Broken Antler Fen sage bush pillow

A wild moose appears!

When it became clear the Artemis was no longer coming to meet her, Jenabbit bid a sorry goodbye to the sea and travelled inland once more, determined to find the weight she'd lost in the midst of the famine. It was high time for her to give up her hopeless wait and return to the true life of a moose - solitude and travel. Two things she loved very much, but did not particularly desire at this time. She wanted to stay near the coast and wait a little longer; wanted Artemis to pop out of the brush with her pointy ears and toothy smile. But it was time to face reality: Artemis was not coming back.

She tried her best to keep thoughts of the girl away as she made her way through the Great Bear Wilderness. She needed to focus on the present, with wolves and bears and wild cats running around, thinking they could take on a fully grown and fully wise moose. They would fail to fell her, of course, but she still didn't want to be caught unaware.

But even great, powerful moose such as she had to rest, sometimes, and the giant belt of sage seemed like the perfect place to settle down for a nap. Jenabbi found the softest, sweetest-smelling pillow of sage she could and laid down upon it, planning to close her eyes for a bit - but to keep her ears fully open.

Odette had been exploring Broken Antler Fen.  The puppy had found herself rather interested with this territory.  She loved to jump in the bodies of water, despite that memory of swimming with her family and she also loved the open spaces to run around in.  So as Odie ran and explored she suddenly found herself halting to a stop and starring wide eyed up at a big brown beast.

For a few moments Odie just stood there in shock, but slowly she came back to her senses.  This was the same creature that had been hunted at the pack hunt, Odette licked her chops thinking of the savory meat inside of the creature.  Silently and unsure if the moose had noticed her yet, Odette took a few nervous steps backwards.  Although she would love to eat this animal, she doubted that she could catch it at this age even if she tried really hard, plus this animal was so large... so powerful.  It could probably hurt her if it tried.  Odette stared at the moose wide eyed as she took a couple more quiet steps backwards.

Nab had indeed heard the small patter of feet approaching, but it hadn't sounded like anything big enough to worry her. It was only when the creature approached her and lingered there that she began to wonder what the creature was, and the more she thought about it, the more she noticed certain things. Things like how clumsy those feet were, and the prickle of eyes on her back, and the sweet, young scent of a canine - wolf, if she was not mistaken.

She smiled, but did not bestir herself. "Run along, little one, I am far too big for your little mouth," she yawned, deciding that she wanted to have a look at the creature after all. She lifted her head - slowly - and craned it to look at the little girl who'd been observing her. "Oh, what a pretty thing you are," she complimented. "If you ask very nicely, I might let you nibble on my ear," she said teasingly.

Odette was startled when the moose began to speak and she actually understood the creature.  Her fur stood on end nervously.  What was this?  Nervously Odie eyed the much bigger, more powerful moose, taking her words for truth.  Her stomach rumbled.  Could she really nibble on the moose's ear?  Instantly Odette regretted that thought, she wouldn't want to eat someone alive even if it were a prey creature.  That sounded as bad as cannibalizism... maybe even worse.

"W-what ah-are you?"  Odette stuttered nervously, shying away from the animal with wide, scared eyes.  "Why do I understand you?"  The shy pup then peeped, shrinking back further.  She didn't like this, but at least she could try to learn a little bit to possibly pass on to Uncle Seb.  As a matter of fact Odie wondered where Sebastian was and the rest of the pack.  Why had they not caught the scent of the prey creature yet?  Then again maybe they were already beginning the hunting process, Odie didn't know for sure.

Nab flicked her ears in amusement at the little girl's stuttered query. What indeed? she thought to herself. "I'm a moose, little hunter. Haven't you seen a moose before? Perhaps a dead one?" she asked gently. Maybe the girl was still too young to be taken whole foods - was she still surviving on mother's milk, or food from the bellies of her elders?

"All animals have the ability to speak to each other - but sometimes moose don't like to speak to wolves, and some wolves consider it very rude to speak to moose," she explained, trying to find a delicate way to put it. "It's the nature of a wolf to eat meat, and at times, they have to kill moose to do so. Moose do not resent this; it is the way of things - but they still would rather not have a conversation with something that would rather eat them.

"Likewise, wolves do not hate the moose. Most have a lot of respect for the creatures they hunt - but they will not waste their time trying to make small talk with a creature they know will always be wary of them."

She smiled down at the little pup. "But you are much to small for me to be wary of. What is your name, little one?"

Sebastian had been looking for Odette. The male was following her trail. There was a very good reason the pack had not picked up on this moose scent specifically. The number one reason was that they were still filled from their last hunt, and still had quite a lot of left over meat. Second, there were more and more moose coming back to their territory. It pleased the alpha that they came back with such strong numbers, yet, it also meant that not every individual would be tracked at all times.

It was quite a surprise for the large male to find Odette, but in the presence of a moose. It was even talking to Odette. He caught the last bit, about wolves not hating the moose. Sebastian was grateful for the creature to teach such things to Odette, it would be good for her. The moose was right too, after all, Sebastian had great respect for these large creatures. Especially now after the famine, in return they took the sickly away. Sebastian's presence was known, but he did not approach he stayed a comfortable distance away from the female moose, so she would not run or feel at ease, yet to also show respect as the other just talked about.

Seb Cameo! :D Feel free to skip me as he will be just sitting there keeping an eye out, letting them talk :3

Odette eyed the much bigger moose nervously as she spoke.  What she said confused Odie a little, although she understood most of it... or at least she was pretty sure that she understood most of it... it was very wierd to talk to a prey animal.  It felt wrong for some reason, but Odette just kept staring at the moose with large wide eyes, until suddenly someone caught her attention.  It was Sebastian.  He was here.  Relief flooded through Odette that someone she trusted was so close.  She turned her attention back to the moose.  She wanted Odie's name... Odette was hesitant.  The moose had not given her her name yet, so the moose would not get Odette name until she told Odie hers.

Shyly Odette back up a little more before speaking.  "T-tell me your name b-before I give you mine."  She told the moose in not a strong, but a scared weak voice.  She wasn't so sure of the situation but found herself trusting this creature less and less.  She was surprised though that Sebastian and the rest of Broken Antler Fen was not hunting the moose.  Weren't prey animals food?

The tremor in the little wolf's voice gave Nab pause, and she took a moment to remind herself that she was much bigger than this creature, even if she seemed friendly. This little wolf had no reason to trust her, and she'd probably frightened the poor thing out of its wits by attempting conversation. Nab regarded the girl with gentle eyes, following the flicker of her gaze when the wolf turned her attention away.

"I'm Jenabbi," she said to the girl, keeping her eyes on the adult wolf for a moment longer. "You don't have to tell me your name, child. You can run along, now, if you like." It wouldn't do to be seen harassing the predator's young, after all, and there was no reason to keep speaking with her if it would only further distress the girl.

Turning her attention more fully to the adult, Nab assessed her situation. She knew she'd passed into pack lands a while ago, but the land had smelled strongly of the males of her own kind - especially in this brushy field. The wolf was not attacking, either, and didn't seem to mind her interactions with the youth. Perhaps she ought not to go back to sleep, but she did not feel that she was in any undue danger.

"How do you do," she said to the larger wolf, inclining her head ever-so-slightly. She couldn't've known that she was speaking to the alpha of the pack - such things did not register to moose, who had no social order other than me first.

Sorry for the late reply!!!

Sebastian kept his distance for the sole reason not to disturb them. The male however was addressed by the female moose. Sebastian never really talked to his prey before, so it was quite a surreal thing. He stepped closer. Even though he didn't think that this moose would hurt Odette he still stepped protectively close to her. He was her father/uncle now after all.

The male's eyes traveled over the female, taking in her hooves and the shape of her head. After all, for him as a tracker this was all useful information, as bad as it was. The height was so much taller than in a hunt where adrenaline was rushing through his veins. Though now he knew that if he wanted to track moose he could also look up to see if there were broken low hanging branches. He nodded to the female. "Good. We survived the famine," he stated and then looked down at Odette.

The moose said her name was Jenabbi and then told her that she didn't have to tell her name, instead that she coud go run along, but she told the moose her name anyways because afterall the moose had given Odette hers, it was only fair.  "I'm Odette."  She responded to the moose right after Jenabbi asked Uncle Seb how he was doing.

As soon as Sebastian came to her side, protectively sitting close to her, Odie pressed up against him, finding comfort in his soft, sure frame.  He responded to the moose saying that he was good, that Broken Antler Fen had survived the famine.  Memories rushed past Odie as she thought of all the terrible fates that had happened at Silvertip Mountain with a shudder.  Her siblings June and Solemn and her Mother Zaria hadn't been so lucky.

Nab made a face at the mention of the famine, thinking it rather tactless of the wolf to mention hunger in her presence. Or perhaps he was being purposefully rude - either way, it would do no good to acknowledge the slip. If he'd not ment to offend her, she didn't want to embarrass him, and if he had... Well, she'd rather just go on believing he was a kind wolf.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Odette," she said politely, looking wistfully at what she assume were father and daughter. She missed having little ones around - probably why she'd tried to talk to the cute little meat-eater in the first place. The more she thought of it, the more she regretted it. She seemed to have frightened the poor girl, and why not? Her dad probably fed her bits of moose while she listened to her bedtime stories.

Morbid as the thought was, Nab didn't want to ruin that for the pair. Hopefully, the conversation would affect the girl too badly, and she'd still be able to hunt and eat when she needed to.

Still, it's not a bad thing for them to remember we feel things, too.

"I suppose I'll be moving on, then," she said lightly, giving the pup a smile but shooting a stern, warning look at the male. She made sure to flex her strong hocks and dig her sharp hooves into the ground as she stood, showcasing the danger that she posed to them - should he attempt an attack. "Be good and listen to your daddy, dear."

She did not look over her should, but moved on at a calm, sedate pace. Hopefully, that big old wolf wouldn't see her legs shake.

Thanks for the thread!

Sebastian didn't realize that it was rather distasteful to mention food around a prey, then again he wasn't really sure what to say to prey. He knew that they would have to eat them if they wanted to survive. Compassion was not there inside the adult wolf, having killed many prey animals like her. They recently even had moose for dinner. They were moose-hunters. To him it was the first time he even talked to one.

The big animal left them. Mentioning that Odette had to listen to her father, him. The male didn't mind that she thought that he was the father. After all he liked to be Odette's father figure. Sebastian watched her go, it was a nice opportunity to study the animal up close with her strong legs and heavy hooves. Sebastian lifted his maw until she walked away. "Look at you! Even talking to moose," he hummed.

The moose said a few departing words to her, telling her that it was a pleasure to meet her and that she should listen to her Daddy.  For a moment she found herself confused though.  Her Father was here?  He was dead... but then she realized that she had been talking about Uncle Seb.  She nodded and then watched as Jenabbi departed from them.

After the moose left Uncle Seb spoke to her and she replied by nodding with a smile.  Jenabbi had been nice, but Odette was confused.  Why had she gone away?  Why had she just all the sudden left when Sebastian came over.  It sure was strange, at least to her.

Odette was quiet thought and Sebastian wondered why that was. He watched her curiously, but decided not to comment on it. "Shall we go back to the cove?," he asked her. Not sure what they would there but maybe they could have a meal-- then he realized that might set them off on the wrong food. Yet, they did eat moose and other creatures. At least the moose didn't tell her the wrong things, and that she was not mad at the wolves.

Her curious thoughts about Jenabbi and Uncle Seb still caught her attention, but she didn't push it, she didn't ask.  When her Father figure asked her if she wanted to go back to the cove though, the thoughts about the moose fell to the back of her mind and she nodded.  "Okay."  She comfirmed verbally in a sweet tone.

Then with that she waited for Uncle Seb to start heading out and take the lead, after that she would follow him back to the cove where she hoped that they could possibly eat, play, talk, sleep or do something to that bonding effect.  If Uncle Seb wanted to head out on his own though after they got back, Odie was sorta okay with that option too.