Wild Berry Meadow or in our eyes, every time they meet

@Osiris - is it ok if this is slightly backdated?

it'd been a long time -- too long, in fact -- since the blackbird had freely stretched her legs. the ranger in her had clamored for weeks for new adventure; the scout in her wished for new vistas and long miles.

astara found herself in a meadow she had not seen since her childhood. taken aback by the sudden familiarity of the landscape, the blackbird hung her head low and began to curiously scent the area for game.

Totally fine!

 

Wild Berry Meadow was one of Firefly Glen's neighboring territories that Osiris hadn't explored. With very little on his agenda for the day, and with the borders secured by several guardians, he set off mid-morning to familiarize himself with the lay of the land. 

The pasture was bountiful with ripened berry bushes dispersed throughout the area; Osiris saw the land's potential. With the amount of fodder scattered about, he felt that these lands would be suitable for hunting. Motivated, he delved deeper into the territory, his trajectory leading to where Astara lurked.

game was present, but most of the scents were stale. astara coursed the scent of a hare in half-interest for some time before something far more compelling caught her interest.

another predator, like her.

at first, the blackbird remained still -- half-hidden by a screen of dogwood. the longer she watched, the more she realized that it was not just the meadow that was familiar -- he was familiar too...

the blackbird made no motion to move, but sat in wait like a serpent coiled in shadow.

Astara's scent caused Osiris to still his meandering. He was not far from where she hid, and he quickly recognized that there was something off-setting about her scent—as though he'd smelt it before. 

His gaze carefully combed the surrounding shrubbery, seeking the blackbird with the utmost caution. There was an uneasiness about his demeanor; his nape-fur prickled, his lips frowning deeply, and his tail lashed behind him. 

For now, Osiris held his ground and kept his distance.

he saw her. good.

the blackbird took one step forward.

then another.

and another.

until at last she broke from cover and was walking openly -- boldly -- possibly even aggressively towards osiris.

last time she had seen him, she had nearly plucked his skull from his pretty face. in adulthood, he was no less striking -- but striking did not stop astara from killing.

she broke into a canter with her head hung low and eyes trained mercilessly on her quarry.

As Astara boldly emerged from the dogwood's shelter, Osiris felt an overwhelming sensation of deja vu. His mind began to piece his splintered memories into place, bringing him back to a time where he was less experienced and naive. Her night-like pelt, the feral expression in her violet gaze—her, the woman from Ursus who had nearly killed him all those months ago. 

He had to protect Firefly Glen at all costs—as he had attempted the first time he had met her; she needed to be driven away. 

Osiris broke into a motivated lope with a snarl, moving to meet Astara halfway. Once he was close enough, he lept—aiming to knock her backward.

no spring lamb, this docile boy in the woods -- he was all confidence as he merged into a lope to meet her.

good; fear could be frightfully boring.

he drove towards her with a blocky charge of his shoulder. he was larger, and therefore stronger in many ways -- astara did not veer in time, and felt herself rocked aside.

her fangs aimed for a quick nip to that powerful shoulder -- a reminder, if you will, of the last time they'd made contact with osiris' skin.

the blackbird leapt back and circled, waiting this time for osiris to come to her.

Astara was as quick as Osiris remembered; viper-like, she rebounded effortlessly and struck with a practiced aim. Her blade-like teeth gripped his shoulder, and he was reminded of her strength. He winced, feeling the heat that rose from the puncture in her wake—but the wound did not deter him. 

He circled her opposite, his steps placed carefully as he watched her every move. "Leave," he commanded through a snarl; the extent of their vocal exchange.

they encircled each other as sharks often do, each stripping down the other's essence with eyes hungry for weakness.

if he was a shark, she was the kraken -- and if she was the lioness, osiris was the lion: his muscles rippled under a neat pelt, his eyes never leaving her.

leave, he commanded -- even his voice had been shed entirely of the youth which had possessed it their last meet.

astara's tail tip twitched with amusement.

if he was not going to come to her, she would bring it to him. mid-step, she broke the circle and aimed a flurry of furious snaps at his cheek in a second driveby. if she made contact, fine -- if she didn't, no matter -- she would circle and try again.

Astara charged, splitting the distance they'd previously established. There had been enough time for Osiris to react, and he side-stepped to avoid her snapping jaws. He snorted, briefly shook out his fur, and then fell back into formation. 

Osiris countered shortly after they had begun to wind around each other. Driving-by, he moved quikly to grab hold of her shoulder.

osiris was learning.

maybe, astara was doing him a favor being so cruel, no?

as she flew by, he nimbly stepped aside. her attack fell on nothing but cold winter air.

when she turned around he was advancing, a dark coppery stormcloud on quick wings.

astara's muscles coiled and she pushed off with her hind legs in a rough pirouette-like leap to the side. not enough to entirely evade osiris' onslaught, but enough to avoid the brunt of it. his teeth grabbed a bunching of loose skin along her neck and shoulder, stretching taut the skin and raking fur from flesh like a butcher's knife.

astara jerked away, feeling the sting of her shoulder yell in protest. her tail waved boldly over her haunches as she placed distance between them once more.

she did not advance, but instead began to trot in a wide circle around the glen-wolf. he'd proven that he was no longer naive and harmless. thus far most of their attacks had been but brief glances -- she imagined if he had a chance to truly sink his teeth into her, she'd be turned into meat ribbons in seconds.

one last attack, then -- astara dove for the bridge of his muzzle, just close enough her teeth would rake but not hold -- and not so close that he could pin her down. if she managed to be successful she'd once more spring back, this time adopting a leggy trot circle that gradually got wider and wider the longer she went.

It felt so good to finally sink his teeth into her—after many months of fantasizing about this very moment. A heat of retribution burned brilliantly within him; it acted as motivation to strike again and again and again—until she was gone. 

Astara beat Osiris to the punch, driving forward quickly to drag her teeth across the bridge of his nose. Wincing once more, Osiris swung blindly to try and rake his claws against her flank. It was all he could think to do, as the pain of her attack had momentarily overwhelmed him.

the wraith's teeth aimed true, but she paid the price -- osiris' paw roughly buffeted down her head, forcing her briefly to the ground in a smarting wreath of pain.

astara pulled away. she could keep tormenting him, keep driving him to defensiveness, but there was a possibility she would find her ruin in that game, too. she had a home to get to, and enemies far greater than the boy she'd mauled in the woods.

she carefully began to prowl away. she'd circle the glen-wolf a few times more, but after a few revolutions, astara snapped maliciously at the air and began to slink away.

Despite the searing pain, Osiris's bitch-slap was successful. Once he could see through the discomfort, he quickly wiped away the blood she had drawn before falling back into their rigid revolution. They circled each other a few more times before Astara broke their formation and retreated. Unwilling to let his guard down, Osiris watched until he was sure that she was gone.

With no time to lose, he returned to Firefly Glen. Upon his arrival, Osiris told  @Atlas and @Antaraes what had happened and requested they spread the word to the other guardians. Moving on, now that he was sure that the glen was on high-alert, Osiris went to Moonspear and filled in @Dirge and @Hyrda as well.