Post by temperance on May 15, 2006 21:23:20 GMT -5
Location(s):
Sparse Copse & Rippling Stream
Participants:
Penumbra, fox
Deadeye, elder fox
A shadow, limned with silver, slinks between the gnarled trunks, heading toward the sound, scent, and genetic memory of water. The dark fox's pace is casual, bordering on cautious, as she moves amongst the trees, ever wary, as all wise foxes are, of the potential for danger, as well as for prey.
A low, late-evening fog clings to the earth, pooling in the dips between roots - and so Deadeye isn't entirely sure what he sees when the shadow comes spilling into his limited field of view. He freezes in place, all four legs stiff, holding him rigid and tall as a breeze blows through the copse and ruffles his fur.
The shade pauses abruptly, head coming up, pointed ears perked and nostrils quivering as the scent of another fox reaches her. A moment is spent in careful analysis of the scent and through it, its owner, before she relaxes just a fraction, lowering a paw that had frozen in midstep. She turns her luminous eyes toward the other, tail flicking behind her, seeking with her sight that which she has already located with scent.
Deadeye lifts his nose to the breeze and breathes deeply in, filling his old lungs with a familiar, comforting scent. The apparition - for that is what he believes it truly must be - is female. Unafraid, he takes one bold step forward, toward those eyes, and then pauses to await her reaction from afar.
Penumbra takes a moment to snuffle around a bit, then non-chalantly continues her trek through the copse to the river. An ear swivels toward him, tail swishing mildly behind her as she goes, seemingly uncaring, though she keeps a sidelong eye upon him.
Deadeye doesn't know what it is that compels him to push onward after her, only that some strange force has enlisted his paws to do its bidding. It may be that he's superstitious - or it may be that he's never seen one so dark as this. He tips his head, just so, watching her retreat through his good eye, steadily returning her gaze. He'll be damned if he lets her shape vanish into the fog.
Penumbra continues through the copse, gaze slipping away from Deadeye once she's moved past. She pauses at the edge of the copse, well aware of his form behind her. One dainty foot dangles above the ground as she turns to peer over her shoulder at the dog fox, tilting her head, ears askew, "Why are you following me?"
Not a ghost after all! He's never met an apparition that could speak. The dog fox draws to a slow stop, more intrigued than ever. His good ear gives a flick and he tilts his head, further still, to better hear her voice and commit it to memory - in case he needs to call upon it later. No response is given to Penumbra's question. Deadeye simply stands, and stares.
Penumbra flicks one ear back, gaze darting about uncomfortably, and then the other ear lays back. She frowns, giving him an odd look, and then continues on her way toward water, perhaps moving just a bit more swiftly, though like the apparition he thought she was, she makes not a sound.
Like a coiled spring, Deadeye leaps after her and breezes through the fog, hopping over low-lying branches and ducking under roots. As he feels the ground grow damp beneath his paws, he picks up the pace - more like a cub in pursuit of a butterfly than a hound in pursuit of a fox.
More and more uncomfortable with the shadow that follows her, Penumbra eventually stops again to look back, triangular ears perked toward the one-eyed fox. "Why are you following me?" she lilts again, tail frizzed ever so slightly in irritation...It wouldn't do to show more than that, it's just not ladylike.
It's almost impossible to see in the dark, but the corner of Deadeye's muzzle quirks into a smirk - smug, but not entirely self-satisfied. This time, he does not stop when she does. Instead, he continues, but at a gradually slowing lope that trickles down to a creep, one paw in front of the other. Step. Step. Step.
The female's forward motion alters into sideways motion as the dog fox approaches her, stepping sideways to keep her distance while she keeps her sights upon him. Her eyes widen and her tail puffs up further. What was this guy's problem? Maybe she was trespassing...but then, she hadn't really noticed any territorial markings..Maybe she just hadn't been paying attention.
Deadeye begins to circle the female, careful to keep his distance, careful to keep his body held low to the ground. Upon completing his loop, if she'll let him, he dips his head and touches his nose to the dirt, one foreleg extended in an obscure sort of bow. The only thing that can be certain is that his posture is a non-threatening one.
Penumbra looks confused, and a little wary, as he circles her, waiting for an attack that's sure to come. She's just a fraction of a second from baring her fangs when he performs his odd little bow, and that takes all the bluster right out of her, replacing it once more with sheer confusion. She takes a subconscious step backward, tail tucking down along her flank, "Are you mute?"
A pale gray eye rolls up, taking in one last look before the dog fox turns briskly away at the question. He'll let her think what she wants - for now. With a flick of his white-tipped tail, Deadeye darts off in a different direction from which they came, swallowed up by the mist-laden stream when he hops across it.
Sparse Copse & Rippling Stream
Participants:
Penumbra, fox
Deadeye, elder fox
A shadow, limned with silver, slinks between the gnarled trunks, heading toward the sound, scent, and genetic memory of water. The dark fox's pace is casual, bordering on cautious, as she moves amongst the trees, ever wary, as all wise foxes are, of the potential for danger, as well as for prey.
A low, late-evening fog clings to the earth, pooling in the dips between roots - and so Deadeye isn't entirely sure what he sees when the shadow comes spilling into his limited field of view. He freezes in place, all four legs stiff, holding him rigid and tall as a breeze blows through the copse and ruffles his fur.
The shade pauses abruptly, head coming up, pointed ears perked and nostrils quivering as the scent of another fox reaches her. A moment is spent in careful analysis of the scent and through it, its owner, before she relaxes just a fraction, lowering a paw that had frozen in midstep. She turns her luminous eyes toward the other, tail flicking behind her, seeking with her sight that which she has already located with scent.
Deadeye lifts his nose to the breeze and breathes deeply in, filling his old lungs with a familiar, comforting scent. The apparition - for that is what he believes it truly must be - is female. Unafraid, he takes one bold step forward, toward those eyes, and then pauses to await her reaction from afar.
Penumbra takes a moment to snuffle around a bit, then non-chalantly continues her trek through the copse to the river. An ear swivels toward him, tail swishing mildly behind her as she goes, seemingly uncaring, though she keeps a sidelong eye upon him.
Deadeye doesn't know what it is that compels him to push onward after her, only that some strange force has enlisted his paws to do its bidding. It may be that he's superstitious - or it may be that he's never seen one so dark as this. He tips his head, just so, watching her retreat through his good eye, steadily returning her gaze. He'll be damned if he lets her shape vanish into the fog.
Penumbra continues through the copse, gaze slipping away from Deadeye once she's moved past. She pauses at the edge of the copse, well aware of his form behind her. One dainty foot dangles above the ground as she turns to peer over her shoulder at the dog fox, tilting her head, ears askew, "Why are you following me?"
Not a ghost after all! He's never met an apparition that could speak. The dog fox draws to a slow stop, more intrigued than ever. His good ear gives a flick and he tilts his head, further still, to better hear her voice and commit it to memory - in case he needs to call upon it later. No response is given to Penumbra's question. Deadeye simply stands, and stares.
Penumbra flicks one ear back, gaze darting about uncomfortably, and then the other ear lays back. She frowns, giving him an odd look, and then continues on her way toward water, perhaps moving just a bit more swiftly, though like the apparition he thought she was, she makes not a sound.
Like a coiled spring, Deadeye leaps after her and breezes through the fog, hopping over low-lying branches and ducking under roots. As he feels the ground grow damp beneath his paws, he picks up the pace - more like a cub in pursuit of a butterfly than a hound in pursuit of a fox.
More and more uncomfortable with the shadow that follows her, Penumbra eventually stops again to look back, triangular ears perked toward the one-eyed fox. "Why are you following me?" she lilts again, tail frizzed ever so slightly in irritation...It wouldn't do to show more than that, it's just not ladylike.
It's almost impossible to see in the dark, but the corner of Deadeye's muzzle quirks into a smirk - smug, but not entirely self-satisfied. This time, he does not stop when she does. Instead, he continues, but at a gradually slowing lope that trickles down to a creep, one paw in front of the other. Step. Step. Step.
The female's forward motion alters into sideways motion as the dog fox approaches her, stepping sideways to keep her distance while she keeps her sights upon him. Her eyes widen and her tail puffs up further. What was this guy's problem? Maybe she was trespassing...but then, she hadn't really noticed any territorial markings..Maybe she just hadn't been paying attention.
Deadeye begins to circle the female, careful to keep his distance, careful to keep his body held low to the ground. Upon completing his loop, if she'll let him, he dips his head and touches his nose to the dirt, one foreleg extended in an obscure sort of bow. The only thing that can be certain is that his posture is a non-threatening one.
Penumbra looks confused, and a little wary, as he circles her, waiting for an attack that's sure to come. She's just a fraction of a second from baring her fangs when he performs his odd little bow, and that takes all the bluster right out of her, replacing it once more with sheer confusion. She takes a subconscious step backward, tail tucking down along her flank, "Are you mute?"
A pale gray eye rolls up, taking in one last look before the dog fox turns briskly away at the question. He'll let her think what she wants - for now. With a flick of his white-tipped tail, Deadeye darts off in a different direction from which they came, swallowed up by the mist-laden stream when he hops across it.