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Post by Burn on Mar 13, 2024 23:49:18 GMT
CALAVERAS Malakai inquired about the rut, and Cal was happy to oblige. "Rut is a term describin' a season all deer cycle through, where the males - either called bucks or bulls-" He interjected. "Square up to one 'nother an' fight for rights over the females usin' their antlers an' 'orns. It goes on fer awhile in the fall, an' then afterwards they shed those appendages over winher, an' start regrowin' 'em again to be bigger n' better fer the next rut." If it was wrong for him to explain the rituals of other creatures, he knew no better. Where he was from, knowledge was knowledge that would all be learned eventually, so why not now while he was curious? As his Pa had taught him, understanding the world around you was priceless.
He could recall how mystifying it was to watch the pronghorn bucks push and chase each other around and how he could be at peace watching them for hours until his old friend grew bored and drug him into some kind of mischief. Sometimes, when he was wandering around the old home territory by himself he could find the worn-down sagebrush from their rubs. He also recalled the time when he had first heard the distant cry of the mountain elk bugle. A faint smirk tugged at his cheek when he thought briefly about how Malakai might just forget about the lynx when he hears those resonating wails for the first time.
His ears were perched forward as he listened to the boy marvel at his depictions. It had a soft smile placed on his muzzle, admiring the wonder in his voice and appreciating the eager ears to hear his rambles. Before he spoke, Cal drew in a breath as if he was placed back in that prairie and could smell the dusty breeze. "Oh, there were pleny a room to lope fer days if ya wanted," He ignored the melancholic thoughts of how much running he had done back then. Cal shifted his weight to face his friend a little more comfortably - still letting him stay tucked into the fur along his side - and gazed calmly down at the boy. He figured Malakai had probably heard enough about him, now."Ya like runnin', son?" He asked, hoping to offer him a relaxed topic about something he liked, and perhaps give Cal some ideas of how to cheer him up some later on, should the little fellow stick around him. |
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Post by Burn on Mar 12, 2024 0:57:08 GMT
CALAVERAS “Prongorn…those are like deer, right? I don’t think I’ve seen those wh…” His ear flicked when the pup trailed off. Cal gave him a moment to continue if he wished but then felt the slight shift of the boy shaking his head. His brow furrowed with concern, but if he didn't want to talk about it, that was alright by him. A distraction, then. "Sorta. They're a lot smaller than deer, 'bout the size of me, I reckon. But they're strong suckers, an' heavy, too, so usually ya gotta sk--" Oh. After catching himself about to bring up skinning a carcass, he suddenly understood why Malakai may have trailed off earlier. Whoops. Eager not to lot his mistake linger for the boy to ponder, he moved on with other knowledge he had of the creatures. "Yer'know, pron'horn are fascinatin' ta me, cuz' they're the only deer I've seen where both the males and females grow horns. Sometaimes while yer out explorin' ya can fahnd their sheds, from when they lost em' after rut."
Internally, Calaveras hoped that was enough of a distraction, and that he would get the opportunity to explain more one day. The thought passed through his mind with a kind of warmth - the idea of being able to pass on his knowledge like his father had for him. He recalled how those times were some of his fondest memories, just being out there with his Pa and absorbing all the information he could share, from reading an animal's tracks and the stories they told to hearing about the old man's adventures. He'd never gotten the chance to do that for his nieces, he thought sullenly, but what if Malakai took an interest? Does he have someone to do that for him? Maybe not, if he had come to the Rook instead. Now was not the time to pry into the kid's personal life, though. The time for that would come, if he was given the chance to have it.
He let Malakai process his offer to head out soon, and the response he was given wasn't a surprising one. Of course, he wouldn't feel safe enough yet, and Cal pushed down the vague feeling of disappointment. The time would come, he reminded himself with closed eyes and a dip of his head, looking to be understanding. Malakai then added more fervently how he truly did want to go, making Cal open his whiskey eyes and gaze at him with a little surprise. Seeing the pup turn away, Cal let out a soft chuckle and ruffled the boy's fur with a puff of air. "Yer good, son. Don't hassle yerself," He reassured. Oh, to be a coltish young man, he remembered it well.
A tick of silence before Malakai spoke up again. “You…said you aren’t from mountains. So…where…are you from?” Cal paused. For a moment he wondered if he should share at all, but, he deduced, it'd be alright if he didn't share the whole story. "Wal..." He drawled, exhaling as he thought of how to go about this. "I traveled from ou'side yer valley some months ago, prob'ly when ya were a good bit younger. The Vertok were welcomin' a'nough, but yer territory is fereign to me. Ya see, I was born in a place where the hills are low an' rollin', the groun' is dry, an' mer often than not the grass is tall an' golden. The only real mountains were made a' red rock an' not nearly as tall as yers." A moment before he continued, offering a few more details about his actual home. "With mah sister, I was born in a lil' crescent-shaped basin, few trees around but otherwise, open prairie an' a sky stretchin' far as the eye can see." A tender smile graced his lips as he thought about it. Cal loved all sorts of the natural world and its beauty, but those places were always the most gorgeous to him. It made sense he was more comfortable in this valley's grassland, even if it did feel a bit clustered with all the mountains blocking the horizon. "Goes fer sayin', I ain't the best at climbin'," He chuckled humorously. "So I jus' laike to head down 'ere an' spend taime in someplace more familiar. When I ain't helpin' the pack, o' course." He did have responsibilities after all, it was just extra convenient when he could handle those tasks and hunt the things he knew. |
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Post by Burn on Mar 11, 2024 17:24:59 GMT
CALAVERAS Malakai was quiet for a while, but Cal figured that was alright, and so he lent the boy all the time he needed to gather his thoughts. When Malakai did speak, it was with a dry huff and a goad to his friends that brought a light, warm guffaw from Cal. He raised a paw to brush at his nose bashfully, thankful there weren't many others in the Rooks cave yet. For a moment, Cal reflected on his own young self and how he could somewhat relate. After all, he'd done some pretty stupid things in his days, and he had hurt those close to him thanks to it. Telling that story would be a long one, though, and so he decided to keep it to himself and maybe share it with the boy when the time comes. His contemplation spanned the stretch of silence until the pup spoke again.
“I.....yeah...I think I might...” He was hesitant, but that was to be expected. The hunter smiled softly, and when Malakai added again with questions about the meadows, that smile spread into a grin. He let the boy finish before rejoining.
"I sher have, been there many'a taimes. See, I ain't from around mountains laike these," He explained, drawing out the vowels. "The flatlands an' the critters down there give me a sense a' home." The man paused for a moment in memory of the endless horizons he was born in before continuing. "I could tell ya some stories 'bout the area, if yer intrested. I met some loner folk there, found a big ol' tree in the middle of it all. Mostly, though, I do mah hunts down 'ere. Ah'm more accustomed to huntin' the prong'orns that graze there, an' I'd be happy to tell ya 'bout thems as well." He looked at the boy with a warm gaze and watched closely for a response in the dark. If he wanted to learn more about the animals from around here, then Cal would be thrilled to share - it was sort of an expertise, after all. But, if not, that'd be okay, too. He wouldn't bore him with a bunch of rambling.
"If ya want," He drawled again, "We could head down 'ere sometaime soon. But I'd understand if yer ain't ready to go that far yet. In any case, yer welcome to stick with me wherever." He wanted to make that clear, lest the boy worry himself as a bother. |
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Post by Burn on Jan 25, 2024 21:34:09 GMT
[googlefont="Shadows Into Light"][googlefont="Catamaran"] I AM YOUR PRIDE, I AM YOUR WAR Oh, now this was fun.
Shepherd didn't fail to notice the shift in Helva's body language. For as boring and placid as she had been up until this point, her silvery fur now fluffed up and a paw shifted in the dry soil. She may look down on him with condescension, but she was finally showing some emotion, and to this an amused smirk slid onto his face, yellow eyes narrowing. He loved getting under someone's skin. "Ooh, scary," He cooed antagonistically. Really, he wasn't afraid of the Sanzin in the slightest, no matter what the adults or this girl warned him of. In his young mind, he figures that he's already seen the worst of it thanks to the upbringing his parents have offered him. And he's got one or two scars to prove it! "Goin' off the looks of you, they can't do any worse than the Vertok already has. I'd like to see you guys try." Smugness was written all over his face; an expression far more collected than reasonable, considering the tango he was dancing with something he truly had no idea about.
The tension seemed to break in a way entirely unexpected to the boy. He'd almost been hoping to see how far he could push Helva before her stoic demeanor failed. Instead, his grin simply fell into an open-mouthed, totally confused, and slightly judgemental gaze. "Uh...duh?" Had him saying that they suck and all gone straight over her head? Honestly, Shepherd couldn't help but be amused that she thought otherwise. His shoulders jolted with a small huff of curious laughter. "I dunno what I said to imply that I liked them at all, but, yeah. Now I'm definitely not scared of your pack." Insulting as his words probably were, he didn't mean them in any ill way, for once. For the first time, a genuine grin was placed on his muzzle when she actually acknowledged his jest, and he claimed his title of the coolest Vertok in the valley. Not exactly a title to be proud of, but...still.
"Awesome!" He exclaimed with a tone far more delighted than appropriate for the topic. "So you don't get in trouble for nuthin', either? Not to stroke yer ego or anything, but your pack does sound so much better than mine," Maybe when he was born, the wicked witch of the mountains actually stole him from the Sanzin and punished him with a childhood in the Vertok, he thought sourly. Helva asked him why he didn't just leave, and Shepherd raised his paw to gesture to the scene around them. "Do you see any mountains or adults here?" He questioned, "Nobody has stopped me from coming all the way out here, or any other time I wandered off, for that matter. The only reason I ever went back was because my friends needed me," And because he would eventually get too hungry, or too lonely, or too scared... but she didn't need to know that part. "But maybe I won't ever go back again." After all, he just had a successful hunt for that mouse! It would hold him over for a day or two, probably. And nobody back home cared enough to wonder where he had gone. Sure, there was Zero, but... the two of them left the caves all the time together. Shep would just go back to the mountains and wait for him to show up in one of their usual spots, and then they would both leave the Vertok for good!
Cheshire KNOW ME BY NAME SHEPHERD OF FIRE Made by Abyss
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Post by Burn on Dec 31, 2023 16:53:21 GMT
Coahoma Her tail swayed for the umpteenth time since falling into this pit and she watched as Axel spun and bounded to the ledge, his energy and optimism certainly contagious. Coa matched his grin but held her tongue from his comment - now was no time for rambling, they had work to do! She followed after him, taking up her place beside him at the foot of the ledge and began digging. Her paws were callused early on from the rugged terrain of her home, and her blunt claws made short work of the crumbling dry dirt. The main issue for her was all the dust! Hardly a few swipes in, she had to pause and take a few steps back from the cloud, heaving a rather big, unladylike sneeze. Ugh, there would be dust in her nose for days after this. As she swiped across her muzzle with her paw, Coa turned her gaze to her new friend. He seemed to be having trouble himself. She frowned, hoping the rough soil wouldn't hurt him. She didn't know where he came from, but were his paws as toughened as hers were? She had half the mind to go up and take one of his paws and make sure, but once again his clever mind worked up another idea and beat her to the punch. She perked up, listening with sparkling eyes. Happy to consider any of his ideas or just watery from the dust, perhaps both. "We just have to avoid the dust." He explained. She watched him dart from one spot to another, marveling at how he could possibly be so fast. "Good idea, it's worth a shot! Just don't wait for me to keep up," She guffawed. "With your speed, we'll be out of here in no time! Coa beamed. She waited for the dust to settle before diving back in to the side of the ledge, taking strong strokes and flinging giant waves of dirt behind her. It covered the long fur on her chest and belly and her legs, and by the end of this she might look entirely of browns like her new friend. They would definitely need a swim after this. As Axel had planned, she turned and lugged herself from the looming dust cloud, deeply inhaling the clear air. She was a bit slow going back and forth, but hey, his genius idea worked well enough! Squinting sage eyes, she saw that they were making decent progress with the indention they had made. She hummed. "Maybe we could make the whole thing collapse if we dig in a little further! Then we could climb the slope?" She mused to her friend. She wasn't as quick with ideas as he was, she found, but if they made it collapse, it'd be half the work in half the time! Zawki
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Post by Burn on Dec 18, 2023 20:42:02 GMT
I AM YOUR PRIDE, I AM YOUR WAR The girl asked him what he knew of her pack, and the best answer he had was a shrug. "That they suck?" He offered, bluntly. "Dunno, us pups ain't worth sharin' much with. We're just told not to go nowhere near you guys, or go alone away from the caves at all for that matter. It's stupid." He shrugged again, his face forming a resentful pout.
His head raised and his ears shot forward at her next statement. It was spoken as if it was such a common fact, and that irked him. Not for the sake of the Vertok's honor, certainly not, but for the sake of his pride. "Yeah, well, don't group me into that!" He jabbed a paw in her direction, heated for a moment. He got over it quickly, though, making his point clear. "I agree, but I would never be content with that. All the Vertok does is whine and complain about this or that. But I'm not spineless. I'll make a name for myself." Unlike one Vertok he knew, who he could easily call a coward... His demeanor shifted as he decided to end his rant, and once again a smug, toothy grin found itself on his muzzle. "Since there ain't much competition, you can consider me the coolest Vertok you'll ever meet."
Just as Shep tried to lighten the mood, Helva brought it right back down again. What was with this pup? All negative and lame, at least in tone - her words actually sounded kinda great. "No parents, huh? Cool." He commented, sensitive as ever. "So you can just do whatever you want and nobody tries to control you or tell you what not to do?" He leaned forward with interest, now. This theory would at least support why she was way out here all alone. "I'm jealous. My parents are so annoying, always looking down their noses at me," He sniffed indignantly, proudly, "They can't control me, though, I can handle myself."
Cheshire KNOW ME BY NAME SHEPHERD OF FIRE Made by Abyss
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Post by Burn on Dec 18, 2023 20:02:16 GMT
[googlefont="Poiret One"][googlefont="Lora"] DIRE SANGUIS Loner I AM A STONE, UNAFFECTED, RAIN HELL DOWN ONTO ME Artemis indulged his curiosity, explaining the tension between the three packs calling this valley home. Not only them but also an influx of unaffiliated wolves appearing in a valley that could not accommodate them all with its faltering resources. For a moment Dire wondered if war was at hand here; something he certainly wasn't eager to deal with. He hadn't noticed any signs of battle in the little he had explored, and Artemis hadn't implied anything of it. A clever ruse, perhaps. He could tell she was wise in holding her tongue, but these were things he could question later. Setting the thought aside, he reserved himself in a subtle movement of rolling his shoulders back and keeping an unwavering gaze on the woman before him. He kept note of her every move, just as she was likely doing with him. He noticed the shake of a head, and the deepening of a frown, but did not comment as it changed to a smirk. “A plethora of loners, on top of the typical predators that remain, such as bears like yourself.” Dire allowed himself to chuckle, a deep sound as he humored her with a smirk of his own.
"Bears, fortunately, know to survive off of the land and all the bounties it offers. If you're worried about me overusing your limited provisions, you needn't be." Though said in a humorous spirit, he meant it genuinely. Dire knew to hunt and forage alike. Certain roots and nuts were fairly unharmed by the singing heat, and he could scavenge along dried waterbeds for muscles and fish, whatever the eagles and actual bears had not yet picked clean. Yes, he could survive for a period on an assorted diet, albeit a short one. If the valley did not improve in the coming month, then he could quite literally move on to greener pastures.
Artemis answered him, and he noted how carefully she did so. His pleasant smirk stayed as he considered; if she had meant to confuse him, then she had failed. "And you hold disdain toward the newcomers of the valley. So, perhaps, indeed," He rumbled, more confident in his assumption. For a moment he contemplated. The ghost hadn't been the most receptive to his bold question last time, and he was still ever curious but unsure of how to get truthful answers. Perhaps he would leave the choice to her, and wait with intrigue to see what she would choose. "If you wish to tell me of your pack, I will listen," Golden eyes calmly looked her over once more, to accentuate his following words, "As it stands, I can see why you would find yourself in a pack smitten with power and strength." He only wondered, was that power found in the strength of unity and the mind, or brutish mass alone? FLESH AND BONE, UNAFFECTED YOUR FOOL I WILL NOT BE Abyss
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Post by Burn on Sept 18, 2023 6:39:53 GMT
[googlefont=Cinzel Decorative] REVAN Sun won't shine down here in this valley To say that Revan hadn't planned this far ahead would be an understatement. With him and this stranger hurtling to the ground, he hadn't as much time to maneuver as he would have liked - using his momentum to arch around and place his own body between Maxem's and the ground, but not fully enough to take the whole brunt of the impact. A grunt escaped him as he collided with soil dry and hard; yet another thing he had failed to consider. Revan, naturally being Revan, was swift to roll and hop to his paws even though his head, shoulders, and back screamed at him for it. Although he had no choice but to let his eyes re-focus, he wouldn't be caught vulnerable on the ground like some foolish weakling.
A pointed ear swiveled to the one who was still lying on the ground, insulting him between gasps. Touche. Revan cleared his throat hoarsely and rolled his shoulders back to compose his posture. "Yes." He responded shortly, unable to argue against the point. Even to myself...
Upon recovering fully Revan walked over to the man, standing over him with a faint, amused smirk and the quirk of a sharp brow. "Relax your core." He advised shortly. He had been injured enough times to at least understand what to do when the wind was knocked out of him; sharing that was the least courtesy he could offer, having been the cause of it this time. And despite his reckless, insensitive actions that led them to this, Revan found that he didn't mind the smaller man so much. He amused him, at the very least, so Revan didn't desire to see him suffer entirely. "And do not let your guard down so easily. Even trees cannot protect you from everything."
It wasn't Revan's intent to frighten him or any such thing, but to teach what he would have thought to be an obvious fact of life - trust nothing. It is at least what he had grown to believe, and if the pack Maxem was from treated him as poorly as he made it seem, then this strange little lesson may prove him well in the future.
"This is Revan speaking. This is Revan thinking which is dangerous. Moon don't glow beneath these trees - ^^ Abyss
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Post by Burn on Sept 18, 2023 6:04:58 GMT
[googlefont=Nothing You Could Do] Calaveras An amused little smirk pulled at the man's lips when Hrennanmir said he would do no such thing, and it only broadened more with her stern glance, having him briefly avert his gaze like a pup, knowing not to disobey. Certainly, Calaveras knew better than to go against this doctor's orders - for now. His respect for the woman didn't stop him from stifling a snicker as he watched her battle the limp creature for its ears. It wasn't the prettiest of sights, but somehow, it was entertaining nonetheless, and though he did well in keeping his smile small and polite, his mirth touched his eyes. Cal dipped his head when the Bishop returned from a successful fight. "Thank ya, miss, I 'preciate the effort," He added sincerely. "I won't." He assured her before scooping up both of the small ears, aligning them with his teeth and being sure to mind his tongue, as she advised. The felty hide wouldn't stand much of a chance against the power of a wolf jaw, but they would surely do the job of keeping him from grinding his teeth together. And, although he mostly trusted himself not to, he figured it better safe than how sorry he would be if he accidentally bit the Bishop. Now, though, there wasn't any more time to waste. In sync with Hrenn moving closer to him, the man leaned back onto his side entirely and allowed her to position both his leg and herself as needed. He winced faintly at the pain it caused. The Bishop asked if she should count to three, and to answer, Calaveras shook his head in dismissal. He wouldn't talk with his mouthful, instead flicking his tail to say get it over with. He reckoned it was better to take the pain when it comes than sit there fretting in anticipation. Razza
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Post by Burn on Sept 12, 2023 6:40:16 GMT
[googlefont=Nothing You Could Do] Calaveras A brow quirked as he listened to the scraping. Calaveras had some scarce knowledge in herbalism, but not much beyond chewing mixtures up himself. Though he couldn't see what Hrenn was doing, it seemed a little more complex and interesting. But then she gave him the bad news, and his posture deflated. "Now, I don't like the sounds of that..." He muttered to himself, he followed her gesture to the crafted bed. He reluctantly hopped his way over to it, sitting down first and having to remind himself that this is what it was there for, and that he wasn't intruding or ruining it for anyone with more important needs. He had to do a pathetic looking scoot with his one functional leg to ease his way down, careful not to jostle his shoulder. The Bishop answered him with what he had feared to be the case; even worse, knowing that she'd be keeping an eye on him. He got the feeling she wasn't the kind of woman to slack on her word, either, so slipping under the radar to attend his duties was beginning to sound much more far-fetched. He exhaled an inaudible huff, but kept in mind the prospect of assisting the Bishops. For now, he focused on what Hrenn was saying next. "N'aw, surely I could pounce a grasshopper with just one paw," The man drawled with a small smirk, trying to ease his growing dread with a little humor. The scent of the paste filled the air around the cave, and he was wise enough to know that what was coming next wouldn't be pleasant in the slightest. His gaze dropped to his paws; one loosely hovering just off the soft bedding, and his ears turned back. "Do yer got a stick, er bone, er hide er anythang to bite down on? Rather than yerself?" He said with a small, pensive smile, bringing his deep golden eyes back up to the Bishop. Before he laid on his side completely, he nodded towards the Almost-Sheep still laying by the entrance. "I could tear a' ear off that thang, if not. Gotter be better'an nothin'." While he was genuinely concerned for the well-being of both his teeth and his helper's hide, even Cal had to admit, he was stalling a little.
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Post by Burn on Sept 12, 2023 5:23:43 GMT
[googlefont=Nothing You Could Do] Calaveras When the Bishop asked about his symptoms, Cal gently shook his head. "Some tinglin' an' a bit of numbness, sher, but no tearin', I don't thank." He answered simply. "Shootin' pain, that's fer sher." He wasn't entirely sure how to best describe it, other than it hurt and felt very off. Maybe the shooting pain qualified as tearing, he wasn't sure, but he trusted that she could figure it out. He listened to her explanation as a distraction from the pain, keeping himself composed as he offered a simple response; "Fair anough." He could appreciate her understanding when a patient did react out of pain, at least, even though he struggled to picture ever doing it himself. Maybe that was because the major wounds he had harbored before were mended by his sister and darling niece. He hoped this situation wouldn't surprise him. Hrenn mumbled a good after, thankfully, letting his shoulder rest for the moment. Cal let his body relax as the pain eased - if only faintly - and pricked his ears forward with the hope that it meant the injury wasn't too bad. "Well, it's certainly dislocated," His expression fell. "The good news is, your recovery time will be short. A few weeks, at most, and you can still wander short distances in the meantime." Then perked back to that calm, curious look. "Wal, I like the sounds of that," It certainly sounded like a good outcome for what it was, but that didn't stop his mind from wandering back to his task within the pack. "No huntin' fer that time, though, I reckon?" The Rook questioned, already figuring on the answer. It's not that he would mind a few days to relax and do his own thing, but a few weeks? His thoughts went from the younger Rooks and Pawns who also provided for the pack, to the ever-growing lack of large, sustainable prey, and how it was all hands on deck with this drought. Maybe he could get away with giving his shoulder a few days to heal, a week at most, before he went back on the chase. In the meantime, perhaps he could even help the Bishops with collecting more herbs. Something a little simpler, he'd guess, and maybe a way to learn something new. It'd make up for any medicines that may be put towards his foolishness in the coming minutes as well, judging by how Hrenn moved away and began rummaging through whatever the Bishops had in the chamber. Cal sat patiently as he watched her: his whiskey eyes were curious, and his ears airplained slightly out of apprehension. Razza
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Post by Burn on Sept 12, 2023 4:31:50 GMT
Coahoma "Oh, I have got to show you all the best techniques!" To say Coa was thrilled to find someone who enjoyed fishing and swimming as much as she does would be an understatement. She could easily ramble about childhood stories of swimming in frozen lakes and rivers, catching salmon and northern pike... but those thoughts would have to wait for later since they first had to get out of this predicament before they even could go fishing. "That might work! But... what if they pull out your fur, too?" Her new friend asked. Coa was in the middle of waving her paw for the umpteenth time that hour in dismissal, thinking she had plenty of fur to spare when Axel spun the topic in an entirely new direction, instead bringing an excited gasp and a "Really?!" out of her. "That's so cool! I have a brother, too, back home. But he's more grey than brown and not as big as me." However, thinking about him didn't make her as happy as it should be. So she was going to distract herself by asking Axel what his brother was like before he once again turned them back in the direction of their dilemma. "Oh!" She exclaimed, regaining focus. She watched as he bounded away toward the shelf of earth. She noted just how fast he was - and how the fur he had worked so hard on hitching to the brambles unwedged itself and fell to the ground. Her mouth made a little "O", and she jogged after him, stopping to pick up the little clump of fur while her ears were pushed forward to hear his idea. "It's probably too steep and unstable to climb as it is, but what if we try digging at it? We might be able to collapse more of it and turn it into a slope!" Man, her new friend truly was a genius! That fluffy, tapered tail of hers wagged behind her as she approached, excited by the idea. But ah- she couldn't say anything until she let go of the fur. She walked right up to him and pressed her nose and the fur right into his side. It stayed... for a fraction of a minute, perhaps, but she was already too distracted to notice if it had fallen again. "Hey, that's better than braving the briars!" She said with a wide grin. Her sage eyes sparkled as she gazed up at the mighty ledge, having defeated them once before, but its victory would be short-lived! Coa lifted her broad front paw accented with large, blunt claws as she added, "And I don't have these big old paws for nothing, so let's do it!" Zawki
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Post by Burn on Sept 10, 2023 4:36:22 GMT
[googlefont=Nothing You Could Do] Calaveras It was a little awkward, having a stranger examining him, and such was amplified when the Bishop closely leaned in toward his leg. Thankfully, Calaveras didn't mind entirely and opted for sitting perfectly still, allowing her to do her job. After all, he felt that it was he who was hassling her more than anything, so he wouldn't make it more difficult on her than need be. He instead distracted himself with her introduction, confirming that they had not met and providing a simple alternative to her rather unique name. To save himself the embarrassment, he decided against trying to test her full name aloud. "I jus' might. Cal werks fer me, too, tendsa be aiser fer most." He wouldn't even try to account for all the times he'd been called things like 'caveras', 'calavas', or even 'cavernous' at one point. "Pleasure to meet ya, Hrenn." Even still, the beginning of her name fell heavy with his drawl. "Leave the diagnosis to me, Calaveras," Fair enough, Cal thought with a small smile, like a child being scolded by his mother. "Yes, ma'am." He added respectfully, as he was taught to do. She asked what had happened, and this time that little smile broadened slightly into a sheepish grin. "Wail, huntin' accident. I kinda fell over this cliff, an' slid down the slopes a bit. Nearly landed on mah paws, befoah mah shoulder gave out. That's when that pop happened." He curiously watched Hrenn move around to his side for a moment, before he continued with his explanation. "It's... raight at the joint, not at the spine but lower, to the front." He wasn't sure if that description was clear, so he gestured with his muzzle to the point of his scruffy shoulder. His ears went back as she brought her paw under his leg, but he remained silent and cooperative, simply offering a quiet nod for her to go ahead. His wrist and elbow moved, and those were fine. A brow quirked as she brought her nose closer, and added on a rather peculiar request. "I ain't gonna bite you," Cal confirmed, with a tone confused as to why that wasn't already obvious. "Ain't sher what kinda patients you've dealt with, but yer jus' doin' yer' job to me." He could understand pain - something he was starting to feel a little more prominently now - but he couldn't quite understand why someone would lash out at the skilled healer trying to help them with their wounds. Especially ones they likely obtained by themselves from a misstep, like Cal had. His shoulder started to bend as she raised his arm, and it was then that the Rook sharply inhaled through gritted teeth. "There-" He tersely gestured to the point of the pain but didn't tell her to stop. He could endure it if she needed to test it out. He kept still, and though his lips were pursed and brows tight, he didn't let out a single whimper - so far. Razza
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heathen child #1 :)
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Apr 27, 2024 18:06:23 GMT
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Post by Burn on Sept 10, 2023 2:01:04 GMT
[googlefont=Nothing You Could Do] Calaveras An ear flicked with uncertainty when the Bishop first spoke, only turning to look at him after scooping up a mouthful of browning herbs. The plants were not as healthy as they should be, Cal briefly noted. Herbalism wasn't his main forte, but even he could understand the heat affecting them, and he hoped that he wouldn't need any applied to himself, lest they be wasted before someone needing them more came along. "I hope it ain't a bad time," The Rook responded. "I'm 'fraid this is one of 'em instances where I needda git this thang checked out, s'all." He observed as the Bishop stood and briskly laid out the herbs before she jerked her head for him to approach. Calaveras obliged with a polite nod and hobbled his way over to the woman, resigning to his fate of looking pathetic as he did so. He sat down in front of her, still favoring his leg, and she asked his name. "Calaveras. An' yers? I ain't sher we've met befoah." Cal took a moment to acknowledge her features; unique, with tall ears and a faintly curved muzzle, and behind her a tail shorter than most he had seen. For a moment, he wondered if she was from some far-off land where all wolves had similar traits. Her eyes didn't seem unkind, but he got the feeling that she took her trade seriously, so he wouldn't waste her time with small talk. "I'm fine, really," the man drawled, "I can move it, so it ain't broken, I don't thank. But it did seemta pop, an' now I don't wanna move it." A small, somewhat guilty smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Explaining it aloud made it sound rather trifling in his ears, and perhaps it was as simple as giving it a few days to rest and it'd heal up fine on its own, whatever the issue was. That is what he'd do any other day, after all, and it'd certainly be the way he'd handle any scrapes or bruises he'd harbor from the fall as well. Contrarily, prey and food were in low abundance with the heat; he didn't have a few days to spare from providing for the pack. Better to see if this could be fixed - or at least mended to a point where he could ignore it - now rather than later. Razza
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heathen child #1 :)
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Apr 27, 2024 18:06:23 GMT
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Tag me @burn
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Post by Burn on Sept 8, 2023 8:49:29 GMT
[googlefont=Nothing You Could Do] Calaveras It was something of a dumb idea, looking back on it now. Early this morning, Calaveras had set off to go hunting along the slopes of the Vertok mountains, taking the time to learn more about his new environment, discover new ways of tracking over rocky terrain, and, should he reliably follow one of few scent trails, bring back a prize for the rest of the pack. Between admiring the beautiful views and making mental notes of his group's homeland, Cal had been focused on the trail of something he wasn't quite familiar with - his suspicions of something akin to a bighorn sheep being proved correct as he found a small herd of white ungulates. Their fur was long and fluffy, and their horns narrow and erect. The hunter skillfully placed himself further up the slope from them, downwind so they wouldn't catch his scent. The Almost-Sheep were something Calaveras had never seen before, and he was close to leaving them be in their grazing, simply content to watch and study them calmly. Decidedly, it wouldn't do the pack any good if he returned empty-handed, and he had to admit, he was intrigued to challenge his skills by hunting new prey. And so he made the first move - crouching low, his dark ears and whiskey eyes focused on a female and one of her two kids as he stalked down lichen-covered rocks. A misplaced paw and some sliding stones later, the Almost-Sheep spooked and bolted further down the slope away from the now-chasing wolf. They navigated the boulders and small cliffs expertly, and Calaveras didn't offer them much competition. It was only thanks to his endurance and a sudden drop-off that he managed to catch up to the creatures. They hesitated, allowing him to lunge in and snap his jaws around one of the young one's hind legs. His paws had slid on the stone surface from his momentum, and he had twisted to avoid the defensive mother- sporting thin horns like the males, desperately attempting to butt him away from her kid. The Rook held fast, but what he failed to account for was the drop-off just behind him - by the time he remembered, it was too late. Two of his paws were placed on thin air and the other two quickly followed suit, dragging the bleating kid with him as he fell over the edge of a steep drop. The rocky incline slowed his descent with the price of inevitable scratches and bruises, and he had almost managed to land on his feet, had his shoulder not given out with a pop and a pained gasp. He muttered a curse to himself as he lay there until the pain ebbed away enough for him to lift his head and look around, immediately seeing a heap of white fur just a step from him. The Almost-Sheep kid, limp and with a mangled neck. Cal had frowned, reminding himself that at least it would have been quick for the thing. That, and he wouldn't return unsuccessful. He had done his job, and he had been sure to finish it even if he was injured. Carrying the kid back to the caves wasn't the easiest. It was just small enough for him to lift and half carry, half drag it back along the mountain trails. He couldn't put hardly any weight on his right shoulder, and so his progress was slowed with a limp that only made the carcass more awkward. But he had done it, and now the Rook entered the caves that the Vertok called home. Through the Central Keep, he was questioned if he was okay, and assured with a quiet nod and tight smile that he was fine. To the Bishop's Chamber, where he was glad that the tunnel was wide enough for his kill. He left it by the entrance to the large room, and let his eyes adjust to the darkness within. Something he'd never quite get used to, or understand why these Vertok wolves would live in such a place where there was no breeze and no stars at night. Nothing was like home here, save for the assorted smells of herbs lining the walls. For all the deep shadows, the chamber was calm and serene. Across the den, there was a wolf of smokey greys. One that he recognized as the pack's Bishop, but had never met before. "Y'ello?" He called to catch their attention. He stood at the edge of the room with his front leg held up and his tail relaxed near his hocks, and offered a small smile. Calaveras was oddly shy, as he waited to be acknowledged, but he easily kept a calm and friendly demeanor. Razza
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