The sun was burning high in the sky by the time Nightjar broke from the borders of the caldera and headed northeast. He'd mapped the entirety of his home in his head, and marked the majority of the main paths with the musk from his paws. He was growing bored of the same old routes and needed a change in scenery. He wouldn't be gone more than a few hours and didn't bother informing anyone that he was heading out. They'd hardly even miss him.
He stooped to drink from a puddle collected in a dip in the ground, then lifted his dripping chin to peer across the grassland. Tall as he was, the grass was taller on the horizon and obstructed his view. Flocks of red and yellow birds whirled and dove over the central plain and the wolf watched them for a time with his belly growling, analyzing their speed and trajectory and determining that they would require far too much effort to catch. No matter. A prairie like this was bound to hold many other unseen treasures.
The Redhawk shouldered his way into the thick grass and plowed on, sniffing deeply for any hint of rabbit or rodent.
He stooped to drink from a puddle collected in a dip in the ground, then lifted his dripping chin to peer across the grassland. Tall as he was, the grass was taller on the horizon and obstructed his view. Flocks of red and yellow birds whirled and dove over the central plain and the wolf watched them for a time with his belly growling, analyzing their speed and trajectory and determining that they would require far too much effort to catch. No matter. A prairie like this was bound to hold many other unseen treasures.
The Redhawk shouldered his way into the thick grass and plowed on, sniffing deeply for any hint of rabbit or rodent.
July 23, 2017, 09:21 PM
The wilds were surely different now, or rather, Whip wondered if his memory played him for a fool. It had been so long since he had tread so close to the Caldera that the subtleties of his surroundings had all changed. It felt so unfamiliar. This place made him a stranger. Places where the ground had once been stripped barren now returned to life with flourish. The grass grew tall here -- Whip didn't remember the grass ever growing so tall here.
Unfamiliar as he was, the major landmarks did not change. They charted Whip's journey home like broken highway lines. And the scents, though they had changed in shape and hew, they were still painted with the same earthen palet. He was close. By sunfall, Whip would breathe again.
Birds dipped down just over head and Whip stopped, distracted. Something curious had caught his attention, and this something bore no wings. Whip thought he smelled Elwood (though the scent belonged to the brother whom he had been compared to on many occasions, yet had never met). The thought wasn't such a distant possibility, taking location into account. The Caldera was only so many miles away. This waking nightmare was finally over.
Whip approached with caution, slowly moving though the grass toward a perceived old friend.
Unfamiliar as he was, the major landmarks did not change. They charted Whip's journey home like broken highway lines. And the scents, though they had changed in shape and hew, they were still painted with the same earthen palet. He was close. By sunfall, Whip would breathe again.
Birds dipped down just over head and Whip stopped, distracted. Something curious had caught his attention, and this something bore no wings. Whip thought he smelled Elwood (though the scent belonged to the brother whom he had been compared to on many occasions, yet had never met). The thought wasn't such a distant possibility, taking location into account. The Caldera was only so many miles away. This waking nightmare was finally over.
Whip approached with caution, slowly moving though the grass toward a perceived old friend.
For a time, his focus remained on the subtle winding trails of prey animals, but it soon became evident that he was being followed. What Nightjar lacked in brain power, he made up in sheer instinct. His hackles prickled uncomfortably even before Whip was close enough to see him, and his ears tilted back suspiciously. He pushed on undaunted, having learned long ago that sometimes ignoring a potential threat was enough to ward it away, but eventually he turned on the spot and headed back along his own trampled trail.
When he came face to face with Whip, he felt nothing in particular. Having never paid any attention to his own reflection and with only the means to fully see his chest and forelimbs, Nightjar had no idea that he and the unknown wolf following him were alike. The family resemblance was plain to any onlooker but missed him entirely. He blinked his hardened silver eyes and drew himself to his full height with an imposing rumble, ears slicking back and arching up to signal his irritation. He didn't need to speak the words for his question to be known. Everything about him already screamed why are you following me?
Even so, he was compelled to offer a clipped, "what?" But in the end, the other wolf departed and Nightjar was left to scowl at his backside as he went, none the wiser to their similarities.
When he came face to face with Whip, he felt nothing in particular. Having never paid any attention to his own reflection and with only the means to fully see his chest and forelimbs, Nightjar had no idea that he and the unknown wolf following him were alike. The family resemblance was plain to any onlooker but missed him entirely. He blinked his hardened silver eyes and drew himself to his full height with an imposing rumble, ears slicking back and arching up to signal his irritation. He didn't need to speak the words for his question to be known. Everything about him already screamed why are you following me?
Even so, he was compelled to offer a clipped, "what?" But in the end, the other wolf departed and Nightjar was left to scowl at his backside as he went, none the wiser to their similarities.
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