[PRP] Memories Revisited (Wynter Fury x Zar'roc)

[tefla]

Please be advised that there is a purewalker attack in this RP. Thus this is a warning that there will be blood, injuries and a NPC Soquili death.

There was a chill in the air as Wynter glided seamlessly towards the ground. She had yet to fully gather the courage needed to return to the Thunderbird Herd. Her imagination ran rampant on the various reactions she might receive and all of them seemed unpleasant; worst case scenario and all that. There was just no rhyme or reason to her paranoia, was there?

Besides the fact that this had been the one place that she had found a small piece of sanctuary Wynter really didn't want to lose what standing that she had garnered with the herd by helping defend against the ones that had tried to invade. Perhaps it was this potential unknown that had the half-kalona mare returning to the ground sooner than planned. Her wings, for the first time in forever, seemed to be wholly sound and in perfect form. So why was she so nervous?

Feeling as though perhaps rest would ease her fears Wynter scoped out a suitable place to den down and let her eyes close. Tomorrow she would tackle the problem of her fears. It wasn't long though before she began to dream.
 

[tefla]

****FLASHBACK/MEMORY****

Wynter Fury's laugh echoed around her as she took in the antics of her traveling companion. She had come across the stallion when she arrived in the lands and by mutual agreement they had decided to travel together. It was a convenience that Wynter Fury thought she would not have had and she treasured every moment. Imani always had something up his sleeve that could brighten her day. The stallion did not possess any wings that would enable him to join her in flight but he had an infectious, bubbly personality that kept her close and on the ground. Imani also didn't seem to be the one to judge either and that endeared Wynter to him even more. It had been hard going places and hearing spiteful whispers follow her around until she left the area.

For now there was no plans but just to travel together. It was logical as traveling alone always had inherited risks associated with it. Little did Wynter Fury know though was that she and Imani had already caught someone's eye, a being that would revel in hearing the mare's laughter turn to screams of fear and terror.  

[tefla]

(( Also flashback ))

The winter had been a lean one and Zar'roc had gone a long time without a decent sized kill. The purewalker was growing testier with every passing day in which he could bring down no prey. However it seemed as if all his luck was about to change. There were signs, invisible to most, that told of creatures passing through the area. Drawing back for a moment Zar'roc scented the air and caught strong traces that proved his hypothesis correct.

A change came over the walker as he shifted to the form of the wolf. A wolfish grin appeared on his maw as he loped through some underbrush. There was just something so amusing with tracking prey down whom had no idea that they were scant hours away from encountering something from the deepest reaches of hell.

As he debated his next move Zar'roc pondered if this prey he was tracking was that same stallion he had noted before wandering through his territory without seemingly a care in the world. Zar'roc snarled softly. He would find that stallion and make him pay and soon.  

[tefla]

Her eyes opened in a hurry. Wynter Fury attempted to calm the racing of her heart as she recalled the sequence of that fateful meeting. Imani had been pleasant company. It felt like things couldn't have been better for her in meeting him. Although that was all about to change. She could recall, in perfect clarity, the way he looked in death with that creature standing over his destroyed body.

Wynter's breath came in a painful gasp as tears began to fall again. Just how long was she meant to bear this burden? Would she never be able to just go on with her life? Was it as the creature had said, that it had been her fault?  

[tefla]

He had initially believed that his target had left his territory. The thought had been unbearable to live with if that had been the case. Zar'roc had prided himself on being the supreme hunter in this small swath of land that he had staked out as his own. Had it been through bumbling about that he had lost the scent of prey? Shaking with barely suppressed fury the purewalker hastened his pace and began to make an effort to reestablish the direction in which his prey had gone.

It was with this clarity of single-minded focus that proved to be most helpful. However it was not the stallion whose scent he now followed. There was an even more appetizing bouquet on the wind and Zar'roc gleefully pushed forward. The chase was once again on and the wolf was out to play for keeps. He would find the owner of this new, interesting and appetizing bouquet and introduce himself to his new victim. From there it would be only a matter of hours at tops before death came to visit, Zar'roc was certain of it.  

[tefla]

Zar'roc panted with exhaustion. The walker, disguised in his wolf form, felt the need to pause and rest. Somewhere just up ahead was his quarry. The scents on the wind combined happily on his tongue to speak of a mare and stallion encamped within striking distance. The walker could ascertain that the stallion was indeed the same one that he had been tracking before. The thought of ambushing a couple was something foreign to him but if he could get in a stealth attack there was a chance that he could use one to keep the other in check.

Zar'roc's eyes gleamed in the false twilight. He would wait until night had truly fallen before launching his attack. Although his glowing eyes would announce his location to anyone he felt that his quarry would be asleep as soon as night fell. They too had been traveling all day and would be weary and fatigued. The wolf slumped on the side of a stream and lapped at the water. It was not the liquid that he wished to quench his thirst on though. Soon. All too soon he would be dining on the flesh of his prey. That was always a moment to savor. Zar'roc felt the night come alive around him and knew that it was time. He moved forward with a light tread that he hoped would not announce his presence to the prey in the clearing ahead.  

[tefla]

Night had fallen once again. Wynter lay curled up at Imani's side. The mare was pleasantly surprised to feel affection for the stallion growing inside. He seemed to understand her like no other had before. She let her eyes close briefly before opening them again to stare at the darkness around them. This clearing had been an opportune find as they were both dead on their feet. She let her wings rustle softly before giving a soft sigh. For reasons unknown to her she could not find slumber this night.

Stretching out Wynter rolled to her feet before pacing around. She'd avoid waking Imani if she could help it. Something seemed off about the night. Things were unusually quiet. Shaking off a feeling of being watched Wynter strained her eyes to peer into the darkness that surrounded her. Something was out there, something not right. Perhaps she should wake Imani and tell him she was uneasy.  

[tefla]

Zar'roc could feel the tension in the air. It seemed as if one of his targets had woken up and was pacing the clearing in which they had settled down for the night. Zar'roc growled silently in frustration before realizing the tread that he heard was of a lighter weight. It seemed as if the mare was the one awake. The wolf paused and sat down trying to figure out what it was he could do to work this "meeting" to his advantage. Approaching in the guise of a wolf would make his presence less audible but would he be able to effectively disable his prey in this form?

Scowling intently the wolf prowled a little closer. From his position he could confirm that it was the mare that was awake. She seemed anxious and on edge. Scenting the air Zar'roc picked up the tang of fear that was rolling off of her. This was unexpected. Perhaps the mare would be the one to suffer first. He stood silently making minute adjustments to his posture. Slinking closer to the ground Zar'roc began to make his approach. He'd try to disable the mare just enough that she would not be able to escape when he turned all his attention to the stallion.