dark mists are cloaking what the eyes can see

Well this had gone to shit rather suddenly. Éldi risked a glance behind him to gauge where the creek was but he didn't dare to look long as he whipped his head around to stare back at the bear that was moving steadily toward him. It was a black bear and he hadn't expected the creature to be overly aggressive but the minute he snatched a hunk of meat away from its kill it took after him with all the future it could muster. Éldi was used to eating on the run. He'd wolfed the flesh down and was in the process of licking the blood off his maw by the time the bear caught up to him. It looked pissed and as it took a few steps forward it let out a roar.

Éldi snarled and set his defenses. Askr was in the sky some where and he knew Kaler was hidden in the grass. They were waiting for his instructions but he didn't have any to give. He was just hoping the dam bear would get a clue and go away.

Aurielle Adravendi

She’d ventured away from her territory, feeling the need to explore further southward. She’d chosen to hunt, but roars up ahead swerved her away from her game trail—a hare, who was incredibly lucky she’d been distracted. She trotted forward silently, searching the area ahead for the bear—there! Closing in on a large male wolf. The bear’s back was to her. The black bear was unusually aggressive, and she couldn’t help but wonder what had set it off, even as she broke into a sprint as the boar suddenly charged the wolf. She launched herself from the ground, aiming for the bear’s back, jaws parting as she sank her canines into the heavy muscle of the beast’s shoulder, a sudden, silent burr of snow white on a now red-tinged black coat. The beast thundered in shock and rage at the sudden painful passenger, lifting a paw to swipe over its shoulder, but the passenger was gone as Aurielle wrenched free, leaving a gaping wound behind as she pushed off to land beyond reach of the bear’s heavy paws and sharp claws. She held herself lightly on her paws, ready to dart aside if it came at her, or launch herself at it again if it went for the other wolf, her teeth bared in a silent snarl, eyes flashing danger. -:: Aurielle vs Bear for Death! ::- Round 1/3 Height: 30" Build: Medium Extra Notes: Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

dark mists are cloaking what the eyes can see

It was becoming clear that the bear had no intention of backing off. It saw one lone wolf and though he was big Éldi was no bear. He locked his defenses down and prepared to engage. If the bear wanted a fight then he'd give it one. Yet, as he stared at the beast he saw a silvery shape moving behind it and recognized a sleek femme moving in behind the bear. He didn't bother to hide his smirk. The bear was outnumbered and it didn't even realize it yet. Éldi waited for the woman to make her move so that he did not accidentally alert the bear to her presence.

The woman leapt and tore into the bear's back. As it whipped around to try and get the woman Éldi would leap, his fangs tearing into the side of the bear's face. His intent was to cause pain and damage not to gain a hold. Éldi was not as light on his feet as the woman and so he set himself to hit and run. The bear's claws whizzed right over his head, just missing his flesh as he skittered out of the way. What was with this beast? Éldi didn't often fight to kill. He'd hoped to do enough damage to get the bear to reconsider but it didn't seem intent on backing down. He heard a cry and his raven, Askr dove down striking deep into one of the bears eyes as it roared and stumbled back, sweeping spastically as it tried to hit the agile bird.

Aurielle Adravendi

As Aurielle had delivered her first bite, so too did the other wolf strike, tearing into the bear’s face even as the shimmering wjhite Spirit had leapt free. Even under the assault of two wolves and now a raven, the bear refused to back down, just as surely as the tigress had in the west. It was not going to back down, so it would die. As the beast was distracted in the front, Aurielle swept in to rip her teeth into the beast’s calf, wrenching and ripping with hard shakes of her head before dancing like a wraith out of the bear’s range, lashing out to catch the paw a glancing blow with the tips of her canines. The bear was well and truly infuriated to madness, and now it came at her, trying to keep her in its sights with the good eye as she circled, snapping her jaws, but still not uttering a word or snarl. -:: Aurielle vs Bear for Death! ::- Round 2/3 Height: 30" Build: Medium Extra Notes: Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

dark mists are cloaking what the eyes can see

Éldi took a few steps back, nearly right up to the creek as he assessed the battle. There was something going on with the animals that was for sure. He'd never seen a black bear behave so aggressively. The woman dove and ripped into the bears calf. Enraged the beast focused its attention fully on the woman, diving after her. "Kaler!" Éldi called out to his other companion, certain that the bear, enraged as it was, wouldn't spare him a thought. The woman was fast on her feet and staying out of range which gave Éldi the time he needed. Setting his defenses he waited til the bears back was to him and then he lunged, leaping up with as much force as he could. His jaws seized hold of the bear's head, right over its left ear. He immediately let his weight hang, forcing the bears head back. Kaler joined him, clinging to the bears back, his own jaws latching over the bear's right ear. Now they would hold on. They would hold on and hope that by forcing the bear's head back they might open its throat up for the woman.

Aurielle Adravendi

They worked well as an unplanned team, maneuvering the enraged beast into position. As the male launched himself and wrenched the bear’s head back, Aurielle leapt into action, flicking her tail in a silent signal as she launched right into what she didn’t doubt would be the second bear hug of her life. This time, she was going to hit home in a jugular. As she slammed her teeth home to the hilt in the bear’s neck, a black blur shot out of the grass and leapt with a growl for the bear’s side, driving it a few staggering steps to the side as it rose onto it’s back feet, front legs indeed slamming shut around the white wolf danging from its throat. It was a pointless act, though, for blood pumped steadily from around the white jaws, painting her coat red. The bear staggered under the weight of the wolves, an unexpected mountain lion, and the sudden weakness savaging its limbs. Then it collapsed with a mewl that didn’t match its size. She held on grimly, shaking her head and ravaging the beast’s throat before it finally relaxed and let her go, though not without what she didn’t doubt were some gashes on her ribs on either side and bruised rib cage. She released her hold and wriggled out of the now slack, dead arms of the bear, glancing to the male to check that he was alright before she said, “They’re getting strangely aggressive lately, the predators…” -:: Aurielle vs Bear for Death! ::- Round 3/3 Height: 30" Build: Medium Extra Notes: Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

It's a bay cat!

The bear wasn't the only predator stalking around these lands. In the shadows, a bay cat growls as the bear falls. She lurks a little closer and as soon as the white wolf speaks, the bay cat lunges for her! She might be able to be chased away, or she might have to be taken down. Either way, it seems as if there's no reasoning with her as she aims to attack the two wolves and their companions.

dark mists are cloaking what the eyes can see

The woman leaped, fangs sinking deep into the bear's neck. If his mouth wasn't already full with bear flesh Éldi would have yelled a cheer. The bear staggered and Éldi tensed, pulling his legs up underneath him in case he needed to spring off the bear. The beast collapse and he kicked off, avoiding getting caught in the creatures downfall. Panting he sat down as Kaler strode over to him, rubbing his head against Éldi's shoulder.

The viking nodded. "Indeed. Particularly the bears. It makes me worry that its going to be a very hard winter. Thanks for the assist. My name is Éldi Rudolfrson."

His ears twitched at a growl and he turned to see a small bay cat. Bloody hell! Éldi dove for the cat, seizing hold of the creature's scruff and yanking it back. He didn't hang on for long, letting go just in time to avoid the cats claws. With a fierce growl he dove forward again, this time just stopping short, his hackles raised and he tried to menacingly display his bulk to the much smaller cat. He hadn't to kill small cats like this in front of Kaler and if the tiny beast had any sense it would flee.

Aurielle Adravendi

The Valhallan Spirit was not given time to respond to Eldi’s comment or introduction before a sudden scuff of paws sent her twisting away to face the small cat that had chosen to attack, despite the clear evidence that these wolves were death should she continue with this folly. Eldi had been swift on the uptake, and Aurielle nodded sharply as she surged in to bellow at the cat, jaws snapping close to the creature’s head. She didn’t aim to wound, but to heckle and frighten, ducking away from angry pawfuls of claws. She gave enough time between each sally for Eldi to dive in and heckle the beast if he wished, until they were either forced to kill it, or it finally gained common sense and ran from the two larger predators. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

dark mists are cloaking what the eyes can see

Éldi continued to heckle the feline as Aurielle joined in. The cat frizzed up and yowled back at them but swiftly backed up as it bore the full brunt of the wolves ferocity and realized that it was not only out-numbered but definitely out-matched. The feline gave one finally hissing shriek and then took off. Éldi didn't relax until the cat was completely out of site. It was small and not that much of a threat but he'd had enough of battle for one day and wished to nurse his wounds.

He sat down heavily. "The whole world has gone mad. What was that wee beast thinking?" He shook his head. "What's your name? I see that you hail from a pack?"

Aurielle Adravendi

As the cat finally understood its mistake and fled, Aurielle swung her gaze in a circle, turning to complete it before she huffed a laugh, nodding at the male as he commented on the world’s madness. “Never a dull moment.” Nothing else stirred from the bushes or surrounding area, and once several heartbeats had passed, she finally relaxed her stance from readiness to a relaxed posture, head still at the natural angle inherent of her rank as she really looked at Eldi, now that things weren’t out to kill them. “I am Aurielle Adravendi, Spirit of Valhalla.” It fell easily from her tongue as a smile finally formed on her features, thawing the icy, almost feral danger in those eyes. She ached, adrenalin beginning to wear off, but she remained standing as she turned to study the dead bear thoughtfully. It would be a useful asset to the pack, but while she had dealt the killing blow, Eldi had been a great help, and the bear had been after him first. “What would you like to do with this bear?” Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

dark mists are cloaking what the eyes can see

The unusual woman introduced herself as Aurielle of Valhalla. He didn't quite recognize the rank she gave but he gathered it was one of importance if she was not in fact the alphess. "A pleasure." He turned his gaze to the bear and bent his head to sniff it for a moment before looking up at the woman. "If you don't mind, I'd like to take the pelt. Is there something you'd like to do with it?" He was also interested in the claws and teeth but he didn't want to be too greedy.

Askr flew down to land on the corpse of the bear, the bird examining a good place to start snipping the skin. Éldi moved his fangs underneath the bears throat to deepen the wound and make it easier for Askr to get in and start snipping the skin from the meat.

Aurielle Adravendi

The shimmering wolf smiled at Eldi’s pleasantries, nodding as they turned to assess the bear. To his request of the pelt, she nodded. He had been a help in the fight, even if it had been her that came to his defense. While the pelt would have been nice to line the dens with, she was willing to part with it. After all, with the way bears were behaving toward her, she didn’t doubt she would have trouble getting another pelt down the trail. “I’d take half the meat and half the teeth and claws, if that’s alright. I’m a bit further from home than usual and any more than that would be difficult to carry without travois or bags.” She stepped forward and bent,, taking a limp paw in her jaws and pulling the front leg into a position that would make Eldi’s skinning work easier once he reached the forelegs of the bear. Through the paw she asked, “Have you been having trouble with predator animals acting irrationally aggressive before this or is it just me the bears don’t like?” Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

dark mists are cloaking what the eyes can see

"It's a deal. Feel free to start removing the fangs and claws you want. I'll start skinning."

Éldi sized up the bear as he decided where to start. Fangs sunk into the neck and he quickly started working his teeth around the bears neck. Blood spilled forth as his companions also got to work. Askr started at one wrist while Kaler worked on the other. One by one they'd get the initial cuts made before Askr started the finer task of snipping the rest of the hide from the flesh while Éldi pulled it back.

They worked hard and swift, Éldi pausing just long enough to answer Aurielle's question. He licked the dripping blood from his lips. "Yes, and bears seem to have been the worst lately. It makes me fear a bad winter. So what do you intend to do with the claws and teeth?"

Aurielle Adravendi

The Spirit nodded as Eldi agreed to the sharing out of the bear, and she bent to her work. The bear’s teeth would be the most difficult to remove, lodged as they were in the beast’s skull, and she waited until Eldi and his companions had removed the hide from it’s head or as far as he would take from it before she bent to sink her canines deep into the flesh at the base of the skull. Aelloshir, returning from scouting the area for more danger, joined in the butchery of the dead bear, helping to sheer the flesh with his claws until the base of the skull was revealed, and the point at which it attached to the spine. It took some work, but with a rather revolting crunch, the skull finally wrenched free of the neck vertebra. She paused at Eldi’s question, shrugging briefly. “I think I might try my paws at crafting armor with the claws. Failing that, I’m certain some use will be made of them, even if it’s just necklaces. As long as nothing is wasted.” A bad winter… She hoped not. Though she felt that Valhalla was decently prepared for winter, with the stored meats, pelts, and other stock, and the goods that came from the Nomads, she didn’t savor the thought of a bad winter. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

dark mists are cloaking what the eyes can see

Éldi and Askr continued working away at the bear skin with Kaler's help. The trio moved swiftly and efficiently seeking to get the most the could out of the raw pelt. Once that was done they'd roll it up and take it somewhere to finish scraping and curing the hide. The problem with a huge hunk of meat like a bear lying around was that it was bound to attract other predators as well as scavengers. Éldi wasn't a fan of bear meat nor was he desperate enough to eat it now but the arrival of other scavengers and the like could mean getting additional holes in the hide that he did not want.

Aurielle stated that she was looking into making some sort of armor or jewelry with the claws. Éldi nodded, that seemed like a good idea to him. "Aye, either that or even some weaponry can be made with them. I've done a few pieces myself." He was more than just a marauder, he prided himself on his crafting as well. They freed the hide from the bear and moved to fold it up. Askr and Kaler helped move it onto Éldi's back for travel.

"Well, its been a pleasure miss Aurielle, but it's time for us to move out. I wish you luck this winter."

-exit-