Redtail Rise XXIV

@Shey @Avicus @Prophet

the rabbits carried, augur led sky stone toward the borderland.

he stopped there and called for red woman and blood eyes.

in his voice he asked that they judge who he had brought, and in his tones he spoke already of the stranger's skill in hunting.

it's good that the Ulfhedinn spoke well of this new hunter.

Avicus had been wary of newcomers, but she comes across this one with less reticence, nudging her pale hunt-master in greeting before turning to the agouti specimen that faces her.

huhn'her? she asks him, head held high. or figh'er?

she knows Augur will not vocally answer.

she bends slowly, low, in a play bow, wondering if the other wolf will react—and how they will react.

Shey followed the man to what he assumed was the border, as he stopped and called for other wolves.

One arrived, and spoke in words he understood. Asking if he was a hunter or a fighter. Shey wasn't sure himself. Though he knew he wasn't a big wolf or particularly strong, but he was a good hunter, so he hoped the answer would be that. 

He dipped his head in a silent greeting to the women, in response to her play bow. He wanted to stay mature.

jump in anytime siv!

augur rumbled to red woman as she arrived. he passed his tongue along her chin as she bumped him.

they both turned toward sky stone. the wealda invited the man onward. he resisted.

augur rumbled, encouraging the stranger to do as red woman bid. it was a test after all. 

a mere nod. perhaps she hadn't been clear enough. 

she remains in her bow, but her muscles grow taut, and her eyes morph from invitation to goading. they burn into his agouti face, and she lunges, slight but sudden, to snap her teeth inches from his muzzle.

fighh' me, Avicus commands after pulling away, a snake coiled again. i wanna know you can.

Prophet, Augur. . .Aventus long ago—they'd all passed the test.

now this one would have to as well.

Shey now understood. This was a challenge, not a friendly gesture. He dropped into a low stance and began to circle around the women. Then he lunged in, attempting to snap at her flank.

skip augur! <3

augur watched. sky stone would be tested by red woman.

and he would watch until the end, to welcome the man or drive him off if he was found wanting.

there. . .the reaction she desires.

it's with an almost sadistic twist of mind that she slows, allowing the stranger to find her flesh, even if he doesn't yet draw blood. the pinch upon her flank galvanizes her to further action, and she whirls to seize his shoulder, attempting to bring a foreleg over it to bring him down.

time and space, like always in a fight, slows to a halt. her breath, her pounding pulse, both keep rhythm.

all other sights and sounds disappear.

she will not see or hear again until she's wrestled him to the ground, or been flung away trying.

Shey let the women throw him down. He rolled with her, making it easy for her to get him to the ground. But he didn't stop rolling. He continued to thrust his shoulders into her in an attempt to get her under him instead. If he got there, he'd try and bite her nose, a move that inflicted a lot of pain, and dig his claws into her shoulders.

apologies for the delay!!!

his fighting back is all she needs to know. she rolls with him, and he's atop her, and she feels something strange—a stirring, not unlike what she'd felt with Prophet and Augur and Tulimaq—but it ceases with the attack upon her nose.

Avicus nips him back, a growl gurgling in her throat, and presses her shoulders against the earth, trying to wriggle free.

enough, she barks in command, though her voice is not angry. she stares up at him as she continues to maneuver away, gaze still burning. if he takes advantage of her weak state. . .

but no. Augur will step in if he turns on her. you can fighh'. you have earnedh your way in our packgh.

her nose is smarting; she isn't sure if he had punctured skin or not. she supposes she will feel the trickle of blood and smell its sharp reek if so.

On her call Shey instantly backed off. He had no other reason to fight this woman. He didn't like fighting anyway.

When she said that him showing he could fight earned his way into the pack, Shey dipped his head in gratitude. "Thank you." He said. "Is there anything else I need to do? Or is this it?" He asked.

dont worry about it!

augur watched sky stone and red woman skirmish, stiff-legged and hard-eyed.

when she gave the order to stop, he stalked closer to enforce. but sky stone heeded.

and red woman gave acceptance.

augur relaxed. he shook out his ruff and accepted the boy with a wordless look so long as he heeded their leader.

she shakes her head, rising and spurring Shey and Augur along to the rendezvous. come, she says simply, breaking between the two of them to take the lead. welcome.

the trio of wolves gallop along the open, snow-dusted plains of the Rise.

another warrior.

will he stay or go?

Shey followed Avius's lead towards what he assumed was the camp. It was only then that it occured to him that he did not know their names, but he didn't question them. if they'd chosen not to share he would respect that.

fade here?