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 Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2011 7:34 pm
"Hmm...Why do you help humans?" Being on his own most of the time, Static rarely came across anyone, especially Humans. "Do they give you gifts in exchange? Do you live with them?" Static wanted to witness this firsthand. He thought that he knew almost everything there was to know, but apparently, he was wrong. "Do you think you could take me to see this? Or is it a breach of customs for your kind?"
" Yes, I know almost everything there is to know about almost every plant" Static said proudly "When I was a kit, I was extremely curious. One day, I happened across a Bittersweet Nightshade, and ate the berries." Static shook his head at the memory "Bittersweet nightshade is poisonous, but not fatal, obviously. It causes temporary paralysis, fatigue and a 'cleaning out at both ends', if you know what i mean. Anyway, after that episode, I became determined to learn all about plants and their uses. Much like a victim of an animal attack will become fixated on that animal."
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Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 12:52 pm
Shani giggled. "My kind," she asked, still laughing. "You make me sound like I'm an entirely different species!" She was pretty sure she still qualified as a 'Modifox', even if her tail was curly and the majority of the curly-tailed ones could get along with humans.
"There's nothing special 'bout us. We do better in snow that others with long tails, and we like to run and work. It makes a partnership between us and humans in snowy lands ideal. Not to say all of us live with humans, or that none of your kind do." She tilted her head to the side a bit, thinking. "I mean, at least I think I've heard of that tribe that lives in a human city. They seem to get along well enough."
She had another small giggle fit over Static's story, only because the mental picture it painted was so cute in it's own odd way. "I'm sure I'd be motivated to learn more about plants too, in such a situation," Shani said. "I'd imagine nightshade would be plenty fatal if you ate enough though." She couldn't imagine why one would keep eating a poisonous plant; maybe it tasted nice? She'd never tried it.
Another head-tilt that showed thought. "Isn't another name for nightshade belladonna," she asked.
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Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 2:22 am
The words came out before Static could stop them or even think them through " On the contrary, I find you very special" He stopped. Did he really just say that? he began to speak rapidly " I mean...I find your kind very special. Not that I'm saying your not special...I mean special in a good way , scince nowadays special is seen as a derogatory term for someone who isn't regular, so in that case you aren't special. But everyone is unique so I..guess... you...are?" He gave Shani an embarrased grin. I would be so happy right now if a 'daeva came and killed me Static wanted to crawl in a hole and die. Ugh! No wonder nobody liked him!
"There a several species of Nightshade, so Belladonna, or deadly nightshade is part of that plant type. Kinda like how you're still in the same 'family' as the 'long-tailed' modifoxes, such as me."
"Yes, I had head about a tribe like that, I think. I didn't know for sure,scince I hardly see anyone nowadays. I considered going to the city once, to observe...but I don't get along well with others. I'm always saying something that offends them in some way, or they call me a 'nerd'." He said it like he didn't care, but deep down, it hurt
((plant facts from wikipedia, sorry if i get it wrong sweatdrop ))
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Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 1:35 pm
Shani had the sense of tact (surprising, but true) not to laugh at poor Static while he stuttered through his special definitions. She stood there, totally chill and relaxed, not at all offended by anything he was saying. Despite her eccentricities, Shani had an excellent sense of comprehension. That sense was pinging in the back of her mind, but she shoved the ping to a vacant corner for later observation.
"So that makes me belladonna and you nightshade," she asked, voice mischievious. For some reason the comparison was amusing to her.
She tilted her head slightly, examining Staic. "Nothing wrong with being a nerd, it means you know how to use your brain," she said bracingly. There really wasn't anything wrong with the word so much as how people said it. Kinda like how Static had been going on about special. Nerd could be good or bad. She hoped she could help him to see it in the good light.
"I don't think you're offending at all," Shani continued. "Maybe a little blunt, but I like it when people aren't always dancing around a subject."
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Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 1:54 am
A sence of relief washed over Static. She didn't laugh or make fun of him! He was even gladder that she didn't say anything about it. It would just make things even more embarrasing.
What Shani said confused him. Didn't this fox know the difference between plants and...oh, it was a joke! Static laughed. He actually laughed! Static never laughed, well...except for when he was a kit, but even then it was pretty uncommon. " I suppose so, Belladonna."Static thought hard. Belladonna...that means 'beautiful lady'...right? He was smarter this time, not saying that part out loud.
Static watched as Shani tilted her head, reminding him of a bird. She sure did that a lot. Wondering what it was like, he copied her. Maybe it helped one to think or concerntrate?"Well, scince I am an expert in using my brain, I guess I am a nerd then"...nope, the head-tilt didn't help him think at all, so he lifted it back to it's normal angle. " Thank you for your kind words, Shani, aside from my family, your the only one who really likes my bluntness." He paused, studying her
"Well, we had better get back to finding spring" It took a lot of effort not to roll his eyes. He would always find the notion ridiculous. "Does spring include animals as well as plants? I have not eaten in some time, scince the prey near my last home were diminishing...On the way, would you tell me why you tilt your head? I find it curious." ...and cute... he thought,but he shoved it away, to the very back of his mind.
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Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 10:13 am
Shani chuckled, stretching her long legs. Perhaps the lack of tail made it more obvious or maybe it was something to do with her kind living in snowy areas, but her legs always seemed longer than the average fox. She wasn't much bigger than a large female in height, though she did have a bit more muscle. All required to slog through snow that reached the top of your belly!
"I helps me introspect," she replied to Static's query. "All my thoughts run together and mingle, and sometimes that helps me realize things once I sort through all of it." She wasn't sure if that made any sense or not. She was pretty sure it was one of those things you'd have to experience before one understood any attempt at explanation.
"And that would be hunting-hunting," Shani said, in response to Static's other question about Spring hunting. "Spring hunting is looking for signs of new life and growth! I don't see any reason why we couldn't mingle the two purposes though," she add, expression going a bit thoughtful as she did her intropection head-tilt again.
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Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 12:59 am
" I see..." Static thought he got what she meant, though he had never had that happen to him, so he wasn't quite sure.
" Hunting- Hunting is not a word" was all he said. Static did not like to be corrected.He knew he could be a little proud at times, Correction, most of the time. But this time, he thought is wiser not to let it get the better of him. "You wouln't happen to know the lay of the land, would you? I...ah..." Spit it out already!! he thought "I don't know where the best spots to hunt prey are." He finished with a rush. Asking for help wasn't one of the things Static was particularly good at. Puffing out his chest and lifting his head up in a proud gesture, he waited.
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Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2011 10:23 am
"Well if you mash the whole thing together I'm sure it's not. It's just a use of words for claification. Like gathering-hunting would mean we're looking for plants, and hunting-hunting is for animals," Shani said, tone neutral enough to see she wasn't really arguing the point back at Static, just expressing her own view on it.
She had to supress a giggle, watching Static puff out his chest. 'He looks like a male bird trying to impress a female' she thought, and had to supress the giggle all over again.
Once she was moderately sure she had herself under control, she answered Static's question. "Well, I don't know the land that well," she said. "That's why I'm hunting for Spring. I've only been around a week or so. I could hazard an educated guess at the best spot for hunting at the moment." She tilted her head, waiting to see what Static made of the offer.
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Posted: Mon Apr 11, 2011 10:40 pm
Static shrugged. That was the only answer he was going to give her. He was certain that he was right and she was wrong, but didn't want to continue the topic. That would only push her away, metaphorically, of course.
Shani looked tense, like she was trying to hold in a cough or something. It was probably that. Did her kind consider it rude to cough? Some did consider it rude. Maybe she was choking, but on what? Air? Static considered thumping her on the back, raising his paw a few centmeters for a moment. Luckily, the peculiar episode subsided.
A growling from Static's stomach alerted him to just how hungry he was. This is not the time to be stubborn refusing aid would mean he ended up with no food. "Very well, lead the way" He replied and mumbled a small "please" His mother and father always taught him that if you ask nicely, you shall recieve.
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Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2011 1:23 pm
Shani nodded, then turned around in an moment so quick and aburpt it might be startling to someone unused to it. She didn't really think about any of that though. Once she had a goal in mind she tended to remain quite focused. Oh, little things did get through to her and get stored away, to be pulled out at the most random moments to startle others by proving she had been listening and observing. But until the proverbial later she could seem almost one-tracked.
As it so happened the two didn't have far to go. Shani loved to run and had fairly large amount of territory, but she wasn't sure if Static was on par with her level of endurance. She'd have to find out another time.
The tan female turned to the male. "This little clearing is a popular bedding site for deer when the sun begins to go down," she explained, talking quietly so as not to disturb any wildlife. "And there's almost always a rabbit or two in the daytime, with all the variety of grass and the height of said grass making good cover from predators."
And the little meadow truly was pretty. The grass was easily tall enough to tickle the bellies of the Modi's. As the wind plucked at the winter-brown stalks one could see the potential for it's true beauty in the spring. Even now the tiniest flashes of green showed through the brown, new grass starting to grow in the shelter of the taller grass.
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Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2011 11:37 pm
Static jumped at the abrupt movement, startled. He reminded himself to be more watchful nex time. Shani seemed to always be surprising him, something that frustrated, yet interested him. He found himself trying to define Shani, not an easy thing to do. He pondered it for a moment. Headstong, humorous and understanding were all valid descriptions. So were-
Static was snapped out of his thoughts when he realised the modifox in question was already moving. He hurried to keep up with her, she was very fast.
Static observed the meadow in which they had stopped at. It was pretty, he supposed, according to what most foxes would define it as. The fresh, green sprouts reminded him of thier task. But if they had found spring...they would have to part ways. He whispered " I suppose..." but stopped. That was for later. Right now, they were hunting. "I suppose a few rabbits sound good. What's our plan of attack?"
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Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 10:24 am
Gold eyes scanned through the tall grass, though her reply was prompt enough. "Well if they duck into a warren, forget about them. I tried digging one up once, and they're more like tunnels into the meadow than a burrow. Not only did I not get a rabbit, less of them came around until they built a new tunnel."
The predator's eyes frozen, staring intently at a spot in the grass. "It helps if you can spot something first, because those darns things have hearing almost as good as us, a decent sense of smell, and can feel the vibrations of your moment across the ground. As soon as you spot something, you best chance is to run full out."
Now Shani was starting to pull herself down into a crouch. She was about 75% certain she was staring at a rabbit. "Don't worry about accuracy in the first charge. Just hit it. If you can knock it over they take a moment to right themselves, with all the flailing, and that gives you time to turn and finish the job. You might also score and injury to keep them from fleeing."
Rather than pounce, Shani waited. She wanted to make sure Static understood the hunting style she had outlined, and also hoped her prey wasn't a doe. With Spring so near, there was the potential it was pregnant.
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Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 11:42 pm
Static nodded, too much talking would alert the prey. As sneaky as...well, a fox, he slunk farther away from Shani. This would help her when he charged. This would aslo work to herd any nearby rabbits towards her. Cold and caculating, his gaze locked on one. Or a least, it was a high chance of being one. He was fixed on it, nothing else mattered for that moment. The rabbit spotted him. Cursing his colouration, he charged. The rabbit ran, but he was gaining. It was oh so close to a warren, but he was centimeters away. Sent it flying with a knock from his head, as Shani instructed. It worked and the rabbit lost valuable time. He pounced, jaw closing on the back of it's neck. Then it was over. He skidded a bit, then regained balance.
He snapped out of his trance, and turned to watch Shani, curious in how well she could hunt.
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Posted: Sun May 01, 2011 11:54 pm
Shani watched in approval. Static probably did alright in blending while the grass was still brownish. Even in the summer with everything bright green Shani still managed to hide well enough.
After watching long enough to make sure Static would be fine on his own, Shani made a pounce of her own. She actually made a kill quicker than Static; his charge had scared the rabbit she'd been eyeing right towards her. To her satisfaction it was a stag; no sense in killing off a female that could be pregnant.
She turned to see where her companion had gone, and found herself quite pleased to note he'd gotten a kill of his own. Sometimes brainy foxes weren't much good at hunting, and this little meadow was hard to make kills in if you didn't have some kind of experience.
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Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 1:20 am
Static watched in amazement. He had to admit she was good, very good. Most likely better than himself. It was a kind of beauty, seeing the tan vixen hunt. That thought made his stomache seem to drop and his heart speed up. It surprised him, and he tried to push it away.
" That was...You are very good" He said. He picked up his rabbit and trotted over to join her. He stopped about 3 meters away, he didn't know how she was with personal space. Some foxes didn't like to be around others when they ate.
His stomach welcomed the meat of the rabbit, so he dug in. It didn't take long before he was finished. Not knowing what else to do, he sat and waited.
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