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+---- Thread: First Hunt (/showthread.php?tid=10281)
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First Hunt - Sah - 10-23-2024
Refamiliarizing himself with a canine form was proving surprisingly easy for Sah. Still, he chose to take it easy and stay close to home. Lilly and Pad were home with the pups, so the Wild Thunder thought he'd give hunting while shifted a shot. The wolves would be pleased with a fresh luxere dinner, and it quickened the hybrid's steps.
Raising his nose, Sah tried to pick up the scent of a herd. There was one on the breeze coming from the north, not so far away. Licking his lips, the dark wolf took off. Racing over the snow-dusted grass, he narrowed in on his prey. It'd be some time before they were in sight, and he needed to gain ground. As he leaped over a small ridge, Sah wondered if luxere tasted differently with a wolf's tastebuds. There was only one way to find out.
Nova
RE: First Hunt - Nova - 10-23-2024
One minute, she was wandering around a skyship in Torchline, the next, she found herself in a land full of snow. Although she'd read about the fluffy white substance, she hadn't been able to feel it before. When she stepped off into Halo, her breath came out in big white puffs and her nose turned a light shade of pink. It brought a shiver to her body that made her gasp, more intrigued than annoyed. Due to the spontaneity of her trip, she hadn't thought to bring the proper clothing for such cold weather. Always resourceful, Nova instinctually shifted into her Tide Jaguar, appreciative of the thick fur it intuitively provided.
Although she didn't think Vespy would appreciate her wandering off without him or Caly, what he didn't know wouldn't kill him (probably). She was already in the area, she might as well explore! Plus, it must be pretty hard to kill a demigod, with all their crazy abilities and stuff. Did the method matter? Most couldn't die of old age, right? Did it depend on the person? It made her want to test it out, but sadly, there weren't any demigods around at the moment.
These were her thoughts as she meandered through the city and out to the forest-y wilderness of the Greenwing. She didn't really blend in with her black fur and glowing rainbow rosettes, but it wasn't like she was trying to hide. In fact, she playfully kicked up the chilly white snow as she walked, laughing at the way it tickled her paws and floated down from the sky. Unlike someone else nearby, Nova wanted to know what snow tasted like. Leaping through the trees, she jumped up to catch tiny snowflakes in her mouth, marveling at the way they seemed to vanish on her tongue.
RE: First Hunt - Sah - 10-24-2024
Sah was nearing the luxere and could hear them in the distance. But much closer was the sound of rustling branches as something large moved through them. Glancing up, the wolf sniffed the air, determining which tree the creature was in. With a turn, the Wild Thunder spotted a tide jaguar of all things. Surely, this was a shifted person. The chances of a wild tide jaguar out here were slim to none. The large cat appeared to be eating the snow, further cementing his belief that'd he'd stumbled upon an Attuned or hybrid.
[say]Hello?[/say] Tentatively, the dark wolf called out the feline above. If it were a person, he'd have to quiet them down so that he could hunt. A visible predator making a racket was sure to spook the herd. It still felt bizarre to use the Attuned bond. Expanding his mind out and welcoming others in felt... intrusive in some ways. Yet it came so naturally as soon after he shifted for the first time. It was certainly useful.
RE: First Hunt - Nova - 10-24-2024
Right as she'd snapped another piece of snow into her mouth, a voice threaded into her mind. Nova startled, more excited than scared as she froze in place to perk her ears. [say]Hello? Who's that?[/say] Having only spoken to her sister through the bond, it was strange to hear a different person. The feeling of sharing words and emotions wasn't new, but the tone and timbre were different, making her cock her head in curiosity.
Without an ounce of fear or consideration for any possible hunters, Nova leapt down from the tree, landing softly in a snow drift. It poofed around her like a cloud. A large clump landed on her nose, making her giggle as her eyes went momentarily cross-eyed. She inspected it for a moment before shaking it from her head to look at the forest around. It was hard to spot the wolf, his dark coat blending with the shadows, but her feline eyes made it a little easier. She bounced forward, her tail giving a friendly swish. [say]Hi! My name's Nova! What's yours?[/say]
RE: First Hunt - Sah - 10-24-2024
The voice that responded back was oddly familiar, but Sah couldn't place it. Then the cat was leaping down in a tornado of snow and whipping branches, and he sighed internally, careful to keep it from the bond. Thankfully, the herd was still far enough away that the excited cat hadn't scared them. But it still hurt his hunter soul at the blatant disregard for stealth. He'd just have to track the herd again after this.
Watching the tide jaguar's clear joy, his irritation waned. How could the Wild Thunder stay annoyed at such a clear celebration of life itself? Of snow, when he dove into it regularly just for the fun of it?
The wolf sat down as she approached, tilting his head, [say]I'm Sah.[/say] The name and excited energy were familiar, and he recalled an eccentric blond woman. [say]Nova? I think we might have met. There was that missing cat, Mango? What brings you this far north?[/say] She certainly wasn't from Halo, and hopefully, she wasn't lost. Even the warmth of her shift likely wouldn't be enough when the sun set. Tige jaguars were native to Torchline for a reason.
RE: First Hunt - Nova - 10-24-2024
The wolf's name didn't immediately ring any bells, but the other name brought back memories of a dark tunnel system and snarky orange cats. They'd never actually figured out which one was Mango, did they? Sure, the old lady thought they were one, but what did the cats call each other? Were they just Mango One, Mango Two, and Mango Three? How did they decide which was which? The questions had kept her up all night, resurfacing at the mention of the strange afternoon. But Nova tried to push them aside to focus on the canine before her, eyes brightening in recognition. [say]Oh! Sah?! I didn't know you could shift![/say]
As much as she wanted to leap forward and inspect the wolf up close, she did have some sense of social control. Nova sat back on her haunches, head tilting. [say]Me? I zoned out and ended up in Halo so I decided to explore! And how fortunate that I ran into a familiar face![/say] Maybe 'face' wasn't the right word, but she didn't hesitate as she continued to knead her paw pads into the cold snow. [say]Are you doing anything fun out here? Can I join?[/say] Even if he said no, it would be hard to get rid of her now, not that she'd say that through the bond, yet.
RE: First Hunt - Sah - 10-26-2024
Nova's enthusiasm was infectious, and Sah's tail wagged. [say]It's new. I couldn't shift when we first met. Safrin only recently made me a hybrid.[/say] Had it really only been a week or so? It somehow had.
If he were in human form, the Wild Thunder's jaw might have dropped at her next words. As it was, his eyes simply widened. [say]You were...wandering?[/say] He was suddenly very grateful that he'd stumbled upon Nova. Even in Longheat, Halo was cold and dangerous for those who didn't know their way. She could have been seriously injured or gotten completely lost and frozen to death when night came.
Sah nodded. She most certainly should stick with him until he could get her safely back to the Citadel. But it was clear that she was still out Contemplating adventure. Contemplating, the Wild Thunder made a decision. [say]I was actually tracking a luxere herd nearby to hunt. I need to bring one back for dinner.[/say]
The dark wolf tilted his head, eyeing the rambunctious feline. [say]Would you like to join me? You'll have to be quiet and careful so as not to spook the herd.[/say] Sah had no idea if Nova had any hunting experience. If she were new to it, well...it wouldn't be the first time that he'd taught someone the basics.
RE: First Hunt - Nova - 10-31-2024
Hearing Safrin's name immediately had Nova liking this man. [say]Ooh! Mom did?! That's cool! More hybrid friends![/say] If her mom approved of him, nothing could convince her that he wasn't someone she should be hanging around. After all, who could argue with her mom's judgement in men?
At his next question, she took a moment to lick a stray snowflake from her nose. [say]Yep![/say] Not thinking that any other explanation was needed (who didn't like to wander?), Nova barreled her way into the following conversation. [say]OOH! A luxere?! I haven't seen one in person before![/say] Pictures, yes. But with her own eyes? Nova was practically bouncing at the idea. In fact, her paws shuffled faster in the snow, her tail flicking in anticipation. Even through the Attuned bond, Sah would be able to feel the sparkling rainbow of her excitement. Nodding her head emphatically, she said, [say]Yes yes yes yes yes! I'd love to! I'll be extra good and quiet. You won't even know I"m here![/say] She tried to still the wiggling of her body just to prove that she was capable, but the twitching of her ears and nose were evidence enough of the trouble lingering within. Without any prior hunting experience, Nova vowed to pay close attention to everything Sah did, certain that it would come in handy someday.
Whipping her head to look around, she kept herself from leaping to her feet. [say]Where are they? Are they close?[/say]
RE: First Hunt - Sah - 11-03-2024
Sah paused mid-step at Nova's words, his head snapping around to tilt at her. [say]You're Safrins' daughter??[/say] Still reeling from that as she spoke, he felt his concern for the young woman double. Clearly, she was still new to Caido and had likely been in the stars until now. Otherwise, Sah surely would have heard through the grapevine if there were other Safrin children running around. He would likely have met at the meetings in the past few seasons, too.
Her excitement was sweet, and he gently nudged her shoulder with his own. [say]Alright then. Let's hunt.[/say] Sah sniffed the air and glanced south. [say][i]Do you smell that? That musky but slightly sweet smell? That's luxere. The closer we are to them, the stronger the smell. We're not far from them.[/say] Even if he'd never hunted them as a wolf, Sah had still learned what their scent was from the luxere pelts in the Citadel as he'd passed on four paws.
Crouching slightly, he began to trace the path. He paused every few steps to point out further signs to the feline. A hoofprint here. A trodden-upon shrub there. Soon enough, they crested a ridge overlooking the herd. Sah crouched fully, hiding behind a larger bush. He gestured with his paw for Nova to do the same. [say]We're downwind of them so that they can't smell our approach. [/say]
RE: First Hunt - Nova - 11-04-2024
Totally unfazed by his reaction, Nova followed at a near-skip. [Say]Yep![/say] Since it seemed obvious to her, she didn't mention the fact that there were actually three of them. Instead, her mind remained singularly focused on the hunt before them.
She lifted her nose into the air, taking a deep breath of the new scent. It made her nose wrinkle as she responded with a unenthusiastic, [say]Yeah.[/say] The smell was nothing like the pleasantly salty animals around Torchline. Nova got the feeling that she wouldn't enjoy the taste as much either. But she followed along nonetheless, perking her ears to show that she was paying attention to his every word through the bond.
It was an effort not to pounce down next to him behind the bush, sinking her rainbow speckled body into the cold snow, not that she cared when she spotted the herd of luxere. Her eyes went wide as she fought the urge to pop her head up. [Say]Oooh. That means we can sneak up on them, right?[/say] She worked hard to discipline the excited wiggling that threatened to take over, her flicking tail still the only sign of her internal struggle.
RE: First Hunt - Sah - 11-13-2024
[say] Yes. [/say]Sah side-eyed the younger hybrid's wiggling. Amusement flickered in the bond as an idea came to him. [say]Here's the plan. Staying downwind, we'll circle them and hide on opposite sides. Once I give the signal, I want you to leap out. Chase them, roar, attack, or anything else that you can think of to panic them and have them run my way. Once they're in range, I'll jump out and attack to bring one down.[/say]
It was a traditional hunting plan. One to scare the prey straight into the jaws of a fellow predator. And given Nova's eagerness and energy, she was the obvious choice for the former.
Once/if she gave her agreement, the dark wolf nodded. [say] Let's go.[/say] Carefully, Sah led the way down and around the herd until both hybrids were in their proper positions. The wolf tensed his muscles, preparing for the chase as he gave the signal. [say] When you're ready, go for it.[/say]
RE: First Hunt - Nova - 11-16-2024
Her ears perked up as if that would help her listen to his plan better, her eyes glued to the prey before her. Nova wiggled a little more as he laid out her role. She especially liked the part where she got to chase the big deer with glowing horns. [say]Okay![/say] The excitement reverberated down the bond like a glittering rainbow avalanche.
It was a good thing the prey couldn't see the colorful display of her mind. Her fur on the other hand was hard to hide as she followed behind Sah to her designated place. She had to stay low behind the hill and keep her movements slow to keep the black with rainbow rosettes from alerting them. Luckily, she was able to contain herself long enough to settle into her little hidey-hole. Her tail twitched and paws shuffled impatiently until the other Hybrid finally gave the signal.
Nova let out a loud REOWR of excitement and sprinted her way down the snowy slope, spraying up clumps in her wake. Despite the vicious look on her face and sharp teeth ready to tear into their hides, Nova was giggling through the bond, thoroughly enjoying the way the luxeres startled and began to flee. Their plan was going perfectly and it was much more fun that chasing snowflakes!
RE: First Hunt - Sah - 11-21-2024
Despite his focus, Sah laughed through the bond as Nova sprung into action. Sure enough, the feline was enjoying her role in the hunt. The luxere’s panic was obvious and exactly as the Wild Thunder had intended. [say] You’re doing great! [/say] A little encouragement never hurt a new hunter.
Once a stag reached him, the black wolf leaped from his crouched position, blocking the animal’s path and making the rest of the herd splinter.
The luxere let out a sharp cry and reared up on its hind legs to try and defend itself against the sudden threat.
Sah dodged the attempt and linged to bite sharply at the abimal’s flank. As it’s tried to twist away from the pain while still returning to all four hooves, it left its vulnerable stomach open for a moment.
Taking the chance, the wolf took advantage and lunged, landing another bite. As he pain hit, the luxere’s leg buckled. As it crashed to the ground, Sah quickly went for the neck and finished it off.
Raising his bloodied muzzle, Sah let a howl. Satisfied echoed through the bond as he looked over to check on Nova’s progress.
RE: First Hunt - Nova - 11-22-2024
The compliment had Nova increasing her efforts. She snapped her jaw at their hind legs, lunging to score the occasional strike with her claws. Most of them stayed far enough out of reach, but she didn't mind, streaking across the snow like a flurry of black, rainbow, and giggling chaos. By the time she reached the other end of the slope, she was nearly covered in white powder, panting at the effort, although her spirits weren't dampened in the slightest.
Turning to spot Sah across the way, she trotted over happily, tongue lolling out the side of her mouth. Satisfaction rolled off her in waves. The free meal was just an added bonus when she saw the downed luxere, the black wolf howling over it. Unable to do the same, she let out a loud REOWR again, devolving into delighted laughter. [say]That was so FUN! Did you see how they ran?! I was like 'REOWR' and they were like 'Aaaah'! Then you were all over it like 'Awhooo!' And now it's dead! Do we get to eat it now?[/say] Not in the slightest bit bothered by the blood, more curious than anything, Nova bounced her way to the quickly cooling body. She extended her neck forward, sniffing in unpracticed huffs. It didn't seem as appetizing or clean as fish, but it'd be more than enough to ease the hunger starting in her stomach.