The open. Hemlocke did not favor it by any means and yet knew it could not be avoided forever, especially so when it came to the hunt. Despite being uncomfortable in the open, he could not allow himself to limit himself on where he wanted to hunt, not if he or the sanctuary were to survive. So by the cloak of the night he moved. The darkness helped him but did not hide him as it may have easily within the shaded forest. Still, he slinked within the tall grasses thus so far unnoticed. A scent of a hare was in the air the his determined was set. Hemlocke though impressively tall was not a large wolf by any means. Thin, much too thin by mean views with his heavy chest yet sloping, small waistline. He lacked the same strength to take down large prey then much other wolves. (Then again he was not pure wolf, was he?) His trade was in smaller game, specifically rodents. He lived within a valley, after all.
Soon, it was not just the scent of a rabbit which drew him, but a female. One specifically at the ending of her cycle. Something he was aware of and yet, knew little of in manner of experience. Hemlocke was by no means interested in that, having been a wolf of much self control. When he laid eyes upon her, he stilled, silently observing. She was dark, like he and yet still quite different from the velvet-like void of his coating. She was like silk. So black, so sleek and smooth, she reminded him of a raven, who's feathers shown a dancing of blue in the moonlight. If he had meant to say anything, he didnt, only watching like the stalker he was, awkward and shy to interaction.
And she was off! Swift as ever, a light, delicate footing which could have easily outmatched his own silent approach. She did not have the distance of long-legged range as he did, long as he was, but her petite frame carried her lightly to close the distance between she and the rabbit in no time. In seconds, she was victorious, a rabbit dying in her clench jaws after a number of feeble kicks in attempt to free itself.
All the while, he watched. Part of him watching as the rabbit he had been sniffing out was taken by another and the majority of of him just observing the stranger curiously.
When she scented him she scanned for him and it didnt take long before those bright sky eyes locked on his bloodied ones. She chuffs a hello through what little space there was in her mouth to greet him and the slightest waving of his curled up tail is given slowly to and fro in response. He takes a single long stride, but pauses. It would only be natural for her to not want him close. Not while she had a kill, be it for herself or for her pack should she have one. Thus, he awkwardly kept standing where he was, unsure where to go from here.
She examined him and he did everything in his power to show he was not a threat. He lowered his skull, to fall between long forelegs though his ears remained upright, a sign of his curious nature. He tried to lay his tail low, but the bottom portion of it naturally had a curl he couldnt shake lest he plop himself into a sit. The woman lowered her head then to settle the rabbit onto the ground, allowing her to speak up where body language failed.
The delicate woman asked if he was well and that she would not harm him. At first he nods that he is okay. Bloodied eyes cast to her rabbit, then back up to her. I won't steal from you.
He assured her, which is why he had been hesitant even further more to come near. It was a good catch.
She smiled, lighthearted and kind in saying she didnt think he had come to steal from her anyhow. As it were, there were quite a few loners that weren't so lucky at the hunt and would take what they could when they could to survive. Hemlocke could not quite blame them if it came to choosing between dignity and honor to their survival. Be it as it were,
@Holly was quite an adept hunter, at least with small game and Hemlocke did not find himself starving. He had only meant to return the favor to the slender golden woman.
I admit, smell if the hare drew me. Which was what had pushed him out into the open, cloaked by the night in order to find himself a meal. Alas, she had gotten to it first.
But not for me. For my group. He explained, coming along a bit closer with long, quiet strides. His head lifts once more to it's full height, overlooking her raven coat.