King Elk Forest Funny old world
612 Posts
Ooc — Jennifer
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#1
All Welcome 
Saving a spot for Bryn's coywolf chara unless she is ULTRA SLACKER. :P

Quixote had one more errand that he knew he should do in the name of democracy.  Since their move, he'd become aware that they were back near where he met Delight, and as such put it on his list to go say hi and maybe meet whoever was that weird dude's leader.  He'd meant to head out almost right away, but Raven had kind of sent that whole plan awry, oops.  Anyway, her heat had run its course and he finally felt like leaving for a day trip wasn't a huge risk -- and again he almost left, but then what now happened?!  It took a bit for that to settle, but without any further excuses, he finally conveyed his plan to go be a good new leader on the block and headed off.  Remembering the path was a little tough, as he hadn't been up to the borders to begin with and it had been an entirely different season.  But hell, at least the weather was finally getting better.  Certainly made travelling a lot easier.

Eventually around noon, a forest appeared that he figured pretty much had to be the one that Tindome or whatever the hell it was lived in.  Quixote hadn't noticed that things weren't exactly lively scent-wise as he had wandered that way, as he remembered how empty it felt before.  Now, though, it seemed even worse -- or would, as soon as he started paying attention.  He really only started to notice this as he approached what he thought would have been a natural border and found it basically gone.  Was nobody here?  Had they died?

After thinking about it, he uttered a short, questioning howl, looking for some sign of life before starting in under the trees.  He was tempted to call out for Delight directly, but there wasn't a sign of him, so what was the point?  Either he'd hear back from the howl or he'd just be left to explore the 'ruins' of a pack on his own.
14 Posts
Ooc — Bryndel
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#2
SUCH ROOD (and dramatic!) WOLVES INDEED, HOMG.  :D  I knew Grimeye had actual good reasons not to trust them buried...er...somewhere. ...Apparently for that tho u git megapost: three sentences bloomed into three paragraphs and more today, lol. We'll see if it looks as long as it does on Wolf proper as it felt like it was trying to get while writing.

She was no longer much of a huntress of anything much bigger than a mole, really, but the delicious scent of elk beckoned to her anyway. She shook her head at her own foolishness as she swung into the shadows of the trees, but maybe she'd get lucky and find a lost and unwary calf or an arthritic old fogey ready to topple over, right? Sure... If only such sarcasm could serve as spice for her meals.

But just as important as the scents of potential prey were those of potential predators, or at least rivals: there was wolfsign scattered here and there, but thankfully it seemed to be old, stale, and fading. Perhaps that was why the scent of elk was so richly thick, surmised Grimeye as she snuffed inquiringly at a tree before backing off a few steps and leaving her own mark more subtly. If those who would eat them had moved out it made all the more sense that the eaten would move right back in and claim the place as a haven for their own. These hopeful signs didn't stop Grimeye from keeping her eye and ears a-roving as she skulked beneath the shadowy canopy, however. Better to be too wary than too reckless, after all, and even an angry elk could pack a pretty significant punch to a canine who ventured too close, too carelessly.

She spotted a calf that was keeping wisely close to its mother—and was given a stern look of warning from said mother—along with a few other more-scattered individuals, and one closeknit trio. Nothing that looked especially promising or easy a catch, but then, she'd pretty much expected as much. That didn't stop her shoulders from hunching up in disgruntlement and her ears laying further back in irritation as she trotted past the long uneven rows of trees and hooved beasties to either side. She spotted a mother with twins, too, who looked more promising, but even as Grimeye slunk carefully into the shadow of one forest giant to take a closer look, the stupid young thing bleated in sudden terror as a large butterfly flitted up and startled it, and Grimeye watched in disgust as its twin also picked up its heels and started a racket, which got the whole lot of elk alarmed for what seemed to her miles around. They settled back down a short distance away, but more watchfully this time, and Grimeye gave it up as a bad job. She did halt several steps further, though, as a looming shadowy figure deeper in the trees turned his enormous head to regard the youngsters with nearly as much superior disdain as the coywolf herself. Grim's solitary eye widened at the shadowy figure, only half-glimpsed among the thick woods; if the profile and horns were any indication, this was the largest elk she had ever seen, by far. Suddenly she felt rather glad that she hadn't made an attempt on either youngster, if this behemoth was the father who may have come to defend them... Grimeye began a stiff and careful retreat, keeping her paws to the soft mossy patches as much as possible as she slowly backpedaled, only to be just as startled as the herd of elk were by a sudden low howl.

Grimeye sunk her body closer to the ground and froze where she was, as a rangy adolescent elk went flying past close enough for her to see the rolling whites of its eyes. There was a terrific noise from the direction in which she had seen the other ungulates, but when things settled down a few moments later and Grim at last ventured another look, the mother, the twins, their brethren and the breathtaking giant she had just barely seen had all disappeared. The coywolf grimaced, and curved off through the trees at an oblique angle, senses alert this time for the noise's source. If a new pack was moving in here then Grimeye would certainly make herself scarce...but when she at last crept up to peer through the greening underbrush out toward what looked to be the farther edge of the forest, neither sight nor scent nor sound gave any further indication that there was anyone there save this lone black figure wending his way into the forest now. The male wolf seemed to be holding his peace for now, and gazing around in a manner that indicated he himself perhaps wasn't quite sure what he was seeking or where within these concealing trees, either. Grimeye watched him for a moment before swaying wide of the thorny patch of brush and circling around more into the open, wide of the wolf's far side.

Looking for someone? She cocked her head at the stranger, tilting one ear consideringly. Or do you always announce your presence to all the prey far and wide? She smiled at him oversweetly.
612 Posts
Ooc — Jennifer
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#3
No response had come.  The Redhawks were alone out here, as far as he could tell.  He didn't know if Tindome had just collapsed or moved or what, but it was definitely a certain thing that someone would have said something, right?  No diplomacy needed.  Honestly, he was kind of disappointed -- he'd been wondering what Delight would have thought since they hadn't left their meeting on good terms.

He started moving forward right as a particularly shriveled looking canine popped into view.  No, she was almost certainly not a wolf of Tindome -- he doubted any bleeding heart who fussed over a giant elk would have let a packmate end up in that condition, Not you, pretty sure.  Quixote gave her another, much more visibly critical once-over, And I don't think you can blame all your problems on a single howl.  Obviously he was totally the most friendly dude around and totally not just instinctively lobbing a pointed retort back at her.  It was just some bitter old wench moping about because she wasn't fit enough to hunt properly, and apparently obnoxious enough that she hadn't found a group to latch on to that would care for her.  How sweet.

He frowned, then continued farther forward into the old territory.  The coywolf couldn't claim ownership of the land by herself, so he was keen on partially ignoring her unless she snarked some more.  Quixote had an investigation to carry out, and he also wanted to see about finding the dumb hooved creature that Delight had said was like a god or a spirit or something -- he didn't quite remember, other than the whole thing was stupid and apparently the elk killed people.
14 Posts
Ooc — Bryndel
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#4
There it was; she knew that look. That look of condescension and scorn, as if whatever arrogant wolf was wearing it today couldn't ever possibly imagine they might be out on their own or old someday. Uh huh. Idiots. Grimeye's eyes gleamed as she leveled an equally unimpressed and slightly supercilious stare back at the other canine.

Oh, you wound me so, she said, drifting a few steps closer. Do you drum up such a glorious welcome for every canid you know, or is it just my lucky day? The wolf seemed pretty intent on something, that was for sure. Grimeye's curiosity was piqued, and she fell into step not too far behind the ebony creature, shadowing the shadow, as it were. A small smile played about her lips. There was something entertaining and even slightly refreshing about a wolf who didn't even make much of a secret of his dislike. It'd been awhile since she'd seen another canine's face, even that of a sneering wolf, and without a pack to back him up she didn't think this one would actually prove all that terrible a threat. Not to mention she had to wonder how interesting she might find whatever he was seeking... Grimeye wasn't very up to scratch on her wolfhowl translation; had he perhaps been warning others away from whatever it was, rather than calling someone toward him? If so, she was pretty certain he'd never admit it to her. But if she could trail him to whatever it was she was certain it'd be clear enough eventually anyway. Not like she had a lot else productive she'd been doing with her time; this, at least, made for an interesting interlude of change.

Do you come here often? She paused only half a moment, not at all certain that this wolf was likely to actually productively converse with her regardless, and then answered her own question. Of course not; if someone as loudmouthed as you dwelt anywhere in the area there wouldn't be such a fine herd of elk in this vicinity. So what is it then that brings you out here all on your lonesome on this fine day, then, wolf?
612 Posts
Ooc — Jennifer
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#5
Of course he didn't have a worry about it.  Quixote was just barely into his prime, with a shiny new rank, some friends, and a family kind of on the way, most likely?  Anyway, probably wasn't gonna have any problems like that any time soon.  You're the one who decided it's Snarksday -- sorry for not being obligated to kiss your paws or whatever, he said flatly, without another glance in her direction.  He has more important things to investigate, and wasn't too keen on engaging with her in case she was the Typhoid Mary that had caused the pack to go boom.

Why was she even following him? Ugh.  The worst part was that apparently just shadowing him like some creepy person wasn't enough, she had to start talking again.  And not only that, but apparently everything was still his fault somehow.  Was this lady old enough to be going senile?  As he paused to investigate some old scents that smelled like a long-raided cache, scraping at the dirt to try to stir up any old scents, he finally replied, There was a whole pack here.  I really doubt one wolf is gonna scare them away after that.  Dear lord, bring back the elk-huggers, Delight bore less of a resemblance to a mosquito than this hag.  He also wasn't going to straight out answer her either, but this old cache didn't have the answers he wanted so he continued on, farther into the old territory.
14 Posts
Ooc — Bryndel
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#6
Might edit this more later when I'm more awake.  XP  Not sure I'm at all happy with it still, pfeh

Old and gone, as you can scent just as well as I, I'm sure, she said, only a little drily. ...As old and dead as that cache you so insistently had to poke. She flicked an overlarge ear dismissively. She paused to scratch a shoulder against a particularly large and rough-barked tree as she mused aloud. Strange of you to be so offended by mere innocent questions, you know. —Ah, that must be why you're traversing these lands all alone, and only after all your wolffriends have already gone. She offered up a toothy yellow grin. Leaves and squirrels and elk don't require polite answers or social graces at all, after all. Hah, I can empathize with that. Very little is as straightforwardly simple and good as the taste of prey's hot blood on the tongue. ...Pity the rest of life can't always be like that. She looked at him obliquely out of half-lidded eyes. Which brings us right back to the fact that you still haven't answered ol' gramma's question. Were you hoping your rudeness would rescue you?

Despite her rampant noisome speculation, Grimeye had some serious doubts this dog wolf was as much of a loner as he might at first seem. Prickly, yes, but the scent of other wolves was still rather strong upon him— and as fine of a young and healthy prime specimen as he was, she'd have expected him to show some signs of a recent fight too if he had indeed been forcibly kicked out anytime in the recent past. Though perhaps he got by just on intimidatingly flashing some muscle and teeth—it wasn't totally impossible, just unlikely, to her mind. But from the glimpses of scent she had caught upon him, she didn't think he'd been kicked out of or left behind by the pack that had lived here at least; none of the aromas between his person and the woodsy enviroment quite seemed to match up.
612 Posts
Ooc — Jennifer
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#7
He honestly had no idea if she was just being annoying or if he had annoyed her enough that somehow it made her more chatty.  She just prattled on, and on, and on, and on.  He tuned her out.  It wasn't like she was saying anything of particular importance.  He was here to talk to Tindome, and since she was not of their ranks, nor apparently anyone of importance at all, why bother?

He moved on from the cache, along an elk-worn game trail that wound farther on.  It was still plenty used, but not by critters with paws.  It took a bit before he realized she'd finally stopped rambling.  He replied to the silence, coolly, Was any of that important?   He'd found something new to investigate -- a not quite right-seeming arcing and branching silhouette nestled partially in detritus (and possibly snow, since this thread is old, zomg).  His pace increased a little, curious but wary.

Turns out, it was a pair of antlers -- they were actually attached to a skull, and some other bones were scattered around as well, all long since cleaned.  Was this that stupid elk that Delight had talked about?  Had he been with anyone else, he would have made some snarky remark about how the elk starved to death after it ate all the wolves, but he guessed the old bat would probably go out of her way to misunderstand a joke in order to feel superior.  Instead, all she'd get was a thoughtful, Hm, before he turned away to continue searching for clues.  If the plateau had been closer, he might have hauled it on home, but that rack was huge and would get snagged on anything and everything the whole way back.

At some point, the annoying coywolf had probably talked herself away into the undergrowth, complaining all the way.  Quixote wasn't exactly sure when or where she went, but he assumed that she'd be pissed off if she ever saw him again.  He was ok with that.