((LOL, no worries Resin! It was just funny because I had started writing like three things in my head and then just none of them ended up working. I like the pace actually, it keeps me excited for it. Though I never mind waiting, I definitely look forward to reading everyones posts.))
Ahote
Male | 46 | Fighter
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Concerned for Resin, especially since she seemed to be slow to wake, Ahote never even heard Xani's approach. Thus he startled at the sound of her voice, but as the meaning of it sunk in he turned to her.
"Ah, no I hadn't. Seems as though there are a lot of things I've been missing recently," he said, managing a smile for the ex-fighter even though he still felt sick to his stomach.
"Resin made a good choice. I couldn't think of anyone better for the position," he continued, turning slightly as she pressed her head into his side so that he could return the gesture at least in part. At her mention of keeping watch he nodded.
"That's fine. I'll come relieve you in a bit. I haven't eaten yet so I might as well stay up for awhile." He watched he her turn to leave, but then almost as an afterthought he called after her.
"Congratulations Beta... Keep up the good work."The sound of Resin's voice drew Ahote's attention, and seeing her awake brough a genuine smile to his face. A great wash of the worry and fear from earlier washed out of him and he let out a quiet sigh.
"Yes, that is the trouble with those pesky mothers..." he replied, turning serious as she motioned to the wound. Of course, they had all had their scrapes and more than a few bruises, but the location still worried him. Even a fighter didn't have as much muscle and skin on their chest, nor the thick protective fur that lined their shoulders and backs. Tenderly, he cleaned her fur around the wound while she spoke, careful not to bring her any more pain.
Gently, Resin turned Ahote's muzzle from her wound, and for a moment he looked deeply into her sulfur colored eyes, holding them with his amber, so alike and yet so different. It almost felt as though he was seeing her for the first time, not just the grey wolf who was alpha, more than his friend and leader, but actually her. The Resin that everyone knew was there beneath the mantle of responsibility, but seldom saw. Finally, it became too much for the gentle wolf and he looked away, feeling warmth rise to his face.
Resin asked him to see that the leftovers were moved, then reiterated what Xani had just told him. Ahote nodded, not looking up to meet her eyes again.
"Yes, I agree. There is more strength in her than I have ever seen in a wolf her age. The others already look up to her, and she will make a fine Beta," he replied. Though there may have been those whose pride would have been wounded by her choice, Ahote was not one of them. He too admired Xani and thought highly of her. Beyond that, she had made great strides in dealing with her anger and hurt, which was something he himself had struggled with. While he thought, his Alpha continued and he eventually looked back to her when she mentioned Xani's near miss.
"I don't blame her for that... That is a place no wolf should be," he said in a firm voice. He had seen for himself the damage a herd of panicked animals could do.
Ahote softened then though and touched Resin's cheek.
"I'll make sure she finds her way back," he said,
"But please take care of yourself, Dark Lady. I'd be lost without you." Though his words were simple, they held an unintended gravity. To have said 'I' instead of 'we' betrayed something of his inner thoughts that even he had not come to terms with yet. The Fighter took his leave then, knowing that she should rest, and he wanted to find Curse before she bedded down herself. Thus he lingered only long enough to take that drink of water he had been wanting before heading out.
Exiting the Cave, Ahote paused next to Xani,
"Resin mentioned that it would be a good idea to move the leftovers a bit away from the cave. I will wait until everyone is done then see that they are moved back to the trail. That way, anything following it up will just stop there and hopefully leave us alone," he said, looking over his happy pack-mates as they finished their meal. Taking his leave of Xani as well, he grabbed one of the vacant carcasses and drug it with him, doing a bit of multitasking on his way to look for Curse.
Ahote left the body at the head of the trail, where it was decently far away, but still close enough that it would be within sight of Xani. He then continued on down to where the others still gathered to eat their fill. Inspecting a pack of feeding wolves, even great wolves with all their eloquence, was a dangerous task, and the Fighter made sure to keep his distance until he found his intended target. Stepping up beside Curse at a respectable distance, he cleared his throat to get her attention.
"Curse, when you're done, Resin said she wanted to see you. She's inside if you wouldn't mind going to see her," he said, then left her to her meal. Starting to feel hungry himself, he picked up a few loose scraps as he turned to go, a nice quick snack to tide him over while he finished his work.
By the time Ahote made his way back up towards the cave, Hrafn had returned and now sat next to Xani. He was glad to see that she had a bit of company for the moment, even if it was unwanted. What was left now was pretty much deserted, as much of the kill had been dismembered and those who were still hungry had carried off what they wanted to eat in peace. Thus, Ahote moved the remaining leftovers, and sat down to eat himself. Any of the hunters returning with their kills would see the pile and leave theirs with it, as he doubted anyone would want to move them further than absolutely necessary.
Eating his fill off a nice piece of haunch, he then worked the leg loose and took his prize back to the cave entrance. Laying down in the snow on the other side of the entrance from Xani and Hrafn, he looked over to them.
"If you two would like to get some rest, I think I'm going to be up for awhile," he said, giving them a bit of a smile. He then turned back to his bone and began chewing on it, enjoying the comforting feeling of his teeth scraping bone.
Lani
Female | 57 | Hunter
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The instant Lani saw the reindeer scatter, she bolted from cover, hot on the heels of the retreating herd. Though the stout female looked anything but speedy, she was truly in her element and dove fearlessly into the fracas. Dodging hooves and slipping through the crush of bodies, she snapped at whatever she could get her teeth on. Finally, as she ran them ever closer into the waiting jaws of the fighters and other large wolves, she saw her chance and latched onto the neck of a doe that ran next to her. Her added weight quickly brought the animal down to the ground and she finished it easily. Just in time too, because as she rose up licking her lips, she spotted another doe running straight towards her. Without a second thought, she leapt at it, managing to sink her teeth into its nose in such a way that sent both of them flipping end over end. Completely unhurt from the fall, after all, Lani was far to stubborn for that, she stayed attached to the beast until she managed to throttle it.
Resin's call rang out then, and Lani looked up from her second kill, grinning at the wolves around her. Not caring to wait, she eagerly dug into the doe at her feet, ferreting out some of the best parts for herself. Thus, her head was completely engulfed by its abdomen when a commotion started outside. Pulling her bloodied head out, Lani looked something like a woodpecker with a scarlet head and white body, and she slowly padded over to where Resin was, surrounded by other wolves. Seemed as though something had happened while Lani was otherwise occupied, and she let out a bit of a huff. Twas nothing but a scratch, and everyone was fawning over her like it was a death blow. Whatever, she thought, Xani and the others would surely take care of so she turned to go back to her food. On her way, she sees Garner snap at that poor young brute he had been harassing earlier. Soon enough, he gets his comeuppance as Resin sees his actions and quickly puts him in is place.
Padding over to the miffed brute, Lani looks at his crosswise,
"What's gotten into you Garner? He's just a pup!" she said, sounding a bit exasperated with her fellow hunter.
"He smells of death... Like that wolf that killed Ash. He shouldn't be here," Garner growled, glaring, narrow-eyed at Kuolema who had been pushed out of the throng of wolves. Perhaps he was a bit unstable, or just tense from recent events, but at any rate he wasn't know for his keen wits.
"Oh pshaw you coward. You never even smelled him. Hid behind Attican and Ahote like the rest of us when he was out there howling his threats. So how would you know his scent?" Lani was anything if not direct, and with a flip of her tail she walked away from the sulking male and over towards Kuolema.
"Come on, pup, come eat and then you can help this old lady drag one of her deers back up that hill," Lani said to the younger wolf, inviting him to eat beside her.
Next to hunting, Eating was by far Lani's favorite pastime and she was quite accomplished at it. She sat herself down and began chewing once more, taking her time and nibbling from every part of the animal and savoring the taste of each. During this time, Resin and Xani both took trips up to the caves as well as Hrafn. Ahote came and went and the sun moved overhead and still she ate. It wasn't until he stomach sagged heavily beneath her that she finally got up and rolled herself in the snow to prepare herself for the trip back.
Wolf
Male | 20 | Straggler
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Wolf spent most of the morning lounging around by his reindeer herd, watching while the little group of animals continually pawed at the snow and ate. It was simply amazing that they could do absolutely nothing but eat all day and not get bored. For his part, Wolf only bothered to search for food when he was hungry and then spent the rest of his time puzzling on himself and his place in this world. Originally, he had planned to move on by midday and perhaps scrounge up a meal of baby mice. He had gotten quite good at using his nose to sniff out their nests from below the snow.
However, today was not to be a normal day, and Wolf looks up when his herd begins to snort, looking up towards the Northern trees. Just faintly he can pick up the sound of hooves and he sits to watch curiously while the reindeer beside him panic and bolt southward. Within moments the largest herd of deer he had ever seen bursts forth from the forest as though hell itself were on their heels. Surprised, he moves a bit out of their path, and sits back on his haunches to watch as the great herd streams past.
After their passing, Wolf spots a great trail of crimson mixed in with the mass of hoof prints and churned snow. Curious, he wandered over to it, sniffing at the blood. It definitely belonged to the deer, and he lapped up the flavored ice with relish. Something must have been chasing them, and wounded at least a few of the beasts before they got away. It was strange, something that he hadn't encountered before, and the novelty of it was refreshing. What could have been so bold as to instill such fear into a herd that large? Whatever it was, he was interested in meeting it, or at the very least getting a glimpse of it before it killed him. Which was always a real possibility for the curious wolf. Unfortunately the same memory loss that had so opened his mind also eliminated the healthy amount of fear and respect he should of had for such an encounter.
For now however, it seemed like a better bet to follow the herd that had passed and pick up their leftovers. After all, there was a great amount of blood, and with any luck it came from a single animal and Wolf could eat well tonight. Thus, he shuffled off to the south, licking at the fallen blood on his way.
