Phoenix Maplewood what words can never be denied?

placated by a belly rounded with still-warm meat, moro meanders south.

she prowls between the great spine of an ancient mountain, its shoulders flattened eons ago by torrent-waters. at its base a gentle slope spills out into plains. a stand of red pine marks the end of alpine forest's reign, transferring gradually to bare-shouldered maple and beech.

resting upon a ledge overlooking the valley to the west, moro's tongue lolls between conical teeth.

Her twitching nose perceives what cannot be seen: there is cat in this land.

She is consumed by the phantom sight of a blood bath, of papa wailing into the disnal sky.

They would never see mama again.

Taktuq shook the ice building inside. Now was not the time. With a pack settled in the north, and mountains hemming the south, what other way could she take to Stone Circle?

I will back track, sure decided, her gaze raking the higher branches. She had heard they could plunge like an owl on a mouse. It will be longer, but I will find another way.

They would not find a blood bath. Her children would see her living again.

A JAC THREAD?! *screams in absolute delight*

she watches from high above as a silhouette moves like oilspill across the dark landscape.

wind tells her this is wolf: her jaw closes as the figure shakes out its fur and looks skyward.

opportunistic as moro was, she was a survivor foremost - there was no need to risk life or limb hunting another predator tonight.

still, mercurial interest roused within her as she carefully picks off from the stones and begins moving towards the she-wolf.

:D <333 I've missed writing with you!! AND ALSO THAT ILLUSTRATION!! it adds a whole other edge!!

Tawny fur catches gold; her own shadow grows as she stands tall before she drops her head in cautious observation.

It's eyes are moons in the setting sky. Abnormal. Unwelcome. The sun had not even sunk behind the mountains yet.

She truly is the mouse.

No.

I am wolf.

And she again stands tall again as the teachings return.

Do not run.

Do not cower. 

Do not fear.

This is what mother saw before the cat took her throat - and before she returned the favor. If I survive, my children will know me.

She could not read the interest widening the predator's eyes. She does not trust it. With a flag of her tail, Taktuq draws to her full height and punctures the air with a sharp warning bark.

Around them, the birds no longer sing.

<33

sensing the dog’s notice, a slender smile curves moro’s dark face. 

she makes a show of freezing under the she-wolf’s hazel gaze. even her broken tail stills as a warning bark thunders past, rifling black fur along bladed shoulders.  

luminant eyes unblinking, moro unfreezes. a shadowspill paw brings her just one step closer. 

 how close, before bark turns to bite?

It is clear who holds the higher ground. Even without her vantage from the stones, the cat grasps power in ways a wolf could not. She is shifting like snow over barren tundra. Her movements, as fluid as the dancing lights - but her steps are fire-forged, and could burn with a touch.

A flash of her eyes, the curl of a grin, and Taktuq's belly sinks.

This is a game to the cat.

Is it typical to play with your food? she senses an intelligence behind the predator's eyes. Perhaps the cat will sense her pride. If it is a meal you wish to make of me, then don't toy with me.

Her head and tail still held high, she meets the cougar's eyes.

A quiver tingles her legs.

placing her raised paw upon the ground, moro listens as the dog speaks.

there's no compelling urge within her to waste energy on this one; be it the hard glint of her direct gaze, or the rigidity of her spine -- this one would put up too fierce a fight to risk.

in a rare mood besides, moro languidly spreads along the clay. the tip of her tail twitches twice.

she brings one massive paw to her mouth and begins to clean between each bladed claw.

once satisfied, she crosses right forelimb over left and speaks. i've eaten already today. a scornful flicker of moongold eyes. so i'll save eating you some other time.

She would live today.

If only the cat that had killed her mother had decided it was not hungry. If only it had slid back onto its hind legs and roved its tongue across its paws. If only it had entertained her with taunts instead of teeth.

Nanook would have laughed.

Taktuq felt a wry smile twitch at the corners of her mouth.

A better choice to wait, she agreed, toeing that line again, I am much too full of bitter blood to taste any good to you.

She did not relax like the cat. Even if the hunter did not intend to eat her, that did not mean she would not strike her if she showed the cat her back.

<3333 these are so haunting!!!! And your writing!! I love this thread!