anemosagkelos
The day had not started off well -- or well it had and then it had dipped to the point where a scowl was ever too at home on her lips -- but she had mostly straightened it out. Or bashed it's head in, that was much more precise. Not that it hadn't left evidence and she hated that.
She wasn't ashamed of her nature. She knew she had been spoiled and thus become selfish but she hadn't the mind to care. And the more she saw, the more it seemed the selfless got nothing (and wouldn't that be a pitiful existence). She found things more interesting in the shadows, the questionable, the downright wrong than she did in the light -- although the Motherfather knew anything shiny turned her head faster than a compliment -- and that was all fine with her. It was. Only she rather liked her nature to be kept secret until she knew it was appreciated.
Hence the narrowed brows at the evidence. She glowered sharpened rocks at the caiman's corpse as she tried to wash the blood splattered on her front left leg off in the not-at-all pristine waters. It was not going well as she seemed to only be getting mud or silt to settle along her fur. It might have been a temporary solution if it didn't hurt the small incisions the damn critter's teeth had left in retaliation.
"Damn it," she hissed and stomped her hoof. The water splashed and the caiman's body sunk a little further into the waves. She sighed, that wouldn't stay down forever. Perhaps she should leave before anyone saw her.
Huni Pi
The buck was wary in his exploration. He'd been on the trail of a certain doe for weeks now and while he was certain said doe was unaware she was being followed, he found she was covering her tracks surprisingly well. Even his eaglehound was having trouble detecting her scent. When he had gone past the range of what had been familiar woodscape, he was immediately on the alert, ready and prepared for whatever dangers may lurk.
His ears flicked towards the sound of running water and debated on pausing for a drink. With a cursory glance to his familiar (who looked as if he was doing perfectly fine), the buck was about to go elsewhere when he heard splashing. Someone was there!
Perhaps, no, it couldn't be her could it? It wouldn't do him any harm to check, would it? A silent gesture of his tail towards the water, and the eaglehound nodded in understanding. The pair quietly crept up, eyes searching for signs that they weren't alone.
However, instead of the doe they were searching for, it was a complete stranger than they came across. One who seemed to have seen better days, judging from the wounds on her legs.
"Greetings," he called out, his voice unintentionally gruff. Truth be told, he wasn't even aware of the gravelly tone he was using. This was how he normally sounded.
anemosagkelos
She had about decided that this clouded creek was absolutely useless. She wouldn't even drink from the filth riddled water. Although that may have been because of the dead body lurking within its depths. She huffed, a breath to release her increasing frustration with how hard a simple thing like cleaning her fur was becoming. She would have to find a clearer basin of water or hope a downpour came to save her the trouble. She tilted her head upward, red eyes peering from beneath lashes to the canopy of leaves above her head, and saw the filtered sunlight of a clear day. A clearer basin of water it was. Unless she could get her hound to clean it. She wasn't very fond of that idea either.
She turned, the water itself was starting to incur her wraith and she'd look very foolish to start whining at it, deciding the most important things were to get away from the spot and to clean her foreleg. And then she felt eyes on her. She stiffened -- breathed out to limber her muscles and ease her mind -- before slowly turning her head. The voice was not inviting when her ears flicked to catch it and she almost felt like a mere filly caught doing something she shouldn't be. She almost scoffed at the thought, almost giggled, because even as a filly she'd been a charming thing.
"Well, hello," she replied with a sweet voice. She turned all the way around, a slow circle with hint of a grimace marring her features as she executed a slight limp. The physical features were exaggerated of course to make sure she was presented under the right facade -- sweet, innocent doe -- to belie how capable she was. Even if she preferred that she never showed it. Wasn't it better to always be underestimated? She smiled even as her eyes drifted from right to left, whether he'd take it as her being fearful or something else mattered little. The tuft of her hound's head was barely in view but it was another ace in her arsenal should things not go as they should.
She shuffled her hooves as if nervous, "I'm very glad to see a buck such as yourself, so strong." She wanted very badly to shudder and perhaps to vomit to rinse her mouth of such nonsense but she held her dislike far from her face and blockaded her eyes behind pools of hope. She had a feeling she was going to have to be a very, very in-need damsel and while she would hate it every second, it would amuse her greatly later.
She turned, the water itself was starting to incur her wraith and she'd look very foolish to start whining at it, deciding the most important things were to get away from the spot and to clean her foreleg. And then she felt eyes on her. She stiffened -- breathed out to limber her muscles and ease her mind -- before slowly turning her head. The voice was not inviting when her ears flicked to catch it and she almost felt like a mere filly caught doing something she shouldn't be. She almost scoffed at the thought, almost giggled, because even as a filly she'd been a charming thing.
"Well, hello," she replied with a sweet voice. She turned all the way around, a slow circle with hint of a grimace marring her features as she executed a slight limp. The physical features were exaggerated of course to make sure she was presented under the right facade -- sweet, innocent doe -- to belie how capable she was. Even if she preferred that she never showed it. Wasn't it better to always be underestimated? She smiled even as her eyes drifted from right to left, whether he'd take it as her being fearful or something else mattered little. The tuft of her hound's head was barely in view but it was another ace in her arsenal should things not go as they should.
She shuffled her hooves as if nervous, "I'm very glad to see a buck such as yourself, so strong." She wanted very badly to shudder and perhaps to vomit to rinse her mouth of such nonsense but she held her dislike far from her face and blockaded her eyes behind pools of hope. She had a feeling she was going to have to be a very, very in-need damsel and while she would hate it every second, it would amuse her greatly later.
Huni Pi
Sheen's attention was immediately drawn to the doe's injury, all other features seemingly irrelevant until he could properly asses how badly hurt she was. The limp in her gait suggested more than just cut muscles but a broken bone as well. He was about to offer a suggestion to the doe when she remarked how strong he was.
The buck blinked at that before his eyes narrowed in suspicion, ears pressed low, "And just how would you know of my strength?" His voice remains gruff, sounding even sterner than earlier. This was unfamiliar grounds, a land unexplored to the buck. He had yet to perform any feats of strength or engage in any battle for territory. He'd never seen the doe before and even though she was injured, he could not lower his guard.
His eaglehound scented the presence of another hound and let out a bark, the crest on his head flattening as he growled. Was this some sort of ambush?!
The buck blinked at that before his eyes narrowed in suspicion, ears pressed low, "And just how would you know of my strength?" His voice remains gruff, sounding even sterner than earlier. This was unfamiliar grounds, a land unexplored to the buck. He had yet to perform any feats of strength or engage in any battle for territory. He'd never seen the doe before and even though she was injured, he could not lower his guard.
His eaglehound scented the presence of another hound and let out a bark, the crest on his head flattening as he growled. Was this some sort of ambush?!
anemosagkelos
If she hadn't been trying desperately to exaggerate her plight, she might have stomped a hoof or thrown her head back to glare at the sky. Of all the--oh, no doubt the Motherfather found this rotten turn of (un)luck amusing. It was a brief moment all quietly held within her body of irritation and impatience.
Outward she simply seemed startled. She crossed her eyes to focus on a rock resting on the ground. All the more to look confused and perhaps stung by his volley. She frowned and took a step back with a slight wobble. She was "injured" after all.
"I, I didn't mean any-anything by it." Lie; she most certainly had. "I only," she pretended to swallow, "I only meant that you're a buck an-and surely stronger than me..." Lie; she meant he was a buck and would surely love to have his ego stoked. "I'm sorry. I...I'm sorry." Truth; she was sorry but only that she couldn't kick him in the head. She grimaced as his mutt barked. Or maybe she was sorry she couldn't kick him and his hound in the head.
She let out a slow breath, "Wander, come." The command was met quickly even though the hound moved in a slow nonthreatening manner. Once the eaglehound had come to her side she told it simply to rest and it gave a long stretch before curling beside her. "Thank you. Good dog," she told it -- she meant it, too. The female hound had responded wonderfully to her training and was more often than not a very convincing ally.
With a smile to her dog, she lifted her head to look at the stranger. She strangled the smile from her lips to look nervous (although at the moment that wasn't as much of a stretch as it should have been). "She's a good dog. She won't hurt you, if that's what yours is afraid of..." There was no way she'd let slip that the dog only wouldn't hurt them unless she told it to.
The deep pink-red eyes seemed to be impossibly wide as she stared at the two. Where had all the bucks of old gone? Those stupid ones who thought they were heroes and a gift to her from the Motherfather itself. They were so much easier to manipulate.
Outward she simply seemed startled. She crossed her eyes to focus on a rock resting on the ground. All the more to look confused and perhaps stung by his volley. She frowned and took a step back with a slight wobble. She was "injured" after all.
"I, I didn't mean any-anything by it." Lie; she most certainly had. "I only," she pretended to swallow, "I only meant that you're a buck an-and surely stronger than me..." Lie; she meant he was a buck and would surely love to have his ego stoked. "I'm sorry. I...I'm sorry." Truth; she was sorry but only that she couldn't kick him in the head. She grimaced as his mutt barked. Or maybe she was sorry she couldn't kick him and his hound in the head.
She let out a slow breath, "Wander, come." The command was met quickly even though the hound moved in a slow nonthreatening manner. Once the eaglehound had come to her side she told it simply to rest and it gave a long stretch before curling beside her. "Thank you. Good dog," she told it -- she meant it, too. The female hound had responded wonderfully to her training and was more often than not a very convincing ally.
With a smile to her dog, she lifted her head to look at the stranger. She strangled the smile from her lips to look nervous (although at the moment that wasn't as much of a stretch as it should have been). "She's a good dog. She won't hurt you, if that's what yours is afraid of..." There was no way she'd let slip that the dog only wouldn't hurt them unless she told it to.
The deep pink-red eyes seemed to be impossibly wide as she stared at the two. Where had all the bucks of old gone? Those stupid ones who thought they were heroes and a gift to her from the Motherfather itself. They were so much easier to manipulate.
Huni Pi
The eaglehound remained wary despite the other's emerging presence, the plumage cresting his head still flattened back in suspicion. Glue Toe remained close to his master, much to Sheen's appreciation.
The buck was not one to underestimate others, having learned the dangers of doing so could cost him his life. Or a certain bond he had hoped to establish in the case of a certain doe. He narrowed his eyes at the injured female, he didn't seem as keen to help her as he had been earlier but if the injury was genuine he grudgingly admitted, "Strength is not always measured in that manner. Though I wouldn't advise testing mine, especially in your current condition."
A threat? No, it was a promise that if this was a trap of any sort, Sheen wasn't going to be holding back, injured doe or not.
The buck was not one to underestimate others, having learned the dangers of doing so could cost him his life. Or a certain bond he had hoped to establish in the case of a certain doe. He narrowed his eyes at the injured female, he didn't seem as keen to help her as he had been earlier but if the injury was genuine he grudgingly admitted, "Strength is not always measured in that manner. Though I wouldn't advise testing mine, especially in your current condition."
A threat? No, it was a promise that if this was a trap of any sort, Sheen wasn't going to be holding back, injured doe or not.
anemosagkelos
He was dreadfully annoying, wasn't he? Under normal circumstances she might have found his suspicion and want to keep his wits favorable. At least long enough to talk with him awhile until he become dreadfully boring (which was better than now, at any rate). What exactly did he think she was attempting to do? There was no interest in actually flirting with him, she had a type and he was not it. And there was no reason to try to kill him, although she fully believed she could put up one hell of a fight "current condition" or not -- disregarding that they were matched mutt to mutt.
She watched him, damsel was not going to work. He wasn't stupid enough (a compliment); he was uptight (which negated the compliment completely). Even so, she didn't want to be completely hostile. Which left her many avenues still to tread. However only one would prevent the need to bash the head in of a perfectly innocent creature to release all the agitation. She really disliked being rattled and angered; if she didn't have her wits about her all bets were off.
"It would be my luck," she sighed, "that when in need of help, the only buck in sight is a jerk." There was little to tell her how he would take that assessment but in the eyes of an injured doe -- well it was hardly like she could call him anything else. Perhaps she could make him feel horrid. Oh that would cheer her a little and possibly make the run-in worthwhile. As it was now, she wouldn't have been at all opposed to lightning striking him dead and then she could forget all about him. Until then, she pretended that she was far more interested in the dirt while a look of hopeless wallowing flirted ever more strongly on her face. Yes, she quite looked like she might burst into tears any second.
She watched him, damsel was not going to work. He wasn't stupid enough (a compliment); he was uptight (which negated the compliment completely). Even so, she didn't want to be completely hostile. Which left her many avenues still to tread. However only one would prevent the need to bash the head in of a perfectly innocent creature to release all the agitation. She really disliked being rattled and angered; if she didn't have her wits about her all bets were off.
"It would be my luck," she sighed, "that when in need of help, the only buck in sight is a jerk." There was little to tell her how he would take that assessment but in the eyes of an injured doe -- well it was hardly like she could call him anything else. Perhaps she could make him feel horrid. Oh that would cheer her a little and possibly make the run-in worthwhile. As it was now, she wouldn't have been at all opposed to lightning striking him dead and then she could forget all about him. Until then, she pretended that she was far more interested in the dirt while a look of hopeless wallowing flirted ever more strongly on her face. Yes, she quite looked like she might burst into tears any second.
Huni Pi
The buck's expression softened, slightly, but he did not appear the least bit bothered by the assessment. He'd had worse hurled at him and he had barely bat an eye at them. "What is the extent of your injuries?" he asked, still maintaining some distance between them while his hound remained vigilant.
Tears might have had some sway on him. Might. Except he had a very distinct dislike for those who simply cried and refused to do anything about their situation. He could only do so much for them.
Tears might have had some sway on him. Might. Except he had a very distinct dislike for those who simply cried and refused to do anything about their situation. He could only do so much for them.
anemosagkelos
The lack of defense to an insult -- in fact the way his face seemed to slip into softness -- had her striking the entire ordeal as something to end. She could answer his question and break into tears or mass hysterics but she couldn't find the effort to care to do so. He was useless and void, a foil that she had not the want to dash into pieces. And while she would never care to admit it, it was rather a stalemate. At least that meant it was not, technically, a loss. With her mood already irritated, a loss might have made her...
She noticed then that the silt she had drawn up in the pool's water had now settled and with the sun's rays no longer harshly reflected on the calm surface, the caiman's outline was easier seen. There was little chance he could see it -- the water was cloudy and she was in the way -- but the urge for him to go was tripled. She didn't want him to see it, nor did she want his mutt to see it. That was her meal -- once they left and she could drag it off...
"Never you mind," she said, giving her head a shake as though to clear away tears. She turned ever so slightly and made her way into the water. The fake limp aided her in that when she pressed the injured leg on the caiman's corpse, it looked still like she was holding it up to keep from putting weight on it. She made a light whistle, the dog on the ground rising and going to protect its mistress's exposed rear.
The doe bent her head, nose and eyes inspecting the teeth marks, and ignoring the buck completely. Even if she thought she should say something, she thought silence was a better bet. He wasn't stupid and she expected he could tell when he wasn't wanted. And, boy, was he ever not wanted.
She noticed then that the silt she had drawn up in the pool's water had now settled and with the sun's rays no longer harshly reflected on the calm surface, the caiman's outline was easier seen. There was little chance he could see it -- the water was cloudy and she was in the way -- but the urge for him to go was tripled. She didn't want him to see it, nor did she want his mutt to see it. That was her meal -- once they left and she could drag it off...
"Never you mind," she said, giving her head a shake as though to clear away tears. She turned ever so slightly and made her way into the water. The fake limp aided her in that when she pressed the injured leg on the caiman's corpse, it looked still like she was holding it up to keep from putting weight on it. She made a light whistle, the dog on the ground rising and going to protect its mistress's exposed rear.
The doe bent her head, nose and eyes inspecting the teeth marks, and ignoring the buck completely. Even if she thought she should say something, she thought silence was a better bet. He wasn't stupid and she expected he could tell when he wasn't wanted. And, boy, was he ever not wanted.
