It was easy for Menta to take note that the thick forest was beloved by lightning, the charred trees standing out less and less the more she passed. The rain that flecked her body could be described as a sprinkle as far as she was concerned, only sporatic drops that didn't puncture past her top coat and easily blinked away. She was confident in her safety from any sort of punishment these struck trees had faced or a wet chill - much preferable, if she had to choose between the two - but she was hungry.
It had been too long that the cream wolf had been wandering around without the help of a pack or even real friend to chase anything substatial, and it quickly became apparent that this region wasn't exactly generous with its bounty. Menta knew that her days as a lone wolf needed to be numbered if she didn't want her life to flicker out with whatever curse had been cast over the herds and herbivores, but for the moment she hadn't quite picked up on the appropriate pack smell.
First things first - an immediate need for food pressed back on her grumpy brain, pushing aside thoughts and faint smells of wolves who had passed through here for undoubtedly the same reasons. Menta walked slowly, trying to not to expend too much energy until a chase deemed it necessary, her eyes and ears darting and searching out for signs of some sort of small prey.
It had been too long that the cream wolf had been wandering around without the help of a pack or even real friend to chase anything substatial, and it quickly became apparent that this region wasn't exactly generous with its bounty. Menta knew that her days as a lone wolf needed to be numbered if she didn't want her life to flicker out with whatever curse had been cast over the herds and herbivores, but for the moment she hadn't quite picked up on the appropriate pack smell.
First things first - an immediate need for food pressed back on her grumpy brain, pushing aside thoughts and faint smells of wolves who had passed through here for undoubtedly the same reasons. Menta walked slowly, trying to not to expend too much energy until a chase deemed it necessary, her eyes and ears darting and searching out for signs of some sort of small prey.
Rain, rain go away.
Or stay.
Either way.
The weather did work out in her favor. Her coat hadn't been looking the best in recent weeks and grooming wasn't exactly in the forefront of her mind. At least the steady sprinkle added some weight and served to flatten down her dark brown fur a bit. No one had been around to see her, anyway, and that was entirely by design. Banner had enjoyed her solitude, mostly because she didn't have to worry about snapping at anyone else or otherwise being terrible company.
With a quiet sigh, she moved around an old stump and continued forward. It was almost time to re-join society again, to find a place to call home. Stark and Cap's scents were around here somewhere. The rain wasn't being very helfpul in that regard. Her bright green eyes flicked up to the sky briefly - if they could just fall out of the sky, too, then all her problems would be solved. Well, not all. But at least one.
She paused, noticing a figure up ahead. The cream coat sparked something in her mind, a sense of familiarity. The other female's head turned and she saw those golden yellow eyes. Ah. This was a wolf Banner had met before, she was sure of it. But so much of the last several weeks spent in and out of anger were a blur. The dark female moved forward a few more steps as she searched for something to say.
"It's you." Lame. At least she had the courtesy to look sheepish.
Or stay.
Either way.
The weather did work out in her favor. Her coat hadn't been looking the best in recent weeks and grooming wasn't exactly in the forefront of her mind. At least the steady sprinkle added some weight and served to flatten down her dark brown fur a bit. No one had been around to see her, anyway, and that was entirely by design. Banner had enjoyed her solitude, mostly because she didn't have to worry about snapping at anyone else or otherwise being terrible company.
With a quiet sigh, she moved around an old stump and continued forward. It was almost time to re-join society again, to find a place to call home. Stark and Cap's scents were around here somewhere. The rain wasn't being very helfpul in that regard. Her bright green eyes flicked up to the sky briefly - if they could just fall out of the sky, too, then all her problems would be solved. Well, not all. But at least one.
She paused, noticing a figure up ahead. The cream coat sparked something in her mind, a sense of familiarity. The other female's head turned and she saw those golden yellow eyes. Ah. This was a wolf Banner had met before, she was sure of it. But so much of the last several weeks spent in and out of anger were a blur. The dark female moved forward a few more steps as she searched for something to say.
"It's you." Lame. At least she had the courtesy to look sheepish.
June 16, 2016, 05:04 PM
The green eyes shone out before the rest of her formed, but that was no surprise. The green eyes had stayed shining in Menta's memory, too, more than the rest of the dark brown wolf in front of her yet again - it would have been too hard to forget. A shock again, just like the first time, although at least this time it brought a stretched smile to Menta's lips. The cream wolf perked up, her tail swiping rain to and fro in pleased greeting.
It's you, Banner said meekly, and Menta snorted a small laugh. It's you, she echoed, not entirely without a mocking lilt. Perhaps not the best response for a wolf she knew to be a little.. well, sulky would be one polite way to put it.. but it seemed a light hearted enough jab. For all that Banner hadn't been overly jovial, at least she had given Menta one of her more pleasant lone wolf experiences since departing from home.
Settling in around here? she hurriedly added in, just in case Banner decided to take her teasing as too hurtful.
It's you, Banner said meekly, and Menta snorted a small laugh. It's you, she echoed, not entirely without a mocking lilt. Perhaps not the best response for a wolf she knew to be a little.. well, sulky would be one polite way to put it.. but it seemed a light hearted enough jab. For all that Banner hadn't been overly jovial, at least she had given Menta one of her more pleasant lone wolf experiences since departing from home.
Settling in around here? she hurriedly added in, just in case Banner decided to take her teasing as too hurtful.
June 16, 2016, 05:49 PM
Her eyes closed at the other female's laugter, a small smile causing her lips to twitch. Just as she attempted to form some kind of response, the lighter colored wolf spoke again to steer the conversation forward. Banner's eyes opened and she looked almost grateful for it. Awkward through and through. Cap and Stark usually masked that less desirable trait in her. Didn't matter much when she spent time alone, all cooped up in her own mind for better or for worse. They were both so outgoing - how did that pass her by?
"Something like that," she offered, her voice a little hesitant. Then, quickly, "I think my family is here." There. That was a good addition, right? Her gaze dropped to the ground as she focused on a wayward, charred tree branch. "I'm Banner, in case you don't remember." It was said quietly, almost a whisper. Others were usually much better at faces and names and social things in general - the reminder was a polite plea that she'd forgotten how to address her former companion.
"Something like that," she offered, her voice a little hesitant. Then, quickly, "I think my family is here." There. That was a good addition, right? Her gaze dropped to the ground as she focused on a wayward, charred tree branch. "I'm Banner, in case you don't remember." It was said quietly, almost a whisper. Others were usually much better at faces and names and social things in general - the reminder was a polite plea that she'd forgotten how to address her former companion.
June 16, 2016, 06:29 PM
Your family? Menta was quick to hear those words, not sure if it was going to be a cause for celebration or sorrow for her fellow lone wolf. How would she feel if her own family decided to come into this area? Probably a little helplessly defeated, since the whole point was to branch away and they didn't trust precious Menta to even do that right. But the likelihood of family wandering around here was slim.
The cream wolf had to stifle an exasperated sigh. She had her mother's talent for remembering other's names and details in a flash, but perhaps it was less a talent and more an acquired skill since father was the exact opposite. Somebody had to do the remembering. Menta, she said lightly. And then, just for amused good measure - Menta Spezia. Last names couldn't mean anything more than first around here, so it was funny to fling it out when she was used to other wolves nodding in recognition.
At least she has somebody to share her last name here, a tiny thought with her mother's voice crept up. It had to be the first time she felt a twinge of homesickness, and it was easy to smash it back down. Maybe she was as disenchanted with her family as much as Menta was.
The cream wolf had to stifle an exasperated sigh. She had her mother's talent for remembering other's names and details in a flash, but perhaps it was less a talent and more an acquired skill since father was the exact opposite. Somebody had to do the remembering. Menta, she said lightly. And then, just for amused good measure - Menta Spezia. Last names couldn't mean anything more than first around here, so it was funny to fling it out when she was used to other wolves nodding in recognition.
At least she has somebody to share her last name here, a tiny thought with her mother's voice crept up. It had to be the first time she felt a twinge of homesickness, and it was easy to smash it back down. Maybe she was as disenchanted with her family as much as Menta was.
June 16, 2016, 10:00 PM
Banner's eyes lifted as she nodded. Family, yes. The cream female offered her name up - thankfully! - and it clicked. Menta! Right. Menta. She smiled again, this time a bit brighter. "Right. My memory isn't always the best," she admitted quietly, not going into further detail. The famine had spread to her own home pack and the hunger she'd suffered since had.. unintended consequences. That seemed like a fancy way of putting it.
"I was separated from my sister a while back, before we met up," she explained. Stark departed their family home quite a while before to strike it out on his own. His absence cut her deeply, but she knew it was something he had to do and was therefore supportive. She and Cap had eachother, after all.
Until they didn't.
"I've caught their scents around here. Do you know anything about this area?" That'd be incredibly lucky for Banner to meet someone she'd spent time with before and who knew anything about where they were. Too lucky. The darker female sat back, her head tilting to the side just slightly.
"I was separated from my sister a while back, before we met up," she explained. Stark departed their family home quite a while before to strike it out on his own. His absence cut her deeply, but she knew it was something he had to do and was therefore supportive. She and Cap had eachother, after all.
Until they didn't.
"I've caught their scents around here. Do you know anything about this area?" That'd be incredibly lucky for Banner to meet someone she'd spent time with before and who knew anything about where they were. Too lucky. The darker female sat back, her head tilting to the side just slightly.
June 20, 2016, 04:45 PM
So while her family may be in this area, it didn't mean that they were from here. Menta scratched that assumption from her mind, and with it her hope that perhaps Banner was more familiar with the land than she was. It seemed the other female was inquiring after the same thing - perhaps both of them were used to more boring settings, not full of tricks and secrets that Menta was sure she kept stepping over.
Cream shoulders rolled in a slow shrug. No more than what we already covered, she admitted, which in of itself was embarassingly little. The two lone wolves had mostly conserved energy and stayed in the location where they had found each other, and Menta wasn't even entirely sure she would know how to get back to that specific spot.
Are they pack wolves now? she asked after her new friend's family. Did you follow their scents here from your home pack? Menta was aware that a wolf's past didn't always make the current wolf, but it was interesting to hear stories of other places and how other families were run. She had only her own past to go off of, after all.
Cream shoulders rolled in a slow shrug. No more than what we already covered, she admitted, which in of itself was embarassingly little. The two lone wolves had mostly conserved energy and stayed in the location where they had found each other, and Menta wasn't even entirely sure she would know how to get back to that specific spot.
Are they pack wolves now? she asked after her new friend's family. Did you follow their scents here from your home pack? Menta was aware that a wolf's past didn't always make the current wolf, but it was interesting to hear stories of other places and how other families were run. She had only her own past to go off of, after all.
June 21, 2016, 09:59 AM
"I'm not sure," she replied with a half-hearted shrug. It was sort of embarassing that she'd followed scents that could have been weeks old - months, in Stark's case - with no real way of knowing if her siblings were still here. The famine had been much more widespread than she'd realized. But the dark female had noticed that it hit other parts much worse than her own home. Sun River Valley should have considered itself fortunate that it took so long for the famine to reach them. Well, maybe fortune wasn't the best choice of words.
Right.
"Er.." she began, awkward as every. "My brother left on his own a while ago. My sister and I were separated ." Banner paused, not entirely sure how she would explain her post-Captain period to Menta. "The hunger set in and I.. lost some time." The small female frowned. That was a terribble explaination! She cringed, her bright green eyes casting an apologietic look to her cream company.
Right.
"Er.." she began, awkward as every. "My brother left on his own a while ago. My sister and I were separated ." Banner paused, not entirely sure how she would explain her post-Captain period to Menta. "The hunger set in and I.. lost some time." The small female frowned. That was a terribble explaination! She cringed, her bright green eyes casting an apologietic look to her cream company.
June 21, 2016, 10:46 AM
Lost some time, Menta heard and filled in the rest - lost their scent. It must have happened some good time ago, if she hadn't been actively on the hunt even when they first ran into each other. The cream wolf gave what she hoped was a sympathetic smile - some wolves may have judged and maybe even pitied Banner, but Menta had made too many mistakes on this lone wolf journey alone to be in that camp.
And the hunger. It seemed it had left neither of them, and she gave a small sigh. While Menta could smell the remaining presence of many wolves in the place the two females currently occupied, she had not seen - or smelled! or heard! - nearly enough prey opportunities that would satisfy even a small number of packwolves.
Any better luck with prey lately? she asked, changing the subject almost too eagerly. Maybe Banner had found where they were all hiding.
And the hunger. It seemed it had left neither of them, and she gave a small sigh. While Menta could smell the remaining presence of many wolves in the place the two females currently occupied, she had not seen - or smelled! or heard! - nearly enough prey opportunities that would satisfy even a small number of packwolves.
Any better luck with prey lately? she asked, changing the subject almost too eagerly. Maybe Banner had found where they were all hiding.
June 21, 2016, 02:56 PM
Banner appreciated the sympathetic simle and returned it with a brighter grin. So, her first time admitting her issues to someone else didn't blow up in her face. Her tail twitched a couple of times - half-hearted attempt at a wag. She hadn't given Menta any details (mostly because she didn't know any details), but it was a step.
As if on cue, her stomach let out a gurgle and she grimaced. It was sickly feeling when lately when her insides churned painfully. Sometimes the brown and black female had the distinct feeling that she was being consumed from the inside. "No, unfortunately," she offered pathetically. ".. can't remember the last time I ate," she muttered. Banner wasn't sure if she was more disturbed that she hadn't eaten in a while or she really, truly couldn't recall having done so. Hopefully her "lost time" included a meal. Or some tree bark to chew on, who knew?
As if on cue, her stomach let out a gurgle and she grimaced. It was sickly feeling when lately when her insides churned painfully. Sometimes the brown and black female had the distinct feeling that she was being consumed from the inside. "No, unfortunately," she offered pathetically. ".. can't remember the last time I ate," she muttered. Banner wasn't sure if she was more disturbed that she hadn't eaten in a while or she really, truly couldn't recall having done so. Hopefully her "lost time" included a meal. Or some tree bark to chew on, who knew?
Menta offered her own few wags in response to Banner's. That was something, at least, right? Maybe Banner had cheered up a speckle. It couldn't be a great place to be, not being able to find the scent of your family after all this time of following it, and any form of encouragement seemed key.
But back to the hunger. All consuming, and noisy as ever. The cream wolf inwardly winced when she heard Banner confirm both vocally and by bodily noises that it had been a long while since she had something to eat. Menta couldn't claim much success on that front herself, and couldn't offer anything like she wished she could. The lone wolf smushed her lips to the right side of her face, as if it helped her try to think up a solution.
I haven't seen anything in this area yet, she admitted, but that doesn't mean that there won't be something found yet. Keep hope alive, right? Menta tilted her head and nodded it towards the direction she had been previously walking in, nonverbally inviting Banner to come along the way. More land covered must mean more - or any, really, at this point - prey opportunities.
But back to the hunger. All consuming, and noisy as ever. The cream wolf inwardly winced when she heard Banner confirm both vocally and by bodily noises that it had been a long while since she had something to eat. Menta couldn't claim much success on that front herself, and couldn't offer anything like she wished she could. The lone wolf smushed her lips to the right side of her face, as if it helped her try to think up a solution.
I haven't seen anything in this area yet, she admitted, but that doesn't mean that there won't be something found yet. Keep hope alive, right? Menta tilted her head and nodded it towards the direction she had been previously walking in, nonverbally inviting Banner to come along the way. More land covered must mean more - or any, really, at this point - prey opportunities.
June 22, 2016, 12:30 PM
A rain droplet landed awfully close to her eye and caused Banner to shake her head suddenly. Ah, this chance meeting with Menta made her forget about the dreary weather! The dark brown female let out an amused huff and re-focused on her cream company just in time to catch her words and the gesture to continue along.
"Excellent idea," she responded in a good-natured voice. Two wolves were better than one in a hunt, after all. Though Banner's stomach felt as though it was consuming itself, she knew that her appetite wouldn't be anywhere near what it was pre-famine. Whatever they killed it would be easy to share. She offered Menta a nod of her had and started off in previously-indicated direction. They'd figure something out - together.
"Excellent idea," she responded in a good-natured voice. Two wolves were better than one in a hunt, after all. Though Banner's stomach felt as though it was consuming itself, she knew that her appetite wouldn't be anywhere near what it was pre-famine. Whatever they killed it would be easy to share. She offered Menta a nod of her had and started off in previously-indicated direction. They'd figure something out - together.
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