Phoenix Maplewood That’s all Folkes

For her the world was a quiet place.  For like many other did, she did not speak, she was a quiet animal, though not mute she still barked, howled, growled and snarled like any other wolf.  Yet she did not communicate with speech, nor did she care to understand it.

As she walked through the wood she found herself quietly and respectively admiring it's beauty.  The way the colors seemed to fit nicely next to another and how the lighting made it's way through the branches.  Other than it's beauty though it smelled like pretty good hunting grounds as she had caught two previous scents of prey.

Now she searched, this time for something to eat, something injured so that it would be less work for her, for a while she searched for something small, something she could take on alone when she came upon a pond and the smell of blood and a squirrel caught her attention.  Anderline worked it's way through her and her muscles rippled with expectation.  She watched the animal through blazing green eyes as she stalked it from downwind.  It had not yet noticed her.  Then once two feet away she dashed forward.  The squirrel noticed her and panicked as it desperately tried to climb up the nearest tree, but it was too late now and she landed a clean, sharp bite to it's neck, delighted to feel it fall limp in her jaws.

She then laid her kill on the dirt and tore into it.

The shaking of the mountain made him skittish of the Dragon; he stayed at its lower slopes, where he assumed — hoped — that it was safer. Even then, he tried staying out of the borders for sheer fear of the Dragon's rumbling and roaring, which seemed to quiet down after the supermoon. It would take him awhile to work up the courage to climb back up the slopes.

Until then, he travelled into the Maplewood, seemingly permanently abandoned by the pack which once stood there, steadfast, a dangerous enemy. He wandered through its barren expanse, the sound of his feet crunching through leaves or snow the only noise. Until he heard the cracking of bones, and the smell of blood and meat hit his nose. Hush cocked his head, approaching the sound. A woman hunched over a squirrel. He stopped place, knowing how winter's approach made loners skittish and protective of their food. He chuffed, cocking his head slightly.

The scent of another caught her attention and she raised her gaze to face a male who appeared to be a hybrid like herself.  She didn't care all too much about that though, he was part wolf after all and so was she.  It was just a factor of life.  For a moment she watched him quietly, as if to acknowledge the one before her, before returning to her kill.  

For now the male was at good distance, one she could tolerate as she ate, because as winter neared she was not in the mood for any sharing.  She had caught this kill, this kill was hers.  So if this guy even did anything made her feel like he was going to steal her squirrel, she would not let him off that easily.  By now her meal was almost done and she found herself gnawing on some stubborn meat that had stuck to the bones, intending to leave these bones clean.

She certainly did have the distrustful, skittish look of a loner. He had no interest in her squirrel, and so he kept his distance from her. His movements were slow and casual, trying to make that apparent to her. She had not said anywords yet, though the situation did not warrant any. He sat a few lengths away from her, chuffing once more, inviting her to say something, if she could. It had been a while since he found another mute such as he.

He kept a good distance as she finished cleaning off her kill, as he chuffed again her head raised regarding him briefly, before she then began to gnaw on the skull of the squirrel, her eyes raising to watch the other as she eat. The bone on this squirrel she found was certainly not as great as the meat, but it was still a valuable piece of the carcass, so it was important that she ate it, especially with winter coming.

It took her a little bit, but finally she had eaten as much as she deemed necessary, her attention now turned to the male who was before her, watching him quietly.  For a while she was silent, but then gave him a chuff back wanting to know what in the world he wanted if he kept chuffing at her.

She did not speak. He was not sure whether it was because she didn't want to, or could not, like him. His head tilted slightly, blinking with surprise as she chuffed in return, her noise more annoyed than his curious questioning. He stepped close, tentative, wondering if she would snap at him and chase him off, or reluctantly allow his intrusion.

He took a step forward and she shifted uncomfortably, a soft growl in her throat, flashing her teeth.  He was close enough and she wanted some personal space to be alone.  Her eyes rose and met his in warning, a firey, blazing green.  Perhaps he was just trying to be friendly, but she wasn't quick to trust.  So either he would stay right where he was or move away.  Either was fine with her.

She was young and so with that came foolishness.  She wanted the world to work around her and she wanted other to pay attention to her and to give her some respect.  Soon she would join a pack as winter was approaching and so of course she would mostly give the higher ups the respect that they deserved, but everyone lower than her would have to respect her domiance.  As a loner as she currently was shedidn't care who you were, you just have to give her some space and respect.

She snarled, and Hush whimpered in response. He did not go into full submission — that was reserved for Heda and Banrona — but showed his apology through his body. He simply wanted to communicate through the only way he could, but she was not willing or able to speak. The last time he had been with a mute was with his sister, who had long disappeared with the wind. He was unused a complete non-verbal conversation. He was, ironically, at a loss for words.

He submitted and that sure made her feel great.  Her growl rose and feel as she began making her way towards the cowering male.  She wanted him gone.  Now.  He had no more place among her now, she didn't want him around her anymore.  She snapped her teeth, clanking against eachother sharply.  Her message was clear.  Leave.

She then watched him, like a hawk, waiting for him to go, for if he couldn't take the hint she would give it to him with force and hope to leave him something to remember her, but all that could be avoided.  He just had to leave her be.  Now.

His ears pressed against his head as she snarled at him. He had not meant to annoy her so. He was not an invasive and aggressive wolf by nature, instead wanting to communicate. But she had had enough of him. Hush dipped his head in apology, then he turned back towards the Dragon, defeated.