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 Posted: Mon Nov 01, 2010 8:19 pm
Another trust broken, another 'budding friendship' nipped appropriately. The female she'd spent the last half-week bonding with never suspected the least. Najla said her name was Harley, and the stranger believed her inexplicably.
Her lip twitched upward in appreciation, though hampered from anything larger by the long hare hanging by it's back foot from her maw. The other female had promised her, said she'd bring her to meet her pack. They'd be. . . the idea caused her to ruffle her pelt out -the naivety of it!- exclusive. Together, forever. 'Forever' seemed to come fairly soon, and as the femme was gone Najla stole both the hare and herself away into the growing light. A set of back-tracks and a detour through a creek for a mile or so was enough to keep her off permanently.
Mid-morning, she supposed, padding along through the brush. All she needed was to find a good place to rest for the morning then set off west by nightfall.
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Posted: Mon Nov 01, 2010 8:33 pm
 Astrophel was absolutely lazy. It was a trait his brother shared, as neither of them enjoyed the work that often came with such things as "hunting" and "making friends" with others. If there was an easier route, Astro was sure to find it one way or another; cutting corners or taking the shortcut, if it brought him what he wanted, it was done.
The only thing non-negotiable was his pride, however. He kindly would like to tell you he was a proper male. After all, he could bear heirs could he not? Wasn't that what a female wanted in the end? Spawn? Surely that was what Rumor wanted him for, and he was all to happy to provide, to give her her little demons in return for pleasurable company. The memories alone with the lusty female made him quiver with fond urges. A fine catch, a beautiful femme indeed . . . though a little too easy to ensnare, sadly. He wished on a minor level that he could have enjoyed some form of intellectual discussion with Rumor, but alas. Not every woman is as smart as he!
Returning to the "lazy" portion, Astro's nose alerted him to a moving hare not very far from his position. Stalking after the scent, he found it odd that it was moving at such a steady pace. Hares were wont to stop and sniff, pause and stiffen, bound here and there . . . Aah. The other smell revealed itself: wolf. Unsurprisingly, Astrophel was just fine with the option of bribing the female with his company for that fine meal. Oh, how his stomach growled . . .
But first! Let's see how long it took his prey to realize she was not alone. Smiling lightly, Astrophel trailed after the femme casually.
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Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 8:14 pm
It didn't take too long, actually.
A ear swivel and a moderate sniff to the changed winds told her all she needed to know about what had managed to track her. Well, no. Track was the wrong word. So was stalk, which was frankly good riddance because Najla had once in fact been stalked before and she didn't find it a pleasurable experience at all. Out in the world there was one less ear on a wolf, though the creep had damn well deserved what was coming to him. She'd no qualms about eating it after, either.
But she had a real meal hanging from her jaws and at what seemed to be a boy on a harmless jaunt tagging along behind her. Because of course, things couldn't go simply enough for once just to let her eat in silence. Sigh.
Still, the good little actress she was, the female never let on that she was aware of his presence, though managed to find a small clearing where she was able to drop her meal and wait for the male to come upon her there. Though she began to chew into the big hare she kept her eyes and ears peeled for her new acquaintance to show himself so she could get on with him leaving and her having a moment to herself.
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Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 8:23 pm
A game! Ah, he loved it when he sensed a game. So long as it was not a race nor a fight, Astrophel would engage in it. And if it was for mental prowess, why, he would be giddier than a lusting wolf in the midst of a beautiful mate in showing off his goods. Which indeed was the case.
Had been the case.
No longer was the case.
He frowned slightly while her back was still to him, approaching still at his casual rate but having some slight hesitations. Why, this female was positively . . . drab, he thought honestly. Gnarled thorns about her muzzle, limbs, and tail, and the aged-coloring he often associated with natural timber wolves after a good deal of life-span had been chewed up. Mind, Astrophel loved him a piece of tail, but not anything above five years thanks. It'd be like doing a grandmother . . . Oh gods, he just shuddered.
Well, who said he had to sleep with her to get a meal? Honestly. The intellectual part pushed back the bestial and regained control.
One second to recompose. The pleasant smile went back up as he stopped a polite distance from the sitting femme, their eyes meeting.
"I envy your skills, miss," Astro began with a smidge of truth to it, as he was a horrible hunter. "Hares must he harder to come by in the colder weather."
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Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 8:40 pm
And she was quite ready to tell him off so he could leave her well alone. She knew when he'd arrived, and he'd managed to keep himself far enough away before he addressed her. Honestly, if she hadn't been over social interaction at the moment. . .
And then she looked up and actually looked at him. Whatever gods wolves prattled on about had a good day when they made him. The male was built fairly good, his markings striking and his carriage held quite well, but what really caught Najla was his eyes. Set deep in dark sockets they were darker than even her own wine-coloured set, and impressed her. Perhaps she didn't need to leave quite yet. Still when her eyes met his she found herself startle, though came back fast enough to shape herself a character from the single reaction.
"Oh!" She gasped softly, eyes widening as she looked at him. A stutter? Too scatter brained. A blush would've been appropriate, a rouging of the cheeks, but sadly not an option under her fur. Giving a shy, self-conscious smile she dipped her head to him. "I'm sure I didn't see you there before! I'm sorry... but thank you, good sir." Formality met on both parts. She gave a soft laugh, short and high likening to a bell. "I do suppose they begin to prefer their burrows now."
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Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 8:50 pm
Ah, dear. Was there a longing in those eyes? He had a mixed reaction, apprehensive still about the femme's age and experience. Virgins were always a sweet, sweet prize, but this one . . . Bah! He was making far too many judgments before five minutes passed between them. Honestly, he shoudl not be so picky, not when he had not had company -
- no! Didn't he just tell himself sex for a meal was beginning to go below his (already low) standard? Agh. He hated how an instinct was unbiased to whoever it forced itself upon.
Damn dry spell.
Astro inclined his head and chuckled to delay responding, reviewing the wolf some more. How odd, that she said she had not known he was coming ,yet had been looking about while she ate. Almost as if she was a wolf running from something. "Forgive me if I startled you, madam," he said, noting that she had started after their eyes locked. "The scent of your prey just drew me. My envy is not without reason, you see . . . I am a terrible hunter." Astro added a soft sight in self-depreciation. "A featherless bird could escape my grasp even. Nay, not even if it fell into my paws would I be able to tear its flesh."
Too harsh in wording? Possibly . . . The hunger was rather gnawing.
"It does not help that I am new to these parts," he went on, leaving it hang slightly to see how she picked this up.
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Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 9:07 pm
Once more she turned her mouth for the shy smile, shaking her head.
"Please, call me Stella." She conceded with a soft nod and a flutter of her tail against the ground. A terrible hunter, however? That description didn't have her exactly jumping for joy. He was quite the pretty one, Najla would grant him that, but even if his skills were quite over-exaggerated (it was what she was strongly leaning toward at the moment) it made her cautious inside her head. If he wasn't joking, what would she be getting herself into? She expected males to bring her meals, not the other way around.
No. Don't worry. Getting herself into? She must be talking crazy. She had said and done nothing to entangle herself with this male. Though she certainly did notice the way he eyed her rabbit...
"I'm sure that's not true! A strong male like you? You must just give the forest more reason to worry, lest you slay them all in one go!" 'Stella' smiled to him, tilting her head to get at least a smirk from him in response. Her ears tipped up as he explained his arrival, and she nearly laughed. "I'm afraid I cannot lie to you, sir. I too and new here! My prey I've carried for quite a time."
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Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 9:19 pm
"Stella, is it? A beautiful name," Astro said with far more truth this time, smiling. The skeletal markings seemed softened even, for this moment. He bowed his head briefly. "I am Astrophel, dear lady. Star-lover.'"
He enjoyed letting the women know his true name. Why lie? He wanted any who would see his progeny know it came from him and him alone.
Eerie, though, about the star connection. Still, this specimen didn't compare to those that laid above them at night. They were bright, quiet, yet unique and unafraid to show it as they twinkled.
Quite unlike this one. This one had dried mud and thorns, with blood-eyes and an unassuming personality. Already Astro was wondering how best to leave and yet somehow snag that snack. He eyed it hungrily as he pondered, shut his eyes so that his mind would be better focused upon its killer, then returned his gaze to Stella.
"Strong? Oh no no, my lady," he said with a small laugh, "I was ever better with words than with tooth and nail. My brother was the stronger of us, though not as particularly . . . eloquent." So he thought. "Now, you have piqued my curiosity: why carry your prey for so long without consuming it? Surely the warren was not so quick to seek revenge for its fallen comrade?"
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Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 9:43 pm
She grinned internally at how it softened his face, if just a little and for a little by the quaint coincidence. Star-lover and star? Najla knew she had played her hand well, even if not intentionally. Still she kept from over-playing it, the two fates forever entwined with each other, across the sky. Too dramatic not to have a backdrop and it didn't suit the character anyhow.
"How did you two separate?" The female inquired, tilting her head again once more. "That is, of course, if I'm not intruding. But you just seemed...alone." A tilt to the last word? He could take it as he may.
She could tell he did well with his speech, though a conversation didn't ever put food in one's belly. Though it was a poor statement to make for her, because for her it generally did. Give or take the odd sexual trade. But she hadn't one of those in quite a while.
"No, we've nothing to fear from the rabbits." Stella shook her head, though now her brow furrowed slightly. "Though I do have someone on my heels. Rather, had. A set of wolves in the territory I just passed. They didn't take kindly to a stranger along their borders, though I assure you that I got out as soon as I could. I'm afraid I just kept on."
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Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 9:56 pm
Oh perfect. Perhaps he shouldn't have mentioned the stars thing, because this female was looking to have more and more strings attached than he liked in a girl. Sure, she might have lost the pack now. But what about later? Or maybe she was lying to keep him there longer, perhaps to let him be the captured wolf instead. Or perhaps the entire thing was a ruse purely to that effect!
Either way, Astrophel did not like the insinuation with "alone". It was his job to begin such a topic, and with whomever he so chose. And certainly not with this creature, no; even if he had sunk low enough to consider a sexual favor for a meal, his pride would rather let him starve.
His stomach was not taking highly to that. He needed a compromise somehow.
Alright. Well, was there more to the femme than the first glance? If he could just interest himself enough for one night, he could swallow it and pretend it was a gift for this lowly, surely lonely, femme.
"We had different agendas in mind. I went left, and he right," Astrophel replied simply with a slight roll of his shoulders. "As for your pursuers, well. Surely a pack would have better-scented borders, no?" Please. Please just say something, anything that would give him a reason to stay for that deliciously warm meat by her paws! "But what I still do not understand is how you are alone, Miss Stella." Or better, how she was still alive, what with the running into borders and jumping at the sight of him.
Then again, he did have quite devilish looks.
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Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 10:57 am
She gave the obligatory soft nodding to agree with him. Oh those darned packs and their borders! Such a problem for poor little wandering girls. Well, Najla was certain they would be, and had she been a poor little girl she would've kept quite clear. But it would do her no good to say that.
Neither thing, actually. She didn't quite care to try and be overtaken because she was a poor little lost dove.
"By choice."
She replied coolly, for a moment sliding a smidge past sweet little Stella. But this conversation seemed to be hitting its low quite quickly, and she had places to be by high sun. The female kept the rabbit beneath her, considering her options.
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