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by Karyk on April 17th, 2017, 8:39 pm
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by Salara Kel'Halavath on April 18th, 2017, 3:07 am
As soon as Salara stepped away from the group she became the prowling hunter. She knew It was imperative in her compromised condition that she remained undetected so only the surest odds would push her to attack any of the pack. To do otherwise was to jeopardize not only herself but the companions who counted on her to make it back to their side for the most solid defense. Each paw was placed with care as she navigated bramble patches and forest debris, always keeping the wolves to the outside of the tightening perimeter. This terrain was much more to her liking as the pine copse and deciduous woods were older and many trees had fallen to the ground in the stronger winds. Jumbled piles of stone, Semele’s bones, which had been pushed above the surface of her soil flesh also added to Salara’s advantage for cover and elevation. In some ways wolves were highly effective hunters, especially as a coordinated pack, but she hadn’t met a wolf yet that took the time to look above its head. Using this to her advantage she traveled the higher pathways leaping silently from mossy green trunks to boulders pitted with erosion. It was a fact that the wolves’ sense of smell was much more sensitive than her own and there was no way she could stay up-wind of all of the creatures; so each time she was forced to leap to the ground she sprayed her scent. If they could smell her anytime she made sure they would smell her all the time. At one point, resting amongst the branches of a tree fallen over the trail to catch her breath she watched one bold bitch that had closed more distance to the copse than the others approach unaware. Laying low to blend against the limb Salara waited for the chance of revenge for being treed earlier. The shaggy black beast, which looked so much smaller now that Salara had Kesh to compare it to, moved quickly down the trail. Settling her hindquarters in a series of small adjustments and flexing her claws into the wood she waits otherwise motionless. Just as the female passes below her, Salara’s solid 150 stone weight lands upon its back as her broad jaws clamp tight around the base of it’s skull. A short scuffle ensued with only a panicked whine and Salara’s answering growl through clenched teeth heard before the bitch dies suffocated. One down… Releasing her hold she watches self-satisfied as its eyes begin to glaze in death’s embrace. Spitting foul black fur from her mouth, Salara begins to close her circle yet again moving more northward. Crossing one game trail in particular she notices a path of scuffed blood. There was no rhyme or reason for it to be there before the attacks started so she chose to investigate. Closing the distance and watching attentively she pauses with paw held mid-step to see a wounded man who had managed to pull himself up into the crook of a tree. As she moves in to see if he still lived she was encouraged when he spied her and made a weak effort to shake a hatchet at her in warning. She wished she could speak to him but she knew her energy was limited and shifting would expend it wastefully. Deliberately catching his eye she moves to a tree opposite his perch and rakes her claws in three parallel swipes before turning to stare south in an attempt to communicate the number and location of her companions. She really didn't expect he would understand. And then the Alpha howled…. With a final glance over her shoulder at the treed man, he was safer where he was for now, she tried to convey meaning with a deliberately human-like nod and feline yowl of encouragement before following his bloody trail back to the pine copse. |
by Salara Kel'Halavath on April 19th, 2017, 11:13 pm
Breaking into the clearing, Salara’s senses are immediately overwhelmed with the stench of rot and decay. Her feline face becomes pinched as she hacks deep in her throat at the stench invading her mouth and coating her tongue like the grease of rancid fat. With heart dropping, knowing now where the fellow had come from, looking at the gruesome scene it was a true wonder he had survived at all. Still feeling the injured man would have a better chance of survival where he currently rested and being one less person they would need to look out for; as bleak as their situation was becoming it was important to make the others aware of his presence. Should something happen to her it would be two lives instead of one that would be lost if Dorrin, Karyk, or Kesh lived and didn’t realize there was another precious life to save. All three males labor hard to process the great tree trunks that had been cut down around the clearing. Karyk was leveraging heavy logs with a fulcrum, the swings of his hatchet steady and deliberate. Dorrin seemed to be constructing some type of sledge from the boughs and limbs. She bounds up to Kesh, the one most likely able to understand her unspoken efforts to communicate and who could most successfully retrieve the wounded man when the time was right. Pacing to and fro before him until catching his attention she pointedly looks up into his eyes with an air of expectation. Concentrating she tries several times, “Mrow, Mowu, Maaw,” before successfully forcing her mouth to articulate, “Maaan.” Tail whipping in agitation she repeats the guttural sound again and hopes he asks the right questions. |
by Kesh Baldur on April 20th, 2017, 4:05 am
by Karyk on April 20th, 2017, 5:36 pm
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by Salara Kel'Halavath on April 24th, 2017, 12:51 am
A lot happened in a very short amount of time. Just as Salara felt relief wash over her that Kesh had understood there was a survivor, the wolves took advantage of their moment of distraction. Kesh’s roar of warning had her leaping to race down the large trunk he had been de-barking to get out of the Jamoura’s way. From that higher elevation she paused to see where she would be of most use. Her unexpected arrival had obviously triggered the impending attack so that no wolves had targeted her, only the men in the glen. In a flash of insight, she gave credit to the dirty beasts in how they had chosen to divide their numbers – the majority on the biggest threat. Quick appraisal revealed she was too far a distance to help Dorrin and Karyk; but perhaps she could help Kesh by dispatching his wounded attackers. Dropping down on the far side of the log, Salara quickly slinks along its length back toward the embattled Jamoura to watch for her chance. Out of sight out of mind, she had effectively taken herself out of the picture. Concealed behind the log she watches as Kesh backpedals into a tree to pinch a wolf between him and the trunk. The tree shudders at the impact shaking twig tips and leaves loose to fall in a shower around them. Kesh moves forward and as the wolf slips to the ground Salara leaps from cover, arching high over the short distance to land astraddle closing her strong jaws around it’s neck. Ears pressed tight and a hard-maniacal glint in her eyes she tears it’s flesh with her claws while twisting her head savagely until she hears the SNAP of it’s neck. Dropping the body even before the last breath escapes she turns just in time to see, as if in slow motion, Karyk’s axe rotating through the air dead-aimed at one of the wolves still harassing the Jamoura…. and miss. Hearing the animal yelp she settles her haunches to leap upon it; when from over her right shoulder, another ax revolves in a tumble echoing Karyk’s throw but instead buries into the wolf’s skull with a sickening crack/squelch. Turning in surprise she watches as the lumberman she had left in the tree stumbles from the path into the clearing. “Good kitty,” he manages before falling flat on his face in what she hopes is a faint. Unable to leave him unprotected she moves to stand alongside his body her face twisting in a vicious snarl daring any approach. They may both be wounded, but there was still fight left in her and she was far from defenseless. |
by Kesh Baldur on April 24th, 2017, 7:01 pm
by Karyk on April 25th, 2017, 6:01 am
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by Salara Kel'Halavath on April 26th, 2017, 5:20 pm
And just like that it was over. Salara watched Kesh finish off all but one of the remaining wolves. There was no doubt of her inclination to kill the mangy cur. She believed to her core that the only good wolf was a dead one. In a flashing sparkle of light the woman stands. Wiping both sides of her mouth with the back of her hand she pitches her 2cm into the decision, “Kill it. The town is starving and while one more canine carcass wouldn’t go far, it might dampen the hunger pains of a child or two for a few more nights.” Any would consider it a charitable suggestion, and it was, all but for the glint of wild in her eyes. This, however, wasn’t her show and she didn’t hold its life in the balance of her hands. The final decision would be Kesh’s. Besides, she could always come back…. Leaving the side of the unconscious lumberman, she searches the grove until she finds where Karyk had left his pack to retrieve her borrowed clothing and a water skin. Donning the shirt and breeches she returns to kneel at the man’s side. Tearing the loaned small-clothes into strips she dampens a corner and dabs at the abrasions on the man’s face and hands while wiping away blood and debris. He must have had trouble getting out of that tree with only one foot, not to mention getting into it in the first place, and then to return and still make a kill with one shot? One Tough Bird. The will to live always amazed her. He moans, but does not awaken, so she saturates the cloth and wrings trickling water over his parched lips. Moving down she checks the tourniquet around his calf. The stump was gruesome. The dirty torn flesh, pale for lack of blood and stark against yellowish fat and white bones, was beginning to seep again. Breaking a thick stick short she pushes it behind the material and twists it clockwise between the folds to tighten it. He grunts in pain, as pressing it firmly, she gives it another good solid twist then tucks it into place. Elevating his savaged leg over a chunk of dead-fall she arranges him to be as comfortable as possible for the moment as there wasn’t much more she could think to do. Raising she turns seeing Karyk catching his breath before their final push to get the lumber down the mountain. They all deserved to take a minute to appreciate the feel of life-giving air being drawn into lungs and to contemplate life in general. At the thought she inhales deeply, exhales slowly, and tries not to feel the painful pull of her own wounds, which would benefit most from a good licking when she got the chance. Walking up to him she clears her throat, “If you don’t get that blood staunched you’ll end up with slippery fingers wielding a sharp object. I don’t know about you but I’d almost rather chance the wolves more.” With no further request she hands him the water skin and squats down facing his shoulder. Holding out the strip of cloth expectantly waiting for him to lift his arm she couldn’t help but notice his earthy, woodsy scent and his natural musk under the pervasive scent of blood; altogether not unpleasant she thinks as she squelches a hum building behind her teeth. With flushed cheeks from recent exertions or his nearness, she deftly wraps his wound, tucks the tails of the bandage within its folds with her fingertips and glances quickly at his face with a gentle smile curving her lips, “There that should save us for at least a little while.” Pressing palms to knees to stand she looks toward her other companions. Dorrin waves off her intent of aid so she approaches the Jamoura. Standing next to him Salara had time to appreciate just how solidly massive his physical presence was. It was no wonder they had survived an attack from the larger, more experienced wolf pack. Was there any natural creature that could overcome such an individual as he? How powerful would a pack? drove? band?, maybe ‘troop’ was the right term, of Jamoura be? But still, he bled, as the rivulets of crimson from the wounds on his arms and back attested. “I’m not sure we can find a bandage large enough but is there anything I can do to help patch you up, Kesh? Perhaps we could pack your wounds with mud until you can get better care?” |
by Kesh Baldur on April 30th, 2017, 1:58 am
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