Post by Ursüs ᚦᛖ᛫ᛖᛏᛖᚱᚾᚨᛚ on Oct 20, 2018 18:46:44 GMT -5
A nudging and licking sensation brings me out of my deep slumber. I hear the ravens near and then a caressing touch to my left ear and whispers full of care. "Ulver, it's time for our big day." I start to stir as my ear is gently tugged on and I chuckle. "Yes Masha you're right. *sighs heavily* I wish you would just leave with me though. You know I don't trust Saren at all and not Merduke much. I'm not sure that it'll be Orion or Tyr will be involved much as they are the youngest of us. I don't trust my mother Hel either, yes I know all of you think she's sweet but you've never seen her when she thinks shes alone. And as you know Amundur, my father that is, is so eccentric it depends on his mood if you can trust him to be rational or not. I'll support any decision you make but I'd rather we leave and go make a family some where else." Masha snuggles into me and sighs. "Ulver" she says softly and pauses "You know I love you and I respect you and your family and so I want to do this right so no one has anything cross to say about us being together. You worry too much. I know you've seen some funny things but everything is fine now and we are finally going to have a family ok?." I smile down at her despite myself. "Well, I suppose we should go see them yeah?" I nuzzle her side as we head out of our den, knowing that may be the last time I ever see her. We aren't even 5 steps out before Saren greets us with a smile and eyes full of an intent I don't care for. "What do you want, Saren. Pretty sure you've lackey's to go snip at." I say with extra gravel and depth in my voice, as what happens when ever I'm upset or addressing some one I care not for. Saren falters and steps back and replies "Well, fine morning to you too Ursus The Unbearable *snickers*. I'm here for your lady friend. It's been decided that she will take me and a few of my so called lackeys and go hunt 4 grizzlies, no less. After all, you are such a "FINE" potential mate so the price must be equally high." I growl at him, for mocking and twisting the name Masha gave me and for his mischief. "Are you totally mad Saren? I KNOW this is your doing. If shes does, I'm coming for you and your friends." I feel something bump into me and I look and see Masha shake her head "no". She then says "Fine Saren, you and your "friends" better be able to keep up with me." She licks my muzzle and we rest our heads along-side each others before she turns and runs off, not before I see her eyes watering. Saren sneers at me as he follows.
I sigh heavily and lay down, and start contemplating where he may be taking her and if I could follow and keep an eye on them. After a few agonizing minuets pass me by I hear footfalls and turn and look to see Merduke approach in a calm fashion. He approaches and says "The pack has a task for you. You have until tomorrow's moon to kill off the entire Boreal pack. You must do this alone, you're being tested to see if you're worthy of having pups." I glare at him with a heart that was full of pain and worry, now boiling into rage and far beyond livid. "What is THAT supposed to mean you miserable wretch? Neither you OR Saren are fooling me. I'm well aware this is outside the norm." As I start to get up to storm off, I hear Hel's voice in the distance and my heart stops for a moment. She was near by the whole time. She must have approved this. After shaking the shock of my worst fear coming to start to forum in front of my eyes, I run towards my mothers voice. "Mother!" I bellow. "Hel. Did you really approve of this mischief cooked up by Saren and Merduke?" She looks up at me with such disapproval. "You pathetic, bear-ish oaf. How is it you can be so smart yet so daft? Of course I approved it. You know I don't care for the way Masha speaks of family when shes ADOPTED. As for sending you off... That was something both Saren and Merduke suggested, while I had already contemplated doing it. Sarens lackeys have been slacking and the Boreal pack encroached and stole food. You will go kill them for the sake of the pack, for your family, for Masha and so you don't worry yourself to death. You understand? Now please don't worry so much my pup. *she smiles* You'll be fine. you'll see." I sigh and walk away.
I go to the sunny patch near my den and roll in the rabbit tobacco I keep there, and I gather my toxins of choice (Kentucky coffee Tree beans <grows in more than just KY>, yew berries, nightshade) and bundle them up in some moss and hide and set off for the Boreal pack. As I start nearing the edge of my lands the sky turns a dark grey and I smile and nod in appreciation and large snow flakes come sailing down at me, covering my old tracks in the snow. I sweep my tail back and forth as I walk to help brush snow into my paw prints. I take a deep breath and smell turpentine upon the winds and smile and head towards the source. Much to my benefit I find fresh pine sap on the ground and smear it over my paws and coat them in sand and pebbles for better traction and to help prevent frost bite on my pads. I now move forth towards what I know they must use as a water source, regretting that I must ruin this source of water as I am well aware it will kill more than just those I must kill yet I must survive. I must get back to Masha. I hide in the shadows and the brambles. Waiting, watching. My raven friends see me stalking and hiding so they circle the area, forever watchful as they see all that move around me that are new to them as food. We observe... And nothing. I move out and prep my toxins and place them into the water, saving the berries though and I retreat, hiding my tracks. I go to an old red wood tree I know of and crawl under and up into it as its partially hollowed out at the base and I wait, knowing it'll take about 12 hours before most of the pack has died and so I try to sleep.
The ravens call out to me in hunger, stirring me from my pitiful attempt at rest. I listen a few moments before crawling down and listing more. As I pop my head out to listen I can see that the sun is near down and that means the ravens can't see much longer. Then, I hear panicked wolves. I coat my neck and legs in poisons before trying to rub it on the rest of my coat. I spot a thick set of brush and dart for it. I hear panicked wolves close. They say "Why are all of us dead?! Whats going on?!". I hear one take interest. It says softly "What was that over there?" It crunches its way through the snow towards me. I am one with the umbra of these woods. I wait. I see a paw, a sign to engage. I lunge out and bite my large maw down around the front of the small she wolf's muzzle, muffling her and drag her into the brush, pinning her under my massive form before shifting my jaws down to her throat and tearing it out. I peek my head back out and listen and look, no wolf noticed. As I look at her, my heart sinks. I know this one, yet I have no time to morn. I coat her in yew berries from the brush I hide within and drag her into view and run back to the red wood I took shelter in. I bark before hiding and I listen... For many moments that drag on past an eternity there is nothing. Then as I grow nervous, I hear angered wolves. They say "What happened to her?! And whats that on her? She smells funny." And so I wait, eagerly. A few minuets more and I hear gagging. I hear fear, and I smell death. I go around towards the East so the wind blows in my favor. I make a dash for the nearest cover, and I leap-frog from place to place, watching and listening. I see two wolves approach. I let them go by. Across the way I see a wolf, the scent on the wind makes me believe its a male, and I recall the scent belonging to Hod, their Alpha male. As the pair get far enough away I dart to a large stone, then to a tree and make myself low in the depths of its shadows. I stealth up behind Hod and greet him. "Good evening Hod." I say coldly. Hod startles, jumping straight up, then collapsing. On his fur of his chest and muzzle I see vomit. He looks at me with confusion before recognition. "U-u-ulver... Is that you?" I sit down and sigh and look him dead in the eye "Yes old friend it is I. You know what you've done so I won't waste your time. Why did you all get greedy? I gave you all food and good hunting places. I even told you of a den site that was going to be for me and Masha but you needed it more. Why would you waste it all by encroaching?" Hod gags and coughs and takes a deep yet ragged breath "Not now Ulver,, I need your help. We are dying! Look at me!" My stomach churns as I stare him down. Hods face holds the sudden realization of the meaning of my coming to this place, his eyes wide in fear and he shakes "You... Wait... You mean to tell me the rumors are true?!?! And whats more you killed my mate?!?! You killed her and she had our pups still! Monster!" I growl at him "You know I didn't want to do this, that's enough. you will die now, old friend. May you join your family." Hod staggers and stands "May you always suffer, and never have a real home or family. May you live a long, painful life and always be haunted by the memories of the entire packs of wolves and friends already you've murdered in your short life. Now finish me coward!" He runs at me. Staggers. I place his cranium in my jaws and as I crush his skull and pierce his brain stem to give him a quick and painless death, I hear wolves behind me. I turn and face them while crushing my old friends skull and look down and see two yearlings looking up at me in horror as brains and fluids gush forth and spray on their faces. I drop the corpse of my friend and address them. "Hello little ones, are you lost?" The yearlings back off, shaking and wide eyed "Monster!!!" And they run from me, towards the South West and away from my packs lands. I sigh in relief and heart break as the little ones flee and I clean my muzzle and get to counting the corpses. I count over the bodies, seeing the body of many old friends from when he was a pup, that I had not seen in a long time. I count all but two, which must be the yearlings whom fled. I sigh and decide this must be good enough and head back to the den. By now there should be a messenger back from Masha's trial.
As I head up towards my den I catch the scent of blood and death, as my heart sinks I hope its just from the dirty deeds I just did. I smell my mother. My father. My brothers. And,,, Masha! My heart skips a beat in joy as I decide she must be fine and is home! I sprint up to my den. "Masha! I'm home!" As I approach, no one is happy. It is silence. I don't see Masha coming for me. I push past my family to find a mangled corpse with the same chocolate fur... All that remains of my love is the top of her skull. Her spine. Her ribs. Her front right leg hanging via sinew and the lower half is totally gone. What skin and flesh still hold on for dear life, pulsate and shift as the maggots feed, their writhing twisting her only emerald eye left in socket up to my own eyes. Mocking me, and putting on a perverse facade of lingering signs of life. My heart sinks and I roar "MASHA!!!!!"
"SAREN!!!" I snarl as I look at him. "You! You did this didn't you! Before this year is through, I will kill you." I knock him over on my way out. As I leave I decide to turn back and inform my parents "I resign my position here. I refuse to kill any more." And I walk away and head to the raging glacial river where Masha and I first met.
A bit of time flashes by full of side ways glances in my direction, muttering and angered words that offer me insult. I decide it's time to leave, yet on the outskirts of our lands Saren and Merduke approach me with their warriors and underlings. I sigh in annoyance and address them. "And just what could any of you possibly want? I'm leaving to find my own home and family and that's all there is to it." Saren sneers and nods and the 6 wolves surround me "Poor stupid Ulver. You really think I'm going to let you leave? I enjoy my freedoms and with you gone, there will be more for me to do. I won't allow this." Merduke nods along with this "You really are an overly sensitive, whiny bitch you know that? All that happened was ONE female wolf died. Who cares? There's plenty more." I start to shake in my rage as I hear the wolves all around me laughing. As the full moon is encompassed with a heavy blanket of clouds and the snow comes down heavily, I charge. I black out. I see two wolves getting taken by the river, one is missing large chunks of its legs and it's skull is crushed, the other has its guts spilled its throat torn out. My brothers lay there in the snow totally beaten but alive. I stagger away, hurting, covered in wounds and tainting the snow of my path red with the blood of the fallen. As I walk away I hear Saren's barely audible voice reach me and he says "I hate you, I will hunt you and I will kill you, Ursus The Bloody. You are a monster and don't you forget it. No one will want a wolf like you around." I ignore him and continue to stagger away. I don't know how long I've walked for but its day light now, and as I lay here I see that at some point of going in and out of consciousness I have treated my wounds, my fur matted with pine sap.
More time flashes by, I see my brief encounter with the humans, then I see the Waster wolf and the bear, I see me struggling to heal in the Oasis and then things slow down... And I see Droplet greeting me with a smile despite my disheveled, brutish, and scar riddled exterior and he says "Welcome to the Mighty White River Pack, you may find a home here with us."
Ursus groans as he awakens and looks upon his waterfall before him, sighing as loneliness sets in. "Well. That was home for a while anyways. Time to make a new one here in Frosa."
I sigh heavily and lay down, and start contemplating where he may be taking her and if I could follow and keep an eye on them. After a few agonizing minuets pass me by I hear footfalls and turn and look to see Merduke approach in a calm fashion. He approaches and says "The pack has a task for you. You have until tomorrow's moon to kill off the entire Boreal pack. You must do this alone, you're being tested to see if you're worthy of having pups." I glare at him with a heart that was full of pain and worry, now boiling into rage and far beyond livid. "What is THAT supposed to mean you miserable wretch? Neither you OR Saren are fooling me. I'm well aware this is outside the norm." As I start to get up to storm off, I hear Hel's voice in the distance and my heart stops for a moment. She was near by the whole time. She must have approved this. After shaking the shock of my worst fear coming to start to forum in front of my eyes, I run towards my mothers voice. "Mother!" I bellow. "Hel. Did you really approve of this mischief cooked up by Saren and Merduke?" She looks up at me with such disapproval. "You pathetic, bear-ish oaf. How is it you can be so smart yet so daft? Of course I approved it. You know I don't care for the way Masha speaks of family when shes ADOPTED. As for sending you off... That was something both Saren and Merduke suggested, while I had already contemplated doing it. Sarens lackeys have been slacking and the Boreal pack encroached and stole food. You will go kill them for the sake of the pack, for your family, for Masha and so you don't worry yourself to death. You understand? Now please don't worry so much my pup. *she smiles* You'll be fine. you'll see." I sigh and walk away.
I go to the sunny patch near my den and roll in the rabbit tobacco I keep there, and I gather my toxins of choice (Kentucky coffee Tree beans <grows in more than just KY>, yew berries, nightshade) and bundle them up in some moss and hide and set off for the Boreal pack. As I start nearing the edge of my lands the sky turns a dark grey and I smile and nod in appreciation and large snow flakes come sailing down at me, covering my old tracks in the snow. I sweep my tail back and forth as I walk to help brush snow into my paw prints. I take a deep breath and smell turpentine upon the winds and smile and head towards the source. Much to my benefit I find fresh pine sap on the ground and smear it over my paws and coat them in sand and pebbles for better traction and to help prevent frost bite on my pads. I now move forth towards what I know they must use as a water source, regretting that I must ruin this source of water as I am well aware it will kill more than just those I must kill yet I must survive. I must get back to Masha. I hide in the shadows and the brambles. Waiting, watching. My raven friends see me stalking and hiding so they circle the area, forever watchful as they see all that move around me that are new to them as food. We observe... And nothing. I move out and prep my toxins and place them into the water, saving the berries though and I retreat, hiding my tracks. I go to an old red wood tree I know of and crawl under and up into it as its partially hollowed out at the base and I wait, knowing it'll take about 12 hours before most of the pack has died and so I try to sleep.
The ravens call out to me in hunger, stirring me from my pitiful attempt at rest. I listen a few moments before crawling down and listing more. As I pop my head out to listen I can see that the sun is near down and that means the ravens can't see much longer. Then, I hear panicked wolves. I coat my neck and legs in poisons before trying to rub it on the rest of my coat. I spot a thick set of brush and dart for it. I hear panicked wolves close. They say "Why are all of us dead?! Whats going on?!". I hear one take interest. It says softly "What was that over there?" It crunches its way through the snow towards me. I am one with the umbra of these woods. I wait. I see a paw, a sign to engage. I lunge out and bite my large maw down around the front of the small she wolf's muzzle, muffling her and drag her into the brush, pinning her under my massive form before shifting my jaws down to her throat and tearing it out. I peek my head back out and listen and look, no wolf noticed. As I look at her, my heart sinks. I know this one, yet I have no time to morn. I coat her in yew berries from the brush I hide within and drag her into view and run back to the red wood I took shelter in. I bark before hiding and I listen... For many moments that drag on past an eternity there is nothing. Then as I grow nervous, I hear angered wolves. They say "What happened to her?! And whats that on her? She smells funny." And so I wait, eagerly. A few minuets more and I hear gagging. I hear fear, and I smell death. I go around towards the East so the wind blows in my favor. I make a dash for the nearest cover, and I leap-frog from place to place, watching and listening. I see two wolves approach. I let them go by. Across the way I see a wolf, the scent on the wind makes me believe its a male, and I recall the scent belonging to Hod, their Alpha male. As the pair get far enough away I dart to a large stone, then to a tree and make myself low in the depths of its shadows. I stealth up behind Hod and greet him. "Good evening Hod." I say coldly. Hod startles, jumping straight up, then collapsing. On his fur of his chest and muzzle I see vomit. He looks at me with confusion before recognition. "U-u-ulver... Is that you?" I sit down and sigh and look him dead in the eye "Yes old friend it is I. You know what you've done so I won't waste your time. Why did you all get greedy? I gave you all food and good hunting places. I even told you of a den site that was going to be for me and Masha but you needed it more. Why would you waste it all by encroaching?" Hod gags and coughs and takes a deep yet ragged breath "Not now Ulver,, I need your help. We are dying! Look at me!" My stomach churns as I stare him down. Hods face holds the sudden realization of the meaning of my coming to this place, his eyes wide in fear and he shakes "You... Wait... You mean to tell me the rumors are true?!?! And whats more you killed my mate?!?! You killed her and she had our pups still! Monster!" I growl at him "You know I didn't want to do this, that's enough. you will die now, old friend. May you join your family." Hod staggers and stands "May you always suffer, and never have a real home or family. May you live a long, painful life and always be haunted by the memories of the entire packs of wolves and friends already you've murdered in your short life. Now finish me coward!" He runs at me. Staggers. I place his cranium in my jaws and as I crush his skull and pierce his brain stem to give him a quick and painless death, I hear wolves behind me. I turn and face them while crushing my old friends skull and look down and see two yearlings looking up at me in horror as brains and fluids gush forth and spray on their faces. I drop the corpse of my friend and address them. "Hello little ones, are you lost?" The yearlings back off, shaking and wide eyed "Monster!!!" And they run from me, towards the South West and away from my packs lands. I sigh in relief and heart break as the little ones flee and I clean my muzzle and get to counting the corpses. I count over the bodies, seeing the body of many old friends from when he was a pup, that I had not seen in a long time. I count all but two, which must be the yearlings whom fled. I sigh and decide this must be good enough and head back to the den. By now there should be a messenger back from Masha's trial.
As I head up towards my den I catch the scent of blood and death, as my heart sinks I hope its just from the dirty deeds I just did. I smell my mother. My father. My brothers. And,,, Masha! My heart skips a beat in joy as I decide she must be fine and is home! I sprint up to my den. "Masha! I'm home!" As I approach, no one is happy. It is silence. I don't see Masha coming for me. I push past my family to find a mangled corpse with the same chocolate fur... All that remains of my love is the top of her skull. Her spine. Her ribs. Her front right leg hanging via sinew and the lower half is totally gone. What skin and flesh still hold on for dear life, pulsate and shift as the maggots feed, their writhing twisting her only emerald eye left in socket up to my own eyes. Mocking me, and putting on a perverse facade of lingering signs of life. My heart sinks and I roar "MASHA!!!!!"
"SAREN!!!" I snarl as I look at him. "You! You did this didn't you! Before this year is through, I will kill you." I knock him over on my way out. As I leave I decide to turn back and inform my parents "I resign my position here. I refuse to kill any more." And I walk away and head to the raging glacial river where Masha and I first met.
A bit of time flashes by full of side ways glances in my direction, muttering and angered words that offer me insult. I decide it's time to leave, yet on the outskirts of our lands Saren and Merduke approach me with their warriors and underlings. I sigh in annoyance and address them. "And just what could any of you possibly want? I'm leaving to find my own home and family and that's all there is to it." Saren sneers and nods and the 6 wolves surround me "Poor stupid Ulver. You really think I'm going to let you leave? I enjoy my freedoms and with you gone, there will be more for me to do. I won't allow this." Merduke nods along with this "You really are an overly sensitive, whiny bitch you know that? All that happened was ONE female wolf died. Who cares? There's plenty more." I start to shake in my rage as I hear the wolves all around me laughing. As the full moon is encompassed with a heavy blanket of clouds and the snow comes down heavily, I charge. I black out. I see two wolves getting taken by the river, one is missing large chunks of its legs and it's skull is crushed, the other has its guts spilled its throat torn out. My brothers lay there in the snow totally beaten but alive. I stagger away, hurting, covered in wounds and tainting the snow of my path red with the blood of the fallen. As I walk away I hear Saren's barely audible voice reach me and he says "I hate you, I will hunt you and I will kill you, Ursus The Bloody. You are a monster and don't you forget it. No one will want a wolf like you around." I ignore him and continue to stagger away. I don't know how long I've walked for but its day light now, and as I lay here I see that at some point of going in and out of consciousness I have treated my wounds, my fur matted with pine sap.
More time flashes by, I see my brief encounter with the humans, then I see the Waster wolf and the bear, I see me struggling to heal in the Oasis and then things slow down... And I see Droplet greeting me with a smile despite my disheveled, brutish, and scar riddled exterior and he says "Welcome to the Mighty White River Pack, you may find a home here with us."
Ursus groans as he awakens and looks upon his waterfall before him, sighing as loneliness sets in. "Well. That was home for a while anyways. Time to make a new one here in Frosa."
