Spring is slowly taking hold of the lands of Boreas Sleepy predators are beginning to emerge from their dens, wandering after the prey that are flooding the rolling, grassy hills. There is plenty of meat to be had for any wolf capable of hunting. There are still storm clouds that darken the skies from time to time and bring with them, driving rain that turn the dirt to sticky mud. Today the sun is shining but a cool breeze tricks the brain into thinking there might be a storm off on the horizon even through no clouds darken it. The rolling hills that make up this lush land are dotted with the forms of mule deer; a herd having settled in the once pack land. Rain has washed away the lingering scent of the wolves that had once lived here and the prey have become bold enough to once more lounge out in the open. A tawny form stalks through the grass, long body folded to hide the girl’s tall frame. With the turning of the season’s came the closing of the first year of Terra’s life. For the brown and black wolf, the year had been marked with loneliness, heart-break, and loss. Emerald eyes watch a small cluster of deer, a young male catching her hungry eyes. Long legs pull her closer, ears twitching as she keeps alert for anyone that may come to challenge her hunt. The wind shifts, bringing a bitterly cold breeze with it. If she was paying more attention, Terra might have noticed the moisture that suddenly fills the air, making it seem heavy. Saliva pools in her mouth as the girl moves into striking position, the thought of a fresh meal drowning out all of her senses. Body stops, muscles tensing as the girl with the black mask readies for the chase to come. However, something shifts and the deer she watches with keen eyes pause in their grazing to sniff the air, ears flicking in a show of agitation. Confused, Terra scents the air, finding that she is still downwind and also not finding any other predators that would cause their nervousness. Finally, she pulls her gaze away from the small cluster of deer and turns her emerald eyes skyward to find that the sun is gone. In its place are fat, moisture-laden, black clouds that threaten to unleash rain at any moment. Terra is still young in the grand scheme of things and has never seen clouds like these. Fear sinks a rock into her gut and, for a brief second, she thinks of running away. However, as Terra looks back to the mule deer that she has been hunting, she finds her meal is beginning to flee and the need for food greatly outweighs any fear she might have of some dark clouds. Paws push off, launching her in the direction of the fleeing deer, what remaining reserves of energy the girl has is being put into this hunt. If she hopes to survive, Terra will need to bring down deer and eat her fill. As she takes off, the heavens unleash all their tears upon the earth and rain pours out in torrential sheets. The dirt soon turns to mud as Terra races after her target, her focus never wavering from the meal she must have. WC: 556 Total WC: 556 / 1500

Lotus was lonely and a little lost for direction these days. He felt a burning desire to have a reason or something to believe in. A plan for the future beyond the general needs of day to day. His hunting work was barely passable, and he often found himself hungry. It frustrated him, that he had to expend so much energy just to keep himself alive. There was living, and then there was living.

He was dozing in the long grass when a fat raindrop fell on his muzzle. He shook his head, and glared up at the sky. Realising he would need to find something a little more sturdy than grass to protect him.

The very moment he was getting to his paws, wasa the same one that a deer suddenly came barreling towards him. His eyes widened in shock and surprise and he paused, about to push himself to his paws, his head poking out of the grass. The deer - a young mule in fact, realised his presence at the last moment. Too late to vere course, the long legged creature vaulted over him. Aiming a sharp kick towards his snout as it moved through the air.

Lotus was able to duck the blow (just) and was just popping his head back up again when he saw the shape of the tawny dark-faced fae moments from hitting him. Internally he panicked as he froze for a second time part way between rising.

WC: 246
total wc: 802

"Words"

Long legs stretch as Terra chases after the deer, silently telling herself this is her last chance at a hearty meal. The starts to rain fall, quickly turning into heavy sheets that obscure her vision and pounding mercilessly into the ground. Eyes narrow as she squints, working hard to try and keep the deer in sight but her visibility is quickly diminishing. Suddenly, the deer vaults… something and she quickly follows its path. Muscles coil as she prepares to vault over the obstacle when the head of a wolf pokes up from the long grass. Surprise causes the willowy girl to miscalculates her jump and she tosses herself sideways to try and avoid hitting the boy. Terra tumbles through the mud, legs all akimbo as she comes to a stop in a crumbled heap. For a moment she lays there stunned, the thundering of mule deer hooves pounding restlessly, mockingly through her head. As Terra rights herself, she looks to the boy that caused her to lose her meal, hot tears burning the back of her eyes as she opens her mouth to rebuke him. Suddenly, the earth rumbles and her expression morphs into one of utter terror. The ground, unable to soak up all the rain that has suddenly been released from the heavens, groans in pain and the girl with the black mask looks down at paws… only to find them underwater. Terrified emerald eyes look to the horned boy, silently begging him for help even as she shouts, “Flood!” Deer rush past them, along with various other animals as they all seek to escape from the flash flood. Turning, Terra spies a tall hill where several deer are congregating and she shouts, “Get to that hill!” Black tipped toes point it out and she spares the boy a glance. With that, the earthen girl takes off toward the higher ground and hopefully, safety from the raising waters. For the moment, her hunger is forgotten as fear takes its place in her stomach. WC: 335 Total WC: 1137 1500 "Terra Qilaq"

He was fully expecting to find himself trampled beneath her elegant long legs. So it was with some surprise that he watched her move suddenly to the side. The momentum caught up with her as she tumbled suddenly through the earth - earth that was quickly turning to mud - beside him. What had begun as a single raindrop had become an intense and sudden rainfall. He was already soaked through, and it had only been a few moments since it had begun.

He finally pulled himself to his paws and rushed over to her. Intending to help her to her paws when the ground groaned beneath them. The water was rising, falling too quickly for the soak into the ground. He realised it a beat after she did, and he turned frightened eyes to her. “This way!” he yelled, intimately familiar with the territory his family had spent so much time on. “This way is better!” he yelled, wondering if she would trust him as he led the way up the hill. The path he picked was less likely to trip them. If they caught their paws now, he knew they would find themselves underwater in moments.

Racing his way up the hill, the deer that had found it first watched them with wild eyes, and a thought entered his mind. He owed the girl a deer, after all.


WC: 232
total wc: 1369

"Words"

The terror that fills the girl’s emerald gaze is mirrored back at her in the boy’s sky-blue eyes and Terra almost allows the feeling to drown her. She turns to bolt toward safety, the higher ground promising them sanctuary from the rapidly raising waters, when a voice forces her to stop. Green eyes shoot to the boy, fear and doubt warring behind her gaze as her sides heave and panic claws at the back of her mind. There are a million reasons she could give on why not to follow a stranger but the still, small voice in the back of mind whispers two words to her; ‘trust him’. Terra locks eyes with him, the resolve to live blazing in her bright graze and she gives him an almost imperceptible nod before the boy is racing away with the earthen girl right behind him. Their paws match the frantic rhythm of her heart as the water continues to raise at an alarming rate. She follows in the boy’s pawsteps, realizing that he knows this land like the back of his paw. He leads her straight and true, the pair never slipping or sliding for a moment. They join the deer on the hill as the water drowns out the valley and Terra shakily folds her haunches, sitting down with heavy thud and a shaky sigh. Adrenaline that had coursed hotly through her veins mere moments ago, flees and, in its place, leaves trembling limbs. The deer are paid no mind by her, as exhaustion sweeps over her and she sinks the rest of the way to the ground while she rests her head on her front leg. The rain has washed most of the mud from her tawny fur, forcing it to stick to her sides and show the beginning of protruding ribs. Eyes turn to the strange boy to watch him with a weary guardedness. WC: 316 Total WC: 1685 /1500 "Terra Qilaq"

“You look like you're pretty quick on your paw” he told Terra, and there was a world of mischief in the young wolf's eyes as he looked from her, to the deer. “Catch!” He yelled, ignoring the flash flood that raged around their little island as he took off like a bullet. Racing around the deer camping on their hill, which quivered and rocked at the sight of him. Once he had circled around, he dived inwards, directly at the deer. The group scattered, running in the direction he had left the earthy stranger.

If she was as quick as she looked with those elegant long legs, she might just be able to catch herself the dinner he had deprived her of. Of course, he continued to race towards her. If she was able to grab a deer, he would be there to help with the killing blow.

"Words"

Emerald gaze looks to the tall, lanky boy, uncertainty hiding in the corners of her eyes. The run has drained Terra, her energy reserves are depleted and hopelessness starts to tug at her mind. There are deer that share the hill with them but the earthy girl is too tired to take one down by herself. The icy male speaks of her being quick and the black-masked wolf lifts her head off her paws to tilt it uncertainty at him. What is he going on about? The mischief that swirls in the boy’s light blue eyes has her brows furrowing and, when he shouts for her to ‘catch’, it only adds to her confusion.

He races away, leaving the befuddled Terra in his wake but, when he races around the herd, the earthen wolf quickly understands. Gathering her long legs under herself, a slight tremor present in her limbs but determination suddenly blazing in her eyes, she readies herself to ‘catch’. The icy male splits the herd driving one deer straight for her. Willowy form moves, long legs devouring the distance between her and the promised meal. The deer’s eyes roll, body tries to move to the side to avoid the long-legged woman but there is no room, no where it can go.

Teeth flash in the stormy air and fall upon the prey, pulling a leg out from under it before she moves to its throat, opening it without hesitation. Terra looks to the stranger, back hunching as her instinct to protect her kill comes out. Emerald eyes meet his light blue gaze and the black-masked girl relaxes her body, the fact that he had helped her get the meal earning him a small amount of trust. Looking to the boy, she hesitantly asks, “Join me?” Despite her mind yelling at her to keep all the food for herself, Terra moves to make room for the taller boy should he wish to join her.


"Terra Qilaq"