Open Hunted in the wilds

[Meribreen]

50th of winter, 512AV Backed up against a tree, Meribreen gasped for air. He tried to slow down his breath. He filled his lungs full of air, and then slowly expelled it all. He repeated this until he regained control of his breathing. However, adrenaline still surged throughout his body. His heart pounded louder that a war drum and his hand trembled slightly. He never knew the wildlife could go so sour. He crouched low to the ground, hoping to blend with the foliage. Suddenly, the hoarse breath of the beast was just audible. Once again the boy held his breath. He watched the beast searching around. It sniffed the air with its sensitive black nose, and perked its furry ear. The brown fur made is almost impossible to see from the boy’s location, but he could hear the footsteps of the creature. As it stepped on a boulder, the boy could hear the claws tapping against the surface. The claws sounded sharp, sharp enough to tear open flesh, especially if it’s a child. His heart pounded. His breath held. His hands trembled. Meribreen was waiting to escape, or for the wolf to leave. The wolf moved around the area, trying to locate the boy’s scent. It won’t be long till it Meribreen is found. Meribreen looked for any opportunity to run as fast as he could, but the wolf wouldn’t give him one. This wasn’t fun for Meribreen. He’s shaking in fear. He wished he joined a travel group instead of going alone. Suddenly, the wolf moved to a different area. By the looks of it, the wolf mistakenly follows the wrong scent. Meribreen ceased that opportunity and sprinted through the forest. Dodging and weaving pass branches and trees, turning different direction in order to confuse the wolf, should it follow him. He continues running until he found a small clearing. There were rocks, boulders and few bushes. Just as Meribreen glanced that the area, the wolf’s howl was heard. It sounded close. Despite his efforts to misdirect the wolf, it still managed to track him thought the forest. Meribreen had no time to waste. He ran towards the rocky landscape, vaulting over rocks. He ducked behind a boulder, and peered from its location. He slowly raised his head, getting a full view of the wolf in the open. He quickly ducked back down, hoping the wolf hasn’t seen him. When he looked ahead of him, he noticed a small space created by the rocks. It was big enough for him fit in, and small enough to keep the wolf out. However, there was a slight problem. In order to reach the hole, Meribreen needed to climb. Although he was a good acrobat, he wasn’t the best climber, unlike the wolf. If he tried to climb up the rock to reach the hiding place, there’s a good chance the wolf would reach him first. On the other hand, if he waited the same result will happen. The boy struggles to decide what to do. If he waited, he’ll be found. If he climbs, he’ll be intercepted. He needed help, or a distraction. Anything to survive.

[Fallon]

Fallon walked quietly and quickly along the beaten track, the quiet sound of breathing filling the air, the occasional snap of twigs breaking it. It was in this territory that kept Fallon on her toes, always aware always scanning, her mind sharp and ready for action. Even with Orvin at her side to serve as a potential early warning, she still had to keep aware. He was only a cub after all; she could not rely on him to defend her. That after all was her job. It was in the thick of the woodland that she kept her Kukri drawn, her Djed ready to strike out and attack. For in the wildlands, it was survival of the fittest, and only the strongest survived. And it was this cold, hard logic that kept Fallon moving even when the sounds of creatures called out into the sky, although briefly startled she pushed on not waiting to find out what it was. It was a piercing howl that alerted her however, the hunting cry of a hungry wolf. For a moment she spun on the spot, solidifying her stance, a low under growl coming from Orvin. She watched the fur of the wolf cub stand on edge, bushing out as if ready to strike. It was perhaps only fortunate that he had been around humans for a while now; it made him loyal to them over his own kind. But if the cub, the runt of his litter, chose to go back to the wilds Fallon would not stop him. At this moment in time these were not the thoughts that were racing through Fallon’s head. Her eyes darted about, her form quickly hunching over as she caught sight of the beast. It lurked in an opening, a clearing, sniffing, snarling, and its prey obviously close. But this wolf hunted alone, and perhaps it was for the best. A lone wolf was still dangerous, but it was no doubt easier to deal with than an entire pack. For a moment Fallon considered passing on, keeping herself downwind and out of sight, yet as her eyes scanned the surroundings, looking for the best path to follow, did her eyes lie upon the brief peek of a human. For a moment Fallon froze, coming to terms with what she had just seen. A boy, had managed to trap himself, a feeble attempt at escape from a deadly predator. And by the looks of things there was very little time before he became the next meal. Making herself as low as possible in the undergrowth, her mind thought of a way to distract the creature. She let her hands stroke against the floor, her fingers touching the fragile branches. So easy they would be to snap, to create a sound that would attract most creatures. But to create one right next to her would only bring her into the path of danger. But then again there was something else she could do. Focusing her Djed, Fallon cleared her mind, focusing upon her left hand whilst with the other she tightened around the Kukri. She concentrated, envisioning her astral body, the strands that held the hand there. Slowly she felt it dislodge, the strings that held the astral form to the flesh pulling gently away. Bit by bit the strands faded, the feeling in her left hand growing numb, before suddenly growing limp. Before her, her hand projected itself, invisible to all but those with Auristics or those who could detect the unseen. After all the astral body was the outermost layer of the soul, and the layer that could interact with the physical world. Slowly she reached her astral hand out, her mind straining, her left hand twitching every now and again. Further she stretched it out, the fingers of her astral reaching forth, taking a weak grip around the tail of the stalking wolf as she begun to reach her limit. She had to move faster, it was consuming her Djed, and the longer it was out, the more difficult it would be to reattach. Her astral fingers tightened around the tail, before she gave it a firm yank. A yelp of surprise was the sound the wolf made. She watched the brown furred beast turn on his hind legs, his jaws snapping at something that seemed to those unaware to originate without cause. It gave a snarl as it tried to chase whatever was still pulling on its tail, an invisible hand that was gripping onto it. Fallon could not help but smirk when she watched the wolf react, distracted from its hunting and so, perhaps giving the opportune for the boy to escape. If the boy took the moment that was. Carefully Fallon released the tail, returning her astral hand to her left, the extremities slowly weaving themselves back together, lacing their way back up the joints. She covered a quiet groan as she felt the feeling come back, the sense of numbness slowly fading to return with feeling. But as she flexed her fingers, Fallon still kept herself low and ready. And prepared to fight if need be.

[Meribreen]

Meribreen’s heart pounded in his chest. The wolf was merely a few feet away from him. The only option for survival is to hide within the small space between two rocks. He needed to see if the wolf was still scanning in his direction. Meribreen swallowed his fear, but it still lingered. He held his breath and slowly looked out from the top of the boulder. To his amazement, the wolf was distracted. It was like it had a small creature on its tail or back, trying to remove it. The boy watched as the wolf turned it head over and over towards its tail, snapping at it. What animal was doing this? He thought. Once again, Meribreen sought the opportunity and began running towards the rocks. He jumped, vaulted and even rolled over some of the rock in his path. He reached the rock, was like a tower compared to him. However, he needed to climb to live. He thanked the small animal that distracted the wolf, allowing him to make it safely to the rock. Meribreen stared at the height of the rock; the rock was almost three times taller than him. The surface was at a very steep angle, but it was still climbable. Small rocks that jiggered out and small crevices could aid the boy as he ascended. Without sparing anytime he jumped on to the wall gripping on to rocks, and planting his feet within the holes in the wall. Meribreen wasn’t use to climbing in a panic. He’d release the grip of one of his hand then reach for a higher place to grab, and he’d raise the opposite leg, searching for a stable surface to plant it, before he pulled himself up. He continued do this, alternating hands and feet. It was very slowly, and the wolf wouldn’t be distracted for long. Sweat formed as the boy panics, the sound of the wolf growling struck fear into his mind. He kept climbing the rock, is life depended on it. He inched his way up, until he got past half way. The wolf’s growling stopped, and the sound of claws tapping was heard. Meribreen turned his head. His eyes widen, and fear was shown all over his face. The wolf was no longer distracted, and has begun pursuing the boy. Meribreen was thrown into a panic, scrambling up the rock’s jagged surface, scraping his knees and arms. The wolf got closer and closer, but Meribreen's climbing speed only improved a little bit. However, he didn’t give up. The wolf began to bark as it got closer to the rock. By the time the wolf got there, Meribreen was almost the top. Meribreen was still in panic as he tried to reach the top, it was merely a few inches away. He gave a quick glance down to check how much time he had. What he saw was the wolf climbing the rock wall, with no effort was so ever. The fear that built up inside of the boy made him scream out for help. He franticly climbed the rock as fast as he could. The wolf was almost a few inches away from biting the boy’s ankle, and throwing him to the ground. However, the boy grips the top of the rock and pulled himself up, most grazes were made on his knee. He quickly crawled into the small space and waited there. Tears of fear and pain rolled down his face, as he curls up into a ball. The wolf soon joined him on top of the rock, but was unable to enter the rocky shelter. The wolf stuck its head into the entrance and barked at the boy. All the boy can do in his state is just watched the wolf, as he cried.

[Fallon]

Fallon watched the boy duck out from the cover and scramble madly up the rocks, an attempt to escape the beast in the midst of its distraction. Even with the rock that towered above him still he climbed, his escape obviously somewhere above it. But then the attention of the wolf once more turned on his prey, the fury of the hunt consuming him. She watched the wolf pad after him, clear there was no rush to stalk a struggling prey, the prey after all was trapped. Her eyes quickly glanced down to Orvin, and his tiny ears that had pressed against his skull. Although it was his own species, he too was afraid of the whole scenario, there was so much uneasiness in his stance. Fallon’s eyes turned to the wolf once more, the boy narrowly escaping the snapping jaws. Fear was in the air as the boy managed to briefly escape into a small enclosed space. If it could be called an escape. If anything the boy had only trapped himself with the wolf head racing in after him. She could hear the loud barks ringing out from inside the rock, the snarls as the wolf tried to reach in and grab its prey. Whatever was happening in that hole was a mystery, but it was this chance that Fallon took. There was one clear thought that echoed through Fallon’s mind as she reacted. A single pressing thought of doubt, that despite all the courage and bravery still rung true in her mind. I am going to die. Acting in such a manner was never really a strong point for Fallon, she generally had a preference to run away from danger that to turn and charge into it. In a swift movement Fallon pulled herself from out the undergrowth, darting between the rocks and boulders, quick feet, powerful strides as she made her way forward. She kept pushing herself forward. She had to do something, she had to react. It would have been so easy to walk away, to leave the boy to his own devices, but that was not Fallon. She could not allow herself to be so cold. She leapt up onto a rock, using it as a push off as she took a mighty leap towards the wolf, Kukri drawn and ready. It was this moment of suspension that Fallon was grateful for the boy being a distraction; if it was not for that she would have never received such an opportunity. The wolf gave a mighty howl of surprise as the blade suck into its hind, the cold metal ripping into flesh. Fallon herself fell against the rock, her grip strong around the hilt as she slipped back down. She heard the wolf let out a snarl of disgust as it was pulled back with her, as flesh and blood scraped against stone. Fallon pulled the Kukri out with a struggle, returning it close to her form as the wolf turned on her. Those that hurt were far more important than prey. She scrabbled up to her, as the wolf bounded towards her, teeth bared with its open wound slowing it down just enough. In the meanwhile Orvin quickly padded after her, his little snout pressing against the floor as the cub made his way around the combat and the flurry of noise. Quickly and quietly the cub found himself a safe location to watch, perched upon a high rock his dark eyes staring down, the occasional encouraging yap directed towards Fallon. His eyes however were searching and looking for the boy, if the boy was still around that was. Fallon felt the full brunt of the wolf go against her, the heavy weight of the snarling beast as it pushed her back. She staggered and toppled, the blade pointed upwards as the wolf lunged. She watched the fangs come close, panic consuming her as it came racing down. I am really going to die, was the last thought that went through her mind. Her eyes clenched shut as she thrusted the blade forwards. Metal met flesh, fresh blood fell across the ground, the screaming howl of the hunt filled her ears before silence. The wolf fell upon her, jaws wide, its head rested next to her. For a moment Fallon laid there, paralysed with fear, shaking like a leaf. Her mind was blank, devoid of any real thought as she felt the dead lifeless weight of the impaled wolf fall against her. “That… was too close,” she managed to release a sigh.

[Meribreen]

The wolf snarled and snapped at the entrance of the small shelter. Each bark sent a wave of fear to Meribreen. He sobbed in his curled position as the wolf tried to force its way in. “I’m doing to die… I’m going to die…” the boy repeated over and over. He tried to sooth himself by rocking, by the noise of the wolf was far too loud. He began to reach for his belt pocket, as his hand made its way into the pocket, grabbing hold of a few shuriken. The metal clutters from shaking too much. He tried to throw them at the wolf, but his vision was blurred from his tears. He began to wipe his tears, so he could see the wolf. Suddenly the wolf howled, but it wasn’t a normal howl. It was a howl of pain. The wolf struggled a bit, trying to remove its head. After doing so the wolf attacked something. The sound of panting and growls were heard, but the boy didn’t dare to set foot out of the cave. The panting and growling ceased soon after. Meribreen slowly crawled out the cave, at peered at the conflict. Meribreen saw a woman under a wolf. The wolf looked limp and life less. He watched his saviour push over the wolf and took a deep breath before getting up. As soon and she stood up, Meribreen leaped from the rock, and landed rolling towards the woman before latching onto her. He began to cry and thanked the woman.

OOCsorry for the short post, and the inactivity

[Fallon]

Fallon gasped for air as she pushed herself up, the blood of the wolf having begun to seep onto her clothing. She let out a struggled breath as she managed to throw the dead weight off. She was still coming to terms with what had just occurred herself. There the wolf lay dead, still and unmoving, a narrow escape that was no doubt aided by dumb luck. She managed to make a mental note to not let her mind take things so lightly in the wilds, for every wrong move spelt death or misfortune. It was something she knew too well; after all she had experienced it once before first hand. But that was a lifetime ago, another scene a different place. The only matter now was the one in the present, of the crying boy who scurried towards her. Her eyes turned briefly up to Orvin, her head inclining for him to climb down. Which, after a few moments of pondering, the cub sheepishly did. But her attention for the moment was fixed solely on the child. She felt the arms of the boy tighten round her, tears of relief consuming him. It was a cry of distress, but also one that looked for comfort, and if anything it was a cry Fallon knew too well. Quietly she crouched down to the height of the boy, and for a moment held him. A calm voice escaped her lips, one intended to hush his cries and thanks. But her eyes were ever watching, and ever wary of the world around them. “It’s okay now,” she rubbed a gloved hand against his back, “shush, it’s okay.” In honesty, Fallon did not know what else she could say to the boy, other than the multitude of questions that were growing in her mind. Where was he from? Why was he in the wilds? Did he wander from a caravan? Is the caravan nearby? She exhaled, and released him for a moment, turning her attention to the Kukri that had imbedded itself into the flesh of the wolf. Fallon gave a swallow, and gave a gesture it was perhaps for the best that the boy turned round as she removed the blade. Which she did, after a bit of a struggle and a few curses under her breath. She gave a stagger when she freed it, and quickly slid it away into its sheath. She gave a quick smile to the boy, a brief moment of reassurance before she spoke once more. “Are you from a caravan? Did you get lost?” she asked as she bent down to his height.

oocNo problem, it happens.

[Meribreen]

Latched on to the woman, Meribreen cried and thanked her for saving him. The woman tried to calm him down by rubbing his back and reassuring him with her words, but seemed lack words to do so. However, her attempt worked, as it reduced his cries to a mere hiccup. The woman gave him a gesture to turn around, and so he did. After doing so, the woman lent over. The sound of blood sloshing and a crack when she removed her weapon from the wolf fell upon Meribreen’s ears. He was glad the woman asked him to turn away. After retrieving the weapon, the woman bent down to Meribreen’s height. She asked if he was lost or from a caravan. The boy was still hiccupping, struggling to convey his words. He held his breath to try to force the hiccups away. It worked, but his voice was still shaken. “N-no… I’m n-not lost…” Meribreen said to the woman. “I w-was foraging for food, and suddenly a wolf appeared… I had to leave m-my camp to I could be safe… but it followed me… my camp..?” suddenly the boy had realized his campsite was exposed to the local fauna. His efforts could have been wasted if the animals ate his weeks’ worth of food. He was in fear once again, not only from the thought that all his food will be eaten, but he had to go back there alone. He began trembling once again. “Maybe she could help me, she was strong enough to take on a wolf” he thought. He looks up at the woman and asked “Miss, can you please help me get back to camp? I worked hard to forage for food but it maybe all gone when I get back. I’d run back now but…” his voice faded out as his head slowly drifted to the wolf’s remains. Meribreen grabbed his fan and spread it open in front of his face, covering his tears. The fan away large compared to the boy, but was large enough for the boy to carry it in one hand. Fan in front of his face and head down he silently weeps about every that has happened and what was going to happen.

[Fallon]

For a moment Fallon was quiet, contemplating the words of the boy before giving a small nod of understanding. He may not have been lost, but he was in potential danger to say the least. She felt Orvin the cub tug at her coat edge, before giving a small yap with his tail beating wildly. She gave the cub a quick pet before turning her attention once more to the boy. She could hear his quiet sobs from behind the fan, of worries and fears spilling forth. And in honesty, Fallon no doubt would have felt the same in that situation. “The name’s Fallon and the cub is Orvin,” she said as she gently placed her fingers at the rim of the fan, and slowly pulling it down so she could see the boy’s face “And I’ll you back. But on one condition. You need to head to where ever you’re going as quickly as possible. The wilds are a big place full of danger, as you may have noticed.” She remained crouched for a while, patiently waiting for the boy to calm himself. She had to stay calm for both of them, to allow herself to become panicked and worried would only make the situation worse. She eyed the wolf carefully, or more over she focused on its heavy fur pelt. It was winter and warmth was a priority, but she did not have the time to deal with it. A waste in a sense, but then again it as it should be complete, natural and able to return to the earth. If one believed in cycles that is. She gave the boy a quick smile, before standing up to her full height and stretching. She quickly glanced down at her coat with the flecks of wolf blood staining it, before releasing a long sigh. Great, blood. That’s going to be a bugger to try and get out, she thought as she picked at a fleck. Her eyes looked down once more to the boy, and prepared herself to make a move. “Shall we make a move?” she said extending down a hand for him to take, should he wish to.

[Perplexity]

Riddled with Rewards!

Fallon

Projection	+1 XP
Observation	+1 XP
Running	+1 XP
Weapon: Kukri	+1 XP
Interrogation	+1 XP
Persuasion	+1 XP

Lores :

• Projection: Projecting A Distraction
  
• Interrogation: Question of Intent
  
• Persuasion: Allaying A Child’s Fears

Notes :

The Wilds are indeed filled with precarious things. PM me with questions, comments or concerns.