Damned truck had broken down –again-. Seriously, even off the Rez apparently he couldn’t escape the curse of nasty broken down pick-ups. Maybe it was in his DNA. He made a note to ask his grandfather about this or maybe Nikhila she was pretty scientific she was bound to have a theory or something.
Either way it was faster to run home on four legs than two so he’d locked the truck up tight shifted and started on back to the den. Aware that large wolves were not native to the eastern seaboard Drew opted to make his way home through the nature preserve.
As he trotted along his nose clued him into something that wasn’t, well it wasn’t native the coast either. Not feeling overly reckless, he slowed his trot to a walk and snuffled along after the trail. What in hell’s name was it. Not a wolf, maybe a fox; no, it was closer to coyote and he knew damned well it wasn’t a coyote. It was a mutant basset hound! Or not.
The cackle was creepy and caused his hackles to raise. This was no mutant basset or beagle. It was a mystery and he couldn’t seem to let it go, but he did continue to hang back rather than rush in he was no fool.
Laying Foundations (open)
This seemed as good a place as any to start. Amir had a specific task given to him by powers greater than he. He wouldn't fail to accomplish it; he knew that inherently. It would take time, however, to achieve his ends. He had time.
The night was warm and balmy. Scents lingered, and his wet nose carried them to him all at once, bit by bit. He still remembered the first time he'd become a jackal, the sensory overload that had nearly driven him mad, the disorientation and confusion. He'd grown into it since; literally. Now he embraced it.
His nose told him he was right. What he sought, it had been here. That was all he needed to know. His presence was enough. It was a flag, a little sign that said, "Guess what? I'm here too."
Who would come and play first? He let out a high-pitched cackle, an unusual sound to be sure. Amir was looking forward to making new friends.
Drew
15 years ago
Amir
15 years ago
Amir loped easily along the preserve paths, both sandy beach paths and woodland paths. The moon was bright and the sea was enticing, but he stuck to the land. He ran here and there, not really for the joy of running so much as the enjoyment of spreading an unfamiliar scent over equally unfamiliar ground.
His nose had already told him that he was correct in assuming this bit of parkland would be ideal for a midnight run; the scents he was looking for were everywhere. One just needed to look properly.
He gave another jackal-laugh, pausing on a hilltop to let the moonlight silhouette him for just a split second before bounding away down the other side.
His nose had already told him that he was correct in assuming this bit of parkland would be ideal for a midnight run; the scents he was looking for were everywhere. One just needed to look properly.
He gave another jackal-laugh, pausing on a hilltop to let the moonlight silhouette him for just a split second before bounding away down the other side.
Drew
15 years ago
What ever it was didn’t seem to have any kind of path or plan, it was almost like another wolf out for a run. However, this wasn’t like any wolf he’d ever scented. Maybe from the other pack he’d not met any of them its possible they smelt funny.
There was that sound again. He stopped and bared his teeth and growled at the sound. That just wasn’t right, it certainly couldn’t be a wolf no wolf sounded like that. No wolf he’d ever heard at any rate. It was unnatural.
Part of him wished it was the full moon but it wasn’t so he’d have to make do with the ¾ moon out tonight. Rather than ambling after the scent Drew was tracking, he was doing his best to remain hidden and sneak up on this… what ever it was. He still couldn’t see it but he thought he was getting closer.
There was that sound again. He stopped and bared his teeth and growled at the sound. That just wasn’t right, it certainly couldn’t be a wolf no wolf sounded like that. No wolf he’d ever heard at any rate. It was unnatural.
Part of him wished it was the full moon but it wasn’t so he’d have to make do with the ¾ moon out tonight. Rather than ambling after the scent Drew was tracking, he was doing his best to remain hidden and sneak up on this… what ever it was. He still couldn’t see it but he thought he was getting closer.
Amir
15 years ago
Some scents were fresher than others, and Amir was delighted to discover, through the process of doubling over on his own trail, that someone had taken his bait.
Rounding back to the front of the hill he'd previously stood upon, he decided to wait and see if he could get a glimpse of his pursuer. The grasses were very tall here by the sea, and with the moonlight bleaching everything Amir's wheat-colored coat with it's beautiful stripes blended in with the summer-gold and dark of the grass and shadows.
When he finally saw his tracker, nose down, focused on his scent, Amir was impressed by the sheer size of him. Over the centuries he'd seen them large and small, but in truth he didn't often see them shifted. This one was big and black, with a flash of white under one eye as he raised his head to sniff the light breeze.
Amir took his chance then, as the wind shifted and the stranger no doubt caught a whiff of his unfamiliar, and very close, scent. Going from a standstill to his top speed in no time at all, he lunged from the clump of bushes and took five quick strides. Not checking himself, he shot like a small, tawny arrow into the wolf's side. His jaws snapped into the thick fur on the wolf's shoulder and as Amir plunged into and over him, he levered the big wolf up and over, using his momentum to carry the wolf along. He had the element of surprise and the advantage of strength for the time being. It would be a far more difficult move to pull off next time.
Amir yipped mockingly as he disappeared into another clump of grass and began to circle around, almost cat-like, waiting for his next opportunity.
((ooc: Permission to rough up Drew a little bit)
Rounding back to the front of the hill he'd previously stood upon, he decided to wait and see if he could get a glimpse of his pursuer. The grasses were very tall here by the sea, and with the moonlight bleaching everything Amir's wheat-colored coat with it's beautiful stripes blended in with the summer-gold and dark of the grass and shadows.
When he finally saw his tracker, nose down, focused on his scent, Amir was impressed by the sheer size of him. Over the centuries he'd seen them large and small, but in truth he didn't often see them shifted. This one was big and black, with a flash of white under one eye as he raised his head to sniff the light breeze.
Amir took his chance then, as the wind shifted and the stranger no doubt caught a whiff of his unfamiliar, and very close, scent. Going from a standstill to his top speed in no time at all, he lunged from the clump of bushes and took five quick strides. Not checking himself, he shot like a small, tawny arrow into the wolf's side. His jaws snapped into the thick fur on the wolf's shoulder and as Amir plunged into and over him, he levered the big wolf up and over, using his momentum to carry the wolf along. He had the element of surprise and the advantage of strength for the time being. It would be a far more difficult move to pull off next time.
Amir yipped mockingly as he disappeared into another clump of grass and began to circle around, almost cat-like, waiting for his next opportunity.
((ooc: Permission to rough up Drew a little bit)
Drew
15 years ago
Drew yelped in surprise as he was tackled. He didn’t really care what it was he immediately began twisting about as they rolled jaws snapping paws with long nasty claws thrashing trying to get a piece of it. What in hell’s name had enough gall to attack a wolf of his size?
As soon as it had hit him, it was gone. No, it wasn’t gone. He could hear it rustling about. No dice you rat if you want to fight you can do it fairly he thought. He didn’t want to turn tail and run, that wasn’t how Drew worked, or had been brought up. What he wanted was a look at this bastard he wanted to know what it was. If he could lure it back to the beach it would have to approach in the open.
Two could play this hiding game, Drew was surprisingly able to blend into the grass underbrush and the night. Big ears swiveled back and forth as he tried to pick up any sound at all from his attacker. He wanted to get behind it and push it toward the open sand. This would have been much easier to do with one or two other wolves but he was still going to try it. Even if he failed, though that thing wasn’t getting him off his feet again.
As soon as it had hit him, it was gone. No, it wasn’t gone. He could hear it rustling about. No dice you rat if you want to fight you can do it fairly he thought. He didn’t want to turn tail and run, that wasn’t how Drew worked, or had been brought up. What he wanted was a look at this bastard he wanted to know what it was. If he could lure it back to the beach it would have to approach in the open.
Two could play this hiding game, Drew was surprisingly able to blend into the grass underbrush and the night. Big ears swiveled back and forth as he tried to pick up any sound at all from his attacker. He wanted to get behind it and push it toward the open sand. This would have been much easier to do with one or two other wolves but he was still going to try it. Even if he failed, though that thing wasn’t getting him off his feet again.
Amir
15 years ago
He was quite adept at slinking for such a big guy, Amir observed. They were playing a game now. Hide and seek, apparently. Ducking from clump to clump of thick seaside grass, Amir knew he was being lured toward the beach but it didn't matter. He didn't intend to take this game too far.
He let the wolf flush him toward he open areas, but he slipped and slid sideways as they played the game, making the progress as slow as possible. Using pieces of driftwood to his advantage as well as the grasses and dunes of the sandy transitional areas.
Just when he was about to run out of really good cover, Amir wound sideways once more, making a quick half circle and coming around the back of the large black wolf. This time he put on a burst of speed and went underneath the enormous wolf, the giant frame giving him plenty of room to spare. As he whirled beneath the wolf he snapped viciously at its legs, not aiming to injure so much as to harry. He didn't dally; when his momentum carried him back out from under the wolf again, he was off in a thick spray of damp sand.
He let the wolf flush him toward he open areas, but he slipped and slid sideways as they played the game, making the progress as slow as possible. Using pieces of driftwood to his advantage as well as the grasses and dunes of the sandy transitional areas.
Just when he was about to run out of really good cover, Amir wound sideways once more, making a quick half circle and coming around the back of the large black wolf. This time he put on a burst of speed and went underneath the enormous wolf, the giant frame giving him plenty of room to spare. As he whirled beneath the wolf he snapped viciously at its legs, not aiming to injure so much as to harry. He didn't dally; when his momentum carried him back out from under the wolf again, he was off in a thick spray of damp sand.
Drew
15 years ago
And this was why you hunted in packs Drew couldn’t help but thing as he heard the what’s it slip though what was currently the weak side of his pattern. Just as he was about to turn and plow after it this little bastard slid under his leg. This was the rabbit from hell Drew decided. He reared back on his hind legs and stumbled back wards, slipping and sliding with very little grace trying to get his legs out of bite range.
Fuck subtlety he decided and charged after the scent and sound. Drew, like all of his pack, wasn’t exactly built for speed but that didn’t mean he was slow. He caught up with it and went to throw his weight against his mark but the sand hampered his progress and he wasn’t as accurate as he should be. That and he under estimated the size of it. It was behaving like a predator so he was treating it like one but it would have been smarter to treat it like a smaller prey animal. It was a stupid mistake he thought as he snapped his jaws at its hind end hoping to slow it down at least a little.
Fuck subtlety he decided and charged after the scent and sound. Drew, like all of his pack, wasn’t exactly built for speed but that didn’t mean he was slow. He caught up with it and went to throw his weight against his mark but the sand hampered his progress and he wasn’t as accurate as he should be. That and he under estimated the size of it. It was behaving like a predator so he was treating it like one but it would have been smarter to treat it like a smaller prey animal. It was a stupid mistake he thought as he snapped his jaws at its hind end hoping to slow it down at least a little.
Amir
15 years ago
Amir chuckled to himself, another odd sound coming from his throat. The large wolf, irritated beyond logic apparently, decided to give chase. To be fair, Amir conceded, he was very fast for a beast of such size.
Amir flipped his tail up at the wolf as the powerful jaws lunged for his hind end. Adding injury to insult, he dug his toes into the sand and kicked out, sending another thick spray of sand and dirt into the wolf's face.
Laughing again, Amir sped off into the shadows. Perhaps he hadn't gotten as far as he would have liked, but all he really needed was to spread the word, as it were. The night was young and there were still so many new faces to see. There would be blood spilled yet, though perhaps not the blood of the big black wolf who coughed up sand behind him.
((ooc: Amir out))
Amir flipped his tail up at the wolf as the powerful jaws lunged for his hind end. Adding injury to insult, he dug his toes into the sand and kicked out, sending another thick spray of sand and dirt into the wolf's face.
Laughing again, Amir sped off into the shadows. Perhaps he hadn't gotten as far as he would have liked, but all he really needed was to spread the word, as it were. The night was young and there were still so many new faces to see. There would be blood spilled yet, though perhaps not the blood of the big black wolf who coughed up sand behind him.
((ooc: Amir out))
Drew
15 years ago
Gah! Sand in his eyes, in his nose, in his mouth and damned it sucked. Drew stumbled to his feet alternating a hacking cough and violent sneezes while keeping his eyes tight shut hoping they would clear themselves out if they watered enough. He very much wanted to shift, opposable thumbs would be great right now, but he didn’t dare. That thing was gone but he was also exposed.
Blinking hard he was finally able to see again. What the hell was that? He wished for a second or two that he could talk to his father or grandfather, he wanted to know what action to take next. He lay down in the tall grass, still very alert in case it came back, for a few minutes to think. Drew’s instinct was to tell Xeph about all this but he didn’t want to make a mountain out of a molehill, he’d already done that with the whole Reign thing. Thank god Xeph didn’t know about that. Well, he probably didn’t. OK he hadn’t said anything, close enough.
Finally deciding that both his grandfather and father would want to know if this had happened back home and that he himself, if he were heading a pack would find the information pertinent Drew resumed his easy lope home. He’d fill in the Alpha either tonight or tomorrow, although he wished he could say just want that nasty bugger was.
((OOC and Drew out))
Blinking hard he was finally able to see again. What the hell was that? He wished for a second or two that he could talk to his father or grandfather, he wanted to know what action to take next. He lay down in the tall grass, still very alert in case it came back, for a few minutes to think. Drew’s instinct was to tell Xeph about all this but he didn’t want to make a mountain out of a molehill, he’d already done that with the whole Reign thing. Thank god Xeph didn’t know about that. Well, he probably didn’t. OK he hadn’t said anything, close enough.
Finally deciding that both his grandfather and father would want to know if this had happened back home and that he himself, if he were heading a pack would find the information pertinent Drew resumed his easy lope home. He’d fill in the Alpha either tonight or tomorrow, although he wished he could say just want that nasty bugger was.
((OOC and Drew out))