Post by tamaharus on May 30, 2006 1:33:41 GMT -5
Setting: Deepening Woods
Characters:
Teague
Tamaharus
Pinta
It is dark in the woods. The moon throws what feeble light it can through the thick foilage and that light bounces lethargically on the tail of the fog and the backs of gnats, but it is, for the most part, dark. It is a weight upon Teague, this darkness, and the red deer travels through it with flared nostrils and wide, frightened eyes. His large ears flick to and fro anxiously. The young stag despairs at the closeness of it and his voice clutches at his throat, willing it to lift. But it won't. He raises his head and pauses for a moment in a small clearing, his hooves buried in the detritus of a forest. He sniffs, peering about. Why had he come this way? Clearly it had been a mistake.
Mistake it certainly had been. A pair of brilliant eyes shine below a lichen covered log in the distance; Tamaharus having to crouch extremely low in order to get a good look. This young deer has wandered into his home range and while he wouldn't dream of slicing him down before his time, lessons must certainly be learned. "I bid you warm tidings, my good sir!" The bulky lynx hisses from behind the log. Tufted ears flick forward and purring erupts from his throat as a deep breath is taken.
Teague freezes, as his kind are wont to do. His head snaps to attention, his eyes, if possible, even wider than before as they desperately search the darkness for the source of the voice. There! A glint in the darkness. The lynx's eyes catch the light, however weak it is, and gleam eerily from beneath the log. The young spiker's brows furrow, but he does not move despite all screams of logic. What had the beast said? The words were decievingly polite, and Teague hated the taste of them on his tongue. Filthy, lying creature! The wild cat's loud rumbling purr keeps any retort firmly lodged in his throat, however, and the deer remains frozen.
Those shimmering eyes narrow when it becomes clear that they've been spotted, and Tamaharus raises to hop over the log, his sizeable form becoming visible. "I would be more cautious where I stalked if I were in your hooves, young squire." Intelligent eyes flicker amongst the surrounding area as a sly smile parts the lynx's face. "Such a /dangerous/ place to
venture. Have you no sense of caution?"
The deer lowers his head slightly, as if presenting his long, sharp antlers to the lynx would make any difference. It gives him a sense of authority over the situation, anyway, however false. He turns to face the lynx dead on and swallows down his
fear to let bravado reign him instead. "Herla do not stalk, that is something only your kind does." His voice wavers. He is
not brave, he is lost. He is terrified. But at least he can be angry. "And it's your kind that makes it dangerous at all."
He inhales, cursing himself. Stupid, stupid! Why must you always do this?
The only reply is a quick twitch of whiskers as Tamaharus continues to stare coldly at Teague. "/My/ kind, dear sir? I
wouldn't even /presume/ to take one so young. You've still bastards to sire that I may know dearly, good sir." Another harsh
grin is offered as the big cat begins to skulk a circle around the deer. "I am /far/ less threatening than the thundersticks
of 'man.'" The latter word seems to spit out contemptuously.
Teague's ears flick back as he tries to make sense of the lynx's words. Does that mean he isn't going to kill him? Hm, not likely! His flanks twitch nervously as the cat begins to circle, and his dark eyes follow the murky silhouette. His nostrils flare angrily. "Man isn't here now, is he? I know better than to lurk by the Man's home..." The stag grunts. Ah, but this was a bad situation. It didn't matter how less threatening the lynx was than man, it was enough to terrify Teague.
"Man's grip spreads far longer than one would expect, young squire." Eyes flare anew as the Lynx's cool voice soothes onwards. "And while /I/ may not bring you down, I sincerely doubt the malevolent forebears of Man's stonetouched jaws bear my foresight. Tread carefully, young squire. Stay alert. You have many a meal to breed for me before your /throat/ is /ruptured/."
The words clearly affect Teague and he struggles to regain composure. His eyes flicker about nervously. What was the lynx
talking about? Were there hunters in the woods? ...Dogs? The last comment upsets his thinking. Oh yes, live to die. Is that
what life is to be? Bravado valiantly lays claim to his tongue once again. "You'll let me live for your own future security, hm? How kind of you."
"I'll try not to let it get to my head." Tamaharus retorts as his circling stops and his fangtips glisten in the moonlight. "I truly do wonder, though, what blood I'll feast upon if their ancestors pause for idle chit chat with their hunters. Offer a bow to the hunter for me; while you so warmly embrace this habit of suicide. Describe to me the taste of metal in your veins."
Hm, now would be a good time to run, eh? His brain sends frnatic signals to his disobedient limbs. Move, you idiot, run! But
no, the lynx's morbid speech has terror seeping through his thoughts, clouding logic and keeping his joints frozen. His ears
pull back further and a shudder jolts down his spine. No, ignore the cat's teasing! You are no mouse to huddle scared in the
corner. Do not great spears grow upon your brow? The red deer's eyes narrow. With a sudden burst, he lunges forward, his
long antler unhindered by catching tines downward and pointed at the lynx.
Satisfaction grows like a weed in the Lynx's mind as he hops aside the young deer's assault and offers his own; A practiced
tackle, the aim of which is to latch his jaws around the hart's throat.
Teague barks in surprise and hurriedly rears up. It is an awkward motion as, in lunging, his weight was thrown to the front of his body. He manages it, though, but ends up hitting the ground again hard with his front hooves, right in front of the cat.
The rearing forces Tamaharus to take a bunny hop back to remain safe, but when the deer topples over he falls upon the desired throat vigorously; sure to prick flesh but not to cause a fatal wound. A quick clenched is delivered in order to both stop any thrashing and get attention.
Teague freezes again, utter terror having entered him through the teeth embedded in his throat. Breaths leave his nostrils in short, staccato houghs, and his eyes are wide, staring straight ahead. He winces when the lynx's jaws are tightened and
the jolt of pain makes him shudder. The sensation brings emotion back to his brain, and a firey spectrum of thoughts race
through his mind. See, you knew he couldn't be trusted! Why'd you come here? This is it, isn't it. Now I'll die.
The jaws let up enough to allow breathing, but little more; the only noise Tamaharus makes is his incessant purring as one of
his massive pads reaches up and digs its claws into Teague's forehead, raking down until a deep gash is made. Once the wound feels mean enough to form a scar, the Lynx releases the deer completely and bounds a few lunges aside. "Find your hooves, feel your muscles. Rise. /Now/." A hint of anger creeps behind the eerily cool tone as Tam tilts his head and stares at the deer.
Teague's face is taut with pain as the lynx's claws rake down his forehead. The blood trickles to the rims of his eyes and he winces, dislodging them like tears. And then, suddenly, the pressure on his throat is gone, and his joints spring into action. He leaps backwards, his expression wild. He needs no urging from the lynx to turn tail and flee the dark woods, although its words ring loudly in his ears as he bounds through the undergrowth. This is not a lesson he will soon forget.
A satisfied glare trails after the departing buck before the true problem of the situation sets in. Tamaharus is most certainly dirty, and this is not what Tamaharus enjoys to be. Preening begins immediately; starting at his bloodied lips and moving towards his pads. It's hard being the voice of reason.
Slowly a large form enters through the trees, rustling the shrubbery. A wet black nose sniffs the ground and his small ears
turn forward. Leaping over a small dip in the earth, a large grey canine enters the area.
Grooming comes to an abrupt stop and an ear flicks to the rustle, soon followed by attentive eyes. The lynx is soon on his
paws and slinking his way back to a less open position with a wide, amiable smile. "Aha! One of my /esteemed/ neighbors!
Many, /many/ fine tidings to you."
Pinta's slim head was beset by small, glowing brown eyes as a grin adorned his pale lips. He nodded to the feline as his tail
faintly wagged. "Well, it is nice to meet such a neighbor as you!" A hearty laugh escaped his mouth.
A flurry of thoughts stir behind Tam's thoughtful, copper eyes as they fix themselves on the large wolf and he slinks into another large circle to give the beast more room. "So strange, I've heard your packs howling so very much, but never had the pleasure of an introduction." The feline's own bobbed tail raises as he comes to a stop and sits down onto his haunches. Another polite smile is offered before a slight bow. "I'm Tamaharus. Whose company am I blessed with tonight?"
The wolf trots into the clearing and takes a moment before sitting across from his fellow beast. He bowed his head is return.
"Thank you for the welcome, Tamaharus. It is much appreciated." He cleared his throat as he added in a rolling Scottish accent, "My name is Pinta."
"Pinta..." Tamaharus echoes in his own highborn voice. "It is /quite/ an honor, Pinta." Eyes narrow serenely; a look of content as feline coolly studies lupine. "You're rather large. Even for your kin." There's a certain alert tension in his stance, from the tip of the lynx's stubby tail to his perked ears. "Are you the 'leader' of your pack?"
The wolf examined the feline as his eyes narrowed ever slightly, not in anger, merely in concentration. "Admitted. I'm a little on the heavy side, my friend. But yes, I am the lead male of my pack." His ear perked, awaiting the reply.
Purring picks up at an accelerated rate as Tamaharus offers a quick nod. "Mmm...well then. I /do/ believe we'll have many
lengthy conversations in the future. Now, I fear, will not be one of those. I'd best be off to attend to certain /base/ matters. I'm sure you understand." Both whiskers and ruffs jump with the thin smile that breaks his maw before Tamaharus
bounds back into the night towards his home.
"Understandable, friend," Pinta barks softly after the lynx.
Characters:
Teague
Tamaharus
Pinta
It is dark in the woods. The moon throws what feeble light it can through the thick foilage and that light bounces lethargically on the tail of the fog and the backs of gnats, but it is, for the most part, dark. It is a weight upon Teague, this darkness, and the red deer travels through it with flared nostrils and wide, frightened eyes. His large ears flick to and fro anxiously. The young stag despairs at the closeness of it and his voice clutches at his throat, willing it to lift. But it won't. He raises his head and pauses for a moment in a small clearing, his hooves buried in the detritus of a forest. He sniffs, peering about. Why had he come this way? Clearly it had been a mistake.
Mistake it certainly had been. A pair of brilliant eyes shine below a lichen covered log in the distance; Tamaharus having to crouch extremely low in order to get a good look. This young deer has wandered into his home range and while he wouldn't dream of slicing him down before his time, lessons must certainly be learned. "I bid you warm tidings, my good sir!" The bulky lynx hisses from behind the log. Tufted ears flick forward and purring erupts from his throat as a deep breath is taken.
Teague freezes, as his kind are wont to do. His head snaps to attention, his eyes, if possible, even wider than before as they desperately search the darkness for the source of the voice. There! A glint in the darkness. The lynx's eyes catch the light, however weak it is, and gleam eerily from beneath the log. The young spiker's brows furrow, but he does not move despite all screams of logic. What had the beast said? The words were decievingly polite, and Teague hated the taste of them on his tongue. Filthy, lying creature! The wild cat's loud rumbling purr keeps any retort firmly lodged in his throat, however, and the deer remains frozen.
Those shimmering eyes narrow when it becomes clear that they've been spotted, and Tamaharus raises to hop over the log, his sizeable form becoming visible. "I would be more cautious where I stalked if I were in your hooves, young squire." Intelligent eyes flicker amongst the surrounding area as a sly smile parts the lynx's face. "Such a /dangerous/ place to
venture. Have you no sense of caution?"
The deer lowers his head slightly, as if presenting his long, sharp antlers to the lynx would make any difference. It gives him a sense of authority over the situation, anyway, however false. He turns to face the lynx dead on and swallows down his
fear to let bravado reign him instead. "Herla do not stalk, that is something only your kind does." His voice wavers. He is
not brave, he is lost. He is terrified. But at least he can be angry. "And it's your kind that makes it dangerous at all."
He inhales, cursing himself. Stupid, stupid! Why must you always do this?
The only reply is a quick twitch of whiskers as Tamaharus continues to stare coldly at Teague. "/My/ kind, dear sir? I
wouldn't even /presume/ to take one so young. You've still bastards to sire that I may know dearly, good sir." Another harsh
grin is offered as the big cat begins to skulk a circle around the deer. "I am /far/ less threatening than the thundersticks
of 'man.'" The latter word seems to spit out contemptuously.
Teague's ears flick back as he tries to make sense of the lynx's words. Does that mean he isn't going to kill him? Hm, not likely! His flanks twitch nervously as the cat begins to circle, and his dark eyes follow the murky silhouette. His nostrils flare angrily. "Man isn't here now, is he? I know better than to lurk by the Man's home..." The stag grunts. Ah, but this was a bad situation. It didn't matter how less threatening the lynx was than man, it was enough to terrify Teague.
"Man's grip spreads far longer than one would expect, young squire." Eyes flare anew as the Lynx's cool voice soothes onwards. "And while /I/ may not bring you down, I sincerely doubt the malevolent forebears of Man's stonetouched jaws bear my foresight. Tread carefully, young squire. Stay alert. You have many a meal to breed for me before your /throat/ is /ruptured/."
The words clearly affect Teague and he struggles to regain composure. His eyes flicker about nervously. What was the lynx
talking about? Were there hunters in the woods? ...Dogs? The last comment upsets his thinking. Oh yes, live to die. Is that
what life is to be? Bravado valiantly lays claim to his tongue once again. "You'll let me live for your own future security, hm? How kind of you."
"I'll try not to let it get to my head." Tamaharus retorts as his circling stops and his fangtips glisten in the moonlight. "I truly do wonder, though, what blood I'll feast upon if their ancestors pause for idle chit chat with their hunters. Offer a bow to the hunter for me; while you so warmly embrace this habit of suicide. Describe to me the taste of metal in your veins."
Hm, now would be a good time to run, eh? His brain sends frnatic signals to his disobedient limbs. Move, you idiot, run! But
no, the lynx's morbid speech has terror seeping through his thoughts, clouding logic and keeping his joints frozen. His ears
pull back further and a shudder jolts down his spine. No, ignore the cat's teasing! You are no mouse to huddle scared in the
corner. Do not great spears grow upon your brow? The red deer's eyes narrow. With a sudden burst, he lunges forward, his
long antler unhindered by catching tines downward and pointed at the lynx.
Satisfaction grows like a weed in the Lynx's mind as he hops aside the young deer's assault and offers his own; A practiced
tackle, the aim of which is to latch his jaws around the hart's throat.
Teague barks in surprise and hurriedly rears up. It is an awkward motion as, in lunging, his weight was thrown to the front of his body. He manages it, though, but ends up hitting the ground again hard with his front hooves, right in front of the cat.
The rearing forces Tamaharus to take a bunny hop back to remain safe, but when the deer topples over he falls upon the desired throat vigorously; sure to prick flesh but not to cause a fatal wound. A quick clenched is delivered in order to both stop any thrashing and get attention.
Teague freezes again, utter terror having entered him through the teeth embedded in his throat. Breaths leave his nostrils in short, staccato houghs, and his eyes are wide, staring straight ahead. He winces when the lynx's jaws are tightened and
the jolt of pain makes him shudder. The sensation brings emotion back to his brain, and a firey spectrum of thoughts race
through his mind. See, you knew he couldn't be trusted! Why'd you come here? This is it, isn't it. Now I'll die.
The jaws let up enough to allow breathing, but little more; the only noise Tamaharus makes is his incessant purring as one of
his massive pads reaches up and digs its claws into Teague's forehead, raking down until a deep gash is made. Once the wound feels mean enough to form a scar, the Lynx releases the deer completely and bounds a few lunges aside. "Find your hooves, feel your muscles. Rise. /Now/." A hint of anger creeps behind the eerily cool tone as Tam tilts his head and stares at the deer.
Teague's face is taut with pain as the lynx's claws rake down his forehead. The blood trickles to the rims of his eyes and he winces, dislodging them like tears. And then, suddenly, the pressure on his throat is gone, and his joints spring into action. He leaps backwards, his expression wild. He needs no urging from the lynx to turn tail and flee the dark woods, although its words ring loudly in his ears as he bounds through the undergrowth. This is not a lesson he will soon forget.
A satisfied glare trails after the departing buck before the true problem of the situation sets in. Tamaharus is most certainly dirty, and this is not what Tamaharus enjoys to be. Preening begins immediately; starting at his bloodied lips and moving towards his pads. It's hard being the voice of reason.
Slowly a large form enters through the trees, rustling the shrubbery. A wet black nose sniffs the ground and his small ears
turn forward. Leaping over a small dip in the earth, a large grey canine enters the area.
Grooming comes to an abrupt stop and an ear flicks to the rustle, soon followed by attentive eyes. The lynx is soon on his
paws and slinking his way back to a less open position with a wide, amiable smile. "Aha! One of my /esteemed/ neighbors!
Many, /many/ fine tidings to you."
Pinta's slim head was beset by small, glowing brown eyes as a grin adorned his pale lips. He nodded to the feline as his tail
faintly wagged. "Well, it is nice to meet such a neighbor as you!" A hearty laugh escaped his mouth.
A flurry of thoughts stir behind Tam's thoughtful, copper eyes as they fix themselves on the large wolf and he slinks into another large circle to give the beast more room. "So strange, I've heard your packs howling so very much, but never had the pleasure of an introduction." The feline's own bobbed tail raises as he comes to a stop and sits down onto his haunches. Another polite smile is offered before a slight bow. "I'm Tamaharus. Whose company am I blessed with tonight?"
The wolf trots into the clearing and takes a moment before sitting across from his fellow beast. He bowed his head is return.
"Thank you for the welcome, Tamaharus. It is much appreciated." He cleared his throat as he added in a rolling Scottish accent, "My name is Pinta."
"Pinta..." Tamaharus echoes in his own highborn voice. "It is /quite/ an honor, Pinta." Eyes narrow serenely; a look of content as feline coolly studies lupine. "You're rather large. Even for your kin." There's a certain alert tension in his stance, from the tip of the lynx's stubby tail to his perked ears. "Are you the 'leader' of your pack?"
The wolf examined the feline as his eyes narrowed ever slightly, not in anger, merely in concentration. "Admitted. I'm a little on the heavy side, my friend. But yes, I am the lead male of my pack." His ear perked, awaiting the reply.
Purring picks up at an accelerated rate as Tamaharus offers a quick nod. "Mmm...well then. I /do/ believe we'll have many
lengthy conversations in the future. Now, I fear, will not be one of those. I'd best be off to attend to certain /base/ matters. I'm sure you understand." Both whiskers and ruffs jump with the thin smile that breaks his maw before Tamaharus
bounds back into the night towards his home.
"Understandable, friend," Pinta barks softly after the lynx.