Redtail Rise Do not attempt the impossible

After scarfing down what little she had left of tender, rotted meat that morning, she thought of the next time she should sleep next to @Saturdays Sunrise. The fifth of Avicus’ children dreaded it, but she had a system. Which meant lying near to even those she felt less than fond of.

Sunrise, in particular, was a tricky subject for her. She had been strong-armed by the girl before, something she wanted never to repeat, and the last two times she had chosen to sleep near her, the girl simply wouldn’t stay put! Always scooching nearer. Always inching closer. It was all but unbearable.

Yet, she knew that she did not feel opposed to the idea strongly enough. Why else would she even think about doing it again? She blamed such consideration on the weather. It was cooler this day and without rain, making her feel slightly more forgiving.

With a huff, she steeled herself and began hunting for a scent of the girl. Perhaps seeing what she was up to at this early hour would persuade her one way or the other about sleeping near her again.

edited <3

sunrise has been thinking, more and more each day that she grows older. eventually, there would be a time when childish things were going to be put away as she grows into her adult body and role. but that was for then, and this was now. so on her break from a recent walk and patrol, she had managed to get a possum cornered against a rock wall, the tiny creature shrieking as it was still relatively young and not used to being without its mothers.

should anyone come to interrupt, they would see the girl in a play bow, pawing and growling at the frightened mammal as she bounces left and right in hopes of it playing with her. of course, this would never happen, as eventually, she'd get the urge to kill the poor animal. but until then, she seeks a playmate -- perhaps much to the dismay of the young one coming to find her.

At some point, Carrion stopped following the scent of Sunrise and started searching for the source of an unnatural and pitiful shrieking, unaware that one led to the other. By the time she arrived, the poor thing had gone slightly hoarse from crying so loudly!

She saw that it was a young possum cornered by the rowdy daughter of New Snow and Augur.

Instantly, she felt a connection to the ugly, frightened creature; a sort of kinship via trauma bonding that she could not explain. She was the possum, and the possum was her. Both of them victims to the same beast.

(If this were any other time, Carrion would have dispassionately watched the scene unfold. In fact, her author fully intended to write this post with much indifference… But when her eyes locked with the terrified animal, some uncharacteristic – almost alien – aspect overtook her.)

She dove between Sunrise and possum, crouching over it with a scowl and a soundless show of teeth. No, Sun Stone, she scolded, using the name she had come up with for the wordless girl. Don’t do that!

it is with haste that the cloud beast is pushed away from the screeching animal by her wary sleep mate.

had she not grown from her brutish ways, perhaps sunrise would have come to push the girl off and continue her tirade of the poor screeching possum. maybe attempt a muzzle grab or use her big body to throw her weight around just to make a point. however, sunrise didn't need any more bad blood between her and vulture (a nickname she came up with considering this one only eats rotten food).

sunrise preferred keeping things peaceful, not to mention she was past the age of being able to get away with messing with others. they were all growing up, and consequences were very much so a real thing as a young adult. she didn't need one more spanking! and chances are, at this age, it would probably be more than a swat on the rump.

so, begrudgingly, sunrise backs off. though, she does not spare vulture from questioning, as she comes to rumble a low note to her. "why not?" her brows furrow as she looks upon her bony counterpart. 

as far as she was concerned, the opossum was nothing but a pest, and her father taught her that pests could only be handled in one single way. so what did vulture plan to do here, let it go?

Tension eased out of Carrion's shoulders as Sun Stone backed off. Grateful, she lowered her head in relief and glanced toward the possum whose squeals had gotten weaker though no less frequent. It was still too frightened and confused to flee, not that it would've been a fast getaway in any event.

The crow-eater wriggled her tail appeasingly and stepped forward to put more space between the helpless critter and the strong-armed girl. Despite herself, she extended her nose and gently brushed Sun Stone's muzzle in mild appreciation — a rare show of affection for her packmate. This will be my friend, she told Sun Stone, gesturing towards the possum. Just this one. You can play with another one, if you want.

while she was not amused by the idea of having to give up the wild animal she had planned to turn into a bloodied ragdoll by the end of the hour, she did not let the soft moment of grace between her and the vulture go unnoticed. and perhaps even right now, carrion would never realize the intensity behind her actions in sunrise's mind.

this meant many things. for one, she wasn't as hated as she was made out to be by carrion. and for two, it meant that there could be more chances of such interactions! more cuddles! more touching! so if it meant having to suck it up so that the vulture wouldn't keep trying to chase off her grubby paws when they came to nudge her closer during their sleeping times together, sunrise would give in.

while she could try and find another possum, sunrise didn't really feel like wandering off yet. so instead, she plops down, haunches pressing into the ground with ease as her head tilts to watch the vulture with quiet and curious eyes. she croons a quiet note to her companion, "will you play with it?" surely, vulture wasn't going to eat it, she only liked dead things! she what was she going to do?