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 Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2010 2:47 pm
 Xanti picked his way through the dense brush, ears pricked forward, swiveling around at the slightest noise. The forest was quiet and dark. Eerie. The morning birds had all fallen silent for some reason or another even though it wasn’t that late in the day. In fact, it could still be classified as morning, yet the forest here was so thick that very little light managed to seep through. And it was starting to get colder. It seemed winter was coming fast upon the land, the mild breeze promising frost and snow in the not too distant future. The temperature didn't faze Xan, it didn't even cross his mind, so focused was he on his surroundings.
A noise off to the left. Xan froze. A faint heartbeat.
Something small, something tasty.
Slowly he edged closer, his mouth lolling open, dripping saliva in anticipation. It hadn’t moved, probably trying to hide its presence via camouflage. It wouldn’t succeed, but it didn’t know that yet. He could see it now, a tawny rabbit crouched low against the forest floor. A few feet closer and he would be within striking range. The tawny’s eyes bulged open as it spotted him, its heart picking up twofold as they made eye contact.
And then it was off.
But not for long. Despite the underbrush and the deadfall that restricted Xan’s movement, the chase was over quickly. One hoof stunned the creature, and his bite certainly paralyzed it. In a matter of seconds he could feel the rabbit relax in his maw. Neck broken. Its warm coppery taste dripped into his mouth, and rolled down his tongue. Awwwww. Xan tilted his head up, much like a vulture, and in several large bites had devoured the creature; bones, fur and all.
Xan licked the hot blood from his lips and growled in irritation. Desire. He desired more than the measly morsel he had just eaten. He needed something bigger, richer.
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Posted: Sun Jun 13, 2010 8:22 pm
 The murky water of the river offered him plenty of camouflage to swim about, up and down the current as he surveyed for creatures silly enough to expect nothing would be lurking beneath. Small game was the most frequent, things he no longer bothered himself with. They were hardly worth the energy with what few bites they offered of sustenance.
Not to mention they died too quickly.
No fun.
Not worth it.
Onward he swam, powerful tale propelling him forward despite the pressure of gravity and water trying to shove him back. The river was a rather lazy one, at least this neck of it was, not nearly strong enough to require a great deal of strength to combat. Still, it was enough that he deemed himself keen only for prey that would offer him a good breakfast. At length, he drew himself to a stop, looking to the surface as a mouth was clearly disrupting the smooth water to lap it up. A somewhat large mouth, to be exact. Typhoid watched it, unmoving as it removed itself from his river and out of his sight. This prompted him to surface, silent as he could, to peer out from beneath sopping bangs.
Oh hello, Breakfast.
A large buck stood with his back to the demon in the water, the pale antlers sharp and foreboding atop his head. At least they should have been. All Typhoid saw was a large, fat, juicy meal that would keep him occupied for quite some time as a toy. A large bonus. A very large bonus.
Quite as he could, he slithered out of the water, though by the time he was out the buck had wandered further into the woods. A meal like that was worth the trek through the underbrush, he decided after a moment of deliberation, setting off. Years of practice kept his tail off the ground, his hooves light as possible despite his heavy frame. It wasn't easy to be stealthy with mass like his, but his dark coloring kept the buck from spotting him on the occasions it would glance back, ears twitching.
Once he caught it, this thing would prove to be a fun lil' play thing. Unless he decided to start the game early with an ever fun chase...
Thinking he had all the time in the world, Typhoid gave a lazy, psychotic grin as he used his tail to snap a low hanging branch, successfully startling the buck into a defensive state. It was a fighter. Oh, this would be so much fun...
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Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2010 9:44 pm
Xanti had moved off from his last kill, blood successfully cleaned from his muzzle. That tangy taste still lingering at the back of his mouth, egging him on to find another target. It wouldn’t be long now; the scent of freshwater wasn’t too far off. Freshwater usually meant prey, and lots of it. He increased his pace to a trot, the faster he arrived the faster he would be fed.
As Xan got closer, the scent of the water became stronger. It was slightly repulsing and Xan wrinkled his nose in distaste. God, who can stand that smell...egh disgusting. So intent was he on blocking out the overwhelming scent that he didn’t even notice the other smells that drifted up on the breeze...So when he heard the snap of a branch up ahead, it took him by complete surprise. He stopped short, then broke into a trot, attempting to gain some distance before whatever had been making noise moved off. He was definitely the largest thing out here so it was safe to assume that whatever was moving was prey.
There is definitely something over there.
As Xan approaches the area, he reverts back to prowling mode. He lifts his hoofs just a bit higher and places them with care, trying to avoid crunching leaves and branches as he moves forward. It has to be somewhere around here. ..ahh found it.
It was a buck. Nice and large, a ten pointer...it wasn’t facing his way, yet he could see that it was taut with tension.
It knows I’m here already?...Naw the direction’s all wrong, that snap probably scared it. Stupid thing scared itself...ah well, it is prey.
With little time to waste, for it seemed occupied and an easy catch, Xanti bounds forward. Jaws open, teeth flashing, he leaps onto the back of the stag.
Or he would have... if it hadn’t leapt to the side, back hooves coming up in a perfectly timed rear kick. The kick is so well placed that it hits Xan square in the jaw, snapping closed his teeth and sending him recoiling back in shock.
Did....did it just kick me?
The burning heat of anger courses through Xan and a full throated roar rips from his snarling mouth. He turns on the buck ready to rip and tear. And notices that it has disappeared among the brush, ten points and all.
What . The . Hell?
Thoroughly crossed, Xanti lets out another roar, this time in frustration.
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