Backdated to ~1 week ago. Crossing thru Frogspawn Swamp. Open!
Silaluk and those she ran with raced at an easy lope ahead. Their webbed feet enabled them to stay atop the snowy terrain, flat and open in the Wintertime. @Anuniaq, @Sikuaq, @Thyri (whom was Kadluk), and @Aklark trailed their leader through the fresh snow. The herd had passed through though their tracks were covered by the downy powder that fell from the sky even now. It would not be long before they were seen by the wolves of Tartok—before one of them fell by their fang, and fed them all.
They had spanned many miles and could go many more. Silaluk did not intend to stop, now, though she paused when a stray scent caught her interest. She paused, her eyes scouring the empty, barren horizon, until she saw it. A stray calf, not dead too long though dead nonetheless, half within the thing that had once been a swamp but had frozen over. It seemed it had not frozen entirely when the creature had made its attempt, or else the weight of its elders brought it down. Silaluk shook out her furs. She was uncertain of how much weight the frozen-over swamp would hold now.
They had spanned many miles and could go many more. Silaluk did not intend to stop, now, though she paused when a stray scent caught her interest. She paused, her eyes scouring the empty, barren horizon, until she saw it. A stray calf, not dead too long though dead nonetheless, half within the thing that had once been a swamp but had frozen over. It seemed it had not frozen entirely when the creature had made its attempt, or else the weight of its elders brought it down. Silaluk shook out her furs. She was uncertain of how much weight the frozen-over swamp would hold now.
December 21, 2016, 11:01 AM
Anuniaq's paws itched to give chase to the herd they tracked. They had been hunting them for weeks now — always there, always watching. Wherever the beasts moved, so too did the band of wolves. The boy frequently tried to creep close to the herd, keeping low to the ground so as not to startle them, but near enough that he would catch the attention of Silaluk who would then quite literally drag him away.
A rather deep nip she had landed upon his rear from a day before had him stick closer to their group now, trying to appeal to his aunt whenever he could. When she paused, so did he, following closely along as she tracked a scent of something long dead. The swamp — or, at least, what had once been a swamp — had claimed a victim.
Anuniaq's nose twitched as he studied the half-submerged calf, glancing once to Silaluk to gauge her reaction. She seemed unsure. The boy, however, full of adolescent foolishness, stepped onto the icy banks of the frozen lake with a wave of his tail. It made dull, threatening sounds as he did so but held fast. So, he continued on carefully, one paw in front of the other towards the promise of food (however frozen it may be).
A rather deep nip she had landed upon his rear from a day before had him stick closer to their group now, trying to appeal to his aunt whenever he could. When she paused, so did he, following closely along as she tracked a scent of something long dead. The swamp — or, at least, what had once been a swamp — had claimed a victim.
Anuniaq's nose twitched as he studied the half-submerged calf, glancing once to Silaluk to gauge her reaction. She seemed unsure. The boy, however, full of adolescent foolishness, stepped onto the icy banks of the frozen lake with a wave of his tail. It made dull, threatening sounds as he did so but held fast. So, he continued on carefully, one paw in front of the other towards the promise of food (however frozen it may be).
December 21, 2016, 12:26 PM
Tûgar moved with the clan as well, keeping behind Sikuaq, Aklark, and Anuniaq each. It was Sikuaq's posture and the way he kept near the flank of Silaluk that caused her to read him as one of Silaluk's potential seconds, though it could just as easily be Anuniaq, or even Aklark. Tûgar did not desire leadership, nor would she pretend to, but she tested the weakness she found in others and exploited it when she could. What Tûgar would not do was rest on her laurels behind someone weaker. She was a participating member of this pack, and would not lick the chin of someone weaker than she. She kept nearby the wolf Silaluk called Kadluk, but equally ahead of her. The feral girl had spirit, but Tûgar had experience. If tested, Tûgar would put the girl in her place. The she-wolf would not be the first for Tûgar to do this to.
They slowed, before they ceased moving altogether. A young member of the herd had fallen behind and altogether into the frigid swampwater ahead. Again, they were fortunate, and Tûgar moved toward Silaluk to praise her for her good find with a few eager whines and licks to the chin if enabled. Anuniaq moved toward the creature in the waters, and Tûgar slunk alongside him. The ice again groaned, small, insignificant cracking noises to be heard. It was enough to give Tûgar pause, and her tongue lapped at her whiskers as she exhaled. Her ears turned backward, toward their leader, waiting for further direction.
They slowed, before they ceased moving altogether. A young member of the herd had fallen behind and altogether into the frigid swampwater ahead. Again, they were fortunate, and Tûgar moved toward Silaluk to praise her for her good find with a few eager whines and licks to the chin if enabled. Anuniaq moved toward the creature in the waters, and Tûgar slunk alongside him. The ice again groaned, small, insignificant cracking noises to be heard. It was enough to give Tûgar pause, and her tongue lapped at her whiskers as she exhaled. Her ears turned backward, toward their leader, waiting for further direction.
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