gamekeeper thread
The last traces of Summer faded quickly from the Teekon Wilds, the tall and leafy trees had begun to change colors, slowly exchanging their bright green color for a earthen hue. Some were even beginning to shed their lowest branches, allowing the wind to take away the leaves like dandelion teeth.
Finn, who wasn't very observant when it came to nature, had begun to notice not the beautiful changes on the foliage but the scarcity of prey. Soon as the Autumn took over fully, many of the small critters would be already settling for their long Winter nap. This pressing situation was what had driven the aspiring Gamekeeper out of the Plateu and the Flatlands.
The boy, who was no longer a yearling trotted quickly across the land, his nose glued to the ground and his tail waving from side to side. Soon he came upon a mountain that despite being relatively smaller than the ones neigbouring the Plateu, stood firmly and proudly ahead of him. It was quite average looking but the high pitched squawks and fluttering birds at the top certaintly woke interest in the platinum man.
Tveir was at it again, roaming far as he could and as fast as he could. His overly large paws, ears and head made a comical contrast to his, semi medium body. He was well over his mother's height now, and weighed more than she did. It was a bit of a quandary to him, how he was already so much larger than her, but then again his father was large. He shrugged at his wayward thoughts and continued on. Today he was determined to find the area where the birds had flown and attacked his mother and foster sister. He had always seen them in the distance, but had never fully gotten near them, today that would change.
He continued across the sand at a job, his steely gray eyes keeping sight of the horizon and his tongue lolling out of his mouth on a pant. As he made it to the foot of the mountain, he came upon another already there. This time a male, he had only ever met females thus far, so this was a welcome and different change. He chuffed as he had heard his mother do and waited nearby his tail in neutral position and his head tilted ot the side with overly large ears erect and crooked. Hello?
god finn is so bad with children haha
Slowly the silver dipped man continued to zig-zag his way onto the mountain, keeping his tail hanging limply between his thighs in a relaxed manner. The growing squawks and chirps from the birds ringed in his ear, making him realize why there were no packs settled in the area; they were unbearable. But they might serve as a nice snack, or if they he managed to get his paws on the nests he might be able to treat himself to an egg --a rare delicacy for wolves.
Finn, however, was one with good taste. Though he lacked table manners and wasn't too picky, he appreciated good food. With the flavour of the egg's yolk teasing his tongue, he continued to climb, ducking his head abruptly when one of the birds swooped over him, with its talons stretched.
Well, it wouldn't be as easy.
After avoiding the birds attack, the man retreated a couple of steps. Just then a soft voice called out to him, he turned quickly, his eyes falling onto the boy's face. Finn, who had never been exceptionally good with younger wolves, flicked his tail in awkward greeting. He had been an only child, and he had grown up with kids older that himself, so the role of being the older one was strange to him. Only Atreyu, a boy he had met by the sea, was the exception; and still then things had been awkward, specially when Finn had begun to give flirting advice without being asked to.
Um, hi there,
he barked, his lips curling into a smile
Gunnar had never tasted egg, never even thought that it would be good. Though as an aspiring gamekeeper, he should probably make himself know what other delicacies are out there. Especially if game was scarce in winter and they needed something else, plants, eggs, other such things. Gunnar watched with mixed emotions both awe and superiority as the male tried to make it to the top of the mountain.
He tilted his head and had to surpress a laugh as the male had to come back again. He had thought that might happen, he remembered what his mother and foster sister had looked like after their run in with the demon spawn of the skies, so he knew it would not be all that easy. What are you doin? Them birds they hurted you yet? Their not very nice. He grew quiet again and just studied the silver male with steely gray eyes.
One of the first question that materialized from the boy's mouth was if he had been hurt by the birds yet. Though he held no familiar scent to the male, it was obvious the pup lived around here somewhere, and though he was not old enough to be fending for himself it stilled remained as a possibility, Finn had been very independent and rebellious in his teenage years --and still was. The years had not tainted his young spirit, in fact they had probably strengthened it, he was still the same pissy teenager in an adult's body.
With a light shrug of his shoulders to respond to the first question Finn, took a steo towards the young pup --his tail held back at a neutral position in case the boy's parents were to swoop in like the birds. No they didn't get me, thankfully
he barked while casting an annoyed glance at the fluttering birds in the background, Have they ever hurt you?,
he asked then, wondering if that was the reason the boy was trying to warn him about the pain he had experienced first-hand.
Gunnar was not fending for himself, he was far to rotund around the middle for that if one was to look closely. He was however an adventuring spirit and he did not do well in one place. If he hadn't already picked his trades, at least the ones he felt the most useful. He would have perhaps attempted the outrider trade within itself. Gunnar was independent, but he almost felt like he had to be. His brother was never around, his sister was mostly a sulky suzy. His mother and father were a Jarl and an Earl so had many responsibilities, and Nerian well Nerian needed protected at all times. She was just so...so prissy. Yes that was the word he would attribute to his father's second wife.
Gunnar kept himself neutral as well, his father having taught him the proper body language for all occasions. That was something his father made sure of at all times, that they knew how to conduct themselves respectfully and fully, while holding their own ground. He shook his head, his large ears flapping with the head movement. Nope, but they hurted Mom and Junior. He walked around the male and nosed around for a bit until he found the underbrush thicket near and he pushed aside the side. It be hard, but this goes the whole way up the mountain and they can't get you.
Being an only child had been both a gift and a curse. It would've been a great gift if he had had a pair of loving parents to spoil his every desire -- and though he had not had this fairytale outcome, his mother had been very loving until the day that he left. On the other hand, it was a horrible curse because not having siblings meant not having someone to grow up with. He had always been the oddball, when he was just beginning to walk the other kids of his pack were busy being too cool for school learning other big-kid stuff.
Still there was something about the little boy's eyes that made the silver wolf's heart 'steel' heart melt. He seemed so eager of knowing things, but at the same time so recollected and respectful --which was the complete opposite of what he had been as a child. He listened intently as the boy recalled an attack made to his own mother and to.. Junior? Was he talking about Peregrine's miracle child that rose from the dead? Oh yeah, she had taken a vacation around here hadn't she?
The man's eyes fell on the kid as he pushed aside a small bush, Then what are we waiting for?,
he barked in a playful yet incitating voice. If the kid was up for it he'd be willing to escort him to the top, though truth be told he wouldn't know how to act if something were to happen to the young one.
Gunnar was not an only child, but he sure felt like it. He supposed it was probably due to the fact that they all coddled Gyda, and Ein well Ein was his own wolf and he did his own thing. Perhaps as they aged he and his brother would do better, would get along more, but he wasn't sure and he didn't really think about it. He was only a few months old anyway.
Gunnar was a bit more serious than most his age, and he was a bit older sometimes. He was respectful, because his father demanded it of them. All of them were, where their mother was all gentle and warmth, their father was cold and steel, but even steel could be tempered and Gunnar knew his father had a warmth to him as well. He was just stricter than mother.
Gunnar smiled it was a rare day that an adult would go on an adventure with him. You help Gunnar catch somet'ing take home to mom and Dad? He wanted to carry something that he caught and killed and lay it at his father's feet.
Even if Finn carried two long years upon him he didn't think of it much, it was just until now that his head had begun to over-analyze things.
Though, this time he failed to analyze the dangers and problems he could get into if he agreed to escort the young boy up a mountain he had never been up to. In the hypothetical case something bad were to happen, the ties between the Bay and the Plateu would be broken, and not only that but there was a large chance he was skinned alive and fed to the birds.
Leave it to him to take risks that endangered his life as well as a child's.
Sure thing kiddo, let's go,
he barked, his tail swishing over his back and his snout motioning towards the path behind the bush.
Gunnar was young now and only just beginning his life. So therefore he had no clue of the very real dangers that he could get into. No all he could think of was adventure and food. He remembered the wounds on his mother and foster sister, but it was nothing to him to disregard them at the moment. He tilted his head and gave a very big puppy grin. His tail wagging behind him so frantically, that his entire body jiggled and wiggled in tandem.
Gunnar followed swiftly behind, his tail held neutrally and his steel gray eyes taking in everything around him. This was a new adventure and he was so excited he couldn't take it. He felt as if he was going to jump out of his skin in sheer excitement.
With nothing more to add, the impromptu pup-sitter turned tail and began to hike along the narrow path pointed out by the boy. Though it was easy to keep his footing, some of the rocks underneath his feet would wriggle occasionally as he pushed himself forward. As they advanced, Finn began to notice that now the birds that had fluttered overhead were nowhere to be seen; perhaps because the scenery around the trail blocked his view because the birds really couldn't reach them down this path.
Have you ever eaten an egg?
he asked, looking over his shoulder to check on the pup, eggs were a personal favorite of Finn's though he wouldn't recommend taking them back, since they were to fragile to withstand the journey. A chick or a bird would do for the boy's present.
They're really good though the shell tastes horribly.. but once you taste the yolk -- boy you'd be left wanting more
he continued, his mouth watering at the mere though of the gelatinous insides of the eggs.
Because Gunnars paws were smaller, but only by a bit, the rocks didn't slide so much for him. Gunnar kept an eye on the birds as he walked. Now remembering the wounds his mother had all over her. He wasn't about to get beat up if he could help it. They were disappearing, it made him nervous.
Gunnar's oversized ears lerched forward as he listened to the question No I didn't. He wondered at an egg, would it be as good as this wolf said. He would have to try one. He didn't like the sound of the shell it sounded yucky, but the inside sounded nice and good.
Gunnar wagged his tail I would like to try one if we can please.
The male continued to lead, his head constantly turning to make sure the boy hadn't fallen behind. Surely enough the little man was always by his heels, he'd make an obidient scout once he was older. Yep kiddo, if we manage to snatch one! That's the trickiest part
he barked reassuringly, a glistening smirk hanging from his lips.
Birds could go from beautiful and delicate animals to feathered demons in a matter of seconds, especially if their nests were at stake (and they were not to blame for that). If someone tried to steal something valuable from the silver rocket-boy he wouldn't be to pleased either.
Suddenly the path narrowed to almost nothing, I'd take really small paws and firm steps to go through. Finn stopped, before placing his paw onto the dangerous trail, jumping into it by himself was one thing -- but right now it wasn't only his life that was at stake. After a brief moment of hesitation he turned to see the child.
Kiddo, things are beginning to look.. em risky. What'cha say, shall we continue or turn tail?
he asked, wanting to see if the boy would be up for the challenge after all. If you wanna go back it's alright ok?,
he added afterwards, not wanting the little man to feel pressured.
If anything could be said of the viking child was that he was obedient and he was determined. He did not give up easily, or deter easily. He was almost always up for the challenge. Why is that tricky? He questioned his current teacher. He studied the outlying area as he listened, keeping a weather eye on those birds.
Gunnar had never been on the receiving end of a birds beak. However, he had seen the result and they were not pretty. His mother had been in pain for quiet a few days, and the marks were large, where the birds had continued to attack one spot.
Gunnar saw the hesitation and then he saw why. He took a deep breath and swallowed firmly, the good thing about youth was that until you had a reason too you feared nothing. He blinked at the other male waiting for him to jump onto the trail, it looked like it's own adventure.
Gunnar grinned at the other youse skeered finn? Let's keep goin' for a little bit. But I promise if you want ot turn back I will listen. He grinned again a little impishly, in all his child-like glory enjoying the adventure
gonna assume they exchanged names :p
It's tricky because the eggs are usually guarded underneath the mother's butt
he barked while glancing back at the little Viking Prince, though that description might've sounded strange or unappealing, butt or no butt -- eggs were still on Finn's favorite menu.
But no matter how bad as he was craving them right now, there was a chance that they wouldn't be even be able to see them. Walking along the narrow trail in front of them could be like walking into their own funeral. Though he might not had any objections if he were alone, the fact of having the child's life on his back made him strangely nervous.
However instead of backing down, Gunnar wanted to keep going. He even used a little mockery to encourage Finn to go on. A mischiveous smile settled on his lips as he lowered his head to nip the air next to the boy's head in a playful manner. Scared? Never.
he barked while shrugging his shoulders exaggerately. Let's go
he barked at last, while taking his first step into the tightrope.
Gunnar wrinkled his nose Ew butt eggs? He didn't understand how that could taste good, if the mother sat on them. Wouldn't she get like poop and stuff all over them. Don't get him wrong he was a little boy and a little boy loved dirt and mud and anything gross and smelly to roll around in. Occasionally he would even try different things, but knowingly knowing it was a butt egg, made him a little unsure.
The path was precarious and Gunnar almost fell a few times, catching himself quickly. He kept stride, and he watched what was going on around him. To fall to the ground would mean his death or extreme crippling of his limbs. So he did his best to be careful. He couldn't see past Finn, to see how close they were to the top, but he hoped they were close soon, he was getting dizzy.
The immature Ollivander could not help but to explode into a fit of laughter, he swung his head back to look at the child, his olive colored eyes glimmering with mischief. Yep, good ol' butt eggs for breakfast,
he snorted while a smile began to spread on his muzzle, A real treat
he barked before turning his head back to face the slippery trail they had ahead.
Time after time the shuffling of rocks and the sound of the rolling pebbles made his head turn back -- his eyes widened each time as if he expected to see the child falling helplessly into the abyss. Thankfully -- and luckily for him -- the kid had moves up his sleeve, every time he slipped he caught himself.
Hang in there kiddo, we're almost there
he barked while giving the young boy an encouraging wave of his tail. The chirps and squawks of the birds were getting louder, signaling that they were just a step away from their precious prize.
Gunnar was not pleased with the other admitting they were butt eggs, and he wrinkled his nose even harder. Butt eggs. Well I guess I'll try anything once. he grew quiet again and kept his eyes sharp on the path in front of him.
Unfortunately Gunnar was getting tired, and his small tongue was hung out low while he panted softly. Are we almost there Finn? He figured going down would be easier than going up. His ears swiveled about him as he looked towards the sounds of birds. He couldn't wait to get near enough to see these flying devils up close.
That's the spirit Guns
the man hollered back as the boy was finally persuaded to give the butt egg a try. Finn was pretty sure he wouldn't regret it, regardless of where the egg came from -- it was pretty damn good.
And speaking od good, after the long and dangerous tiptoeing they had had to do, the path finally stretched out before them, welcoming into more stable ground where the loud squawks of the birds served as greeting. Inmidiately, the man's olive eyes fell onto a moving blob of white ruffled feathers that wobbles inside one of the nests that adorned the highest parts of the mountains. He lowered himself to the ground with no hesitation, swishing his tail to signal the boy to mimick him.
In front of them, in the nest spotted by the young Plateu wolf, a chubby chick poked its head out, it's little beak snapping open as the chick hollered for food. Now if they could manage to crawl close enough and snatch the feathery baby before it yelled for its mother they would have 50% of their task done.
Gunnar smiled at the nickname that rolled off the other's tongue. It was the nickname he had been given by Ver, not that the other would know that. He smiled, but didn't say anything, saving his breath for the continued trek upwards.
Gunnar's eyes got wide when he saw the cliff open up before him. It was beautiful up here regardless. He saw the birds wheeling above them and gliding down to he supposed would be their nests. He watched them for a few seconds, and then Finn hit the ground.
Gunnar followed suit and kept low to the ground and he stalked up to behind Finn and he waited, silent and watchful.
The silver Plateu wolf slinked closer, feeling the boy do the same behind him. He would've turned to flash the kid a smile and remind him to be quiet but there was no time for it, time was their biggest ally and enemy in this situation. If they didn't get to the chick fast enough chances were that it would soon spot them and alert the others, or the mother herself could return.
The fluffly chick chattered softly, completely unaware of the pair of wolves crawling towards him. Then in an unexpected change of events, the bird lifted its small head, peering out of the nest but not in their direction. Finn thanked the sky for the chick's stupidity as he made a final stretch and launched himself on top of him.
The critter's death was fast; it only took one swift bite for the chick to go limp. In fact if was so quick that there was no time for its screams to leave its tiny lungs. Once he had made sure no birds had witnessed the murder he turned to face Gunnar, a muffled snicker slipping from between the small body clutched in his mouth.
This one's yours,
he barked through the feathers, dropping the dead bird at the boy's feet. He would've liked to see the faces of the child's parents when he showed up with a baby gryfalcon in his jaws.
Gunnar watched in awe as his new found friend launched himself at the chick and caught it. It made him almost laugh, but he caught himself. Remembering he had to be quiet while hunting. His tail wagged though.
Normally Gunnar would want to kill it himself, but in this case he would take what he was given. Especially when paired against these beasts of the sky. He picked it up and a muffled Thanks worked its way out of his maw and he chuckled. He held himself a little prouder, but continued to stay low to the ground.
i love this thread<3
The kid wasted no time, he clutched his prize inmediately and smiled up at his partner-in-crime with the sweetest smushed up face ever. The silver male returned the boy's grin, adding a little wink to make the kid's eyes light up brighter. Then remembering time was still ticking, he swung his head back around. The now-empty nest was like a green light for Finn. Without the birdie's observant eyes, they could sneak a little closer to look for the real treasure. Egg-filled nests.
Like an overgrown mouse, the male tip-toed closer to the other nests. His nose hovered above them while his ears kept rotating in alert. Any sign that a bird was coming would be their doom. Surely the feathered devils wouldn't let them go without a painful souvenier.
'So far, so good', he thought as he peeked over another nest
and then,
Eureka! They had hit the jackpot! The male waved his tail slowly as a smug smile slipped over his features. Cuddled in the very edge there were two fat, juicy eggs screaming for Finn to take them into his jaw. After swiping his pink tongue over his nose he craned his neck and picked one out.
Then he turned his head slowly. There was no way of speaking with an egg in his mouth so he hoped his mime skills were as good as his looks. He began to shake his head and hum, all while trying to shove the thing into the boy's mouth. He knew the boy was hesitant about the butt-eggs and the shell, but if he didn't take it now, Finn would end up eating it.
I Do too <3
Gunnar fought even hard to keep from laughing, at the wink that passed between the two. This was fun this hunting thing. He sniffed the air and kept watch while Finn raided the nests for eggs. He did not wish to have a devil of the air leaving marks on him today.
Gunnar was a little confused at first, but it did finally dawn on him that he was needing to take the egg. He wrinkled his nose as he put his prize down, butt eggs they better be as good as Finn said or else he would throw his lunch up right on his paws. Yea that would fix Finn if the butt egg was gross.
Leaning forward he plucked the egg from the other's mouth. He wrinkled his nose even more at the taste of the shell, it tasted like well shit and dirt, but with a swift crunch something began to ooze down his throat. The texture coated the sides of his throat and he wanted to cough, but then his taste buds began to win over and he swallowed the rest of what he could. There were a few shells in there, but he managed to get most of it out his muzzle being smaller than adults. He spat out the rest and licked the rim of his muzzle. MMM those are good, but shell tastes like butt and dirt though.
last post for me!! love the little dude c:
Luckily for them, there were no signs of the feathered devils in the sky during their robbery but they were not yet out of the woods. After the kid ate his treat, they'd have to make a quick exit, or they'd be risking that one of the birds flew overhead and spotted them near the now-emtpy nests. Birds were stupid of course, but it wasn't as hard to connect the dots.
He urged the kid to eat, nudging his little head softly and stealing a wet lick of the egg's yolk as he bent down. Finally Gunnar seemed to have ended, licking his muzzle greedily and with his little whiskers twitching happily.
A strange feeling of pride he had never thought he'd be able to feel flowed through his veins as he casted his eyes onto the little Viking. Told ya' kiddo,
he chuckled while ruffling the boy's head with the tip of his nose.
Then as a distant shriek reached his ears he turned again to the boy, his eyes briefly swarmed with urgency. We gotta go now though, get your prize and let get out
he commanded, motioning towards the dead chick before beginning to lead the way again.