Meadowlark Prairie my face turned pale as deadly pale

 

@Kove @Shisu @Wintersbane @Maegi @Averna. tagging @Astara & @Mou also (any chars who are too weak to attend can be assumed to be under the watchful eye of @Yew). also tagging @Moonshadow for visibility. set for tomorrow just after dawn. Round One ends Oct 8th or after everyone who is joining has replied.<3

somehow the threat of losing astara had galvanized the listener into dire contemplations of what failure meant for blackfeather. for somewhere beyond the reach of her eyes lurked damien and his fierce pledges of melonii blood. relmyna had lived beneath the ache of the dark prince's anticipated retribution since his departure, but refused any longer to be ruled by such. blackfeather held fast to its roots, managing to thrive despite; they had been blessed, and relmyna held it fast like a standard.
in the neighbouring prairie, a small herd of elk had come to graze, stripping the last summer greenery before the colder climes of little food returned. as such, they were an occupied lot. her pale fur wreathed against the dawnlit sky as she stood upon a rise and waited for the pack to join her.
they were creatures of shadows, the blackfeather wolves, of darkness, of eldritch magick. but today they would be visible, the listener decided, a ferocity rising with claws in her chest. today they would be seen; today the wolves of eternal gloom would hunt and shed blood beneath the sun, and she intended for them to be terrible in the sight of any who beheld them.
have you hardened my heart, sithis? came relmyna's silent inquiry, and then a cool smile which had not yet before found its way upon her features blossomed there. perhaps it was best, that the serpent prince turn her to stone and into a vessel worthy of his fire.

please skip asturd in future rounds <3

it had been a harrowing week's onset since astara's brush for death; in that time she had lost muscle condition, and appeared far more gaunt than a child her age should appear. she had always been a rather detached child, but the poison that seeped in her veins had saw fit to make her more remote, and the little shadow that limped along behind the pack seemed more hobgoblin than girl.

her stamina had dwindled well before they left the confines of their home. she would not be able to hunt today. frustrated by her body's failure, astara longingly watched as her family moved past; hungering shapes blading through tall fronds of grass.

from her vantage she could see the tall forms of browsing elk. she would serve as dark vigil on the broken hill, and little else.

the prairie, once a colorful cornucopia of flowers and birds grows bleak as the months of the frost draw ever nearer. the chill creeps through the air like greedy fingers. the tundrian can feel it in the weight of his blue-black and silvered coat as the fur grows thicker and coarser in preparation. his mother's homeland was cold and he was a beast built for talvi. it does not take his glacial gaze long to seek out the listener: she is easy to spot upon the rise where she stands stalwart, illuminated in the bask of dawn light as if she were god touched. perhaps, he thinks, she is. the deities of the dark woods seem to favor her. he'd seen it first hand at the altar. wintersbane feels a warmth of admiration for the dark priestess. as he draws nearer, though, he tucks thoughts of admiration away as his focus shifts to the purpose. a small herd of elk can be seen nearby, the click of their joints as they lazily graze, unsuspecting. the tundrian feels no need to speak as he looks from astara, more gaunt than she should be ( he is hopeful that with time to recover physical and psychologically the shadow stalker will be back on her feet once more ), to relmyna then where it lingers briefly, waiting as she waits for the others. there is a trill of excitement that slithers down his spine. how they hunted today and if they were successful would set a good example of how they work together as a singular unit. information that would be a useful tool for the tactician in him.

He had not thought it possible to be free of the woods, not after the small incident with the ghost, and yet here he was trailing after the others. That first step beyond the darkness of the trees was a liberating one; even though his hindquarters quaked and he was moving at a pace much slower than the others. Mou's path trailed after the dark girl Astara, mostly because she too was lagging behind the core group. The boy had to take frequent pauses and sometimes would try to kick his hind legs behind him, one after another, as if to wake them up. The pins and needles sensation had a varying intensity but he couldn't be left behind when Relmyna called them all together. He was a Melonii now — they were his people.

The dawn light catches on a distant figure and Mou's sleepy gaze lingers on it. The family is gathering. Beneath the rise where the stranger is perched there is Relmyna, and around her are the dark figures of the other wolves of Blackfeather. They flock like crows, and Mou's heart grows warm. He is looking for Maegi but doesn't see her yet.

Soon Mou has joined the others and he slinks among them until his legs are too tired, and then he finds Astara again, and upon seeking her out he rests on his haunches beside her. They were both tired things, both recovering, and it helped that she was one of the few Blackfeather wolves that he was comfortable with; the rest were recognizable at best. Mou wondered if he'd be able to participate in this endeavor or if he would be sidelined by his many ailments; he was after all, half blind and more weather-worn by the storm of life than many.

Maegi was not a hunter. She ambled her way onto the plains, still smarting a little in her rear leg, and regarded the elk herd with narrowed eyes. Fish and small game, sure. She could snare those with effort. But larger animals? She remembered, vividly, the horses on the island, and her stomach churned. They were so beautiful, and so were these elk.

Blue had elected to stay with his raven friends in the forest, preferring the darkness to open ground. She did as well, but she must heed the call of her leader. She stopped by the injured and ailing pair, nuzzling Mou against his cheek and flashing a smile at the still unnamed spiderling. Maegi settled next to her friend, giving a nod to Relmyna, who stood close by.

The nerves fluttered in her belly, but she tried not to let them show on her face. She preferred to stick to things she knew she was good at. What if she failed, miserably, in front of everyone?

A teasing cuff of the ears was given, a rough nip, as the ghost passed Squeaky on her way down to the festivities. "Smell ya later, Squeaky!" laughed the ghost before she stormed down towards the caretaker and all others that had gathered, without waiting to see if her dark counterpart responded.

There she waited with excitement brimming inside, though her cold face showed none. She looked at Mou briefly, staring straight at him and then turned her head away while she stayed near the edge of the gathering -- as always, teetering on the edge of the wolves and the rest of the forest -- the spirit world.

The plush dame was no hunter, nor' a warrior, or even a medic. It was a mystery how she was a Gamma despite holding barely any skillset, only holding knowledge on stars, plants, and most perculiar, poisons. She dragged herself as far as she could be from the more able wolves, feeling a bit nervous at this whole event. She knew she wouldn't be of help, not to mention she hoped not to be included... But there was still a minor feeling of excitment on the meeting itself. Perhaps she'll meet newer wolves! She always stuttered and stammered at newer meetings, but Shisu had that deep desire to make a home for herself, and to have friends. There was a sense of relief upon seeing a familiar, the Listener Relmyna, and almost felt the same about Astara. Maegi was there too. There was also Mou, whome she was glad that he looked better then before when she found him in a pit. But, there was others she didn't recognize.

Shisu took a seat distance away from the rest, as she worridly looked at the herd from afar. If she was honest, she would have to say she preferred the meal of fruits then of meat... The delicacy Behemoth introduced her was still fresh in her mind. The silver female did not enjoy watching the suffering of another living being, even if it meant she had to survive. The look of their eyes that showed pure terror, and light that dimmed, it was unpleasant. She was unsettled, and simply awkwardly scuffled in her seat while waiting. She wanted to be of use toward Blackfeather Woods, but she hoped that she would not have to join in on the hunt.

Round One ends Oct 22nd or after everyone who is joining has replied.<3

they came, quickly, and finally the wolves of blackfeather stood assembled. mou and astara would sit this hunt out, it appeared; relmyna was grateful for that. and though she did not let her gaze linger on maegi, not wanting to pressure the girl, the listener wondered if the recovering melonii would be hale enough to hunt. 
it was between shisu's fleet body and wintersbane's hard muscle, she decided, motioning at the pair. when they had presumably drawn closer, the scarred wolfess turned her gaze slowly out over the herd, hoping that they might align upon a chosen target.
a doe toward the rear of the gathering, right hindhoof slightly lifted. perhaps an infection of the sole, perhaps a mere mending wound. but in a swift instant the creature became relmyna's quarry. she exchanged a glance with the two, lingering on @Wintersbane — he would make a preferred co-head due to his experienced size. 
@Averna she sought to summon to her side with a low sound, and gestured that @Maegi join @Shisu. there was no need for words, not in these moments, and for that she was grateful. with a low sound, the listener set off through the tall grass at a slink. knowing the rest of the pack would follow, her senses settled fully upon the doe; ears flicked to monitor the almost impercetible sound of wolves settling roundabout her.
and then a burst! she was off, a ribbon of pale fur moving swiftly toward the elk. this was the way of their kind: to shock, to rush, to divide, and with any luck it would be the compromised doe who would fall behind.

The pale child was quickly summoned to the caretaker's side and she easily took her place at this side, falling in step with the caretaker. She looked round the gathering for a moment while the caretaker gestured others to take their place and make groups, and then they were off. It was her first hunt, and she followed her instincts as easily as she followed the caretaker. Gangly legs clumsily dashed through the forest while tongue lolled from the side of her mouth and she waited for the clash with the beast they hunted to come.

She fell into uneasy step next to Shisu, who looked just as worried. "Tell me about it," Maegi remarked wryly out of the corner of her mouth, casting a glance to Mou on the sidelines. "I'm a terrible hunter. Hope you're better than me." By the looks of the gray wolf, she doubted it--but one never could tell. Perhaps Shisu was just concerned about performing in front of new packmates.

Maegi picked up the pace, soon falling behind as her twisted forepaw didn't permit the easy, rolling gallop of the rest. Gods, this was embarrassing. She thought about just disappearing into the tall grass, running back to the forest. . .but she'd be found out, anyway. Even worse than looking weak was looking like a total slacker.

"Damn it," she muttered under her breath, huffing and puffing even at this juncture. She took longer strides, hobbling on three legs and hoping to gods there weren't any gopher holes out here--or, at least, if there were, that she missed all of them entirely.

the dark priestess looks to him and the other woman that she silently beckons forward. wintersbane's gaze touches upon the stranger for a moment, assessing. he has yet to meet her but he has seen her about the territory. her name goes unknown to the tundrian ...but there would be time for introductions later, while they feast, he thinks. with that, he turns his attention to the valley spread out before them, locking his gaze upon the target. the doe appears injured and should not present too much of a challenge to the wolves participating in the hunt so long as they can get her separated from her herd.

wintersbane would be slow; his brawn does not allow for him to fleet of foot, it's true. he's never participated in a pack hunt of any sort before — either being too young previously or not having stuck around with any one pack long enough to participate. aligning himself to a part in the hunt that kept him from being a hinderance to the more agile wolves was important. nevertheless, he trusts instinct as they take off moving like a cohesive unit seeking to spook the beasts and separate the targeted doe from her herd.

She looked at Maegi with a worried expression and frantically shook her head. She was a horrible hunter!  Shisu could barely catch small prey- who knows how she survived a whole year alone. Scraps were what she attempted to pick up, and tried a paw in hunting, but if it wasn't one thing, it was the other. Too close, not quiet enough, too visible, too slow, etc. Worst of all she felt horrible hunting them, and often hesitated the last moment, letting them flee. The plush dame was highly reluctant of the whole ordeal, and wanted to whimper once Relmyna beckoned her closer.

Shisu pitied the injured deer upon getting closer, especially since the two took a liking toward it. She could not deny them a meal to survive, but it still felt wrong. Her baby blues slowly drifted to the young man next to her, a brawny dark wolf whome she did not met as of yet. While wanting to introduce herself with a usual stutter, the two lurked off toward the target. One lunging right toward, and the other attempting to help isolate.

The silver fae looked away, and drawed back, going to Maegi's side. She didn't glance at the mutated paw, but knew it was why she was behind. Should she offer a shoulder to lean on..? The Listener motioned for them to work together, but.. She didn't want to, but hesitated feeling indebted to Blackfeather Woods. Shisu needed to provide some sort of use...

Feel free to skip him while you hunt.

There wasn't anything the broken boy could do right now, so he sat and he watched. There were many wolves he didn't recognize. When Maegi caught his eye, he couldn't help but smile thinly at her, glad that he had at least one ally among these strangers. He wished he was strong enough to help them as they prowled, but he knew that it was best to stay behind — so he roosted next to the children, content to watch them and keep them from harm while the others brought home the bacon.

Round One ends Nov 6th or after everyone who is joining has replied.<3

 

totally have been calling the elk a doe this whole time; it's a cow woe to ebony

the elk, as she suspected they would, broke into an immediate run. relmyna felt the thrill of it within her; a glance sideways brought to her the sight of wintersbane, farther behind but with an imposing strength to his gait that intensified the gallop of her heart. maegi was farther still. quickly the listener darted to the outside flank of the elk, risking a blow to chest or jaw as she snapped on empty air.
her tactic was successful; the cow veered away from her company and into the path of the powerful dark gamma and the hot-eyed melonii girl. if wintersbane was able to connect with their prey, blackfeather was more assured of their kill. shisu and averna came now, and relmyna kept her pace alongside the straining haunch. her legs were beginning to tire, her breath coming in harder pants, but onward she pressed, for victory was within their grasp.

The pale child continued alongside the caretaker, who moved with determination in her step. The ghost did not question the tactics and simply continued closely alongside the caretaker, watching her every move. They came in close to their prey, which then veered off to the side. The pale child continued to run, hoping that the tactic would have the wished result, for she was eager for the meal it would provide. Even ghosts got hungry.

To her utter surprise--and fear--the cow headed her way, hooves thundering over the ground. Oh shit oh shit oh shit oh shit-- then some sort of adrenaline kicked in and Maegi became a bolt of lightning, surging toward the beast and ripping into its side with her claws. She heard a guttural sound, and felt hot blood spatter her face.

She dropped away and miraculously avoided hooves, but now she was behind. There was no way she would catch up to the elk now; maybe it would slow down, allowing her to make up the ground. She would give it her best shot, anyway. Summoning a deep breath, the girl rose to her paws and took off again, a pale demon nipping at the heels.

gonna say this is the last round; mild powerplay <3

a swelling pride engulfed relmyna as maegi struck first blood and swerved with the cow. flanked by the dark northerner, the listener surged forward to lash open the elk's other side; a bellow and a slowing confirmed her mark. emboldened, relmyna swept forward again, and this time her slender jaws closed on the cow's ankle, a tooth severing the hamstring there.
the hunt was over; it was only a matter of minutes before the quarry was downed, and the snapping teeth of blackfeather ensured that.
in time, relmyna lifted her bloodstained muzzle to lead the wolves in a call that reverberated across the plains. they were present, fierce, inexorable. may the gods bless them.

Legs attacked their prey first after they had chased it to her, and after that it was the caretaker who took it down further. The pale child helped in her own way, avoiding getting hurt and dove at it as the caretaker took it down, to help in whatever way she could. Blood splashed and stained her snow white fur as the struggling animal went down and let out its dying breaths. The spirit licked her lips as the howl sounded. After waiting her turn, the pale child dug in eventually, as one of the last to eat (except for Squeaky, of course, to whom the pale child would bring some food after having eaten).

Even spirits got hungry, after all.

The cow fell with a sickening thud, shaking the ground, and the wolves set upon her, ripping into her flesh. A dazed look in her eyes, Maegi followed suit, her snowy pelt liberally painted with crimson. Teeth tore, tongue tasted. . .her mouth devoured all that her stomach could handle and more.

When she walked away, her belly was distended and her pride had grown the slightest bit taller.

their hunt is a success.

the deer is more fleet of foot than the bronze-built tundrian whose mass weighed him down. fearing he'd be more under-foot than an actual help he reoriented himself to the deer's rear, snapping his teeth at it's back leg while remaining aware of kicking feet. maegi struck first blow and relmyna moved forward to open it's belly and it fell with a low, mournful bellow.

there was no remorse to be found in wintersbane as he eyes their catch up. he joins the others in dining upon it. would there be anything left worth salvaging when they are finished sating their hunger and filling their bellies, wintersbane planned to take it along to tuck away in one of the pack's cache.

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