Post by Meoquanee on Oct 7, 2012 0:19:43 GMT -5
Chapter 1: The Falling of the Leaves
Darkness abounds. The world was eerily silent, it seemed not even the birds of the night dared to disturb the stillness. The air was just beyond chilly, it was cold enough that every exhaled breath frosted before the face. However, the lands were not yet coated with snow. Instead, a blanket of colorful leaves was being layered upon the cold ground in preparation for the white flakes that could come at any time. Branches were nearly bare save for some stubbornly clinging leaves. Someday, this time of year would be called November by a different species. But this was before that time. Humans were not nearly as numerous, but they existed as Native Americans...something the only thing that moved in the late night knew nothing of. Black wolven paws walked slowly and silently through the depths of the forest, Yanya's scent still stained in her nasal cavities. She was a she would that could be described as 'pretty' by the opposite sex, but nothing spectacular. Average, if anything. Her thick fur was a soft black, perhaps best described as an extremely dark grey..charcoal if you will. Dark brown fur covered her head and neck and leaked down her belly and slid back up at her rear end to encase her entire tail. Her eyes were a shocking green, much like her mother's. Far far into the distance behind her, a dark smear on the horizon, were the Black Mountains. Her homeland. Chaser of the Moon was the daughter of the retired Alphas of pack that had once resided in the valley there, The Black Mountain Pack. The Black Mountain Pack had gone through hard times in her life, a great journey from their valley to a new home during which her brother Ebon Star and his mate, Aspen, had inherited Alphaship. It wasn't long after they'd settled into their new home on the other side of the mountain that a small group of the pack split off to find their own way, led by her other brother Cold Flame and his mate Wildflower. Chaser of the Moon and her best friend, a bear by the name of Yanya that the pack had adopted as a cub, had followed Cold Flame to help him grow the pack. Things in the new pack had gone quite well and it soon began to thrive, but Yanya began to become uneasy. She'd started feeling out of place since moving with the new pack, particularly when she began to socialize with other bears. She'd become more and more seperated and it wasn't long before she was bidding the pack a warm goodbye in mid autumn as she decided to go out on her own and hibernate...then start the lone bear life that she was meant to have the next spring. Chaser of the Moon was heartbroken. Yanya had been like a sister to her and when the bear had left to find a suitable den site Chaser trailed her. Yanya had tried her hardest to get Chaser to stay with her pack, but the she wolf had insisted. Demanded, even. Yanya had finally relented and the two travelled together until the day came that the black and grey bear had settled down in a massive hollow log to hibernate. Chaser of the Moon had stuck around a few days, and during that time Yanya talked to her in her short and groggy waking hours. The great bear gently explained that Chaser could not keep herself glued to the bear for forever. Yanya had left because she wanted her own life, but as much as she loved Chaser of the Moon she couldn't allow her to continue on with her. Though she had not wanted to, the wolf had agreed to leave Yanya be. The night before she left her best friend to her own future, Chaser could not sleep as she'd contemplated what to do. Go back? She wasn't sure she knew the way..she'd been following Yanya, intent on spending all of her time with her. Then, if she did find her way home, she'd feel humiliated that she'd come crawling back. Oh, she knew her brother would allow her to return of that she didn't doubt...but could she stand it? The humiliation she'd feel, the emptiness of being home without her best friend? In the end, she decided that she, too, must find her own way. A new life for Chaser of the Moon. Something new. A fresh adventure! So now she walked at an easy pace, having left her slumbering bear less than a mile away, with mixed emotions. She was deeply saddened at having to leave Yanya, worried about going out on her own yet also a little excited. With each step she took, she wanted to turn around and sprint back to the bear. They'd literally never been separated in both of their three years of life. Perhaps it was time. Chaser of the Moon inhaled deeply of the brittle air, her breath fogging in her face when she exhaled. The Alpha's daughter looked up at the starless, moonless sky. With nothing to judge the time by, it was difficult to know how much of the night was left but considering how long ago the sun had set she figured dawn was only a few hours away. A chill sent tremors through Chaser's body and she huffed softly, momentarily blinding herself with the cloud it made before her eyes.
I must be crazy, it's only going to get colder!
She shook her head, but couldn't help the smile. She wasn't entirely sure why she was amused by the thought of challenging the winter as a lone wolf. The dark pelted lady knew the colder it got the harder it would get. Prey would be far more scarce and it would be more difficult for a lone wolf to find a bite to eat than to have a pack to help run a feast down. However, she wanted to face this challenge. She wanted to prove to herself that she was worthwhile, capable of surviving on her own.
Far above her there was a small break in the thick covering of clouds, allowing Chaser of the Moon to see a smattering of the stars high above...stars which in her belief, and the belief of her pack and family, were the ancestors of wolves. Their heaven was called The Mountain in the Sky and it reflected the mortal world, but in a much more beautiful way. The skies above The Mountain in the Sky was a rich and colorful medley of galaxies and nebula's. The lands looked just like the lands on earth, but were much more vibrant. Colors seemed brighter, the grasses softer, the scents richer. Everything was simply all around better. When a wolven soul wished to peer down onto earth all he had to do was wish it and the ground beneath his paws would seem to melt away so that the illusion was that the soul was peering down a hole in the ground to see the true earth below, and thus whomever he wanted to see. From what she'd learned, when one prays to their ancestors for help the ancestors receive that prayer as a whisper in their ears. This was called the religion of First Wolf, or the religion of Black Wolf, for the mighty god went by both names. It was one of several religions in the wolven societies. Oh, there was much more to the religion of First Wolf, but Chaser did not want to sit and dwell. She'd begun to get chilled when she'd stopped to stare at the stars, and a soft gust of freezing cold wind jerked her from her thoughts and brought her back to the real world. As she began a quick bouncing trot Chaser had begun to wonder if any of the stars she'd seen above were any of her family. Maybe one was her father, Deepening Shadows, looking down on her as she began her new journey? She winced at that, figuring he would have disapproved of her not returning to her family. Of having left in the first place. Well, everyone made their choices, and had to live with them.
The night waned on, and Chaser of the Moon's pace had slowed once she'd warmed up. Far ahead, on the horizon, she could make out a faint blue haze. Chaser's black furry ears perked gently, tail swaying as she welcomed the sight of dawn. Her joy was short lived, however, at a sudden rustling. The she wolf stopped dead in her tracks and crouched low, eyes wide as she scanned the darkness. What was that? Silence..then another rustle. Chaser pinned a small tangle of thorns with her gaze as something within stirred, and her hackles..the fur along her spine...spiked up as she growled softly. Startled at the growl, the creature suddenly bolted from its protective thorny den and the black and brown wolf instantly recognized the size and movement as that of a rabbit. She went into instant pursuit, her fear of the previously unknown quickly forgotten. The rodent was far more swift and agile than Chaser, however, and in the dense woods she was currently travelling in the had trouble maneuvering. It didn't take long for the rabbit to veer suddenly and disappear down a dark hole at the base of a massive elm tree. Chaser of the Moon planted her paws the moment the rabbit had turned and skidded atop the mat of leaves for a short distance, nearly sliding full on into a small pine. She whirled in the direction that her prey had gone, but did not pursue. It was gone, she could see that, and so the female stood there for a short time to catch her breath with her head drooped. Well, she hadn't been in the mindset to hunt, anyways. But now, with the chase and the thought of food still fresh in her mind, she did want to hunt. Her stomach cramped hungrily at the thought of fresh meat. The gal tilted her muzzle up to peer at the sky to see that it was getting quite a bit lighter, but the sun was some time yet from breaking the horizon. The perfect time for a hunt. Taking a deep breath, then exhaling it slowly, Chaser of the Moon began to make her way out of the thick forest. The sun had just barely peeked over the horizon, a mere white-gold sliver, when Chaser had reached the thin edges of the woods, beyond that laying a broad expands of grassland. She was in luck, for not far past the wood line was a small herd of bison. She salivated as her gaze caressed the thick woolly coat of the creatures and the rippling muscles that could still be clearly seen beneath. But, how could she take down even a calf without a pack to help separate it from the herd? The charcoal black lady sat down and frowned as she puzzled this and before long, while studying the herd, she noticed a huge cow near the edges with her head hung low. Grey grizzled the cow's muzzle and her gaunt ribs showed through her dull pelt. Here was a chance. The cow was massive, however, having lived a long and fruitful life. But...if she could somehow get her separated from the herd she might be able to run her so much that she'd tire and collapse. It was a chance. Now..how to do it? If she even had had Yanya, the bear would fare a far better chance at stampeding the herd. But one lone wolf, it was likely the herd would just turn on her. Then an idea began to form. What if she made the bison think she was more than one wolf? Chaser stood and crouched low. She began to slink ever so slowly around the her, stopping to test the wind now and then. It barely blew. At random intervals, Chaser stopped to urinate in some spots or to roll about and rub her scent in other spots. It was painstaking work, and it didn't take long for one of the gentle breezes to start to carry the fresh scent to the herd. They began to mill and bellow softly in distress. Chaser could see they were subtly urging the calves to the center of the herd. Figuring she'd laid enough scent upwind, Chaser slowly and silently slipped around the herd to put some distance between herself and the markings she'd set until she was parallel to the elderly cow. Then, she sent up a deep and long howl. Some of the cows jerked at the sudden sound and a ruckus of bellowing and calves bawling began as the herd started to move away from the scents. She could hear grunting as they churned across the grassland and Chaser began to follow, still hidden, and staying as close as she could to the elderly cow. She howled again and the now terrified herd picked up the pace. A few savage sounding barks, done rapidly and in an overlapping manner to fool them into thinking there was more than one wolf sent them into full blown panic and they began to stampede. The chase was on, but she had to be careful. Chaser allowed the bison to catch glimpses of her just inside the wood line, but nothing more than that to alert them that she was alone. It didn't take long for the elderly cow to begin to lag and she quickly lost ground from her herd. Now was her chance. Chaser of the Moon veered out of hiding and dashed between the cow and the herd, effectively putting the brakes on the old beast. The bison, to Chaser's surprise, turned on a dime and bolted the opposite way. A grin split the she wolf's muzzle as she gave chase. As the hunt stretched on, the old cow began to slow and so did Chaser until she reached the point where she could keep the prey in sight without having to run full out. At one moment the great bison stumbled and one knee buckled. The grizzled elder struggled back to her hooves, with Chaser pacing a good distance behind her. The she wolf knew the cow still had the energy to turn should she get too close.
I must be crazy, it's only going to get colder!
She shook her head, but couldn't help the smile. She wasn't entirely sure why she was amused by the thought of challenging the winter as a lone wolf. The dark pelted lady knew the colder it got the harder it would get. Prey would be far more scarce and it would be more difficult for a lone wolf to find a bite to eat than to have a pack to help run a feast down. However, she wanted to face this challenge. She wanted to prove to herself that she was worthwhile, capable of surviving on her own.
Far above her there was a small break in the thick covering of clouds, allowing Chaser of the Moon to see a smattering of the stars high above...stars which in her belief, and the belief of her pack and family, were the ancestors of wolves. Their heaven was called The Mountain in the Sky and it reflected the mortal world, but in a much more beautiful way. The skies above The Mountain in the Sky was a rich and colorful medley of galaxies and nebula's. The lands looked just like the lands on earth, but were much more vibrant. Colors seemed brighter, the grasses softer, the scents richer. Everything was simply all around better. When a wolven soul wished to peer down onto earth all he had to do was wish it and the ground beneath his paws would seem to melt away so that the illusion was that the soul was peering down a hole in the ground to see the true earth below, and thus whomever he wanted to see. From what she'd learned, when one prays to their ancestors for help the ancestors receive that prayer as a whisper in their ears. This was called the religion of First Wolf, or the religion of Black Wolf, for the mighty god went by both names. It was one of several religions in the wolven societies. Oh, there was much more to the religion of First Wolf, but Chaser did not want to sit and dwell. She'd begun to get chilled when she'd stopped to stare at the stars, and a soft gust of freezing cold wind jerked her from her thoughts and brought her back to the real world. As she began a quick bouncing trot Chaser had begun to wonder if any of the stars she'd seen above were any of her family. Maybe one was her father, Deepening Shadows, looking down on her as she began her new journey? She winced at that, figuring he would have disapproved of her not returning to her family. Of having left in the first place. Well, everyone made their choices, and had to live with them.
The night waned on, and Chaser of the Moon's pace had slowed once she'd warmed up. Far ahead, on the horizon, she could make out a faint blue haze. Chaser's black furry ears perked gently, tail swaying as she welcomed the sight of dawn. Her joy was short lived, however, at a sudden rustling. The she wolf stopped dead in her tracks and crouched low, eyes wide as she scanned the darkness. What was that? Silence..then another rustle. Chaser pinned a small tangle of thorns with her gaze as something within stirred, and her hackles..the fur along her spine...spiked up as she growled softly. Startled at the growl, the creature suddenly bolted from its protective thorny den and the black and brown wolf instantly recognized the size and movement as that of a rabbit. She went into instant pursuit, her fear of the previously unknown quickly forgotten. The rodent was far more swift and agile than Chaser, however, and in the dense woods she was currently travelling in the had trouble maneuvering. It didn't take long for the rabbit to veer suddenly and disappear down a dark hole at the base of a massive elm tree. Chaser of the Moon planted her paws the moment the rabbit had turned and skidded atop the mat of leaves for a short distance, nearly sliding full on into a small pine. She whirled in the direction that her prey had gone, but did not pursue. It was gone, she could see that, and so the female stood there for a short time to catch her breath with her head drooped. Well, she hadn't been in the mindset to hunt, anyways. But now, with the chase and the thought of food still fresh in her mind, she did want to hunt. Her stomach cramped hungrily at the thought of fresh meat. The gal tilted her muzzle up to peer at the sky to see that it was getting quite a bit lighter, but the sun was some time yet from breaking the horizon. The perfect time for a hunt. Taking a deep breath, then exhaling it slowly, Chaser of the Moon began to make her way out of the thick forest. The sun had just barely peeked over the horizon, a mere white-gold sliver, when Chaser had reached the thin edges of the woods, beyond that laying a broad expands of grassland. She was in luck, for not far past the wood line was a small herd of bison. She salivated as her gaze caressed the thick woolly coat of the creatures and the rippling muscles that could still be clearly seen beneath. But, how could she take down even a calf without a pack to help separate it from the herd? The charcoal black lady sat down and frowned as she puzzled this and before long, while studying the herd, she noticed a huge cow near the edges with her head hung low. Grey grizzled the cow's muzzle and her gaunt ribs showed through her dull pelt. Here was a chance. The cow was massive, however, having lived a long and fruitful life. But...if she could somehow get her separated from the herd she might be able to run her so much that she'd tire and collapse. It was a chance. Now..how to do it? If she even had had Yanya, the bear would fare a far better chance at stampeding the herd. But one lone wolf, it was likely the herd would just turn on her. Then an idea began to form. What if she made the bison think she was more than one wolf? Chaser stood and crouched low. She began to slink ever so slowly around the her, stopping to test the wind now and then. It barely blew. At random intervals, Chaser stopped to urinate in some spots or to roll about and rub her scent in other spots. It was painstaking work, and it didn't take long for one of the gentle breezes to start to carry the fresh scent to the herd. They began to mill and bellow softly in distress. Chaser could see they were subtly urging the calves to the center of the herd. Figuring she'd laid enough scent upwind, Chaser slowly and silently slipped around the herd to put some distance between herself and the markings she'd set until she was parallel to the elderly cow. Then, she sent up a deep and long howl. Some of the cows jerked at the sudden sound and a ruckus of bellowing and calves bawling began as the herd started to move away from the scents. She could hear grunting as they churned across the grassland and Chaser began to follow, still hidden, and staying as close as she could to the elderly cow. She howled again and the now terrified herd picked up the pace. A few savage sounding barks, done rapidly and in an overlapping manner to fool them into thinking there was more than one wolf sent them into full blown panic and they began to stampede. The chase was on, but she had to be careful. Chaser allowed the bison to catch glimpses of her just inside the wood line, but nothing more than that to alert them that she was alone. It didn't take long for the elderly cow to begin to lag and she quickly lost ground from her herd. Now was her chance. Chaser of the Moon veered out of hiding and dashed between the cow and the herd, effectively putting the brakes on the old beast. The bison, to Chaser's surprise, turned on a dime and bolted the opposite way. A grin split the she wolf's muzzle as she gave chase. As the hunt stretched on, the old cow began to slow and so did Chaser until she reached the point where she could keep the prey in sight without having to run full out. At one moment the great bison stumbled and one knee buckled. The grizzled elder struggled back to her hooves, with Chaser pacing a good distance behind her. The she wolf knew the cow still had the energy to turn should she get too close.
MOAR TO BE CONTINUEDS
My fingers are tired P: