and we all fall down
12-29-2015, 12:38 AM
He had risen from the depths of the sub-terrain in order to seek out food, anything to satisfy himself. He didn't know the lands well, nor where to acquire enough food to quell his gnawing hunger pangs. He'd lost some weight this harsh season, surviving mostly on very small game - rodents, to be precise. Even through a thick winter coat, one could see the outline of his ribcage and the sinew in his legs as he moved. He hadn't wanted to leave the underground, for he found the dimness and quiet most comforting. But real hunger drove him from that comfort, causing him to travel the lands, seeking out something better until the season would change and he could return to the hidden world beneath the surface lands.
That was how Ehrgeiz found himself at the edge of the Rio Grande, licking up any morsel of fish left over from another predator's meal. It was hardly enough to sustain his body, but he was still alive, the fog of his breath steaming around his parted jaws. As he drew in the frigid air through flared nostrils, he caught a slight drifting scent of fresh caught fish. It was not his preferred cuisine, but it would do. Licking his chops eagerly, his pace quickened almost involuntarily. The sooner he got there, the better.
He caught sight of the woman as she leaned over the water from the icy edge she crouched on, staring intently into the water. His singular blue eye crept away from her body to the pile of fish she'd just caught. Maybe he could snatch away a fish or two while she wasn't looking. Or maybe he could push her into the frozen river and just take her entire stash. He didn't bother hesitating another moment to think over what he'd do when he got there. He would eat today, and very soon.
Just as he placed a paw onto the icy edge of the river, he watched as the woman toppled face-first into the river. Ivory ears perked, and he couldn't help the cruel burst of laughter that escaped his jaws. What an idiot! he thought, hurrying toward the pile of fish, I won't even have to get rid of her myself. How convenient. "What a good girl, you've really done all the work for me, haven't you?" he said aloud as he approached the hole in the ice, just in time to see her muzzle breaking the water's surface. He heard the choking breath as she struggled for life, the gurgling cry for help - sky blue eye shifted back to the fish. It was all his.
Yet just then, a thought occurred to him as the woman gained a hold on the ice with her claws, scrambling to pull her drenched body out of the icy water. Perhaps this fish would fill him now and restore his strength for the time being. But what about the rest of winter? Who knew how long this treacherous season lasted in these lands? He didn't know how to fish, and he still wasn't sure where the best spots for prey were to be found. Perhaps, if he could spare just a moment of his time, expend just a little of his effort to rescue her, she could help him - if she survived. Her head went under again; clearly she was struggling to stay afloat. Shrugging to himself, he carefully placed himself at the edge of the ice, claws striving for a grip on the slippery surface. He waited for her head to come up again and then he stretched forward, his jaws grasping her scruff tightly. With a mighty heave, he pulled her drenched, shivering body upward and dragged her onto solid ice.
"Stupid woman," he muttered as he spat out water and tufts of fur, "Good thing you're just a skinny, drowned rat, otherwise it might have been too hard to pull you out." If she'd been too fat, he wasn't sure he'd have bothered. But as it was, she was out, sprawled on the ice and soaking wet. Ehrgeiz sauntered over to the pile of fish, reaching for one, when he paused with a sigh and looked back to the little lady. If he wanted her to survive, he'd have to find a way to get her dry and warmed up, immediately. Otherwise she'd turn into an icicle, and his effort spent rescuing her would be wasted. Grumbling, he went back to her, hovering over her drenched frame and looking down at her. "I suppose you'll want to get dried off," he said with a raised brow, "And I guess those fish won't move themselves. You got a den around here?" Hungry as he was, he'd wait for her to respond and try to get her sheltered before he stuffed himself on her prey.
That was how Ehrgeiz found himself at the edge of the Rio Grande, licking up any morsel of fish left over from another predator's meal. It was hardly enough to sustain his body, but he was still alive, the fog of his breath steaming around his parted jaws. As he drew in the frigid air through flared nostrils, he caught a slight drifting scent of fresh caught fish. It was not his preferred cuisine, but it would do. Licking his chops eagerly, his pace quickened almost involuntarily. The sooner he got there, the better.
He caught sight of the woman as she leaned over the water from the icy edge she crouched on, staring intently into the water. His singular blue eye crept away from her body to the pile of fish she'd just caught. Maybe he could snatch away a fish or two while she wasn't looking. Or maybe he could push her into the frozen river and just take her entire stash. He didn't bother hesitating another moment to think over what he'd do when he got there. He would eat today, and very soon.
Just as he placed a paw onto the icy edge of the river, he watched as the woman toppled face-first into the river. Ivory ears perked, and he couldn't help the cruel burst of laughter that escaped his jaws. What an idiot! he thought, hurrying toward the pile of fish, I won't even have to get rid of her myself. How convenient. "What a good girl, you've really done all the work for me, haven't you?" he said aloud as he approached the hole in the ice, just in time to see her muzzle breaking the water's surface. He heard the choking breath as she struggled for life, the gurgling cry for help - sky blue eye shifted back to the fish. It was all his.
Yet just then, a thought occurred to him as the woman gained a hold on the ice with her claws, scrambling to pull her drenched body out of the icy water. Perhaps this fish would fill him now and restore his strength for the time being. But what about the rest of winter? Who knew how long this treacherous season lasted in these lands? He didn't know how to fish, and he still wasn't sure where the best spots for prey were to be found. Perhaps, if he could spare just a moment of his time, expend just a little of his effort to rescue her, she could help him - if she survived. Her head went under again; clearly she was struggling to stay afloat. Shrugging to himself, he carefully placed himself at the edge of the ice, claws striving for a grip on the slippery surface. He waited for her head to come up again and then he stretched forward, his jaws grasping her scruff tightly. With a mighty heave, he pulled her drenched, shivering body upward and dragged her onto solid ice.
"Stupid woman," he muttered as he spat out water and tufts of fur, "Good thing you're just a skinny, drowned rat, otherwise it might have been too hard to pull you out." If she'd been too fat, he wasn't sure he'd have bothered. But as it was, she was out, sprawled on the ice and soaking wet. Ehrgeiz sauntered over to the pile of fish, reaching for one, when he paused with a sigh and looked back to the little lady. If he wanted her to survive, he'd have to find a way to get her dry and warmed up, immediately. Otherwise she'd turn into an icicle, and his effort spent rescuing her would be wasted. Grumbling, he went back to her, hovering over her drenched frame and looking down at her. "I suppose you'll want to get dried off," he said with a raised brow, "And I guess those fish won't move themselves. You got a den around here?" Hungry as he was, he'd wait for her to respond and try to get her sheltered before he stuffed himself on her prey.