Fork in the road (Open)

[Tiki]

21 Summer 511, several miles south east of Spires, dawn.

Yawn...what a pleasant sleep. The light now stretched through the tree tops through to the higher branches. The young Kelvic let loose his jaw and yawned again. Lick, lick, his tongue flickering over his lips and nose after the snapping of his jaw. It was a new day, a beautiful day, and he still had a great distance to go.

It had been several weeks now of traveling through the woods. He had managed to keep himself on small game while avoiding scents of anything of unpleasant size. It was but the other day he filled up on fresh water, and very well hoped he would find another spring before crossing into Kalea. He had come from Sylira moons ago with his mother's blessing. While not the most encouraging, the small world he grew up in could contain him no longer. His battle scars were few and minor from the scampering rodents or rabbits he caught and gorged himself on. The occasional bird proved both humorous and challenging to hunt. Having been unlucky in the past evening, the Kelvic intended to challenge himself further this day.

He had thought it out a bit in his half-snooze routine of waking up. There was a particular scent that had begun to hang in the air. Deer, he thought; such a catch would be very fine and worthwhile. Yawn...snap! Groan... Before he could begin hunting anything he'd have to take care of some daily chores. Lick, lick, his tongue went again over paw and face, paw and ear, paw and...

The light moved now though the branches overhead to reveal a greater amount of the ebon hues which remained even against the light. The light of his own eyes grew as he looked up to the quickly coming day which would all too soon be lost. Hop, hop, over to his stash he went marked with a scent to gather some things. He shifted and dug through the bag for his razor. He looked on the side of it: not bad, a few stubs perhaps, but not too bad. He pulled on his cloth, pants, and shirt and leaped back up the tree with his bag to greater warmth. The night had been cooler than usual. His movements north didn't help much at all either as the northern winds blew in from the cool mountains.

Looking down into the jungle he saw it all; little movements and tracks, the scents mixing around in the open air. There was also a song. The birds chirped in the dawning light as the dew drops fell to the earth. The crisp, fresh breeze from last night was all the more welcoming in the heat. He'd need a cool breeze to keep him going this day.

Hop, hop, down the tree in quiet steps; his knees buckled on the final leap and all landed together with a slowed stop. His eyes narrowed to the ground and took in all they could. His nostrils flared as he observed the many scents about on this lower layer. The deer scent was still a while away and so he started off, North West. The idea was simply perfect in his mind, not only did he have the chance to catch a great bounty, but he would also be that much closer to Windreach. He started off slow into the wood with his sack slung over. He saw subtle movements ahead of him, though he was still too tired to start off for breakfast.

There was something unusual about the air, but of course there was always something unusual. Different places, travelers, and all the lovely scents and sights and sounds about them. He started off on quiet steps trying to keep clear of the roads, yet close enough to ward off what else might lurk in the forest...

[Tiki]

It was nearing noon, perhaps an hour or two away. He had been hot on the trail as the scent gained in abundant strength...well, odour. There had been little activity to his observance, which was good, kind of. He would always stop time and again to give his attention to the birds. They had been chirping the whole while so he was obviously going things right: staying out of trouble and avoiding it. His feet were wet from the grass dew still. It seemed not all had evaporated in the low lighting.

He was met by great solitude in this realm, despite all fellow creatures around him. Perhaps this was the curse of being a Kelvic? Being stuck in between the world of man and creature picked away at him. While the simplicities of nature were all welcoming, there was a security it lacked in the civilized world. He always drew an odd parallel in return though. Is it not the same "civilizations" that breed upon slavery, war, theft and the like? At least in the wild you could keep your own safe by whatever means you might deem...necessary.

People, people are always the hot topic in the contrasting words. The people of the woods, or rather the critters as humans might refer to them, are always very chatty. It's comical how ignorant the "civilized" world can be as they trudge through a forest cover neighbourhoods. Bu of course it's just a bunch of trees, and that fallen log over there. Critters are the same though, especially birds. They go around pooping whatever they please in the civilized world. It's rather gross to be honest. Sure, he felt need to relieve himself at times, but there's a line of decency! At least find a bush Tiki would suggest. Bah...there was no pleasing either side or himself for the matter.

Self pleasure at the moment was fixated on one thing. After the few hours he had spent tracking his dinner, his tummy began to grumble. Breakfast was on...

[Tiki]

Time was shifting towards high noon as the sun and light pierced the canopy. The young Kelvic's hair gleamed with the greasy ick of sweat, his own scent growing outward. He looked around with narrowed eyes at the terrain...this was the spot. Up a tree he went with silent steps and yanking at the branches as the birds continued in song. From a high point he looked down. What was at a glance still terrain actually hid much… There! He stripped down and shoved his cloths into the pack. The bag was safely placed in a snug triple point where the tree grew apart. He looked around the tree for any roaming critters who might be tempted to touch it. Just in case, he laid out his scent in relief as a mark and torrent. Down the branches he then swung towards the earth. Upon the last limb he landed on all limbs and leaped forth as a great cat in the wood.

He was focused. Through the avian murmurs he heard the crunch of dry leaves and peddles ripped from their hosts. The neat foliage of the ground, green and ripe, could only hide so much. He crept forward with slow, cautious steps like a kitten playing games. His eyes beamed forward as if to pierce the cover of his prey. His lips parted at the front to let the jaw hang loose. Soon a tasty treat would find its way into those jaw, or at least he reveled in the thought of such.
He was a matter of feet away now, and no single sound gave him away. The light angled now a small degree to reveal the whole of the hole which Tiki had been in search for. The robust scent of the catch lay in wait within this tree covered den, just behind a brush. How clever! Of course no one would have thought to look there, of course not. But Tiki...he was no simple hunter, and inside he laughed at the thought. The wiggling and munching had given away the poor victim's position.

This was the moment now...all paws ready to leap forward for the little morsel inside the hole. The Kelvic kept forward, eyes wide upon the entrance, or exit rather, the only means of escape. A false step...the snapping of a twig; from the hole darted not one, but two rabbits. Their turning fur stood out against the green of the landscape; this would be an easy hunt. They ran together as a family. The Kelvic kept hot on the trail, careful not to slide on what little water there might have been left in the damper shaded parts of the forest. Forward, he darted! But they then turned, and turned, and turned again, just out of his reach. He was wasting too much time, too much energy.

The song was interrupted by a halting screech. The other of the two darted away back into the wood. With the larger in his mouth, the Kelvic trotted back towards the tree with his belongings. He had chased them a while away, therefore taking a minute or so for him to walk back and ascend to his perch. The bark crackled at first as the claws sank into the tree's being for a hold. Scratch, scratch, and up he went to the first limb, and then up again to the next. Toward the high point, where his bag had been left, the tree began to bend with the weight of the parting branches where he found it easier to now climb up to his loft.

On the most horizontal he rested himself. His claws dug into the head and legs as he chewed away at the outer hide. Ri-i-ip! He soon found himself greeted by a very savory treat. The rose color of the flesh, the smooth texture of the muscle lined across the body of the dead rabbit; his teeth sank into the body and ripped away at the flesh. The sun began its passing as he chewed away at his catch; not an ounce of flesh would go to waste.

Lick, lick, his tongue licked over his blood coated fur. After the quick cleaning he felt need to rest a moment longer and enjoy the peace of the forest after the invigorating chase. He sniffled. With a quick swipe of his right paw, the coat tumbled down the slope of the tree, finally landing at the base. He walked over with ease to his bag which he now searched. Aha...out came the lesser sack which he had drank from but hours ago. He carefully tugged it out a bit more by the cap with his loosely hung jaw. He growled, and then began to rub his face with his upper paw. He shifted, and continued to rub his itchy eye. Perhaps the fur did not agree with him.

Pop! The top was off and he layered his lips over the sack. With one hand at his mouth, the other lifted the sack and allowed the water to rush down his throat. His throat undulated as the cool liquid ran down... He replaced the cap, licked his lips, and put it back. All fun aside, he was nearly set to resume his journey.

After quickly redressing and repacking the extra, he swung that pack back over and descended from the tree. Thump, thump, sh-lump... He looked down at the source of the slippery thump, no not his foot! He had landed on the discarded pelt. After a few wipes through the grass, his foot was clean...enough. He took another moment to look back at the pelt. Not even ten minutes did it rest there, and already the earth was welcoming it back. Ants were crawling over the bones and hide to take back the fats and tiny bits of flesh he missed or could not consume. He was blinking, and smiling. His head turned back North West and he continued on, the scent of dinner still far ahead of him. He had to hurry before dinner decided to turn off of this path. He began to jog off into the silence of the forest after his next meal.

[Tiki]

Silence, that was the note last left on the kelvic’s track. He had gone a while before the actual sensation hit him, and the following paranoia. Was it him who had caused this dreadful din, the pounding of his heart echoing throughout his mind and body of what was wrong? Had his small act of necessity caused so much anger in this unfamiliar wood that even now the goddess herself may have felt wronged? Maybe it was her favorite pet… He would look to the side, and back, but nothing showed sign of the cause. His paranoia worsened as his thought of being alone ensued upon him. Why had he left home, his family? Now he was lost, alone in the woods. Wait, lost! No, he couldn’t. He remembered now clearer than ever, the road, it was kept to his left, he was sure to keep it on his left. As quick as his legs could take him he ran south by south west towards the road.

It didn’t take too long before he began to feel the dip in the terrain. He soon was stumbling down into the worn grass and light mud. A moment more of silence… He took the moment and let it out; he sat down and just tried to make sense of it all. He had already come so far, miles from his family, so many friend that he had made, so many adversaries and challenges he had overcome. What was he, a child, a little child crying in the middle of a road way over a bitty fear of losing his way?

It began to come back to him, his control or rationality. The fact was he did it, he did come this far without family or friend, overcoming the worse thus far the forest had to offer against him. He wasn’t lost and kept damn good track of his being. Either way, he needed the break. Lost in his own solitude, he turned his focus toward his bag and began to dig for a sack.
“What do we have here…this is the thief who has been stealing from me? A sniveling little brat of a two-legged pale skin...disgusting. I will show you, you shall learn better than to steal from me.” The kelvic turned full back toward the source of his growl, a female lynx clearly upset with his being in the forest. He gathered his pack back up and jumped back into the road growling in a low tone. The lynx made her way down to greet him.

“Disgusting little slime, you dare mock me! All of you damn hu-mans think you’re so tough with your growling and yelling. The nerve of you to growl back at me, as if you are on my level! In my own wood at that! The audacity you have to both steal and insult me in my own home!” The lynx growled louder now as she neared half way of the road, the kelvic plenty toward the opposite side from which he once sat.

“Please, I didn’t mean to steal! I was just passing through! I was hungry!” The young kelvic’s words rattled off to no avail, the lynx hissing back ready to defend her territory. He had no choice, fight or die. Flight or fight leads him to the natural choice. In a quick shift he was pulling his shirt away and loosening his undergarments. In a leap he transformed forth into his bestial form. The lynx stepped back and lowered herself growling.

“Shifter! Even more abominable than the rest you bastardly little-"

“I told you, I didn’t mean it! I was just passing through and needed to eat! I’m sorry, but it’s already done.”

“Damn right it is already done, and now I will take back the meal which was rightfully mine!” They both growled and hissed at each other. The lynx lowered her head, tail in the air swaying. The kelvic remained rather tall, his claw swatting at the air between them. She looked ready to pounce and he worried. He was larger, by far, but this lynx knew this wood, she had earned her right to live here and ruled supreme with reason. He had little option but to react as the lynx pounced into him, her claws sinking into his forearms. He too latched onto her and both violently kicked and scratched at the other with hind legs. The other would try to bite and fail as the other would reflect the action, both going for the mouth and throat. The tumbling eventually resulting in the kelvic on top of the lynx with his greater weight. Her feet were little help under his own weight. He pulled his head back and ripped a claw back and out. He quickly got back to his feet and backed away; the lynx rolled over and regained herself.

She cursed him, he had hurt her. Her shoulder now bled from tiny gashes from his large claw. Otherwise they shared the pain on each others’ biting and scratching, and latching claws for the matter-their pricks stinging with blood and bits of dirt. The lowered herself again. Clearly this would not go to a mutual acceptance of fault. They jolted at each other from a distance and stopped dead, both caught off guard by a large bear stomping down into road over the kelvic’s bag. He lingered there, the precious goods just from his reach. The kelvic stepped forward roaring for return of what was his. As he did, the lynx too moved against the panther. He had n choice but to back down at the moment and defend his self being. She crept onto the jaguar with her hissing only to be stopped again by the bear. Caught between the two, the kelvic wondered by what unfortunate mishap he had come to this crossroad.

No one would have thought of it, especially him, his face rooted deep into the source of this predicament just past high noon. The scent was all about him, blood. The blood of his morning kill which he failed to clean from his nostrils, but worse, his foot well enough. This whole while he marked himself for death with blood for whatever predators lurked about. And now this, lynx and bear both followed him to what could so easily be his doom. He was stunned, from both the quarrel of moments ago and surprise of the new coming foe.

The moment was on though, and now that was the fact. The lynx was so foolish as to swap at the bear and take a bit of his nose. He roared and jumped for her and they ran. The lynx was chased back north, the bear hot on her trail. Tiki rushed to his things and inspected everything over. Thank the gods…the water was intact. He gathered his cloths and…put them in the bag.

The bag was quickly stashed into the near try which he was quick to mark. Transforming back he rushed after the lynx and bear, maybe a minute or two ahead of him. They had stopped at a sickly tree, bent over to grow at an odd slant. The lynx was holding her ground upon the think of the tree, the bear crawling up to claw at her. She got him again on the nose with a quick swipe. The roar echoed back to the kelvic. He saw them now and rushed. His momentum was put forth into a quick motion: he leapt up upon the bear, his claws sinking into the shoulders. He bit down into the back of the bear, near the neck. The bear roared in greater agony and fell on all fours. He tried to shake him, but there was no use in it. The lynx took advantage and ran.

Now look what he’d done, clung to the back of an enormous beast with no help about. He dug in deeper, skin, fat, and flesh. His bite was less than effective, caught on the scruff of the bear. His bite was not quite wide enough to get the hold he would need to kill. Time was running out, and perhaps soon more would answer the cries of the cats or the bear. But, the bear was waning, losing energy and strength spent in his chase and climb. He too must have hungered when following that scent. Down the bear went, his front legs the first to give. The big cat still hung on for dearest life and ripped into the shoulders more. It was done; the bear was too tired to fight back much more with something he could not reach. With his opponent down, the kelvic leapt back and off the beast. He ran back for the marked tree, but did stop to ensure himself. The bear, weak, pulled itself up and backed away from the kelvic. He was holding his own ground now. With a final hiss, the kelvic returned for his things.

He shifted back in the tree, his chest struggling to rise and easy to collapse after it all. His hand shook as he reached in for water. He drank, some of which spilled over his burning chest. He waited a while longer, just collecting himself and regaining some strength. Any when from half an hour to a whole had passed before he was calm again, and the birds, the birds were singing once more. There wasn’t much else to do here, think or speak of for the matter. He remained bare as he continued down the road, just in case something else was full of ideas.

He saw an oddity in the road before him, a fork. A prong turned south west, the other north west. Windreach…which path would take him to Windreach… He had heard long ago that Windreach was to the north west of the continent, so of course he took the right path…right? Well wrong path, in all actuality. The left lead to Kalea inevitably, but nothing got past this sharp kelvic. So, north west he went along the calm, song-filled road north west. Very soon he would find himself in the grace of the Spires.

[Tiki]

((Awaiting grading.))

[Cheshire]

. Character: Tiki Experience: Grooming +2, Tracking +1, Climbing +2, Stealth +1, Hunting +1, Running +1, Brawling +1 Lore: Planning the Hunt, Conversing with Cats, Additional Note: Nice solo! PM me with concerns.