PM to join A Case of Mistaken Identity - Pt One

[Redd]

Timestamp: Day 70, Fall, 515 AV
Location: The Sea of Grass

Redd’s single golden hue peered out along the snow covered grass and she moved to seat herself back upon her haunches. While the snow was cold to the touch, her brindled red coat was thick enough to withstand such a cold, to an extent. That didn’t mean that she didn’t freeze her butt off, it just meant that her coat acted just like any human coat did. The young wolf had originally decided to head out into the snow to hunt, but she got distracted by the softly falling snow. It had taken her back to when she had been in Ravok, back when she had last seen snow in Ravok, back when she had been a part of a wolf pack. Slowly, she began to cast her gaze over the snow covered grass, pretending to look for something to hunt. Instead, she was completely lost within her own thoughts as she did whenever she was alone, which was most of the time. Well, she was never truly alone, she had her shadow to keep her company, but then the snow came and it had all but vanished. Sure, the shadow was simply just a shadow cast from her own form, but sometimes it was all she had.

Some would say that winter was here already, but Redd knew that until the snows began to fall heavily, it wasn’t even really close. This was just a simple shower of snow, it was light and it wasn’t a hindrance just yet. Redd lifted a paw, only to swipe it over a patch of snow, making the white powder scatter so then the grass underneath could be seen. However, it was still snowing, so it would soon be replaced with more snow. There was only a slight problem to the falling snow. It had also begun to cover up some of the animal tracks within the area. For Redd to even find some hint of an old print, she would have to clear the snow from the top using her own paw and that would take time. Although she did know, that if there were any prey around in the current area, they would leave tracks in the snow itself which would not be completely covered up for a few bells at least. The young kelvic looked up and around at her surroundings once more, the Sea of Grass was fairly vast and one might think that they might be able to see a beast in this snow. After another pause, the wolf moved to stand and began to pad through the snow, her gait slow as her thoughts were elsewhere.

Were there even wolves in this area? Redd silently asked herself as she had yet to see one. However, she didn’t doubt that there weren’t any. The Sea of Grass was too plentiful for there not to be any wolves. A whole pack could be lurking somewhere, maybe they were in a copse of trees and she didn’t even realize it. Where else could a pack of wolves hide? Were there caves somewhere through all of this grass? The young wolf so wanted to howl, to howl and see if any wolves would actually happen by. Would they be kind? Or would they treat her as an invading wolf? The latter seemed more like the obvious answer, for she wasn’t a pup no more, she was an adult wolf and come next spring she would be able to carry children. A growl rose from within the wolf, children was the last thing on her mind. She needed to be able to take care of herself first, not to mention that she would have to find a mate for children to happen and she didn’t trust anyone. So children was not in her future and she didn’t see it ever happening.

Frustration grew within the red wolf and she began to move forwards at a slow jog, her paws lifting and falling to leave paw prints as clear as day in the snow. After all she hardly expected to be hunted. She was a wolf and wolves were feared by many, hunted by the bravest of hunters and chased off by those that do not understand them. The main reason that Redd felt unfit to carry any children was simply because she was always hurting, always being chased and always being left behind. She had been the one to fall for false hopes and false dreams. However, ever since she had left Sahova, she swore to never fall for such things again, to keep her distance as best as she could. Humans only brought pain and suffering, she had yet to be proven otherwise. She paused for a moment and her ears flickered forwards, had she heard something? The young kelvic could have sworn that she had heard a sound, but it was far too feint for her to pick up. Perhaps it was her next meal, but she would have to travel a fair distance if that was the case.

[Erikal]

-


From his perch atop the mighty bay stallion, Erikal peered down on the pale landscape wistfully. The last few days had brought about a distinct change in the weather for the inhabitants of the Sea of Grass. What had been an endless wave of sedge, scarcely unbroken for miles was now dusted with a light coat of snow. It gave the place a surreal cast that appealed to the warrior-hunter. He marveled and laughed at how his breath turned to smoke before his eyes. He patted Korvas tenderly on his withers. "What do you think Kor? Time for a hunt?" he asked, smoothing a hand down his dark-brown mane. The strider's reply came a tick later when he experimentally snuffled the frosty tufts and began to eat his fill. Erikal laughed loudly at that and patted him a little more sternly on the flank this time. "Plenty of time for that later Kor. We've got to hunt. Let's hunt my friend!"

Though the strider seemed inclined to eat and relax, Erikal's growing excitement for the ride brought him around to his way of thinking. Shortly afterward they were mowing through the snowy-grass at a full gallop! Erikal fell into the instinctive mindset a hunter needed to have; his eyes keen on his surroundings, watching for the slightest movement on the plain. Aware that many of the denizens were no doubt preparing for the winter that was well on its way by the signs of things. Well he was preparing too....

His imagination creating a vivid vision of him bringing down the largest elk anyone had ever seen. The day-dream saw him skinning the enormous beast and claiming one of the warmest coats in Endrykas. Everyone would thank him after the feast, of course. That day everyone would rejoice and honor him with a special holiday in his name. Many of the Enkals would offer up their daughters for marriage. Needless to say, a very pleased smile creased his face at that particular imagery....

A chime later he shook his brown-haired head free of the reverie. How could he hunt if his thoughts were constantly floating off into the clouds? Snapping back to full attention, he slowed Kor to a trot, scanning the brush for anything resembling a meal. Nothing. Not a hare nor a fox, nevermind the grandest elk he'd ever laid eyes on. Erikal sighed, but just when he was about ready to spur Kor onward, he noticed tracks in the snow! The Drykas brought his horse to a stop and whispered something into Kor's ear before dismounting. He pulled his spear free of its housing on the yvas and gave one last pat and nod to the strider before edging close and stooping down to examine the tracks closely.

Erikal traced the print with his finger. It belonged to a dog or wolf, he decided. He judged the animal had recently been that way, as the falling snowflakes had yet to fill in the depression much. Excitement fused with adrenaline as it hit him that there could be something very near capable of doing him great harm. These were the moments the horseman felt most alive. When life and death hung by the thinnest of threads. Erikal released a tight breath, signaling for his horse to remain where he was before following the trail. Spear poised in case anything surprised him out of the snow-sprinkled grasses, Erikal took careful steps, gaze alternating between the tracks and his surroundings.

The terrain sunk into a semi large basin that had long ago dried out. Erikal had to double back once to recover the trail, since the beast had wandered along the outer edge of the depression before crossing out on the other side. The warrior-hunter was particularly careful of his footing at the basin's lip. Upon reaching the summit, he waded through waist high grasses and came quite suddenly face to face with a wolf!

The wolf was the hue of blood, stark by contrast to the canvas of white about it. He had very little time to muse over the wolf's departed right eye. With his heart pounding in his chest, Erikal brought his spear to bear, roared a war-cry of his people and advanced quickly in a leaping attack! Spear cocked back before being thrust forward and down, aiming for a violent impact with the wolf's vitals. Time seemed to slow dramatically at that moment. Erikal's animated expression one of determination and intensity. Snow from the grasses displaced from the blades to shower around him with his action. Everything seemed to await the next moment with great anticipation...

[Redd]

Redd had been moving in the direction that she thought that she had heard a sound come from. Perhaps it had been her imagination that she had heard anything at all, for she had yet to come across fresh tracks that signified that anything was there. Fresh wolf tracks to be exact, for she could have sworn that she heard a bark or something. Wolves had a different bark to dogs, it was pretty much similar to a barking growl. However, as she travelled closer and closer to the sound that she could have sworn to have heard, the more she was beginning to think that she had simply just heard it inside her own head. Why? Because she had been thinking about the pack of wolves that she had once roamed free with. That’s why she would have heard it, well that’s the conclusion that she had come to when she had stopped padding through the snowed upon grass.

The young wolf closed her single hue for a moment, her nose dipping as she tried to listen for that same sound again. Instead she heard sound of rustling grass, of a body sliding through the green towards her way. She began to turn around and came face to face with what appeared to be a human Drykas, as his hair was long and was wearing the traditional leather garb. He was also holding a spear in his hand and her single gaze trailed up to view grey blue eyes that held determination? Had he heard the sound as well? Redd didn’t think that their hearing was as good as hers, but at least it was proof that she wasn’t the only one that heard it. She then started to turn back around, to continue on to where she thought she heard the sound originate from. Who knew, they might find the wolves, but she wanted a chance first to see if she could roam with the pack without the human tail.

It was at that point however, when the human decided to let out a large cry of some sorts and the wolf turned her head back around to see what the human was going on about. Well petch, thought Redd as she realized that the spear was meant for her and he was hunting her, not the sound like she had originally thought. A snarl rose up and she jumped to the right, the spear just missed her by a hair’s breath. Snow scattered all around her form as her movements disturbed the light sprinkle of powder resting upon the blades of grass. How could she have forgotten that she looked like the predator that she was? A wolf, a beast to many and most. This, this right here just reminded her, that no matter how much she thought that humans could look passed the wolf and see the woman on the inside, they couldn’t.

Her head cocked to the right so then her left eye could view the man with the spear and she had no doubt that he meant to kill her, even if she did run. He probably had some kind of horse waiting somewhere for him and she wasn’t faster than a horse. So, she would just have to kill the man. It was after all, self-defence. The wolf felt the soft snow settle upon her red coat and suddenly, she felt very much like the pup that had been force out by her own mother and into the cold. Except she wasn't a pup no more and she was sick of running. Redd lunged towards the man, her teeth bared and snarls were ripped from the wolf. This man right here, would regret attacking her in her own element, especially when she had not been the one to lead the first strike against him. No she had not attacked until he had and now she was within her right to rip his throat out.

[Erikal]

-


Erikal's spear missed its mark, though just narrowly! The warrior-hunter gritted his teeth, eyes darting to the side where the wolf had bounded. It was then that a very curious thing happened. The one-eyed wolf seemed to study him, cocking its head in a very human-like manner. The flame that burned in him for the hunt nearly guttered out at the sight. Still, he hesitated just long enough to lose what fleeting advantage he had. Erikal forfeited his chance to attack again and maintain the initiative. Instead, he found himself giving up ground to evade the lunging wolf, its teeth barred, snarling and snapping its jaws aggressively.

Erikal growled right on back and knew he had to change the momentum of things or eventually the wolf's teeth would find him and when that happened, he would be in dire trouble for certain. The Drykas took a quick step back and pivoted his feet so that most of the weight was on his back foot. He then jabbed out at the wolf with his spear. Hoping to either land a decent shot or at least keep the beast at bay long enough for him to regain the upper hand. Unfortunately for Erikal, it didn't work out in any sort of favorable way. His back foot held for only a few heartbeats before the ground shifted and he lost his balance completely!

The warrior-hunter realized too late that he had retreated back to the edge of the basin and the ground there was not firm; it was loose chunks of rock and soil mixed with snow where the occasional thorny shrub grew. Less than ideal for combat maneuvers. He landed heavily on his back with a grunt, air exploded from his lungs. It was all he could do to fumble around on the ground and find his spear just in time to raise it horizontally before him to keep the animal at bay. He held the spear up with all of his might, the wolf's muzzle inches from his face. Sharp canines bit down on the barrier and that single eye hovered above him, peering at him in that unnerving way that no animal could.

And if things couldn't get any worse, distant sounds came to his ears. Not hooves. He had told Kor to remain where he was. Not the voices of other Drykas hunters come to help him out of a sticky situation. What Erikal heard was the howls of more wolves. Erikal began to seriously wonder if his time had come. He cursed his ill luck. He was too young for it to end like this. He had always believed in the Gods. But perhaps his latest misfortune was a direct result of his less than dutiful homage paid in their name.

"Caiyha," he gasped between breaths. The muscles in his arms were aching from the strain. "Help....me."

[Redd]

Redd saw the spear’s thrust forwards, this only brought her to a holt for only a moment as the snarls were issued forth from the wolf. Why of all things did this man have to attack when she had better things to do? Questioned the young wolf as her single golden eye watched the brown haired’s footsteps. The wolf knew that she wasn’t even back to full strength yet, as her frame was still relatively skinny due to lack of nutrition while aboard the ship. Just as she was thinking about lunging at the man again, his footing slipped and an ear perked forwards just as soon as he fell backwards. This was her chance! Redd realized and she lunged towards the man, her paws pushing her form forwards in a snarl as the man landed upon his back. The young kelvic, heard rather than saw, the loose rocks jump and skip down the side of the basin, just as her teeth bit down upon the wooden spear that was being held horizontally in front of the man.

I have you now, thought the wolf as she renewed her efforts to rip the man’s throat out. Her golden hue almost seem to glint with a violent satisfaction at the fact that the man had almost brought about his own end, just by failing to stay aware of his surroundings. Suddenly, the sounds that the young wolf thought that she had heard, became much, much clearer than before. Redd couldn’t help but feel a sense of warmth travel through her at that sound, for it meant that she hadn’t been imagining other wolves. Both ears pricked forwards and she lifted her head, her quarry and his words about Caiyha forgotten. She almost lifted her nose to howl in return, to wag her tail and run towards them. To roll over and bare her belly in submission just so then they may let her in. However, reality came back to her and she remembered that she was currently standing over a man lying upon the ground and she wasn’t a pup no more.

Truth struck her fair in the muzzle. It was more or less a mental slap really and her nose dipped, before she realized that she was still standing over a human, a human that had to run. She had to run if she didn’t want to have to kill the wolves, wolves that she only wanted to hunt with, to be a sister with. Her ears lowered for a moment and she closed her single eye as she wrestled within. Why was it too much to ask? Why could she not return back to her wild and free life amongst a pack of wolves? White, powdery snow-flakes gently clung to her red coat and she felt the gentle cool that clung to it. Was there a reason as to why she just couldn’t shake free of the humans? She just wanted to be a wild wolf again, to have a pack to run with, to hunt with. A soft whine was issued forth as as she wrestled with the feeling of being torn. It was then that she looked to the human. He had to leave. Now.

Slowly, the wolf moved away from the hunter and she looked to the west of their position as a snarling bark reached her ears. They were close but not yet upon them. Redd turned to the man and snarled while her ears pressed back against her head. She then snapped her head back in the direction of where the man had come from, almost as if she was trying to tell him to go away, to go back where he came from. However, she just didn’t know if he understood, for she never really spoke to humans in her wolf form. Why? Well, because she was a wolf. Most hunted her for the beast she was and they had driven her away, time and time again. It was the wolf pack that she had grown up with that had understood her. She understood why the wolves attacked, because it was fight or die by the hunter. A snarled bark rose within the wolf as she attempted to snap at the human, to make him run. Please just leave, I don’t want to have to fight these wolves just to save your life. She silently pleaded within her own mind.

[Erikal]

-


The sounds of wolves, much closer now, reached the warrior-hunter's ears. He could hear their barking calls carry back and forth as they ran through the snowy grasses. The sky above him was so very clear. He could picture the clouds as people, places, and things - much like he often did as a child. A damp chill settled under him where the gaps in his leathers met with the ground. The one-eyed wolf continued on with its snarling and relentless chomping. Granting him no time at all to strike back with his spear in any meaningful way.

His arms burned with fatigue. Holding the spear above him felt like a monumental task at that point. Just when he was seriously contemplating a risky try for freedom and probably getting bit, the mysterious wolf let out a long whine and then simply gave up on its attempts to eat him. It was very strange. Erikal clambered to his feet and held his spear outward in a threatening manner toward the wolf. He let out a yell and stood tall as he could to scare the beast, still unable to understand his luck. Had Caiyha answered his call after all? Somehow got the message to the wolf to leave him alone? The red wolf did not seem overly concerned with his aggressive posturing. If anything the wolf seemed to be telling him something. He could have sworn the pleading look was meant for him and it was telling him he should leave!

The snarling and yapping was alarmingly close now. He imagined they were twenty feet away and would come barreling through the grasses at any moment to take him down in a torrent of sharp teeth. But for reasons unknown to him, his feet were rooted where they were. He just stood there gawking at the one-eyed wolf. Perhaps the wolf was a messenger of Caiyha. Come to deliver an important message. As foolish as it might be (even to himself), he signed to the animal: I understand. "Oh great Caiyha. What would you have me do? I live to serve," he said, pressing the palm of his hand over his heart in a sign of love and devotion.

Erikal wondered if perhaps he had hit his head a bit too hard upon the rocks. Could he simply be reading too far into things? Maybe the wolf was just strange and not a messenger of Caiyha. But he had never seen a wolf act that way before. It had to be a sign. "You wish me to leave? Where should I go? Do? I do not understand.." he said with a yearning in his tone to know those things. The wolves would be upon them at any moment. Yet he remained, standing and staring at the red wolf. Wanting answers.....needing them.

[Redd]

Redd had almost expected the reaction that she had received from the man, confusion had swept across the features that she had once planned to rip apart. Granted, she would have probably ripped open his throat first, but she began to notice that he made gestures with his hands, and spoke words, but they were not English words. The young wolf angled her head slightly to the right while confusion coloured her own golden hue, but only for a brief moment. She did notice a name however, Caiyha, but it was going to have to wait. For now there was a problem evolving and it annoyed her somewhat. The man wasn’t going anywhere and the wo… Her thoughts dragged off as two wolves bounded into view and both were not very on the welcoming side. Their body position, their snarls and even their ears that were pressed back against their heads, suggested that they were not here to make nice.

Her head had turned to view these advancing wolves and a feeling of sadness washed over her, was she going to be fighting her own kind for the rest of her life? A growl of her own was issued forth and she hoped that the hunter was up for another trestle, a trestle with a pair of wolves. One had a pelt that was light brown in colour, but white socks. A female, Redd surmised as she angled her head just a little to notice the lean build that the wolf carried. Her ears pressed back against her head and she snarled, baring her own sharp teeth in return. The kelvic had only done this to give her more time to study the second wolf which was completely white in colour. However, unlike its female counterpart, this one was male, as his neck was much thicker, which didn’t stop there. His overall frame was bulky, which indicated strength.

The young wolf didn’t like their chances. She hadn’t exactly been living it large for the past year and had suffered from it, her form being skinny as it was. Not to mention that she was hindered with her right eye missing. The man behind her didn’t really seem to know what he was doing. His footing was less than sure, this Redd had noticed when he had slipped because of his lack of awareness within the area he was in. These two, had more than likely be eating rather well due to the fact that the Sea of Grass had plenty of grass eaters scattered throughout. not to mentioned that they would have probably been fighting to survive for quite some time. Slowly, she angled her head to the right to see more and her right ear pricked forwards so then she could listen for any more sounds on her blind side. Although, she still had yet to practise blind fighting, it was something that was on her mental to do list. For now, the problem were the wolves, even though she wanted to avoid the confrontation.

It was a battle of snarls and it seemed like they were trying to intimidate each other, which was exactly that. However, no one tucked tail and run, which meant that one of them would have to advance eventually and advance they did. The female lunged towards Redd and Redd flowed forwards herself. To which, she meet the brown coated wolf with claws and teeth. Redd’s jaws snapped forwards to bite down upon the female’s wolf but she snapped her head to the side. And Redd's teeth only lightly brushed against fur. However, she didn’t let that deter her and her jaws snapped forwards once more as the female did a very rookie mistake and left her neck open. The kelvic’s teeth sunk deep into fur and skin just where the shoulder met the opposing wolf’s thick mane. A yelp was issued forth and Redd tasted blood, but the brown wolf jumped backwards away from Redd before she could get a good grip to hang on with.

[Erikal]

-



His plea went unanswered. If anything the animal looked nearly as befuddled as Erikal felt. He began to have doubts that the red wolf in question was indeed an envoy of Caiyha. The present came crashing back into focus when two wolves emerged from the wild grasses. Spittle flew from their snapping jaws. Ears were pinned back with apparent malicious intent. Fantastic. Now the young Drykas had three bloody wolves to contend with! All because he had been an arrogant fool to believe the gods would take time out to fiddle around in his life.

Of the pair of wolves, the decidedly larger male with a coat that blended well in the snow drew most of Erikal's attention. The white male wolf seemed to share his concern, or perhaps it was simply an eagerness to gnaw the flesh off his bones. Whatever the case, the battle lines had been drawn and there was no going back now. Erikal's lower back still throbbed from the fall and he wondered if he hadn't hurt himself worse than he initially surmised. Still, he had to at least appear threatening if he was to give the alabaster wolf something to think about.

He spared a quick glance for one-eye and the other wolf. Much to his surprise, the red wolf had not join her kind in what would be the terrible slaughter of one handsome and much-too-young to die male Drykas. Instead, it appeared she had evened the odds as it were, taking up a position ahead of him where she faced off with the other she-wolf. There was no time for him to witness that battle or thank his lucky stars. He had a fight of his own to worry about. The alpha male wolf turned its enormous head a moment to also study what was going on between his mate and the red wolf. Erikal realized he may just join the fray and ignore him.

Perhaps he should have been elated, if that was the case. That would give him ample time to escape the dire circumstances unscathed. But he couldn't bring himself to abandon one-eye after she had been so merciful to him when the tables were turned and had now aided him again, making what would have been a hopelessly one-sided encounter to something a bit more...survivable, or so he hoped. The warrior-hunter tightened his grip on the spear and issued a battle cry to draw the large wolf to him.

His decision made, the wolf circled the Drykas in a predatory manner. Warily sizing up the human with big golden eyes. Erikal clenched his hand on the wooden shaft, shifting his feet to keep the animal directly in front of him. He could hear the savage snarls of the other wolves locked in ferocious combat. Then without cause, the bulky white-wolf turned and bolted into the surrounding snow-clad grasses. Erikal blinked, sharply scanning the area for any signs of the wolf. He saw nothing. Very strange.

The warrior-hunter turned toward the other two. A dizzying gnashing storm of red and brown fur. He could see the red wolf had the upperhand as the other wolf bled profusely around the neck area. His expression grew taught with concentration. Though he had his spear out and at the ready to strike the brown female wolf, he feared that doing so he may accidentally pierce one-eye instead. Erikal growled in frustration. His eyes widened when he heard that growl echoed....directly behind him. He spun around as quick as the wind, swinging out with his spear blindly!

A blur of white passed across his vision. The snap of jaws quickly receded with the impact of his spearhead across its maw. But the blow was more of a slap, and did little to harm the wolf....or slow it down. The white wolf came on again after its momentary retreat, veering off with long strides before returning once more, its head low, snarling, whilst eyes watched him very keenly. The wolf dodged, backing away from Erikal's warning thrusts easily enough. But the white wolf was making steady progress, edging closer and closer. The Drykas had the feeling the beast was biding its time. Waiting for him to tire. The moment he did, it would pounce and go for his jugular with its powerful jaws.

Despite the cool temperature and brush of wind, perspiration beaded Erikal's brow. He knew his time was running out. As before, with the red wolf, he had to grasp the initiative and take the fight to the wolf. It was pure folly to hope he could keep the wolf at bay forever. And though he believed one-eye had succeeded in claiming an advantage against the other wolf, he knew not if she would be victorious.

Even still, he doubted she would stand any chance at all against the behemoth of a creature before him....

[Redd]

It was a never ending circle really as Redd and the brown wolf began to circle each other. The young kelvic wolf did not take her single eye off of the opposing wolf, for blind fighting was not really her strong suit at that precise time. For now, she needed all the vision that she had to keep the advantage that she did have. While she did pierce skin and while the crimson liquid did stain the brown wolf’s fur, it wasn’t enough to take down the wolf. At least, not yet anyway. If the wound had time, then maybe it might turn out to be dangerous, but the red wolf hardly doubted it. Time was always proving that it was never on her side and that she had the worst timing ever. Today’s events proved such things, but with her head lowered, her ears pressed back against her head and with her single golden hue watching the movements of the brown wolf; she noticed something.

At first, she didn’t notice it, for she was so focused upon the opposing wolf’s similar golden eyes. However, it was when the wolf stumbled on a clump of grass that Redd noticed that the brown wolf was limping. It limped on the side where Redd had bitten and she realized that her bite had been right above the shoulder. As the brown wolf walked, it limped due to the pain of placing its paw down upon the lightly snow covered ground and placing its own weight upon it. Had Redd been in human from, she would have smirked and felt a sense of satisfaction. However, she was not in human form and she was not exactly happy that she was having to inflict such pain upon a fellow wolf. It was all to save a silly human. If he hadn’t been there, if he had just ran when she had told him to, then she might have been able to turn tail and run herself. She may have also had the chance to roll over and show her belly, but that was no longer an option.

The fight was almost a battle of wills, one saddled with a limp and the other saddled with only fifty percent eye sight, but it would be the first one to strike that would determine the way that this battle would end. The brown wolf stumbled once more and its nose bowed for a moment. Redd took this moment of opportunity, she lunged forwards and her teeth sank into fur, skin and flesh. Blood flowed forth upon Redd’s tongue, but as the female wolf howled with pain, its teeth snapped to graze Redd’s own pelt along the back of her neck. Pain flashed through her form and it was strange, because while it would have normally hurt her a year ago, the pain seemed to dull in comparison to when she had her right eye ripped out. This only made Redd bite down harder upon her grip of the brown wolf’s throat and she shook her head from side to side. This helped to tear open the wolf’s skin even more. To allow the blood to flow more freely.

Slowly, the other wolf’s strength failed and Redd felt its body slowly sag towards the ground, a force which she didn’t stop but moved to accommodate. Her jaws slowly let go of her opposer and her single orb watched the pair of golden eyes of the wolf that looked up at her before they glazed over with death. A whine was issued forth and Redd licked at the wound that she had inflicted as if she could change the fate of the female wolf that had already passed away. If only she hadn’t begun to search them out, then this would not have been their fate. She then remembered that there was still one more wolf and the young wolf lifted her nose and turned to the right so then she could see how the stranger faired against the male wolf. The male wolf that was the mate to the one that she had just killed.

[Erikal]

Erikal grunted with the effort of his prodding. The white wolf could have been a spirit for all the good the Drykas was doing landing a solid shot. Still, he was nothing if not stubborn. He also had a bit of an epiphany when he noticed a pattern in the wolf's dodging. Once to the right and back. Twice to the left and forward, just out of spear range. If he simply guessed right the next time the wolf lingered too close....

As before, the white wolf adopted another aggressive position. This time however, Erikal was ready for him. Instead of bothering striking at the wolf though, he feinted to the left and sprung forward with a well-timed thrust to the right! His spear tip finally found the mark, intercepting the wolf and catching it squarely in the flank. The wolf yelped and attempted to tug free. Erikal answered with a triumphant cry and drove his spear deeper, throwing all his weight against it. Blood began to flow out of the beast in earnest. Its massive head turned to Erikal and he could see the fear in the animal's golden eyes. There was also a feral glint to them. He would not go down without a fight.

Had the Drykas been overconfident, he may have been too late in dodging the sudden twist and wild snap of teeth. But he had expected such from a great wolf used to bringing its prey low with that very savage bite. Erikal avoided the last ditch effort with a relocating of his hands, sliding them up the haft of the spear. He then went on to haul the wolf to the grassy earth, arms bulging as he used all of his strength to subdue the white wolf. Blood was everywhere. On the grass, on his hands, his leathers, smeared across white fur. Erikal felt a pang of regret for having to slay such a beautiful animal. The wolf was listless now, putting up little resistance. Erikal made a sign of deep respect to the wolf. He quickly released the spear, drew a knife from his belt and finished the job swiftly lest the wolf suffer needlessly.

Erikal stood and peered over at One-eye. She was similarly placed above the limp form of the brown female wolf. She looked relatively unharmed to him, though he wasn't entirely certain. The Drykas pulled his spear free and approached her. He stopped a safe distance away and crouched down, laying his spear on the earth. "I am in your debt One-eye," he said after a few tick's consideration. You are friend, he signed to her.