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 Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 2:30 pm
 The day was bright, with only a few fluffy white clouds littering the sky. It was pleasant out; still spring so not yet overly humid or hot, just pleasant. Xanti was lying at the base of a large chestnut tree along the edge of the forest, on the cusp of the clearing’s green grass and the forest’s ancient oaks. The clearing was large; so large that you couldn’t even see the forest on the other side. It was never ending, a sea of grass. And where there is grass there is grass eaters.
And the grass eaters of this particular area happened to be deer. Among the scattering of deer there appeared to be several large males with racks but Xan couldn’t see any fawns from where he lay. And that was the root of Xan’s problem. He could see the deer, he could smell the deer, but he couldn’t catch the deer.
They were too alert and as soon as he stepped out of the forest’s shelter he was exposed to their scrutiny. They would simply turn the other way and run off, or better yet, the males would form a wall and charge. Although Xan was fairly confident in his hunting abilities, he was not stupid. He had seen stags gut other soquili with their racks and he wasn’t about to take that chance, especially when there were five or six bucks milling about the herd.
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Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2010 5:21 pm
 Rishy crept ever so slowly through the grass. her eyes were on a herd of deer. there were no young ones, but she never bothered with those any. a slight breeze brought the deers scent to her. she closed her eyes and let the smell ingulf her. warm, musky, alive. her heart began to pound as she tensed herself for the attack. she was still a good ten feet away, but what was life without a little chase? one minute passed, then two, then three. the time was right.
Rishy sprung from her hiding place hissing and screaming. the noise allerted the deer of her preasence and they took off. rishy was hot on their heels, she could almost reach out and grab the stags hoof. she yelled and shouted and hissed at them attempting to get them to go faster. when that did not work she lept at the closest stag and latched herself onto his flank. he stopped and bucked and kicked trying to shake her loose. Rishy laughed and began to tear into his flesh. the stag tossed his head back and hit her with his antlers. it was enough to knock her off.
The stag took off leaving Rishy dizzy and slightly stunned from the hit. she stood up and shook her head to clear the fog. "well that was fun" she shouted after the stag, "come again and maybe we can play some more!" she giggled and began to walk the direction the stag had ran. his blood scent was in her permanent memory, now. the chase was fun, but not as fun as a charge would have been. she figured that they did not charge because there was no young for them to pretect, so they were safer running away. well, now the hunt was on. Rishy would track his smell, and maybe next time they would charge.
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Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2010 9:47 pm
Xanti was...startled to say the least. He had witnessed the herd bolt for no apparent reason. Then the dark shape leapt out of the grass and attached itself to one of the bucks for a short while before being thrown off.
What was that? A cougar? Wolf? Prey?
Xan was several paces into the field by the time he realized that he was moving, so intent was he on the herd of deer. He started out with a ground devouring gallop, but as he approached the area he had first spotted the dark shape, he slowed.
Blood. The fresh scent of blood was in the air.
And it awoke hunger and curiosity.
Where. Which way? Ahh there...
Growling low, Xan started to follow the scent. It was a strange unfamiliar smell, a mix of blood and fur, deer, and something that smelled a lot like cat. Glancing up he spotted the herd, it was closer now and from the looks of it they were still on the move. There appeared to be a stag slightly slower than the rest, and a faint red gleam could be seen on his flank. It was definitely injured and would make an easy catch, an easy kill.
Now Xan was at a crossroads, track the unfamiliar smell or head straight for the buck that was leaking blood. Being undecided wasn’t smart, so Xan choose quickly. The Stag. Food first, curiosity later.
Xan picked up his pace, to a fast trot that he could maintain for hours if need be. He needed to catch up as soon as possible so he headed straight for the buck, neglecting to scan the field for any other creatures or the source of the mysterious smell.
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Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 9:28 am
Rishy growled and pressed herself to the ground when she saw a rather odd looking stallion in the field. he was there, and she watched him. he was going after the herd, after her kill! her fist reaction was to protect her kill, and the easiest way to do that would be to remove the threat.
she darted from the grass, her paws moving swiftly and silently along the ground and ran right for the long eared stallion. he was her target, her mission, to try and take him down. if she was lucky she would not even need the stag, or even better, she could have both! she laughed at this thought.
there was the stallion, she could smell him. why hadnt she smelled him before? she ignored this and picked a good spot to attack. his tail was short, and could possibly be used as a weapon, avoid. he had teeth, avoid mouth and neck. his ears were huge, aim for back of neck. she thought this in a matter of seconds and then lept from the grass and aim right for the base of Xanti's neck.
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Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 11:30 am
Xanti was making ground, gaining on the herd. Still eyeing the wounded stag, he wasn’t paying much attention to his surroundings, until he caught a glimpse of black from the corner of his eye.
What?
Natural instinct immediately kicked in and Xan shied away from the unknown creature. Fast, but not fast enough. He barely felt the dark shape land on his back, but he knew it was there, just by the prickling sensation of its feet on his neck. Xan screamed in pure animalistic rage and turned to snap at it. Due to its location he couldn’t manage it very well. In fact, he couldn’t see much of it at all, just a couple tufts of black fur, as it seemed to be right behind his neck. Xan screamed again, this time actually managing to form poorly constructed words.
“When I ---get you, you done. I lick clean --- bones and enjoy --- it!”
Still snarling, foam dripping from his mouth, Xan starts to flail his head and neck from side to side, using his spikes to try and dislodge the creature.
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Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 11:56 am
the stallion was strong, but his attempts to hit Rishy were easy to dodge. she giggled and began to pull at the mane on the stallions neck. suddenly she felt a heavy blow to her side. she had scooted down a little to get a better grip, but this had put her in the perfect place for the stallion to catch her side with his face horn.
she screeched as she flew from his back and tumbled to the ground. she flipped to her feet and charged head on at the stallion with a new rage. it wasent nice of him to hit her, she needed to teach him a lesson on manners. "when im done with you there wont be any boned left to lick!" she snarled jumped right for his throat with claws extended and teeth exposed. this was no game, now Rishy was mad.
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Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 1:42 pm
Xanti felt the impact ricochet up his cheekbone; he had hit it...and apparently ousted it from its perch, since it went flying off and landed not 5 paces in front of him. And what a sight it was. It was a black kitty skinwalker, not in its cat form, but it still possessed the paws of one.
A pure skinwalker then....and it’s ....small.
Xan had never met a soquili as tiny as the one in front of him and it jarred him out of any animosity he had been harbouring. If it had been a normal skinwalker he would’ve already started trying to trample it, but it was just so curious. And fierce, he had to give it that, especially since it immediately leapt up and attacked, aiming for his throat.
Xan managed to get up a hoof in between him and it, knocking it back in the direction it had come from, but at the cost of his leg. He could feel the hot, sticky blood dripping down his leg where the cat’s paw had scored it. And that scent was sooo enticing. It made Xan think of meat...and the wounded deer.
What am I doing here, playing with this curious skinwalker when there is easy meat not a hundred paces distant?
Xan growled at the enraged cat and opened his jaws, displaying his teeth. “I do not have time for you, stunted killer. I am hungry. There is a wounded stag sitting pretty out there waiting for me. You will take too much energy to kill and although I will be satisfied with your death, you will not provide enough meat to stay my hunger, never mind satiate it. Now move stunted killer, before I take one of your legs and leave you out here for the carrion eaters.”
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Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 4:00 pm
Rishy fell back again, her head ringing from the impact, but satisfied by the feel of blood on her paws. she flipped to her feet and held her ground as she listened to what the horned male had to say. a low growl filled her throat as he talked of the stag that she had attacked. he talked as if it was his to claim!
"that is my meat! i hit it first, i made it bleed. you did nothing but run after it when it was hurt. coward!" she hissed and spit at his feet. she was not normally this brash, but something about this male made her angry. she had never crossed paths with another hunter so she could not know what the possessive feeling she was having meant.
"you would be more meat than that deer. why should i waist my time running after it when i bigger meal is standing infront of me. your heavy hooves are much easier to dodge than those of a nimble meadow runner. so go away, it is my meat." she snarled at him, her hackles raised in anger.
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Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 10:06 pm
Xanti cocked his head to the side and surveyed the little meat eater, listening to her words. Although they wrung true, since she had wounded the deer, they still left a bitter taste in Xan’s mouth. Or maybe it was just an illusion of the taste of blood; anticipation was starting to get the best of Xan.
“Stunted killer, just because you made the first hit does not mean it is yours. Until you kill it, it is not yours. Sometimes, even if you do kill it, it is not yours. This is one of life’s rules. There will always be something bigger, faster or more skilful than you...or too many something’s to avoid. Call me coward if you like, but in the future when my belly is full with another’s kill and yours is filled with air, you will no longer be calling me a coward, but a hunter. Nobility is better left for those with flat teeth. And if you think I, with flaming hooves, thick skin, teeth and horns make easier prey then those meadow runners, then you are sadly mistaken. Not only do I pose more of a challenge to you, stunted killer, but I’m sure a lot chewier than those succulent creatures.”
Saliva dripped down Xan's jaw after the uncharacteristically long speech and his blood was still flowing cleanly, making little rivulets down his leg and pooling on the ground. Xan barely noticed as he was busy eying the herd, which were still milling about, mostly grazing but Xan spotted at least one pair of watchful eyes.
“Stunted killer, I will make you a deal...or do you still think I’d make a better meal than the meadow runners?”
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Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 5:27 pm
Rishy could not help but grimace at his words. this had not been the first time she had lost a meal to someone bigger than her. she was getting tired of it. even the nickname of stunted killer hit home. Rishy was much older than her body portrayed her to be. for some reason or another her growth has been stunted and slow. one day she would be full sized and nothing would take her hunting from her.
she narrowed her eyes and cocked her head at the male. it was true that he was not an easy kill, but that did not stop her from wanting to poke his eyes out and tear at his throat. still rishy was not stupid. "a deal sounds promising, but can i trust you? you said it yourself, that you are bigger and stronger than me, how do i know you wont make the deal and then just knock me out, or worse?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2010 1:21 pm
Xanti snorted at her obtuseness but didn't bother taking his eyes off the herd. “I wouldn’t knock you out. I’d eat you.
...But you, stunted killer, are scrawnier than the meadow runners and won’t provide me with as much meat. Between the two of us we can take down two or three of those bucks easy. The more meat the more interested I am. Besides it’s pretty much impossible for me to get near those creatures without them running off, well except the wounded one, where as you are small and agile and can hide in plain sight, especially if you turn into a cat. I do not think it will be so hard for a fierce hunter such as yourself to take them down if they are focusing on me. It’s all a matter of distraction...”
Xan glanced down at her and considered for a moment.
Although she appears small, she can easily cut throats with her claws and teeth. It won’t be hard at all if I herd the meadow runners in her direction whilst she hides. Then as they get close to her she can take them down. Yes, this will be easy meat indeed.
Grinning in pleasure at the thought, Xan addressed her once more.”So is that a yes or a no, stunted killer?” This was her last chance, if she was still hesitant he would leave her here and go catch the wounded one himself. He didn't have the time or patience to convince her that it was in her best interest.
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Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2010 1:48 pm
Rishy saw the logic behind the stallions words. she looked over at the herd and then back to him. it had not occurred to her that together they could take down multiple deer. this was in her best interest. "fine i will help you get the meat. give me a while to get around the herd and then chase them in my direction." she turned and looked at the area were the herd was. there was some trees on one side, with the herd half in, and half out causiously eating from the edge of the meadow.
"i will be just in those trees, drive them to me, and i will hurt as many as i can, then we will move in for the kill." she turned and faced the male, an excited smirk on her face. she could not help but be excited, the thought of all the blood and the meat. it made her mouth start to water.
without waiting for the hunters reply Rishy dashed into the woods and began to make her way around the herd. it was easy for her to be quiet, and her dark fur blends perfectly with the trees and soil. it would have been only too easy for her to sneek up on the deer if she was a cat, but that nature is foreign to her, and she would not even know how to access it if she wanted to.
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Posted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 7:35 pm
Xanti watched as the feline disappeared into the tall grass. His grin stretched into a full blown smirk; he has sensed her bloodlust briefly before her exit, and couldn’t help but feel giddy at the thought of hunting with the stunted killer. It was a rare chance. Xan hardly ever hunted with others, and the bounty was sure to be plentiful.
He waited for a few moments before he began pacing. Xan was eager to get started, but he needed to wait for the skinwalker to get in position before moving. But it was hard. Oh so hard, not to begin the chase.
That should be enough time.
Xan gave a loud bellow. It echoed through the clearing and was followed by silence, even the birds had stopped singing. Rodents scurried for their holes, smaller creatures slunk off for safer ground and the deer froze. All of their heads had risen, and swivelled in his direction. But they stayed absolutely still.
Silly flat teeth, you think I can’t see you?
Xan prowled forward. They watched. He launched himself at them, powerful haunches propelling him in their direction. Adrenaline pumping, Xan raced towards them. 300 feet, 275, 250...he was closing in. And they decided to scatter. Luckily all in the same direction or Xan would have been hooped. They started fleeing towards the forest, trying to avoid the ferocious monstrosity barrelling after them.
Lopping after the herd, Xan doubled back several times, trying to keep them from being separated, much like a collie guiding its flock. He snapped at hooves, flanks, anything that he could manage and was doing a pretty good job until he noticed something particular. One buck was starting to fall behind, and after catching a whiff Xan knew why. It was the injured stag.
Xan licked his lips and followed it. Intent.
It was a pretty smooth kill; Xan’s adrenaline was driving him, blocking out his injured leg and giving him that extra boost of strength. He managed to get up next to the buck, running parallel, before ramming it from the side. Head canted to the side, his horns had efficiently punctured the skin and disrupted the stag from its flight. It had leapt to the side startled, and Xan swiftly ripped its throat out. It collapsed, dead or dying; Xan didn’t have the luxury of checking. Instead he was back on the chase, just entering the forest.
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Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2010 1:46 pm
Rishy sat still as the earth itself. she could smell everything, from the deer, to the trees, to the soil under her paws. she could even smell the hunter as he made his way around the herd. it amazed her that the deer could not smell him also. she caught a glimpse of movement, but did not move, not until the time was perfect. she flexed her claws, scratching at the soil, preparing to pounce.
the horned hunter came running, and so did the deer. the scent of fear was so thick in the air it made Rishy bristle with excitement. she could feel something coming on. the feeling spread through her body. control was hard to keep with this much excitement and meat.
the herd was almost to her. he was doing a good job of directing the deer. Rishy watched as he peeled away. she wanted to yell at him to stay focused, but then she smelled blood...lots of blood. she began to purr and as the frenzied feel took over. everything was a blur.
the deer were apon her. she sprang from the ground and hit the first one, a stag. it was so quick that it did not even fight. a direct shot to its throat finished it. Rishy did not stop there, no, rishy ran after the herd, a smaller stag had been caught in the side with anothers antlers i the confusion. Rishy, with the speed and agility of a true pure walker lept at it and landed right on its back. she dodged the antlers that came swinging at her head and reached around to the stags neck. she tore and bit until she was through and the jugular was cut. she and the stag fell to the ground.
Rishy stepped back and laughed as the stag gurgled and kicked its last death throws. it stopped moving and died. Rishy ran up to it and immediately began to feast. she could not help it, there was too much blood to resist. with her sharp claws she dug at its chest and tore out its heart. she ate that. she then began to borrow into the body from the whole she had made. she ripped out its insides and feasted.
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Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2010 3:32 pm
Xan wasn’t even fazed by the exertion used on the brief kill. With his compact muscles using so much energy, he was starting to radiate heat, mainly through his legs and feet. But luckily, it wasn’t enough to set anything on fire, and it didn't seem to hinder his speed any. This told him one thing; he would need to eat, soon, or he'd run out of stamina. With that thought clinging to the back of his mind, Xan continued on after the deer. They had gained a bit of ground while Xan was occupied, but they weren’t out of sight. The stragglers were still visible.
As Xan entered the forest, he began to run into a few more obstacles. Fallen logs, clinging branches and bushes were all making an impact. But Xan pushed through, slightly slower. The deer seemed to be having trouble too, so the effort wasn’t in vain. A doe, regular sized for the gender, was closest to Xan. Just up ahead. Far enough that Xan would have to pick up his pace, but still within hunting distance.
The doe abruptly angled to the right. Xan followed, slightly confused but just as intent.
Why’d she change direction?
The smell of blood overrode the scent of the deer’s fear, and he caught a glimpse of blood and fur on the forest floor.
Aww...the stunted killer caught something.
Satisfied with the answer Xan continued on, dogging the deer’s heels. He never even thought to look for Rishy.
So when the doe veered off again, Xan was surprised. But it created the perfect opportunity.
The doe had tried to turn too abruptly and lost her footing. She skidded, her feet came out from under her, and she landed on her side. Squealing, she tried to rise, but Xanti was quickly upon her. Easily snapping the spine in her neck with his powerful jaws. She gave a few feeble kicks before her eyes clouded over. Xan, pleased with the day’s rewards, dropped his prize to the forest floor before giving a roar of victory. Then he began to eat.
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