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 Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 5:39 pm
Milo was sitting in the shade under his bush, snoozing under the midday sun. His paw flicked every once in awhile as he dreamed of running through the fields, jumping into the air, snapping at the sun. He flicked his eyes a little and woke. He had overslept, and it was time for something to eat. He had finished his stores left at the den, and figured it was about time for some new fish, or maybe some of the strange cuisine from Rendigger's Forest. He had never ventured out that way before and hoped that the trip would prove to be successful. He took a quick look out before dashing out, heading north. He hoped that he wouldn't encounter any enemies or kits on the way. He had never had to interact with kits, as his brothers and sisters had left their mother before he did. He had always been shy and to himself, enjoying Nature. He ran through the fields, and suddenly smelt an almost familiar sweet flowery scent. Was it a strange new animal? He put his nose to the ground and began to run towards the scent.
He glanced forward and noticed a female closing in in the vicinity. He neared the female, and gave a warning bark so taht he wouldn't startle her. "Excuse me- but what are you doing out here alone by yourself? It could be dangerous this close to Rendigger Forest... Umm.. I'm sorry. I'm Milo. I was heading that way, do you want to join me?" He tilted his head to the side and shook it out.
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Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 6:26 pm
Monroe was out foraging for food on one of those rare occasions she was away from Riima. She decided to take a day trip to Rendigger Forest which was abundant in simple provisions nearly as well as hazardous creatures. Obviously, she had to be cautious around these parts. She was sniffing about the area and caught a strange but familiar scent. Before she could turn to look for the source, she heard an alarming bark and spun around to make out another fox closing in on her.
Roe recognized the lavender colored reynard, although she couldn't recall his name. "Oh, hello!" Her tail swished enthusiastically. She remembered the awkward situation she had ensuing her failure to request another's name, "I met you at the Grove the other day, didn't I? I haven't learned your name yet, and doubt you remember mine, so... I'm Monroe, but most everyone calls me Roe!" She postured herself, sitting down, her tail coming to rest on her side.
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Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 7:33 am
Milo thought for a moment, then he did remember meeting a few foxes in the Grove. That's why her scent had been so familiar.
"Ah yes.." He smiled a bit. "As I recall, I accidently bumped into you. This nose of mine CAN get a bit carried away." He dipped his head a little, embarrassed. "It's a pleasure to meet you.... again... Monroe. So you're heading to the Forests as well? I'm no big judge of character, but isn't it a little dangerous for a lady? I'm not saying you can't handle it, but where is your escourt?"
He looked around, left then right, wondering if she was indeed, with someone else. It was rude to invite yourself in on someone else's hunting trips. But he wouldn't mind the company either. Rendigger really could be dangerous on your own, and especially if you got hurt. There would be no one to run for help. His tail swished hopefully as he waited for an answer.
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Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 8:26 pm
"I haven't an escort, actually, and I never thought I would need one. It's not like I will be venturing deep into the dark heart of the forest. I was thinking about hunting around the outskirts, barely anything happens there." Monroe thought for a moment, her sight straying to contemplate the first thicket of trees lining the forest, "But I suppose it is rather dangerous in Randigger, no matter what parts you approach. So we will go together!"
She recalled her earlier inquiry about his name which remained unanswered. "What is your name, by the way? I believe you never answered that question."
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Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 12:59 pm
Milo listened to the brave female talk about hunting on the edge of the forest. "Yes, I agree, we should certainly hunt together- perhaps it would be easier to catch more that way, too."
At the inquiry of his name, Milo blushed. "How rude of me, I'm so sorry. I'm Milo. It's kind of a dumb name, I know. But my mother said it fits. It's not pretty like yours..." He glanced down.
"Anyway, shall we go? I hear there are rabbits as big as bobcats in there... We may not need to catch one of those... but It'll be easier to take down something that big with the two of us- I was thinking a nice fat rat or something like that... " He was salivating at the thought of his next meal, and with pleasure in having company at long last. "Do you want to stay near the edge? If that's comfortable for you, that's fine." His tail swished back and forth with Excitement.
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Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 2:32 pm
Rabbits as big as bobcats? Now that she had to see. Without another word, Monroe rose and began walking towards the closest path leading into the labyrinth beyond. She assumed that Milo was following her as she walked, keeping her eyes on what lay ahead. "We should go wherever our instincts pull us. After all, that is all you can really go by on a hunting trip!" She was determined to have a splendid meal by nightfall.
Since they were barely on the outskirts, Roe decided to lighten up the mood. Going hunting while tense or frightened could cost you your life, "I think Milo's a lovely name. I myself don't remember much of my family so it's nice hearing from someone who knows their lineage, assuming you know yours, ofcourse."
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Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 4:29 pm
Milo followed her silently. It was best to hunt in silence, but the light chatter would be fun. Milo smurked. He liked that Monroe would take the lead, since it seemed at the present his shyness had evaded him.
"Well, I never knew my father, but I was the last to leave the den after my brothers and sisters. I just wanted to stick around and make sure she was alright without us... She was always kind of frail. Especially after we were born. We were a large litter. That's why I don't have many friends... because I left home so late... But that's all I know... What was that?"
Milo's eyes caught something moving in the underbrush. His ears perked up, but his body was low to the ground. He whispered. "Did you see that?"
Something rustled again, and Milo's tail got very tense. "Do you think it's something we can eat?"
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Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 6:28 pm
Monroe crouched low, eyes searching for the cause of the rustling, "I don't know..." She spoke low so that only Milo could hear, "We just arrived... It can't be too bad, right?" She would be lying if she said she wasn't a bit frantic. If either of them got hurt it would be a problem.
'No. It was my decision to come foraging out here! I only met Milo by chance, if it weren't for him I would be out here all alone.' She shook her head head slightly as if it would ease the anxiety and, surprisingly, it did. Her ears perked to catch any further movement, she stood there, still as a statue, awaiting the creatures first move.
Then she heard it, the distinctive rustling nearby. She looked at Milo for some 'Go' sign or something of that nature.
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Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:19 pm
Milo waited for the right moment, when he thought their prey would be nearest, to shoot off after whatever it was. He looked to Monroe. He hoped she was ready. The rustling was small enough that it was definitely something they could at least ATTEMPT to go after.
He looked over at Monroe and whispered low enough for only her to hear it. "Okay, it's close enough, if you'll take the right, I'll take the left. We don't know what it is, and neither of us want to get hurt, so let's go for the flanks until we can figure out how large it is. Alright?" He set his head to face the left.
"Alright..." He said, getting ready to speed of. "On my word."
A nearer leaf rustled and Milo took off. "NOW!"
Whatever is was was definitely something small enough to eat. He could see through the leaves and whatever it was was large, but not too large for two full grown foxes. It was black and white with stout legs. A Badger! As long as they kept it running, it wouldn't fight back. Milo barked at Monroe twice to let her know that it was alright and to go ahead and move in. The Badger was full, and was tiring, quickly. He could see the white of Monroe's fur flicker on the other side of the badger.
They would tire it out for awhile before pouncing. He continued to run, his eye staying on the animal at all times. This would be tough, but it could work if she could handle it.
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Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 9:07 pm
Monroe ran alongside the badger at Milo's command. She realized what he was doing, tiring the badger was a smart idea, but how long would it take? Pushing that thought aside, she picked up her pace after falling behind by a small margin.
The badger was slowing, the two foxes could most likely take it down now. She kept running along still, waiting for Milo to make the initiative move. She did not want to sabotage the hunt with a wrong move. Waiting for that move, the thought flashed through her head once more, 'How long have we been at this...?'
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Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 7:50 am
Milo saw the badger showing signs of slowing, and gave a yelp at Monroe to pounce. He himself jumped at the neck, while he figured she would go for the flank. At the speed they were going, it would keep the badger from darting away or biting at them, but Milo was risking getting himself seriously clawed if he didn't make the exact right mark.
Milo dove in, his teeth bared, and met the point at the badger's jugular vein perfectly. The animal's head was thrown to the side and it slid, it's front claws under it's stomach, giving up very little resistance from the fatigue and now the bleeding that was happening. Milo continued to bite down, the blood soaking his face, until he thought that the Badger was surely done for. Then he dropped the head and looked up and over to see how Monroe had done.
He was panting, his breath hot and showing in the forest from all the running. He sat down, and lay on his haunches to catch his breath. "Wow... that was... crazy... Great... job..." He took a moment to swallow. "Are you... alright?" He tilted his head and finally seemed to catch his breath. Between the two of them, hopefully they could drag this rather large catch back to the Grove without too much trouble. It could feed them both, if stored correctly, for abotu a week or so.
"Ladies get the first pick..." He nodded towards their kill, still wanting to catch his breath and clean himself off from the mess he had made.
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Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 10:00 am
At Milo's yelp, Monroe leaped at the badger, slicing into its flank with her jaws. As the badger collapsed, she took several hesitant steps back. The badger hadn't retaliated, it hadn't moved since they took it down so she sat herself down with a sigh. "That was real brave of you... You really put your life on the line back there." She started feeling the exhaustion from the run, "You just go ahead and... Dig in! That was a long run and... You deserve it more than I do!"
The sudden realization dawned on her, "Hey Milo... We're pretty deep into the forest now aren't we..." She muttered warily, "And we're exhausted, with the fresh scent of blood around us." Glancing about as if something was already prowling about for them, Monroe felt a slight shudder down her spine. "I can see how this happened... We were running so fast in pursuit of the badger.. And it must've been longer than it seemed."
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Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 12:15 pm
Milo was surprised at how Monroe appreciated his going for the badger's throat. It had really been the only move they had. Had it been a rabbit or something else, it wouldn't have been as hard, but he knew that he would be able to take it own as soon as he leapt. "Thanks... But you're right, I don't know what could be lurking around. What do you say we try to come back the way we came and try to drag what we can out?"
If he took the left front leg and she took the right, they could drag it fairly quickly. Then they would avoid any sort of trouble that may be coming. "You know, you didn't do too badly yourself! I mean, really, two adult foxes taking on a badger can be tough..." He said, smiling at her. "Here, you take that side and I'll take this one, and we'll drag it out the way we came in, and if we see we come closer to the edge on the way out, we'll take it. How does that sound?"
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Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 2:47 pm
"Truthfully...?" Monroe shuddered, "Dangerous." She paused, looking around as the light breeze blew past, "It is still bleeding... So dragging it all the way through the forest will leave a scented trail of blood, who knows what'll follow us..." Maybe she was overthinking it, but it was for the better of their safety. "Now, remember. We don't know where or how deep we are in the forest. If we found this badger quite a long way back then..." Maybe it would be safer to get out of here as fast as they possibly could. Who knows, they might just make it. "It is your choice though, I'm a bit frantic myself." She gave him a sheepish smile, "So what'll we do?"
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Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 7:06 pm
Milo thougth about it as well. Luring something out of the forest could be a disastrous idea. "Okay, well... How about we tear off a piece of meat that isn't bleeding to bad, enough to carry, and then try to head out?"
As much as Milo hated to risk their safety, his stubbornness didn't want to leave such a big catch behind. If there was only some way to just bring a part of it... Suddenly, Milo realized they had a bigger problem. As much as Monroe had worried, she had not worried in vain. There was another rustling coming. A much larger, louder, growling rustling. Milo's head shot up towards the noise and he looked towards Monroe. Silently he sniffed the ground til he found his old trail, he made sure Monroe was close and then he whispered just loud enough for her to hear.
"We have to run. Follow me and we'll try to make it out. Forget about the catch- we'll find something smaller on the outskirts. Let' go! NOW!" He darted off, nose to the ground in the opposite direction of whatever it was, checking behind him to make sure that the female was still following him. Sure enough, as soon as they were about 100 feet away, he glanced behind him to see a bear loaping over to the freshly killed badger. He cursed in his head for even thinking about coming in to the dangerous forest. What if something had happened to him? Or worse, to his new companion, Roe?
He kept following the trail until the light was brighter and they could almost see the clearings. He kept checking behind him periodically to see if Monroe was following him.
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