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Post by Mystic on Sept 26, 2009 22:14:42 GMT -5
Forest jumped, a bit startled. She looked back at him, blushing madly. Her ears flattened against her skull in embarassment and she looked towards the herd again. She had a feeling that Sol had been trying to tell her something. But what...? While Forest searched for the buck again, she saw something. A deer with a limp. A buck, much younger than the other one, had a lame leg! It was thinner than the other and sickly seeming. Forest quickly found the other buck as well and twitched her tail in irritation. Which to choose?
Mystic looked at the buck and flattened her ears against her head. Forest was aiming too high. The three of them were strong, but that buck could be dangerous. Very dangerous.
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Post by Phantom on Sept 26, 2009 22:25:14 GMT -5
Sol flattened his ears, looking between both bucks. By far, the older buck was more dangerous. Many wolves underestimated elders among herds, and got killed over it. It would be better if the lame buck was actually a doe, but in comparison, it would be easier to run down. He knew the rules Starfrost had given... but a new light alit his gaze as he realized something. His new Alpha had said not to say anything... out loud. This pack wouldn't know the secret that kept the Blackshadows, and more immortal wolves, more bonded. And he was about to teach little Forest.
The tall golden male closed his eyes and sighed, acting relaxed or something, while he hid the mental path he established between himself and the young female. Speaking through the mind, or what some might call 'mindspeak' was cheating on so many levels, but it may just do some good in this situation. "Forest." He slid the word gently into her mind, hoping the sensation wouldn't be too awkward. Most of the Blackshadows were raised on it. He didn't really know too much how an unexperianced wolf would react...
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Post by Mystic on Sept 26, 2009 22:31:56 GMT -5
Forest stiffened, her eyes growing wide. She looked back at Sol, assuming her most have broken the vow of silence and spoken to her. Did he have no respect for their ritual? But she saw the confused look on her mother's face. Certainly her mother would be furious at Sol for this lack of disrespect? She must have imagined it. Shaken slightly, Forest looked back at the two bucks.
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Post by Phantom on Sept 26, 2009 22:55:43 GMT -5
He frowned, meaningfully at her, glancing once at Mystic before looking back at her daughter. "Do you see my mouth moving?" He questioned, mouth prominantly shut. He just hoped she got the picture after a moment. And hopefully, again, she wouldn't freak. He just watched her, eyes clear, not really thinking he was breaking the rules. Just exploiting a loophole.
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Post by Mystic on Sept 26, 2009 23:05:37 GMT -5
Forest's eyes widened again. He was talking to her through her mind! Forest stiffened. Could all Blackshadows do this? Her father?! Forest tried to stay calm, so not to reveal their prescence to the deer. How was this happening?!
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Post by Phantom on Sept 26, 2009 23:15:53 GMT -5
Sol couldn't help the soft smile. "Don't panic. Just keep calm. And I know it may break rules but..." He gently nudged her flank again. "Not the older one." He reccomended lightly, resting the side of his head aginst her fur. "I'll explain this later, alright?" He nodded, referring to the mental connection.
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Post by Mystic on Sept 26, 2009 23:32:25 GMT -5
Forest looked at Sol. He was breaking the rules! Tradition said that the hunt should be called off that second! But Forest didn't want to ruin this for her sister and brother...if she called it off, they would hate her! Forest flicked her tail to show she understood and looked at the younger one with the bad leg. There was no way she would ruin this for them.
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Post by Phantom on Sept 26, 2009 23:50:47 GMT -5
Sol drew back his ears, ducking his head down deep. He wanted to leave that instant, taking his blame for what he'd done, ruining the pups' ceremony, but he couldn't yet. He'd have to explain to Starfrost afterwards. For now, he just kept his tail and ears drastically low, along with his usually tall body, in a sign of near-complete submission. He'd roll onto his belly if he could, but didn't want to draw quite that much attention. For now, he just waited for Forest's order.
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Post by Mystic on Sept 27, 2009 0:05:17 GMT -5
Magic and Juliet returned. Magic crouched beside Forest and whispered, "Which one have you picked out for us?"
While Forest informed her brother of which deer they were to single out, Juliet motioned for Mystic, Romeo, and Sol to follow her to the ambush place. She would lead them down a relatively clear path and into another, much smaller clearing. The only way in and out of it was the small entry from the trail. Dense brush and trees grew together, forming an inpenetrable wall around it and blocking all of the exits. Juliet hid among the brush, her brown fur blending in perfectly with a batch of ferns.
Meanwhile Magic and Forest sprung from their hiding places. The herd scattered, and the two quickley singled out the one with the lame leg and began to herd it down the trail towards the tiny clearing.
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Post by Phantom on Sept 27, 2009 0:11:12 GMT -5
Romeo and Sol stayed by the entrance/exit to the clearing, waiting for the moment the deer would crash in. They would leap in the way of the exit once the prey was in, to block the only way out. Romeo was inwardly frantic. He didn't want anything bad to happen. He was scared out of his wits that something would. It didn't matter if Sol was a healer. They'd still get hurt. He glanced over at Mystic, giving a faint whimper, very tiny, of fear.
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Post by Mystic on Sept 27, 2009 0:30:47 GMT -5
Mystic tried to reassure her mate with look. But in truth, she was nervous. This was a good spot because the deer couldn't get out. But it also meant her pups couldn't get out if they lost control of the situation. She heard the sounds of Magic and Forest snarling and growling as they led the deer closer and closer. It crashed into the clearing, looking around wildly for an escape route. Mystic noticed this was not the original old buck, but a young buck with a bad leg. Why the sudden change in prey?
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Post by Phantom on Sept 27, 2009 0:37:48 GMT -5
Romeo, startled by the new prey, stared for a moment before leaping to block the exit. Sol was already there, obviously having known, but he was still feeling incredibly submissive from the earlier moment. The two males together should've been a strong force, but at the moment, both weren't very capable of much.
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Post by Mystic on Sept 27, 2009 0:47:36 GMT -5
Juliet and her mother leapt from hiding. The buck tried to turn and plow through Romeo and Sol. Magic, seeing how distracted and submissive Sol looked, leapt forwards and snarled. It backed away, it's eyes on Magic. It tossed his head warning. While it was preoccupied with her brother, Juliet charged.
She leapt and dug her fangs into its side, her claws scratched at it's fur. The buck thrashed until she flew off landed on her side. She quickly rose to her feet, as the buck wasn't strong enough to throw her hard enough to do any real damage. The buck turned its attention to her now, and Magic saw this as an opportunity to attack. He charged the deer's other side and bit into it. The deer eventually threw him as well, but again the young wolf rose to his feet with nothing but a bruise.
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Post by Phantom on Sept 27, 2009 0:52:37 GMT -5
Romeo snarled then and leapt forward, reaching to grab the buck's throat underneath while it was distracted with the others. If he got the angle just right, he might be able to kill it before anybody got really hurt. Sol, meanwhile, kept to the exit, watching the battle unfold. He wasn't a good killer. Often, he just made things worse. So he knew to stay back until it was over, either way.
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Post by Mystic on Sept 27, 2009 1:06:20 GMT -5
Juliet, Forest, Magic, and Mystic charged at the same time from all directions. Juliet and Magic tore into its side and Mystic and Forest got the other side. The deer was beyond help, now. Romeo made the kill, and the deer toppled to the ground. Mystic and Forest jumped backwards to avoid being caught under it.
Magic and Juliet were almost stunned. Then, Magic laughed. He grinned at his siblings and his parents. "We did it!" Magic snapped playfully at Juliet. She laughed and growled in return. "We got it!" The two laughed and snapped at each other, their fronts dripping with blood. Forest looked at them nervously.
We cheated. I cheated. What if Grandfather says it doesn't count when he finds out? They'll hate me. Forest looked at the body of the deer. It was true this one was a much easier catch, and a much safer choice. But...they'd had help. It was against tradition. The pups were supposed to do everything for themselves. Including choosing the target. Oh, they'll hate me. I should have just told Magic to single out the old one anyways.
"Forestheart!" Juliet leapt at her and nudged her so heartily at Forest almost tipped over. "Don't go and feel sorry for it! It's the way the world works. We kill to survive." She smiled at her sister and licked her blood-stained maw. "You need to lighten up!"
Forest smiled a little. "Yes, I suppose you're right..."
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