the earth practically beginning to shake as the small male reared his head back and tossed the stone, once again turning and sprinting away before even seeing if he had actually hit anything. He didn't care, he was having fun riling up this nutcase, and with another cackle, the tiny carnivore erupted from the edge of the grasses and dove back into the forest.

Was the female even following anymore? Pluto didn't want to look, he'd rather run half way across the world than be humiliated and torn apart from some rabid seawolf. His breathes came in large gasps as he dove through undergrowth and around trees, small chest rapidly expanding and shrinking as his tiny paws moved as a grey blur, ears pinned against his skull as he flew across the forest earth. He had managed to lose the wolf before by darting between trees and under bushes, so maybe he could do it again? Pluto double-taked, suddenly shoving his paws into the ground as he pivoted around, turning back towards the way he came before leaping to the right, diving further into the forest and not halting his sprint.

Maude had turned in circles, her anger clouding her mind as she tore through the emerald blades in her search to kill the little bastard who had marred her muzzle. In a stroke of luck (for her), she had turned in the direction of the clod, stone, whatever it was, seeing the coyote flee just in time. She ran after the dirt-smeared pelt, scarcely noticing if the object had met its mark (though it had narrowly missed her frame as she began running). Once again, the coyote fled into the forest, and Maude followed suit, saliva dripping in tendrils behind her.

It frustrated her, this mad dance from forest to grass to forest again. Madness was defined as doing the same thing over and over again expecting the same result, right? She didn't tie this quote to her own life, but her current situation. The ragged waif continued in the same direction, followed the coyote, but taking a slower pace now, her mind focused on the scent trail he was leaving. Chasing him proved unfruitful - he was too swift for her. Stalking would be her strategy now. It was a strategy she knew well, after all.

Pluto dared to glance behind him, watching with mild curiosity as the madwoman seemed to slow, though his own pace did not slow as his paws carried him out onto the beach, kicking up pawfuls of sand and splashing through the water in his swiftness. He then turned around, catching his breath as he watched the female slowly follow his scent trail. Well, if he just stayed out in the open where he could see her and not be ambushed, he should be fine, right? Every time Pluto felt that the distance between them was getting a wee too close, he would sprint away again, stopping further away to wait for her approach. He wasn't going to keep endlessly running, as that would just burn out his energy, and the wolf would just follow his trail and attack when he was most vulnerable. She may have been crazy, but she wasn't dumb. 

"I don't have all day, y'know!" Pluto taunted, waving his tail back and forth behind him, lightly bouncing from paw to paw as if he were impatient. Perhaps if he taunted her enough, she would waste all of her energy and lose interest? She did seem to want to come to the beach, so maybe she wouldn't want to follow the coyote back into the forest? That or he could always walk into some pack's territory and hope for some section of the hivemind to come out and see him and the crazy hag trailing him. Pluto had done it before coming to these lands, only it had been with a mother fox who's cub had...mysteriously  vanished while ha was passing through the area. "I've seen snails faster than you!" Pluto yapped, running further along the beach before stopping and turning back again, watching the female carefully.

Both of them slowed down as their terrain shifted once again. Maude stalked the coyote, watching as it wasted its breath teasing and taunting her. The pirate smiled, baring yellowed fangs and licking the scabbing wound on her muzzle. Aye, neither do I, mate! She stopped, watching it dance its teasing dance. Had she been an idiot, she would have charged right then, but she knew from experience that unnerving the enemy was much more effective than wasting her energy. Maude cackled, her laughter filled with cruel sadistic mirth at his little taunt. Aye? Well I ne'er seen dead overgrown rats running around before!

Pluto halted his dance, paws still lightly perched on the earth as he watched the female's slow approach through dark eyes, deciding not to waste his precious energy until it was time to actually run and not stop until he was positive that he had lost her, but for now, he had to save it. So he instead just decided on standing there, toes digging into the sand as he waited for any sign that he needed to bounce further away. The female began to bark again, first stating that she didn't have all day for these shenanigans before attempting to insult the silver bastard, who's lean muzzle parted as a small chuckle escaped his maw, raising a paw and running it against his cheek dramatically before responding. "And yet, I'm still so much prettier." He taunted, placing his paw back onto the earth before fluttering his short eyelashes, an obvious, poor attempt at flaunting whatever beauty he actually had (which was not much compared to most others).

Pluto then waved his tail back and forth again, bounding several yards away before sitting this time, jowls stretching as a mock yawn escaped his lungs, jaw clamping shut again as he rose into a standing position. This was beginning to get boring, although he didn't regret throwing his pebble at the hag only a few minutes ago. She had provided some quality entertainment in the beginning, but now, the little coyote was ready to move onto some other poor sap. Maybe he could piss on something and get some big, macho, over aggressive pack wolf to get up in his face and try to intimidate him into submission. Although it had earned him some scars and a slightly shorter tail by this point, it was always pretty fun.

Maude too was sick of this dance. Her eyes flickered with anger and madness as the coyote danced away, frustrated by its mocking flourishes. Couldn't it just sit still and let itself be decapitated?

It was time to bring things to an end. With a sudden surge of energy, Maude threw herself towards the tan scavenger, a screech raking through her throat and into the air as she leapt, intent on breaking the coyote's back with her weight alone, or at the very least snagging her fangs into some part of its body. She wanted blood, that was for sure. And she would have it.

Pluto's nagging and taunting eventually payed off, with the large, chocolate furred wolf roared in fury as she barreled towards him with fangs bared, saliva and froth flying as she charged. Swiftly the coyote turned and began to sprint, feeling pain lance up his already short tail as what he assumed were fangs or claws as he used his small, nimble size to his advantage. Drops of crimson flew from his tail, splattering against the white sand as he darted across the beach and back into the forest, where he hoped that he could lose his pursuer. He had his fun, and now it was time to leave before he was torn to bits. Pluto didn't bother looking backwards to see how far he was away from the female wolf, or how bad the cut on his tail was. With a last cackle of mischief, the coyote darted between the trees and under bushes as a grey blur, not stopping his run until he was safe from the maddened witch.

-Exits thread-

The coyote, swift and sly as it was, escaped from Maude's grasp, running from her through the sand and into the forest once more. Maude, blood on her lips, howled in bloodlust. She merely had a taste of the creature's vile blood, but now she wanted more: his tail would have done nicely. Maude, with nothing else to vent on, threw herself in anger onto the sand, tearing at the soft material and throwing it haphazardly until her anger subsided, leaving Maude panting and caked in sand. Her mind slowly turned away from the coyote, his annoyance quickly forgotten as she remembered why she came to these Wilds in the first place: Ferahgo. Without another thought of the coyote, Maude turned and set back on her initial course.