Maea
And I never know what to say
'Til I'm already walking away
The water really did look like blood. Stopping mid stride to squint up at the river, an impulse had Maea reaching up with both hands until her fingers touched a low dip in the suspended flow. Cool droplets sprayed against her palms, coalesced and fled in runnels down her arms until they appeared blood-soaked from fingertip to elbow. With brilliant sunlight filtering through the crimson stained liquid, it would be easy to mistake it for something more sinister. Except, the consistency was off. The scent, too. No coppery salt-sweet tang hit her nose, only that fresh, clean aroma of water. Tasting it revealed the illusion even more. Clean, mossy, with a faint aftertaste of the algae that caused its ruddy hue. She sighed, conflicted between disappointment and relief and beyond tired of this endless fight within herself.
Shaking droplets off her limbs, Maea returned to the tracks she had been following. A wolf had passed by recently, and she was tracking it back towards the den. Liz had suggested watching predators out of their hunting states, and now that she had confirmed the worst - or what had seemed to be, except for its staggering commonplace nature - she had to find out if there was something else to learn.
This season there should be pups, and plenty of food; hardly a more peaceful time of year for the animals. If there was anything to see at all, now was her chance.
Crouching low on light feet she stalked through the underbrush, rounded a pile off boulders and crossed to the other side of the river. From up ahead she could hear faint yips and snarls, the sound of paws treading the ground... and carefully, keeping herself downwind, she eased herself onto a tall rock, from which she could study the pack in all its shaggy, untamed glory. Just as expected there was a female with a litter of puppies, four that she could see, and three other adult individuals that either dozed in the afternoon sun or tumbled with the younglings. If she was surprised by anything, it was how peaceful it seemed. Nothing at all like the rumored cruelty or vicious savagery tales and rumors would have them to be. Mystified, Maea made herself comfortable and prepared to stay there for a good while.
Shaking droplets off her limbs, Maea returned to the tracks she had been following. A wolf had passed by recently, and she was tracking it back towards the den. Liz had suggested watching predators out of their hunting states, and now that she had confirmed the worst - or what had seemed to be, except for its staggering commonplace nature - she had to find out if there was something else to learn.
This season there should be pups, and plenty of food; hardly a more peaceful time of year for the animals. If there was anything to see at all, now was her chance.
Crouching low on light feet she stalked through the underbrush, rounded a pile off boulders and crossed to the other side of the river. From up ahead she could hear faint yips and snarls, the sound of paws treading the ground... and carefully, keeping herself downwind, she eased herself onto a tall rock, from which she could study the pack in all its shaggy, untamed glory. Just as expected there was a female with a litter of puppies, four that she could see, and three other adult individuals that either dozed in the afternoon sun or tumbled with the younglings. If she was surprised by anything, it was how peaceful it seemed. Nothing at all like the rumored cruelty or vicious savagery tales and rumors would have them to be. Mystified, Maea made herself comfortable and prepared to stay there for a good while.
Wanna punch you in the face
But I won't, but I might, but I won't
