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 Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 4:39 am
Part 3
Title - Where we go from here
Time - Dawn of day 2
Characters - Sirena, River
Summary - The two new allies discuss plots and Sirena reveals a little more of her plot. S h e had slept only for five hours but that was enough to re-energize her body. Sirena was a large female to be sure - if perhaps a little thinned from age - and as she rose up her back knocked against the ceiling of the den, knocking dirt down to rain upon her and her sleeping companion.
With a small huff she emerged from the mouth of the den and shook herself, letting earth spray the air around her.
The moon was gone from the sky and in it's place was the brilliant sun, cooler than it had been in the summer. For Autumn had begun and as Sirena raised her head she could see some of the lowest leaves beginning to brown. She had to get moving before winter set in, she had to have accomplished her deed! There was no time for hanging around!
She lay down slowly, lowering her head to nibble at the dirt between her toes, hoping that her companion would awaken soon.
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Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 5:15 am
River was happy asleep, it was nice to be in anothers den and not the one she had slept in for however long it had been, she had never been Alpha material and had been stupid to go ahead with it. However, if she hadn't she wouldn't have been sleeping in the cave she was in.
As Ren awoke and knocked the dirt down it woke the other female up, she took her time to wake up but she was concious again and aware that Ren would probably be waiting for her so unhappily she got up and attempted to stretch in the little room that there was before going outside to see the older female.
"Morning." She spoke softly in a different tone from the night before, she stretched properly and shook letter her body loosen up a little.
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Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 5:26 am
Hmmm. Was all Sirena would give in reply, turning to gaze back at the den. She could hardly believe it was still here after all this time. Lost and abandoned all this time. Though that wasn't true, for she had smelt other wolves within, the old earth absorbing their scents and holding it for years.
For a moment her eyes became hazy with tears and she quickly turned her head so the other female couldn't see. Wolves could not cry but the liquid that sheened their eyes was always a tell-tale sign of grief.
Sirena was broken. Inside she was nothing but an insane wreck and on the outside...on the outside she was old.
Would Kafara even recognise her when he saw her again? Would he still love her greying, aging body? Her muscles twitched and for a moment she looked quite distant.
And if Kafara truly could see what she was doing would he agree? He had never been a good father but would he have joined his mate in the killing of his children whether they had abandoned them or not? This of course was not a question she ever considered. In her muddled mind all she knew was revenge, she was in pain still from her mate's loss and she needed someone to blame for it.
Her heart was torn and as she tried to picture her mate's face the grief increased. She wanted to be with him so badly.
'Soon my love.' She thought to herself, 'soon the traitors will be punished and then I can join you in eternal rest.' Realising then that she'd been silent for far too long the wolf regained her compusure and swung her head around to face her new ally.
It has been a long time since I have been to this den, I had forgotten how small it was, though it suited me well as a pup. Was that a hint of a genuine smile on her maw?
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Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 5:35 am
River watched her for a while though said nothing she had learnt to be patient with this she-wolf after all Ren had secrets which River believed she mulled over regulary.
A smile crawled across her maw as one did on Rens face, it was a sight to see, a smile on that old girls face.
"Memories can play tricks on us, we can remember something to be so big but in truth its too small. Its a cruel joke that our memory wishes to play on us sometimes." River was clever, she had as a youngster lots of time to think about things and though she had always acted playful and carefree, Ren wasn't the only one who could put on a different face.
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Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 5:43 am
If she was surprised by the other female's comment she did not mention it, instead she gave a small nod and got to her paws once more, turning to face the mouth of the den. Inside it looked dark and comfortable and so very welcoming and yet it was nothing more than a hole in the ground.
She gave a small sigh, ears drooping and tail falling to lay flat against her hind legs. My birthplace... She murmured, My safe place... There was something close to sorrow in her eyes as she continued to stare into it's belly, picturing her white-furred mother lying curled up inside with herself as a tiny pup tucked up against her fur.
One place that brings me comfort, but after today will never set eyes on again.
She took a step back, seeming almost unwilling to take her eyes from it and then she did. Slowly she turned from the place she had called home so long ago and padded slowly away to the meadow that awaited them, eyes focusing on the break of the trees just ahead.
She said nothing more to River, but assumed the female would follow.
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Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 5:54 am
River was shocked at what Ren mumbled, she only just caught it as her attention had been on a bird fluttering about, her crow friend to be precise but she ignored him and listened, saying nothing.
As Ren turned to leave River felt saddened by the other female, it seemed like there was a heart in her after all.
She followed, she said she would be loyal and she would, however she was going to have to be careful, she feared saying something that would turn the female on her.
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Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 6:01 am
It was only as they neared the edge of the trees that Sirena slowed her pace a little, ears swivelling towards her companion. For now it seemed she was being quite docile - almost friendly - perhaps because of the good memories revived in her mind.
Either way her violent nature had been tamed for now and even more so due to the emptiness in her belly.
Do you feel up for a hunt, River? She asked, the tone a friendly challenge. If so, we may be in luck. My nose detects a herd just ahead. Her nostrils flared and as the sun crawled ever higher she was sure that today they would be successful.
It has been a long time since I felt the warmth of fresh blood on my fangs, so what say you? She knew she had to hunt to get her strength back but without River's help bringing down even a young deer would be tough.
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Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 6:31 am
River had followed admiring the area as they walked through it, they wouldn't be there for very long.
Ren's challenge hit her ears and a smile crossed River's maw. "It has been a while since I have hunted as well, I am sure we will do well together though. Lead the way." River hadn't realised till now how hungry she was but she had no problem with that, she would help Ren bring something down and eat, then they would go on their way but yet River still knew not what they were doing or who they were killing.
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Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 6:52 am
Ahead of them grazed a small cluster of deer, three females, two of them with youngsters who were looking quite a lot larger than they had been a few months before. With them was a stag, watching over them with his great liquid eyes.
For a moment it looked like the mighty male might spot them but with a small snort the stag gave a low bleating sound and lowered his own head to gaze.
With the wind in her face Sirena lowered herself into a crouching position and crept forwards. She was skilled at hunting - or had been - though she was beginning tof ind herself lacking in stamina these days. However she was sure River would be of great help this time.
She said not a word now, not as she entered her 'hunting mode' and slipped through the long grass to circle round to the left, ever being careful of the wind.
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Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 6:57 am
River watched Ren go and then crouched down herself before moving swiftly to the right. She didn't move all the way round, just mostly, covering both the back and the right side making sure they would only head in one direction.
She found her position that she liked most and laid down in the grass, her eyes watching Ren and the deer, once Ren moved and only after she had would River move herself. From where she was, she was downwind and couldn't be seen, she was ready.
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Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 7:20 am
One, two, three...
She composed herself, preparing for the lunge.
four, five, six...
Her eyes focused on her prey, not the young ones, not the stag, but the lone female who had wandered a little further from the herd than possible. With no babe to tend for she was obviously a little more brave in wandering from the group. Her bravery would be her undoing.
With a low snarl her ears flattened back against her skull, the muscles in her shoulders tightened and as she counted the last few seconds she knew that this was going to feel amazing.
The thrill of the hunt, the grass beneath her feet, the pounding of hooves. The blood. The warmth of blood on her fangs, on her tongue, sliding down her throat. She could almost taste it!
Perhaps this is what they called being in 'the zone' but whatever it was Sirena loved it.
Seven, eight, nine, ten!
And on her mental count she lashed forwards like a spring released from a trap, her body propelling forwards across the grass. Her maw parted and the ground was firm and cool against her pads. The wind raced through her fur and with it came the lash of adrenaline that raced through her entire being.
She was ALIVE! Truly, truly alive!
Her paws connected with the flat top of a rock and with it she pounced again, soaring through the air with forepaws outstretched.
The deer took flight the moment she had come out of hiding, their hooves causing the ground to tremor under their feet as they made for the trees. But Sirena would not let them get away so easily.
She felt young again, poised for action! She was wolf!
Her body twisted to give chase, eyes seeking not River but the back end of her target as it streaked towards the trees. Closer and closer the she-wolf ran, but already she was losing breath. River would have to come to her aid wherever she may be.
But still, Ren closed in.
Closer...closer...
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Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 7:39 am
River had watched Ren move, she had been delayed in her own moving because of the shock in seeing the old female look so young.
She had managed to pull herself together though as she got up and ran, her eyes on Ren and the deer, pushing her legs to move faster then they wanted to go. This is what she was use to doing, this is what she was made for.
She felt happy, no it wasn't happy it was something more. Hunting brought the dead alive within her. It was as if the memory of successful hunts gave her more power, more speed.
She managed to catch up with Ren quite quickly, she didn't slow down, she kept running till she was closer to the beast, nipping at the deers back feet, barking as she did so to get the deer to turn around if possible, Ren needed her part in this.
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Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 7:54 am
And then River was at her side, running beside her, two entities working as one to achieve a united goal.
To hunt, to kill, to feed.
Her lips pulled back and over her teeth as she beared them at the running deer and then with the very last of her energy she pushed herself to her maximum speed, using a slight incline in the ground to leap up onto the back of the young female.
The doe's squeal of fear ripped through her ears and as her jaws locked upon it's rump she tried desperately to bring it down. Apparently this was a job she'd need help with, for Sirena was losing strength fast and if the doe gave one more try she could probably get free and limp away from the hunters.
Blood bubbled up into Ren's maw from the gaping wound she was creating but slowly the she-wolf was losing grip, slipping and scrabbling to try and knock the deer from it's feet.
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Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 7:59 am
As Ren was on the deer River slowed a little to get behind the deer. She went for the back leg.
She got a grip on one and stopped running. She pulled at the leg, hearing it break She let go and went for the other one, She had taught herself to break the back legs because then the prey can't go anywhere and with Ren's weight on the deer it wouldn't be long before the deer came down.
River ran for the other leg, weary that she might end up with the deer or Ren ontop of her, She went round the left side of the deer to get to the leg that way, thats if the deer didn't fall anyway, dragging a leg behind it wasn't doing the deer any favours.
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Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 8:05 am
With one injured leg and a fully grown wolf weighing it down it wasn't long before the deer toppled. The creature fell headlong into the ground, skidding to a halt where it bleated and writhed.
Unluckily for Sirena the deer had fallen too fast and was now lying half-trapped beneath the flailing beast. Though she had suffered no broken bones from the tumble she did feel bruised and making sure to keep her face away from the hooves she tugged with all her might, freeing her lower-half from the deer's weight before moving stiffly over to lunge for the creature's throat.
The deer's eyes widenened in shock and as Ren's fangs punctured it's artery that now rivered precious blood down the creature's neck, the flailing began to slow.
Sirena held on until the last of the movement faded and then slowly she drew back, panting and trembling from her body's exertions.
It was only then that she let out a laugh, seems I still have it in me. She seemed to be somewhat surprised thats he had managed it at all.
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