since the fall of Ashen, El has felt..listless. blown astray and flailing clumsily with nothing to anchor herself to. her pack, her identity, the title her bloodline had afforded her…all of it had simply ceased to be, and the girl couldn’t help but feel that the world was crumbling away beneath her feet. who is she, if not a princess of the Ashen empire? it’s a though that swirls incessantly through her mind tonight, taunting her as she trudges through the remnants of her old home. the moon is a large yellow disk above her head, swathing the lands of her childhood in silvery hues. her heart aches like a physical wound, and as those pale eyes search the shadows, she’s filled with the desire to hurt something. to destroy it the way her home had been destroyed. to taste blood on her tongue and feel the crunch of bone between her teeth. as she listens, the world around her practically bristles with noise and life, prey skirting through the undergrowth with reckless abandon. El squints, head cocking in thought. it’s rare for prey to behave so brazenly, even at night, but she can practically feel the earth vibrate with scores of tiny little feet. well, all the better for her. a mean little smile quirks along her lips as she creeps forward, scenting the air for a particular subject of interest. something worthy of her wrath.

WC: 237/1500

It wasn't often that Jay wandered this far from home, at night no less, but on this particular evening she was having trouble sleeping. She wasn't sure whether or not it was entirely due to the bright night sky, though the way the moon beamed overhead like a spotlight wasn't exactly conducive to sleep. The yearling let out a sigh as she veered closer to the lake, noting the scent of plentiful prey animals here. At first she thought she was just scenting areas they'd formerly passed through, but as she got closer it became obvious that they were actually active right now, navigating all around, through the underbrush and toward the lake.

Strange. It wasn't the sort of normal prey behavior she'd seen before, but it was unusually bright out... briefly Jay looked to the sky before bringing her attention back down to the ground. Maybe it'd be a good time to take advantage of the strange vibe tonight and catch herself a snack before she went back home. Surely a good hunt and a full belly would help her sleep.

It seemed she wasn't the only one with such an idea though. Up ahead she saw signs of a wolf nearby, creeping through the darkness just like she was. Not wanting to disturb the prey that seemed to be lingering all around them, Jay carefully crept forward - loud enough to show she wasn't trying to sneak up on the stranger. "You smell all that?" She asked, in lieu of a greeting, her voice just over a whisper. "There's some turkeys not far off, I was thinking about trying to take down a few. Wanna join me?" Jay had no issue being openly friendly to strangers, and hunting alongside someone else sounded like a fun plan to her.

Words: 299
Total words: 536

JAY DESTRUCTION-MEMOIRE

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despite their best efforts, the newcomer startles her, but El refuses to let it show. a slight twitch is the only indication as those pale eyes shift to drink in the girl's face, noting a vibrant gaze and a tawny pelt. she seems friendly, unassuming. pack-scent clings to her pelt, strange but inoffensive, and her stance is open and welcoming. El relaxes, lets her focus return to the shifting of prey around them, on the scents mingling through the air and eliciting a steady rumble in her stomach. "i do," she confirms, giving a curt nod. a part of her bristles at the sight of a strange wolf traversing her father's lands - but this is the reality she lives in, now. the very territory that had once confined her is now open to any matter of creature, no matter her feelings on the subject. "i'd like that," El continues, falling into step with the stranger. it's centering, to have a purpose and a companion at her side. a distraction from the whirlwind of her mind. she lifts her nose, tasting the air until she has separated the scent of the turkeys from the rest of the prey. she pictures their feathers, the crunch of plump bird flesh between her teeth, and finds herself growing more and more amendable to the idea. perhaps this is just what she needs, tonight. "i'll follow your lead, stranger." she hesitates, then adds, as though as an afterthought, "I'm El, by the way. Elara." Klein hovers on the edge of her tongue, but she bites down on the word so hard it would've drawn blood from a physical body. none of it seems to matter, now. none of it means anything. what did she have, now, but the remnants of an empire at her feet? the bloodied shards of a crown scattered about her like debris.

WC: 311
Total: 847

Jay's nature is always just that - friendly, unassuming, and relaxed. She was always eager to get to know the wolves she came across and was generally unbothered when they didn't want the same from her; this particular wolf though seemed interested in her offer, and Jay's mood brightened. Her tail curled slightly above her back, giving a loose, friendly wag. "Strange that they're all out right now, isn't it?" The Destruction commented softly under her breath, briefly pausing to glance at the full moon and how brilliantly it was shining, illuminating the lands to the point that it didn't really feel like night at all - at least not the sort of night she was accustomed to.

The introduction from Elara earns a friendly smile. "I'm Jay - Jay Destruction," she adds, knowing fully well her name was a relatively well-known one in these lands. Not that she was arrogant enough to think everyone would know of her surname, but there was always a chance! "It's nice to meet you!" Being followed was a strange thing for her, but she'd take the role seriously, falling quiet as they began to move closer to the foliage where the turkeys were gathered.

No matter which way they took this, they'd no doubt cause the birds to begin to scramble, their approach probably made even more obvious by the strangely bright night that surrounded them. "I think I'll make a wide circle around them and hope they don't notice me, then we can charge at the same time," Jay suggested thoughtfully, her voice low. Moving away from Elara, Jay aimed to move away from the lake, moving in a wide circle around the little cluster of turkeys. Once she thought she was in position - head lifting to try to get Elara's attention, as best as she could from such a distance - she began to move forward. Slowly at first, but then faster as it became obvious her approach was being noticed. Finally she kicked off hard, hoping to close in on one of the turkeys, parted jaws aiming for its neck as she struck.

Words: 349
Total words: 1,196

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El’s companion seems an agreeable sort, made only clearer as she introduces herself with a friendly smile. she assumes the role of leadership easily enough, but there’s nothing bossy or commanding about the girl, and for that El is appreciative. it isn’t always easy to admit to oneself that they require help, and any consequential arrogance would only worsen the Klein girl’s mood. “good idea,” El praises, nodding along to Jay’s plan. it seems relatively fool-proof, providing the birds don’t catch wind of their scent too early and try to escape. as Jay begins to circle their quarry, El wracks her brain for the hunting directions Chi had given her - even though thinking of her father sends a stab of fresh pain through her. head low, feet soft, ears pricked. keep your eyes open and your mouth shut. don’t let anything give you away, and prepare yourself for the chase. El sets her jaw determinedly, creeping through the undergrowth until she’s found the perfect position. then it’s just a matter of waiting, and thankfully Jay doesn’t take long to signal her. nodding back, El breaks into a run just as Jay does, both girls bearing down on their feathered quarry. a startled scream rings through the night, silenced abruptly when Jay bites down on the neck of their chosen bird. grinning, El leaps onto the closest turkey and flattens it with her weight, leering down with bared teeth. the turkey struggles kicks out with clawed feet, but El dodges it easily, and the bird is defenceless as she sinks her teeth into its feathered flesh. blood bathes her tongue, drool gathering as she sinks deeper. flesh and sinew tear, satisfyingly fragile beneath her jaws, and for the first time Ashen’s demise Elara feels…powerful. commanding. she is the orchestrator of this measly thing, the one with the power to cut its strings. glancing over at Jay, El basks in the excitement of their victory.

WC: 324
Total: 1520

Jay was pleased with the company she'd come across tonight, not that she was terribly picky; her default disposition was always pleasant and friendly, always happy to meet someone new. So far she hadn't met anyone disagreeable, and while that was no doubt partly due to luck, it was also due to just how easy she was to get along with. Not much phased her and she was happy to go along with what others were interested in. Right now she was just glad to have a little company to hunt with.

Coming in from opposite sides of the turkeys seemed to be working well enough. They were startled and panicked just enough to delay them, making it easier for both of them to find a target and grab hold of it. The movement Jay made was swift, not quite effortless but it showed she'd had some hunting practice and wasn't just fumbling around in the dark - a swift jerk of her head made the bird go still. Their little hunt had been a success! The rest of the turkeys made to flee, in a flurry of panicked noise and feathers. One bird was more than enough for her so she was happy to let them flee, relinquishing her kill and lapping the blood from her lips.

"Good job," Jay applauded her, the compliment a genuine one. "Do you live around here? Or were you just passing through?" She asked after a moment, curious about the younger stranger before her. The girl bore no smell that would signal her as a pack member, but Jay didn't want to make assumptions either. Sinking down on her belly, she positioned the bird between her paws, ready to feast on it before she headed back home - she wasn't about to carry this all the way home, especially not at this hour.

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