Daeril-sama
Harsh pants echoed past the fanged maw of a sleek creature as it sauntered forward. Its lanky legs dwindled slowly onward, propelling it through the evening chill with physical ease. As each appendage moved the perfectly balanced muscle glided beneath gray fur, giving every motion a brilliant rippling display. Golden orbs shot out through the night. The scent of moist leaves decaying into desolate mulch wafted through the air, mixing with it the glorious freshness of snow that was slowly receding, having fallen some days previous in an early cold front. It was both a relief and a trial for the creature. Each paw trod carefully, passing through cool earth then to icy snow before returning to the soil, perpetually changing temperature where patches of left over snow resided.
A snort escaped his maw.
Pausing quickly he glanced skyward, staring above him toward at black form lingering in the copper branches of the trees, hidden partially behind the last golden brown leaves of the autumn season. The crow squeaked suddenly, calling out at the wolf as it fluttered onto another branch just below, shadowing the footsteps of the hunter wanting to scavenge something in a hopeful meal the animal was clearly looking for.
Teagan’s black nose dove into the air, praying to the wolf gods for possible salvation hoping for a meal he could attain without the exertion of much energy. Living the life of a loner was hard enough as it was. Dark gray tinted ears swiveled in every which direction, listening for the snapping of branches or the brush of weight against the crackling snow.
Wisps of speckled fog drifted like vines through the air, dwindling out from a tan muzzle of a large beast lifting its head from the frost bitten grass. A snort shortly followed. Hazel eyes darted in every which direction from that single position while the deer’s ears swiveled making up for the loss of sense from behind. Nothing tormented the beast, at least at the moment (other than a few physical obstructions which were not out of the ordinary), leaving him to relax his upright stance. The fall was coming to a close but with that chapter ending he knew soon another would swiftly begin, though if that new chapter would be better than the proceeding would be proven with time.
Valebrook, as he was respectfully titled, nosed the ground while shifting his stance, taking his weight from his front left leg, feeling the searing pain of the scar serge through the appendage as it had a thousand and one times before. This pain was nothing new, nothing that could be fixed, and something that would torment him for his entire life…and it would also be his death. Stepping forward, he limped considerably as he moved the injured leg until he paused, nipping at a flower that sprung from the grass mixed with the crimson leaves that accompanied it. “Hmm…” he muttered.
It was some time while he grazed, collecting various grasses and twigs to nibble upon delightfully in his loneliness, that he lifted his muzzle having nosed something in the distance. Alert eyes flashed fearfully…if his suspicion was correct his life was in danger. But was he not an Outrider? Sure his present ailment corroded his previous abilities, but no matter the situation, no matter what drove him to position himself for death he had to place the herd above himself.
By the time he managed to hobble a few feet from his previous position a hungry growl was rumbling to his left. He sprang instinctively and being the flight animal that he was he immediately put his legs to use. Valebrook darted forward hearing the gray animal lung after him knowing his weakness had put him in this position, after all, he was the perfect prey with his injury and any wolf would take this opportunity if they were smart enough to realize their advantage. The stag was not foolish; he did not lead the wolf back toward the herd but instead turned to flee away from the inner lands going in the direction of a winding creek he knew to snake through the area. If he could manage past the icy waters then perhaps he could avert the wolf.
The hard pads of the large creature pounded against the ground while the light paws of the sleek wolf glided over the ground as though it were nothing more than air. Snow printed its paws before mud caked his claws as he passed through the little patches left behind melting. Hot breath echoed from his lips, as well as the deer’s, but neither gave up their perilous chase. Death was waiting to meet them both at the end if either should fail.
Leading him to a frozen spring, the large stag felt his front leg throb forcing him into the snow and in a kneeling position. Immediacy the wolf was at his heels, biting harshly at his hind hocks before a sharp hoof lashed out to hit the creature in the scuff of his fur forcing Teagan to back off allowing Valebrook to leap forward toward the waters. The surface was frozen over, but it was evident that the ice was thin, to thin for the deer to move across it without crashing through, but all the same he took the chance, hoping it would slow the wolf. A grunt followed in desperate pain while Valebrook dove onto the ice, feeling the bitter cold stab at him sharper then the wolf’s fangs as the frozen surface broke under him, sending him into the shallow still water. He gave a short cry before forcing his legs forward, breaking through the ice harshly.
Teagan, though baffled the deer had attempted the crossing, gave a sudden snarl and lunged out onto the ice. His weight, like the deer, was enough to break through, but just light enough for him to walk across the surface before his paws came back down and poked through the sensitive element.
The stag could hear the scraping claws and for a brief second he turned back, looking to the wolf as it approached displaying its pearly teeth in instant effect wanting to take down the deer here and now in the watery trap Valebrook had created for himself. He was turning back to jump through the heavy water, forcing himself forward, when the creature lunged from the ice, leaving it to shatter where he exerted the pressure and as he flew through the air his aim was for the buck’s exposed hind. Teagan was successful.
Beautiful light emitted above them, around them, and seemingly within them as their bodies collided. The flash lasted but a second in the true time of the world as it slowly turned, but for the pair the second dragged on for minutes. They both fancied they caught a voice on the wind.
“Who’s there?” Teagan started, blind as the white light existed. The setting they were in before seemed to no longer subsist.
“Valebrook, Teagan…my children.”
“Herne?” Valebrook whispered, “is that you?” Death was the stag’s reality. But was his reality the same as the wolf’s? Was this heaven and had he finally fallen because of his weakness? White, purer then snow was all he could see.
“It is not yet the time of your passing. Both of you, my children, must exist, must survive. But it is time for change as there must always be change. When you wake you will not be who you were, but instead must learn to view change as something blessed.”
Valebrook didn’t understand. So he wasn’t just speaking to him that much he understood, but who was Teagan? Was he not dead? The light faded as the whisper floated away leaving him empty as the chill of the frozen creek flooded back to him. Immediately he was thrown back into his previous setting, now however in the water gasping and fighting for breath. Before he had stood tall and able to trudge through the cold liquid, but what had caused the sudden change? Valebrook desperately swam finding his way to the shore shortly after hardly thinking about the wolf that had pursued him until his paws hit the showy banks. Limping forward he collapsed on the shore coughing and shaking himself unaware of his long lean muzzle or black rimmed hazel eyes. Nor the pointed ears or fluffy tail that curled around him in the brisk heart crushing air.
Teagan pulled through the water, shaking himself desperately confused. Was not the deer right below him? And who had spoken to him in that strange dwelling? Certainly not Tor nor even Fenris. But what distressed him the most was his growling belly and lack of production from the unsuccessful hunt. Starving was all he could do for the night, no longer having the drive to chase down the deer that had somehow disappeared.
Padding forward, his gray hooves pulled him forward easily in defeat while his head hung. Yet had he to realize the weight between his large round ears. And as he walked a new scent came to him, similar yet different then the stag’s he had noticed before. It was a wolf’s, that was true, but it confused him when he realized it was oh so similar. Maybe this stranger had managed to take down the stag and had his scent mixed with the blood of the buck?
Maybe…but that thought was put to rest when he spotted the tan wolf. His large golden eyes widened considerably as he looked the creature over and found his jaw hanging agape.
“Oh…good God.”
A snort escaped his maw.
Pausing quickly he glanced skyward, staring above him toward at black form lingering in the copper branches of the trees, hidden partially behind the last golden brown leaves of the autumn season. The crow squeaked suddenly, calling out at the wolf as it fluttered onto another branch just below, shadowing the footsteps of the hunter wanting to scavenge something in a hopeful meal the animal was clearly looking for.
Teagan’s black nose dove into the air, praying to the wolf gods for possible salvation hoping for a meal he could attain without the exertion of much energy. Living the life of a loner was hard enough as it was. Dark gray tinted ears swiveled in every which direction, listening for the snapping of branches or the brush of weight against the crackling snow.
Wisps of speckled fog drifted like vines through the air, dwindling out from a tan muzzle of a large beast lifting its head from the frost bitten grass. A snort shortly followed. Hazel eyes darted in every which direction from that single position while the deer’s ears swiveled making up for the loss of sense from behind. Nothing tormented the beast, at least at the moment (other than a few physical obstructions which were not out of the ordinary), leaving him to relax his upright stance. The fall was coming to a close but with that chapter ending he knew soon another would swiftly begin, though if that new chapter would be better than the proceeding would be proven with time.
Valebrook, as he was respectfully titled, nosed the ground while shifting his stance, taking his weight from his front left leg, feeling the searing pain of the scar serge through the appendage as it had a thousand and one times before. This pain was nothing new, nothing that could be fixed, and something that would torment him for his entire life…and it would also be his death. Stepping forward, he limped considerably as he moved the injured leg until he paused, nipping at a flower that sprung from the grass mixed with the crimson leaves that accompanied it. “Hmm…” he muttered.
It was some time while he grazed, collecting various grasses and twigs to nibble upon delightfully in his loneliness, that he lifted his muzzle having nosed something in the distance. Alert eyes flashed fearfully…if his suspicion was correct his life was in danger. But was he not an Outrider? Sure his present ailment corroded his previous abilities, but no matter the situation, no matter what drove him to position himself for death he had to place the herd above himself.
By the time he managed to hobble a few feet from his previous position a hungry growl was rumbling to his left. He sprang instinctively and being the flight animal that he was he immediately put his legs to use. Valebrook darted forward hearing the gray animal lung after him knowing his weakness had put him in this position, after all, he was the perfect prey with his injury and any wolf would take this opportunity if they were smart enough to realize their advantage. The stag was not foolish; he did not lead the wolf back toward the herd but instead turned to flee away from the inner lands going in the direction of a winding creek he knew to snake through the area. If he could manage past the icy waters then perhaps he could avert the wolf.
The hard pads of the large creature pounded against the ground while the light paws of the sleek wolf glided over the ground as though it were nothing more than air. Snow printed its paws before mud caked his claws as he passed through the little patches left behind melting. Hot breath echoed from his lips, as well as the deer’s, but neither gave up their perilous chase. Death was waiting to meet them both at the end if either should fail.
Leading him to a frozen spring, the large stag felt his front leg throb forcing him into the snow and in a kneeling position. Immediacy the wolf was at his heels, biting harshly at his hind hocks before a sharp hoof lashed out to hit the creature in the scuff of his fur forcing Teagan to back off allowing Valebrook to leap forward toward the waters. The surface was frozen over, but it was evident that the ice was thin, to thin for the deer to move across it without crashing through, but all the same he took the chance, hoping it would slow the wolf. A grunt followed in desperate pain while Valebrook dove onto the ice, feeling the bitter cold stab at him sharper then the wolf’s fangs as the frozen surface broke under him, sending him into the shallow still water. He gave a short cry before forcing his legs forward, breaking through the ice harshly.
Teagan, though baffled the deer had attempted the crossing, gave a sudden snarl and lunged out onto the ice. His weight, like the deer, was enough to break through, but just light enough for him to walk across the surface before his paws came back down and poked through the sensitive element.
The stag could hear the scraping claws and for a brief second he turned back, looking to the wolf as it approached displaying its pearly teeth in instant effect wanting to take down the deer here and now in the watery trap Valebrook had created for himself. He was turning back to jump through the heavy water, forcing himself forward, when the creature lunged from the ice, leaving it to shatter where he exerted the pressure and as he flew through the air his aim was for the buck’s exposed hind. Teagan was successful.
Beautiful light emitted above them, around them, and seemingly within them as their bodies collided. The flash lasted but a second in the true time of the world as it slowly turned, but for the pair the second dragged on for minutes. They both fancied they caught a voice on the wind.
“Who’s there?” Teagan started, blind as the white light existed. The setting they were in before seemed to no longer subsist.
“Valebrook, Teagan…my children.”
“Herne?” Valebrook whispered, “is that you?” Death was the stag’s reality. But was his reality the same as the wolf’s? Was this heaven and had he finally fallen because of his weakness? White, purer then snow was all he could see.
“It is not yet the time of your passing. Both of you, my children, must exist, must survive. But it is time for change as there must always be change. When you wake you will not be who you were, but instead must learn to view change as something blessed.”
Valebrook didn’t understand. So he wasn’t just speaking to him that much he understood, but who was Teagan? Was he not dead? The light faded as the whisper floated away leaving him empty as the chill of the frozen creek flooded back to him. Immediately he was thrown back into his previous setting, now however in the water gasping and fighting for breath. Before he had stood tall and able to trudge through the cold liquid, but what had caused the sudden change? Valebrook desperately swam finding his way to the shore shortly after hardly thinking about the wolf that had pursued him until his paws hit the showy banks. Limping forward he collapsed on the shore coughing and shaking himself unaware of his long lean muzzle or black rimmed hazel eyes. Nor the pointed ears or fluffy tail that curled around him in the brisk heart crushing air.
Teagan pulled through the water, shaking himself desperately confused. Was not the deer right below him? And who had spoken to him in that strange dwelling? Certainly not Tor nor even Fenris. But what distressed him the most was his growling belly and lack of production from the unsuccessful hunt. Starving was all he could do for the night, no longer having the drive to chase down the deer that had somehow disappeared.
Padding forward, his gray hooves pulled him forward easily in defeat while his head hung. Yet had he to realize the weight between his large round ears. And as he walked a new scent came to him, similar yet different then the stag’s he had noticed before. It was a wolf’s, that was true, but it confused him when he realized it was oh so similar. Maybe this stranger had managed to take down the stag and had his scent mixed with the blood of the buck?
Maybe…but that thought was put to rest when he spotted the tan wolf. His large golden eyes widened considerably as he looked the creature over and found his jaw hanging agape.
“Oh…good God.”
Harsh breath echoed over the soaked body of the tan creature as it lay still, closing its eyes to the world before reopening the brown irises to stare at a nearby tree. Faintly he had suspected he had heard a voice...was it the same as before? Was it Herne to speak more to him? No, it was lighter and unfamiliar. It was panicked.
Flicking his pointed ears he forced himself to lift his tired head to inspect the voice as it gasped once more forcing Valebrook to widen his eyes and urge himself to get up. There was another one of his kind nearby. 'The wolf!' He remembered now! Another deer must have been its target and now was being attacked. As he lifted onto his paws his head whipped to stare now at the silver buck who’s wide golden eyes stared at the fallen wolf incredulously. The scent was new...this deer was not of the Firebringer herd, but what struck the wolf as odd was that he seemed to be staring at nothing. His head cocked to the side, allowing large droplets of water to fall on the snow beside him. It took Valebrook another second to realize the deer was staring at him...and not the wolf from before.
Gasps echoed from the stag's silver mouth puffing through the air in clouds before its eyes searched itself in utter panic. He lifted his legs, staring at the sharp hooves before moving to look around the rest of his new gleaming body.
"Oh God! T-Tor? Fenris? What have you done to me?" he screamed as he shook his head before planting his front legs down steadily and kicking out his back. The scar above his head throbbed with his frustration. Once more he stared at the wolf, not understanding anything the situation presented. The wolf...did it not look like the deer he had just perused? It stared at him with those same brown eyes the deer looked at him with fright.
Valebrook lifted to his cold paws and shook himself, trying to rid his quivering body of the icy water needing warmth. His eyes never once left the strange deer, not understanding its odd behavior.
"What's wrong?" he asked, finding nothing that would be appropriate to suit the moment, "You're not from around here, are you?"
"W-what's wrong with me? Do you not see yourself? You idiot! take a look around and open your eyes!" Teagan's snarl rang through his entire body as his panic rose farther causing him to shiver violently, however this was not from fright.
"I...I'm talking to you?"
The last statement had been ignored by the wolf who had taken Teagan's advice and looked upon himself. Immediately his heart sunk into his chest having skipped a beat, or so he thought, and as dread flowed over him his body started to crumble. Weak legs shook beneath him.
"H-Herne?"
Without warning the stag bounded over Vale's head, causing him to duck as one of the sharp black hooves soared just inches above him. The large creature found its legs touching the ground lightly , pounding through the patches of snow brilliantly as he fled. His journey had started in the search of food, but now a completely new adventure nipped at his heals.
