O.G.
It is not these well-fed, long-haired men that I fear, but the pale and the hungry-looking.
Posts: 54
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Post by Cat on Jun 12, 2017 16:46:50 GMT
Gallivant entered the forest warily, the canopy high overhead, somewhere eerie yet welcoming. It was high enough not to loom like a crow to carrion, and spacious enough to not cloak them in darkness. Spotlights of sun filtered through, as though lighting their way, the path significantly more flat than the slope they'd traversed to arrive here. Accompanied by the songs of hidden birds and the footfalls of ungulates somewhere far in the distance, the young King couldn't help but almost feel at home. Too many trees than those of the lands in his memory, but it was beginning to be a place where he could easily envision a future.
And speaking of that future, he would check in with Vitalia after coming to a slow and square halt. "We can stop and hunt if you'd like." What he really wanted to say was 'we can stop and I'll hunt for you but he knew far better than to use phrasing that could imply his lady couldn't suffice herself. After all, there were bound to be abundant prey - large and small - nearby, they woulod just need to venture slightly from their current, already fairly worn path.
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O.G.
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Post by Ashley on Jun 12, 2017 23:26:18 GMT
Each step was careful, following along Gallivant's pawpath with careful consideration. He was honestly a little adorable if she was being honest. Sure, she preferred her independence, and normally his doting would wear on her nerves but.. well, it was endearing. Knowing that he cared so much about her, about their children. It was difficult to be huffy and puffy about him being a little overbearing when all he was doing was being a honestly perfect mate. Didn't stop her from huffing as they stopped and he made the suggestion. No, he didn't have to say it out loud. She liked to think they knew each other very well by now- which meant yeah, he also knew how she would react if he actually said as much. Clever bastard.
"I'm not so graceful these days," she finally confessed. "I'd probably scare our dinner away. Though I'd be happy to help you scout for food." See? She could be reasonable. She might not be able to catch it but she could damn sure help find it, and she promptly set about doing so. Follow me, my dear, and we'll have food soon as can be. And in the meantime? They'd get a good look at the land and pick a place to settle for the night, and hopefully the rest of the pregnancy.
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O.G.
It is not these well-fed, long-haired men that I fear, but the pale and the hungry-looking.
Posts: 54
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Post by Cat on Jun 13, 2017 12:55:03 GMT
Gallivant let her speak in time, a light smile settling on his gentled face. It was an odd feeling, just the two of them in an undiscovered world. Well, undiscovered to them; for all they knew they could get down into the valley and stumble across plenty of others. That felt unlikely, however, for reasons he could not explain. The forest around them was comforting, as though it was theirs and theirs alone.
He nodded to her suggestion. "Lead the way, my lady." A gracious dip of the head like a light bow, and the King would simply watch for a moment, letting her acquire the helm and lead them into the depths of the area in search of food. He'd follow quietly behind, enough to give her a proper berth - and also to keep and keen eye out for any danger, not that he'd relent that little tidbit - but close enough to keep nearby should she break out into faster speed.
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O.G.
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Post by Ashley on Jun 13, 2017 15:24:54 GMT
Now that they'd made their way onto flat ground, Vitalia's steps were much more sure and steady. She was definitely over slopes until the end of her pregnancy! It would have, honestly, probably done her some good to sit around and let Galli do the work, but she had to admit that she would miss these moments when the time came. She'd be a little preoccupied with the pups for a bit. Hunting may not be the most romantic date for you and your boo, but it was definitely something she liked to do with Galli. Between helping to provide and getting to watch those muscles in action? Yeah kind of awesome.
There was definitely an abundance of food right now. She could catch the scent of any number of animals, tracks cluing her in that there would certainly be larger prey to hunt when the children were ready. For now, though, something small. Something easy. A rabbit just would not do, not when they'd been traveling and needed something for the both of them to replenish energy. Holes throughout the ground clued her in that there must be a groundhog nearby, and she grinned. Well, that would be a fun game. Chase the little bugger out of one of his tunnels! Nose was working a mile a minute as she ventured along, trying to locate him amongst his little burrows, and she licked her lips as the scent became strongest. Near. Very near.
"How do you feel about ground rat, my dear?" Voice was quiet, careful. No use giving him a headstart.
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O.G.
It is not these well-fed, long-haired men that I fear, but the pale and the hungry-looking.
Posts: 54
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Post by Cat on Jun 13, 2017 18:18:48 GMT
Gallivant gladly let her have her fun; he was more than content to watch the woman work. For all he knew of her, there felt ever things still to learn and witness. Despite her expanded girth she moved with weary precision, obviously knowing full well what her intent was, even if he was complacently ignorant. Foregoing his own olfactory and tactile senses, he played the gentleman and allowed himself to be surprised by the venture - giving the reins entirely over to his beloved.
"That sounds lovely." He coo'd equally as quiet, having halted in his spot so that he would not inturrupt Vitalia's plans. In truth, though he didn't doubt his own hunting abilities, under-ground-dwellers were not a sort he had significant experience with. Perhaps it was best - for reasons more than just his Queen's pride - to let her work alone anyhow. Ungulates and riverbank critters were more his sort. At least their children would be well-rounded in their hunting skills!
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O.G.
It is not these well-fed, long-haired men that I fear, but the pale and the hungry-looking.
Posts: 54
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Post by Cat on Jun 14, 2017 22:32:58 GMT
Just as the couple's whispers settled like particles of dust in spotlight, a bounding blur of ash and magma whizzed by, galloping a direct path perpendicular to Gallivant and Vitalia. He was there and gone in the blink of an eye, pounding paws shattering the silence that had once been. His approach otherwise had been silent, but he vanished into the brush to their right. Immediately upon disappearance, woeful screams erupted, dying gasps gurgled between squeals of desperation. No sound from the murderer, however, even once the horror ceased. Naught but the rustling of underbrush signified any life had survived that encounter.
And then he reappeared, in full, slow form. First came the mutilated body clenched between fiery jaws, oozing red like dripping flames; a strip of gray fur dangled as though semi-flayed, bushy raccoon tail lifelessly limp, swaying only with the breeze of movement. Eyes seemingly molded from the coagulated blood of enemies passed peaked over his held catch, noting the pair he'd likely just startled rather severely. Despite a pelt of shadows, camouflage bred into his lineage generations before, as he stepped into the dappled spotlight he lit into an achromatic kaleidoscope, various shades of gray painting him an ashen masterpiece, a match softly alit by a fizzling flame.
In less than the beat required to see he had not only obviously interrupted something, but that that something was a pregnant woman and presumably her baby daddy, he gave a soft snort and dropped his fresh catch, letting it fall with a significant thump at his feet.
"Apologies for intruding," spoke a lingering voice, deep and rolling like the thunder that ever scented him. The trio of words came equipped with a slight upturn in octave towards the end, almost constituting as an inquiry. After all, he wasn't quite sure what he was intruding upon - if anything. Still, he looked upon the pair with something just shy of expectancy, considering them deeply.
Needless to say, they had his absolute attention.
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O.G.
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Post by Ashley on Jul 6, 2017 15:00:00 GMT
Vitalia had spent many, many days chasing after ground critters. Between the lack of training from her mother and her little escapade in which she'd left the pack entirely to discover herself, she'd never gotten much practice with big game hunting. She was inclined to try it with her husband, sure that they would have pretty good synchronization when it came down to it. Just needed a little lesson was all. For now? She was in no such shape for anything like that. Though she did hope to get some larger hunts in once the kids were able to be left on their own for a little bit. Didn't want to be completely useless when it came to teaching them.
She was moving gingerly around different entrances, trying to decide which to carefully disrupt, when there was that flash of... something. Someone, it seemed. Well. So much for staying quiet so as not to spook their little ground-rat. He was probably long gone by now. Huff escaped the Queen, ear flickering with slight annoyance as she followed the blur. She fixed him with stern eyes, but he at least had the decency to apologize. Ah well. Couldn't be helped.
"We've surely all gotten a little too excited while hunting," she begrudgingly provided. There. Pleasant and friendly as always. "Though I would have preferred you waited just a few extra minutes to come slamming through. At least you've gotten your meal." And she.. was going to have to find something else. Perhaps letting Galli do the work was wise this time. She was beginning to tire.
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O.G.
It is not these well-fed, long-haired men that I fear, but the pale and the hungry-looking.
Posts: 54
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Post by Cat on Jul 24, 2017 2:15:12 GMT
Gallivant could not help the immediate rising of his hackles as though someone shut off the gravity, his entire stance uplifted. Silk fur found its layers cushioned by air; he did not appear a porcupine, or even ruffled, but there was an obvious change of alertness and almost acerbic dominance that permeated his entire being. The dying squeals of vermin echoed in his ears as they craned hard to their peaks, and swiftly did he walk to the front of his lady; not in front of her directly, of course, but stood astride, just a step or two forward, to keep her safely at his shoulder when the stranger emerged from the brush.
Though the King himself wore colors dark as a summer's night sky, helmed with flicks of firelight, they were cool, calm, collected. To look upon the young leader, one could see determination, righteousness, a fierce code upheld. For all his darkness, it was clear he was borne by light; the stranger before them - to him - felt a different sort. Though he stood proper and apologetic, his appearance gave rise to hesitance, prejudice, almost. Smoke should have billowed from his mouth as he released his kill, lost souls should have leaked from his massacre eyes. And it was in that passing emotion that shame was nearly felt. In the span of several seconds a realization came to pass that judgement was had before the burden of proof was met by either party: this was merely a forest-dweller, politely stood before them despite his rude entrance.
Vitalia responded in her own way, and decidedly more a guardian bystander to Kingdom's Queen for the moment than its leader, Gallivant let her helm this impromptu meeting. He simply nodded, curt, to her initial comment, accepting his apology for all intents and purposes. Unless the stranger showed threat, he would let pass whatever would become. A silent sentinel for now.
Hesperian duly noted the male's response, though as curious as he was, it wouldn't do to stare. Mercurial eyes landed on Gallivant loftily, meeting his gaze evenly - unflinching - before the whale of a woman spoke. Then attention would be rendered exclusively unto her. "The woods have been quiet as of late - I didn't expect to interrupt any other than my prey." Deep voice did not attempt excuse, merely explanation. "However, allow me to pay penance for my crime." Casually did the Dragon send over his fresh carcass with but the flick of a wrist as though he refused to use any more energy than necessary. Why waste it, after all, when you never know when you'd need it? The killed creature rolled lopsidedly limp to the Queen's feet, yet never still did his eyes leave her.
"The prey is ripe here, though most of the larger prey will be found by the lake." A casual nod to the west would accompany his statement, denoting the way. "If you keep to the trail you'll skirt around the lake a bit but it's a fairly clear shot to the flatland." They smelled of transience, of urgent need for rest; though he was not a local per se, it was equally as obvious that they were not this area's denkeepers. They certainly could become them, though. And his aid would guide them that way.
"Your insight is much appreciated," Gallivant finally ventured, his bowed form extending a craned neck to uplift his lofty head and look the stranger in the eyes, intentionally drawing his oddly pinpointed attention away from Vitalia. It was uncomfortable how he looked upon her, not quite sinister, not quite heady, but something else. "We will seek to use it well." A fleeting pause, not but a breath's length. "And will you be accompanying us, as owner of this land?" It was almost rendered more an insinuation than a question, as though the King was sizing the Dragon up, cloaked in thinly veiled air of innocence. Hesperian gave a slow, subtle shake of his head. "I'm afraid I merely ventured this far inland to scout the herds. You should find the way easy enough to navigate without my guidance." It wasn't a challenge per se, nor condescension, but it was clear the man meant to match Gallivant's tone. "I wish you safe travels, once you've had your fill." Almost pointedly, he looked back upon the fair lady as he spoke thusly, nodding his head curtly. He would only about face and leave once she'd either begun to eat his gift.
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