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Post by Zawki on Nov 1, 2021 19:58:32 GMT
~ Duchess ~
The sun was out, and a breeze brushed along the open plains, causing the grass to sway. It may have looked nice, but Duchess was more concerned about what it could be doing to her fur. After giving a few stray hairs a quick lick, she turned her head to notice a small patch of flowers poking out from the grass. She had always liked flowers, so she decided to lay down and take a closer look. 'Their beauty compares even to my own,' she thought to herself half-jokingly. As she continued to admire the flowers, she suddenly felt really hungry. She couldn't remember the last time she had eaten. The scent of animals drifted on the breeze, but she was in no hurry to try hunting. Duchess glanced around. Surely there was some food around here somewhere. However, all she could see was grass and more flowers. It seemed like she would have to get up and look around. Reluctantly, she rose to her paws and wandered further into the plains. After a while of searching, all she could find were old scraps of meat which looked like they had been sitting there for a while. She was hungry, sure, but not that hungry. 'If there isn't any decent food around here, then I'll just wait for it to come to me.' Her plan was flawed, but she was too stubborn to take action unless she was truly desperate. In the meantime, perhaps she could admire a few more flowers...
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Post by Razza on Nov 2, 2021 6:21:08 GMT
Soralai Soralai limped over the crest of the hill, squinting against the sun and, finally, taking in the sight of the open fields. Rarely did she ever find herself seeking out such a place as this - it was too open and had too few hiding spots for her liking - but today of all days had brought her here. Starting off with an upset stomach should have been her warning for what kind of day it would be. By the time her paw pad, unusually dry from this even more unusual weather, split open painfully against a rocky slope, a million other things had gone wrong, too. She shook her head and breathed out a calm sigh. Picking her way down the opposite side of the hill, Soralai at least was grateful that she’d paid some attention to her basic healing lessons. Her reason for being here was simple: find a herb that looked familiar, and try to fix at least one of her problems. Goldenrod or yarrow or something. She figured that would be a good enough start. And as much as her and the grasslands didn’t get along, she had to admit this place was quite the sight. The grass had been scorched by sun and heat, but even the browned blades were mesmerizing as they swayed in tapered ripples, tickling past her ankles and away towards the north. With it the wind carried scents of all kinds; Flowers and dirt, prey and predator. It was a lot of information to process, especially when each step was making her wince. Soralai glanced around and struggled with where to begin. Off in the distance she spotted some promising dots of color. That was probably her best bet. Shaking out her wavy red fur she started to head that way in an stubborn trot, wanting to put this whole affair behind her. That was, of course, until she noticed a white figure rise from the ground from between the long grasses, and watched as they started wandering off. Soralai perked up, her head tilting. Plan temporarily forgotten, she stared for a moment, then followed the stranger at a distance. Watching with interest she saw them find, sniff, and promptly reject something on the ground up ahead. Seeing an opening in the moment, Soralai began her approach. The stranger seemed to have given up on whatever it was they found, and paid the surrounding flowers more attention than anything. “Excuse me, miss,” Soralai called, smiling. The closer she got the better she could see the wolf: a beautiful, well-groomed, younger-looking female with a coat that stood out against the summery backdrop. Soralai stopped a good distance away, tail displaying it’s friendliest position as she quickly committed the female’s appearance to memory. “This is a lovely outcrop of flowers you seem to have found. Would you mind some company? I could use a short rest.” Soralai wasn’t above milking her circumstances in order to make a new acquaintance, so she picked up her (very mildly) injured paw to demonstrate her request. Brow tilted upwards she prepared for a reaction, wondering if perhaps there was something she, in turn, could help this young woman with, based on the irritation Soralai thought she saw on her face only moments ago. Zawki |
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Post by Zawki on Nov 2, 2021 21:18:51 GMT
~ Duchess ~
Leaning in closer to the flowers, Duchess gave them a quick sniff. They didn't have much of a scent to them, but it didn't come as a surprise considering their small and delicate appearance. She gave a short sigh. It felt as if it was getting hotter and hotter the longer she stayed out in the sun, leaving her to question whether or not it was worth staying. She was so lost in thought that she didn't notice the unusual rustling of grass nearby; it sounded just like the rest of the grass rustling in the breeze to her. Suddenly, a stranger's voice caught her attention. "Wah!" She turned her head to see another wolf standing a short distance away. Taking a couple of steps back, she let the stranger finish speaking, frowning slightly as she assessed the wolf's coat. The reddish tones and flowing, wavy fur were surprisingly pretty and reminded her of autumn leaves. Ah, how she loved autumn's milder weather... Duchess blinked a couple of times, realising she hadn't yet responded to the pretty stranger. "You... you want to admire the flowers with me?" 'What a strange yet tasteful request.' She was tired of wandering all alone, and at least the company seemed friendly. In fact, perhaps this was exactly what she had been waiting for. "Alright, you may join me." There was a hint of reluctance in her voice as she spoke. Even though she actually wanted the company, she hoped that this way, the wolf would feel like she was intruding and offer some form of apology. She was practically salivating as she imagined the reddish-brown wolf prancing elegantly through the grass carrying the gift of fresh meat. "You didn't happen to come across any fresh food on your way here, did you?" Duchess sat in front of the flowers once more, deciding to get directly to the subject that interested her most. She turned her gaze to the dry and delicate petals of the flowers as she awaited an answer.
@ Razza |
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Post by Razza on Nov 2, 2021 23:18:59 GMT
Soralai No matter how many strangers Soralai approached, she was never quite ready for this, admittedly common, reaction. She jumped at the she-wolf's shout and stumbled to the side, muttering something to a higher power when more weight pressed down on her paw than she should've allowed. But while Soralai recovered quickly, looking back up with a slightly amused expression, the unknown female seemed a bit more hesitant. Understandable, Soralai granted with a little chuckle. She felt herself being sized up and was careful not to make any more moves that might be startling. Silence stretched out for a few moments until her pale counterpart blinked, deciding much to Soralai's delight not to turn tail and run. "You... you want to admire the flowers with me?"Soralai warmed with something akin to fondness. It was such an innocent, sincere assessment of her appeal, and judging by the strange woman's hesitance, one she wasn't used to hearing often. "I do," nodded Soralai. In fact, she would like it very much. "Alright, you may join me."Feeling as though her movements were going to be carefully watched, Soralai took her cue and moved closer as if approaching an injured rabbit. She kept her distance still, but settled in at a conversational distance away from the woman with the white coat, the grasses making for a comfortable seat while the scent of the flowers drifted up and into her nose. "You have my thanks, miss. I really should be more careful in such unfamiliar places." She shared a small, conspiratorial smile with her new acquaintance, hoping to earn some of her trust. Not that these lands were too unfamiliar to Soralai by now. Her and the Mercurior had been lurking in nearby shadows long enough to know enough, she mused, feeling the dried paint of the mark on her shoulder tug at her fur. Soralai was about to ask to exchange names just when the female spoke up again, this time with a query of her own. "You didn't happen to come across any fresh food on your way here, did you?" Ah, Soralai should've guessed. Even before this particular season's difficulties, food was on the forefront of the minds of most of the wolves she met. She smiled apologetically to the girl, shaking her head and reaching down to pluck a long blade of wide, somewhat hydrated grass and then putting her cracked paw down on it. "Nothing stays fresh for long in this heat, I'm afraid. And if it isn't rotting, it's getting picked over by coyotes or our fine feathered friends." Sorlai paused to bend over, slowly yet effectively tying the makeshift bandage to her paw. Soralai sought out the stranger again, who was carefully observing the tiny, faded flora she sat before. "Sorry I couldn't give you better news. Has it been long, since you've eaten last?" Concern was evident in her voice; likely odd, coming from a stranger, but it never felt so from Soralai's perspective. Zawki |
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Post by Zawki on Nov 3, 2021 15:47:31 GMT
~ Duchess ~
The flowers before her had retained their beauty, even when they too were faced with hardship. They looked so delicate, yet there was a hidden strength in them that she couldn't help but admire. As her new temporary companion went over the food situation, Duchess continued staring at the flowers. The news didn't surprise her, but it was disappointing nonetheless. She hated all this harsh sunlight, and the coyotes... not to mention those pesky birds that kept coming back no matter how many times they were chased away. She gave a quiet, disgruntled groan. It seemed she would actually have to work for her food. She could hear the stranger moving slightly, and turned to see the autumnal wolf tying a piece of grass around her paw. Realising the paw was probably injured, she felt almost slightly empathetic towards her at first, but the feeling was soon replaced with yet more disappointment. 'If she's injured, then what if she can't hunt?' She was just about to start ruminating about how bad the situation was when the stranger apologised for not having better news, followed by a question of her own. Duchess lifted her gaze, pausing briefly as a faint sensation of guilt began to set in. This wolf was a total stranger... yet, despite the circumstances, still cared about her wellbeing? Since setting out on her own, this was the first time she had met anyone who expressed such genuine concern for others. "Yes... it has," she responded, glancing at the stranger's paw once more. "You appear to be hurt. Is it bad?" Her words sounded a little more concerned than she had intended. It was like this wolf's kindness was rubbing off on her. What was this strange feeling... compassion, perhaps? Duchess looked down at the ground awkwardly. She had only asked because she wanted to know if the wolf was in good enough condition to hunt for her. ... Right?
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Post by Razza on Dec 18, 2021 22:48:58 GMT
Soralai Soralai feigned focus on her paw, fiddling with the bandage until it was nicely in place, but her true attention stayed carefully trained on the woman at her side. She watched the female's eyes as she took in the flowers, and took note of all the displeased angles that made up the rest of her expression. She was clearly uncomfortable, though Soralai couldn't tell if it was because of her presence or the girl's empty stomach. She felt sorry, either way. Not sorry enough to leave, however, even as the stranger voiced an unsettled noise. She turned her eyes back to her paw just in time to not get caught snooping. "Yes... it has." Soralai hummed and looked back up, smiling at her with sympathy. Before she could say anything else, the other wolf looked down, coming off a little awkward and perhaps uncertain. Soralai frowned and was ready to apologize for invading her space, but was cut off. "You appear to be hurt. Is it bad?""Oh." She hadn't meant to say the simple word out loud, but Soralai found herself dumbstruck at the girl's change in direction. It was a simply enough query, but it wasn't often that Soralai ever found herself being paid much attention in situations like these, and so immediately she felt a little bashful. Turning away from the stranger, she kept smiling but coughed before making a full recovery. "Oh, no. It's one of my more carelessly acquired wounds, but I've had worse." She flexed her paw and laughed in spite of the sting, as this kind of stuff actually didn't bother Soralai at all, and never had. She faced the girl again. "Just a scratch, I'll be alright."Soralai wasn't sure about having all the attention on her - it made her shyer than she cared to admit. "I'm sorry I couldn't be more help finding food. With this heat and the drought... well, I think many of us will be turning to berries and acorns in between meals for a while." She scrunched up her nose in distaste, tucking away the thought for now. Another beat passed and she decided she wanted to know this female's name. "I'm Soralai, by the way. But you can call me Sora. What about yourself?"Zawki |
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Post by Zawki on Dec 19, 2021 17:06:47 GMT
~ Duchess ~
If the situation wasn't already awkward enough, the other wolf who had previously seemed quite confident suddenly appeared shy now that attention had been drawn to her injured paw. Duchess was already starting to regret asking, but listened carefully when her question was met with a response. Upon hearing that the wound had been carelessly acquired, she was curious to know exactly what had caused the injury, but she decided not to enquire any further. She was just about to try moving the conversation along when the other wolf apologised once more, making a comment about alternative food options. Rather unappetising ones at that. Unsatisfied with the idea, Duchess sniffed the air briefly, trying to find the scent of prey she was sure she had noticed earlier. "If your injury is as minor as you say it is, then I see no reason why you cannot hunt. Why don't you go over there and see if you can find a rabbit or two?" Her suggestion ended up sounding more like a blatant request, which would probably be an accurate interpretation. Now that she knew the injury was nothing serious, any hint of concern in her voice was lost. She was hungry and she took no shame in trying to get food the easy way. Though, by her standards, even this method required too much effort. Having to eat to survive was such a bother. She had just gotten up to take a better look around when the other wolf suddenly shared a name. Soralai... she had never heard anything like it. It was unique, but kind of pretty, much like the wolf it belonged to. Duchess was even given an alternative nickname to call her by. It almost sounded like they were supposed to be friends now; or at least, that's how it felt. She turned to her new acquaintance and paused very briefly, blinking in confusion at the thought. She had never had a friend before, but it was not something she was opposed to. She decided to share her name in return, just as requested. "You may call me Duchess." She ended up skipping straight to her self-given nickname, preferring it over her real name. It always made her feel important, and as an outsider, she thought it was unlikely that anyone would question it. "Are you from around here? I have never heard a name like yours before." She was genuinely curious to know more. This place was dry and severely lacking in food, but aside from that, she knew nothing of the local area, nor the wolves who inhabited it.
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Post by Razza on Dec 20, 2021 2:46:22 GMT
Soralai "If your injury is as minor as you say it is, then I see no reason why you cannot hunt. Why don't you go over there and see if you can find a rabbit or two?" After a brief moment of recovery, Soralai was barking out a musical laugh at such an exacting demand. She wasn't sure what she said to bring about such a change, but it was a glimpse past the timid, sanitized protective shell the girl had been guarding herself with thus far, and in that way Soralai much preferred it. A smirk across her muzzle revealed as much. This was the gem hidden in the belly of the stone. The thing was, Soralai had always guessed that she had some kind of unspoken quality about her that brought these types into her life. Something about as subtle as neon script across her forehead that let them know she was, in fact, just the person to ask for help, like this girl was now. Not everyone would be so pleased to be seen this way, but it was one of few things Soralai took true pride in, even now as she shifted upright onto her injured paw without argument, ready to obey the demands of a younger, hungrier wolf. Many would call her a doormat for such behavior. Perhaps they'd be right, but she wasn't doing this all for her fragile ego. Oftentimes extending a paw to a stranger could yield any manner of interesting tidbits and returns. Having seen the girl sniffing the air earlier, Soralai did the same, humming at the unmistakable scent of prey she'd barely paid any mind before. Succumbing to the familiar serenity of focus, and it might've seemed like she missed the girl giving her name, had she not said anything back. "A pleasure to meet you, Duchess," she said, glancing sideways and hearing traces of her amusement even in her own ears. She wasn't being mean - it was just that this gem in particular was quite bold. "You suit your name nicely."Without elaboration Soralai began walking, swallowing the pain. "Come along, then. I'll see what I can do but you should follow closely, in case you get the chance to make the kill yourself." Moving into a trot, she pressed her nose to the ground and snickered musically. "I hadn't realized how urgent of a matter this was. How lucky we are to have stumbled upon each other, no?" It was light conversation - something to fill Soralai's ears while she worked. The animal's scent was starting to come into focus as the sprawling hills gave way to flatter, patchier ground. Duchess would not have her rabbit, but a gopher would fill her empty stomach all the same. Soralai spotted some suspicious tracks in the earth, raised like an angry wound and indicative of the creature's presence. "Are you from around here? I have never heard a name like yours before."Barely turning to regard Duchess, but clearly not phased by the question, she replied. "No, I'm as foreign to this place as it sounds," she said, leaning over to sniff the gopher's trail. Dried long ago on her shoulder, the stark red mark painted there tugged on her fur with the movement. The mark was foreign too. Everything was, but Soralai had long ago grown accustomed to this life. When asked for specifics, she'd answered many times before that she was, simply, from everywhere. "My... friends and I only arrived a while ago. This is my first time in this field, for instance, but it's proven lovely so far."It was unabashed flattery, and Sora peeked to see how the girl would respond, but only for a moment. Testing the waters from many different angles was an important part of her process. Instinct were starting to take over however, and it was hard to pull her attention away from the hunt. She returned the question, chuckling toward the end of her words. "What about you? To see a Duchess all alone is usually a circumstance of rarity." She knew it was the girl's name, but one wasn't called such a thing to never hear it spoken by the voices of many. Out here, it seemed Duchess' only company was Soralai and her future feast. Zawki |
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Post by Zawki on Dec 21, 2021 20:44:16 GMT
~ Duchess ~
As the other wolf laughed, a look of confusion came across Duchess's face. She didn't realise her 'suggestion' was so amusing. Yet, judging by Soralai's shift in focus, it seemed she might actually be getting the meal she had hoped for after all. She knew next to nothing about hunting, but she wasn't sure why else anyone would want to turn their attention away from her if it wasn't to fulfil her wishes. She noticed the other wolf glance her way, acknowledging her name before commenting that she suited it nicely. Duchess grinned lightly, closing her eyes briefly as she gave a quick nod. "Of course." When she opened her eyes again, she realised that Soralai was already wandering off. It seemed the other wolf wanted her to follow... and... hunt with her...? What. She was almost taken aback by the thought. She was no hunter; she couldn't even catch a cold, yet alone prey. Not to mention all the physical effort. That was even worse than all the mental effort required to convince someone to do it for her. Soralai continued to speak, mentioning how lucky it was that they ran into each other. Duchess gave an awkward laugh. That statement made it sound like she needed help, and she didn't like it one bit. As true it was, it sounded about as nice as a fork being scratched against a plate to her. Or at least, that was what the look on her face suggested. "Oh, you don't want me stealing all the glory, do you? I will just stand back here, and... I'll watch... you know, to make sure the area is safe." Her awkward words paired with a nervous chuckle made it quite clear she was just trying to get out of it, and she knew it all too well, quickly changing the subject to address the other issue. "Yes, how lucky you are to have found me. I bet you wouldn't have known this was such a prime hunting location if it wasn't for my nose." She was barely even thinking before she spoke, taking the whole thing a bit too personally and getting all defensive. She simply smiled awkwardly, hoping the other wolf was too engrossed in the hunt to think anything of it. In reality, she couldn't even tell the difference between the scent of a rabbit and a deer, yet alone track animals effectively. She decided to follow anyway, actually quite enjoying the company and wanting to hear what else Soralai had to say. It turned out they were both foreigners. At the other wolf's mention of 'friends', Duchess was intrigued, but decided not to say anything else for the time being. That is, until Soralai called the field they were in 'lovely'. She couldn't help herself. "Pfft, yes, if you like inedible old scraps of meat and dry, scratchy grass!" Her awkward laugh was replaced by one of pure amusement, but it wasn't long before she paused for a moment, realising that wasn't all there was. "Well... I suppose the flowers are nice, at least." She glanced to the side, a hint of tenderness showing in her expression as she caught sight of a few more flowers nearby. This seemed to distract her momentarily, bringing some attention to the more positive side of things. It wasn't long before Soralai wanted to know why she was out here all alone, too. Duchess wasn't sure how to respond. Her story wasn't nearly glamorous enough for her to consider it worth sharing. "Well, I... I wanted to go sightseeing. Everything was so boring back at home, and I felt like I needed a change of pace." It wasn't entirely inaccurate, but it wasn't entirely true, either. "I wasn't expecting it to be quite so... dry, and... un-scenic." She was practically making up words at this point, her voice almost trailing off into a whine as she suddenly remembered the fresh meat she used be able to eat to her heart's content. There was only one thing on her mind right now, causing her to derail the conversion. "Have you found it yet?"
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Post by Razza on Jan 24, 2022 3:54:38 GMT
Soralai Nose to the ground, Sora listened to Duchess prattle on with a secret smirk. She'd dodged the idea of participation with a weakly veiled excuse, making Soralai wonder just how long she'd been on her own, and if this evading was a habit or if she was merely taking advantage of Soralai's offer. "I bet you wouldn't have known this was such a prime hunting location if it wasn't for my nose." It was quite the bold claim, but Sora stayed quiet on the matter still. Suddenly her nose passed the scent she was looking for, and she straightened up, looking around. The fur on the back of her neck prickled and she knew they were close. Glancing over her shoulder, she tried to see if Duchess and her powerful nose had also caught on. Duchess continued. "Pfft, yes, if you like inedible old scraps of meat and dry, scratchy grass!" "Perhaps I do," Soralai chuckled back, finally able to discern Duchess' expression again. Sora watched her flattery slip like water off the pale girl's back, and as she observed Duchess complimenting the flowers, it felt like she wasn't even there. Feeling no urge to break her companion's trance, Soralai only hummed in return, quiet and agreeing. She wondered if the little blooms reminded Duchess of anything. A place or a wolf, maybe a fond memory of home. But instead of asking she turned back to the trail and continued to track before it slipped away, thoughtful as ever. "Well, I... I wanted to go sightseeing. Everything was so boring back at home, and I felt like I needed a change of pace. I wasn't expecting it to be quite so... dry, and... un-scenic.""'Sightseeing' is a peculiar word to use. Do you mean to return, then?" Duchess seemed otherwise uninterested in the things Soralai mentioned, not to her disdain or annoyance, but it would make sense if she only saw this as a... field trip of sorts. Still, Sora could never imagine being willfully ignorant herself. Information was so powerful, yet Duchess cared more for flowers and food. Soralai tsked quietly, admittedly a bit endeared. A few more minutes passed and Soralai's muscles locked in an abrupt halt, pain throbbing from her paw. "Shhh," she hushed, unfortunately cutting off whatever Duchess might've given her in response. Sliding over to the girl's side in a blink and holding up a polite, crudely wrapped paw in front of her as a halt, Soralai zeroed in on something up ahead. "Hold that thought. We're close." She tilted her head forward so Duchess could see. Up ahead, if one squinted hard enough, the groundhog was finally visible. It's small, brown body shuffled amidst the grass, foraging for something and oblivious to the predators - or more accurately, predator - nearby. Zawki |
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Post by Zawki on Feb 1, 2022 17:44:47 GMT
~ Duchess ~
As Soralai sought out a trail, Duchess continued to follow, watching curiously as she padded along over the dry grass. The other wolf glanced her way, causing her to raise an eyebrow. Maybe she was just checking to see if she was still there. Unless Soralai just wanted to bask in the glory of her beautiful white coat and stunning golden eyes once more. That had to be it. Why else would anyone glance her way when they had such an important task to see through? Duchess never had been very good at understanding others, but the way Soralai acted was especially puzzling to her. 'Does she really like inedible old scraps of meat and dry, scratchy grass?' She couldn't even tell whether or not she was being serious. Yet, as confused as she was, she was actually quite enjoying the conversation. At the very least, it amused her, but it was also nice to have someone to talk to, and it provided a slight distraction from the almost unbearable heat. Soralai soon commented on Duchess's choice of words about her reason for leaving home, asking her if she intended to return one day. At this, she paused briefly. She wasn't even sure whether or not she wanted to go back. On one paw, she wanted to leave her past behind her, but on the other... oh, how she would love to show all those fools back home what they were missing out on. The only problem was, she was yet to receive the backing she had hoped to find in these new lands. If she returned now, she would have nothing to show for it. "Well, I..." She hesitated, trying to find the words. "It depends. If I end up liking it here... then maybe I will stay." Surely these lands had far more to offer than just what little of them she had seen. "The grass may be dry, and the meat stale... but maybe this is just the bad part. Nothing is ever truly perfect, right?" She was feeling unusually positive today. Though, the moment she realised what she had just said, she quickly added to her words. "Except me, of course." She gave a smug grin, but there was also a hint of amusement in her expression. Even if she said it like she believed it, even she knew she was pushing it. "Speaking of perfection... this hunt is taking-" Duchess's words were suddenly cut short as Soralai gave an abrupt shhh. Her expression swiftly changed to that of astonishment, but before she could say anything, the autumnal wolf was right by her side, holding out a paw to prevent her from walking any further. "Wha-" She was thoroughly confused. Firstly, why would anyone want to silence her? Secondly, the nerve! She was about to make a big deal of it when Soralai tilted her head, revealing an unfamiliar creature that could just about be made out in the distance. Was it... prey? "Oh, good." She turned her head to her hunting companion, looking at her expectantly. "Well? Are you going to get it then?" She didn't understand what all the hesitance was for. Even if she was hungry, there was no way she was going after it herself. She just knew she would make a total fool of herself and end up ruining her perfect image.
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Post by Razza on Mar 9, 2022 19:18:45 GMT
Soralai Soralai watched realization bloom across Duchess' face and smiled, though clearly she was the only one amused by her own dramatics. "Well? Are you going to get it then?""Of course my dear," she smirked. Soralai set down her paw and took a deep breath, going back to eyeing the groundhog. "I'll be back. Remember to keep watch!" She cheerily added, if only to pique her clearly opposed companion further. She didn't bother telling Duchess to wait there, though. Sora didn't like wasting her breath that much. A second deep breath and then she submerged herself in the grass, hardly an acceptable cover, but she would have to make do. She crept forward, with each step trying to make Duchess fade into the back of her mind. An audience wasn't something she usually had. But Soralai's focus was easily reined, and so after a few more silent steps, she was ready. And when the timing felt right, she bolted into action. The wind rushing past her ears drowned out all other sounds and the promise of the taste of prey pushed her forward past the pain in her paw, even if a taste was all she was going to get. Of course, the groundhog spotted her, and the chase began. Swift as a cat the Mercurior woman pursued, though groundhogs could be more tricky than their dull, round little bodies portrayed. She had to keep an eye out for their escape roots, and with such tall grass all around them it was hard for her to maintain a good view. But she was gaining speed. Getting closer... getting ready to pounce. All very promising signs for a successful performance. Until uneven ground set her balance through a loop. Yellow eyes flashed and she lunged, making a last second call. Thanks to some invisible force in the gray area between skill and luck, Soralai felt her teeth sink into what she imagined was the tail of the creature. Thinking fast, she snapped her head to the side as she tumbled, a resounding thud hitting her ears with the same force that the groundhog hit the earth. Disoriented, it yelped, but Soralai's grip didn't last long with the air being knocked out of her lungs. She gasped and watched helplessly from the spinning ground as her mark scurried away, though it was clearly wounded by her doing. Then her attention landed on what it was headed toward - just a few short meters away. She gasped and struggled to regain her footing. "Duchess! The burrow-!"Dammit, she hadn't meant to really have to get the girl involved! She struggled with her balance in those few short, imperative moments, glancing over, knowing that if the other girl didn't listen the hunt would be a bust for sure. Soralai winced as she steadied herself and began her chase again, intending to give it a fair shot until the end either way. "Just cut it off!" She yelled again, hoping to catch Duchess' eye with a steady, confident look. That much you can do.Zawki |
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Post by Zawki on Apr 2, 2022 14:41:56 GMT
~ Duchess ~
What beautiful clouds. At least, that's what she would be thinking if there actually were any clouds in the sky. Duchess knew she was supposed to be keeping watch, but did it really matter? This whole hunting business looked boring, and besides, Soralai seemed to have it covered. Gazing up at the sky, she gave a short sigh, silently wishing for the intense heat to come to an end. Where were the clouds when she needed them? 'At least the sky looks nice and blue..,' she thought to herself. For a moment, she had forgotten about keeping watch entirely. It was only when she heard a thud followed by a mysterious yelp that she was reminded she had company. Duchess flicked an ear, curious to know what was happening, but her gaze was already locked onto the mountains in the distance. She was about to ask Soralai to keep the noise down, when suddenly, she heard the other wolf call out her name. "What about the burrow?" she called back, finally turning her head to see what was going on. She didn't even know there was a burrow nearby, but what she could now see was that the strange creature from earlier was running in her general direction. "Wah!" Startled by its approach, she didn't even comprehend Soralai's instruction; she just ran towards her instead, turning around to watch as the more experienced wolf darted right past her in pursuit of the groundhog. At last, Duchess realised exactly what it was she was supposed to do, so she quickly followed, but it was simply too late. She ran to the burrow, pushing Soralai aside as she was reminded of just how hungry she was. She scrabbled at the burrow's entrance a few times, whining with a desperate frustration as she tried to find the creature, but all it did was get her paws dirty. "Argh!" She angrily swiped a paw at the dry grass, giving a faint growl before taking a few steps away and giving her paw a hurried lick. "Stupid prey, stupid heat, stupid everything!" She just wanted to sink her teeth into something. This was... new. Yet, the only suitable thing nearby was Soralai, and there was no way she was going to do that. Duchess hesitated for a moment, realising that this attitude wasn't about to magically fix everything. "So... how do we get it out?" she asked, glancing down at the burrow. There had to be some way, right...? At least, she hoped there was. It seemed all she could do now was wait and see if Soralai knew what to do.
Razza |
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https://i.ibb.co/LtHJHZN/bloopette.png
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84 posts
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red lights, they burn us out like kerosine
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Pup
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Post by Razza on Apr 5, 2022 15:56:59 GMT
SORALAI
A sound of frustration tore out of her as the groundhog slipped underground, probably laughing at the two idiot wolves stumbling over themselves trying to reach it. Duchess... well, she tried. Kind of. Soralai met the girl at the entrance of the burrow, knocking shoulders with her in hopes of getting a peek inside. The girl was dirtying both of their coats with her desperate digging, but Soralai didn't mind. She was panting hard, a thoughtful look on her face.
"Argh! Stupid prey, stupid heat, stupid everything!" Soralai didn't react to the frustrated outburst, all too understanding but still very much in hunting mode. Her pupils trailed out past the burrow's entrance, a gleam catching in them. "So... how do we get it out?"
"Follow me, there's hope yet," Soralai responded, trying to repress her sly smile as to not upset Duchess further. The girl just didn't see what she saw. She stepped over the mound, locking onto what she'd just been staring at: the hollow, barely-visible tunnel tracks, giving them one last clue as to where there prize may be. Sora tried to catch Duchess' eye, slowing her footsteps and putting her nose to the ground as a hint to how stealth was key. "Tell me Duchess, have you ever seen a fox hunt in the dead of winter?"
Zawki |
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Post by Zawki on Mar 30, 2023 21:59:24 GMT
~ Duchess ~
Duchess had just paused to lick her shoulder when Soralai told her to follow. Usually she wouldn't bother listening to what another wolf wanted her to do, but it seemed she had a plan. After giving one more look at the burrow, Duchess quickly padded along after her, eager to see what she had in mind. For a moment, she even forgot about the dirt between her toes. However, it wasn't long at all before Soralai suddenly slowed down, and Duchess almost ran right past her. Confused, she turned her head to see what was going on. The autumnal wolf looked as if she might be trying to sniff out their prey. Then she asked an unusual question. Duchess shook her head in response. "Why would I bother watching that?" Winter was the time for feasting on fresh prey and huddling up somewhere warm, not standing around in the cold watching other animals. She couldn't imagine why anyone would, but she decided not to judge; if Soralai wanted to use the hunting strategies of a fox, she didn't care so long as it meant they still had a chance at catching their prey. In fact, the idea of it sounded like it would be very amusing, if she weren't so desperately hungry. "Why don't you show me?" she suggested. Sitting down beside Soralai, she forced a faint smile and looked at her expectantly. It made sense to leave it to the expert, and it would give her a chance to clean her paws before the meal. Besides, if they both tried, they might just get in each other's way. At least, that's what she told herself. She might as well stay and watch in case Soralai needed her in some other way.
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