Post by Memo on Feb 18, 2011 21:37:55 GMT -5
A full moon burned brightly overhead, casting its radiant silver light down on the world. Tonight there were no heavy clouds to choke its rays. It was round and plump as a newborn pup, and it seemed to be held in the sky by the mountains beneath. The tall, towering, rocky spires, the pride and joy of the Seifal territory and a favorite for secret meeting places. They were blanketed in ancient furs and pines and carried the cool, crisp scent of the forest.
A lone female wolf was stalking silently through these very trees, her coat bathed in the chilling moonlight. She was a ghostly sight, her smoky fur illuminated to an otherworldly resplendent mist color. Where the gray met the pearly white of her underbelly and neck it seemed to glow, giving her the wavering appearance of being a ghoul herself.
The subtle crack of a twig breaking echoes like a shout through the night, the wolf’s gaze jerked upwards. There above her, on a wide grassy plain edged with a cliff to one side, grazed a large whitetail buck. Sharp antlers sprouted from its skull, the knifepoint tines looked lethal even in the dim light. Evidently it had decided to make use of the bright moon and get a little extra fodder in its stomach. It was completely unaware of her presence among the trees at the base of the cliff.
Rapidly, the female swung her head from side to side, searching for a way to advance on the deer. She needed a quick and quiet way to the top of the hill, but the only way that she could ascend without alerting her prey was the slope to her left. It would be a hard climb, loose slabs of stone covered the earth like grass, and only a few sparse trees would hide her. It was a rockslide waiting to happen. Even if she managed to climb that silently, the deer was still a fair distance away and she would have to expose herself to reach it.
Choosing to chance the slippery stone, the female began the climb. Frustration swelled inside her chest as she was forced to slow her already crawling pace, and put each paw carefully in front of the other. After what seemed like years, she reached the top of the hillside.
She gave silent thanks that she was downwind as she braced herself to run. Her muscles tensed, released, and she was off. Sprinting silently towards the deer, she heard a rock slip out of place and tumble loudly down the slope behind her, taking a few others with it on its way down. She muttered curses as the buck’s head shot up and its sharp ears flicked back and forth. By the time the deer had glanced in her direction she had blocked its path to freedom. As it turned to spring to safety, it found its way blocked by bared teeth and raised hackles.
A loud, continuing growl ejaculated from the female’s throat. The deer lunged away from her, but she whipped into position and barked threateningly, keeping her orange, orb-like eyes on her target. Her deep snarling continued. The buck lowered its head, shaking its antlers at her, the spear tips carving the air dangerously close to her. She snapped her jaws and dodged right, circling the dangerous buck cautiously.
With a feint to the left, she deer moved to block her, giving her an opening. Her teeth scored down its right shoulder and she got a grip on its foreleg. She clamped her jaws down tightly, digging her fangs in deeply. There was a loud crunch as the bone snapped. The deer collapsed, but swung its head towards her and one of its sharp brow tines caught her in the side. She grunted at the pain and winced as blood gushed from the wound. But she would not be swayed from her kill and she lunged in, digging her teeth into the deer’s throat. The windpipe collapsed and she struck the main artery to its brain. The bitter red blood filled her mouth, its metallic taste coating her tongue. She ran her tongue around her mouth hungrily as it convulsed and slowly drew its last breath.
She drug the carcass away from the edge of the cliff and walked over to look down at the ground far below. Her stomach panged with hunger at the sight of the fresh red meat and the taste of blood, but she restrained herself.
The female sat back on her haunches gracefully and threw back her head. The sound that ripped itself from her chest was haunting. Yet it was light and elegant, it was everything all at once. Cold, frightening in some tones, but warm and sunny in others. Anyone listening would have been dumbstruck at its complex cords, and have been infatuated. The song went on and on, not just thanks for the life of the prey that would provide her with nourishment, but a heart-wrenching melody that was a cry of victory.
She was Tessalynn, and she had won again.
A lone female wolf was stalking silently through these very trees, her coat bathed in the chilling moonlight. She was a ghostly sight, her smoky fur illuminated to an otherworldly resplendent mist color. Where the gray met the pearly white of her underbelly and neck it seemed to glow, giving her the wavering appearance of being a ghoul herself.
The subtle crack of a twig breaking echoes like a shout through the night, the wolf’s gaze jerked upwards. There above her, on a wide grassy plain edged with a cliff to one side, grazed a large whitetail buck. Sharp antlers sprouted from its skull, the knifepoint tines looked lethal even in the dim light. Evidently it had decided to make use of the bright moon and get a little extra fodder in its stomach. It was completely unaware of her presence among the trees at the base of the cliff.
Rapidly, the female swung her head from side to side, searching for a way to advance on the deer. She needed a quick and quiet way to the top of the hill, but the only way that she could ascend without alerting her prey was the slope to her left. It would be a hard climb, loose slabs of stone covered the earth like grass, and only a few sparse trees would hide her. It was a rockslide waiting to happen. Even if she managed to climb that silently, the deer was still a fair distance away and she would have to expose herself to reach it.
Choosing to chance the slippery stone, the female began the climb. Frustration swelled inside her chest as she was forced to slow her already crawling pace, and put each paw carefully in front of the other. After what seemed like years, she reached the top of the hillside.
She gave silent thanks that she was downwind as she braced herself to run. Her muscles tensed, released, and she was off. Sprinting silently towards the deer, she heard a rock slip out of place and tumble loudly down the slope behind her, taking a few others with it on its way down. She muttered curses as the buck’s head shot up and its sharp ears flicked back and forth. By the time the deer had glanced in her direction she had blocked its path to freedom. As it turned to spring to safety, it found its way blocked by bared teeth and raised hackles.
A loud, continuing growl ejaculated from the female’s throat. The deer lunged away from her, but she whipped into position and barked threateningly, keeping her orange, orb-like eyes on her target. Her deep snarling continued. The buck lowered its head, shaking its antlers at her, the spear tips carving the air dangerously close to her. She snapped her jaws and dodged right, circling the dangerous buck cautiously.
With a feint to the left, she deer moved to block her, giving her an opening. Her teeth scored down its right shoulder and she got a grip on its foreleg. She clamped her jaws down tightly, digging her fangs in deeply. There was a loud crunch as the bone snapped. The deer collapsed, but swung its head towards her and one of its sharp brow tines caught her in the side. She grunted at the pain and winced as blood gushed from the wound. But she would not be swayed from her kill and she lunged in, digging her teeth into the deer’s throat. The windpipe collapsed and she struck the main artery to its brain. The bitter red blood filled her mouth, its metallic taste coating her tongue. She ran her tongue around her mouth hungrily as it convulsed and slowly drew its last breath.
She drug the carcass away from the edge of the cliff and walked over to look down at the ground far below. Her stomach panged with hunger at the sight of the fresh red meat and the taste of blood, but she restrained herself.
The female sat back on her haunches gracefully and threw back her head. The sound that ripped itself from her chest was haunting. Yet it was light and elegant, it was everything all at once. Cold, frightening in some tones, but warm and sunny in others. Anyone listening would have been dumbstruck at its complex cords, and have been infatuated. The song went on and on, not just thanks for the life of the prey that would provide her with nourishment, but a heart-wrenching melody that was a cry of victory.
She was Tessalynn, and she had won again.