|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 3:55 pm
Emerald eyes seemd to detract off towards the elusive and mysterious shadows that dwelt far into the depths of the forest, Damu perked his head up and became slightly wide-eyed as his mate took him by surprise as she began to nuzzle and roll about him.
He chuckled softly as he too returned the affectionate guestures by rumbling low and gnawing upon her black ears. The feelings and experience of self worth that she made him experience were beyond explainable. Taima made him feel rejuvinated and alive...it was baffling as to how he was living before he had ever met her.
Such a life of hidden secrecy, forlorn and drifting throught the mountains and the woods, had made him a nomad with no purpose. What was truth? What was love? These were two aspects of life he would never unveil nor experience firsthand but, as fate would have it, his whole life seemed to spin when he came across the young female, furiously shaking the snow from off her head and whose bubbly, puppy-like nature had awakened a part of him that he had concealed for too long.
Love never felt so strong and so right before.
The white and black swirled male let a broad grin spread across his maw as, tenderly, he drew closer towards her and graced her muzzle with a wet kiss.
"There's a river nearby," he commented as he rolled upon his back slightly, positioning his sight fully upon his moss and black hued mate. "We can rest, swim a bit and even see if we can lure anything to come our way."
Though winter still was fleeting, the brunt of its chill still lingering within the woods, Damu sought a peaceful relaxation by waterfront to calm his uneasiness and, perhaps, be able to catch a meal or two.
Swivling his head in a quick glance towards the south, the young adult was certain that there were a few water sources to pick and choose from. But it was where exactly Taima wanted to go that would lead to the final decision. Glimpsing back, he rested his head upon his front paws as his emerald eyes looked up towards his mate.
"What do you think, Tai? Shall we go to the river?"
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 7:48 pm
"The river's fiiiiine," she woofed, still slightly rolling about him. Her mind had completely forgotten the outer spook in the world, and now Tai was merely focused on her wonderful and loving mate. Perfect was he, she thought.
"Sounds actually perfect. I'm kinda thirsty, and I've never tried fish before. Maybe you can teach me how to catch them?" she asked innocently, gazing up adoringly into Damu's eyes. She had heard that fish were slightly easier to catch than other game such as rabbits and deer, but then she had also heard that they were slippery creatures, and were often dropped back into the river before a wolf had a chance to flop them onto the bank. The two stories clashed, and she didn't quite know what to believe, really.
Shaking her head, though, and figuring that it wasn't worth her time to waste precious brain power over the matter, Taima simply rolled onto her stomach then up onto her paws. Wiggling her toes randomly, she grinned in a rather silly manner.
"I'll race ya there!" she yipped, grabbing his ear quickly before leaping nimbly over him then dashing straight into the forest. She could smell the water, and so direction wouldn't be a problem for her. The real problem would be keeping ahead of him while still keeping her footing. Difficult, yes?
The female was up for the challenge.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 8:26 pm
A rather pleased smile, warm and affectionate, graced his maw as he grinned. Oh the tragedy and comedy of fish! Such slippery creatures yet so questionable as to what to compare their intelligence towards. They were, in many cases, oblivious to the awaiting jaws that lurked within the waters depths yet were tricky to actually catch. Their horrible, swift courses that they attempted to devise often made him dizzy thus fish were always a last resort to a suitable prey.
"I can try but be warned that I'm not the best at hunting them," he chuckled as he watched her rise to her paws, a sudden gleam of exhilaration shining bright within her eyes.
She was up to something. But what?
Before he could stumble up onto all fours, his black ear was suddenly seized by Tai's maw as her devious plan was unleashed. A race! Another? Well- the first attempt wasn't quite successful, to be honest. And, truthfully, Damu should have seen this coming.
Srambling to his feet, tumbling over slightly in a sprawling motion, the white and black swirled male watched as she leapt over him and began sprinting ahead into the depths of the forest. Tai was sly...too sly. But the young adult had his own bag of trick but he'd best save them for the dire moments of head to head competition.
Huffing slightly as his black ringed tail swept upwards, he crouched low towards the ground and, with enough strength, propelled himself forward in a mad dash as he followed within her treaded path.
"Oh! You think you're so tricky!" He howled with laughter as his paws swept across the leaf littered ground of the forest, desperately trying to catch up to her. "You just wait, Tai!"
Keeping his eyes pinpointed upon her, Damu continued to onlook as her sillouhette within the distance slowly transformed into vivid distinctions and attributes to his mate. She was fast, but he'd make sure that he'd catch up somehow.
Losing would only bring yet another unceasing taunt upon him. He was already "chunky" but what more could he be? Slow? Never! But it seemed so...
A self concious thought swept through his thought only to cause an uncertain facial expression. Am I really chunky?...I gotta go on a diet.
Panting as his tongue lolled out of his maw, Damu pressed onwards with the race as he sought to seek the upper hand in the race before him. He had to at least not lag behind!
Oh, the forest life had really tolled on him!
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 2:47 pm
Taima went on, on and on. On so much that she feared she would either zoom by the river unknowingly or simply fall into it. Either way, she didn't like the way things were seeming to be turning out. Yet her mate was gaining on her, and she couldn't very well let him win. There was too much energy coursing through her veins, and she couldn't stop now. She had to win, or he had to force her into submission.
"Yeah, I am so tricky!" she laughed, flicking ears back in his direction but not daring to turn her head. Though the shaman had healed her, the pain from her wound was fresh in her mind. She wouldn't forget what had happened the last time she let her eyes trail away from her path and the last time she had let her guard fall. She wouldn't make the same mistake twice.
Damu was planning something, she knew, but just what the female couldn't quite figure out. Though she had felt like she had known him her whole life, there was still some things that were unknown about him to her. Like how his brain worked. That would take a bit more time to get used to and to fully know.
Continuing onward, she was forced to wait out the suspense until the moment when he chose to make his move.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 3:17 pm
His cautious, swift strides that he utilized in attempt to save of sparse energy that would, no doubt, be needed for when a close call was to arise suddenly transformed into powerful lunges as the white and black swirled male propelled himself forwards.
As his back legs tensed, he launched himself well in a continious motion as his paws clenched the ground underneath and fortified a powerful stance that could be quickly regained when his paws soared across the littered grounds of the forest floor. Either he was a fool or desperate to call upon such strength but one thing was for sure was that Damu didn't- no, he couldn't bear to lose yet again.
The wafting scent of the juvenile shrubs and greenery began to linger within the air; they were close, too close. It wouldn't be long until the rushing waters that snaked through Shaoilin Woods would become audible and its scenic display of lively vegetation darting silver streaks would come into view.
It was now or never.
With one last surge of adrenaline, Damu began to gain on Taima's tail as his tongue lolled out of his mouth, a rather exhilarated smile spread wide across his face.
"And so am I!" He howled, kicking up his pace as he barely pulled into the lead.
His emerald orbs whirled with thrill! For once, he was tasting of victory's tantilizing ambrosia but, in the back of his mind, he knew it would be short lived...it always was. But, for the time being, Damu would have to make the best of it.
Peering back towards his mate, he grinned and stuck out his tongue in his own fashionable gesture of victory. His black ringed tail flew upwards like that of a waving banner, feathered and waving in pure taunting.
Oh, he was living up the moment all too well.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 3:37 pm
Taima had expected something like this, but yet at the same time she hadn't. She had been confident in herself that she would be able to keep ahead of the male, but it seemed that brute strength played a great role in this race. Because he was larger and more well-built, he was able to propel himself farther and faster than she would ever be capable of. When he could practically n** her tail, that was about the time that she understood that she had been beaten. And badly. She should have known from the beginning that she stood not a chance.
Nonetheless, she continued running alongside him for a few minutes more. The river was close, she knew, and pretty soon they would have to stop. She waited until they were close enough, and then randomly started to slow.
There was a slight frown occupying her features as the female came to a slow stop at the water's edge. She glanced away from him and peered into the waters at the unsatisfying reflection that lived there. Black ears flicked back as she sighed and sat back on her haunches.
Her heart loved Damu, and she couldn't have been any happier with any other wolf besides him. Yet there was a nagging feeling from the past gnawing at her brain. There had always been a time for competition in her old home, and after a while she had simply stopped participating. They always laughed and jeered at her when she was quite incapable of rising above one of the lower ranks. No one had comforted her when she had lost. Not once.
And now, though she knew he hadn't done it on purpose, Tai was feeling down because she had lost once again. She wasn't fit enough to win, it seemed.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 3:53 pm
Wolfish veins within were surging with such thrill that it seemed the white and black male had, for once, won a race only by means of brute strength. But, in all honesty, it was never the taste of upmost victory he sought for it was the thrill of the race that made his whole body feel as if they were doused with could nines potion; a feeling of weightlessnes and of freedom.
His eyes shifted back towards his mate as they drew closer towards the bank of the river, silently watching as Taima's facial features transformed into a frown, a dissatisfied expression most likely due to his actions. As his gait slowed to a brisk trot, he tilted his head in question.
Had he taken his playful nature too far? Why did his mate slow down and simply forfit?
I shouldn't of been such an arrogant fool, he scorned silently as his emerald eyes looked upon her.
Lowering his head, Damu wuffed and emitted a soft rumble as he padded slowly aside his mate. "Taima...I didn't mean to gloat. I admit it, I took the teasing too far and I'm sorry." Nuzzling her delicately with his muzzle, the white and black male whined.
"I've got to admit, I thought I didn't have a chance! You were flying lengths ahead and it took forever to finally catch up to you! Besides, it's one loss...I'm sure they'll be plenty of other races you'll win." Chuckling softly, he delicately licked her muzzle, "Speed and I never were the best of allies."
As his eyes drifted aside towards the trailing fish that shimmered and darted within the rivers wakes, he looked back towards her as his eyes softened in a worriedsome look.
"Please, please don't be mad at me," he whispered.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 4:16 pm
Tai shook her head, unable to resist his soft touch and his soothing voice. There probably wouldn't be another wolf in all of the woods and throughout all of time who could ever comfort her, even if they weren't trying to. Of course Damu had seen her expression and was now attempting to cheer her up, but there was just some dark cloud haning about the back of her mind that made her continue to frown, even as she whimpered and nuzzled into her mate.
"I'm not mad at you, love, I never could be." She paused, trying to find the right words. She knew what she was feeling and why, but she was merely unsure of how to relay it to him.
"It's just... just that... well I don't know," she mumbled, closing her eyes momentarily and hiding her face deep within his fluffy neck fur. "Just... when I was back with my old pack, there'd be random races in celebrations and whatever, like when there was a birth or something..." The female had never really understood the concept of it all. "I'd never win, and the others would always make fun of me," Tai whined, burying her face deeper and deeper within her mate's neck in an attempt to hide her whole mound of embarassment.
"They'd always tease me and..." She shook her head, finally pulling away from him. He couldn't have known, and so his teasing had been relatively harmless from his point of view. But because she knew how horrible wolves could be, she couldn't exactly take it.
"I'm sorry, Damu. I'm taking things too seriously. It's just a race..." Yes, just a race. It didn't mean a thing, they were there for each other and nothing could ever alter the feelings they held for one another.
In an attempt to avert her attention away from the race, the oddly-colored female glanced back at the water and the fish that swam effortlessly through the current. "How about teaching me how to fish?" she suggested randomly, hoping that he would teach her and that the former subject could be put to rest.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 5:17 pm
A warm, reassuring smile drew up upon his maw as she buried her face within his jagged fur. It was at that moment when she shrouded her face away from his sights, that he chuckled softly and nibbled at her ear. "You know I'd never tease you, Tai. I was only trying to have fun but I guess I was going too far with it."
Tilting his head slightly in a mere quizzical way, the white and black swirled male wuffed softly and gazed upon her for a few moments. How could anyone have belittled her? Especially in a pack? Weren't packs suppose to be acceptive of everyone? But, in his case, he too knew of the cruelty of packmembers and how heartless they could be.
Not every pack was comprised of love and understanding, he thought to himself as he felt her pull away.
He shook his head; there was no need for an apology on her part, Tai just never had been treated as a wolfess should have been but he planned on changing that. Oh, how he loved her! She was much more than perfect...she was unblemished and stunning! Why other wolves never saw such a priceless jewel amongst stones bewildered him.
"And there will be plenty more opportunities to beat me," he added as he padded closer towards her, tenderly nuzzling and rubbing underneath towards her neck.
Black ears suddenly perked up as his mate asked to learn how to fish. A wide, pearly-white grin graced his maw as he slowly trailed into the depths of the river. The chilling waters splashed and created small wakes around him as he padded deeper and deeper until the water breached past his paws. Looking back towards his mate, he yipped.
"Come on in, Tai! The first lesson is to learn where the depths of the river are and how to tell."
As his black ringed tail swayed in an estatic manner behind him, Damu patiently waited for his mate to join him. This certainly would be intresting. He had never taught anyone how to fish but there was always a first for everything.
His emerald orbs danced as the rays of the sun reflected and cast a comforting appearance over them. As he shifted from paw to paw, his weight balanced between each foot, he smiled with glee as the streaks of silver blurs arose and darted all around him. Fish were such skittish creatures but their taste made up for their burdensome chases they made their persure endure.
"This'll be easy," he remarked as his eyes kept on target, jaws yearning to snap and catch an ususpecting prey.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 10:28 am
Forgetting completely about their former race and her memories' disturbance of a good day, Tai turned her attention to the river and the fish she was bound to catch. She had been a fast learner when she had been back with her pack, and she figured that that particular trait in her hadn't changed a bit. Sharp was her mind, and often times sharp minds took a lot to be dulled.
Following her mate's instructions, she slowly followed him to the water. Delicately she placed a paw in the cool liquids, feeling a tingling sensation run up her legs and down her spine all the way down to the very tip of her tail. She smiled a toothy smile and glanced lovingly at him. The black and white male meant everything to her, and the female was glad that she had found him when she did.
"Where do the fish usually rest?" she asked innocently, tilting her head in a questioning manner. She figured that the fish would lay in the deeper parts of the water because the deeper a river was, the darker the waters, right? So if the fish hid in the darkness, they wouldn't be seen and so wouldn't be caught. Simple enough, yes? But then she looked down a the water with bright orbs, amazed to see the fish so close to the surface. Were they stupid?
Grinning to herself, she then looked back over towards Damu. "What next?"
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 10:54 am
It took him a few attempts to tear his sights from the depths of the water, emerald eyes lured by the silver streaks that rambunctiously darted in every direction. Glancing up as his mate daintily entered into the river, he smiled and lifted his head up to meet her curious gaze.
"The fish? Oh, they usually reside in the darker parts of the river, where it's deep and rocky," he replied with a warm smile as his paws delicately swept through the water, cleching to the rocks underfoot as he silently treaded closer towards the shadowed regions of the lakes.
The white and black male's wolfish veins were surging with thrill, a rush of excitement storming through him, as he began to dip his head low towards the mirror-like surface of the river. Compared to his home in the mountains, these rivers were brimming full of fish! He'd never had seen so many fish! Up at Seer's Cliffside, he'd have to hunt for hours to find a suitable fish...small guppies were too common back home. But, this time, he'd have no trouble...or so he thought.
"Next," he began as, once again, his emerald orbs were lured back towards the frightened fish,"you slowly drift and step lightly towards the dark parts." With the passing current, Damu crouched low into the water and leapt upwards as his paws paddled himself towards the center. Sweeping his front paws through the water, the white and black wolf drew closer towards the depths of the rivers banks and planted his feet firmly within the sands of the coarsing river.
Well...that was a bit more challenging then he had expected.
His tongue lolled out of his mouth slightly and, just as convienent, he dipped it low into the water and drank slow to quench his thirst. The cooling water lapping within his mouth was a relief and just to be back in the water felt very relaxing.
Drawing his muzzle from the depths of the river, he smile. "So, that covers where to look for fish. Why don't you come over here and we'll begin the hunt?"
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 11:02 am
The female watched her mate very carefully. He seemed experienced in this field of hunting, and wondered silently whether he had to do this a lot back where he came from. There had been fishers in her old pack, but she was of course never one of them, nor had she ever a chance to watch them and learn. No one had ever given her a chance back home. But here was different, she knew. Damu was accepting and loving, everything that her parents and packmembers had never been. He took her in and was now willingly teaching her how to do things she was quite ignorant in. For that, Tai was thankful.
Nodding as her keen ears picked up his words effortlessly, she continued to watch the underwater dragons. "They are smart, then?" she asked in turn, so many questions whirling about her head. Yet she didn't want to annoy him or anything, and so she kept most of them to herself.
It seemed that the fish were smart, if they were sharp enough to hide in the darker parts of the river. Surely straying in the lighter colored portions of their home would be suicide!
Still watching carefully, she followed soon after Damu, then stayed silent as he took a drink to quench his thirst. She didn't find herself thirsty and so she didn't lap up the cool waters rushing over her black and moss-colored paws.
There must be certain tactics, she randomly thought, her mind entering predatory mode and leaving all other thoughts behind. Fish were much different from the normal rabbits and other such land-game she was used to. Even as the different land animals needed certain plans to catch, she figured that the fish, too, had to demand a particular course of action.
Tail wagging slightly in anticipation, Taima stood still as a statue, merely wating for instructions.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 12:19 pm
He quirked an eyebrow as he chuckled softly. "Well, I won't say their smart," he replied as he tilted his head slightly, stealthily watching, searching for a suitable subject. "But sometimes they're speed in the water can take you on a chase...and throw you off."
Damu had to hand it to them- fish, in some cases, were very, very tricky. He never did like to be taken by surprise only to find his maw empty...those slippery creatures sometimes go the best of him and took advantage of their superior swimming skills. The white and black swirled wolf rather was fond of the fish that were oblivious to his presence...they were the best to trick.
Glancing over to Tai as he dipped his muzzle into the water, he smiled. "All you have to do is wait," opening his maw wide as it drifted across the surface, Damu centered his awaiting jaws of teeth just above a congregated group of fish, "and-" suddenly, the white and black swirled wolf plunged his head underneath the water, shattering its glassy surface as his fierce jaws managed to subdue a victim and clamp onto a fish.
It's slimey texture wriggled and attempted to flee but the wolfs grip wouldn't let it escape so easily. Splashing upwards, Damu broke through the surface with a large huff. Holding his breath underwater wasn't all that easy...
With the fish still in his mouth, the white and black swirled male shook his sopping, wet fur free and padded onto the dry land. His whole body was drenched and the thick, mountainous fur now hung down and mattered in a flattened fashion.
"And that-", he spat out as he dropped the dead fish from his maw, "is how you catch a fish!" Shaking his head as it felt like water still inhabited them, he looked towards his mate with a grin.
"You're turn, love."
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 1:23 pm
Taima watched her mate, awed at his skill. How did he catch it so quickly! The fish darted to and fro after Damu's initial attack. Still amazed at how gracefuly he had done that, it took her a moment to finally gather herself up.
"M-my turn?" she stammered, still wondering over his catch. Her eyes slowly trailed towards him standing on the bank. The sight of him all wet practically made her fall over with laughter. She didn't mean to be rude or mean or anything, but his appearance was just so funny that she couldn't quite help it.
Her laughter finally died down a minute or so later, and she scrambled to the bank effortlessly. "Hah.. I'm sorry Damu," she whispered, nipping at one of his ears delicately. "I'm so sorry... you just looked a little... odd... standing there with your fur all wet." But then, Tai noted, he also looked amazingly handsome, despite all of the fluff and such.
"But you look so cute!" she cried finally, leaping forward and onto him, tail wagging back and forth quickly as she continued to nibble on his ears. The whole fishing lesson had been totally forgotten by now.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 1:40 pm
Why did his fur have to still retain so much water?
Attepting to shake himself dry, the white and black swirled wolf practically yeilded himself as Tai's laughter erupted. His maw pratically gaped open slightly and, out of sheer curiosity, he took one step towards the river and peered down into his reflection.
His maw practicall dropped.
"What the-", shooting back a glance towards his mate, he took one step only to find his ears seized upon by her maw. He felt embarrassed..and cold. "I...look...odd."
The white and black swirled male didn't have much time to truely ponder upon the thought as Taima leapt onto him in an estatic manner as she persued to nibble onhis ears. Though he was still a bit confused (and a little bit embarassed), Damu couldn't help but let a wide grin spread across his maw.
Wuffing in an exhilarated manner, the white and black male pawed at her face and lifted his head upwards in a tender muzzle against her mossy, black hued fur. This was love! How he never had felt such affection before and, for once and forever, he had found a true lover. Reaching upwards to gnaw on Tai's black ear, he smiled.
"So I'm cute, huh?" He replied with a willy expression upon his face, emerald eyes glistening with mischief. "Are you sure I don't look fierce...or strong? Just...cute?"
Just aside of him, the dead fish laid forlorn. It was now obsolete as, now, there was a new lesson to be learned; How to have fun 101.
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|