I'm done wandering

[Ember]

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[atrb=background,http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk107/puddinxpiexB/400middle.png] So happy! I finally met a wolf that my Mother didn't drive away, and least not right away. My ears twitched as I waited for Norther, my eyes a bright shining amber. With a warm smile, she swished her tail side to side. I followed the movement for a second, then switched my gaze upwards to her forest green eyes. They looked....please. Good. “Great. Let’s get going,” " Ok, " I said, looking arround the clearing briefly for anything to hunt. Then she jerked her head. Ah. Sniffing deeply, I noticed the game trail. So that was what she was doing before we crossed paths. She took a step forward, her white shoulder touching me as she did so. The hairs on my back stood up for a brief second, and then went back down. It felt like to me, there was electricity in the air. I stiffened for a moment, and then followed after her, my head ducked down so I couldn't barely see her. Then I scented what we were following, and I got excited. I started trotting, my paws moving in an even ryhmn. I moved past Norther. Once I was running, I felt a little better about what just happened. I was still wary of Norther, now knowing that tingly feeling she makes when her pelt brushes mine, but at least I could talk to her now. " Hey, Norther, do you smell what I smell? " I asked, sending a small grin at her over my shoulder as I ran.

[Thirteenth]

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[atrb=background,http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x30/Silehnce/Valley%20Howls/walkingonaircenter.png] I felt his muscles tense beneath his skin when I brushed against him, a slight smile ghosting across my muzzle for just a moment in response to his reaction, then vanishing before he caught up with me to see it. My day had certainly taken a turn for the better; and if I got my way--which I usually do--it would continue to progress favorably. There was no reason that it wouldn’t, save for Auburns acerbic mother; but for the moment she was well enough out of the way and I had no reason to worry about her. From behind myself I heard the soft sound of paws picking up pace, and then Auburn passed me, a blur of motion as he pulled ahead along the game trail, Hey, Norther, do you smell what I smell? I heard him call back a few moments later, and watched as he glanced over his shoulder. I wasn’t sure exactly what scent he might have meant; there were several intertwining on the trail: rabbit, deer, fox, even the faint, musky scent of skunk. “What is it?” I asked, lifting my voice so that he could hear me. As he began to draw away I increased my pace, breaking into a smooth, effortless lope, and gliding over the ground to follow him. The cool air brushed my fur as I bounded after him, ears pricking alertly forward to take in the many sounds of the forest. Golden beams of sunlight drifted through the branches as we ran, warming the forest pleasantly; for a winter day, at any rate. .

[Ember]

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[atrb=background,http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk107/puddinxpiexB/400middle.png] The sun beams fell on my fur pleasenatly, picking out the reds in my coat and highlighting them. The air felt good on my fur, and the steady rythmn of my paws and Norther's made me relax. The scents on the trail intertwined and gave off a single smell. Food. My ears pricked to hear anything besides the thumping of our paws, but I couldn't hear anything. " Food, Norther, I smell food, " I said, grinning at her over my shoulder, know how dumb that sounded. I slowed my speed down slightly, so that I was even with her, not touching her, but close to her. The furs on my side tingled. Ignoring the bristleing of my fur, I plunged ahead, seeing if i could find anything the two of us could easily take down. Sensing nothing so far, I cautionsly brushed my shoulder against her, just to see what would happen. The same thing, only this time when I tensed, I was running. Clumsliy, I tripped over a root that was in my way. I stumbled, nearly fell, but regained my balance. Thank god. I grinned at my mistake. That's what I get for doing that.

[Thirteenth]

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[atrb=background,http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x30/Silehnce/Valley%20Howls/walkingonaircenter.png] The answer he gave me wasn’t particularly helpful; I had already figured that he smelled some sort of food after all. I chuckled softly as I ran, maintaining a smooth pace that could have carried me through the day and long into the night. He clearly didn’t have much experience with females; he might not have had any at all, judging by the way his mother had reacted when I had first crossed their path. Ahead of me Auburn seemed to slow, and within only a few moments I had drawn level with him and we were running shoulder to shoulder. He was running as close to my shoulder as he possibly could have without making any contact; I watched him moving, a blur of motion in my peripheral vision. I didn’t dare take my gaze away from the path ahead, as there were branches scattered across the ground in places, and roots protruding from beneath the forest floor. The last thing I wanted to do was hook my paw against something and risk an injury. His shoulder brushed unexpectedly against mine, then for a split second I could no longer see him from the corner of my eye. There was a faltering in the steady rhythm of his footfalls as he stumbled, and then just as quickly as it had occurred Auburn righted himself and drew up beside me once more with a grin lighting his features. “Are you okay?” I asked, glancing towards him for just a moment, smiling softly as I attempted to stifle any laughter. .

[Ember]

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[atrb=background,http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk107/puddinxpiexB/400middle.png] “Are you okay?” She asked, a smile on her face. I nodded, focusing on keeping my balance at that smile that I put on her face. I took a deep breath, closed my molten amber eyes for a split second and then opened them. I risked a glance at her snow white face, her green eyes. I smiled to myself, then tried to focus on the hunt. I took a deep sniff, focusing on separating the jumbled scents, trying to find something to hunt that would be easy for two wolves to take down, but not too easy. Gah, why can't I focus? My thooughts wandered back to Norther. Shaking my head, I struggled to put my thoughts on the hunt. My paced slowed, hoping that if I get away from her a little, it'll help. It did, slightly. I smelled fox, deer, and rabbit. I focused on the rabbit smell, knowing we could take that on easily. I slowed my pace even more, leaning slightly to the left, where the rabbit scent was. And then I stopped altogether, wanting to follow the scent at a slower pace to see where it turned. It leaned more to the left, so I followed. Then I paused, remembering that I had company with me on this hunt.

[Thirteenth]

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[atrb=background,http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x30/Silehnce/Valley%20Howls/walkingonaircenter.png] Once Auburn had assured me that he was uninjured by the misstep, I nodded and pulled ahead, continuing to glide down the trail. After a few more moments I heard his pace slow, and the sound of his footfalls behind me grew more and more distant. At first I kept running, intending to let him catch up; but then the sound of his running footsteps ceased altogether and I slowed, glancing back over my shoulder. I saw that he had paused and was sniffing around to the left of the trail. Slowing my pace, I turned and looked back, “Find something?” I called back, ears pinning forward prettily. My nose twitched as I scented the air, hoping to discern what had caught his attention. Then, slowly, I began to backtrack towards him. The closer I came, the stronger the scent of rabbit became, and I realized that he must have found an area where one or more of the creatures had diverged from the trail. Rabbit was far from my favorite thing to eat; they were big, hopping rodents. They were easy to catch, though, and I knew I wasn’t in a position to be picky about what I ate. Rabbit was better than nothing at all, even if I didn’t much care for the taste. .

[Ember]

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[atrb=background,http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk107/puddinxpiexB/400middle.png] “Find something?” She called, her light musical voice reaching my ears. My ears twitched slightly, not respounding to her. All my sense were focused on getting food, not talking to a pretty, friendly, she-wolf.....who I liked. I shook my head, dislodging those thoughts. Just because I liked her....attentoin doesn't mean that my stomach isn't empty. Just then, it growled, emmbaressing me. Ignoring it, I waited till she caught up to me. I glanced at her once when she was by my side again. I fought with myself against the urge to say something. It wouldn't help this one bit. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, doing what Ember taught me to control my temper. It works, so I still use it. As long as I clear my mind....ah, that didn't work. All I could see behind my lids was a pair of green eyes. I lashed my tail, my mood changing to frustration. Nothing worked. Breathing deeply, I followed the smell of rabbit. Only the keenest eyes could detect the stiffness of which I held myself, my feet moving almost too fast for a walk. It was just like me to mess up things, my mood changing from one end to the next. There was no way I could ever, ever believe that she would want to be a friend of mine, even through I so, so wanted her to be one. It was a struggle between two halves of me. A messy one.

[Thirteenth]

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[atrb=background,http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x30/Silehnce/Valley%20Howls/walkingonaircenter.png] He didn’t answer my question; instead he remained silent, and I watched him lash his tail in what seemed like irritation before he began to move forwards. I shrugged it off and followed him. Whatever the reasons for his sudden change in moods, it had nothing to do with me; and we were nearing the end of the trail, so it was better that we didn’t speak anyway. No need to risk scaring off our prey. I drew up beside Auburn, padding along quietly, my dainty paws hardly making a sound as we followed the rabbit’s scent. My stomach was beginning to clench with the pains of hunger; it had been too long since I had eaten. It had also been far, far too long since I had been able to simply lie back and let someone else do the hunting for me; but at least I had someone to help on this hunt, even if he was beginning to seem a tad bit angsty. We traveled quietly for a few more minutes, and before long I could hear soft noises ahead as some small creature rustled the underbrush. My ears pricked forward, and I glanced at Auburn for a moment before branching my path to the right in order to circle around behind the rabbit in the bush. With skill and some amount of luck, I hoped to be able to herd the little creature into his waiting jaws. .

[Ember]

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[atrb=background,http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk107/puddinxpiexB/400middle.png] I heard her paws padding almost silently behind me, my senses on high alert for rabbit. And then I heard it, the sound of it making my stomach growl. Even so, I realised that Norther would get the food, she must be hungier than me. Then she glanced at me, her forest green eyes meeting my amber ones. I waited. Silently, she branched off the the right, no doubt circling around to herd the prey into my waiting paws. I listened for the rabbit to start running towards me, my maw pulled back into a smile. Stupid rabbit. And then it began running, smelling Norther. I waited, oh-so-quiet. I saw it, and leaped, my short legs crossing the space in front of me in bounds. The rabbit, senseless in it's terror, ran straight at me. I bit it's neck. " Norther? " I called, my voice prideful. I settled down to wait, my tail sliding over my paws as I sat down. But soon I got figety, not wanting to stay still. I looked at the rabbit. Maybe one little bite.... Five minutes later, about half the rabbit was gone. I really hoped Norther wouldn't mind. I was hungry, after all. But no doubt she'll be mad. I sat there, guilt showing in my eyes.

[Thirteenth]

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[atrb=background,http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x30/Silehnce/Valley%20Howls/walkingonaircenter.png] The hunt went smoothly, and ran its course exactly as I had planned. After I spooked the rabbit out of the brush and dashed after it, the panicking creature ran straight towards the younger male. I heard it squeal when he caught it, listened to the cry suddenly drown, and as the last echoes faded into the boughs of the trees I heard him call my name. Of course, I hadn’t accounted for the young male being a sheer, absolute bone head when I had invited him on the hunt. By the time I extracted myself from the tangle of underbrush he’d already mangled the small creature and devoured damn near all of the choice parts of the meat. Needless to say I was annoyed, and I scowled when I saw the half eaten creature, put off enough that I almost didn’t want it anymore. If I left it, though, I knew that I would regret it later in the day when the hunger pains had struck up again. Damn my luck. What were the chances I would ensnare the one male who didn’t have the common courtesy to wait for his hunting partner to arrive before he tore into the prey? I ignored his guilty look when I approached, deciding that I was not going to bother myself getting angry with him. Instead, I picked up the dregs of the carcass and turned, lashing my tail and growling softly as I passed him, then stalking away into the underbrush. As soon as I got away from the ill-mannered male I would finish the meal and be on my way; and next time I would find a hunting partner with the common sense to wait on their partner before eating. .