Post by Akante on Jan 31, 2012 20:36:45 GMT -5
Mama said:
[yes. they are almost crossing the border. horse knows better, human doesn't.]
The dun mare lifted and dropped her hooves on the squelchy ground. Creek Dancer was not pleased by this soft earth, though how much warmer it was than the rest of the world delighted her. A few degrees warmer was better--it meant there was food everywhere. She was excited about that. All this greenery! All of this food and water! She could hardly contain her excitement. The warmblood practically pranced under her rider, tearing off a leaf every few seconds to sate her hunger. "Mm!"
On the horse's back, Little Deerscream smiled. Her dun mare hadn't been this happy in a while. Actually, she probably hadn't ever been this happy. Little Deerscream had never seen a land so full of greenery. She was used to rolling plains and thin forests. This marshland was... beautiful.
"What do you say to setting up camp here, huh, Creeky?" The mare understood the words 'setting up camp' and whinied happily at the news, only to stop stock still at her next hoof pick.
Creek Dancer had smelled wolves in air all the while, but wasn't careful until now. A few lone wolves she could easily dismiss with a swift kick to any bone due to her sheer size, but she smelled a border marking. A pack. She couldn't tell how many since this place was highly trafficked, but wolves had a tendency not to make claims they couldn't back up.
"... crap, you don't have any spears." Though the words would only come out as a shuddering breath to her human partner, Creek Dancer wouldn't budge. This wasn't good. Not good not good not good. She always promised herself next time she came in contact with wolves, she would win. So, the mare composed herself and glared into the green-by-day shrubbery, ears pinned back. She stomped a hoof once, twice, then waited for the inevitable.
Little Deerscream didn't know a thing about wolves, though--aside from what legend had famed them to be. She slid off her horse's back and attempted to walk over the scent border. "What're you so scared of, Creek Dancer? You silly thing, lions are in prairies, and wolves live in forests!" Besides, the human could already see building a nice little fort in that tree over there.
Shark said:
It had been a crazy couple days here. Already Shark had taken an acceptance, and it seemed he was on the borders greedy for another. Licking his chops he loped slowly along the territorial line, stopping every few feet to peer into the distance, looking for any others that may be making their way towards El Dorado. Picking up his gray head he sniffed the air, taking in the scents of his pack, a little bit of Sonja, his weasel friend, and-- something new. Closing his eyes Shark took another deep breath, trying to pin point exactly what and where the smell was coming from. A part of him swore it was human, but it couldn't be, not out here.
"What do you say to setting up camp here, huh, Creeky?"
A voice broke though his thoughts, not one of his kind, but one he had stolen from many a time. Human. Shark growled softly, and lay his ears back as he ran. Mud flinging off his paws as he made his way quickly towards the voice, the stench of the human getting stronger as he approached. It didn't take long at the speed he was going until a shadow came into sight. This was when he slowed down, humans were crafty, some would even consider them smart, and this one even had a horse with it. He narrowed his eyes, horses were dangerous they had powerful muscles and their hooves could slice through flesh and crack bone. This would be tricky indeed, but he had the upper hand, they were on his territory now.
Slipping through the undergrowth, Shark hid himself in the bush just in front of the human, waiting for the perfect moment. That moment was just a second away, as the human slid off her mount and slipped carelessly over the border.
"What're you so scared of, Creek Dancer? You silly thing, lions are in prairies, and wolves live in forests!"
Time. Shark lept from the bushes, far enough away from the horses hooves, but close enough to the human to take her down if he needed to. His fangs gleaming in the sun light as his lips curled over them. "Not all wolves live in forests, stupid human." He growled out, most likely heard by the horse, but to the human it was all snarls and growls. Very nasty sounding ones at that. "And trespassing on top of that."
Mama said:
It was too late by the time the wolf burst from the tree coverge. Creek Dancer at once reared and charged, cantering quickly to make the little distance between her human and this wolf turn into her hooves. She breathed deeply, the whites of her eyes showing. She was basically daring him to make good on his threats. He would have to get through her teeth and sharp toenails to get to her friend.
Little Deerscream however, was utterly terrified by the sudden appearing of the wolf. She fell on her back, whimpering in fear. It was huge. The legends had mentioned this, but to see it in person was... horrific. Oddly, he was blue. She had only heard of black wolves and white wolves. She had been shown brown pelts, but those were supposedly from the young and inexperienced. Maybe there was more to it?
Creek Dancer stomped a hoof and tossed her mane angrily. "She can't smell your crap and pee," she breathed, defending her partner's actions. Unless it was fresh, humans had a tendency not to smell it.
The horse looked at her human without moving her head, just making sure she was safe. "... she wanted to make a home here. She doesn't hunt deer. Surely you all wouldn't mind her hunting birds--not like you can catch them, anyway." Her voice was softer now. Not pleading, but almost as if explanatory.
The dun mare didn't mention that she also wanted to partake in the delicious greenery of the area, but she was supposed to remain enigmatic. Her human friend was relying on her to keep her safe, so she could appear weak.
Little Deerscream wished she was the type to keep stuff on her. She was so used to using whatever she could find. All she had right now was the blue fur pelt that Creek Dancer had tossed off when she reared. She doubted that would protect her from the supposedly knife-like teeth of this predator. For now, all she could do was watch as her prized mare stared down this wolf. Their conversation was mostly silent to her, all demonic growls and heavy breathing.
Shark said:
As he suspected the hooved creature came to his master's aid, but he hadn't expected it to come. so. fast. Taken aback almost by how quickly the massive creature ran towards him, he had forgotten about the human for the mere second, and had the bristles on his back stood up, and his tail shot up like done boat out of a toaster. Shark shuffled back slightly, making distance between himself, and those hooves.
"She can't smell your crap and pee,"
A hoof was stomped at him in anger, she had no right to be angry, this was his territory. Technically it was Rita's, but, none the less, his. "Then perhaps it shouldn't be wandering off it's beast." He shot back at her growling loudly, "If she can't smell shit, then she is obviously of no good use if she cannot respect even the simplest of things." Sure she had thumbs, so what, what good would they be if they were eaten off by some other pack that she couldn't respect the boundaries of? Humans were moronic creatures, creative and useful, but moronic.
"... she wanted to make a home here. She doesn't hunt deer. Surely you all wouldn't mind her hunting birds--not like you can catch them, anyway.
He snarled out a manic laugh. "Please, how could this," Shark narrowed his eyes toward the human girl and tossed a disrespectful huff of snot her way, "Useless, defenseless thing, catch birds." He caught the sarcasm, or what he thought was sarcasm she was using, and did not like it. "And you better watch your tone, this is not your territory, and there are more of my kind here then you are able to deal with."
Careful horsie. You're treading on my water here, my name is Shark for a reason.
Mama said:
No good use? Please. Had he ever survived a place without any suitable food because the human had a magic bag that stored good things to eat? Talk about useless. The horse went into sarcasm mode. "I think she's lucky. Have you ever smelt yourself when wet?" He probably had to endure that everyday. Creek Dancer realized she would, too, if Little Deerscream her way, then frowned visibly.
Little Deerscream saw that the situation had calmed down. She sat up and unwittingly stared straight at Shark. She blinked. Um. What did the warriors say you were supposed to do if you encountered a wolf? Offer them something, offer them something... The blanket, of course. Maybe he had puppies he would keep warm with it? She liked the idea.
Weird. Little Deerscream was only a jerk to other humans; maybe she had the sense to realize that animals presented a danger her fellow man didn't quite yet.
Creek Dancer was about to retort with a response on just what his pack could deal with and where they could go when her human pushed on her side. She looked down at the girl, eyes clearly reading "nitwit, what are you doing?".
Little Deerscream had a look of determination about her. She sat down and held the drapped pelt across both arms, like some ritualistic sacrifice. "Oh, great wolf spirit! Please accept this offering!"
"He isn't--!" the horse neighed, but decided it wasn't worth it. She looked at the wolf and snorted. She wanted to say something more, but with her human right in front of his freakin' jaws, she decided it wasn't a particularly good idea.
"I, uh, hope you'll keep your cubs warm with it," she added lamely. She had been taught all wolves lived in little families as the BEAUTIFUL, PURE spirits of the forest. As if finding them in the marshlands wouldn't make her realize that maybe her old tribe was not only wasting energy in trivial prey trailing, but they were also dead wrong about how nature worked.
Creek Dancer wanted to smash her face into a tree.
Shark said:
It seemed the two had gone into a stare down, Shark could go on forever with this little game, he was a meter at tricks and thievery. Little horsie didn't know who she was dealing with here.
"I think she's lucky. Have you ever smelt yourself when wet?"
One of Sharks brows lifted. Did, did she just try to make a joke? Amidst of everything that had just happened, of all the words that they just exchanged, and now she made a joke of how he smelled? "Tha--" He was about to let out another growl, when a sudden movement from the human drew his attention, causing his growl to be cut short as his eyes went from horse to human. Orange eyes looking on curiously when the human stood and approached her horse.
He hoped they were leaving. Good riddance. However, they weren't leaving, actually the last thing he had ever expected in his entire life happened. He backed away a few paces as the girl pulled something out of her pack. Shark knew how these tricks worked, they'd offer food or something, and ensnare the beast as it starts to trust. Ha, not Shark, nope. He had fallen for this many a time before, not anymore, he had grown wiser an-- was that a pelt? His eyes grew wider as the girl sat down and held the thing out to him.
"Oh, great wolf spirit! Please accept this offering!"
"He isn't--!"
The look of bewilderment on Sharks face was probably equal to one who had just seen a three legged boar humping a log. "Uhh--" Was the only thing he was able to get out before he walked forward a few feet, carefully sniffing the pelt. With his eyes on the human the whole time, with a quick movement his jaws clamped around the pelt and pulled it along the ground, a safe distance from the two.
"I, uh, hope you'll keep your cubs warm with it,"
Shark looked back to the human and horse, his face a little more friendly then before, plastered with a shady smile. He was such a sucker for presents and gifts and trinkets. He cleared his throat, "Perhaps we got off on the paw--er--hoof--er, whatever. My name is Shark." Better stall for a few moments, wondering if there were more things he could, 'scare' off this human.
Mama said:
He seemed pleased with the offering. This made Little Deerscream happy.
Creek Dancer wanted to stomp the ever living daylights out of this wolf's head, now. She was resource guarding like crazy, but that didn't matter. Little Deerscream hadn't even made a blanket for Creek--not that she would have worn it if she had been given one--but she gives this wolf the blanket she was keeping warm with.
What.
Little Deerscream clapped happily when the wolf took the gift, apparently appeased. He whuffed at her and she could swear he was smiling! "Well, this is good." She stood up, figuring he wouldn't attack her now. "What do you think, Creek Dancer?"
Creek Dancer shot her human a very rude look before tilting her head to one side and letting a tired breath out. "My name is, uh..." What did those human sounds translate to, again? She saw Little Deerscream explain it to her before through elaborate pictures and gestulating. "Creek Dancer!" She didn't want to mention her birthname. It was embarrassing. Besides, she was a proud warhorse. Baby names were for babies. "Her name is Little Deerscream. Like that sound a bull elk gives off during rut." Why the humans gave her that name, she would never know. Apparently they reviered the elk as other worldly. It took some time for her to get comfortable with the fact that her human was named after the deer version of a wolfwhistle.
"So, um, sorry. I'm just tryin' to make sure my human don't get killed." The horse lovingly put her head on the human's shoulder, partially to remind Little Deerscream just who she belonged to.
The mare swished her tail. "So, what do you say? Can we live in your.. uh, pack--isn't that what wolves call their herds?"
Little Deerscream looked between Creek Dancer and this blue male. She wondered what his name was. Maybe Creek Dancer could try gestulating to her. The horse was actually pretty smart, even by human standards. She waited for the signal that they could go.
Shark said:
The look on the horses face now, now that he had a possession, and she seemed disappointed with it, made him extremely happy. He sent a sly smile her way, almost as if to rub in the fact that he was the more intelligent species here.
When the human girl clapped, the noise was so sudden and alien to him, it made him jump, and almost instantly his stance went back to defensive. A slight growl escaping his lips, until he noticed the girl smiling and talking in a very, judging by the pitch, happy tone.
"Well, this is good." She stood, and again Shark stood defensively, waiting to shake off any attack she might have. "What do you think, Creek Dancer?"
His stance fell again, and he relaxed, slightly, as the girl approached her horse. He would need to remind himself not to ever relax completely around these two.
"My name is, uh..."
He huffed, "Forget your name did you?" His tone icy and slathered in sarcasm. His orange eyes narrowed to mere slits, he could tell these two were going to be the biggest handful ever, bigger even then Sonja had been.
"Creek Dancer! Her name is Little Deerscream. Like that sound a bull elk gives off during rut."
His face turned into one of disgust. Why the hell would you want to name your child after something that relates to mating? Humans really were disgusting creatures. "Lovely." His tone sarcastic once more, he hadn't really been meaning to learn their names, he really wanted to see what else, 'rut girl' had in her sack that could be useful to him. He took a few steps forward, stopping still a good distance away, sitting down. Still ever watching.
"So, um, sorry. I'm just tryin' to make sure my human don't get killed."
Shark tilted his head, "Your human?" He asked questioningly, "I thought you belonged to her, like a possession." And a pretty useless one at that, He added in his head.
"So, what do you say? Can we live in your.. uh, pack--isn't that what wolves call their herds?"
Shark stood now, rolling his eyes at the stupid question, "Pack. It's called a pack. And I don't know, I'm not sure how my alpha would enjoy a 'pack-e-dork' (Pachyderm, pack animal- he was being witty), and that," He motioned towards the girl, "living here."
It was true there was no telling what Rita would think if he let them in. He could always try to call her here, but there wouldn't be much use if she wouldn't come would there?
Mama said:
She wasn't going to explain to him how difficult it was to even understand human. She doubted he did. What, with all that jumping. Didn't he know humans were even more off balance than a four legged creature when getting up, due to being so tall and having their center of balance in a narrower area?
Idiot, she thought cruelly.
"Yes, my human. It is a PARTNERSHIP. I stop carrying her, she gets no where and has no protection. She ditches me, I have to work harder for food." Creek tossed her mane, showing off her pretty white feathers. "I'm actually the one that has a pet, if you look at it correctly."
Little Deerscream looked down with confusion as the wolf motioned toward her. What did he want? She didn't have anything else to give him. She traveled extremely light; besides, all she had left was what she was wearing.
He wouldn't get that while she was still breathing.
"Well, I suppose it's up to you to let us in." Creek Dancer was about to turn around and walk off, but Little Deerscream stood there, mouth agap as she watched her horse shuffle off. Was that what the wolf said?! They couldn't come in? Maybe her sacrifice wasn't enough.
The woman plopped down on the ground. She wanted to be here, darn it! These resources were too valueable to leave just because one gift wasn't enough! She plucked three long reeds and quickly braided them together, holding the end in her mouth to speed up the process. She tied on end to the other before holding it out to the threshold guardian wolf.
"Here! I can make more, you know! Enough for you and your whole family, if you like!"
Creek Dancer looked over her shoulder, more to see better than because she couldn't see behinder--which she could. "... you know, she could be helpful." Creek walked back, lazily standing behind her very serious partner. "She can make stuff, I know she makes meat last longer than the time it takes most carcasses to rot, and she makes fire." Oh, beautiful fire! "Not to mention I could pull more than my weight--" which was quite a pretty sum "--in a fight, Shark." She looked up at the sky and saw that the sun hadn't moved much. "Also, if you're not going to let us in, say so. We kind of need to set up camp because humans have to sleep for like at least half a night." She didn't understand why they didn't sleep standing up for little periods of time while on the move. Such much more useful.
Shark said:
"Yes, my human. It is a PARTNERSHIP. I stop carrying her, she gets no where and has no protection. She ditches me, I have to work harder for food. I'm actually the one that has a pet, if you look at it correctly."
Shark listened, but it went in one ear and out the other, he really didn't care about what she said. He did care, however, about that pretty little thing in the horses mane. How did it get there, and how was it staying? Blinking, Shark tossed the thoughts aside. It didn't matter, unless they had something better to offer.
"Well, I suppose it's up to you to let us in."
Shark smiled slyly once again, "You're right it is, and with that attitude of yours, it's a damn wonder they let you in anywhere." He grinned wider, "Especially when you treat the border guard with so much hostility." That's it Shark rub it in, rub in the failure. He watched, almost happily as the horse turned and began to walk away, but his eyes drifted from the horse to the human as she dropped to the ground again. "Why is she making a scene.." He asked, a little perplexed, but watching her all the same. She tore reeds from the ground, folded them together to make some human design and held it out for Shark to see.
"Here! I can make more, you know! Enough for you and your whole family, if you like!"
He sighed, now addressing the horse, "Does she not know, not all wolves have families?"
"... you know, she could be helpful."
Shark huffed, "Because making human crafts is in such high demand.." He rolled his eyes, ready to be done with this.
"She can make stuff, I know she makes meat last longer than the time it takes most carcasses to rot, and she makes fire."
He considered a little of what she had started to say, but it was the last three words that actually got his ears to perk and had his attention. Fire. That's right, humans had some talent in making that hideously beautiful thing. His own selfish thoughts began to take hold of him. He could gain such respect form Rita for this. His shady grin growing ever by the minute.
"Not to mention I could pull more than my weight--in a fight, Shark. Also, if you're not going to let us in, say so. We kind of need to set up camp because humans have to sleep for like at least half a night."
Yes, sure Creek Dancer was a massive beast, and she could come in handy, but that was not the reason he wanted her, he wanted her because she had the human. Taking in a deep breath, and nodding his head he had come to a final decision. "Alright, I'll let you in. But you have to be sure when you meet Rita you tell her it was me that let you in, otherwise she won't believe you were let in and will try to kill you." A devious little lie of his own design, not one Dancer would pick up on. With a flick of his tail he turned, motioning her to follow. "I'll take you to the grounds where you can set up, and do-- whatever it is you do." His tone a bit more welcoming then before.
Welcome to the god damned family.