making faces in the clouds

*Jinx* · October 03, 2013, 05:16 PM

She watched the ridiculous play in silence, her body a bristlebrush from tip of nose to tip of tail, awaiting one more word from the senile old fool's mouth. Gramps didn't disappoint, first addressing the elk with demands that, if understood, likely would've elicited the laughter and humility of Maverick's entire herd, and then rounding on her. She needed only to hear "what big teeth" to fly into action; her lithe body shot forward like a bullet, with nary a sound from her peeled lips but for the huffing of her breath as she bolted. She was, for a split second, confused about the term "knockers" -- and someday she would be certain to ask somebody what that might've referred to -- but it did not deter her from her course.

At about the same time, the elk made his daring dash toward Gramps, retaliating verbally with some garbled speech that Jinx scarcely understood but took as a suggestion to the elder wolf, but by the time he finished she had reached the man's haunch. She lunged, landing a soft blow on his side, given how light she was and her relative lack of physical strength, but that was enough. Gramps, apparently put off by the elk's disobedience and Jinx's lack of cooperation, was pushed to departing, though not without a string of expletives and rude comments. Her fury sated for the time being, the Kesuk stood by and watched him go, breathing hard.

Her attention then turned to Maverick, and while she was still disinterested in him -- he was too large and strong to be her meal and yet, he was a herbivore, and therefore no friend -- she showed him a newfound respect. Her tail flagged at her hocks to signal it, and she even went so far as to pull her ears back in deference. You are a fool, elk, she addressed him, unsure if he would understand, but if you must be a fool, then you are a very brave fool.