Haunted Wood I've Fallen & I Can't Get Up

Backdated to last week

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Only a few days prior had Cordelia been thrown into the Nightwalkers Pit. Initially, she had tried to climb up its steep walls but to no avail. Prior to being thrown in the pit, her ankle had been injured and upon impact had become worse. Her injury made it impossible to bear weight on her front paw, essential for her freedom. Little did she know that even with a healed ankle her petite size would ensure she stayed right where she was.

Her first few days brought her stress as her mind raced and ridiculed her for how stupid she had been to allow herself to be thrown in here. The sounds of passing footsteps made it clear there were those around watching the hole she resided in. Today she remained quiet and still. Gathering her mind as she finally settled into the small den-like dip left by an uprooted tree.

//I'm so sorry this is short - phone post

Clarence wasn't really sure what the Nightwalkers were all about, but he knew he didn't like this. The girl in the pit was alone and confined and it was bad and wrong and he hated it.

The boy had managed to grab a rabbit, creeping over to the edge of the pit they were keeping her in, and dropped it down. His legs were shaking, afraid of falling in himself, and leaned his head over the edge. "Hello?" he called quietly.

The sound of approaching footsteps was so regular now that Cordelia had taken to ignoring it at this point. At first, she had hoped that someone would come down to rescue her or her ravenous hunger. Her brother's face was on the surface of her mind as she waited for someone to bring her home. But these footsteps were different.

She lifted her head as pieces of dirt fell down the side of one of the pit's walls. Then, a rabbit fell into the pit. So hungry she instinctively stood up, ready to lung. But the pain in her paw stopped her as she lifted her front leg and hesitated. A faded voice echoed into the pit, like a whisper... like a taunt. Staying where she was, in the den and obscured from full sight she continued to stare at the rabbit. "Has it gone off...? Poisoned...? Another form of torture you wolves like to employ?" she asked with pain and anger in her voice.

The lady called from inside the den and Clarence's ears flattened to his skull anxiously. "N-no!" he cried, tail lowering and shoulders tensing up. He'd never poison someone like this! He didn't even know how! "It-it isn't poisoned. I just thought maybe you were hungry."

A wild idea struck his mind and he surveyed the walls of the pit. Yeah, he could probably manage that okay - he was very healthy and leggy and strong. If he needed to, he could get back out.

Clarence took a few steps down and slid the rest of the way, paws stuttering to a halt when he got to the bottom of the pit. It was wet down here with the rain that had been falling recently, and dark, and he didn't like it. But the boy still padded over to the rabbit and looked directly at the woman in the shadows as he leaned in to take a bite of his own. 

"Not poisoned. See?" he asked as he swallowed, smile turning hopeful.

His response was a quick and firm one of denial and concern for her satiation. His words only caused an increased desire to stir from her stomach as instinct and consciousness battled one another. About to take another step forward she paused as more dirt fell from the pit wall. Followed by a white male. Upon his entrance into the pit, she retraced her steps back into the den unaware of his threat level.

The slender male approached the rabbit and sampled a small portion before looking towards her with vibrant red eyes. His muzzle was scattered in scars along with his shoulder and other areas scattered around his body. Along with a peculiar object attached to his ankle. He smiled towards her and it showed no cunning, but Ghidorah had smiled too.

Her hunger made the decision to limp forward. The feeling of embarrassment may be more painful than her injury or ache in her stomach. Typically in top condition, primped, clean and polished. Her pure white coat now covered in brown mud on her legs and underbelly. Bits of dirt scattered and smudged her back and face, her natural freckles blending in like additional markets of filth. Her appearance had always been an extension of who she was and even now continued as it represents her miserable state of being.

Limping out of the dark she looked down at the ground to the rabbit wanting to avoid eye contact with the male. Her tail was tucked and her small body kept low. This male might possibly be younger than her, but her size gave her the appearance of an abandoned pup. 

Keeping low the entire limp towards him, she made her way to the ground before him inches from the rabbit. She looked up at him to gain his approval, or lack thereof disapproval. "Thank you" she said softly before grabbing the rabbit. At first, she ate at her usual rate but soon increased her speed and botchery of the meat.

editing for clarity

Unfamiliar voices drew Famine from the densite. He shouldn't have wandered, but the scent of blood and fresh meat was irresistible! Without acknowledging either adult, the chubby child toddled down into the pit and walked toward the carcass. He bumped the woman's nose in silent acknowledgment before bending down to chew in the tracks of her teeth. His canines didn't do much damage, but pushing his head upward and toward her own allowed him bits of her waste.

The girl finally came out and Clarence wagged his tail, letting it swish across the ground from where he was laying next to the rabbit. He backed up to let her have more access to the animal, large spotted ears angling forward as she began to eat. They were around the same height, both mostly white-furred, but she was far prettier than he could ever hope to be. If Clarence were aware of such things, he might have thought of the girl as angelic, even all muddy and unkempt as she was. And he was the demon by default.

"Yeah, there! Isn't it good?" he encouraged, a smile bright on his muzzle as he watched her eat - at first slowly, then more ravenous. Vaguely, he recalled doing the same, months ago. Red eyes surveyed the landscape and his ears drooped. "I don't like that they're keeping you in here. I wish-"

He broke off at the sound of little paws approaching, toddling over to them, and his gaze flicked over to the pup that had suddenly decided that the rabbit belonged to him. Clarence let out a squeak of surprise and bounced forward, unsure of if the child was supposed to eat that or not. "Wait wait wait! That's too big for you," he yelped, instinctively picking up a little scrap and chewing up furiously into a sort of meat-paste before he lowered his head to press his muzzle to the boy's nose so he could offer the chewed food instead.

With nothing else to eat for the past week the rabbit tasted like a fresh bit of bison, the most delicious meal she could hope for, given what she could get. She appreciated his step back, it was a sign that he didn't wish to exert his dominance over her. Something all members of the pack likely had over her as a prisoner. 

Her eating stopped a moment as she began speaking of his opinions of her being down here, seemingly different than the ones that had thrown her in here in the first place. But before he could finish another joined them, one that snuck upon Cordelia with his small size and light footsteps. A chunky gray and black-streaked pup came before them and unperturbed approached Cordelia. 

He lightly touched her nose and began to chew on some of the edges of the rabbit's pelt. Since this was the only food she had received since being here a part of her was angered that it would then be taken away for a pup. But she knew she had no standing here and likely was beneath even the pups of this territory. But a stronger part of her simply couldn't deny the pup the satisfaction. He reminded her of her younger siblings and how they were at this time, completely oblivious to the nature of what was going on around them.

The white male approached and anxiously took a portion of her meal and reduce its texture for the pup to eat more seemlessly. She continued to eat wanting to get all she could before it was allocated to others now within the pit but also knowing that a small pup would require little. "He's what... a month or so old?" she asked.

surrounded by strangers, famine's frustration continued to grow. he wasn't having  any success with picking up the woman's scraps because of how annoyingly effective her adult jaws were. the chubby child looked up at the stranger and sounded several yips, finishing his complaint with a quivering rumble.

he turned to look at the man, instantly soothed by the image of actually edible meat. enamored by his new supply, famine opened his mouth and waited patiently for the adult to release.

Clarence lowered his head to press his muzzle to the pup's, opening his maw just a bit to let some of the meat mush out into his mouth. Hopefully it was chewed well enough - it felt like paste in his mouth. He patiently fed the child before licking his own lips and turning to look at the white wolf. 

"I don't know. I've never seen him before," he admitted, lowering his head again to lick the pup clean. Maybe his mother wouldn't be too mad at him. 

The boy shuffled his paws and turned his gaze back to the girl, ears lowering a bit. "I'm sorry they... put you down here," he said, sitting down in the mud. "I don't know why they did that. Who was it?"

She thought it a bit weird the male didn't know the pup before him. Such a young pup shouldn't be unattended, let alone left to wonder without someones to watch over him. If she had been a worthy prisoner who's to say his life wouldn't have been taken. Even with her nice a demeanor, if this male hadn't been here there was no way he could have gotten out of the pit, along with her. She kept her mouth shut and allowed it to further fuel her perspective of this pack.

As she finished her meal she looked up at him as he sat before her and apologized for her current situation. His apologies fell of deaf ears. It wasn't his fault. After everything she had been through and all the consequence that had come from trusting those within the Wilds. There was no one she would trust anymore. His question only aggravated her. "He wasn't courteous enough to even give me such information." she grumbled, "Though I'm sure his gargantuan blonde appearance is hard to forget." she said snarkily to no one but the floor.