Redtail Rise a valentine

the young male deer are rutting. she watches a pair from well afar now, locked—literally—in combat. antlers clashing, teeth gnashing. the fight would perhaps be to the death.

a shiver runs through her as she gets a sense of a bullet dodged.

it could have been her, fighting for rights. and she would have gladly done it. 

what bothers her is that she would have fought to the death, too. and then what? would her children carry on her banner? would they be similarly slaughtered by Lilia, Ancelin and their ambition?

or—worse yet—would they have left her body cold and joined the cause of their cousin?

she shakes her head, ears flopping, as if casting away flies. it doesn't matter. what's done is done.

and perhaps the loser of this fight will fall. . .to the wolves' benefit.

The hunt lead was often gone.

Redd noticed this but said nothing.  She could not tell if it was to track the herds or because he pulled away, scouting other places, but silently she questioned.  She had never sensed the ambition that Lilia had shown.  Yet she had been gone a long time.

It disquieted her all the same.  Augur and New Snow offered something she could not - diversity of their bloodline.  Redd could not be glad if only Redtails remained.  Her children would never offer prospects for her mother’s.  She had allowed Lilia to rise, against her mother’s and brother’s wishes, in hopes she might be sated.  Her nature had demanded more.

Maybe the herds simply moved.  But she would range more for her own part, just in case the winter grew lean.

While tracking she spots Wealda and silently moves to join her, watching the scene with mild interest.  Two of them trying to prove themselves, one of them doomed to fail.  She settles down with patience that matches, and her eyes flicker towards her mother.

Redd joins her, with a nod. she nods back, and slides closer to her daughter, the two of them observing the interplay below.

coulda been me, she remarks, with some semblance of humor. her indigo eyes cut toward Redd, brow lifting slightly.

she sighs, shifting her paws. any game we can gehh'? she asks, tone more businesslike. her gaze still cuts back and forth between the sparring deer.

maybe they'd be fodder, soon.

Redd’s mind wandered a different track.  They had no men of different blood save the hunt lead now.  Would Wealda too need to seek a mate come spring?  Her eyes cut to her mother, innately knowing that she would likely lay claim to any joiners who might seek to settle here.  Claimed or not.

She may even seek the hunt lead. If no other choices presented.  Perhaps it still would be her come spring, vying for motherhood.

They’re tired.  She replied, watching how one seemed to be subtly losing ground with each clash.  Its stance was not as rooted, and while it did not stumble, the antlers hung lower than his opponent.  

She knew they could find other game if Avicus did not wish to wait.  But she did not mind patience either, so that the opportunity did not slip past.  An injured loser might be able to flee and elude them.

mmhm, she replies, idly, looking upon the stags. but it could take a while before they exhaust themselves enough to be of use to the pack. and besides, their savagery brings to mind the all-too recent grappling for power that had taken place upon the Rise.

she looks at Redd and cants her chin sideways. lehh' look for oh'her prey, she decides.

and gallops off, slackening her pace only for Redd to catch up. even small game will sustain them; large prey will only fall with the help of the entire pack, and they are only two wolves—and both not in ideal condition.

for now, she relishes the feel of loping along with her daughter, wind whistling past them. her tongue lolls.

Redd was tempted by waiting and observing, but acquiesced easily.  She was hungry and did not mind seeking easier, more ready prey.  The blood left in the injured stag’s wake would lead them to it if it attempted to flee.  If they were fortunate it would not get far.

She fell into place at Avicus’ shoulder and allowed Wealda to choose the path, reveling just as much in the freedom of the run.  It was an easy pace that, even in her condition, could be kept for miles.  Feeling playful in the crisp air, Redd huffed and nipped at the air near Wealda’s shoulder.  She would focus on the hunt when the opportunity became apparent.

she's torn. she glances back toward the dueling stags, but then forward to her daughter. 

Redd is more important. their health is more important, going into the winter.

Avicus turns her nose down, searching for a small game trail. it may not be a substantial meal, but it will sate them for a while, at least.

she bumps against Redd's shoulder as she trots, happy to be alongside her daughter on this frosty day.

Redd fell into an easy silence as they searched.  It could take time to find something smaller; the noise of the clash would have driven some things to ground, but at least the trails would be recent.  She searched, but it was her ears that picked up the first sign.

No scent - a rustling in the underbrush, ever so slight, as if something had shifted and then frozen.  Redd froze as well, stiffening in clear communication.  Her eyes flitted to her mother and then back, awaiting her move.

If Avicus could circle quietly, they could surround whatever the creature was.  It sounded heavy to be a bird, so the only recourse it had was to defend or run.  One could drive it to the other’s waiting jaws.

no idea what it is! If you wanna choose feel free, otherwise I’ll try and randomly decide something fun :D

i'm going to fade it <3 and make this my last Avi post

it's a wolverine, a glutton as some might call it.

and some might call Avicus a glutton, as she dashes after the brown creatures, jaws agape.

she will die days after this, throat slit. but as she bounds now, she thinks not but the hunt and chase, panting, tongue lolling as she tries to pin down the quarry.

—and alongside her daughter!

—on her land!

Avicus stalks, hunts, kills, alongside her blood; sheds it; sates her hunger; fills her caches;

does everything she was ever born to do.

lives.