Xeph wasn't about to rise to Nikhila's bait. Ass on the ground, he sat and thumped his tail, lolling his tongue out in the goofiest manner possible and looking absolutely nothing like a noble, majestic Alpha wolf. He goggled his eyes slightly and made it clear, ears flopped out sideways as he regarded her, that this was her show. If she wanted to go after bigger game, all right... it wasn't really her fault the squirrle was up a tree, although he wouldn't mind seeing her try to climb it.
The idea of Nikhila doing something so undignified would have made him chuckle, if he could.
Small Game
So he wanted to chase the squirrels did he? Actually Nikhila was fairly certain that Xeph wasn't all that intent on the idea of squirrel hunting and was more focused on giving her a hard time. It wasn't as if she -couldn't- catch them, just that they were difficult and rather tricky. Such a large amount of work for a small amount of meat, but so be it.
Nose to the ground she tracked the wily rodent, never looking behind her, sure Xeph was following. This particular trail lead up a tree. Stretching the full length of her lupine body with her paws well up on the trunk of the tree Nikhila strained to spot their quarry. But it was apparently either too high or in some hollow with in the tree.
As a human she would have climbed up the tree, but in this form she was simply too solid and awkward for such gymnastics. Coming back to all fours she forced a sneeze, clearing the scent from her sensitive nose so a new trail would be clearer and then looked to Xeph, cocking her head slightly daring him to do better. After all it wasn't her fault the thing had gone up a tree.
Xeph
17 years ago
Nikhila
17 years ago
She was tempted to growl at him, he was not being at all helpful and she didn't approve. Okay, fine two could play at this game, but now she was determined to have a squirrel.
Yipping slightly she dropped her forepaws and put her head nearly to the ground, leaving her hindquarters in the air and tail wagging. Now this was play. With another short bark she hopped at him, egging him on before turning and loping deeper into the Long Run. Satisfied she was in far enough Nikhila again put her nose to work and started looking for a trail. She did find a nice one, but it was a rabbit and she moved on finally finding another squirrel.
It was fresh too, following it she became aware of rustling in the underbrush, smell, now sound and then sight. Pesky thing, but there it was and so far unaware of her. She'd indicated this was play and now made good on her threat haphazardly lunging after the squirrel, more intent on chasing it back to Xeph than actually catching it.
Yipping slightly she dropped her forepaws and put her head nearly to the ground, leaving her hindquarters in the air and tail wagging. Now this was play. With another short bark she hopped at him, egging him on before turning and loping deeper into the Long Run. Satisfied she was in far enough Nikhila again put her nose to work and started looking for a trail. She did find a nice one, but it was a rabbit and she moved on finally finding another squirrel.
It was fresh too, following it she became aware of rustling in the underbrush, smell, now sound and then sight. Pesky thing, but there it was and so far unaware of her. She'd indicated this was play and now made good on her threat haphazardly lunging after the squirrel, more intent on chasing it back to Xeph than actually catching it.
Xeph
17 years ago
The sudden playfulness of his Gifted was well-received, and Xeph bounced away from her and then back, taking off after her as she moved deeper into the woods, ignoring the trails and deer-paths. Stress and worry melted away as he let instinct take over, to an extent. Xeph never liked to lose himself too far, but every once in a while, it was necessary and relieving.
He watched with tilted head as Nikhila played squirrel-herder from a good deal ahead of him. Her nimble paws and coiled muscles helped her keep ahead of her game, and Xeph looked on with pride as she deftly sent the creature running his way.
Catching the squirrel would have been easy enough at that point for either one of them, but toying with prey wasn't his way, and therefore he knew it wasn't hers either. He hadn't been her aipa for nothing, after all. Xeph moved away, letting the tiny thing shoot in front of him and up the nearest tree.
Nikhila drew up next to him and he whuffed softly at her, as if to say, "Well, what next?"
He watched with tilted head as Nikhila played squirrel-herder from a good deal ahead of him. Her nimble paws and coiled muscles helped her keep ahead of her game, and Xeph looked on with pride as she deftly sent the creature running his way.
Catching the squirrel would have been easy enough at that point for either one of them, but toying with prey wasn't his way, and therefore he knew it wasn't hers either. He hadn't been her aipa for nothing, after all. Xeph moved away, letting the tiny thing shoot in front of him and up the nearest tree.
Nikhila drew up next to him and he whuffed softly at her, as if to say, "Well, what next?"
Nikhila
17 years ago
Sitting down at the base of the tree the squirrel had escaped up her tail thumped happily. She was relatively pleased with herself maneuvering the rodent past Xeph without harming it. Of course it would make it that much harder to catch him next time but it wasn't as if she made a habit of terrifying the game in run so one squirrel wasn't a terrific loss.
She'd had a good run before, but that was by herself, an attempt to escape. Now she was in the mood to play, to run with some one and Xeph had always been a good companion for that. More importantly she hoped it would help him now. Again assuming the play pose she chuffed at him before bouncing at him and away again doing her best to institute a game of tag.
Since she wasn't hungry, and prey didn't seem to be foremost on his mind they could spare the creatures and still get in a good work out.
She'd had a good run before, but that was by herself, an attempt to escape. Now she was in the mood to play, to run with some one and Xeph had always been a good companion for that. More importantly she hoped it would help him now. Again assuming the play pose she chuffed at him before bouncing at him and away again doing her best to institute a game of tag.
Since she wasn't hungry, and prey didn't seem to be foremost on his mind they could spare the creatures and still get in a good work out.
Xeph
17 years ago
Xeph came close to rolling his eyes, or the equivalent of. His attitude was very much 'grumpy older wolf' to Nikhila's 'annoyingly playful whelp.'
Still, one could only resist so far. As she bounded in and out he gave his head a shake, waited until she least expected it, and then darted in to snap lightly at her tail, clamping it gently between his jaws and tugging just enough to keep her from turning all the way around. A little dance commenced as Nikhila turned and Xeph led her, or followed... it was difficult to tell with the two wolves turning in small, quick circles.
Finally Xeph let go and bounced back, gave a short bark, and took off into the woods. If Nikhila wanted tag, they would play tag. He hadn't yet had the time he'd wanted to go exploring through the Long Run yet. So, tail straight out like a "catch me if you can" banner, he shot through the undergrowth, doing his best not to destroy any of it... but sometimes when you're a 200-some pound werewolf, going through the bush is just easier than around.
Still, one could only resist so far. As she bounded in and out he gave his head a shake, waited until she least expected it, and then darted in to snap lightly at her tail, clamping it gently between his jaws and tugging just enough to keep her from turning all the way around. A little dance commenced as Nikhila turned and Xeph led her, or followed... it was difficult to tell with the two wolves turning in small, quick circles.
Finally Xeph let go and bounced back, gave a short bark, and took off into the woods. If Nikhila wanted tag, they would play tag. He hadn't yet had the time he'd wanted to go exploring through the Long Run yet. So, tail straight out like a "catch me if you can" banner, he shot through the undergrowth, doing his best not to destroy any of it... but sometimes when you're a 200-some pound werewolf, going through the bush is just easier than around.
Nikhila
17 years ago
Yipping in surprise she turned sharply, attempting to circle and get her tail back. Just because she had instigated this didn't mean she'd expected -that-. Nikhila snapped her powerful jaws at him once or twice in a vain attempt at intimidation. She was no fool and knew she'd not be able to intimidate or force her alpha into doing anything that he didn't want to do.
Once he let go she again shook herself and dropped her fore quarters ready to spring after him, so when he took off running Nikhila was ready and didn't hesitate to follow. He'd cut a nice trail too, but she couldn't stay on that it would be hard, if not impossible, to run him down. Having made frequent use of the Long Run recently Nikhila used that knowledge to attempt to cut him off. Mostly hidden from him in the brush, there was still no doubt that he could hear her and probably even see flashes of white through the trees, she continued to run and finally found an opportunity to draw along side him. Now that she was running with him, rather than behind him, Nikhila threw herself sideways intending to use her weight to knock him off, one of the first things he'd taught her about hunting and fighting it also applied to play. If she could get him off balance, he'd be 'it' and it would give her a decent head start.
Once he let go she again shook herself and dropped her fore quarters ready to spring after him, so when he took off running Nikhila was ready and didn't hesitate to follow. He'd cut a nice trail too, but she couldn't stay on that it would be hard, if not impossible, to run him down. Having made frequent use of the Long Run recently Nikhila used that knowledge to attempt to cut him off. Mostly hidden from him in the brush, there was still no doubt that he could hear her and probably even see flashes of white through the trees, she continued to run and finally found an opportunity to draw along side him. Now that she was running with him, rather than behind him, Nikhila threw herself sideways intending to use her weight to knock him off, one of the first things he'd taught her about hunting and fighting it also applied to play. If she could get him off balance, he'd be 'it' and it would give her a decent head start.
Xeph
17 years ago
The student trying to teach the teacher! Xeph bounced to teh side and snapped his jaws at Nikhila in wolfish laughter. At least the lesson had sunk in, but even after all these years she hadn't quite learned that knocking over such stout prey only works once you've incapacitated it somehow.
It had been a hard lesson to teach her; go for the ankles, the tendons, the hamstrings; cripple the prey and then bring it down. Of course, she couldn't apply that now, and unfortunately for her, Xeph was far too nimble and alert to be taken in by it. He whipped around, planted one hind foot, and spun in a 180, back the way they'd come, tossing a yip over his shoulder as if to tease.
It had been a hard lesson to teach her; go for the ankles, the tendons, the hamstrings; cripple the prey and then bring it down. Of course, she couldn't apply that now, and unfortunately for her, Xeph was far too nimble and alert to be taken in by it. He whipped around, planted one hind foot, and spun in a 180, back the way they'd come, tossing a yip over his shoulder as if to tease.
Nikhila
17 years ago
As he dodged her, Nikhila stumbled and it took some time for her to recover. She’d been going quite fast and made a very sincere effort to knock him down. It would have been easier to take down a deer, at least she wouldn’t have to worry about hurting the deer. While playing, it wasn’t fair to try and cripple the ‘game’.
Scrambling after him, getting her feet under her, she let out a series of barks letting him know she was coming and would be catching him this time. Her claws dug into the ground like a runners cleats as she ran flat out after him. Drawing up along side him again she was able to nip at his tail and give it enough of a tug that he’d know he’d been caught.
Rather than turning and running away from him, she made an attempt to tear past him. Pulling ahead she was rather please with herself, at least until she saw the pond. It wasn’t as if Nikhila didn’t know it was there, or hadn’t scented it, she’d just been very focused on the game and forgot it. She made a desperate attempt to stop, but her momentum was simply too great and she wound up plunging head long into the clear water with a yelp of surprise.
Scrambling after him, getting her feet under her, she let out a series of barks letting him know she was coming and would be catching him this time. Her claws dug into the ground like a runners cleats as she ran flat out after him. Drawing up along side him again she was able to nip at his tail and give it enough of a tug that he’d know he’d been caught.
Rather than turning and running away from him, she made an attempt to tear past him. Pulling ahead she was rather please with herself, at least until she saw the pond. It wasn’t as if Nikhila didn’t know it was there, or hadn’t scented it, she’d just been very focused on the game and forgot it. She made a desperate attempt to stop, but her momentum was simply too great and she wound up plunging head long into the clear water with a yelp of surprise.
Xeph
17 years ago
Nikhila's tug on his tail sent him into a brief tumble as he went ass-over-end. He saw a white blur over him as he popped back to all fours, and trotted along behind her, a jaunty tilt to his head, as he watched the proceedings.
One would think the great and noble Kadzait wolf was beyond such silliness, but Xeph's entire body shook with wolfish laughter as he watched Nikhila's great and noble self scrabble ferociously at the leaves that blanketed the forest floor, snap aimlessly at tiny twigs that wouldn't hold her weight, and finally disappear over the short dropoff with a sharp yip of surprise. The subsequent splash below was the topper, and Xeph's yips of laughter multiplied. Standing at the edge of the dropoff, he watched the bedraggled Nikhila emerge from the water and tread in place.
With a very real wolfy-shrug, Xeph grinned at her, making sure she saw it coming, and launched himself off the short hill, barreling into her and plunging them both into the cold water.
One would think the great and noble Kadzait wolf was beyond such silliness, but Xeph's entire body shook with wolfish laughter as he watched Nikhila's great and noble self scrabble ferociously at the leaves that blanketed the forest floor, snap aimlessly at tiny twigs that wouldn't hold her weight, and finally disappear over the short dropoff with a sharp yip of surprise. The subsequent splash below was the topper, and Xeph's yips of laughter multiplied. Standing at the edge of the dropoff, he watched the bedraggled Nikhila emerge from the water and tread in place.
With a very real wolfy-shrug, Xeph grinned at her, making sure she saw it coming, and launched himself off the short hill, barreling into her and plunging them both into the cold water.
Nikhila
17 years ago
Surfacing she shook, her head of excess water and gave a short sharp bark at Xeph for laughing at her. Nikhila was actually debating shifting back and drying off, but she realized that in her human skin she’d probably be colder and certainly couldn’t run as well or as fast.
Looking about for a ways out she heard Xeph shifting about. She’d expected him to help her or at least show her a good way out of the pond. She hadn’t expected –that-. Before she could make a sound, she was under water again. It was certainly hard to tell he’d started this evening brooding the way he was playing now.
Breaking the surface again a low irritated ‘yarl’ held in the back of her throat; that had been cheating and he knew it. For all her irritation at her Alpha, she was slightly amused too and the wolfish equivalent to a smile on her face was proof of that. Still Nikhila was no fool and quickly found a way out. Standing on the bank dripping, waiting to see if he was going to continue to play in the water or wanted back on dry land too.
Looking about for a ways out she heard Xeph shifting about. She’d expected him to help her or at least show her a good way out of the pond. She hadn’t expected –that-. Before she could make a sound, she was under water again. It was certainly hard to tell he’d started this evening brooding the way he was playing now.
Breaking the surface again a low irritated ‘yarl’ held in the back of her throat; that had been cheating and he knew it. For all her irritation at her Alpha, she was slightly amused too and the wolfish equivalent to a smile on her face was proof of that. Still Nikhila was no fool and quickly found a way out. Standing on the bank dripping, waiting to see if he was going to continue to play in the water or wanted back on dry land too.
Xeph
17 years ago
The plunge into the chilly water was a hard dose of reality, but the wolfish laugh he'd had up at the top of the hill had been cathartic. The tension that had been building since his mother's arrival had been released, for however short a time, and although he was feeling quite somber again, he was, at least for the moment, finished being maudlin.
Paddling his way to the bank of the pond, he got out and shook just behind Nikhila, spraying them both with droplets of cool pond water. Standing beside her for a moment, his black form like a shadow next to her snowy white, Xeph glanced up at the night sky.
Old myths often claimed that fallen warriors took their places in the afterlife as stars in the sky. Was that where Liam was now? A fallen warrior looking down? And what did he see then, in his son, still on earth?
He shook his head at himself, trying not to fall back into it. Nikhila had, indeed, helped ease his mind some. It wouldn't do any good to continue in that vein. Touching his nose softly to her shoulder, he led the way back toward the Den.
Paddling his way to the bank of the pond, he got out and shook just behind Nikhila, spraying them both with droplets of cool pond water. Standing beside her for a moment, his black form like a shadow next to her snowy white, Xeph glanced up at the night sky.
Old myths often claimed that fallen warriors took their places in the afterlife as stars in the sky. Was that where Liam was now? A fallen warrior looking down? And what did he see then, in his son, still on earth?
He shook his head at himself, trying not to fall back into it. Nikhila had, indeed, helped ease his mind some. It wouldn't do any good to continue in that vein. Touching his nose softly to her shoulder, he led the way back toward the Den.
Nikhila
17 years ago
She shook her head again; both in slight disbelief and to rid herself of some of the water Xeph had so thoughtfully shared with her. It was hard to be certain of his mood but she thought... hoped... that the run, the play had helped. A hunt would have been too serious, squirrels were a good diversion. It worked for her after all.
All she could do now was watch. Losing Liam would be... well it was a major event. How Xeph chose to deal with that was yet to be determined, but as always Nikhila had faith in him. He would find his way as he'd help so many others find theirs and if he got lost she would do what she could to help him.
She pressed her head into his neck and nuzzled him before obediently trotting along with him. Some how she was tired, and it wasn't from the run. Runs rarely wore her out like this, the emotion of the situation had had its effect on her too.
All she could do now was watch. Losing Liam would be... well it was a major event. How Xeph chose to deal with that was yet to be determined, but as always Nikhila had faith in him. He would find his way as he'd help so many others find theirs and if he got lost she would do what she could to help him.
She pressed her head into his neck and nuzzled him before obediently trotting along with him. Some how she was tired, and it wasn't from the run. Runs rarely wore her out like this, the emotion of the situation had had its effect on her too.
Xeph
17 years ago
Funny, how after all these years it was easy to fall back into something like the routine he and Nikhila had once shared. He had been her sole support back then, her guide to a strange world and her only friend. Ironic that now, twenty years or so later, their roles were reversed much more often.
He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye as they headed back toward the Den. She was tired from their run. A warm shower and rest would do her good; for himself, perhaps a shower and then a shift at the hospital before Hammer's briefing of the Pipers tomorrow morning. Sleep was never relaxing for Xeph; he shuddered to think of the dreams that would plague him tonight.
Leading the way, he nodded to himself. Yes, this week would be a good week to put in some extra overtime.
((ooc: Xeph and Nikhila out))
He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye as they headed back toward the Den. She was tired from their run. A warm shower and rest would do her good; for himself, perhaps a shower and then a shift at the hospital before Hammer's briefing of the Pipers tomorrow morning. Sleep was never relaxing for Xeph; he shuddered to think of the dreams that would plague him tonight.
Leading the way, he nodded to himself. Yes, this week would be a good week to put in some extra overtime.
((ooc: Xeph and Nikhila out))