Sagittarius Fallen

Something didn't feel entirely right; Sagittarius found herself growing more curious than necessary. Today, she had wandered farther from home than she had anticipated. Still, she relished the thrill of adventure and the freedom that came from stepping away from the pack's protection. Yet, there was a lingering feeling that she might have strayed too far this time. With age, her adventures seemed to become increasingly perilous. She yearned to follow in her father's and mother's footsteps, believing that the lessons they imparted would be sufficient, wouldn't they?

Today would be the day for her to find out, once and for all, where she stood. Regardless of the outcome, the young female felt a pressing need to grasp the intricacies of life around her, free from the constant safeguarding of her pack. Sagittarius believed her family relied on her not only to survive but also to forge a path for herself and those around her. By all means, she was determined to accomplish that. Yet today, her gaze was fixed on the ground, observing how the terrain transformed from sandy patches to vibrant expanses of emerald and jade grasses. Wildflowers erupted in colors, igniting the landscape like a wildfire. Her ears perked up as the sound of cloven hooves drew nearer, steady and unyielding, but the young one couldn't help but grow more alert when the hog approached her.

Though it wasn't a large hog, the knowledge that it could inflict significant harm was enough to leave Sagittarius feeling scarred. Despite its size advantage, the wild hog's weight would likely slow it down compared to her agility. She planted her feet firmly, signaling that she wouldn't back down, but perhaps she could circle around and attack from behind. The young creature considered her options for a moment, her keen yellow eyes noticing that there were no piglets nearby. Could the hog be young and inexperienced as well? It had to be; there was no other explanation for its behavior—unless, of course, it was simply being territorial. Sagittarius continued to ponder this as she leapt onto a fallen tree, placing herself safely out of reach of the irate animal.

Her ears pressed flat against her skull once again, her body tensed, muscles coiling and uncoiling with anticipation. She refused to back down. No! She would defend her right to be here, just like the foul-smelling hog that kept snorting at her. A low, deliberate growl rumbled from her throat, signaling to the hog that Sagittarius was ready for a fight. With a powerful push, she launched herself to the side. Hackles raised and fur bristled along her back, revealing her small teeth in a fierce display of determination to hold her ground.

table coding by bunni ♥

Word Count: 452 of 1500

Boredom draws Calliope away from Raider lands to newer territory. She hasn't spent much time out in the gulley, but with the arrival of spring, the wildflowers had drawn her in. Calliope was far from lady-like so it wasn't that she wanted to adorn herself with flowers or roll around in them so she could smell florally. No, no. It was the lush emerald grasses that propelled her down into the gulley's lushest areas. A soft bed to take a nap in was bringing forth mighty yawns from her open mouth. Perhaps she would gather some and take it back to help plump up her own bed...

Drawing closer to a spot she thought might be the best, the sound of snorting and grunting catches her attention. Pausing for a moment, she looks with raised brow. The hog wasn't going for her, was it? No, it seemed much more interested in someone else. Good. Let it make a snack of someone that isn't me. Calliope dismisses the commotion until a leaping form of obsidian and ruby fur makes her head whip around. Is that... Sally? Saggy? Sagter? What the fuck had mum named this one...

"Hey!" Calliope calls out, a sharp bark ending her vocal tone to hopefully draw the attention of both pup and hog. What was the scrappy pup doing so far away from home anyway? And without a companion? Peculiar and odd. Wasn't that a big no no? Well, she'd probably end up in more trouble leaving the pup to fend for itself so off Calliope trots toward the pup and hog with furrowed brow and disgruntled expression. So much for her nap.

"You just gonna let this hog bully you like that?" Calliope questions Sagittarius, shooting her a stern look before glancing at the hog that pawed at the grass and snorted angrily. "Kill it and I won't tell mum or dad that you ran away," she states with a raised brow and devious smirk spreading across her ivory lips.

"Speech"

wc total: 786 / 1500

Although she was young, she refused to let a pig intimidate her any longer. Just then, the unexpected sound of her older sister caught her off guard, prompting a small growl as a greeting. Her tail rose in a display of dominance, and she let out a few small snarls. With her piercing yellow eyes fixed on Calliope, she shot her a serious glare. "That pig really took me by surprise!" she snapped, her voice dripping with irritation. It didn’t help that she felt the need to impress her sister, especially since she was the eldest. Gaining that respect was important to her, no matter how foolish it might seem. "Just watch and learn," she declared, a hint of cockiness lacing her words, a budding confidence that would only grow with time. Yet, there was a reason for her bravado—after all, that hog had truly startled her.

Sagittarius wasn't one to back down, not when respect was at hand. Ears pinned against her cranium, as the hog turned to glare a angry look to Calliope, which did give Sagittarius a opening to hopefully scare off the angry herbivore. The crimson black stained girl launched from the stump. Claws catching the hide of the animal, she didn't want to kill it, but scare it away or make it loose interest by attacking more than once, or distracting it to the point it lost interest. The young she-wolf known this, as allowing her grasp to break free. Darting quickly with a yip as the pig charged at her once more. Sagittarius growled deeply, circling quickly and dodging it's attacks that could cause her to loose balance and determination. The pig wasn't old enough that it had tusks right yet, but still. She had to be careful of being stomped or a body part broken with it's own mouth.

She was always cautious, mindful of each step, as a misstep could cost her the battle of wills. Perhaps she was being overly careful, not wanting the slightly larger hog to gain the advantage. The young girl couldn't help but think of how proud her family would be, especially if she managed to avoid any injuries or harm. That would certainly be a bonus. Sagittarius growled at the foul-smelling creature and lunged at its face. The hog squealed in surprise and attempted to retaliate, but missed as Sagittarius quickly darted away, giving the hog a chance to catch up before she dashed off again, staying a few feet ahead. With her eyes sharp and ears perked, the ebony and red girl danced through the tall grass that tickled her paw pads, pausing whenever the hog fell too far behind.

Sagittarius Fallen

table coding by bunni ♥

Word Count: 896 of 1500

Calliope's expression remains unamused at Sagittarius' retort. Surprise or not, the girl still needed to teach the herbivore a lesson. Standing her own ground, she is rather impressed with the youngster's gumption to try and impress her. Honestly, it bloated her own ego even more that her younger siblings would want to care so much to impress her.

Keeping her own distance as Sagittarius and the boar dance through the grass, Calliope watches only with mild interest. Ready to intervene in case the hog thought it mightier than its own worth, she grows bored that the pup didn't take her words seriously. "I said kill it," Calliope repeats as she moves to follow the fighting duo as they scramble through the grass. "Or are you too scared to take a life?" She taunts, her head lowering and lips raising into a sneer as she snaps at the hog, attempting to rile it up and push Sagittarius further.

"Speech"

total word count: 1388 / 1500

Sagittarius Fallen

Sagittarius fixed her gaze on the pig as she searched for a place to hide. The young female sank down into the tall grass, her breathing steady. Following her sister's advice to listen with her eyes closed, Sagittarius allowed herself to shut her eyes. She focused on the vibrations in the ground, letting her heart lead her to know when the moment was right. However, the herbivore was more than just angry; it was on a power trip. Pythia was clever, and the lesson imparted would benefit the red and black female pup. "I said kill it, or are you too afraid to take a life?" Calliope's taunts made Sagittarius’s small ears flatten against her skull.

The hog was still on the lookout for the pup, perhaps forty feet ahead of Sagittarius. She decided to let it approach a bit more. Her tail flicked slightly; she was excited but also determined to be clever about her next move. The pig remained focused on finding the young wolf pup. Taking deep breaths to calm her racing heart, she recalled their father's lessons, which were proving invaluable now. With her ears splayed wide, she dug her paws into the ground, biding her time for the perfect moment. It wouldn’t be long now; she just had to hold on a little longer. Moving almost silently against the earth, the only indication of her presence was the grass swaying with her carefully calculated steps. Her eyes slowly opened, locking onto the hog, now only about twenty-five feet away. Perhaps Sagittarius could be lucky enough to draw even closer.

Sagittarius wasn't foolish and would halt her pursuit whenever the hog glanced in her direction. She also tried to catch a whiff of the air, but the abundance of flowers made it difficult to pick up the scent of the pups. However, this would be advantageous for Sagittarius. Observing her family hunt would ultimately benefit her. Just as Calliope lunged, Sagittarius opened her eyes to see the hog approaching her hiding spot. A swift choice needed to be made: should she confront the hog or continue to run and hide? As her sister had advised, she would have to kill it.

She sprang to her feet as the hog stood about seven feet away. Sagittarius's heart raced, and her mouth watered with anticipation. Her back legs propelled her across the ground, her breathing steady as one ear stood alert while the other lay flattened, listening intently. Suddenly, the sound of a squeal broke the air, the pig calling for backup—or at least attempting to, but failing. Fueled by her instincts, Sagittarius used her back legs to launch her small frame off the ground and land on the pig. Her sharp little teeth sank into the hog’s skin repeatedly, the metallic taste of copper spurring her on for the kill.

The young female continued to bite relentlessly, while the pig let out cries for help that went unheard. A menacing growl rumbled from Sagittarius's throat, resonating deep and low. Her fangs pierced the creature's flesh, and her back claws dug in to aid the wolf pup in maintaining balance as the hog attempted to buck and kick to shake off its attacker. Her ears pressed tightly against her skull, claw marks marred the pig's spine as she repeatedly bit the same spot, applying even more pressure with each bite. Thankfully, her coat—tinged like the pig’s blood—concealed the blood that sprayed upon her red coat, but the scent of blood hung in the air around her.

The pig collapsed onto the ground, weakened from blood loss. Sagittarius continued to bite and breathe, her breaths becoming more hurried and uneven. She scanned the area for her sister, knowing she was still nearby. As she sat on the hog, licking her paws, a triumphant grin spread across her snout. An excited growl-bark escaped her lips. She had done it! Yet, a wave of worry washed over her at the thought of her sister running to tell their father what she had accomplished. Would he be proud, or would he be frightened that his daughter was venturing into the wild, so far from home? Thoughts of what she could have done differently swirled in her mind.

table coding by bunni ♥

Word Count: 1601 /1500

The hog and the pup soon did not notice she was standing there. Calliope didn't mind this. She was merely a buffer, someone to step in in case things went awry. For now, she would spectate. Take note of Sagittarius' moves. As long as the pup didn't die, Calliope didn't particularly care what did happen to the pup. After all, she wasn't a very nice wolf.

She was impressed though. Watching Sagittarius carefully, she notices how the pup slows down, takes her time, assesses the hog and allows it draw closer. Time seemed to slow down as the two creatures drew closer together. A brow raised in curiosity and impatience as Calliope continued to hold still. Fuck if she had ever had this sort of patience as a pup or even now. Her own skin itched with anticipation, the urge, the need to attack. Truly, she couldn't help it. Calliope wanted excitement!

With the hog close enough, she lunges for it to entice it toward her sister. This riled it enough that it sends the hog launching toward Sagittarius who meets it with claw and tooth. Calliope's lips spread into a smirk as she takes a step back to watch the killing unfold. Squeals light the air, pained noises gurgle from the hog as it struggles and fights the pup's relentless attacks. A minute or so passes before the hog lies still and her sister is sitting atop it with a proud smile. Turning to the obsidian and garnet pup, Calliope nods her head in approval, a hum in her throat as she approaches.

"Alright, that's enough fun for you today," Calliope says, albeit not that sternly. "I'll get ya home before the parents find out," she leans down to nudge Sagittarius off the hog before picking up the kill in her jaw. "Don't worry. You get to keep the pig for whatever you want," her smile says it all. With hog in mouth and pup at her side, Calliope begins their journey back home before nightfall.

- exit Calliope -

"Speech"