[PRP] We meet again - Wretch and Vulpine

[Fatal Irony]

My Teepee


The air was chill, the altitude staving off the oncoming of spring just a bit more than the ground below. Wretch preferred it, though, the wind whipping around her and roaring in her ears. She glided lazily downward towards a jutted out shelf in the rock wall. No one without wings could reach the spot, which made it one of her favorites to frequent. It was high enough up to see for miles around, but not so high as to make details too obscured below. It was the perfect vantage point.

Her cloven hooves clacked on the stone as she landed, a hollow sound against the wind's lonely howls. Her unkempt hair danced around her head as she peered over the lip of the shelf down below. She thought she had spotted movement from above, but after a few still moments thought she was mistaken. She turned her eyes upwards to the sky as it started to deepen with shadow. The sun was beginning to drift downward, though almost reluctantly it seemed as it hung in the air longer and longer each night.

The scowl didn't leave Wretch's face, as it rarely did. She couldn't deny the beauty of the sky, alight with the fiery colors of dusk, but she couldn't revel in it. No, this was not her time. She was darkness, a dark streak across a darker sky. Hers was the midnight hour, and so as summer approached and the nights grew shorter she would have to wait longer each day for the shadows to fall.

She was adept at hunting during the day, of course, but there was something almost poetic about the night. She would drop from the sky on silent wings, seeming only a shadow to her unsuspecting victim - until it was too late. The hint of a smile almost twisted her lips upwards at the thought, but she let it abate. With a dismissive flick of her tail she turned from the ledge and settled into the shadows at the stone wall at the other end...

...and waited.

Cajmera

 

[Cajmera]

As the purple-red-orange light of the sunset faded and the shadows lengthened, Vulpine was in her element. Her mottled purple coat was just one of so many shadows now, her lithe form just another shapeless mass in the dusk. She herself had always been partial to this hour; the transition from the full light of day to the darkness of night, when the creatures of day were starting their bleary-eyed trudge towards sleep and the creatures of the night were slinking out of their beds with an equal lack of focus. For a hunter of opportunity, it was the perfect hour to catch the unaware.

It had been an uneventful day, she had to concede. Either her preferred prey was hiding with far better skill than they had any claim to, or, more likely, there were simply none to be found in this area. She preferred the former to the latter; the idea that Kalona would stoop to something as degrading as hiding, particularly in a non-hunting situation, was revolting.

From her current position among the forest's edge, she could see a stark, rocky wall of stone. This was a common sight in these parts, where the forest ran up to the southern edge of the mountain range. Huge boulders, relics of past landslides, sat amongst the towering trees, and the landscape was jagged with rocky outcroppings. She was no huge fan of the mountains and rocks herself, but she had to agree that the large boulders made good hiding places.

She had glanced towards the rock wall almost casually, making note of it as more a landmark than anything, when a slight, unnatural movement up in the gloom caught her eyes. Freezing in almost mid-slink, Vulpine narrowed her eyes up at the stone wall, zeroing in on the shadowy ledge where she thought she'd seen movement. It could be a bird nest, or a goat...or perhaps something else? But how best to see without spooking whatever was there, if it wasn't just a figment of her hopeful imagination?

Fatal Irony

 

[Fatal Irony]

She watched the shadows deepen around her, a rock outcropping near the edge casting a form upon the ground that stretched out further and further as if reaching for the reclining kalona. It marked the passage of time and she couldn't help but feel every passing moment with the simmering impatience of a caged lion. She was free, of course, and could easily take wing and set about hunting the hapless creatures below, but still she waited for darkness as if bound to it. With a low growl she tore her eyes from the slowly deepening shadows and cast a baleful glance upwards to the sky which had started to turn a deep blue with stars peeking out from behind the scant cloud cover. The night would be fairly clear, with only the faint wisps of clouds painted across the sky.

She took a deep breath, feeling more than smelling the awakening world around her. Spring was steadily taking hold and there was no more the desolate scent of cold and misery that winter brought, but the musty smells of growth and new life. She stood slowly, stretching her petite but well-muscled body as she walked back to the edge of the cliff, stretching her translucent wings against the deepening night, hints of the stars shining through the delicate membrane. Her keen eyes scanned the treeline, searching for any signs of movement between the trunks or in the boughs. She wondered to herself what mysteries and surprises the night would hold for her.

She almost missed it, a shock of white against the shadows. She peered at it more closely, her body tense and frozen. She got the sense that whatever it was was watching her as well. It, too, remained frozen in place and if it weren't for the contrast of white against the dark trees she would discount it as her eyes playing tricks on her. No, she was certain this was something - someone- and they were well aware of her own presence.

"Interesting," she said, stretching her wings and giving them a flap. She paused a moment more in contemplation before suddenly diving off the cliff face and gliding down towards whoever it was below. There was no need for stealth; she was certain she had been seen already. She watched the other as she approached, looking for signs of danger.

Cajmera

 

[Cajmera]

Vulpine was still frozen in space, her attention pinned to the problem of how to examine the mystery movement on the ledge without drawing attention to herself. It was a tricky situation, because she still had not been able to ascertain that there actually was something of interest on that ledge. She had no appetite for goat or bird, but she would still rather not have whatever was there, if there was something there, notice her and escape before she was able to satisfy her curiosity. Her hunter's pride, her Kalona pride, balked at the idea of being so clumsy in her efforts, so she was determined to make her attempt a good one.

That had been her intention, at least, before the ledge's occupant had risen, flexed, and launched itself straight at her. For a moment, Vulpine was shocked; how could she have been so easily spotted? Then her mane was whipped across her face by the evening breeze, and she cursed her own foolishness. Of course; there was no shadow that could disguise the silvery whiteness of her mane. Damned hair.

Still, even if she'd lost the element of surprise, she was not to be taken unawares herself. Breaking her stillness, she crouched out into a combat-ready stance, watching the descending Kalona. Because dark and stealthy as the other mare was, there was no mistaking those wings. She was glad it was a Kalona; better a Kalona than anything else. But that didn't mean she was going to drop her guard until she'd determined the other mare's motives.

Though...wasn't there something familiar about her? It was hard to be certain, at this distance and in this light, but there was something about her mane...when had she seen that before? Was this mare from the Herd?

Well, that ought to make things interesting, Vulpine reflected grimly. She knew many of the Herd had stayed on in these lands, either singly or in small groups. Some of them, she had no quarrel with; they simply enjoyed the novelty of a new land and new sources of prey. But there were others who had defected from the cause, who were friendly with lessers, and who had, she had heard rumor, played roles in the implosion of the Kalona herd. For those Kalona, she held the deepest disgust and disregard; they had brought shame and dishonor to their blood, and for that, there could be but one remedy: death.

Fatal Irony

 

[Fatal Irony]

Even in the gloom of dusk Wretch couldn't miss the sudden shift in stance from her adversary. A murderous gleam shown in her eyes at the idea of a challenge. She could make out the tell-tale wings, and the way she crouched was also familiar to her. In fact... as she neared she realized this mare was VERY familiar indeed. She opened her wings a bit more, slowing her decent to study the other mare more carefully as she neared. Yes, she was familiar, perhaps even from the Herd. Wretch touched down a respectful distance from the other mare, eyeing her suspiciously.

She kept her posture neutral, unsure how to react to this sudden reappearance from another of the Herd. Would she attack? Wretch hadn't been there for the actual dissolution and revolt, having abandoned the Herd beforehand. She disagreed with the way the herd had been run, but she couldn't lower herself to side with the lessors as some others of the Herd has done. She wondered vaguely on what side of the fence the mare before her had fallen.

"I can see the recognition in your eyes. We were once part of the kalona Herd when it first came to these lands." She spoke carefully, trying to gauge the other mare's reaction to mention of the Herd. "I saw you from above. Were you preparing to hunt?" She tried to assume a relaxed posture- or at least the appearance of one. Her muscles were poised and ready in case she needed to defend herself - or in case she needed to attack. She may not have remained exactly loyal to the Great Herd, but she simply could not tolerate a kalona who would side with the lower creatures of this land.

cajmera

 

[Cajmera]

So, they had known each other, at least on a visual basis. Good. Vulpine hated to think that her powers of recognition were tarnished. Though establishing their connection was only one element of this 'reunion'; she would be a fool to assume that just because they had once been part of the same herd that they had anything in common. It was as much the Kalona way to fight their fellow Kalona as to hunt lessers, after all, especially if there was any grudge between the Kalona.

She couldn't say whether there was any grudge between herself and this mare, who she had seen in passing on multiple occasions but had never had any reason to speak with. Vulpine frowned, trying to recall anything of this mare in combat, or in the idle conversations that had flowed during down hours. Vulpine had rarely participated in those conversations, having been a loner prior to joining the herd, but that didn't mean she hadn't listened.

But this mare was a blank slate.

Vulpine held her defensive stance as the other mare touched down, noting that she had made sure to give them each their space. Good. The other mare was also being surprisingly respectful; more respectful, Vulpine had to admit, than she herself would have been if she'd been the one to launch the first volley. She herself had never been good at that whole 'courtesy' thing. But she inclined her head towards the other mare, acknowledging their mutual recognition. "We were, and I was. It's been over a week since I killed, and I've started to feel...peckish. Is that what you were doing?" She gestured to the ledge with one wing. "I thought I'd seen something up there, but I was not expecting it to be a Kalona."

Fatal Irony

 

[Fatal Irony]

She could see the gears turning in the other mare's head as she worked out how to react to Wretch's sudden appearance. Wretch was of a similar mind, gauging the other kalona's body language and facial expressions and even the tone in her voice to tip her off as to how to proceed. It brought her a strange sort of comfort that this mare was equally suspicious and cautious in dealing with her.

It spoke volumes to her that the other mare hadn't attacked her outright upon her arrival and she took it as a sign of respect. Perhaps the two of them had been affected by being part of a herd in ways neither had yet realized. There was a time Wretch would have simply attacked and given no thought to the other kalona or who she might be. Prior to the herd Wretch had been solitary and vicious without reason or cause. She could now tell that she had changed and even though she was once again a solitary hunter she found herself approaching other kalona in this way -with a sense of community and mutual respect rather than animosity. She wasn't sure how to feel about that.

"I was about to take wing for a hunt, yes. I was scoping the area from on high when I spotted you. I wasn't sure what you were at first, but of course that was no matter." She let a hungry grin cross her face, the implication clear that she thought herself capable of taking down whatever might have crossed her path. The fact that it was a kalona and she chose to stop and talk instead of attacking spoke volumes to the nature of her temperament.

Cajmera

 

[Cajmera]

Well, Vulpine reflected, regardless of whether or not she had known this mare personally when they were both in the herd, she could be at ease knowing this mare was a physically and instinctively acceptable member of the breed. They might attack each other at any time, true, and she still didn't trust the other mare not to turn on her. But that was normal, when it came to Kalona, and there was something soothing in the lack of trust Vulpine felt for the other mare.

Gods, had her time in the Herd turned her into a sentimentalist? That was a horrifying thought.

Shaking off that unpleasant mental image, Vulpine allowed herself to ease up, straightening out of her defensive crouch into a more casual stance. She still had to keep an eye on the mare, but there was no reason to make herself uncomfortable while doing so. "I'm sure it would have been interesting for us both, had you chosen to attack. Though I'm sure I don't need to tell you that the option of a fight is not off the table," Vulpine added with a sly smile at the other mare. "Though I have no complaint that you chose not to; I've never been partial to the taste of Kalona and I would prefer to end my hunt with something more...tender."

If Wretch was confident, then Vulpine was just as confident, in her own way. But then, what sort of Kalona would ever back down from a good fight? Though her sentiments towards the flavor and tenderness of Kalona flesh was based on real experience; she hated to waste the results of a good hunt, but predators rarely made tasty prey. And thinking of prey...

"Have you seen anything else in this area worth hunting, or are we both just wasting our time?

Fatal Irony

 

[Fatal Irony]

Despite the mare relaxing her posture Wretch could tell the other mare was still on guard and tensed. It was a strange comfort to her to see this behavior. She almost complimented the mare on her wariness and alertness. Almost. She certainly couldn't be cause admitting any form of kindness. She, herself, maintained her feigned air of nonchalance, though she was ever ready to strike as the need or whim demanded. Her eyes gleamed with mischief as the other mare mentioned a fight with her. As much as she'd enjoy pitting her skills against this mare, she had to agree that perhaps their time could be used more effectively.

She thought a moment, glancing around her, trying to get her bearings in regard to the way things had looked from above. She was careful not to let the other kalona out of her peripheral vision as she did so, turning ever so slightly to keep from exposing her neck too much. Lowering her head, nodding, she said "There was something big nearby. I saw only movement from above, but was distracted by something closer." She nodded towards the other mare to indicate she was that distraction. "It looked big enough for two." Normally she would loath to share in her kill, but she found herself curious to see the other mare in action. Standing around talking and posturing was one thing, after all, and quite another to see her tactics and fighting prowess.

A wide, leonine grin spread slowly across her face at the thought of tracking and taking down whatever it might be she had spotted from above. She hungered, and for more than just meat. She needed the intrigue and adventure that this stranger would provide. "If we hurry we can catch it." Without waiting for the other mare she spread her wings and flapped hard, jumping to give herself more lift as she took to the air and started in the direction she had seen the movement.

Cajmera

 

[Cajmera]

Something big. Vulpine liked the sound of that, as 'big' implied both a kill she...no, they she corrected herself mentally, would have to work a bit harder for and one that would leave them satisfied for some time. While she loved the thrill of the hunt, there was no challenge or interest in rabbits or the like; she would much rather work harder for something she'd actually enjoy killing. Besides, there was barely anything work eating on a rabbit, you needed four or five just to get a decent bellyful! So larger prey, whatever the species, was something to be desired.

Even if she had to share it.

The other mare was almost fluid in the smoothness of her movements, and a small, feral smile curled Vulpine's mouth as she observed the sight. This was apparently a mare who would be a good hunting partner, one who had done the Kalona herd proud when it still existed. No fumbling, no obviousness. There were few things Vulpine found more grating than a Kalona who didn't know how to be a proper Kalona.

Even if the hunt failed, this was proving to be an interesting evening.

With a strong, swift downward stroke of her own wings, Vulpine took off after the other mare, keeping low and stealthy even in flight. She chose her following distance carefully, keeping close enough to see any small changes in the blue mare's direction, but not so far that she was riding her tail. No Kalona would appreciate close following; it was a matter of principal for Vulpine herself that she was never snuck up on. And she took it for granted that what she didn't like, no Kalona would like. Ego was not something she had ever worried about.

So she followed easily, her own eyes scanning their surroundings for the sight of anything interesting.

Fatal Irony

 

[Fatal Irony]

Cajmera

It took a fair amount of trust on her part to keep the other mare behind her and out of her sight, but she could still feel her presence behind her and see their shadows along the ground below them. She didn't pay particularly close attention to them, however, scanning around for a sign of their prey. She lead them through the most shadowed areas, confident the two of them were dark enough to hide among them. She glanced backwards once, checking on the mare behind her. She silently applauded the respectful distance she was holding and nodded slightly towards their left, indicating she had spotted something. She slowed her flight and changed direction ever so slightly.

She glided silently downward, slowly skimming the ground until she was walking and then coming to a stop behind a particularly dense patch of trees. The gentle landing left barely any trace of her landing and made next to no sound. She pulled her wings in tightly and nodded towards the trees barring their path, indicating their prey was on the other side. She could smell it now as well as hear - elk, and it sounded like there were more than one. Her mouth twisted in a grin at the thought of taking down a large one and feasting on its flesh. Elk was a favorite of hers, but were often too large or fast for her alone to get. She turned to Vulpine and nodded her head towards their left, then edged to the right, indicating they should each take a direction around the clump of trees. She waited for her to show understanding.  

[Cajmera]

There was something soothing about flying at night, Vulpine thought as she followed in the other Kalona's silent wake. Perhaps it would be different if Vulpine was of a lighter coat coloration and didn't blend in, but with her dark coat and Wretch's dark coat, they were as much a part of the night as two shadows. Combining their natural camouflage with their stealth meant that as far as anyone on the ground was concerned, they weren't even there. Vulpine liked the sensation of invisibility; she'd spent far too much time since coming to the Kawani lands feeling exposed and obvious. That was part and parcel with being a herd member, she knew, but that didn't mean she had liked it.

This was much more her speed, even if her life before the Kalona herd had been solitary. There had been a time when she had lived with family; she had learned the basics of Kalona life from her parents, and had hunted with her siblings. This knowledge had helped her survive her time in the herd, and it was helping her now as she followed smoothly after Wretch, taking note of the silent world below with the detachment of a casual observer.

Or that was the way it went until she caught the scent that Wretch was already indicating. Elk wasn't bad, though she typically preferred prey with a little more fight in it. Still, there was no telling how much fight there would be in a herd, and she jerked her head in acknowledgement of Wretch's implied directions. She wasn't the sort who liked being directed as a rule, but she wasn't going to get caught up in a petty dispute over who was leading a hunt. Especially not a hunt that she had to admit Wretch had been leading.

So she had silently come down behind the other mare, folding in her wings and slipping down into a hunting crouch as she moved towards the left side of the copse of trees. It had taken her a long time to get comfortable with the woods; having never spent time around trees until she'd joined the Kalona herd, the vast forests of the Kawani lands had been an unexpected obstacle that she'd spent months learning to handle. It had been a rough road; her horns had snagged on tree branches, she'd stumbled over half-hidden roots. It had been one clumsy screw up after another, and not something she was proud to relive.

But the end result had justified the miserable experience; she was now comfortable among the trees as well as the rocks, and slipped around the side of the small grove with ease. She couldn't see Wretch, but she didn't need to see the other mare to know that she was doing nearly the same thing in the other direction. That was an advantage of being a Kalona, she thought; you had a common bond in hunting. Even if your prey was each other.

Fortunately, though, there was enough non-Kalona prey to go around, a fact confirmed by the sight of five grazing elk on the other side of the trees. Jackpot!

Fatal Irony

 

[Fatal Irony]

Wretch couldn't help but feel a sort of satisfaction as the other mare followed her orders without question. This was a new idea to her, as in the herd she had been made to follow orders herself. It had been an uncomfortable arrangement for her, as she is loathe to give up control to anyone else. Leading, however, seemed to fit her like a glove. She could get used to an arrangement like this. Still, she knew the other kalona mare wouldn't continue being so pliable once this hunt was over. She was far too proud to remain so amenable to Wretch's suggestions and orders. So she savored while she could and made mental note to find followers that she could command.

She edged about the trees and caught sight of the five elk on the other side. Her mouth began to water at the thought, her stomach rumbling with the promise of food. It might have been longer than she thought since she'd last eaten. No matter, tonight she would feast! They would feast, she reminded herself, catching the scent of Vulpine as the breeze shifted. The wind was now blowing from Vulpine towards Wretch, but luckily still away from the elk who remained obliviously grazing mere yards away. Wretch crouched lower, coiled to strike at any time, her dark eyes narrowed and focused. She was assessing each of the elk in turn, trying to find one with a weakness, a flaw. Something that would cause it to lag behind if they bolted, or at least something to differentiate it and create a target that could easily be identified. She wanted to make sure the two mares honed in on the same prey so they could work together to take it down.

At first they all seemed healthy, young, spry specimens and she began to feel slightly disappointed. It wouldn't be impossible to still identify one and take it down, of course, and the added struggle of a strong elk instead of an injured one would be entertaining, but she was desperately hungry and beginning to feel impatient. Then, finally, one of the larger males had a slight hitch in its step that Wretch noticed. It was all but imperceptible, just a very slight twisting to the leg that was just slightly unnatural. It looked like perhaps an old injury that had healed incorrectly. It wouldn't doom the elk to the average predator, and Wretch doubted it hindered much, if at all. But still her pulse quickened at having identified her prey. Their Prey. She glanced over towards where Vulpine surely was, but couldn't see her through the cover she'd found. Still, she was confident she would have seen the elk as well, and if not Wretch would point him out during the attack.

Now all that remained was to pick the right time to strike, driving the herd towards the other waiting kalona. The elk were meandering around the small clearing between the tree, moving ever closer. It would be soon...

Cajmera

 

[Cajmera]

There was a limit to how far Vulpine's tolerance and modesty could go. Had she even the slightest inkling of what Wretch was thinking, she would have broken off the hunt to get down to even more serious business: a fight. No one, absolutely no one, was allowed to be smug about being in charge of Vulpine. Vulpine was in charge of herself, period; if she occasionally allowed someone else to take point on an operation, or joined a murdering herd on a whim, it was still HER idea. The whys and wherefores might be open to interpretation by other people, but Vulpine herself had a very strict view on group interaction.

Still, she was no mind-reader, so any satisfaction Wretch found in their current dynamic was known to Wretch alone. For her part, Vulpine was entirely committed to the hunt, satisfied with the knowledge that in mere minutes she'd be savouring the heady taste of blood and flesh.

Even if it was elk.

Being the upwind party was unpleasant; she had to be cautious to avoid moving too close to the elk and spooking them before she knew where Wretch was located. The other mare was even more suited to forest camouflage than Vulpine, having no light mane or other pale coloration to worry about. Being unable to see OR smell the other mare was unsettling, but at the same time was proving an excellent exercise in and of itself. She had to keep an eye on the prey, an eye to her back (because it wouldn't do to be snuck up on in turn), , and a narrowed eye to the darkened patch on the far side of the trees where she knew Wretch to be hiding.

Inching forward slightly, she surveyed the elk on a closer, more scrutinizing level. It didn't take long for her to pick out the same elk as Wretch, noting with satisfaction that the elk was pleasantly large in spite of his injury. That suggested he was a tough fellow, and would hopefully put up a good fight even while he failed to run away. Now, just to figure out the best way to attack.

Well, she was upwind, which means there was only so much time she had to act regardless. Flattening herself low to the ground, Vulpine oozed forward towards the elk, keeping a lookout for Wretch. She just needed to see what the other mare was up to, then they could move. This was one of the tricky aspects of hunting with a partner, especially one she wasn't used to working with. They didn't have an innate knowledge of each others' skills and tricks, so they needed to rely much more heavily on visual, verbal, and scent cues. Most of which were currently out of Vulpine's reach. Yes, she had to be very careful...

Fatal Irony

 

[Fatal Irony]

Cajmera

I don't know why this one took so long to reply to.... I'm sorry! Wretch's muse is fickle. If you reply to this one fast enough I'll reply again before June ends smile

Wretch, supremely confident in the abilities of herself and reasonably sure of the abilities of her companion. She wasn't sure why, but she felt pretty good about Vulpine's ability to adapt to the shifting conditions of the hunt once it was underway. Perhaps she was feeling a bit soft on the other mare, nostalgic for the old herd. Or maybe she was just hungry and hopeful.

Either way, she was ready and moved herself into a position where Vulpine could see her. She locked eyes with the other kalona and something told her she'd spotted the same buck that Wretch had. She had the same hungry look about her, the eagerness that edged its way into a primal, carnal need.

She gave the other mare an imperceptible nod, trusting her to act. In a flurry of motion Wretch flew from her hiding spot, diving superficially at the nearest elk, urging it in the direction she desired. She moved along the outskirts of the group as it began to move, turning any stragglers towards the waiting Vulpine.

The creatures managed to stay together for the most part, though soon enough the one the two kalona had picked out began to fall behind. Wretch continued to herd them, snapping her jaws at any that dared fall behind, waiting for their selected prey to become completely isolated.