TP: The Blood Sings - Pt. 3 "An Ominous Discovery"

[Ishara]

Characters!
Kasim- adolescent male cougar
Ash- male falcon

Summery: Ash meets up with Kasim, who proceeds to get some information about the mysterious creature who desires Larkspur’s blood.

Fallen Log
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Amongst the bramble and vegetation of the forest, settled on the soft dirt and fallen leaves from nearby trees, is large log. It is covered in rough gray-brown bark, with a few patches of moss found here and there along its length, rotting at one end. A hole on one side - the entrance to what was perhaps the home of an owl or squirrel - is blocked partly by the ground, but there is enough open space for a small animal to fit. The log is a reminder that all that lives must eventually come to an end. And yet, a tiny flower with delicate gold petals blossoms next to the log; a reminder that all is not lost, however, for when one thing dies, another is born.
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It's been a bit since Kasim has walked this far out this way. In fact, it was when he and Maul were looking for Larkspur...and then he blew his chance at walking her home. That memory still stung Kasim a bit, but he dind't let it bother him. He was simply out here, killing time. He knew Ahiga would be awhile with his answer so Kasim decided to walk off the boardom. So here he was, near what seemed to be a huge fallen over tree. Kasim couldn't help but stare at how big it actually was. Feeling that it was time for a break, Kasim hopped up onto the fallen stump and settled down for a little relaxing time, taking in the view around him.

A bird flies by quickly overhead, its eyes apparently glued to the ground as it soars by. Where is that fox that Ash had met that past evening? That strange fox...the /wolf killing/ fox. Ash forced his thoughts away from the odd creature, flapping his wings lightly as he glides down towards the ground. As he lands down upon the limb of that same tree that he had perched upon yesterday, during the meeting of the fox, he glances around furiously until his eyes alight upon a new intruder. What is this, with all the newcomers? Do they /enjoy/ treading upon his territory? It irritates him to no end. Finally he speaks out to the cougar, "What do /you/ do here?" in his strange speech. What /is/ he doing here?...don't those cats stay up farther in the mountains?

Now /this/ is a life a guy could get used to. Just laying down on a large tree trunk in the middle of a forest relaxing his somewhat tired muscles. It's just all so nice. That is, however, until he hears a voice from behind him and he somewhat does an annoyed twitch. Guess he wont be relaxing any time soon. Kasim stands up on his paws, green marking somewhat glittering in the sunlight, and looks around for the owner of the voice but sees no one. He looks around some more before looking up and catches the bird in his sights. He tilts his head a bit before replying, "I simply come here out of fate, dear stranger; nothing but the winds guide me to where I am now." Kasim wonders why the bird would even care. Shrugging it off as natural curiosity, Kasim waits for the bird to reply.

"Fate?" And Ash certainly wouldn't be one to be called a 'dear stranger', either. The falcon cocks his head disapprovingly at the cougar, hopping to the side a bit in irritation. "If you come by fate, your fate would be die." He blinks fiercely down at Kasim, every once in a while gazing around him.

"Yes fate. It was either that or luck but since I'm not a very lucky animal..." Kasim trails off there. It's true sometime, just take now for example when he would much rather be resting. Wait a minute...Die? And by whom to be exact? Kasim looks around his surroundings before saying to the bird, "What? Do you have a friend around here, or something??" he only half jokes. If there /is/ someone around here, he doesn't want to be in the middle of a scuffle. After looking around a bit more and sniffing the air, Kasim settles down again, seeing that no one was near them. He looks back up at the bird with a somewhat confused look on his face.

Mwaha, oh, the falcon sure /hates/ to be the bearer of bad news...or, maybe not. He glares at the cougar distrustfully, but gestures with a wing down towards the ground. "Lucky or not, a dangerous creature dwells here sometimes." He refrains from mentioning it's a fox, however... a tiny, cute, fuzzy little one. With big, dark eyes. O.o "Friend he is not of mine. Evil." The bird shakes his head as he delivers this dark omen, as though it pities him that this cougar had not heard of Crimson's being here. Yet he continues, "If you like life, take fate elsewhere."

Dangerous creature, huh? Kasim looks up at the bird, headtilting a bit. "Reeeeeaaaallllyyyy..." is Kasim's responce. He then bends his head down to the giand trunk under him and starts to sniff about. It's then that he catches the bird's second retort. Kasim simply responds to him, not taking his nose away from the stump. "Evil, huh? There is no such thing as that. Evil is just a term others use when they don't understand another's motives or actions. In the other animal's mind, he's doing the world a favor." Still not looking up, he continues to sniff about until he catches a scent. It's not old but it's not recent either. He sniffs at it a bit more, trying to identify it. It's not a wolf or a cougar but then what is it. Still, Kasim looks up back up at the bird with a satisfied smile on his face while saying, "I think me and my life are pretty much in no danger." he smirks comming to the conclusion that if it's not a wolf or cougar, he's got nothing to worry about. Natural curiosity kicking in, Kasim asks the bird, "So what's this so called /dangerous creature/ like?"

"Fool, then, are you." Ash preens his feathers as he blinks down at the cougar slyly. "The creature kills like a shadow, wants to kill wooves." He tilts his head the other way, shaking out his wings as he comments, "If he is not evil, then what call you when somebeast wants to kill pups?" It sure sounds evil to Ash. Even /he/ wouldn't desire to harm a baby animal...unless it was for good reason.

"Call me what you will, stranger, but I think I should be just fine." Kasim knows that the scent wasn't a wolf, cougar, or a bear so he should be ok with this 'dangerous creature'. Kasim can't help but give a silent chuckle at the bird's attempt to pronounce the word 'wolf'. Then his attitute change at the bird's last statement. So this guy kills pups, eh? "As much as I would /want/ to call that evil, I simply can't. I would call your little friend a sick and twisted coward if he says he's a killer when he can only settle for pups." is Kasim's responce and, although it's in a calm voice, he can't help but letting his malice slip though. It took a lot to get Kasim rilled up but the talk of one killing pups always did the trick. Then something clicks in his head. "I know of a wolf pack around here. Would this coward be looking at one of the pups there?" Kasim thinks he already knows the answer, but he prays in his head that he's wrong...

The bird chuckles dryly at the cougar's reaction, but freezes suddenly. Turning his gaze intensely upon the feline, he gives a icy glare. "I am not friend of him." He states, desiring to press this information. Ash might think it's interesting, maybe even humorous that that fox wanted to harm the pup, but saying that Ash was /friends/ with that monster? That was going /too/ far. He clacks his beak in annoyance, pacing sideways along the branch. "What wolf pack?" Ash honestly doesn't know /exactly/ where Larkspur's family is, but just /which/ one it is. "Lazuli?"


Kasim gives an amused smirk to the bird at his obvious discomfort at the word 'friend'. He just simply says, "Of course, my appologies." but it's that type of saying that he only halfway means it. Kasim's heart drops to his stomach when the bird mentiones the name 'Lazuli'. Although he didn't even know of the pack by any means, he knew who was /in/ it and that's what worried him. Quickly, Kasim responds, "I'm not sure what the pack is called, I just know of a pack somewhere in these neck of the woods." he quickly lies while simply shrugging. Inside, however, Kasim is having a miny panic attack. Kasim needed to know more from this bird, so he questioned further. "If the coward is close to a wolf pack he must have picked out some type of target for his hatred of wolves. Am I correct." Again, Kasim prays that he's wrong but the answer just seems obvious. If this was true, then Lazuli was in danger.

Ash narrows his eyes ponderingly at the cougar. "Yes, you are correct, mountain dweller." The bird blinks widely at him, shifting from foot to foot almost anxiously. What if the fox was nearby, overhearing? That fox...Crimson, he said his name was...was incredibly disturbing, even now. "I believe he wants kill girl pup there." He pauses, as if letting the drama ensue. "Larkspur, I think."

If Kasim thought that things were bad before, then he was sadly mistaken. At the mention of Lark, Kasim's heart skips a beat and his eyes show terror, but it's only for a quick second. He doesn't want this bird to maybe relay any info that could be usefull to him. "I see." is all Kasim answers in as calm a voice he can manage. Kasim's head, however is buzzing it's almost uncomfortable. Not only is Lazuli in danger, it's more specificly Lark, of all animals. Kasim knows that, if anything ever happened to Lark, Maul might just go overboard. Comming out of his thoughts, Kasim turns back to the bird and asks, "Would you happen to know the name of this coward? Oh, and what is your name?" he adds as an afterthought. Best to keep the bird not wondering anything...

The precaution to keep the falcon guessing is noticed by the sharp flyer. The feathers gently aligned along Ash's upper eye arch slightly as he gazes down at the cougar. "I do know its name, coward it may not be, however." Ash clicks his tongue against the roof of his beak, breathing out suddenly as if becoming tired of it all, but doesn't go on to actually say what the fox's name /is/. Well, that's not what he asked, did he? No, just if Ash /knew/ it. The falcon preens himself smugly. What a sly bird he was. Casting another arrogant glance over the feline, the bird adds, "You need not know my name, 'tis not important..." He winks broadly, "Though the young she-woof is. You cannot help now, though, foolish cat."

Darn! Looks like he was noticed after all. And of all things, he sees his question was answered, but not the way he had intended. Stupid bird. -_- "I'm sorry, let me re-phrase then. What is the cowards name?" Now there's no wriggling out of that one. Kasim is starting to feel a little annoyed at the bird. The more time he spends here, the less time he has to warn the pack. Then the bird goes and doesn't answer his question again, though he hadn't expected him to anyways. Kasim decides to ignore the last part of the bird's statement, trying to shake off his nerves.

Ash chuckles dryly, leaning down as if to further dramatize his words. "Foolish One, what need is there of the creature's name? It is like shadow, waiting for time to kill. The young wolfess is good as dead now." Ash cocks his head slightly, watching the cougar's expression, and hoping ferociously to see some disappointment...even fear! Ohh yes, how great is it to see fear and terror in the eyes of the great predators. Mmm, this is fun. But then the falcon seems to relent a bit in his answer, slowly speaking again. "...I tell you a hint, Wanderer. The enemy you hate has a name like that of what the young she-wolf will be after the enemy reaches her." With those cryptic words, Ash becomes silent, watching the cougar.

If the bird was looking for some disappointment or fear, then he'll be sadly disappointed himself. Kasim just shoots a blank glare at the bird. Inside him, however, Kasim is having another panic attack. He has to get to Lazuli quickly and warn them. Also, he needs to worry about Maul somewhat as well. If news ever reached her ears, there would be no stopping her from coming back here. Plus, if anyone knew about the females connection with each other...this could be bad. Kasim was about to leave until he hears the bird speak again. Hmmmm... The creatures name is what Lark will be after he's done with her. Murder? Slaughter? A pile of blood? Ahh, who knows and who cares, it's not important. Trying one last thing, Kasim turns back to the bird and says, "By the way, what kind of animal is this coward who is from the shadows?" Maybe that's his name, Shadow??

Ah, that blank look quiets any unsettled nerves in the falcon's heart. Good, he doesn't know the creature's name...though Ash can imagine that Crimson lets few creature's actually see him, much less know his name. Ash let his head rise high for a moment, actually feeling rather proud of himself for having been trusted with such personal information. That is...if that was /really/ the fox's name...maybe he was just playing? Eh. That would be frusterating. The bird shakes his thoughts away to clear his mind. "What kind of animal? A sly one, Wanderer, he is the Dark-Eyed One." That /definitely/ clears everything up now!

Why can't others just be cooperative for a change. That bird is pretty cocky up in that tree but if he were down at Kasim's level, he'd probably be....willing to tell Kasim the answers he needed. Still, Kasim feels somewhat relaxed by the birds responce. If it had been someone powerfull and able to take on a cougar, the bird would have most definently bragged about it. Seeing that he was getting no where fast, Kasim just decides to turn around and start moving to where he thinks Lazuli could be. Before he turns to go, he turns his attention to the bird and says, "Well Winged-Coward, I want to thank you for all the information you have given me. You helped me more than you think you did." Like telling about the whole ordeal in the first place. Even if he didn't get the name of the creature, he learned it attacked from the shadows, has dark eyes, his name was something that resembled something that he hoped Lark would end up as, and that he was probably a smaller animal. That's better than nothing. Kasim turns around and starts to walk away. Then he stops and looks over his shoulder to the bird and says, "Oh, and if you ever see your little /friend/ again, tell him that if he tries to even touch Larkspur..." he pauses before saying, "...I'll simply kill him." This last part is said in an almost friendly and joyous tone. It's a little unnerving to Kasim even. With that, he turns and starts his treck towards Lark. Hopefully, he'll get there in time...

The bird gazes after the cougar, eyes narrowing in icy silence as he's insulted. Winged Coward? Well, what else is Ash going to do? Either tell this stranger of Crimson's name, and probably become a target of that monsterously frightening fox in revenge, or keep it from the cougar and let him consider Ash a 'coward'? Then Ash ponders.../is/ he being a coward? He hasn't even seen what the fox could do...does he have /reason/ to fear Crimson? The falcon shuffles from foot to foot as he answers back, a raspy tone mingled with sarcasm, "I wish you luck in saving the she-woof, Wanderer." Ash blinks steadily, speaking his last words to the cougar, "You'll need it." With those words, the falcon stretches his wings, flapping them a few times before taking off and soaring away, going to rest in a place hopefully safe from that dreaded fox.