September 06, 2021, 01:29 PM
Veteran was the son of a woman who was often away on work trips, and when she was home, she was constantly distracted, leaving him in the care of others within the Glacier. It was all he knew, and he did not blame his mother for her failings, even as he saw that the other children of the Glacier had more present parents. Lane's distance gave the boy the opportunity to grow on his own; to slip away into the outskirts of his home territory and push his boundaries.
He was not often missed. With so many caregivers on rotation, it happened that when he was not with one, that one imagined that he was with another. This was not the first of his excursions away from home, but it had proven to be the most interesting one so far.
The boy had happened upon a garter snake, slithering among the plants with their medicinal aromas. His mother would like it here. Perhaps he would gather some herbs to bring back to-- No! Concentrate, Veteran! He trailed after the snake, creeping along behind it as it glided along the floor of the copse.
He was not often missed. With so many caregivers on rotation, it happened that when he was not with one, that one imagined that he was with another. This was not the first of his excursions away from home, but it had proven to be the most interesting one so far.
The boy had happened upon a garter snake, slithering among the plants with their medicinal aromas. His mother would like it here. Perhaps he would gather some herbs to bring back to-- No! Concentrate, Veteran! He trailed after the snake, creeping along behind it as it glided along the floor of the copse.
September 06, 2021, 01:39 PM
(This post was last modified: September 06, 2021, 09:43 PM by The Listener.)
the shadow, too, wandered — but in her wanderings, she left behind no home, no kith nor kin. such was long behind her now, in miles and in memory. and she knew her own shadow was never far behind her, so she did not fear to roam wherever her whims bid her. alduin the saint was nowhere in sight now, but the voidsent felt the spirit of him with their own. it was enough.
a new scent among the foliage. allowing her nose to lead her, the changeling found new intrigue. another boy: earthmade and young, younger than any the shadow had collected thus far, in hot pursuit of a glinting legless thing. she did not call out to him, as she had the gunmetal boy. she watched, for now, with no effort toward concealing her presence, nor any toward making it known.
a new scent among the foliage. allowing her nose to lead her, the changeling found new intrigue. another boy: earthmade and young, younger than any the shadow had collected thus far, in hot pursuit of a glinting legless thing. she did not call out to him, as she had the gunmetal boy. she watched, for now, with no effort toward concealing her presence, nor any toward making it known.
September 06, 2021, 01:53 PM
(This post was last modified: September 06, 2021, 01:53 PM by Veteran.)
The snake hesitated, perhaps catching scent of its pursuer, and that pause would be its undoing.
The boy pounced, landing his bite about two-thirds of the way down the creature's body, nearing its tail-end. The creature immediately writhed, and Veteran tightened his grip. He shook the snake's body violently, whipping it around in a tight circle.
The snake's fangs found Veteran's flank, and the child yelped. He dropped the tail and bit again at the creature, this time finding a hold just behind its head. If he had been a more experienced hunter, this is where he would have aimed his first blow, so that he would have had more control of the creature's head from the very beginning. He would not make the same mistake again.
Veteran wrenched the snake off of his flank and flung it away. As soon as he threw it, he was running after it once more, unwilling to to allow it to escape. It was personal, now.
Although she made no effort to conceal herself, Veteran did not yet notice the presence of his company.
The boy pounced, landing his bite about two-thirds of the way down the creature's body, nearing its tail-end. The creature immediately writhed, and Veteran tightened his grip. He shook the snake's body violently, whipping it around in a tight circle.
The snake's fangs found Veteran's flank, and the child yelped. He dropped the tail and bit again at the creature, this time finding a hold just behind its head. If he had been a more experienced hunter, this is where he would have aimed his first blow, so that he would have had more control of the creature's head from the very beginning. He would not make the same mistake again.
Veteran wrenched the snake off of his flank and flung it away. As soon as he threw it, he was running after it once more, unwilling to to allow it to escape. It was personal, now.
Although she made no effort to conceal herself, Veteran did not yet notice the presence of his company.
September 07, 2021, 02:27 AM
the clash between serpent and stripling lit the air like crackling lightning, a glissade of silver sparks flung out like wild tendrils of electricity. the shadow leapt from where she clung to the darkness, spurred into action by the brilliant display of spirit-gleam flaring from the boy. straight into his path, the lanky unchild ducked to snatch the scaly fiend by the head, teeth sinking through its maimed flesh and setting it to thrashing once again. pain lanced through her chest as if her fangs dug through her own skin, but it went ignored. a violent shake of her head did nothing to halt the creature's frantic movement, so the shadow shook it again, and again, until the earth began to spin beneath her paws. it was dying, but she did not know that; as far as she was concerned, the job was unfinished until her victim stilled between her teeth.
the boy was forgotten, for the moment.
the boy was forgotten, for the moment.
lmk if you want anything changed!
September 07, 2021, 07:36 AM
(This post was last modified: November 13, 2021, 01:37 PM by Veteran.)
The child's dizziness and developmental lack of coordination combined were enough to cause him to stumble as he flung the snake away. It might have afforded the snake a chance to escape, had the shadows themselves not reached out to snatch up the unfortunate creature.
Veteran had not known fear in Duskfire Glacier, at least none that he could recall. And even before he had formed memories, he had only ever feared that which he did not understand.
Every hair stood on end when the shadows swallowed the snake, and even once the boy had identified the interloper as canine, he did not immediately relax. It was as if he understood innately that he was faced with something primal and nefarious-- something less than lupine or, perhaps, more than?
The wraith battled the snake until it stilled, and Veteran moved forward only then. He emitted a puppyish growl punctuated by a low bark. His tail whipped back and forth, low and quick, and he reached up to sniff hesitantly at the snake hanging from the maw of The Shadow.
With a small huff, Veteran pulled away from the shadowed one. He felt like he had been robbed of the kill, and therefore the spoils of the hunt. He stalked away, prowling for another snake that he could rightfully claim as his own.
Veteran had not known fear in Duskfire Glacier, at least none that he could recall. And even before he had formed memories, he had only ever feared that which he did not understand.
Every hair stood on end when the shadows swallowed the snake, and even once the boy had identified the interloper as canine, he did not immediately relax. It was as if he understood innately that he was faced with something primal and nefarious-- something less than lupine or, perhaps, more than?
The wraith battled the snake until it stilled, and Veteran moved forward only then. He emitted a puppyish growl punctuated by a low bark. His tail whipped back and forth, low and quick, and he reached up to sniff hesitantly at the snake hanging from the maw of The Shadow.
fading this out.
With a small huff, Veteran pulled away from the shadowed one. He felt like he had been robbed of the kill, and therefore the spoils of the hunt. He stalked away, prowling for another snake that he could rightfully claim as his own.
« Next Oldest | Next Newest »