It's verbatim and it's shakin'

R̶ E̶ D̶ R̶ U̶ M̶

In the heart of the eerie forest, Redrum prowled with the grace of a shadow, his senses in tune to the rhythm of life around him. It was rather creepy, with fog rolling lightly overhead, but his keen eyes scanned the dense undergrowth regardless — searching for any sign of movement. His nose twitched, sampling the scents that danced on the breeze. There were many different ones, some he could differentiate as small prey, some he didn’t even know of.

Today, Redrum had set out on a quest, not just for food, but to prove himself as a hunter worthy of his pack. Not really because he wanted to be a pack hunter.. but it was one way he could contribute more, and gaining experience in taking down bigger and bigger prey would definitely be useful later. His ears perked forward as he caught a faint whiff of something tantalizing – the unmistakable scent of deer. With a silent determination, he set off, following the trail as it wound through the labyrinthine depths of the forest.

The scent grew stronger with each passing moment, leading Redrum deeper into the wilderness. He moved with a quiet purpose, his every step calculated, his senses sharp and focused. But as the sun climbed higher in the sky through the shroud of fog, Redrum’s prey remained elusive, seemingly just slipping through his grasp when he thought he was close.

Redrum refused to be deterred, though he wasn’t entirely confident in attempting to take one down by himself… Still, he pressed on, determination burning bright within him. He paused at a clearing, the air heavy with the scent of damp earth, and closed his eyes, letting his senses guide him. Where had it gone? He couldn’t have lost it just like that, right?

murder

Code by TR

Marrow

Marrow worked her way south, strolling through the fog of a dark and humid forest. Her stomach gurgled with hunger and her keen eyes scouted for anything that could be eaten, her nostrils flaring to try and pick up any scent. Marrow would eat just about anything she could catch, whether fresh kill or another predator's rotting leftovers, it didn't matter. Her ears flicked forward as she caught the scent of deer. The scent wasn't terribly old but she couldn't hear anything where she currently was so she picked a direction and started following the scent.

Already Marrow was salivating at the idea of fresh deer meat, even if it was unlikely she could take one. Yet, hunger drove her to try. She was approaching a clearing when she caught sight of a young wolf, almost a yearling. "Psst, hey you seen any deer in these parts?"

It's verbatim and it's shakin'

R̶ E̶ D̶ R̶ U̶ M̶

He was trying to immerse himself in his own senses, an effort to refocus and reestablish where the deer was. The scent was wafting in, and the forest was quiet, aside from the occasional birdsong. He heard a twig snap far off to his left, where the freshest trail was coming from. There was no mistaking it, the deer was there. The boy grinned, his eyes opening with a new expression of excitement. He still had a shot at catching it!

Suddenly, a rustle in the underbrush snapped him back to attention and out of his musings. His ears swiveled forward as he crouched low, his muscles coiled like springs, ready to pounce or bolt or whatever he needed to do at a moment’s notice. But an older girl crept forward, and his heart slowed its pounding in his chest, he realized she was no enemy — at least yet? The boy had little experience in conflict anyways, and she was just asking about his deer! “Yes. Red is hunting. Now.” The vermillion boy nodded, his golden gaze flicking in the direction of his quarry. He thought for a moment, his toes wiggling in the dirt before his skull twitched and cocked sideways at her. “Split. hunt and prey? Good deal.” He mumbled, his voice a low hush as he kept an ear out for movement.

murder

Code by TR

Marrow

Whirling around to face her the boy first looked ready for battle before relaxing and addressing her. She gathered his name was Red and that he was hunting. Excellent! She had a chance at a warm meal. Her first one in awhile. She followed his gaze as it flickered into the brush, right where the scent was leading. Marrow licked her lips and nodded as the boy spoke very simply, stating they'd split up and hunt it. "Yes, deal." Her claws flexed before she sheathed them entirely and started to slink into the deeper area of the underbrush.

Marrow's cat-like paws allowed her to stalk almost silently as she worked to get on the other side of their prey. That way when the pup initiated his attack she'd be able to cut off the deer's escape. Marrow had to move carefully to make sure she remained hidden. Soon she was on the other side of the deer. Her legs coiled beneath her, ready to spring at the opportune moment.

It's verbatim and it's shakin'

R̶ E̶ D̶ R̶ U̶ M̶

He watched her with cautious interest, his golden eyes assessing her every move. The forest seemed to hold its breath as they made their hushed agreement. Splitting up was risky, but Red knew they stood a better chance of catching their prey that way. It was all for the better really, two pairs of teeth were better than one!

With a nod from the older girl, Red felt a surge of relief as she slunk off to do her part. His muscles tensed beneath his fur, anticipation coursing through him. He slipped into the shadows as well, his movements fluid and graceful, like a predator on the prowl. Which is exactly what he was. Each step was deliberate, blending seamlessly with the natural rhythm of the forest. He took a more straightforward approach however, keeping hidden until he could align himself with the deers position, and taking account of the direction he needed to spook it into.

His heart pounded in his chest, adrenaline fueling his senses. He could feel the presence of the deer nearby, its scent lingering in the air like a tantalizing promise of the meal to come. It was a second later that his eyes met the brown and white pelt of the deer, laying leisurely as it chewed on a patch of greenery. Perfect.

With the yet-to-be-named girl positioned on the other side of their prey, Red knew it was time to strike. His body tensed, ready to unleash all his pent up energy in one fell swoop. He sunk his claws into the ground, and the coil of his musculature propelled him forward through bushes and undergrowth. The boy launched himself forward, a blur of red fur and a flash of teeth.

The deer bolted in terror, it’s body twisted to stand and run, and thankfully (or unfortunately for it) the direction it ran led it straight for the girl who was lying in wait. Redrum snapped at its heels, attempting to trip it up before it hit full speed as best he could — to give his hunting partner a better chance to take it down once it came into her range.

murder

Code by TR

Marrow

Marrow's tail twitched as she tried to control her excitement. Every muscle, every fiber, yearned for the tension in the air to break and the hunt to spark into motion. Her piercing blue eyes scanned the underbrush, her ears alert to any sounds, her nose pinpointing the source of the scent. Every scent alert and ready. She had a good idea of where the deer was hiding, they just needed to flush it out.

Cracking branches and the sound of paws, let it begin! The deer bolted as the boy ran towards it, twisting around and fleeing right toward Marrow. As the deer came close Marrow sprang out of her hiding spot. Her jaws latched onto the deer's throat, her cat claws digging into it's shoulders and chest. The sudden weight caused the deer to pitch forward, right onto her but Marrow did not let go of the struggling creature. She could taste the blood pooling in her mouth, rushing freely and soon the struggling grew weak as life left the creature. Marrow held on a few more moments after it passed, wanting to be sure the meal was secured.

Marrow let go of her hold, grinned at the boy then started digging in with her teeth, ripping at the flesh of the neck where herfangs had been before and greedily eating what she could. This was marvelous!