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in a warmer season this forest might've been teeming with life. berries everywhere you look and greenery filling the place. but it was winter, cold and dead and still. there was little for him to eat. as if it wasn't already difficult, today was misty. fog filled the forest, making his vision more clouded. his hooves hit the forest floor with a thud each time as he searched for any sort of food.

at least he would be harder to see to other creatures with the mist. and when they did see him, through the fog, dasher would be a looming dark silhouette against the grey. maybe those little beasts would learn to stay away.

After sounding a low howl to her fellow kru to let them know that she was ranging north, she had set out and done just that. Initially, she had stalled to loiter alongside the great lake; it was good enough company for her who missed the seaside very dearly, even if it was pitiful comparably to the endless horizons there. Still, she didn't have a lot to lose by enjoying the.. little things--sometimes.

Though eventually, her round came to a conclusion and she had nothing of real note to show for it. To solidify the matter to move on, the worsening weather pressed her towards the cover of the woods.. so, threading into the foggy woods the pale-furred Roankru went trotting, keeping her head low and presence unassuming. Her nose almost didn't believe what she thought she smelled once well within, and very much so, disbelief sent her onward deeper to confirmation after confirmation of a trail cut through the woodlot.

She could barely see, didn't know this place's every reach that well, and had to focus on actually navigating more than straight tracking more often than she liked. Frustration accompanied the hunger, and she knew she was alone, but she just wanted to see for sure--and wondered where he was going from here.

Evidently that was asking a lot right now as the fog persisted. Just when she thought she was getting close, it wasn't--on repeat, until not long after she thought she heard something rhythmic--shadows materialized, multi-tine antlers first. The rest of him followed until the cover of the trees took him away again, this time, veering her wide to attempt to follow still from a relatively safe distance, though now her heart was starting to pick up the pace at the mere thought. She had to lay low.. he was definitely the biggest beast she had seen in far too long.

dasher's search was disturbed. perhaps he had imagined it- a foggy forest could be illusive- but had he heard something? the absolute slightest noise from behind him. suddenly he stopped in his tracks, still. allowing the silence of the forest to envelop him. did he hear anything? quiet. maybe he had just imagined it, he thought.

but he ought to be careful. those little beasts could sneak up any time- they were as tricky as foxes. so he did not want to be distracted when pounced upon, if his ears did not deceive him. he stayed still, as still as a statue, waiting for a figure to emerge. if one would not come, perhaps he would continue his walk after many minutes. but for now his search could wait.

Try as she might, she couldn't will her comrades to her side. Even on a clear day, this would have been a difficult, trying hunt but oh, after week after week of seeing nothing sizable enough to really share, this was singing a siren's song to her lengthened-out desperation. It had been since the cliffs, honestly, that she had tasted fresh meat like his.

But, but.. but, she was alone and feeling frustrated, so slicked back her ears and had her breath held while the massive beast was paused, looking absolutely her way. Not good, she supposed as she got a good count on his antler's points through the brush and the fog.

She only moved to creep down lower, mostly crouched and stayed still a bit. Eventually, she had to slink on a few steps, trying to plan a good way to swing wide around to the north of him (though this forest threw her sense of direction--it was just a "best guess" which way that even was). Maybe she might suggest he head towards the Fen, and tell his friends about the place too while he was at it...

a sort of sixth sense- perhaps paranoia- had his hair raising along his spine. it was silent, yes- but somehow, he felt he was not alone. should he call into the world? if he was alone, it wouldn't hurt, and if he was in company, perhaps he should go ahead with it: 

a booming voice which sliced through the cool air and the fog, show yourself he breathes forcefully, like a command. if the beast was evil, it would not obey him anyway- but he might as well use this, as a first attempt to find if he was alone or not. but, he was not sure how long he could play this game with himself- if the stranger remained quiet, how long would he wait before deciding he was safe?

The towering beast ushered forth a demand, and the would-be hunter's ears tucked tight to the sound of the awful voice aimed her way as a command. While sight of him intimidated her, in truth, that could still be a good sign--if nature could support beasts like him, herds should be no concern soon. Again though.. wishful thinking, trailing after a first-time famine experience.

Anyway, she was not going to be quick to do exactly so.. but she does abide by stepping forward, brushing gently past a low-hanging foliage, before she senses he might get a glimpse of her. She only gave the smallest of pauses there in the part of the brush, then darted off again into the woods defiantly.

Maybe it was best if she just swung way wide about this and tracked him from a greater distance, then. Short of her luring him back to where her comrades were to help her hunt him, there was not much for her to do about it besides wait and see where he went from here. If only she had the help to do something more about this, and while not the fun, exciting route, every bit of her better sense said not to press him.

Not liking the sensation of feeling so exposed, and alone, she aimed to move away for now if he let her.

the little creature does not obey, but maybe teases him a little. a brush in the foliage- that little noise has his head whipping around, beady black eyes searching, but already it's gone. he huffs in irritation, stomping a heavy hoof once on the the ground. still, he stares at the point where the noise originated, and then glances beyond to see if anything was visible. of course not. 

he shakes giant head, and begins to stomp slowly but intentionally in the direction the noise came from. unlikely that the beast took such a straight path, but he had no other solutions, other than to leave the place entirely as soon as he could. before he was tricked into the jaws of the little creatures.