Somber Reflection
Walk | Talk | Think
The sounds of the creek that wandered past soothed the peacefully resting hunter, her lithe and petite frame stretched languidly upon its right side just on the creek's bank. Her cheek lay cushioned by her forearm, eyes closed as she basked in the stillness, the quiet. Not always did she get moments like this, where she could just simply laze about and not even feel guilty about shirking responsibility or ignoring her pack mates. More often than not, and more so recently, she was kept on her toes trying to keep the pack's store of readily available meals stocked. But feeling as if enough had been gathered already she was taking a day to herself, and after the events revealed at the pack meeting it seemed needed.
She hardly wished to think about it, but the thought rose unbidden. Liberty may still have remained in the pack, but they had lost the newly ranked Alpha, Gideon, in the process. And having seen Chrysanthe's state from her own fights, Ashtoreth worried about the repercussions that might eventually take place because of the happenings during those battles. It had seemed like nothing but a trivial fight at first; now it felt considerably more serious.
A shadow was cast over her, along with a sudden chill, as the warmth of the sunlight vanished behind clouds, the full brunt of the autumn air hitting her where she rested. Opening her two-toned eyes, the grey wolf let her gaze fix itself on a point in the creek, watching as the water rippled and sang as it followed its path, blissfully ignorant of the troubles to plague the pack that shared residency with it. A little it reminded her of her first day upon these lands, the creek having provided shelter for her then too, and it made her suddenly wish for Leon to appear. He had made things better then; he could do it again now.
Ashtoreth drew her legs close, curling herself tight as if against the chill though the sun had already come back out from behind its cloud. It had been a subconscious gesture, meant to keep away the worries that had unexpectedly turned her fun, lazy time into one of somber reflection. But it was not enough. With a rush of air that left her muzzle in a sigh, the little hunter pushed herself to her paws and wasted no time in beginning to walk alongside the creek, hoping the movement might help to clear her mind. She tried to focus on the water, its quiet lull, and squinted her eyes as she glanced skyward. So sunny and bright, even with the colder season right around the corner. But would it take a different form this time, a threat from the wintry north?
She really hoped not.
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Making his way around a tree the young brute crouched down looking around quietly. He sniffed the air once more as he caught scent of a muskrat. Mmmm, he could taste it's juicy meat and flesh now. Making his way over to a creek flowing with cool water. Ryker's white lines ears perked up as he listened to the trickle of water flowing over rocks. It did not flow too fast nor splash over the rocks like white rapids. It was calm and followed the way of the current and the rest of the water went. Sniffing around the male also caught the scent of two others. He wondered if he knew them or not. Probably not, but he would after he talked to them, if they weren't grumps. With a small smile he wagged his tail, excited to meet others and someone new.
He walked down the creek towards the other two; sticking his nose in reeves as he went. He could still smell it, that muskrat, he wanted it...no, needed it. A sliver of drool fell from his mouth; it was making him salivate by thinking of the small juicy animal. Soon enough the two wolves came I to his view. White toed paws squelched in the soft fdiet by the creek as he went closer to the water' sedge once more. Coming up by the two he noted the white dame and the gray one. By the voice of the white dame they had just ran into each other as well.
Walking up to then the yearling offered a smile to the two.
"Hello, sorry to interrupt but I thought I might say hi. My name's Ryker, Ryker Tsarev." he sad in a friendly voice.
Then looking at the gray dame once more he thought he recognized her. Ed, he had seen her at the meetings! Ashtoreth, the Huntress. But then again what if she wasn't? What if he was wrong? Maybe he should wait. The young brute wondered if she was Ashtoreth then he could possibly hunt with her. He knew his father was training him to be Delta like him but re boy wanted to try hunting too. Perhaps he could help out, yes yes, that would be good right? Thoughts and ideas ran throughout his mind as the brute stood before the two. With swag of his gray tipped tail Ryker waited for the two to reply. Hm, hadn't his father also known Ashtoreth as well? That would be cool. Looking back at the white dame he thought he had only seen her once or twice, possibly at a meeting...for both times if there were two. So he patiently waited...
Walk | Talk | Think
The distraction she had been looking for came in the form of a slim little white wolf, meandering alongside the creek's bank looking very much lost in thought. Ashtoreth's purple and gold eyes settled upon the other before the younger girl seemed to catch notice of her, watching a little and reflecting back to the pack meeting thoughtfully. It was not the troubles of possible war and fighting that came to mind now, however. New ranks had been appointed, new hunters been enlisted, and from the slight build the other possessed the Psi had to wonder if this might not have been one of those who had been singled out to assist her with her duties. It was certainly a lovely change of events; she had been longing for more hunters herself. Might she have accidentally stumbled upon one now?
Finally the girl seemed to emerge from her thoughts and realize that the older grey female was near, and out of courtesy Ashtoreth wagged her tail in a vague greeting while drawing her expression into a friendly smile. It would do no good to let the troubling thoughts that had been bothering her to project to the world, particularly to someone who seemed to have enough on their mind already to contemplate. An equally friendly greeting was made, to which the grey hunter nodded her head politely and responded, "Hello. I don't believe we've met. I'm Ashtoreth, Lead Hunter, or Psi as it's being called now." Her voice was chipper though not insincerely so. It was easier to fall into her typical, bright self when others were around. It made the masks that she set into place have more meaning behind their positions.
Surprisingly enough, another ventured near, this one bearing a striking resemblance to someone that she already knew. Though no name immediately came to mind, the relation was undeniable. This was undoubtedly one of Thane and Ookami's children. Another friendly tail wag was given toward the black and grey youth, a surprised yet pleased smile spreading across Ashtoreth's soft features. "Ryker," she repeated, grateful he had stated his name as she had forgotten it herself. "Good to see you. I hope the family is well," she added, recalling that it had been some time before she had gotten a chance to speak with his father, Thane, since he had been promoted. So much had changed; perhaps he was kept busy with his new duties, just as she had been with hers. "Congratulations on making hunter," she added with a grin, "following in your father's footsteps, huh?"
But as the thought struck her, she was forced to turn back to the little white wolf with a curious glance, still without a name to place to her but quite certain that she had seen Chrysanthe address her when appointing the other sigmas. "You were appointed hunter too, weren't you?" It seemed strangely coincidental that the three of them should have met up in this manner, all hunters and without any prearranged plan to do so. At any rate, Ashtoreth was glad of it. Though she wished to gather the lot of them together and see what they could do, one on one time to get to know each of them individually would surely help. How else was she to know where they would fit in the grand scheme of their hunts unless she knew more about them than mere size and deduced skill?