Wolf RPG

Full Version: all my life, i've been afraid of things
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@Gannet, can bring it to present if you want!

the night held a greater appeal for merrick than the time of sunlight. the beams themselves were cold, only aspiring to a bit of warmth in the early part of the day. darkness was more honest, the boy felt, and when it was not snowing, which was rare as of late, he fixed his eyes on the stars.
merrick woke after sundown and stole from his sleeping place to a clearer spot on the borders. a large, flat rock jutted up here; the coywolf leapt atop it easily and settled himself in the cold glow of silver. here, the moon rose high; here, what he could see of the stars held his intrigue, and silently merrick began to count each one in the handful of constellations he had come to recognize.
awwwww yus!!!

Living here felt right. For a while Gannet had considered wandering forever, and never joining another pack, but that would have been silly. He was always happier with faces nearby and while he didnt know many of these ones, he still liked them quite a bit. That, added to the fact that no one had broken his leg yet (lol) meant that this stay was starting off far better than his last one had.

He hadn't put two and two together yet that being a part of Terance's pack would mean that the boy he met with him that night would be here too. But when he was walking that night and saw him, Gannet perked up, grinning at seeing yet another recognized soul. Merrick? He recalled the name Terance had given him, but wanted to be sure.
merrick's study of the stars was disturbed by a newly familiar voice, and the boy pulled his stare from the heavens to regard the handsome young newcomer that had recently joined. "gannet," he greeted, drawing himself up and descending the stone in a graceful leap.
up closer, he could spot details he had not seen before, such as gannet's dark socks and silver eyes. but merrick tactfully kept from staring; he glanced once into the taller man's face. "do you want to hunt tonight?" the boy offered, remembering how gannet had put the inquiry to him first.
For a minute he wondered if he should apologize. It seemed the other wolf had been staring at the stars somewhat intently, studying something in them. He didn't seem upset to be interrupted, though, and instead proposed a hunt.

Gannet nodded, though he had to ask. What were you looking at? He'd never been much of a stargazer, nor had anyone he knew save Liffey. And he'd not been around her enough pre move to ever have her explain. He invited Merrick to lead the way while he waited for a response.
moving beyond gannet, merrick hunted for one of the familiar footpaths before answering. "the stars. terance is teaching me the names of the constellations i can see." not expecting the newcomer to need more explanation, the boy headed down the paw-beaten trail, searching for the spoor of ruminants. gannet would follow, he expected, and the two of them would fall into the necessary silence that would give merrick a reprieve from talking.
Oh. It made sense to Gannet, though he couldn't imagine why anyone would need to know such a thing. He didn't ask, though - he didn't really need to know.

He did follow, and they did fall into a comfortable silence as Gannet too began to scent for a trail and scan the earth before them. He ranged in and out, sometimes parting, other times coming in alongside, but always maintaining a good space between them since his companion seemed the sort to appreciate that.

Hold on... there was something. Gannet stopped, and glanced at Merrick, indicating where he'd caught a scent. Something had been past recently, and sure enough, had left a dropping not too far past where he'd caught the sign.
gannet paused, glancing to merrick; the boy swept his muzzle low. hare, and from the scent of the spoor, not far off. with nightfall upon them, the coywolf knew the likelihood of a hunt would be more successful. he ranged forward silently, knowing gannet would follow, and feeling no need to bandy words while they sought their prey.
perhaps afterward.
It was good there were two of them. Hares were quick and hard to surprise - if they came upon it, one could rush and the other could cut it off. It made the chase easier and not nearly so tiring, and for Gannet alone, a hare was even harder prey. He'd gotten full motion back after his injury, but he could not run as fast as he once could.

Gannet readily followed, fully willing to let Merrick take point in this hunt. He would watch carefully to see which route the boy chose, and he would do the opposite. If he broke after straight away, Gannet would veer in hopes of intercepting. If Merrick went aside, then Gannet would charge ahead and try to herd it towards. The only goal, he knew, was to catch it before it went to ground.

All the while, he kept track on the trail, smiling slightly as it began to get stronger.
the fragrance was infectious. merrick found a moment to catch gannet's eye, giving a single wave of his plume, before he considered what route to choose. dropping to a hunting crouch, merrick slunk forward until the quivering ears of the hare were revealed above a patch of thorns.
perhaps a pincer movement was best. he was young, but not so young that he had not learned by watching. cutting to the left, merrick glanced at gannet, wondering what the older wolf would do.
Merrick went left which left Gannet a choice - right or straight? He chose neither, but split the difference. The path would take him hopefully a route opposite the boy. If he scared it, or vice versa, the other would be in a prime spot to intercept as he figured.

He kept one eye on Merrick, periphery focused on the hare, and crept with his belly low. The good part about winter was his light coat did not stand out so stark against the snow spattered ground, and he needn't worry so much about cover.

Silence, a glance for confirmation and a search for shared motive and readiness. Then he sprang, startling the prey and ready to catch or drive, whichever the creature chose to do.
merrick noted belatedly that gannet's coat blended in more easily with the landscape than his own, and was careful to keep this in mind as the older wolf lunged. the hare jerked, then bobbed quickly in the juvenile's direction. merrick leapt toward it, quick to cut off its path.
a failed snap drove it toward his hunting partner; the boy herded the terrified animal as aptly as he was able, hoping to cut off any avenue of escape and send it directly into gannet's jaws.
The rabbit was agile, turning the direction he herded but then zigging back as soon as Merrick charged. Gannet's paws slid under him as he turned as well, but managed to keep their purchase as he dashed.

It seemed now the roles reversed, and Merrick drove it, turning it right at him. Gannet bared his teeth and snapped, hooking the hare by the neck as it tried to rush around. A shake and it was done.

His tail wagged and he dropped the prize, beaming. Enough to share, definitely!! He took a step back. Merrick could have first go.
gannet swiftly caught the rabbit, and its limp body fell to the earth. while merrick, flush with the adrenaline of the hunt, wanted nothing more than to rip at its still-warm body, he held back. sides heaving with the exertion of the quick kill, the boy gave a single shake of his muzzle. "you caught it. you first."
it was a gambit designed to respect gannet's skills as well as recognize merrick's place as pupil. while he cared nothing for any creature except for nunataq, he knew he had much to learn, and tonight he had been taught a lesson from which he would glean knowledge.
Gannet had never in his memory been allowed first pick, but he'd never been in a position of authority or mentor ship before. He'd always been and accepted his place as lowest man on the totem pole, so he'd offered Merrick first go without any thought or hesitation. It was natural.

It wasn't natural for him to be offered instead, and Gannet was taken aback by it for a moment. Not in a bad way, but in an adjusting way.

He nodded, accepting it. He was older, he guessed, and he had caught it. But it still felt odd, even as an older, to be asserting any sort of dominance display over Merrick even if that wasn't the intention. So his posture was rather unassuming as he tucked in, tearing off a piece or two and taking a step back to consume them. It was a good catch! They should both be proud of it.
fade w another round? we should thread again soon!

gannet seemed hesitant in a way that merrick read as weakness. the other was not used to concession, perhaps. carefully filing this away, the boy kept his features impassive and stepped forward to take his own meal, swallowing until his jaws were stained with blood.
when merrick had finished, he glanced toward gannet, seeking any hint of dominance in the older wolf's face. "may i take the pelt?" it would be a poor gift for nunataq, who had been places where her brother had not yet gone, but he wanted it for their den all the same.
yes!!!

If he was looking for dominance, he would find none within the pale man. Gannet didn't have an ounce of assertion in him - his place was wherever others deemed him fit, and he was happy. Even as a pup it had always been so.

Yes. Gannet didn't have any use for it, and even if he did, he wouldn't mind giving it. He was curious what the younger wolf would do with it but didn't ask; he didn't ask when he was curious quite often. Now that he was done, Gannet set to cleaning his jaws, finishing out the meeting as they'd started it - in companiable silence.
<3

gannet gave assent, and merrick stepped forward to use his teeth upon the prey, pulling away as much of its skin in one piece as he was able. there was only a little meat left, but the older wolf could have it. the boy had his prize, and gave a nod of thanks before turning to pad into the shadows.
as he walked, merrick wondered at the limp body from which he had taken the pelt. would it be more or less difficult to take one from a living creature?