The sun had just started its descent, the beginning sign of a rich blue sky turning to a softer grey as Rudy loped across the starlit plains.  The wolf slowed as he made his way from the plains and towards the groves.  He was hoping to find some good prey settling down to sleep in the assumed safety of the trees.  The shadows were lengthening out and Rudy’s motley grey colors made it easy for him to hide.  The wind moved along through the tree’s and he could smell gaur somewhere out here and made his way that direction.

Rudy paused as he picked up another scent, bear.  The scent was strong and gave him pause.  Rudy had been in the mood to hunt and the bear wasn’t appreciated.  They were too close to the pack land and he let out a slow sigh. Rudy turned to the west planning to follow the scent and then realized there was no point to it.  Stepping out from the bushes came a large bear who seemed anything but happy.  Rudy ran back several strides when the bear charged him.  Rudy had no interest in running away from anything and spun around a bit of foliage to stare down the bear, snarling at it.  The bear roared back at his snarl.

Rudy got a glimpse of the problem further behind the bear, mostly hidden in the brush.  A cub.  Damn, a protective mom to close to the pack lands.  Rudy let out a quick howl as he jumped away from a fast swipe of a claw coming at him.  Rudy lunged in after the claw went by but had no chance to get a bite in before the other paw was coming out.  She wasn’t going to make it easy to get around behind her.  Nothing more terrifying than a protective angry mom.

Rudyard Carpathius

Didn't this seem to be the way of it lately? Freshly healed Eska was out exploring after being trapped within the castle for so long. Freshly healed... but not fully healed. The woman was still tired and sore, but she was determined to get back into shape. The wounds in the side of her neck were big, nasty looking marks, but they no longer bled. The stitches had been removed, thanks to Gwyn.

Along with her new scars, Eska had two new companions. Ulric had purchased a female Malinois and a male Groendael for her. Two herding dogs to aid in the protection of the alpacas, but two dogs that would also fiercely defend their master. That had been his plan after Eska had been raped and beaten. She couldn't really argue the point with him. Besides, she rather liked having the dogs with her. They'd told her their own names. The thickly furred obsidian male was Baz. The black tipped fawn fae was Avaset. They were both kind and hard working. That was all that Eska could ask for.

A roar from up ahead had the dogs on high alert. Instinct told Eska to investigate, so they did. The trio parted the berried bushes just in time to see a mother bear rush Rudyard. Baz and Avaset didn't need to be told, they just acted. Yet another reason to like them. The dogs rushed in, jaws wide and barking. It startled the bear enough to make her stop pursuing the mottled boy, but she remembered her anger quickly. A heavy paw swiped out at the dogs and Eska rushed in to deliver a bite to the sows haunch, bringing the beast spinning and swiping at her instead. Golden eyes, her mothers eyes, stared over the back of the bear as she retreated, seeking out Rudyards form to make sure that he was okay.


"Eska"