Hunger had driven her further up the coast, to the noisy cacophony of the sea lion nesting grounds.
She had seen seals before, being born on the northern coast, so thankfully She had enough skill to know her way around them.
She skirted her way around the colony, watching for the crested heads of the males. The bawling animals shifted away from her, a few brazen animals lunging at her open mouthed.
It was her job, among many responsibilities, to keep her eyes on the land around the island. There was prey on the island- but the largest prey lay on the shores of the mainland. Huā was not a hunter of large game, but she would see to it that the colony population was well-maintained, and hopefully left alone often enough to remain nearby, for the days when ram and fish would not do.
Unluckily, a dark female seemed to dance around the beasts, not truly making any moves yet- and rather bothering the creatures, stirring up unrest. What would happen if the sea lions moved away over time? What would Yuèlóng feast on when feasts were needed? And what if this woman raided their inland caches? Huā's mind filled with suspicion, and she moved closer, though halting a few yards off.
Tail twitched tensely, You quite close to Yuèlóng land.
She commented shortly, gaze serious and stance elegant.
@Minori, I know you said you were down for a hunt, so feel free to join!
By pure chance, rather than coincidence, Tzila also had made the journey to the Sea Lion Shores, following Hua's trail. Her purpose here was not to survey the population or control the area. Instead, she came here with a different purpose. With her den already meticulously selected and claimed, next she had to furnish it. Going inland was too much of a bother for her right now, especially when there were easier options closer to home. Several sleek, plush pelts would serve her well, if she could get her paws on them. And with her ravenous hunger thanks to the demands of the unborn whelps, a protein rich meal or two would knock out two birds with one stone.
What the Shadow Queen arrived to however, was not a beach all to herself, save for the sea lions. Hua was there ahead of her, to whom her silver eyes landed on fondly. Her prey was unsettled, already aroused by the presence of someone else. Someone who didn't necessarily belong. The lone dark female was clearly the source of the disturbance, and instantly a sense of possessiveness kicked in within Tzila. She wanted to roll her eyes in exasperation, recalling the scuffle with Strand on her home turf not so long ago. Her mission on hold for now, she drew up beside Hua with nothing short of an authoritarian air, her face a stony mask of silence.
She Bristled as a shewolf called out to her, warning her of the nearness of a pack. She turned, eyes narrowed at her hunt being interrupted. Two shewolves, eyeing her with hostility. She fixed her eyes on the one who had spoken, smiling softly.
"My...Apologies. I didn't know there was a pack so nearby. I was just doing a bit of hunting. Nothing too much, An orphan pup, a Late whelping Cow."
Sniffing around she'd first found Hua and then Tzila's scent leaving the island. Curious she followed hearing the sound of the sea lions before arriving. Before she could even focus on the potential prey she saw Hua and Tzila and facing a stranger and instantly she strode forward a low growl leaving her maw. Eyes moving to finally take in the Sea lions stomach growling at the thought of tasting that fat looking animal. Instantly she felt possesive and wanted the stranger away for the reason of having pups to feed, her own unborn as well as Huas litter. Catching the stranger's words she curled her lips over her fangs eyes narrowed as she moved to take place at Hua's opposite side "Hunting food outside a pack seems pretty stupid unless you're desperate. Which you don't look it" her words were cold, seafoam eyes staring the stranger down before she turned to Hua looking for the woman's judgement.
Tzila joined her then, a quiet support, an iron maiden ready to strike. Huā had seen her power now; trusted her greatly in battle. As for the woman before them... not knowing of the pack was fair, since their land was on the island. But Huā was still possessive of their greatest source of large game, not to mention the couple of catches scattered in the shores near Yuèlóng. It was not a matter of having to be violent- but she wasn't keen on the idea of a loner taking large game for herself, when she could just as easily survive on a couple of rabbits and some fox meat. Save the sea lions for the pregnant women and their pups.
As Huā was quiet, not yet speaking up, a low growl cane from behind and advanced in the form of Minori, seemingly made more fearsome by her maternal hormones. Momentarily Huā worried over a potential spat- whether it could hurt the pregnancies- but figured there would be a way to diffuse this calmly. Besides... no loner was stupid enough to try and go one on three against territorial pack wolves.
I decide,
She muttered more to herself than anyone, before eyeing the woman sharply. We have lot to feed. You will live, even with less meat. Go hunt other place- this place important to our pack.
She drawled with seriousness, chin tilted upward in a display of her ultimate authority.
Tail upright and lashing, the velvet black of Tzila's muzzle crinkled, ready to brandish her teeth (and use them) if this woman didn't step down and heed Hua's advice. In her condition, with unborn lives nestled in her body, she wasn't willing to risk a physical battle with another wolf unless it couldn't be avoided. She had taken a risk the first time with Strand, the captive. Lucky for her she had gotten away without a scratch.
Her thoughts ticking, a dark ear swiveled to listen to the sea lions nearby. She considered the stranger who wanted to hunt them, that which was not rightfully hers. They could let her do the dirty work of the hunt and then chase her off, keeping the spoils for themselves. But that would be sending the wrong message entirely. So Tzila waited to see what she would do, a low vibration of a growl lodged in her throat.
She flicked her eyes between the shewolves, smirking slightly.
"I'm sorry....but unless I'm mistaken...theres no border around this beach. So, unless you are stupid enough to try to claim land outside your pack's territories, I have as much right as you do, to be here." There was no submission in her posture, and she moved forward into Hua's space. "Unless your entire pack is comprised of pregnant sluts and mewling pups, there is enough food here for us both." She snapped, a note of finality in her tone. "Oh and one more thing. I am not of your pack. I am not one of your subjects. So your decisions and decrees mean nothing to me." she stepped backwards, not turning her back on the trio. "Now unless you want the two pregnant shewolves injured, or a noisy fight scaring off the herd, you'll let me hunt in peace."
The mouthy little girl was lucky to have gotten past 'pregnant sluts' before then she approached Hua with Hostility and the line of staying nuetrality was crossed. Minori was a trained and aged warrior and so she waited giving no sign except to bare her fangs as she waited for the right moment. It was as the dark hued woman stepped back that she lunged not caring about what else she had to say, broad chest slamming into the she wolf to knock her off balance as her jaws sunk into whatever flesh she could and released as she looked to Tzila silently, seeking backup as she returned her attention instantly back ready to show this young wench just how much skill a pregnant
slut could still mantain in a fight.
huā's roll= 6 damage applied. nemisis at 6 HP.
The loud chatter of the bitch went through one ear and out the other. Huā always felt she was the chatty idiot in the presence of some, but it seemed she had found someone who loved to blabber more than her. And the insults? Being trafficked when she was young had hardened her heart to words like
slut, and to it her lip only twitched in amusement. Fuck whether or not the noise might scare off a couple lions- she wanted to see this girl torn till she could not fight anymore. And so as her general surged, so did Huā, fangs reaching for whatever limb they could find to tear at flesh.
Sorry for the hold up. Rolled a 5 for damage plus 2 for buffer.
Ruddy hackles bristling, Tzila merely snorted in amusement towards the derogatory names tossed their way. She was no stranger to foul language being dished out, and she could take it. But the girl crossed the line when she dared step forward into Hua's face. The growl in her throat rose anew, gleaming teeth sheathed in strands of saliva brandished from a gaping maw.
Alongside her Empress and Minori, fellow pack mate and combatant, she surged like a black tide. The sea lions forgotten, she placed herself on whichever side of Nemesis had previously been open, to try and cut off a means of escape. Her jaws snapped, fangs seeking purchase on any flesh within reach. Together, the trio would teach this little upstart a brutal lesson.
This thread has already pissed me off enough. Im out.
She hadn't expected the pregnant one to fight.
Fangs met fur and with quick thinking she realized they very easily could kill her if she lingered any longer. But oh, she would be back, when Donovan and herself had succeeded.
Tearing herself away, and pissed she would be forced to flee, She leaped over the back of the one trying to cut off her escape, and dissapeared.
revamping post order : )
She had a lot of bark and not much bite. Huā and her warriors were quick to silence the loner, sending her fleeing back to wherever she came from. Huā cackled a cold laugh after her and settled to ger haunches to lap down a ruffled lick of fur on her chest.
Great work, ladies,
She purred, flashing each of them a proud smile. Gods, she was blessed to have such strong packmates, and ones she could rely on.
If we are lucky, maybe she learn a lesson from this. That we are in charge around here.
Of course, the easy win had momentarily boosted her ego, causing her to utter such bold things, but she hoped the girls might agree... it was a great thing, after all, to be among the most essential members of the greatest pack upon the coast.
It took only seconds for the woman to be silenced by their jaws and sent running into distance to leave her standing bristling and teeth bared until Hua's confident praise brought her down a bit. With a snort she gave the woman a grin her tail wagging as her eyes gleamed with amusement "And that talking shit to three older wolves is foolish" she added on before her eyes greedily moved toward the sea lions. Those things....they belonged to Yuèlóng...and belonged in her stomach which suddenly rumbled loudly stating that she was ready to actually try to eat something that wasn't fish.
As Nemesis leapt over her to escape, Tzila didn't bother trying to follow up with another attack. It was clear the offender knew she was outnumbered and out matched. Needlessly expending energy on a pointless endeavor like this would only prevent the trio from reaping the true benefits of their prey.
Clacking her teeth with a punctuating snarl, Tzila sidled up against Minor and Hua in a display of allegiance. "She will do well to stay clear of our patch from this point on." Apparently on the same wavelength as Minori, her own stomach rumbled hungrily. A new glint came to her eyes as she licked her chops, sharing with her pack mates a single message. It was time to hunt.