Sunset Valley my tongue will tell the anger of my heart,
242 Posts
Ooc — R/Rachel
Offline
#1
Trade 
AW, deerstalker (scavenger!) #6 (prey: white-tailed deer, successful)

The sunken Valley hidden to the north of their claim was another beautiful land that Imaq wished she could show @Iana (reference). Vague plans to bring her friend here and spend the day formed in her mind, though they were part fancy -- feeling a shy well of emotion clam up inside her at the thought of asking the jade-eyed wren to accompany her. It was a sliver of paradise blanketed in rich woodland, fed by chilled cataracts and cascading streams that melted off the northern peaks of Duskfire -- the air alive with birdsong and chittering forest-dwellers, perfumed with the heady smell of sunshine and loam.

In the northern reaches of the timberland, Imaq was surprised to suddenly come across the scent of blood -- deer blood, she was coming to recognize -- and coyote. Trailing after the scent, it led her to a small clearing where two coyotes fed on a slain doe -- small, likely young, fresh from her mother after this year's season.

Imaq watched the pair for a moment, trying to determine the best way to chase them off from their kill. If she could, it meant more food for Duskfire.
"...and all around was the bitter arctic cold and the immense silence of the North..."
149 Posts
Ooc — landry
Offline
#2
Couldn't help myself! :) Let me know if you'd like me to delete. <3

It had not been fully intentional to follow Imaq out here.

She had caught the woman's scent wandering away from home and had mindlessly trailed after it. Perhaps driven to seek that familiar comfort from here again, so close to her awkward emotional encounter with Mahler. It had struck some needed information into her mind and heart.

Iana needed someone there for her. She needed to surround herself with those she trusted dearly, those of her home. Strangers outside of borders could only be temporary fixes to temporary problems. Briefly she wondered if that was what Imaq was after out here...

She hoped not, selfishly.

So it is with relief that the scent of a meal mingles with the northern woman's. Although the relief was short lived as she scented coyotes as well. Picking apart at the meal Imaq and her both could see now.

A soft whined whisper of a greeting escaped her, not inclined to be loud lest she earn the attention of the other scavengers.
242 Posts
Ooc — R/Rachel
Offline
#3
The she-dog flinched, head snapping back so that startled aquamarines landed on Iana before the tension clenched between her shoulders eased in familiarity. She greeted the she-wolf with a smile and a small beckoning motion, turning back to see if the coyotes had noticed them where they crouched low to the grass.

Not yet, but they would soon she knew -- just as soon as the wind shifted or they drew the canids' attention. She cocked her head at Iana silently, brow raising as if to ask whether her companion thought they could handle chasing off the pair of smaller animals.
"...and all around was the bitter arctic cold and the immense silence of the North..."
149 Posts
Ooc — landry
Offline
#4
Two medics, paired with a feasting pair of coyotes.

She was not certain if they could run them off. Neither much of a warrior. Yet wasn't it also their duty to do such? Especially so close to home.

Do you feel confident? Hushed, whispered to her fellow healer. If not, they would not risk it. If so...well, perhaps they could bring home a feast.

They would have to do something soon. Time ticked until they were exposed.
242 Posts
Ooc — R/Rachel
Offline
#5
Imaq did not yet recognize the meaning of the word. Her lips had just parted, her head beginning to shake in ignorance to tell Iana as much, when she realized it had grown quiet -- the coyotes no longer eating. It seemed the wind had finally shifted. 

Glancing up, Imaq could see that the coyotes were nervous now, their heads turned and ears lifted alertly in the direction of the spying wolf and wolfdog where they hid. Imaq glanced to Iana one last time, quirking her brow -- giving the willowish piebald one last chance to back out if she thought it too dangerous.

Then, the cur dove into the fray she was about to incite -- territorial snarls spilling from her pale jaws as she rushed towards the smaller canines, sharp barks bursting from her as she snapped her jaws menacingly at the coyotes, seeking to drive them off with threatening displays. 
"...and all around was the bitter arctic cold and the immense silence of the North..."
149 Posts
Ooc — landry
Offline
#6
She was reminded of how Tzila had defended the borders from a foolish coyote. How the crimson woman had come alive with growls of such fiercity.

Iana attempted to do such here now.

Close to Imaq as a protective packmate (friend, confidant...) should be. Her throat bubbled with the angry sounds as she snapped in warning at the coyotes. Her body language made it increasingly clear what she urged them to do.

Go!
242 Posts
Ooc — R/Rachel
Offline
#7
The coyotes startled when the she-dog burst from the brush with Iana on her heels, even though they had already been alerted to their presence. The one closest to them snarled defensively as it recoiled, its ears practically invisible where they had flattened to the canid's smaller skull. A high yip-ip-ip of a whine escaped the second as both bared their teeth, pressing back from the advancing wolves as their sharp features wrinkled with similar threatening displays.

When it became clear that such show would not scare off the determined pack wolves, or maybe it was the way Iana snapped at them as Imaq pushed forward a step in determination to drive them off, the canids edged back a few more paces -- proffering up a few more growls and grumbles as they relinquished their meal -- before whirling and fleeing.

Only when they had vanished from sight and it was clear that they would not return, did Imaq relax -- the tension visibly melting from her shoulders like glacial runoff as she turned to face the willowish wren with a triumphant grin.
"...and all around was the bitter arctic cold and the immense silence of the North..."