You Don't Hunt a Hunter... (Closed)
Aug 5, 2012 7:09:45 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2012 7:09:45 GMT -5
((Originally open, but now closed for story reasons. Sorry.))
River didn’t know what it was about her, but every time she set paw in a new land, it was a dry, barren waste.
Well, okay, not every time. Still, though.
She padded alongside the first creek she found, looking around at the sparse (compared to the plain and forest, anyway) plant and animal life. She could hunt. Soon, she would. Not now, though. The few animals that seemed like likely targets seemed a bit too small to waste such energy on. As an aboriginal, that wouldn’t have been a problem. There were few things too little to be worth it for such a tiny body. As an occult, she had to be more selective.
The creek led her to a lake, and she was vaguely reminded of the underground pools of water she had come across in the gorge and the hill hiding the underground spring Despite the boringness of much of the land she had seen, those two spots had been well worth the energy spent finding them. This place didn’t seem quite as special – possibly due to it being above-ground – but it was a nice enough resting spot. Maybe it served as the primary watering hole of the creatures in the area. If that was the case, it wouldn’t be long before she found something large enough for the hunt to be worth the energy.
River padded to the lake and began lapping at the water, realizing just how hot she was the moment the drinking began to cool her down. She didn’t realize how long she’d spent under direct sunlight, the black of her pelt absorbing all the heat that would soak into it. She was glad she wasn’t Shadow or Ebony or anyone else with an entirely dark pelt, though that would come in handy in regards to blending into the landscape during a hunt. It would not do to die of heat stroke out here.
Not that an occult was likely to die of heat stroke, anyway. The body type seemed adapted specifically to this sort of landscape. She still preferred the plains, though.
Movement caught her eye and she jumped away just in time to miss being caught by a pair of fangs. The reptile – something snakelike but larger than she had ever seen – lunged at her a second time and she leaped back, hissing. She had seen the creatures before, going after the oddly-shaped rodents that inhabited the area, but she didn’t think one would go after her.
Well, she’d have to do something about that.
The snake turned, its tail coming fast toward her. She jumped over it and attempted to bit into the snake’s spine just behind its head. As large as it was, she couldn’t get her mouth around it for the deep bite, but her fangs and claws drew blood before she was forced to jump away again.
The fight continued like this for some time. The snake advanced, either trying to snap at her with its fangs or trying to crush her with its weight. She’d dodge the fangs and try a counter-attack when it tried crushing her by landing on its back and doing what damage she could before its next attack forced her away again. The pattern ended when a misstep left her vulnerable, and the snake’s body slammed down toward her, threatening to pin her down and crush her spine.
Only, the snake seemed to shrink before it hit. The attack was still painful, likely bruising, but it didn’t restrain her. With some effort, she pulled herself out from under its body and whipped around, letting out the most fearsome roar she’d ever managed.
--->
The snake – still an impressive size but much smaller than it had been before – turned and attempted to flee, knowing the battle was lost. She had done a good job of wounding it beforehand, and its movements were slowed. This allowed her to catch up and pin it down under her own weight. She clawed at the creature’s back, larger paws and longer claws digging deep into the flesh and – with some work – severing bone. The snake twitched and tried to turn around to attack, but most of its body was useless weight, keeping it in place as she dashed to safety. River watched as the snake struggled, twitched, and then lay still.
River waited until the snake’s scent told her it was definitely dead, and then made her way to the carcass. She ate her fill, though much of the body would have to go to waste. It was far too large for her to eat in its entirety or to drag all the way back to camp. It was a shame, but – she reminded herself – it had attacked first. This hadn’t been a normal hunt.
When she was done eating, she claws out a section of the snake’s hide. Ebony might want it for his herb storage, or they could use it for the canopy over the prey rock. Either way, it’d be useful and work as proof when she told her tribe mates about this adventure.
Holding the section of hide carefully in her mouth, River began padding back the way she had come, walking with a limp now that the adrenaline rush was over and she could feel the pain of the snake’s blows.
River didn’t know what it was about her, but every time she set paw in a new land, it was a dry, barren waste.
Well, okay, not every time. Still, though.
She padded alongside the first creek she found, looking around at the sparse (compared to the plain and forest, anyway) plant and animal life. She could hunt. Soon, she would. Not now, though. The few animals that seemed like likely targets seemed a bit too small to waste such energy on. As an aboriginal, that wouldn’t have been a problem. There were few things too little to be worth it for such a tiny body. As an occult, she had to be more selective.
The creek led her to a lake, and she was vaguely reminded of the underground pools of water she had come across in the gorge and the hill hiding the underground spring Despite the boringness of much of the land she had seen, those two spots had been well worth the energy spent finding them. This place didn’t seem quite as special – possibly due to it being above-ground – but it was a nice enough resting spot. Maybe it served as the primary watering hole of the creatures in the area. If that was the case, it wouldn’t be long before she found something large enough for the hunt to be worth the energy.
River padded to the lake and began lapping at the water, realizing just how hot she was the moment the drinking began to cool her down. She didn’t realize how long she’d spent under direct sunlight, the black of her pelt absorbing all the heat that would soak into it. She was glad she wasn’t Shadow or Ebony or anyone else with an entirely dark pelt, though that would come in handy in regards to blending into the landscape during a hunt. It would not do to die of heat stroke out here.
Not that an occult was likely to die of heat stroke, anyway. The body type seemed adapted specifically to this sort of landscape. She still preferred the plains, though.
Movement caught her eye and she jumped away just in time to miss being caught by a pair of fangs. The reptile – something snakelike but larger than she had ever seen – lunged at her a second time and she leaped back, hissing. She had seen the creatures before, going after the oddly-shaped rodents that inhabited the area, but she didn’t think one would go after her.
Well, she’d have to do something about that.
The snake turned, its tail coming fast toward her. She jumped over it and attempted to bit into the snake’s spine just behind its head. As large as it was, she couldn’t get her mouth around it for the deep bite, but her fangs and claws drew blood before she was forced to jump away again.
The fight continued like this for some time. The snake advanced, either trying to snap at her with its fangs or trying to crush her with its weight. She’d dodge the fangs and try a counter-attack when it tried crushing her by landing on its back and doing what damage she could before its next attack forced her away again. The pattern ended when a misstep left her vulnerable, and the snake’s body slammed down toward her, threatening to pin her down and crush her spine.
Only, the snake seemed to shrink before it hit. The attack was still painful, likely bruising, but it didn’t restrain her. With some effort, she pulled herself out from under its body and whipped around, letting out the most fearsome roar she’d ever managed.
--->The snake – still an impressive size but much smaller than it had been before – turned and attempted to flee, knowing the battle was lost. She had done a good job of wounding it beforehand, and its movements were slowed. This allowed her to catch up and pin it down under her own weight. She clawed at the creature’s back, larger paws and longer claws digging deep into the flesh and – with some work – severing bone. The snake twitched and tried to turn around to attack, but most of its body was useless weight, keeping it in place as she dashed to safety. River watched as the snake struggled, twitched, and then lay still.
River waited until the snake’s scent told her it was definitely dead, and then made her way to the carcass. She ate her fill, though much of the body would have to go to waste. It was far too large for her to eat in its entirety or to drag all the way back to camp. It was a shame, but – she reminded herself – it had attacked first. This hadn’t been a normal hunt.
When she was done eating, she claws out a section of the snake’s hide. Ebony might want it for his herb storage, or they could use it for the canopy over the prey rock. Either way, it’d be useful and work as proof when she told her tribe mates about this adventure.
Holding the section of hide carefully in her mouth, River began padding back the way she had come, walking with a limp now that the adrenaline rush was over and she could feel the pain of the snake’s blows.